UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14D-9
(Rule 14d-101)
SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT
UNDER SECTION 14(d)(4) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
RPX Corporation
(Name of Subject Company)
RPX Corporation
(Name of Persons Filing Statement)
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
74972G103
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Emily T. Gavin
General Counsel
RPX Corporation
One Market Plaza, Suite 1100
San Francisco, California 94105
(866) 779-7641
(Name, Address, and Telephone Numbers of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications
on Behalf of the Persons Filing Statement)
Copies to
Leif B. King
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
525 University Ave, Suite 1400
Palo Alto, California, 94301-1908
(650) 470-4500
☐ | Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |
ITEM 1. | 2 | |||||
ITEM 2. | 2 | |||||
ITEM 3. | 4 | |||||
ITEM 4. | 16 | |||||
ITEM 5. | 41 | |||||
ITEM 6. | 42 | |||||
ITEM 7. | 42 | |||||
ITEM 8. | 43 | |||||
ITEM 9. | 52 | |||||
Opinion of GCA Advisors, LLC | ||||||
Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. |
ITEM 1. | SUBJECT COMPANY INFORMATION |
Name and Address.
The name of the subject company is RPX Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company), and the address of the principal executive offices of the Company is One Market Plaza, Suite 1100, San Francisco, California 94105. The telephone number for the Companys principal executive offices is (866) 779-7641.
Securities.
The title of the class of equity securities to which this Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with any Exhibits or Annexes hereto, this Schedule 14D-9) relates is the Companys common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Company Common Stock). As of the close of business on May 16, 2018, there were 49,933,908 shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding.
ITEM 2. | IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND OF FILING PERSON |
Name and Address.
The name, business address and business telephone number of the Company, which is the person filing this Schedule 14D-9, are set forth above in Item 1 under the heading Subject Company InformationName and Address.
Tender Offer.
This Schedule 14D-9 relates to the cash tender offer by Riptide Purchaser, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Riptide Parent, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Parent) (both Parent and Purchaser are beneficially owned by funds affiliated with HGGC, LLC (HGGC)), to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock at a price per share of Company Common Stock (Company Share) of $10.50 net to the seller in cash, subject to reduction for any applicable withholding taxes in respect thereof, without interest (such offer, as it may be amended from time to time, the Offer, and such amount of consideration or any greater amount per Company Share that may be paid pursuant to the Offer, the Offer Price). This Offer is being made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 21, 2018 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the Offer to Purchase), and the related Letter of Transmittal (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the Letter of Transmittal), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 30, 2018 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the Merger Agreement), by and among Parent, Purchaser and the Company. A copy of the Merger Agreement is filed as Exhibit (e)(1) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
The Offer is described in a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, dated May 21, 2018 (together with the exhibits thereto, as it or they may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the Schedule TO), filed by Parent and Purchaser with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Copies of the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal are filed as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B) hereto, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The Offer to Purchase and form of Letter of Transmittal are being mailed to the Companys stockholders together with this Schedule 14D-9.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, upon the terms of and subject to the conditions thereof, Purchaser shall (and Parent shall cause Purchaser to) (i) at or as promptly as practicable following the Expiration Time (as defined below) (and in any event, no later than the business day immediately following the date on which the Expiration Time occurs), accept for payment (the time of such acceptance, the Offer Acceptance Time), and (ii) at or as promptly as practicable following the Expiration Time (and, in any event, within three (3) business days following the date on which the Expiration Time occurs) pay the aggregate Offer Price (by delivery of funds
2
to the depositary for the Offer) for, all Company Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer and Parent shall provide or cause to be provided to Purchaser the consideration necessary for Purchaser to comply with such obligations to accept for payment and pay for such Company Shares. Parent intends to fund the aggregate Offer Price and Merger Consideration with a combination of committed debt and equity financing and a portion of the Companys cash on hand. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
As soon as practicable following the successful completion of the Offer and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the DGCL), Purchaser will merge with and into the Company (the Merger), and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the Surviving Corporation). The Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL and, consequently, no stockholder vote will be required to consummate the Merger if the Offer is successfully completed. At the effective time of the Merger (the Effective Time), the Company Shares not purchased pursuant to the Offer (other than Company Shares owned by the Company as treasury stock, by Parent or Purchaser, by a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or the Company, or by stockholders of the Company who have perfected their statutory rights of appraisal pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL) will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price (the Per Share Merger Consideration).
The obligation of Purchaser to purchase the Company Shares tendered in the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of customary closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) prior to the Expiration Time, there shall have been validly tendered and received (within the meaning of Section 251(h)(6) of the DGCL) and not validly withdrawn Company Shares that, together with all other Company Shares already owned by Parent, Purchaser and their respective Affiliates (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and any Company Shares that constitute rollover stock (as defined by Section 251(h)(6) of the DGCL), represents in the aggregate one Company Share more than 50% of the sum of (x) all Company Shares outstanding at the Expiration Time, plus (y) the aggregate number of Company Shares that the Company may be required to issue upon conversion, settlement or exercise of all then-outstanding Company Options (as defined in the Merger Agreement) for which the Company has received a notice of exercise prior to the Expiration Time (and as to which Company Shares have not yet been issued to such exercising holders) (the Minimum Tender Condition); (ii) the expiration or termination of the waiting period (and any extensions thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the HSR Act); (iii) the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) has either: (A) decided that the prohibition criteria in the German Act against Restraints of Competition 1957, as amended (Gesetz gegen Wettbewerbsbeschränkungen 1957 (the GWB)) are not satisfied, or (B) been deemed to have made such a decision in accordance with the GWB; (iv) the Merger Agreement having not been validly terminated in accordance with its terms and the Offer having not been terminated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement (the Termination Condition); (v) no law and no judgment, order, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a governmental authority of competent jurisdiction, whether preliminary, temporary or permanent, shall be in effect that would restrain, enjoin, prohibit or otherwise make illegal the consummation of the Offer or the Merger; (vi) there not having occurred and be continuing a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement); and (vii) each of the other conditions set forth in Exhibit A to the Merger Agreement.
Purchaser commenced (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)) the Offer on May 21, 2018. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the Offer, the Offer will initially expire at one minute after 11:59 p.m. (New York City time), on the date that is twenty (20) business days (calculated in accordance with Rule 14d-1(g)(3) under the Exchange Act) following the commencement of the Offer (such time, or such subsequent time to which the expiration of the Offer is extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Expiration Time). Purchaser will not be required to extend the Offer beyond 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on October 30, 2018 (the End Date), and may not extend the Offer beyond the End Date without the prior written consent of the Company.
3
The foregoing summary of the Offer is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed description and explanation contained in the Merger Agreement, the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other related materials.
As set forth in the Schedule TO, the address of the principal executive offices of Parent and Purchaser is 1950 University Avenue, Suite 350, Palo Alto, California, 94303, and the telephone number at such offices is (650) 618-4984.
In addition, all of these materials (and all other documents related to the Offer filed with the SEC) will be available at no charge from the SEC through its website at www.sec.gov.
ITEM 3. | PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS, NEGOTIATIONS AND AGREEMENTS |
Except as set forth in this Schedule 14D-9 or as otherwise incorporated herein by reference, to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date of this Schedule 14D-9, there are no material agreements, arrangements or understandings or any actual or potential conflicts of interest between the Company or any of its affiliates and (i) the Companys executive officers, directors or affiliates or (ii) Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective executive officers, directors or affiliates. The Companys executive officers and the members of the Companys Board of Directors (the Company Board) may be deemed to have certain interests in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement that may be different from or in addition to the interests of the Companys stockholders generally, and are described below in this section. The Company Board was aware of those interests and considered that such interests may be different from or in addition to the interests of the Companys stockholders generally, among other matters, in approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.
Arrangements with Parent and Purchaser.
Merger Agreement.
On April 30, 2018, the Company, Parent and Purchaser entered into the Merger Agreement. The summary of the Merger Agreement contained in Section 11 of the Offer to Purchase and the description of the terms and conditions of the Offer and related procedures and withdrawal rights contained in Sections 3 and 4 of the Offer to Purchase are incorporated herein by reference. Such summary and description are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement.
The Merger Agreement governs the contractual rights among the Company, Parent and Purchaser in relation to the Offer and the Merger. The Merger Agreement is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company, Parent or Purchaser.
The Merger Agreement has been provided solely to inform investors of its terms. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for the purposes of such agreement and as of specific dates, were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement and may be intended not as statements of fact, but rather as a way of allocating risk among the parties to the Merger Agreement. In addition, such representations, warranties and covenants were qualified by certain confidential disclosures not reflected in the text of the Merger Agreement and may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material by stockholders of, or other investors in, the Company. Other than the indemnification provisions of the Merger Agreement (which are discussed in Interests of Certain Persons; Agreements and Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the CompanyDirector and Officer Exculpation, Indemnification and Insurance below), the rights of the Companys stockholders to receive the Offer Price and the Per Share Merger Consideration and the holders of certain equity awards to receive the consideration described in the Merger Agreement, the rights of the Company (on behalf of stockholders) to pursue certain equitable remedies on stockholders behalf and the rights of certain financing
4
sources of Parent and Purchaser as set forth in the Merger Agreement, nothing in the Merger Agreement confers any rights or remedies upon any person other than the parties to the Merger Agreement. The Companys stockholders and other investors are not entitled to, and should not, rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or conditions of the Company, Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates.
The summary of the material terms of the Merger Agreement and the descriptions of the Offer Conditions contained in the Offer to Purchase and incorporated herein by reference do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit (e)(1) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Confidentiality Agreement.
On January 9, 2018, the Company and HGGC entered into a confidentiality agreement (the Confidentiality Agreement) in connection with a potential negotiated transaction between the parties. Each of the parties agreed, among other things, to keep certain information of the other party confidential and to use such information solely for the purpose of evaluating a potential transaction between the parties and each of the parties agreed to a standstill provision prohibiting them from acquiring any equity securities of the other party or requesting that the other party waive such standstill provision for a twelve (12) month period, provided that such standstill provision will automatically fall away with respect to the Company, on the one hand, or HGGC, on the other hand, if, among other things, the other party enters into or publicly announces a definitive agreement to be acquired with a party other than the other party to the Confidentiality Agreement or one of its controlled affiliates. The Confidentiality Agreement will expire two (2) years from the date of its execution. The termination of the Merger Agreement does not affect the obligations of the parties contained in the Confidentiality Agreement, all of which obligations survive the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Confidentiality Agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit (e)(2) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Exclusivity Agreement.
Prior to entering into the Merger Agreement, the Company and Parent entered into a letter agreement, dated as of April 26, 2018 (the Exclusivity Agreement), pursuant to which the Company agreed not to, from the date thereof through the earliest to occur of (a) the execution of a definitive agreement between the Company and HGGC or its affiliates providing for the acquisition of the Company, (b) the agreement of the Company and HGGC to terminate the Exclusivity Agreement and (c) 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time on May 3, 2018, among other things: (i) (a) knowingly encourage, solicit, initiate or engage in discussions with any party other than HGGC and its affiliates and representatives (each a Third Party), or (b) knowingly encourage or solicit any offer or proposal from any Third Party with respect to any Alternative Transaction (as defined in the Exclusivity Agreement); (ii) provide any non-public information with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any Third Party in connection with an Alternative Transaction that has not been previously been provided or made available to such Third Party prior to the date of the Exclusivity Agreement; or (iii) enter into any agreement with any Third Party, concerning or relating to an Alternative Transaction. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Exclusivity Agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit (e)(3) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Limited Guarantee.
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Equity Commitment Letter (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), the Fund II Investors (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) provided to the Company a limited guarantee to severally guarantee in favor of the Company in respect of certain of Parents and Purchasers
5
liabilities and obligations of Parent and Purchaser under the Merger Agreement (the Limited Guarantee), provided that in no event will the Fund II Investors incur obligations totaling more than approximately $31.5 million in the aggregate (Parent Liability Limitation), inclusive of the amount of any reimbursement or indemnification obligations payable pursuant to the Merger Agreement under the Limited Guarantee and no Investor (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) will be required to pay more than its respective maximum percentage of the Parent Liability Limitation. The obligations of the Fund II Investors under the Limited Guarantee are subject to certain customary conditions as set forth more fully therein. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the summary of the Limited Guarantee set forth in the Offer to Purchase and by the full text of the Limited Guarantee, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit (e)(4) hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Interests of Certain Persons; Agreements and Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the Company.
The executive officers and directors of the Company may be deemed to have interests in the Offer and the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, their interests as Company stockholders generally. The Company Board was aware of these potentially differing interests (including but not limited to as a result of possible ongoing roles with Parent, treatment of outstanding equity awards and payments under the Companys Severance Guidelines and individual severance and change in control agreements discussed in this Schedule 14D-9) and considered them, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Merger Agreement and in reaching its decision to approve the Merger Agreement and associated transactions, as more fully discussed below in Item 4 under the heading Background and Reasons for the Company Boards RecommendationReasons for the Recommendation.
For further information with respect to the arrangements between the Company and its executive officers, directors and affiliates described in this Item 3, please also see Item 8 under the heading Golden Parachute Compensation, which is incorporated herein by reference, and information contained in the section entitled Compensation Discussion and Analysis in Amendment No. 1 to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018, which is filed as Exhibit (e)(22) hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
Cash Payable for Outstanding Shares Pursuant to the Offer or the Merger.
If the executive officers and directors of the Company who own Company Shares tender their Company Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer (or hold Company Shares at the time of the Merger), they will receive consideration on the same terms and conditions as the other stockholders of the Company who tender their Company Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer. The following table sets forth (i) the number of Company Shares beneficially owned as of May 21, 2018, by each of the Companys executive officers and directors (with beneficial ownership determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally including any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power (subject to footnote 1 below)); and (ii) the aggregate Offer Price or Per Share Merger Consideration that would be payable for such Company Shares. Company Shares that a person has the right to acquire within sixty (60) days of the date of May 21, 2018
6
(disregarding for this purpose the assumed consummation of the Merger) are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by such person.
Name |
Number of Shares Owned |
Cash Consideration Payable in Respect of Shares |
||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||
David J. Anderson |
36,389 | $ | 382,085 | |||||
Paul A. S. Mankoo |
41,412 | $ | 434,826 | |||||
Martin E. Roberts |
174,968 | $ | 1,837,164 | |||||
Edward F. Straube |
4,019 | $ | 42,200 | |||||
Non-Employee Directors |
||||||||
Andrew D. Africk |
78,908 | $ | 828,534 | |||||
Shelby Bonnie |
97,693 | $ | 1,025,777 | |||||
Frank E. Dangeard |
40,741 | $ | 427,781 | |||||
Steven L. Fingerhood |
88,714 | $ | 931,497 | |||||
Gilbert S. Palter |
118,337 | $ | 1,242,539 | |||||
Sanford R. Robertson |
244,610 | $ | 2,568,405 | |||||
Mallun Yen |
140,643 | $ | 1,476,752 | |||||
Magdalena Yesil |
24,145 | $ | 253,523 | |||||
All of the Companys current directors and executive officers as a group (12 persons) |
1,090,579 | $ | 11,451,083 |
(1) | Does not include Company Stock Options (as defined below), Company RSUs (as defined below) or Company PSUs (as defined below), each of which is separately disclosed following this table and no amount of which held by an individual above will vest pursuant to its terms between May 21, 2018, the date for purposes of the table above, and June 19, 2018, the date for purposes of the tables below. |
Effect of the Merger Agreement on Equity Awards.
Treatment of Company Stock Options.
Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the parties to the Merger Agreement or the Parent and the applicable holder of the award, at the Effective Time, each stock option (or portion thereof) to purchase Company Shares that is outstanding immediately as of the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested (collectively, the Company Stock Options), will be canceled and converted into the right to receive, at or promptly after the Effective Time, an amount in cash determined by multiplying (i) the excess, if any, of the Offer Price over the applicable exercise price of such Company Stock Option by (ii) the total number of Company Shares underlying such Company Stock Option, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes, payable within five (5) days of the Effective Time. Each Company Stock Option with a per share exercise price that is equal to or greater than the Offer Price will be canceled for no consideration. The treatment of Company Stock Options pursuant to the Merger Agreement was approved by the Company Board.
The table below sets forth, as of and assuming the closing of the Merger (the Closing) occurs on June 19, 2018, the Company Stock Options held by each of the Companys executive officers and directors and the effect of the foregoing provisions of the Merger Agreement thereon, based on the following: (i) the aggregate number of Company Shares subject to such Company Stock Options and (ii) an estimate of the value of such Company Stock Options on a pre-tax basis at the Effective Time, calculated by multiplying the excess of the Offer Price
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over the per share exercise prices of such Company Stock Options held by the individual by the number of Company Shares subject to such Company Stock Options.
Name |
Number of Shares Underlying Vested Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share of Vested Options |
Number of Shares Underlying Unvested Options |
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share of Unvested Options |
Estimated Cash Value of Company Stock Options |
|||||||||||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||||||||||||||
David J. Anderson |
6,000 | $ | 15.98 | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Paul A. S. Mankoo |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Martin E. Roberts |
25,000 | $ | 15.98 | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Edward F. Straube |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Non-Employee Directors |
||||||||||||||||||||
Andrew D. Africk |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Shelby Bonnie |
67,500 | $ | 10.45 | | $ | | $ | 39,000 | ||||||||||||
Frank E. Dangeard |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Steven L. Fingerhood |
60,625 | $ | 17.03 | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Gilbert S. Palter |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Sanford R. Robertson |
67,500 | $ | 26.09 | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||||||
Mallun Yen |
162,830 | $ | 6.63 | | $ | | $ | 630,152 | ||||||||||||
Magdalena Yesil |
| $ | | | $ | | $ | |
Treatment of Company Restricted Stock Units.
Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the parties to the Merger Agreement or the Parent and the applicable holder of the award, at the Effective Time, each Company restricted stock unit that vests solely on the basis of time and is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the Company RSUs) and is vested by its terms immediately prior to the Effective Time (taking into account any accelerated vesting as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) (each, a Vested Company RSU) will be canceled and converted into the right to receive, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Offer Price and (ii) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company RSU, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes, payable within five (5) days of the Effective Time. Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the parties to the Merger Agreement or the Parent and the applicable holder of the award, at the Effective Time, each Company RSU that will not by its terms vest (taking into account any accelerated vesting thereof as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) as of the Effective Time (each, an Unvested Company RSU) will be assumed and substituted by Parent without any action on the part of the holder thereof (each, a Substitute RSU). Each such Substitute RSU will continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting, settlement and forfeiture terms and accelerated vesting on specific terminations of employment, to the extent applicable) as are in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except for changes to certain terms and conditions rendered inoperative by reason of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or for certain other administrative or ministerial changes that are not materially detrimental to the holder thereof that in the reasonable and good faith determination of Parent are necessary to conform the administration of the Substitute RSUs and the Surviving Corporation. Upon the vesting and settlement of such Substitute RSU, the holder thereof will be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (A) the Offer Price and (B) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company RSU that would have become vested pursuant to its terms, without interest and subject to any
8
applicable withholding taxes, at the same time as such Company RSUs for which the Substitute RSUs were assumed and substituted would have been settled pursuant to its terms. The treatment of Company RSUs pursuant to the Merger Agreement was approved by the Company Board.
The table below sets forth, as of and assuming the Closing occurs on June 19, 2018, the Company RSUs held by each of the Companys executive officers and directors and the effect of the foregoing provisions of the Merger Agreement thereon, based on the following: (i) the aggregate number of Company Shares subject to such Company RSUs and (ii) an estimate of the aggregate value of such Company RSUs on a pre-tax basis at the Effective Time, calculated by multiplying the Offer Price by the number of Company Shares subject to such Company RSUs.
Name |
Number of Shares Underlying Unvested Company RSUs |
Number of Shares Underlying Vested Company RSUs |
Estimated Cash Value of Company RSUs |
|||||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||||||
David J. Anderson |
110,463 | 1,160 | $ | 1,172,042 | ||||||||
Paul A. S. Mankoo |
120,855 | 1,041 | $ | 1,279,908 | ||||||||
Martin E. Roberts |
110,120 | 2,976 | $ | 1,187,508 | ||||||||
Edward F. Straube |
53,632 | 946 | $ | 573,069 | ||||||||
Non-Employee Directors |
||||||||||||
Andrew D. Africk |
10,976 | | $ | 115,248 | ||||||||
Shelby Bonnie |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Frank E. Dangeard |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Steven L. Fingerhood |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Gilbert S. Palter |
10,976 | | $ | 115,248 | ||||||||
Sanford R. Robertson |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Mallun Yen |
11,112 | | $ | 116,676 | ||||||||
Magdalena Yesil |
11,112 | | $ | 116,676 |
Treatment of Company Performance Stock Units.
Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the parties to the Merger Agreement or the Parent and the applicable holder of the award, at the Effective Time, each Company restricted stock unit that vests in whole or in part on the basis of achieving performance targets and is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the Company PSUs) and is vested by its terms immediately prior to the Effective Time (after taking into account any accelerated vesting as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) (each, a Vested Company PSU) will be canceled and converted into the right to receive, within five (5) days of the Effective Time, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Offer Price and (ii) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company PSU, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes. Unless otherwise mutually agreed by the parties to the Merger Agreement or the Parent and the applicable holder of the award, at the Effective Time, each Company PSU that will not by its terms (taking into account any accelerated vesting thereof as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement) as of the Effective Time (each, an Unvested Company PSU) will be assumed and substituted by Parent without any action on the part of the holder thereof (each, a Substitute PSU). Each such Substitute PSU will continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and conditions (including with respect to vesting, settlement and forfeiture terms and accelerated vesting on specific terminations of employment, to the extent applicable) as are in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except (i) any performance-based vesting condition to which such Company PSU is subject will be treated as having been attained at target achievement levels, such that the Substitute PSU will remain subject to the time-based vesting condition in effect for such Company PSU, and (ii) for changes to certain terms and conditions rendered inoperative by reason of the
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transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or for certain other administrative or ministerial changes that are not materially detrimental to the holder thereof that in the reasonable and good faith determination of Parent are necessary to conform the administration of the Substitute PSUs and the Surviving Corporation. Upon the vesting and settlement of such Substitute PSU, the holder thereof will be entitled to receive an amount in cash equal to the product of (A) the Offer Price and (B) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company PSU that would have become vested pursuant to its terms, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes, at the same time as such Company RSUs for which the Substitute RSUs were assumed and substituted would have been settled pursuant to its terms. The treatment of Company PSUs pursuant to the Merger Agreement was approved by the Company Board.
The table below sets forth, as of and assuming the Closing occurs on June 19, 2018, the Company PSUs held by each of the Companys executive officers and directors and the effect of the foregoing provisions of the Merger Agreement thereon, based on the following: (i) the aggregate number of Company Shares subject to such Company PSUs and (ii) an estimate of the aggregate value of such Company PSUs on a pre-tax basis at the Effective Time, calculated by multiplying the Offer Price by the number of Company Shares subject to such Company PSUs.
Name |
Number of Shares Underlying Unvested PSUs |
Number of Shares Underlying Vested Company PSUs |
Estimated Cash Value of Company PSUs |
|||||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||||||
David J. Anderson |
33,040 | | $ | 346,920 | ||||||||
Paul A. S. Mankoo |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Martin E. Roberts |
132,158 | | $ | 1,387,659 | ||||||||
Edward F. Straube |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Non-Employee Directors |
||||||||||||
Andrew D. Africk |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Shelby Bonnie |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Frank E. Dangeard |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Steven L. Fingerhood |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Gilbert S. Palter |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Sanford R. Robertson |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Mallun Yen |
| | $ | | ||||||||
Magdalena Yesil |
| | $ | |
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The table below sets forth, as of and assuming the Closing occurs on June 19, 2018, the estimated payments to be made to each of the Companys executive officers and directors in relation to the Company Stock Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs held by each individual pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as further described in the three foregoing tables.
Name |
Estimated Cash Value of Company Options |
Estimated Cash Value of Company RSUs |
Estimated Cash Value of Company PSUs |
Total Estimated Equity- Award Related Cash Payment |
||||||||||||
Executive Officers |
||||||||||||||||
David J. Anderson |
$ | | $ | 1,172,042 | $ | 346,920 | $ | 1,518,962 | ||||||||
Paul A. S. Mankoo |
$ | | $ | 1,279,908 | $ | | $ | 1,279,908 | ||||||||
Martin E. Roberts |
$ | | $ | 1,187,508 | $ | 1,387,659 | $ | 2,575,167 | ||||||||
Edward F. Straube |
$ | | $ | 573,069 | $ | | $ | 573,069 | ||||||||
Non-Employee Directors |
||||||||||||||||
Andrew D. Africk |
$ | | $ | 115,248 | $ | | $ | 115,248 | ||||||||
Shelby Bonnie |
$ | 39,000 | $ | | $ | | $ | 39,000 | ||||||||
Frank E. Dangeard |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Steven L. Fingerhood |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Gilbert S. Palter |
$ | | $ | 115,248 | $ | | $ | 115,248 | ||||||||
Sanford R. Robertson |
$ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||||||
Mallun Yen |
$ | 630,152 | $ | 116,676 | $ | | $ | 746,828 | ||||||||
Magdalena Yesil |
$ | | $ | 116,676 | $ | | $ | 116,676 |
Severance Guidelines and Severance and Change in Control Agreements.
In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, the Compensation Committee of the Company Board (the Compensation Committee) adopted severance guidelines (the Severance Guidelines) in March 2018, pursuant to which certain of the Companys executive officers and other designated key employees of the Company, or Inventus, LLC or Inventus Solutions UK Ltd. (Inventus), each of which is a subsidiary of the Company, are eligible to receive severance benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of employment and, for certain employees, a transaction bonus upon the occurrence of a change in control of the Company, subject to the participants execution of a severance and change in control agreement.
On March 21, 2018, each of Messrs. Anderson, Roberts and Straube entered into severance and change in control agreements with the Company. Pursuant to these agreements, if the executives employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as defined in the agreement) or by the executive for good reason (as defined in the agreement), in either case, within nine (9) months following a change in control (as defined in the agreement), then, subject to the executives execution of an effective release of claims, the executive will be entitled to (i) severance pay in an amount equal to the sum of a multiple (1.5 for Mr. Roberts, 1.25 for Mr. Anderson, and 1.0 for Mr. Straube) of the executives annual base salary and a percentage (100% for Mr. Roberts, 75% for Mr. Anderson, and 50% for Mr. Straube) of the executives target bonus as calculated assuming 100% achievement of plan, payable in equal installments over the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination of employment, (ii) a lump-sum payment in an amount equal to the amount required to maintain the executives current health benefits under COBRA for twelve (12) months following the date of termination and (iii) fully accelerated vesting and immediate exercisability of the unvested portion of any equity award held by the executive as of the date of termination. The executives receipt of the severance payments and benefits is subject to the executives continued compliance with the executives obligations to comply with the restrictive covenants set forth in the applicable proprietary information and inventions agreement entered into with the Company. In addition, if it is determined that any payment or benefit would constitute a parachute
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payment under Section 280G of the Code and would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, then such payments or benefits will be reduced to the extent necessary so that no portion thereof shall be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, but only if, by reason of such reduction, the net after-tax benefit received by the executive will exceed the net after-tax benefit received by him if no such reduction was made.
Pursuant to the Severance Guidelines, the Compensation Committee approved severance and enhanced acceleration benefits for Mr. Mankoo, which will become due if a change in control of the Company occurs on or prior to March 30, 2019 and he is subject to an involuntary termination within nine months after the change in control. These severance benefits include cash severance equal to twelve (12) months of his annual base salary and acceleration of vesting of his then-outstanding equity awards. These benefits are contingent upon Mr. Mankoos execution of an effective release of claims. The Company intends to enter into an agreement with Mr. Mankoo in order to more fully set forth the rights and obligations with respect to the severance arrangement approved by the Compensation Committee, including the impact that this severance arrangement will have on his entitlement to severance under the terms of his existing service agreement with Inventus as discussed below.
Terms of Equity Awards Held by Executive Officers.
Pursuant to the award agreements evidencing the Company RSUs granted to each of Messrs. Roberts and Anderson in April 2017 and to Mr. Straube in February 2018, if a change in control (as defined in the award agreement) occurs and the executives employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as defined in the award agreement) or by the executive for good reason (as defined in the award agreement), in either case, within twelve (12) months after such change in control, then 50% of the unvested Company RSUs at the time of termination will immediately vest.
Pursuant to a letter agreement between the Company and each of Messrs. Roberts and Anderson, dated May 12, 2016, the terms of certain Company RSUs granted to Mr. Roberts in 2013 and 2016 and to Mr. Anderson in 2013-2016 were amended to provide that if a change in control (as defined in the Companys 2011 Equity Incentive Plan) occurs and the executives employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as defined in the letter agreement) or by the executive for good reason (as defined in the letter agreement), in either case, within twelve (12) months after such change in control, then 50% of the unvested Company RSUs at the time of termination will immediately vest.
Pursuant to the award agreements evidencing the Company PSUs granted to each of Messrs. Roberts and Anderson in May 2017, if a change in control (as defined in the award agreement) occurs at any time prior to February 20, 2020, then any then-unvested Company PSUs will cease to be subject to performance-based vesting conditions and instead will convert to time-based vesting with quarterly vesting in substantially equal installments to occur on the Companys established vesting dates of February 20, May 20, August 20 and November 20 until such Company PSUs are fully vested, subject to the executives continuous service with the Company through each applicable vesting date; provided, that if the executives employment is terminated by the Company without cause (as defined in the award agreement) or by the executive for good reason (as defined in the award agreement), in either case, within twelve (12) months after such change in control, then 50% of the unvested Company PSUs at the time of termination will immediately vest.
On May 17, 2018, the Compensation Committee approved grants of Company RSUs to certain employees, including the Companys executive officers, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger. Messrs. Roberts, Anderson, Mankoo and Straube were granted a total of 47,619 RSUs, 18,571 RSUs, 16,667 RSUs and 15,143 RSUs, respectively. The RSUs generally vest over four (4) years, with 6.25% vesting effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger (assuming that the Effective Time of the Merger occurs prior to August 20, 2018), and the remainder vesting in equal quarterly installments thereafter, beginning on August 20, 2018 (provided, that if the Effective Time of the Merger occurs on or after August 20, 2018, then any RSUs that were scheduled to vest prior to the Effective Time of the Merger shall vest
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immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger and the remainder shall remain subject to the quarterly vesting schedule), subject to the executives continuous service with the Company through each applicable vesting date. The RSUs granted to each of Messrs. Anderson, Roberts and Straube are subject to accelerated vesting upon a qualifying termination of employment pursuant to their respective severance and change in control agreements with the Company, except that, for Mr. Roberts only, such qualifying termination does not include a termination by him for good reason for purposes of entitlement to this acceleration benefit. The RSUs granted to Mr. Mankoo may be subject to accelerated vesting upon a qualifying termination of employment pursuant to his severance arrangement under the Severance Guidelines, noting that the Company intends to enter into an agreement with Mr. Mankoo in order to more fully set forth the rights and obligations with respect to such severance arrangement, including the impact that this severance arrangement will have on his entitlement to severance under the terms of his existing service agreement with Inventus as discussed below. For further information regarding the acceleration benefits, see the section above entitled Severance Guidelines and Severance and Change in Control Agreements.
Terms of Equity Awards Held by Non-Employee Directors.
Pursuant to the award agreements evidencing the Company RSUs granted to each non-employee director of the Company, all unvested Company RSUs will immediately become fully vested upon the occurrence of a change in control (as defined in the award agreement).
Employment Agreements with Executive Officers.
The Company has entered into employment offer letter agreements with each of Messrs. Roberts, Anderson and Straube, dated September 17, 2010, October 12, 2010 and February 15, 2013, respectively. None of these offer letter agreements provide for severance payments or benefits.
Mr. Mankoo is employed by Inventus in the United Kingdom pursuant to a service agreement entered into between Mr. Mankoo and Inventus Solutions UK Ltd., f/k/a Unified OS Limited, dated March 11, 2015. The agreement requires that either party provide the other party at least six ( 6) months advance notice prior to termination of the agreement, with Inventus reserving the right to pay Mr. Mankoo in lieu of such notice. In the event of a termination of employment by Mr. Mankoo upon the occurrence of certain qualifying events set forth in the agreement (i.e. good reason) and subject to his execution of a release of claims, he will be entitled to payments of severance equal to six (6) months of his then-current base salary, a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination as determined by Inventus in its discretion, any earned but unpaid annual bonus, and the value of any contractual benefits that he would have earned and received from the date of termination through the first date upon which his employment could otherwise have been lawfully terminated. The Company intends to enter into an agreement with Mr. Mankoo in order to more fully set forth the rights and obligations with respect to his severance arrangement that was approved by the Compensation Committee pursuant to the Severance Guidelines (as discussed above), including the impact that this severance arrangement will have on his entitlement to severance under the terms of his existing service agreement with Inventus.
Employee Benefit Matters.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent has agreed that, for a period of one (1) year following the Effective Time, Parent (or the Surviving Corporation or a subsidiary of Parent) will provide to each employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries who continues to be employed by Parent (or the Surviving Corporation or a subsidiary of parent) (each Continuing Company Personnel) with (i) base salary (or wage rate, as the case may be) and annual cash incentive compensation opportunities that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to the base salary (or wage rate, as the case may be) and annual cash incentive compensation opportunities provided to such Continuing Company Personnel immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) defined contribution and health and welfare benefits plans which are substantially comparable in the aggregate (including with respect to the proportion of employee cost) to the defined contribution and health and welfare benefits provided to such Continuing Company Personnel immediately prior to the Effective Time.
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Director and Officer Exculpation, Indemnification and Insurance.
Section 145 of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to include in its charter documents and in agreements between a corporation and its directors and officers provisions expanding the scope of indemnification beyond that specifically provided by current law.
The Companys amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes provisions that limit the liability of its directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability that cannot be eliminated under the DGCL. Accordingly, the Companys directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liabilities:
| for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders; |
| for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
| for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; |
| for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit; |
| where the indemnitee did not act in a manner in which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company; |
| with respect to any criminal action, where the indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; |
| where the indemnitee has been adjudged to be liable to the Company; or |
| for settlements or judgments paid in respect of claims asserted by or on behalf of the Company. |
The Companys amended and restated bylaws also provide that the Company will indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. In addition, the Company has entered into separate indemnification agreements with certain of its directors, officers and other employees that require it, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors, officers or employees and to advance their expenses (actually and reasonably incurred) and amounts paid in settlement by the indemnitee with any indemnifiable claim. Additionally, an indemnitee may bring an action against the Company to recover any unpaid amounts stemming from a claim for indemnification.
This description of the indemnity agreements entered into between the Company and certain of its directors, officers and other employees is qualified in its entirety by reference to the form of indemnity agreement filed as Exhibit (e)(5) hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.
The Merger Agreement provides for indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from liabilities in favor of the Companys and its subsidiaries current and former directors, officers and employees (each such person, a Covered Person). Specifically, Parent has agreed to honor indemnification agreements and indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation provisions contained in the Companys and its subsidiaries organizational documents as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement, with respect to liabilities for acts or omissions occurring prior to or at the Effective Time. In addition, Parent has agreed that, for six (6) years following the Effective Time, it and the Surviving Corporation will indemnify and hold harmless each individual who was prior to or is as of the date of the Merger Agreement, or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, a director or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or who was prior to or was as of the date of the Merger Agreement, or who thereafter commences prior to the Effective Time, serving at the request of the Company or any of its subsidiaries as a director or officer (each such person, an Indemnified Party), against all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, inquiries, fines and reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including attorneys fees and disbursements arising out of or pertaining to the fact that the Indemnified
14
Party is or was a director or officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company as a director or officer of another person at any time at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law. The Merger Agreement provides that, for six (6) years following the Effective Time, each Indemnified Party will be entitled to advancement of expenses incurred in the defense of any such claim, action, suit or proceeding from the Surviving Corporation; provided that any person to whom expenses are advanced provides an undertaking, if and only to the extent required by the DGCL or the Surviving Corporations certificate of incorporation or bylaws, to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined by final adjudication that such person is not entitled to indemnification.
Parent has agreed that the Surviving Corporation will maintain in effect for a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, the Companys or its subsidiaries existing policies of directors and officers liability insurance covering Indemnified Parties or provide substitute policies for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties of not less than the existing coverage and having other terms not less favorable to the insured persons than the policies in place as of the date of the Merger Agreement, to the extent that directors and officers liability insurance coverage is commercially available; however, in no event shall the Surviving Corporation be required to pay, in the aggregate, with respect to such insurance policies, more than 300% of the aggregate annual premium of the most recent annual premium paid by the Company as of the date of the Merger Agreement. If the parties are unable to obtain the required foregoing insurance, they shall obtain as much comparable insurance as possible for the years within such six (6) year period for an amount not to exceed 300% of the aggregate annual premium of the most recent annual premium paid by the Company prior to the date of the Merger Agreement for such insurance, in respect of such policy. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company expects to purchase a six (6) year prepaid tail directors and officers liability insurance policy providing coverage in an amount not less than the existing coverage and to have other terms not less favorable than the directors and officers liability insurance policies in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement (with the maximum aggregate cost of such policy not to be in excess of the maximum contemplated by the preceding sentence).
The rights to advancement, exculpation and indemnification described above will survive the consummation of the Merger, will be binding on all successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation and Parent, and are intended to benefit, and will be enforceable by, each indemnified or insured party (including the Covered Persons and Indemnified Parties) and his or her heirs or representatives.
Possible Post-Transaction Employment of Executive Officers.
While, as of the date of this Schedule 14D-9, none of the Companys directors or executive officers has entered into any agreement or arrangement with Parent, the Company, or their respective affiliates regarding continued service with Parent, the Company or their respective affiliates after the Effective Time, it is possible that Parent, the Company, or their respective affiliates may enter into employment or other arrangements with certain of the Companys executive officers in the future. Neither the Offer nor the Merger is conditioned upon any director or executive officer entering into any such agreement or arrangement.
Section 16 Matters.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent and the Company shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any dispositions of Company Shares in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby (including derivative securities of such Company Shares) by each individual who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act with respect to the Company, and who will become subject to such reporting requirements with respect to Parent, to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Potential for Future Arrangements
To the Companys knowledge, except for certain agreements described in this Schedule 14D-9 (or in the documents incorporated by reference herein), no employment, equity contribution or other agreement,
15
arrangement or understanding between any executive officer or director of the Company, on the one hand, and Parent, the Surviving Corporation, any of their subsidiaries or the Company, on the other hand, existed as of the date of this Schedule 14D-9, and neither the Offer nor the Merger is conditioned upon any executive officer or director of the Company entering into any such agreement, arrangement or understanding.
ITEM 4. | THE SOLICITATION OR RECOMMENDATION |
Recommendation of the Company Board.
After careful consideration of relevant factors, including a review of the terms of the Offer and the Merger with the assistance of the Companys management and legal and financial advisors, the Company Board, during a meeting held on April 30, 2018, by unanimous vote determined that the Merger Agreement and associated transactions, including the Offer and the Merger, are advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, adopted and approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, recommended that the Companys stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, and further resolved that, subject to completion of the Offer, the Merger should be effected under Section 251(h) of the DGCL.
Accordingly, the Company Board unanimously recommends that Company stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares in response to the Offer.
Background and Reasons for the Company Boards Recommendation.
Background of the Merger.
The following chronology summarizes the key meetings and events that led to the signing of the Merger Agreement. This chronology does not purport to catalogue every conversation of or among the Company Board, the Special Committee (as defined below), Company management or the representatives of the Company, and other parties. Other than as described below, there have been no material contacts between the Company and HGGC in the past two years.
The Company Board and Company management regularly review and assess the Companys business strategies, objectives, performance, risks and opportunities, all with the goal of enhancing stockholder value. The Company Board and Company management use both internal resources and external advisors in connection with these reviews and assessments and other matters.
During the fall of 2016, certain members of Company management had introductory meetings with various private equity firms to provide an overview of the Companys business, none of which resulted in an offer to acquire the Company being presented to the Company Board.
On November 10, 2016, at a meeting of the Company Board attended by Company management, the Company Board discussed the potential acquisition of a company in the discovery industry that would be integrated into the Companys Inventus business but ultimately decided on December 19, 2016 not to proceed with such strategic acquisition after a thorough review of the Companys current financial results and its projected growth during 2017.
At a special meeting of the Company Board on November 29, 2016, attended by the Companys legal advisors, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom (Skadden), the Company Board discussed the possibility of retaining a financial advisor to advise on various strategic and financial matters, including a possible acquisition of the Company. The Company Board decided it would interview three investment banks and select one based on its assessment after the interviews. At special meetings of the Company Board on December 15, 2016 and December 18, 2016, the Company Board discussed its meetings with representatives of three financial advisors, including GCA Advisors, LLC (GCA Advisors), and, following meetings and discussions with such financial
16
advisors, the Company ultimately engaged GCA Advisors on January 18, 2017 based on GCA Advisors experience and knowledge of the industry as well as the Companys past experience working with GCA Advisors.
On February 5, 2017, the Companys President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), John A. Amster, resigned at the request of the Company Board. At a meeting of the Company Board attended by representatives of GCA Advisors, Skadden and Company management earlier that day, the Company Board, with advice from Skadden, evaluated the Companys strategic alternatives and the legal obligations of the Company Board in connection with a leadership transition and requested Mr. Amsters resignation due to a disagreement between the Company Board and Mr. Amster over whether the Company should immediately commence a process to sell the Company, for which Mr. Amster had advocated. After review of the Companys standalone prospects and opportunities, the Company Board disagreed with Mr. Amsters position and reiterated its confidence in the Companys standalone opportunities and belief that the Company could maximize stockholder value under new leadership without being acquired by a third party. Following Mr. Amsters resignation, the Company Board then appointed Martin E. Roberts, formerly the Companys General Counsel, to serve as the Companys Interim CEO while the Company conducted a search for a permanent CEO.
Also at the February 5, 2017 meeting of the Company Board, representatives of GCA Advisors presented to the Company Board a business overview of the Company, including the Inventus business, which had also been a topic of discussion at a meeting of the Company Board attended by representatives of Company management on February 2, 2017. On February 6, 2017 and February 15, 2017, the Company Board met to further discuss the Inventus business and a potential sale of the Inventus business, as well as other potential strategic alternatives. Following such meetings, representatives of Skadden spoke with representatives of the Company Board regarding the topics discussed at such meetings. On March 15, 2017 at a meeting of the Company Board attended by Company management, the Company Board determined, following consultation with Spencer Stuart and a discussion regarding the pool and profiles of potential candidates, that it was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders for Mr. Roberts to serve as permanent CEO and President. The Company Board thereafter approved Mr. Roberts appointment as permanent CEO and President.
Between February and June 2017, the Company received four preliminary proposals to acquire the Company from potential financial buyers HGGC, Party A, Party B and Party C ranging from $13.50 to $16.10 per share. The Company Board had not solicited the proposals and had not provided nonpublic information to any of these parties on which to base such proposals. The Company Board, with advice from representatives of Skadden and GCA Advisors, considered each such proposal in turn in light of, among other things, the Companys historical and projected financial performance and valuation, analysis provided by representatives of GCA Advisors, legal advice from Skadden regarding the Company Boards fiduciary duties to be considered in connection with evaluating such proposals and the Companys plans for continuing to operate on a standalone basis. After considering each proposal in good faith based on reasonable inquiry and after careful consideration of all material facts reasonably available, and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, the Company Board determined that it was in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders for the Company to reject such proposals and to continue to pursue the Companys long-range plans and realize the Companys long-term potential.
In addition, between February and early December 2017, the Company Board, with advice from representatives of Skadden, GCA Advisors (which assisted the Company in its review of strategic alternatives generally, including for the Inventus business, and including a potential sale of such business), Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (Katten) and Lincoln International LLC (which the Company engaged to assist in review of strategic alternatives for the Inventus business, including a potential sale of such business) (Lincoln), reviewed the status of the Inventus business, discussing, among other things, cross-selling opportunities between the Inventus business and the patent risk mitigation business, the U.S. and international discovery markets in general and market trends affecting each such market, pricing trends and potential avenues for expanding Inventuss business in order to maximize Company stockholder value. Following a review of the potential strategic
17
alternatives for the Inventus business, and after receiving legal advice regarding the Company Boards fiduciary duties in connection with its consideration of a potential sale of the Inventus business, the Company Board ultimately determined that it would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to consider proposals for the sale of the Inventus business to a third party and engaged Lincoln to assist with the process. On September 6, 2017, the Company (in consultation with members of the Company Board) terminated the engagement of GCA Advisors because the Company Board had determined that its review of strategic alternatives with GCA Advisors had concluded at such time.
Following a due diligence process and discussions with Company management, Katten, Lincoln and potential third-party acquirers, in December 2017 the Company received letters of intent to acquire Inventus (subject to further due diligence requirements, additional discussions with Company management and other outstanding requirements before a definitive agreement with respect to any such transaction could be executed) for consideration ranging from $80 million to up to $100 million at closing (with, in some cases, the ability to obtain performance-based milestone payments over time providing for aggregate consideration of up to $140 million). The Company Board ultimately determined that such proposals were lower in value than the Companys view of the intrinsic value of the Inventus business and that the Company and its stockholders would be better served by the Company retaining and continuing to operate the Inventus business rather than selling it to a third party at that time.
Following the completion of this process in the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company reported on its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 5, 2018, as amended, an impairment equal to $89.0 million related to the goodwill in its discovery services segment in connection with the Companys annual impairment testing of goodwill which resulted in the carrying values of the discovery services reporting units exceeding the fair values primarily due to (a) decreased expected future cash flows from pricing pressures and competition in the discovery services marketplace as well as significant fluctuations due to the project-based nature of these cash flows, and (b) a decrease in estimated peer company values. No cash expenditures were anticipated as a result of the impairment losses.
On December 14, 2017, following discussions with Company management and Skadden and a review of the Companys internal, nonpublic financial forecast for 2018 and beyond (which had been reduced in the second half of 2017 from earlier forecasts following reassessments by Company management prompted by management changes) and macro trends in the industries in which the Company operates, the Company Board established by unanimous written consent a special committee (the Special Committee), for convenience purposes and not as a result of any perceived conflicts, comprised of Company directors Gilbert S. Palter, Shelby W. Bonnie and Sanford R. Robertson to examine and provide recommendations regarding strategic alternatives including, but not limited to, a possible merger, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company (a Potential Transaction) as well as to reengage with GCA Advisors and third parties regarding any Potential Transaction given GCA Advisors knowledge of the Company and industry from its earlier efforts, including by requesting that GCA Advisors produce a list of potential counterparties in a Potential Transaction, assess their interest in pursuing a Potential Transaction and potentially engage in a strategic process for the potential acquisition of all or a material portion of the Company.
On December 19, 2017, at a meeting of the Special Committee attended by representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden at which Mr. Robertson was not present, representatives of GCA Advisors provided an update regarding its efforts regarding the Potential Transaction process and a potential list of third parties to approach in connection with a Potential Transaction. The Special Committee requested that GCA Advisors expand the list to include a larger list of third parties. Also at this meeting, Mr. Roberts discussed with the Special Committee Mr. Robertsons desire to resign from the Special Committee because Francisco Partners, of which Mr. Robertson is a co-founder and Partner Emeritus, was interested in considering a Potential Transaction with the Company, which could present a potential conflict of interest. On December 27, 2017, Mr. Robertson resigned from the Special Committee to permit Francisco Partners to consider whether to submit a proposal for a Potential Transaction. Francisco Partners was invited by the Company to participate in the Potential Transaction
18
process but did not, ultimately, submit such a proposal. Mr. Robertson was, as a member of the Company Board, at all times prohibited from sharing any material non-public information with Francisco Partners. The Company Board appointed another director, Andrew D. Africk, to replace Mr. Robertson on the Special Committee and, following Francisco Partners decision not to submit a proposal to acquire the Company, Mr. Robertson served in an advisory capacity to the Special Committee.
From late December 2017 through March 2018, representatives of GCA Advisors, on behalf of and at the request of the Company, contacted 53 prospective financial buyers and three prospective strategic buyers regarding a potential acquisition of the Company. The parties contacted were generally selected on the basis of, among other things, being viewed as having the potential interest, financial resources and industry experience to acquire the Company and taking into account the financial buyers ability to finance such an acquisition. Of the 56 parties contacted, 28 entered into non-disclosure agreements with the Company, 26 were provided with access to due diligence materials via the Companys electronic datasite, 16 met with Company management, six submitted initial proposals and two submitted final proposals. HGGC, on behalf of Parent and Purchaser, submitted the only complete proposal that included fully committed debt and equity financing and an indication that only limited due diligence remained outstanding. Each of the non-disclosure agreements entered into by and between the Company and each prospective buyer included, among other things, a standstill provision prohibiting each prospective buyer from acquiring any Company Common Stock or requesting that the Company Board waive such standstill provision. Each such standstill provision automatically terminated upon the Companys entry into the Merger Agreement. Certain of the prospective buyers, including but not limited to HGGC, Party A, Party B and Party C, requested the Companys permission to confer with Mr. Amster regarding the Company (which would otherwise have been prohibited under each non-disclosure agreement) and all such requests were approved by the Company.
On January 9, 2018, HGGC and the Company entered into a non-disclosure agreement with the Company that included a standstill provision (as described above).
Also on January 9, 2018, at a meeting of the Special Committee attended by representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided an update regarding the Potential Transaction process including a proposed schedule for management meetings with potential acquirers.
On January 10, 2018 at a meeting of the Company Board attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors discussed with the Company Board potential counterparties that might be interested in the acquisition of the Company. The Company Board, with advice from legal counsel (including a discussion of the Company Boards fiduciary duties in connection with evaluating the Potential Transaction process and any proposals received in connection therewith) and GCA Advisors, discussed best practices for engaging in the Potential Transaction process. Also at the January 10, 2018 meeting, representatives of Company management presented to the Company Board projections regarding the anticipated future performance of the Company that Company management had prepared with a view towards such projections being shared with and used to attract potential bidders in the acquisition of the Company. The Company Board reviewed such projections with Company management, including the assumptions on which such projections were based, and requested that Company management further review such projections in light of questions and comments raised at the meeting and present updated projections to the Company Board at its meeting on January 19, 2018.
On January 16, 2018, representatives of GCA Advisors provided an update to the Company Board regarding the Potential Transaction process.
On January 19, 2018, an industry blog post reported rumors that the Company was conducting a process to sell itself to a third-party acquirer.
Also on January 19, 2018, the Company Board held a meeting attended by representatives of Company management and Skadden. At such meeting the Company Board, in consultation with representatives of
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GCA Advisors, discussed approaches for exploring a Potential Transaction and approved providing certain information on a limited and confidential basis to potential bidders who had executed non-disclosure agreements with the Company. Also at the January 19, 2018 meeting, at the request of the Company Board at its January 10, 2018 meeting, representatives of Company management presented to the Company Board updated projections that were prepared based on aggressive assumptions and in part with an eye to attracting potential bidders in the acquisition of the Company. The Company Board reviewed such projections with Company management, including the assumptions on which such projections were based, and independently determined that updated versions of such projections should be provided to potential bidders as a reliable indicator of the Companys estimate of the Companys future potential performance. Such projections (the Initial Forecasts) were provided to potential bidders beginning on January 23, 2018 via the Companys electronic datasite. Neither the Company nor GCA Advisors provided potential bidders with any additional projections during the Potential Transaction process, but potential bidders did, from time to time, receive updates on the Companys financial results and certain important metrics, including but not limited to key customer renewals. Representatives of GCA Advisors continued to provide the Special Committee and members of the Company Board with updates on the Potential Transaction process regularly throughout the Potential Transaction process. For more information regarding these projections, see Item 4 under the heading Certain Financial Projections.
On February 8, 2018 at a meeting of the Company Board attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, the Company Board discussed the potential exclusion of two private equity funds, Party A and Party D, from the list of parties to be invited to participate in December 2017 and January 2018 potential bidder outreach processes due to potential materially negative reactions from the Companys customers arising from the relationships of such funds to non-practicing entities (NPEs), including holding controlling ownership interests in NPEs, and their relationships with individuals and companies associated with NPEs. The Company Board determined that these factors could (a) materially impact the valuation of the Company if the Company Board ultimately determined that the Company should continue on a standalone basis if customers decided not to renew their agreements with the Company as a result of the consideration of a Potential Transaction by such funds and (b) such funds might, in any event, lose interest in acquiring the Company, or only be interested in acquiring the Company at a suppressed price, if they became aware of the severity of negative customer perceptions of them. Prior to the February 8, 2018 meeting, Party A informed representatives of GCA Advisors that it would likely publicly announce an acquisition proposal if it were not allowed to participate in the Potential Transaction process, which the Company Board determined at the February 8, 2018 meeting would be disruptive to the overall process. After further discussion and evaluation, the Company Board considered the possibility of (a) permitting Party A to participate in the Potential Transaction process (initially with access to only a limited amount of information) because Party A had indicated that, if acquired by Party A, the Company would be operated independently from Party As other portfolio companies and (b) excluding Party D from the Potential Transaction process in light of its requirement that it partner in any Potential Transaction with certain individuals associated with NPEs, which the Company Board expected would (i) have a materially negative impact on customer renewals and (ii) create a low likelihood of consummating a transaction with Party D in light of customer perceptions of such funds required partners. The Company Board further discussed with representatives of GCA Advisors the prospect of soliciting proposals for a minority investment from prospective investors as an alternative to a whole company sale in order to provide a full view of available strategic alternatives.
On February 12, 2018, Party A (which had not yet been provided with any confidential information) submitted a non-binding preliminary proposal for $14.00$16.00 in cash per Company Share and four days later, on February 16, 2018, submitted a revised non-binding preliminary proposal of $16.00 in cash per Company Share.
On February 13, 2018, GCA Advisors, at the direction of the Special Committee, distributed to 14 interested potential buyers a bid process letter containing bid instructions and procedures and requested that each interested party submit a non-binding indication of interest, including an indicative price, no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 7, 2018. In response to this request, GCA Advisors, on behalf of the Company, received non-binding indications of interest from four potential financial buyersHGGC, Party B, Party C and Party E
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and no potential strategic buyers, all of whom had declined to submit proposals based on their view of a lack of strategic fit and the Companys financial results.
After the close of trading on February 21, 2018, the Company reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K (a) the financial results of its operations for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 and guidance for the year ending December 31, 2018, (b) a detailed discussion of the implementation and impact on the Companys financial reporting of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606), and (c) that the Company Board was conducting a process to explore and evaluate strategic alternatives to maximize stockholder value, though no decisions related to any strategic alternatives had been made at such time. Following such report, the price per Company Share as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market fell from $13.00 per Company Share at the close of trading on February 21, 2018 to $10.50 per Company Share at the open of trading on February 22, 2018.
On February 27, 2018, members of the Companys management met with Party A management regarding a Potential Transaction. The next day, at a meeting attended by members of Company management and representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, the Special Committee discussed whether to permit Party A to participate in the Potential Transaction process deciding, after a full discussion, including following advice from GCA Advisors and Skadden, to permit Party A to participate in the process while deferring disclosure of any potentially sensitive or confidential customer information until later in the Potential Transaction process if and when the Special Committee believed it would be appropriate to do so.
On March 9, 2018, the Special Committee met, along with members of Company management and representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, to consider and discuss the proposals received from HGGC, Party B, Party C and Party E. The Special Committee noted that HGGC, Party B and Party C had made proposals in the range of $11.00$11.25 in cash per Company Share, and Party Es proposal was the highest, including a range of $13.00$14.00 in cash per Company Share. The Special Committee considered that the proposals from HGGC and Party C included highly confident letters from potential debt financing sources, while the proposals from Party B and Party E did not, and that Party Es proposal indicated the longest timeline for the completion of due diligence and the execution of a definitive agreement, because Party E had done the least amount of work to date of the four bidders. Representatives of GCA Advisors also provided the Special Committee with an update regarding its ongoing discussions with Party A, noting that Party A had indicated that its proposal would likely be provided on March 19, 2018. The Special Committee and Company management also discussed the Companys ongoing efforts with respect to customer renewals.
On March 12, 2018, at a meeting of the Company Board attended by members of Company management and representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, the Company Board discussed with the Special Committee and representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden the proposals received from HGGC, Party B, Party C and Party E and the related matters discussed at the Special Committee meeting on March 9, 2018 and determined that discussions regarding a Potential Transaction among the Company, GCA Advisors and each of HGGC, Party B, Party C and Party E should be continued.
Also on March 12, 2018, GCA Advisors, at the direction of the Special Committee, distributed to Party A a bid process letter containing bid instructions and procedures and requesting that Party A submit a non-binding indication of interest, including an indicative price, no later than March 19, 2018.
On March 16, 2018, at a meeting of the Special Committee attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided the Special Committee with an update regarding GCA Advisors discussions and meetings with potential buyers. The Special Committee also discussed strategies for maximizing stockholder value, including strategic introductions of certain former employees of the Company to offer additional perspective on paths forward for the Company to certain potential buyers who might be interested in such perspectives.
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On March 20, 2018, at a meeting of the Special Committee attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided additional information regarding their meetings and discussions with potential buyers.
Later on March 20, 2018, GCA Advisors, on behalf of the Company, received a preliminary indication of interest from Party A including an indicative price of $12.00 in cash per Company Share, which preliminary indication of interest included a highly confident letter from a potential debt financing source.
On March 21, 2018, the Special Committee met, along with members of management and representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, to discuss the proposal received from Party A and potential paths for continuing the Potential Transaction process. Representatives of GCA Advisors reported that Party A had indicated that the reduction of Party As offer price from its initial proposal of $16.00 to its current proposal of $12.00 in cash per Company Share was due in part to the Companys forecasts for 2018 which it had received following its proposal on February 16, 2018, including those reported by the Company in its Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 21, 2018, as well as Company managements nonpublic projections which had been made available to Party A on February 26, 2018.
On March 23, 2018, the Special Committee held a meeting, attended by members of management, as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, at which representatives of GCA Advisors, as well as the Special Committee and Company management, discussed meetings between Company management and representatives of the various other potential buyers. Representatives of GCA Advisors reported that Party B had removed itself from the Potential Transaction process due to its view that it would not be able to provide the highest bid in light of their focus on other priorities and their view of the uncertainty surrounding the markets in which the Company operates (representatives of GCA Advisors continued discussions with Party B through early April but Party B elected not to reengage in the Potential Transaction process). The Special Committee then requested, based in part on discussions with representatives of GCA Advisors, that GCA Advisors solicit final offers from the remaining potential buyers to be provided during the week of April 9, 2018.
The Special Committee then heard a report from a member of the Special Committee who had been contacted by Party F to discuss a Potential Transaction. Such member of the Special Committee was contacted based on a prior relationship with representatives of Party F and the Companys announcement that the Company Board was evaluating strategic alternatives. The member of the Special Committee reported that Party F had provided an oral indicative price of $13.00$14.00 in cash per Company Share, although it had not yet obtained sufficient debt or equity financing commitments. The Special Committee also considered the potential negative impacts on the Companys relationship with customers (which could have a negative impact on the valuation of the Company as determined by other potential buyers) given Party Fs previous involvement with NPEs.
Also at this meeting, the Special Committee authorized the Company to enter into a new engagement letter with GCA Advisors, and on March 23, 2018, the Company formally executed an engagement letter with GCA Advisors, officially reengaging GCA Advisors (following termination of its engagement in September 2017) as its financial advisor in connection with a Potential Transaction effective as of February 1, 2018.
Between March 23, 2018 and March 28, 2018, at the request of the Company, GCA Advisors distributed to HGGC, Party A, Party C and Party E, the remaining potential buyers other than Party F, a final bid instruction letter requesting final proposals be provided by 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on April 11, 2018. Following distribution of the final bid instruction letters, at the request of the Company, Skadden provided a form of merger agreement providing for the acquisition of the Company by a potential buyer through the Companys electronic datasite. GCA Advisors did not distribute a final bid instruction letter to Party F at this time due to Party Fs lack of progress with equity and debt financing sources.
In a meeting of the Special Committee on March 30, 2018 attended by members of Company management and representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided an update on their
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ongoing discussions with the remaining potential buyers, including a discussion of industry rumors and speculation that Party A was in the process of selling its NPE business and that Party As interest in acquiring the Company may hinge on Party As sale of such business prior to the announcement of a transaction with the Company.
On April 6, 2018, at a meeting of the Company Board attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided an update on ongoing discussions with HGGC, Party A, Party C, Party E and Party F. Representatives of GCA Advisors also reported that Party F had indicated that they hoped to provide a complete proposal by April 30, 2018.
On April 8, 2018, at a meeting of the Company Board attended by members of Company management as well as a representative of Skadden, the Special Committee provided the Company Board with an update on the status of the Potential Transaction and discussions with potential buyers. The Special Committee also informed the Company Board that Party B had removed itself from the Potential Transaction process. The Company Board requested that Company management prepare additional materials regarding other potential strategic alternatives available to the Company (including, but not limited to, a potential sale of a minority interest of the Company), in the event that the Company Board determined not to proceed with a sale of the Company, in order to explore the full scope of options available to the Company and determine which options would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
On April 10, 2018, the Company, through GCA Advisors, extended the final bid deadline to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on April 16, 2018, upon the request of certain of the remaining potential buyers.
On April 13, 2018, at a meeting of the Special Committee attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided the Special Committee with additional insight regarding GCA Advisors ongoing efforts with respect to the Potential Transaction, including that Party E and Party C had removed themselves from the Potential Transaction process due to concerns about the state of the patent litigation market and uncertainty regarding their financial forecasts for the Company, particularly in light of the Companys ongoing customer renewal process.
On April 16, 2018, GCA Advisors, on behalf of the Company, received final proposals from HGGC and Party A, which included, among other things, their respective markup of the form of merger agreement and drafts of related transaction documents.
On April 17, 2018, the Special Committee held a meeting attended by representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden to discuss such final proposals. Representatives of GCA Advisors described to the Special Committee the terms of each of the proposals to acquire the Company, noting that HGGCs proposal of $10.15 in cash per Company Share required minimal additional due diligence, included a signed debt commitment letter and included a suggested timeline of executing a definitive agreement within a week to ten days (and requested a two-week exclusivity term through May 1, 2018) while Party As proposal of $11.25 in cash per Company Share required substantial additional due diligence, included only an unsigned, draft debt commitment letter and included a request for a three-week exclusivity term subject to an automatic one-week extension at the end of such term. Representatives of GCA Advisors noted that HGGCs and Party As proposals each provided for a lower price in cash per Company Share due to their respective further research on the markets in which the Company operates and difficulties in obtaining debt financing for a Potential Transaction. The Special Committee also received an update on discussions with Party F and discussions regarding other potential strategic transactions, including a third-party minority investment in the Companys equity. Representatives of GCA Advisors reported that they had not received interest from third parties which they had approached to date regarding making a minority investment in the Companys equity.
On April 19, 2018, at a meeting of the Company Board attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided the full
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Company Board with further detail on the final proposals received from HGGC and Party A, including the details previously shared with the Special Committee, and a representative of Skadden presented to the Company Board regarding its fiduciary duties in connection with its evaluation of such proposals. The Company Board was also informed that Party F was still presenting an undeveloped proposal and lacked adequate capital to complete an acquisition of the Company. Representatives of Skadden summarized the terms of the merger agreement markups provided by each of HGGC and Party A. The Company Board discussed the positive and negative attributes of each proposal and discussed with representatives of GCA Advisors potential strategies for responding to each of the proposals. The Company Board also discussed with representatives of GCA Advisors additional outreach regarding potential strategic alternatives other than a sale of the Company.
On April 22, 2018, at a meeting of the Company Board attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors provided the Company Board an update on the Potential Transaction process, including regarding continued discussions with Party F, which had still not secured debt and equity financing to complete an acquisition of the Company. The Company Board considered that HGGCs proposal (i) included fully committed debt financing, (ii) had substantially no remaining due diligence requirement, (iii) proposed a 4.5% termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances and a 5.5% termination fee payable by Parent under certain circumstances and (iv) indicated that HGGC was prepared to buy the Company as soon as possible, whereas Party As proposal (A) included substantially more due diligence requirements, the results of which might lead Party A to withdraw or lower its proposal, (B) proposed a total of up to four weeks of exclusivity, (C) proposed a 3% termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances and a 6% termination fee payable by Parent under certain circumstances and (D) did not include committed debt financing and required substantially more debt financing than HGGCs proposal. Representatives of GCA Advisors also discussed with the Company Board certain valuation observations based on a review of the Companys historical and current forecasted financial information provided by Company management (a subset of which would later be approved as the Management Projections (as defined below)) as well as publicly available third-party market research.
After a robust discussion, the Company Board requested that GCA Advisors approach HGGC with a counteroffer of $11.00 in cash per Company Share and a 3.25% termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances and authorized Skadden to prepare markups of the draft merger agreements and other transaction documents provided by each of HGGC and Party A. The Company Board also directed representatives of GCA Advisors to attempt to expedite Party As due diligence and debt financing processes in order that Party A might perfect its proposal to acquire the Company. A representative of Skadden reminded the Company Board of its fiduciary duties in connection with its evaluation of the proposals from HGGC and Party A.
At the same meeting, it was noted that the Initial Forecasts (i) were prepared in January 2018 and contained aggressive assumptions, (ii) did not include the most up-to-date information which had become available given the passage of time, (iii) did not reflect Company managements current best estimates of the Companys expected future performance and (iv) based on feedback and the valuations proposed by bidders who had performed their own valuations of the Companys expected future performance, had been considered by bidders to represent optimistic forecasts. Company management presented to the Company Board a new set of definitive projections that reflected more up-to-date information and more realistic assumptions, in light of the Companys performance in the intervening months, and that Company management considered to be the most reliable indicators of the Companys future performance. The Company Board reviewed such projections with Company management, including the assumptions on which such projections were based (including, but not limited to, as compared with the Initial Forecasts, Company managements downwardly revised view of the likely customer renewal rate for the Companys patent risk mitigation business for the relevant period of time, as well as an increase in net patent spend as a percentage of revenue over the same period of time, based in part, in each case, on the Companys year-to-date performance), and independently considered whether the Company Board determined such projections to be the most current and the best estimates of the future financial performance of the Company. Following discussion, the Company Board deferred final consideration of such projections to the next meeting of the Company Board.
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Following the meeting, representatives of GCA Advisors communicated with HGGC and Party A regarding feedback on their respective proposals from the Company Board, including, with respect to HGGC, with an objective of improving HGGCs proposed offer price.
On April 25, 2018, at a meeting of the Special Committee attended by members of Company management and representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden, representatives of GCA Advisors informed the Special Committee that HGGC had responded to the Companys counteroffer of $11.00 in cash per Company Share and a 3.25% termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances by providing an addendum to its proposal letter, including a revised offer of $10.40 in cash per Company Share, which included a request that the Company enter into exclusivity by 5:00 p.m. on April 26, 2018, with such exclusivity to run through 5:00 p.m. on May 8, 2018, and indicated that HGGC would withdraw from the Potential Transaction process if the Company did not agree to such exclusivity period. Representatives of GCA Advisors reported that HGGC had orally indicated that it would be unwilling to agree to a termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances below 3.5%. Representatives of GCA Advisors also provided an update to the Special Committee regarding Party As continued efforts to obtain committed debt financing and complete its due diligence and discussions with Party F, which still lacked committed debt and equity financing. The Special Committee discussed strategies for maximizing stockholder value in light of the current proposals and ongoing discussions with various parties. Following a full discussion between the Special Committee, members of Company management and representatives of GCA Advisors, the Special Committee determined that it would recommend to the Company Board that the Company should attempt to increase HGGCs bid and grant HGGC exclusivity with a shortened window of exclusivity.
On April 26, 2018, the Company Board held a meeting at which members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden were present for portions of the meeting. The Company Board discussed the letter addendum that HGGC had delivered stating that it would withdraw from the Potential Transaction process if it did not receive exclusivity by 5:00 p.m. that day and including a revised offer price of $10.40 in cash per Company Share. Representatives of GCA Advisors also informed the Company Board that HGGC had orally indicated (i) willingness to agree to a 3.5% termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances and (ii) that it was prepared to approve the Potential Transaction within the next few days. Representatives of GCA Advisors also updated the Company Board on the Party A proposal, noting that Party A had indicated that it was still continuing its efforts to obtain committed debt financing. The Company Board discussed its concerns about attempting to transact with Party A because of the outstanding risks associated with Party As proposal including: (i) its lack of committed debt financing; (ii) its remaining due diligence requirements; (iii) the risk that it would decide not to execute a definitive agreement with the Company; (iv) the risk that by the time Party A withdrew from the Potential Transaction process HGGC would no longer be interested in transacting with the Company; (v) the potential risk of terminations or non-renewals by customers if they were to become aware of Party As interest in acquiring the Company, including because of Party As relationships with NPEs (including its controlling ownership interest in NPEs) and the resulting potential risk that HGGC may no longer be willing to transact with the Company (if this risk came to fruition) or only at a reduced offer price; and (vi) the potential risk that even if Party A completed its due diligence, obtained committed financing and executed a definitive agreement with the Company, the risk noted in prong (v) above still remained a concern and could create elevated deal uncertainty depending on the impact to customer relationships.
The Special Committee presented its recommendation to the Company Board that the Company approach HGGC with a counteroffer at $10.50 in cash per Company Share, on an exclusive basis, with a 3.5% termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances and an exclusivity window running through 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on May 3, 2018. The Company Board evaluated the Special Committees recommendation with a view to ensuring the proposal would reasonably be expected to maximize stockholder value, and thereafter the Company Board authorized the Company to grant exclusivity to HGGC on the proposed terms.
Additionally, the Company Board reviewed with Company management the definitive set of projections that Company management had presented at the Company Board meeting on April 22, 2018 (the Management
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Projections), including the assumptions on which such projections were based (including, but not limited to, Company managements best estimate of the customer renewal rate, net patent spend as a percentage of revenue and operating costs for the Companys patent risk mitigation business for the relevant period of time), and independently considered whether they were the most current and best estimates of the future financial performance of the Company. Following discussion, the Company Board determined that the Management Projections were, in its view, the most current and best estimates of the future financial performance of the Company and approved such projections for use by GCA Advisors for its fairness analysis of the proposed transaction with HGGC. For more information regarding these projections, see Item 4 under the heading Certain Financial Projections.
Following the meeting, Skadden provided the Company with a markup of the exclusivity agreement proposed by HGGC, which was in turn provided to HGGC and its counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Kirkland), for review and comment. Following subsequent negotiations among the parties and GCA Advisors, and agreement from HGGC to the Companys counteroffer to pay $10.50 in cash per Company Share and to include a 3.5% termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances, the Company and HGGC entered into an exclusivity agreement the evening of April 26, 2018. Later that evening, at the request of the Company, Skadden delivered to Kirkland a revised draft of the merger agreement which included, among other things, a 6% termination fee (rather than 5.5% as proposed by HGGC) payable by Parent under certain circumstances, which was accepted by HGGC.
From April 26, 2018 to April 30, 2018, Skadden and Kirkland negotiated and exchanged drafts of the merger agreement and other transaction documents in coordination, respectively, with the Company and HGGC.
On April 30, 2018, the Company Board held a meeting which was attended by members of Company management as well as representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden. A representative of Skadden reviewed the principal terms of the definitive merger agreement between the Company, Parent and Purchaser, previously distributed to the members of the Company Board and described the Company Boards fiduciary duties to be considered in connection with evaluating the Potential Transaction with HGGC. Representatives of GCA Advisors then reviewed their financial analysis of the $10.50 in cash per Company Share to be paid by Purchaser pursuant to the proposed merger agreement. Members of the Company Board asked questions throughout such presentation and engaged in further discussion regarding the Potential Transaction with representatives of GCA Advisors and Skadden. GCA Advisors then orally rendered its opinion to the Company Board, subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion, to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, and based on and subject to the considerations, limitations and other matters set forth in such opinion, the Per Share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of Company Common Stock pursuant to the proposed merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Additional information pertaining to the opinion of GCA Advisors is set forth in Item 4 under the heading Opinion of GCA Advisors, LLC. After the presentation by GCA Advisors and a discussion with counsel, the Company Board continued to discuss the Potential Transaction and the reasons that members of the Company Board continued to believe that the proposed merger with HGGC was advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Following such discussion, the Company Board unanimously voted to approve, among other things, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including but not limited to the Offer and the Merger, and to recommend that the holders of Company Shares accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares in response to the Offer. Additional information pertaining to the recommendation of the Company Board is set forth in Item 4 under the heading Reasons for the Recommendation.
Later that evening, the Company, Parent and Purchaser executed and delivered the Merger Agreement and the related transaction documents.
Before the opening of trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on May 1, 2018, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K and the Company and HGGC issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement and the anticipated commencement of the Offer.
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Following May 1, 2018, HGGC offered certain Company management members an opportunity to contribute (or rollover) their Company Shares into new equity interests of an affiliate of the Surviving Corporation. HGGC and such Company management members terminated discussions of such rollover opportunity prior to the commencement of the Offer in preference for discussion of post-transaction employment and compensation arrangements at a later date.
Reasons for the Recommendation.
In evaluating the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the Merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and recommending that the holders of Company Shares accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares in response to the Offer, the Company Board considered numerous factors in consultation with the Companys senior management, outside legal counsel and financial advisor, including the following material factors (not in any relative order of importance), each of which the Company Board believes supported its determinations:
| Cash Tender Offer; Certainty of Value. The Company Board noted that the form of consideration to be paid to holders of Company Shares in the Offer and the Merger will be all cash and considered the certainty of value and liquidity of such cash consideration. |
| Public Company Costs. The Company Board considered the high costs of being a public company relative to the size of the Companys earnings and asset base; the substantial and increasing cost of being a public company, including accounting fees, legal fees, salaries and other expenses, as well as significant time and attention from Company management; the impact of such costs on the potential future trading price of Company Shares; and the current lack of benefits of being a stand-alone public company. |
| Best Alternative for Maximizing Stockholder Value. The Company Board believed that receipt of the Per Share Merger Consideration of $10.50 per Company Share in cash was more favorable to the Company stockholders than the likely value that would result from other potential transactions or from remaining independent. This decision was based on, among other things, the Company Boards assessment of: |
| the Companys historical operating and financial performance, including that the Company had experienced declines in demand for its patent risk solutions due to decreased macro trends in the patent licensing and litigation market, as well as renewals at lower fees than in past years and the risk of decreased demand for the Companys discovery services, leading to the inability of the Company to predict when demand would once again increase; |
| the Companys future prospects, including risks related to the Companys limited operating history, risks related to achieving the revenue growth and profitability reflected in the Companys financial projections as a standalone company, risks related to the Companys evolving business model and the unpredictability of the Companys emerging industry and the various additional risks and uncertainties that are described in the Companys most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, each as filed with the SEC; |
| the possible alternatives to a sale of the entire Company, including continuing as a standalone company and spinning off or selling certain of the Companys business lines, which alternatives the Company Board evaluated with the assistance of its outside legal and financial advisors and determined did not present the best reasonably available alternative for the Companys stockholders in light of, among other factors, the potential risks, rewards and uncertainties associated with those alternatives; |
| the Company Boards belief that its negotiations had resulted in the highest price per Company Share for the Company Common Stock that Purchaser was willing to pay and the highest price per Company Share realistically and reasonably available to the Company and its stockholders; |
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| the Company Boards belief that the process conducted by the Company had resulted in the highest price realistically and reasonably available to the stockholders of the Company in light of the uncertainties associated with other potential acquirers (described in further detail below); |
| other strategic opportunities reasonably available to the Company, including but not limited to proposals from other potential buyers (described in more detail in Item 4 under the heading Background of the Merger); and |
| the financial condition and prospects of the Company and managements business plan for the Company; in each case, taking into account the potential benefits, risks and uncertainties associated with those other opportunities, that a sale of the Company through consummation of the Offer and the Merger represents the Companys best reasonably available prospect for maximizing stockholder value. |
| Valuation. The Company Board concluded that the consideration of $10.50 per Company Share represented an attractive valuation for the Company given that the Company Shares had been trading at an implied premium since late 2016 based on rumors and speculation that the Company was a potential acquisition target. The Company Board reviewed the historical market prices, volatility and trading information with respect to the Company Common Stock, and the active sale process undertaken by the Company, including: |
| the fact that representatives of GCA Advisors, at the Company Boards instruction, contacted 53 prospective financial buyers and three strategic buyers regarding a potential acquisition, that of these prospective buyers, 28 entered into non-disclosure agreements with the Company, 26 were provided with access to the Companys electronic datasite, 16 met with Company management, six submitted initial proposals, and only two parties submitted final proposals (with HGGC, on behalf of Parent and Purchaser, submitting the only complete proposal including fully committed debt and equity financing and an indication that only limited due diligence remained outstanding); |
| the fact that, although the proposals from Party A and Party F purported to include a higher price per Company Share, neither of their proposals included committed financing or limited remaining due diligence conditions and, with respect to Party A, its proposal presented the potential risk of terminations or non-renewals by customers if they were to become aware of Party As interest in acquiring the Company, including because of Party As relationships with NPEs (including its controlling ownership interest in NPEs), each of which led the Company Board to determine that neither Party As nor Party Fs proposal represented a complete proposal to acquire the Company and that perfecting such proposals could lead HGGC to retract its own proposal; |
| the fact that the Company actively solicited increases in the amount per Company Share included in the proposal made by HGGC, as well as an increase in the termination fee payable by Parent under certain circumstances and a decrease in the termination fee payable by the Company under certain circumstances, and HGGC indicated that the Per Share Merger Consideration was its best and final offer; and |
| the risk that prolonging the sale process further could have resulted in the loss of an opportunity to enter into the Merger Agreement with Parent and Purchaser when HGGC indicated that its proposal would expire if it were not granted exclusivity and, in addition, could have further distracted senior management from implementing the Companys business plan. |
| GCA Advisors Fairness Opinion. The Company Board considered the financial presentation and opinion of GCA Advisors to the Company Board, dated April 30, 2018, to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion, the $10.50 per Company Share consideration to be received by the holders of Company Shares in the Offer or the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement, as the case may be, was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Such opinion was based on and subject to the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and limitations on the scope of review undertaken as more fully described below in Item 4 under the heading Opinion of GCA Advisors, LLC and as set forth in its entirety as Annex A hereto and incorporated herein by reference. |
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| Negotiation of Merger Agreement. The Company Board considered the fact that the Merger Agreement was negotiated in the context of a competitive process, at arms length between the Company and Parent, with the assistance of their respective legal and financial advisors. |
| Speed and Likelihood of Consummation. The Company Board considered that the structure of the transaction as a two-step transaction effected pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL without the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Companys stockholders enables the Companys stockholders to receive the Offer Price pursuant to the Offer in a relatively short time frame (and potentially reduces the uncertainty during the pendency of the associated transactions). The Company Board also considered the likelihood that the Offer would be completed and the Merger would be consummated based on, among other things (not in any relative order of importance): |
| the fact that, subject to its limited rights to terminate the Offer, Purchaser is required to extend the Offer beyond the initial expiration date of the Offer if certain conditions to the completion of the Offer are not satisfied as of such date; |
| the fact that the completion of the Offer is conditioned on meeting the Minimum Tender Condition, which cannot be changed, modified or waived without the prior written consent of the Company; |
| the fact that there is no financing condition to the completion of the Offer and consummation of the Merger; |
| the fact that the regulatory approvals required pursuant to the HSR Act and under the GWB are anticipated to be received in a reasonable time period; |
| the business reputation, capabilities and financial condition of HGGC, and the Company Boards belief that HGGC is willing to devote the resources necessary to complete the Offer and the Merger in an expeditious manner; |
| the Companys ability, subject to the limitations and conditions in the Merger Agreement, to seek specific performance to prevent breaches of the Merger Agreement by Parent and/or Purchaser and to enforce specifically the terms of the Merger Agreement; |
| the fact that Parent and Purchaser had obtained committed debt and equity financing for the transaction, the limited number and nature of the conditions to the debt and equity financing, the reputation of the financing sources and the obligation of Parent to use, and to cause its affiliates to use, their reasonable best efforts to obtain the debt financing, each of which, in the reasonable judgment of the Company Board, increases the likelihood of such financings being completed; |
| the fact that the Merger Agreement provides that, in the event of a failure of the merger to be consummated under certain circumstances, Parent will pay the Company a cash termination fee equal to approximately $31.5 million, without the Company having to establish any damages, and the guarantee of such payment obligation pursuant to the limited guarantee; and |
| the Company Boards review of the potential costs associated with executing the Merger Agreement, including change in control severance and related costs, as well as estimated advisor fees, which the Company Board concluded were reasonable and were not of such an amount that they would influence the advice from, or affect the work performed by, the Companys senior management or advisors in connection with the Company Boards evaluation of the Offer and the Merger. |
| Other Terms of the Merger Agreement. The Company Board considered other terms of the Merger Agreement, as more fully described in Section 11 of the Offer to Purchase under the heading The Merger Agreement. Certain provisions of the Merger Agreement that the Company Board considered important included (not in any relative order of importance): |
| Ability to Respond to Unsolicited Acquisition Proposals. The Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, may enter into negotiations or discussions concerning, or |
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provide confidential information to persons making, certain unsolicited proposals if the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with the Companys outside legal counsel and financial advisor) that such proposal constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Company Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), subject to certain rights of Parent pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement to negotiate with the Company. |
| Change of Recommendation in Response to a Superior Company Proposal; Ability to Accept a Superior Company Proposal. At any time prior to acceptance of the Offer, the Company Board, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, may make a Company Adverse Recommendation Change (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or terminate the Merger Agreement and enter into an alternative acquisition agreement with respect to a Superior Company Proposal if the Company Board determines in good faith that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations to the stockholders of the Company. Termination of the Merger Agreement or entering into an alternative acquisition agreement with respect to a Superior Company Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) is subject to the Companys payment to Parent of a termination fee of approximately $18.4 million, which the Company Board believes is reasonable in light of the circumstances and not likely to deter any potential bidder from making a competing acquisition proposal. |
| Change of Recommendation in Response to an Intervening Event. The Company Board, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, may change its recommendation regarding the Offer for a reason unrelated to an acquisition proposal in the context of a Company Intervening Event (as defined in the Merger Agreement), in either case, if the Company Board determines in good faith (after consultation with the Companys outside legal counsel and financial advisor) that the failure to make a Company Adverse Recommendation Change would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties. |
| Specific Performance and Monetary Damages. In the event that Parent breaches the Merger Agreement or fails to complete the Offer when required to do so, the Company will be entitled, subject to the limitations and conditions in the Merger Agreement, to seek specific performance or monetary damages. In the event the transactions are not consummated in certain circumstances, Parent will be required to pay the Company a termination fee of approximately $31.5 million for such failure to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. |
| End Date. The end date of October 30, 2018 on which either Parent or the Company, subject to certain exceptions, can terminate the Merger Agreement, which is anticipated to allow for sufficient time to consummate the Offer and the Merger while minimizing the length of time during which the Company would be required to operate subject to the restrictions on interim operations set forth in the Merger Agreement, and Parent and the Company can terminate the Merger Agreement earlier if the Offer shall have expired or been terminated and the Offer Acceptance Time shall not have occurred solely as a result of the Minimum Tender Condition not being satisfied (subject to certain exceptions). |
| Appraisal Rights. Statutory appraisal rights under Delaware law in connection with the Merger will be available to stockholders who do not tender their Company Shares in the Offer and who properly demand appraisal of their Company Shares and who otherwise comply with all required procedures under Delaware law. For a description of these appraisal rights, see the information set forth in Item 8 under the heading Appraisal Rights. |
| Negotiation Process. The Company Board considered the fact that the terms of the Merger Agreement were the result of robust arms-length negotiations conducted by the Company, with the knowledge and at the direction of the Company Board and with the assistance of GCA Advisors and Skadden. |
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The Company Board also considered potential risks or negative factors relating to the Offer and the Merger, including the following:
| Risk of Non-Consummation. The Company Board considered the risk that the proposed Offer and Merger might not be consummated and the effect of the resulting termination of the Merger Agreement on: |
| the market price of the Company Shares; |
| the Companys operating results, particularly in light of the costs incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the potential requirement to make a termination fee payment to Parent; and |
| the Companys ability to attract and retain key personnel. |
| Restrictions on Soliciting Proposals. The terms of the Merger Agreement prohibit the Company and its representatives from soliciting third-party bids. |
| Future Growth. The Company Board considered the fact that if the proposed Merger is consummated, the Company will no longer exist as an independent company and the Companys stockholders will no longer participate in the future growth and profits of the Company or benefit from any increases in the value of the Company Shares. |
| Transaction Costs. The Company Board considered that significant costs have been and will continue to be incurred in connection with negotiating and entering into the Merger Agreement and completing the Offer and the Merger. |
| Possible Disruption of Business. The Company Board considered the possible disruption to the Companys business that may result from the announcement of the transaction and the resulting distraction of the attention of the Companys management and employees, including possible effects on the Companys ability to attract and retain key personnel while the transaction is pending. The Company Board also considered the fact that the Merger Agreement contains limitations regarding the operation of the Company during the period between the signing of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the proposed Merger. |
| Litigation Risk. The Company Board considered the risk of litigation in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, the completion of the Offer and the consummation of the Merger. |
| Termination Fee. The Company Board considered the termination fee of approximately $18.4 million, which HGGC had agreed to in negotiations with the Company and which may become payable pursuant to the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances, including if the Company terminates the Merger Agreement to accept a Superior Company Proposal, and the risk that the amount of the termination fee could deter potential alternative acquisition proposals. |
| Financing Failure. The Company Board considered the risk that the proposed Offer and Merger might not be completed due to failure of Parent and Purchaser to obtain the required debt financing for the transaction. |
| Risk that the Minimum Tender Condition Might Not Be Satisfied. The Company Board considered the possibility that the Companys stockholders will tender an insufficient number of Company Shares to meet the Minimum Tender Condition, and the fact that Purchasers obligation to extend the Offer if the Minimum Tender Condition is not satisfied as of the expiration date of the Offer (and all other conditions to the Offer are satisfied or waived) is limited to an aggregate extension of 20 business days. |
| Potential Conflicts of Interest. The Company Board considered the potential conflict of interest created by the fact that the Companys executive officers and directors have financial or other interests in the Offer and the Merger that may be different from or in addition to those of other stockholders, as more fully described in Item 3 under the heading Interests of Certain Persons; Agreements and Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the Company. |
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| Regulatory Approval and Risk of Pending Actions. The Company Board considered the risks associated with the need to make antitrust filings and to obtain antitrust consents and approvals in the United States and Germany, and the fact that the obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and to pay for Company Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer is subject to a condition that there be no order by any governmental entity or other legal or regulatory restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Offer or the Merger or providing for a material antitrust restraint, and that there be no pending litigation by any governmental entity seeking the foregoing. |
| Offer and Merger Consideration Taxable. The Company Board considered the fact that the gains realized by the Companys stockholders as a result of the Offer and the Merger generally will be taxable to the stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
| Parent and Purchaser. The Company Board considered the fact that Parent and Purchaser are newly formed corporations with no assets other than the Merger Agreement, the equity commitment letter, the limited guarantee and the debt commitment letter, and that under certain circumstances the Companys monetary remedy in the event of breach of the Merger Agreement by Parent or Purchaser may be limited to receipt of the termination fee from Parent in an amount of approximately $31.5 million or the Company may not be entitled to a termination fee at all. |
| Suspension of Dividend. The fact that the Company was restricted from paying its $0.05 per share quarterly cash dividend following the dividend paid on March 28, 2018, until the closing of the Merger. |
The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Company Board is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes the material factors considered by the Company Board. In view of the variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the Offer and the Merger, the Company Board did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination and recommendation. In addition, individual directors may have given different weights to different factors. The Company Board did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any factor, or any particular aspect of any factor, supported or did not support its ultimate determination. The Company Board based its recommendation on the totality of the information presented.
In considering the recommendation of the Company Board that the holders of Company Shares accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares in response to the Offer, you should be aware that the Companys directors and executive officers may have interests in the Offer and the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, yours. The Company Board was aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the Merger, and in recommending that the holders of Company Shares accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares in response to the Offer. For more information, see Item 3 under the heading Interests of Certain Persons; Agreements and Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the Company.
Intent to Tender.
To the Companys knowledge, after making reasonable inquiry, all of the Companys executive officers and directors currently intend to tender or cause to be tendered pursuant to the Offer all Company Shares held of record or beneficially owned by such persons immediately prior to the expiration of the Offer, as it may be extended (other than Company Shares for which such holder does not have discretionary authority). The foregoing does not include any Company Shares over which, or with respect to which, any such executive officer or director acts in a fiduciary or representative capacity or is subject to the instructions of a third party with respect to such tender.
Certain Financial Projections.
The Company does not, as a matter of course, publicly disclose forecasts or projections as to future performance, earnings or other results due to the inherent unpredictability of the underlying assumptions, estimates and projections, though the Company has in the past provided investors with quarterly and full-year
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financial guidance that may cover areas such as revenue and earnings per share, among other items (although due to the announcement of the Offer and Merger, the Company will not be updating previously disclosed guidance). However, the Company is including certain unaudited prospective financial information prepared by the Companys management to provide the Companys stockholders access to a summary of certain previously nonpublic unaudited prospective financial information that was made available to the Company Board and Special Committee in connection with consideration of the Offer and Merger. The Management Projections were also provided to GCA Advisors in connection with the rendering of its opinion to the Company Board and performance of its related financial analyses.
The Management Projections were not prepared with a view toward public disclosure, nor were they prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the SEC, the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for preparation and presentation of financial forecasts, or U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In addition, neither the Companys independent auditors, nor any other independent public accounting firm has compiled, examined or performed any procedures with respect to the prospective financial information contained in the Management Projections nor has any such person expressed any opinion or given any form of assurance with respect to such information or the reasonableness, achievability or accuracy of the Management Projections. The summary of the Management Projections is not being included in this Schedule 14D-9 to influence any stockholders decision whether to tender his, her or its Company Shares in the Offer, but instead because the Management Projections were provided to the Company Board in connection with its evaluation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, and to GCA Advisors in connection with its evaluation of the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the holders of Company Common Stock in the Offer or the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The Management Projections may differ from publicly available analyst estimates and forecasts and do not take into account any events or circumstances after the date they were prepared, including the announcement of the Offer and the Merger.
The Management Projections were prepared in April 2018, and while presented with numerical specificity, necessarily were based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and many of which are beyond the control of the Companys management. Given that the Management Projections cover multiple years, by their nature, they become subject to greater uncertainty with each successive year beyond their preparation. The assumptions upon which the Management Projections were based necessarily involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive, regulatory and financial market conditions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict and many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Management Projections also reflect assumptions as to certain business decisions that are subject to change. Important factors that may affect actual results and the achievability of the Management Projections include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions and disruptions in the financial, debt, capital, credit or securities markets, changes in the patent risk mitigation market and other industries in which the Company operates, the Companys ability to obtain financing, acceptance of the Companys products and services, competition and other risk factors described in the Companys annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as amended, and its subsequent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. In addition, the Management Projections may be affected by the Companys ability to achieve strategic goals, objectives and targets over the applicable period.
The Management Projections also reflect assumptions that are subject to change and are susceptible to multiple interpretations and periodic revisions based on actual results, revised prospects for the Companys business, changes in general business or economic conditions, or any other transaction or event that has occurred or that may occur and that was not anticipated when the Management Projections were prepared. In addition, the Management Projections do not take into account any circumstances, transactions or events occurring after the dates on which the Management Projections were prepared. Accordingly, actual results will differ, and may differ materially, from those contained in the Management Projections. There can be no assurance that the financial results in the Management Projections will be realized, or that future actual financial results will not materially vary from those in the Management Projections.
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The inclusion of the Management Projections in this Schedule 14D-9 should not be regarded as an indication that any of the Company, HGGC, Parent or Purchaser or their respective affiliates, officers, directors, advisors or other representatives considered or consider the Management Projections necessarily predictive of actual future events, and they should not be relied upon as such. The inclusion of the Management Projections herein should not be deemed an admission that the forecasts therein are viewed as material information of the Company, and in fact the Company views the Management Projections as non-material because of the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with such long range forecasts. None of the Company, HGGC, Parent or Purchaser or their respective affiliates, officers, directors, advisors or other representatives can give any assurance that actual results will not differ materially from the Management Projections, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or otherwise revise or reconcile the Management Projections to reflect circumstances existing after the date they were generated or to reflect the occurrence of future events even if any or all of the assumptions underlying the Management Projections are thereafter shown to have been made in error. None of the Company, or, to the knowledge of the Company, HGGC, Parent or Purchaser, intends to make publicly available any update or other revisions to the Management Projections. Additionally, none of the Company or its affiliates, officers, directors, advisors or other representatives has made or makes any representation to any stockholder or other person regarding the ultimate performance of the Company compared to the information contained in any of the Management Projections or that projected results will be achieved. The Company has made no representation to HGGC, Parent or Purchaser, in the Merger Agreement or otherwise, concerning the Management Projections.
The following is a summary of the Management Projections (in millions):
2018E | 2019E | 2020E | 2021E | 2022E | ||||||||||||||||
Net Revenue (1) |
$ | 280 | $ | 266 | $ | 261 | $ | 254 | $ | 250 | ||||||||||
Operating Income |
18 | 16 | 41 | 43 | 45 | |||||||||||||||
EBITDA (2) |
177 | 164 | 159 | 152 | 148 | |||||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA (3) |
87 | 75 | 74 | 72 | 73 | |||||||||||||||
Stock-based Compensation |
15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
Increase (Decrease) in Net Working Capital |
(2 | ) | 2 | 4 | 3 | (0 | ) | |||||||||||||
Capital Expenditures (4) |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||
Cash Taxes |
7 | 6 | 15 | 16 | 16 | |||||||||||||||
Free Cash Flow (5) |
79 | 64 | 52 | 51 | 54 |
(1) | Calculated in accordance with ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. |
(2) | EBITDA means net income plus interest expense, stock-based compensation, taxes, depreciation and amortization. |
(3) | Adjusted EBITDA means EBITDA less net patent spend. |
(4) | Capital Expenditures exclude net patent spend. |
(5) | Free Cash Flow means Adjusted EBITDA, less increases in net working capital, less capital expenditures, less cash taxes. |
All financial projections are forward-looking statements. These and other forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the risks and uncertainties identified above and the cautionary statements contained in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as amended, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. Any provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that may be referenced in this Schedule 14D-9, or the Companys other, periodic reports are not applicable to any forward-looking statements made in connection with the Offer. Please refer to the discussion in Item 8 under the heading Forward-Looking Statements.
In light of the foregoing factors and the uncertainties inherent in the Management Projections, the Companys stockholders are cautioned not to place undue, if any, reliance on such Management Projections.
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Opinion of GCA Advisors, LLC.
The Company retained GCA Advisors to act as its financial advisor in connection with the Offer and the Merger based on GCA Advisors qualifications, expertise, reputation and knowledge of our business and affairs and the industry in which the Company operates. GCA Advisors is a global investment bank serving a broad client base through a range of advisory services, including mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity capital markets, private funds, restructuring, and asset management. GCA Advisors is continuously involved with providing advisory services that include the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions. At a meeting of the Company Board on April 30, 2018, GCA Advisors rendered its oral opinion to the Company Board to the effect that, as of that date, and based on and subject to the considerations, limitations and other matters set forth therein, the $10.50 per Company Share consideration to be received by the holders of Company Common Stock in the Offer or the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement (as the case may be, the Consideration), was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Following the meeting, GCA Advisors delivered its written opinion, dated April 30, 2018, to the Company Board.
The full text of GCA Advisors written opinion, dated April 30, 2018, to the Company Board is attached as Annex A to this Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated by reference herein. The opinion sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations and qualifications of the review undertaken by GCA Advisors in rendering its opinion. You should read the opinion carefully in its entirety. GCA Advisors opinion does not constitute a recommendation to the Company Board or any committee thereof, to the Companys stockholders, or to any other person as to any specific action that should be taken in connection with the Merger, including whether any of the Companys stockholders should tender their Company Shares into the Offer or how any holder of Company Shares should otherwise act in respect of the Merger. The summary of GCA Advisors opinion set forth herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion.
GCA Advisors delivered its opinion to the Company Board for the benefit and use of the Company Board in connection with and for purposes of its evaluation of the Consideration from a financial point of view. The Consideration that the Companys stockholders would receive in the Offer and the Merger, respectively, was determined through arms-length negotiations between the Company, on the one hand, and HGGC, Parent and Purchaser, on the other hand, and was approved by the Company Board.
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The opinion addresses only whether the Consideration to be received by the holders of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. The opinion does not address the Companys underlying business decision to enter into the Merger Agreement, or the relative merits of the Offer and the Merger as compared to any alternatives that may be available to the Company. GCA Advisors was not asked to offer, nor has it offered, any opinion as to the material terms of the Merger Agreement (other than as expressly set forth in the last paragraph of the opinion with respect to the fairness of the Consideration) or the structure of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Further, the opinion does not address the fairness of the amount or nature of, or any other aspect relating to, any compensation to any of the Companys officers, directors or employees, or class of such persons, including, without limitation, in relation to the Consideration.
For purposes of its opinion, GCA Advisors:
| reviewed a draft, dated April 29, 2018, of the Merger Agreement and certain related documents; |
| reviewed certain publicly available financial statements, financial projections and other business and financial information of the Company; |
| reviewed certain non-public financial statements and other financial and operating data concerning the Company prepared by Company management; |
| reviewed certain non-public financial projections relating to the Company prepared by Company management as well as the Management Projections described in further detail in Item 4 under the heading Certain Financial Projections; |
| discussed with Company management and the Company Board the past and current operations and financial condition and prospects of the Company; |
| reviewed and discussed with Company management and the Company Board certain alternatives to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; |
| reviewed and discussed with Company management and the Company Board their views of the strategic rationale for the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; |
| reviewed the recent reported closing prices and trading activity for the shares of Company Common Stock; |
| prepared and evaluated a discounted cash flow analysis based on projected future cash flows of the Company provided by Company management; |
| compared the financial performance of the Company, and the prices and trading activity of the shares of Company Common Stock, with those of certain other publicly-traded companies that GCA Advisors believed to be generally relevant in evaluating the business of the Company; |
| reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain precedent transactions that GCA Advisors believed to be generally relevant in evaluating the business of the Company; |
| reviewed publicly available information concerning certain precedent transactions having financial characteristics that GCA Advisors believed to be generally relevant in evaluating the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; |
| participated in discussions and negotiations among representatives of the Company and HGGC, Parent and Purchaser; and |
| performed such other analyses and considered such other factors as GCA Advisors deemed appropriate. |
In preparing its opinion, GCA Advisors assumed and relied upon, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of the information that was publicly available or supplied or otherwise made
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available to, or discussed with, GCA Advisors by the Company. With respect to the Management Projections, GCA Advisors was advised by Company management, and GCA Advisors assumed, that such projections had been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of Company management of the future financial performance of the Company. GCA Advisors did not undertake any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or independent verification of such information and assumes no responsibility for, and expressed no view as to, such projections or the assumptions on which they were based.
In addition, GCA Advisors assumed that the Offer and the Merger would be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the April 29, 2018 draft Merger Agreement furnished to GCA Advisors and that the final executed Merger Agreement would not differ in any material respect from the draft Merger Agreement reviewed by GCA Advisors. GCA Advisors also assumed that the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement made by the parties thereto were true and correct in all respects material to GCA Advisors analysis. GCA Advisors also assumed that all governmental, regulatory or other consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the Offer and the Merger would be timely obtained without any material restriction. The opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to GCA Advisors as of, April 30, 2018. GCA Advisors assumes no responsibility to update or revise its opinion based upon events or circumstances occurring or becoming known to it after April 30, 2018.
GCA Advisors did not make any independent investigation of any legal, accounting or tax matters affecting the Company, the Offer or the Merger, and it assumed the correctness of all legal, accounting and tax advice given to the Company and the Company Board. GCA Advisors was not asked to prepare, nor has it prepared, an appraisal of any of the assets or liabilities of the Company or concerning the solvency or fair value of the Company, nor has GCA Advisors been furnished with any such appraisals, and its opinion should not be construed as such. GCA Advisors was requested to and did initiate discussions with and solicit indications of interest from certain third parties with respect to a possible transaction with the Company. GCA Advisors also took into account its experience in transactions that it believes to be generally comparable or relevant, as well as its experience in securities valuation in general.
The following represents a summary of the material financial analyses performed by GCA Advisors in connection with delivering its opinion to the Company Board. Some of the summaries of financial analyses performed by GCA Advisors include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses performed by GCA Advisors, the Companys stockholders should read the tables together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. Considering the data set forth in the tables without considering the full narrative description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the financial analyses performed by GCA Advisors.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis.
Using the Management Projections, GCA Advisors performed an illustrative discounted cash flow analysis for the Company. Using discount rates ranging from 13% to 15%, reflecting GCA Advisors estimates of the Companys weighted average cost of capital, GCA Advisors discounted to present value as of March 31, 2018 (i) the estimated unlevered free cash flow for the Company for the last three quarters of calendar year 2018 of $55 million (based on the Management Projections, including stock-based compensation expense), (ii) the estimated unlevered free cash flow for the Company for calendar year 2019 through calendar year 2022 (based on the Management Projections, including stock-based compensation expense), and (iii) a range of illustrative terminal values for the Company, which were calculated by applying perpetuity growth rates ranging from negative 3.0% to positive 1.0%, to a terminal year estimate of the free cash flow to be generated by the Company, in each case, as reflected in the Management Projections. The range of discount rates and perpetuity growth rates were estimated by GCA Advisors utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account publicly available data,
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comparative analysis and the Companys current cost of capital (which, in GCA Advisors judgment, was equal to its current cost of equity capital given that the Company had no debt and its projected financial performance would make it very challenging for it to raise debt financing on attractive terms). GCA Advisors derived ranges of illustrative enterprise values for the Company by adding the ranges of present values it derived above. GCA Advisors then added the net cash of the Company, including short-term investments, of approximately $168 million as of March 31, 2018, as provided by Company management, to the range of illustrative enterprise values it derived for the Company to derive a range of illustrative equity values for the Company. GCA Advisors then divided the range of illustrative equity values it derived by the number of fully diluted outstanding shares of Company Common Stock as of April 30, 2018 using the treasury stock method, or 52.8 million total shares, to derive a range of illustrative present values per share ranging from $8.58 to $10.20. GCA Advisors noted that the per share value implied by the Consideration was above the range of per share values for the Company Common Stock implied by the discounted cash flow analysis.
Selected Public Companies Analysis.
Based on public and other available information, GCA Advisors calculated, among other things, the multiples of enterprise value to (i) Adjusted EBITDA, which is calculated as GAAP operating income, less net patent spend, plus stock based compensation, severance and restructuring, patent amortization and other depreciation and amortization, as described in the Item 4 under the heading Certain Financial Projections (such multiples, the EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples), and (ii) Modified Adjusted EBITDA, which is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA minus stock-based compensation (such multiples, EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples), in each case, for the calendar year 2017 and the estimated calendar years 2018 and 2019 (CY2017A, CY2018E and CY2019E, respectively), for selected public companies having intellectual property licensing as a core business model element, as shown in the table below (the Selected Public Companies), based on the closing prices of shares of common stock for such Selected Public Companies as of April 27, 2018. GCA Advisors utilized Wall Street analyst research, CapitalIQ and certain publicly available financial statements and press releases to analyze the relevant metrics. GCA Advisors then compared such multiples of the Selected Public Companies against the Companys EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples and EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples for CY2017A, CY2018E and CY2019E that were calculated in accordance with each of ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition (ASC 605), and ASC 606, as shown in the summary table below.
Company |
EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples | EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples |
||||||||||||||||||||||
CY2017A | CY2018E | CY2019E | CY2017A | CY2018E | CY2019E | |||||||||||||||||||
ASC 605 |
3.4x | 4.4x | 5.2x | 3.9x | 5.3x | 6.4x | ||||||||||||||||||
ASC 606 |
4.5x | 5.9x | | 5.4x | 7.6x | | ||||||||||||||||||
Selected Public Company |
EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples (1) | EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples (1) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
CY2017A | CY2018E | CY2019E | CY2017A | CY2018E | CY2019E | |||||||||||||||||||
CEVA, Inc. (ASC 605) |
NM | NM | 16.8x | NM | NM | NM | ||||||||||||||||||
Technicolor SA (IFRS 15) (2) |
5.5x | 6.5x | 5.7x | 5.7x | 6.8x | 5.9x | ||||||||||||||||||
Acacia Research Corporation (3) |
9.0x | NM | NM | NM | NM | NM | ||||||||||||||||||
Quarterhill, Inc. (ASC 605) (4) |
1.8x | 6.5x | 5.0x | 1.8x | 6.7x | 5.1x |
(1) | Multiples lower than zero or higher than 20 are considered not meaningful and noted NM. Information not available is noted in dashes. Enterprise value accounts for the impact of non-controlling interest, unfunded pension obligations, other debt-like items and short-term investments. Equity value is based on fully diluted shares outstanding using the treasury stock method. Valuation with respect to the Company is based on the Consideration of $10.50 per Company Share and assumes approximately $168 million of cash and short-term investments as of March 31, 2018, and approximately 52.8 million fully diluted shares outstanding, using the treasury stock method. |
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(2) | Excludes impact from discontinued operations and equity value is based on share price converted at the EUR/USD spot rate as of April 27, 2018. |
(3) | Acacia Research Corporation does not disclose any accounting impact related to ASC 606. |
(4) | Equity value is based on share price converted at the CAD/USD spot rate as of April 27, 2018. |
GCA Advisors believes, based on its judgment, that the Selected Public Companies have similar operating or financial performance characteristics to those of the Company, but noted that none of these companies have the same business model, management, composition, industry, size or operations as the Company, and no company used in the selected public companies analyses is identical to the Company. In addition, in conducting such analysis, GCA Advisors did not include every company that could be deemed to be a participant in this same industry or in the same specific sectors of this industry. Accordingly, an analysis of the results of the foregoing is not purely mathematical; rather, it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics of the companies and other factors that could affect the values of the companies to which the Company is being compared.
Selected Precedent Transactions Analysis.
Based on public and other available information, GCA Advisors calculated (to the extent relevant financial data was available or meaningful), among other things, the EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples and EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples for the applicable last-12-months period (LTM) and next-12-months period (NTM) for the following selected transactions involving the acquisition of companies or businesses having intellectual property licensing as a core business model element. GCA Advisors utilized Wall Street analyst research, CapitalIQ and certain publicly available financial statements and press releases to analyze the relevant LTM and NTM metrics. GCA Advisors then compared such multiples of selected transactions against the LTM and NTM EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples and EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples that were calculated based on the Consideration and the Management Projections, as shown in the summary table below.
Proposed Merger |
EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples (1) |
EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples (1) |
||||||||||||||
LTM | NTM | LTM | NTM | |||||||||||||
ASC 605 |
3.4x | 4.7x | 3.9x | 5.7x |
Selected Precedent Transactions Date Announced |
Target |
Acquiror |
EV/Adjusted EBITDA Multiples (1) |
EV/Modified Adjusted EBITDA Multiples (1) |
||||||||||||||
LTM | NTM | LTM | NTM | |||||||||||||||
12/18/2017 | Technicolor IP Licensing Business (2) | InterDigital, Inc. | 4.8x | 5.5x | | | ||||||||||||
1/25/2016 | Smart Card Software Ltd. (3) | Rambus, Inc. | 6.1x | | | | ||||||||||||
11/9/2015 | RealD, Inc. (4) | RizviTraverse | 6.7x | 5.9x | 8.3x | 7.1x | ||||||||||||
9/2/2015 | iBiquity Digital Corporation | DTS, Inc. | 11.5x (5) | | | |
(1) | Information not available is noted in dashes. LTM and NTM data as of the latest available information at the announcement date for each transaction. |
(2) | Figures reflect financial performance of Technicolors discontinued Technology segment. Enterprise value consists of a $150 million upfront cash payment and 42.5% of all future cash receipts associated with licensing (net of estimated operating expenses); multiples based on Wall Street research estimates for total consideration of EUR385 million. |
(3) | Based on LTM UK GAAP. |
(4) | LTM and NTM measured as of March 31, 2016. |
(5) | Based on mid-point of 2015 EBIT per management guidance. |
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The transactions used in this comparison were selected because the respective target company possessed, in GCA Advisors judgment, similar operating or financial performance characteristics to those of the Company. GCA Advisors noted that none of these companies have the same business model, management, composition, industry, size or operations as the Company, and no company or transaction used in the selected transactions analyses is identical to the Company, the Offer or the Merger. In addition, in conducting such analysis, GCA Advisors did not include every transaction that involved a company that could be deemed to be a participant in this same industry or in the same specific sectors of this industry. Accordingly, an analysis of the results of the foregoing is not purely mathematical; rather, it involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics of the companies and other factors that could affect the values of the companies and transactions to which the Company, the Offer and the Merger, respectively, is being compared.
Other Information.
GCA Advisors observed certain additional factors that were presented to the Company Board for reference purposes, and were not relied upon for valuation purposes, including, among other things, the following:
Negative Spot Premium Comparison.
GCA Advisors also reviewed the consideration paid in completed or announced acquisitions since April 1, 2010 that had a negative spot premium as compared against the closing prices of the target company as of the last trading day immediately prior to the announcement of such acquisitions, involving 27 publicly traded companies in North America with implied transaction values in excess of $50 million, which acquisitions were paid for with consideration consisting of cash only for all of the target companys capital stock. GCA Advisors calculated the negative spot premiums paid in these transactions over the closing prices of the target companies as of the last trading day immediately prior to the announcement of such acquisitions. Of the 27 transactions analyzed, 13 included a discount of 4% or more and a plurality of the transactions analyzed were in the technology sector.
Revenue Growth Rates.
For each of the Company and the Selected Public Companies referenced above in the Selected Public Companies Analysis, GCA Advisors identified:
(a) the estimated revenue growth rate for calendar year 2018 (calculated as the percentage increase, or decrease, as applicable, of the estimated revenue for calendar year 2018 over the actual revenue for calendar year 2017, the 2018 Estimated Revenue Growth Rate) of the Company under ASC 605, based on the Management Projections, of negative 15.3%, and compared that result to the 2018 Estimated Revenue Growth Rates for (i) CEVA, Inc. of positive 5.2%, (ii) Technicolor SA of negative 5.2%, (iii) Quarterhill, Inc. of negative 15.7% and (iv) Acacia Research Corporation of negative 37.7%, in each case, based on company filings and Wall Street research; and
(b) the estimated revenue growth rate for calendar year 2019 (calculated as the percentage increase, or decrease, as applicable, of the estimated revenue for calendar year 2019 over the estimated revenue for calendar year 2018, the 2019 Estimated Revenue Growth Rate) of the Company under ASC 605, based on the Management Projections, of negative 5.0%, and compared that result to the 2019 Estimated Revenue Growth Rates of (i) CEVA, Inc. of positive 12.6%, (ii) Quarterhill, Inc. of positive 9.8%, (iii) Acacia Research Corporation of positive 4.2% and (iv) Technicolor SA of positive 1.2%, in each case based on company filings and Wall Street research.
Miscellaneous.
The foregoing description is only a summary of the analyses and examinations that GCA Advisors deems material to its opinion. It is not a comprehensive description of all analyses and examinations actually conducted
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by GCA Advisors. The preparation of a fairness opinion necessarily is a complex process involving subjective judgment and is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. GCA Advisors believes that its analyses and the summary set forth above must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and of the factors considered, without considering all analyses and factors, would create an incomplete view of the process underlying the analyses set forth in its presentation to the Company Board. In addition, GCA Advisors may have given various analyses more or less weight than other analyses, and may have deemed various assumptions more or less probable than other assumptions. The fact that any specific analysis has been referred to in the summary above is not meant to indicate that this analysis was given weight equal to or greater than any other analysis. Accordingly, the range of valuations resulting from certain analyses described above should not be taken to be the view of GCA Advisors with respect to the actual value of the Company.
In performing its analyses, GCA Advisors made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The analyses performed by GCA Advisors are not necessarily indicative of actual values or actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by these analyses. These analyses were prepared solely as part of the analysis performed by GCA Advisors with respect to its opinion and were provided to the Company Board in connection with the delivery of the GCA Advisors opinion that, as of April 30, 2018, the Consideration to be received by the holders of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. The analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which a company might actually be sold or the prices at which any securities may trade at any time in the future.
As described above, GCA Advisors opinion and presentation were among the many factors the Company Board took into consideration in making its determination to approve the Merger Agreement and should not be viewed as determinative of the views of the Company Board or management with respect to the Offer, the Merger or the Consideration. GCA Advisors did not recommend any specific consideration to the Company Board or state that any specific consideration constituted the only appropriate consideration.
Under the terms of its engagement letter, GCA Advisors provided financial advisory services to the Company Board in connection with the Offer and the Merger for which it will be paid approximately $7.8 million, $1 million of which became payable upon delivery of its opinion, and the remaining portion of which will be paid upon, and subject to, the completion of the Merger. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse GCA Advisors for certain expenses related to its engagement and to indemnify GCA Advisors and its affiliates, and each of their respective directors, shareholders, members, partners, agents, employees, representatives, and controlling persons, against certain liabilities arising out of its engagement.
In the two years prior to April 30, 2018, GCA Advisors provided strategic advisory services to the Company and received $100,000 in aggregate fees for such services (including the reimbursement of expenses). GCA Advisors has not, in the two years prior to April 30, 2018, at any time provided financial advisory services for Parent, Purchaser or their affiliates. However, GCA Advisors may seek to provide such services to Parent or its affiliates in the future and receive fees for such services.
ITEM 5. | PERSON/ASSETS, RETAINED, EMPLOYED, COMPENSATED OR USED |
The Company retained GCA Advisors to act as its financial advisor in connection with the Offer and the Merger. The Company agreed to pay GCA Advisors a transaction fee, currently estimated to be approximately $7.8 million, for its services as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with certain sale transactions involving the Company (including the Offer and the Merger), payable upon the closing of any such transaction, and including a fee of $1.0 million, which was payable upon delivery of GCA Advisorss opinion, to be credited against such transaction fee. Subject to certain limitations, GCA Advisors will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses, including fees of outside legal counsel, incurred in connection with their engagement. In addition, the Company has agreed to indemnify GCA Advisors, its affiliates and each of their respective affiliates, directors,
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shareholders, members, partners, interest holders, agents, representatives, advisers, consultants, employees and controlling persons from specified liabilities.
Additional information pertaining to the retention of GCA Advisors by the Company is set forth in Item 4 under the heading Opinion of GCA Advisors, LLC and is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 5.
Neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf has otherwise employed, retained or compensated any person to make solicitations or recommendations to the Companys stockholders on its behalf concerning the Offer or the Merger, except that such solicitations or recommendations may be made by directors, officers or employees of the Company, for which services no additional compensation will be paid.
ITEM 6. | INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE SUBJECT COMPANY |
To the Companys knowledge after reasonable inquiry, no transactions in Company Common Stock have been effected during the sixty (60) days prior to the date of this Schedule 14D-9 by the Company or by any executive officer, director, affiliate or subsidiary of the Company, except as set forth below.
Name |
Date of Transaction |
Number of Company Shares |
Price per |
Nature of Transaction | ||||||||
David J. Anderson |
5/20/2018 | 8,282 | (1) | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | |||||||
Paul A. S. Mankoo |
5/20/2018 | 6,339 | (2) | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | |||||||
Martin E. Roberts |
5/20/2018 | 3,730 | (3) | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | |||||||
Edward F. Straube |
5/20/2018 | 2,242 | (4) | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | |||||||
Andrew D. Africk |
5/20/2018 | 4,406 | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | ||||||||
Shelby Bonnie |
5/20/2018 | 5,364 | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | ||||||||
Frank E. Dangeard |
5/20/2018 | 3,392 | (5) | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | |||||||
Steven L. Fingerhood |
5/20/2018 | 5,011 | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | ||||||||
Gilbert S. Palter |
5/20/2018 | 3,315 | (6) | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | |||||||
Sanford R. Robertson |
5/20/2018 | 4,538 | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | ||||||||
Mallun Yen |
5/20/2018 | 9,961 | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs | ||||||||
Magdalena Yesil |
5/20/2018 | 10,203 | N/A | Vesting of Company RSUs |
(1) | Net Company Shares after withholding 4,381 Company Shares for payment of taxes. |
(2) | Net Company Shares after withholding 7,622 Company Shares for payment of taxes. |
(3) | Net Company Shares after withholding 2,222 Company Shares for payment of taxes. |
(4) | Net Company Shares after withholding 1,189 Company Shares for payment of taxes. |
(5) | Net Company Shares after withholding 1,454 Company Shares for payment of taxes. |
(6) | Net Company Shares after withholding 1,421 Company Shares for payment of taxes. |
ITEM 7. | PURPOSES OF THE TRANSACTION AND PLANS OR PROPOSALS |
Except as set forth in this Schedule 14D-9 or as incorporated in this Schedule 14D-9 by reference, the Company is not undertaking or engaged in any negotiations in response to the Offer that relate to:
| a tender offer or other acquisition of the Companys securities by the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or any other person; |
| any extraordinary transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; |
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| any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company; or |
| any material change in the present dividend rate or policy (as described in Item 4 under the heading Reasons for the Recommendation, the Company has suspended the paying of dividends) or indebtedness or capitalization of the Company. |
Except as set forth in this Schedule 14D-9 or as incorporated in this Schedule 14D-9 by reference, there are no transactions, resolutions of the Company Board, agreements in principle or signed contracts entered into in response to the Offer that relate to one or more of the events referred to in the preceding paragraph.
ITEM 8. | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION |
The information set forth in Item 3 under the heading Interests of Certain Persons; Agreements and Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the Company is incorporated herein by reference.
Golden Parachute Compensation
The following table sets forth the information required by Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K regarding certain compensation that will or may be paid or become payable to each of the Companys named executive officers (as identified in accordance with SEC regulations) and that is based on or otherwise relates to the Merger. Each of Messrs. Amster, Campion and Heath, although named executive officers for the Companys prior fiscal year, are no longer employed by the Company. For additional details regarding the terms of the payments described below for each of Messrs. Anderson, Mankoo, Roberts and Straube, see Item 3.
The amounts listed below are estimates based on multiple assumptions that may or may not actually occur, including the assumptions that the closing date of the Merger is June 19, 2018 and that each named executive officer experiences a qualifying termination of employment (as provided in each applicable plan, program or agreement) on the same day immediately following the Merger. The actual amounts, if any, to be received by a named executive officer may differ from the amounts set forth below.
Golden Parachute Compensation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Name |
Cash ($)(1) | Equity ($) (2) | Pension NQDC($) (3) |
Perquisites/ Benefits ($) (4) |
Tax Reimbursements ($) (5) |
Total($) | ||||||||||||||||||
Martin E. Roberts |
1,250,000 | 2,523,568 | N/A | 24,236 | N/A | 3,797,804 | ||||||||||||||||||
David J. Anderson |
552,000 | 1,494,727 | N/A | 31,339 | N/A | 2,078,066 | ||||||||||||||||||
Paul A. S. Mankoo (6) |
190,967 | | 1,909 | 3,840 | N/A | 196,716 | ||||||||||||||||||
Edward F. Straube |
344,500 | 558,631 | N/A | 23,670 | N/A | 926,801 | ||||||||||||||||||
John A. Amster (7) |
| | N/A | N/A | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
Trevor Campion (7) |
| | N/A | N/A | N/A | | ||||||||||||||||||
Robert H. Heath (7) |
| | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
(1) | For Mr. Roberts, represents severance pay equal to the sum of 1.5 times his annual base salary ($500,000) and 100% of his target bonus ($500,000), payable in equal installments over the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination of employment, pursuant to his severance and change in control agreement with the Company. For Mr. Anderson, represents severance pay equal to the sum of 1.25 times his annual base salary ($325,000) and 75% of his target bonus ($195,000), payable in equal installments over the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination of employment, pursuant to his severance and change in control agreement with the Company. For Mr. Mankoo, represents severance pay equal to the sum of (i) severance pay equal to six (6) months of his annual base salary ($381,933) and (ii) a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination as determined by Inventus in its discretion (which is assumed to be zero as |
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an estimate of such amount is not determinable by the Company at this time), pursuant to his service agreement with Inventus. If Mr. Mankoos severance arrangement as approved by the Compensation Committee under the Severance Guidelines were in effect, Mr. Mankoo may be entitled to cash severance equal to twelve (12) months of his annual base salary (totaling $381,933) upon a qualifying termination. The Company intends to enter into an agreement with Mr. Mankoo in order to more fully set forth the rights and obligations with respect to this severance arrangement, including the impact that this severance arrangement will have on his entitlement to severance under the terms of his existing service agreement with Inventus. For Mr. Straube, represents severance pay equal to the sum of 1.0 times his annual base salary ($265,000) and 50% of his target bonus ($159,000), payable in equal installments over the twelve (12) month period following the date of termination of employment, pursuant to his severance and change in control agreement with the Company. |
(2) | For a description of the treatment and detailed breakdown of each named executive officers equity award-based payments, see Item 3 under the heading Effect of the Merger Agreement on Equity Awards. |
For each of Messrs. Roberts, Anderson and Straube, represents the value of the accelerated vesting of Substitute RSUs and Substitute PSUs pursuant to the respective executives severance and change in control agreement with the Company, which accelerated vesting is a double-trigger (that is, they are payable upon a qualifying termination that occurs within nine (9) months following a change in control), based on the assumptions described above. Mr. Mankoo is not entitled to such acceleration benefit pursuant to the terms of his existing service agreement with Inventus. If Mr. Mankoos severance arrangement as approved by the Compensation Committee under the Severance Guidelines were in effect, Mr. Mankoo may be entitled to accelerated vesting of Substitute RSUs having a value equal to $491,515. The Company intends to enter into an agreement with Mr. Mankoo in order to more fully set forth the rights and obligations with respect to this severance arrangement, including the impact that this severance arrangement will have on his entitlement to severance under the terms of his existing service agreement with Inventus. The value of each accelerated Substitute RSU and Substitute PSU referenced herein is calculated at a per share value of $10.416, which was the Companys average closing market price over the first five (5) business days following the first public announcement of the Merger, as required by Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K.
(3) | For Mr. Mankoo, the amount shown represents the value of a pension contribution that he would have earned and received for six (6) months following the date of termination, pursuant to his service agreement with Inventus. None of the other named executive officers will be entitled to additional pension or non-qualified deferred compensation benefits in connection with the Merger. |
(4) | For each of Messrs. Roberts, Anderson and Straube, the amount shown represents a lump-sum payment equal to the amount required to maintain the executives current or equivalent health benefits under COBRA for twelve (12) months following the date of termination ($24,236 for Mr. Roberts, $31,339 for Mr. Anderson and $23,670 for Mr. Straube), pursuant to the executives respective severance and change in control agreement with the Company. Mr. Anderson would not be entitled to this benefit because he does not currently participate in the Companys health plan. For Mr. Mankoo, the amount shown represents the value of the contractual benefits that he would have earned and received for six (6) months following the date of termination (consisting of payments of $3,009, $363, and $468 to cover six (6) months of health insurance, short-term disability and life insurance, and long-term disability insurance premiums, respectively, in addition to the pension contribution noted above), pursuant to his service agreement with Inventus. |
(5) | None of the named executive officers is entitled to a tax reimbursement or gross-up in respect of the payments described in the table. |
(6) | Mr. Mankoos compensation and benefits are paid in GBP as Mr. Mankoo resides in the UK. The average foreign exchange in effect for April 2018 (1.406596) was used to convert all amounts shown into USD. |
(7) | Each of Messrs. Amster, Campion and Heath terminated employment with the Company on February 2, 2017, August 1, 2017, and December 15, 2017, respectively. |
Vote Required to Approve the Merger.
The Company Board has approved the Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated in or by the Merger Agreement in accordance with the DGCL. If the Offer is consummated, the
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Company does not anticipate seeking the approval of the Companys remaining public stockholders before the Merger is effected. Section 251(h) of the DGCL provides that following consummation of a successful tender offer for a public corporation, and subject to certain statutory provisions, if the acquiror holds at least the amount of shares of each class of stock of the target corporation that would otherwise be required to approve a merger for the target corporation, and the other stockholders receive the same consideration for their stock in the merger as was payable in the tender offer, the acquiror can effect a merger without the action of the other stockholders of the target corporation. Accordingly, if the Offer is consummated, the Company, Parent and Purchaser intend to effect the closing of the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.
Anti-Takeover Statute.
The Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents an interested stockholder (defined generally to include a person who, together with such persons affiliates and associates, owns or has the right to acquire 15% or more of a corporations outstanding voting stock) from engaging in a business combination (defined to include mergers and certain other actions and transactions) with a Delaware corporation whose stock is publicly traded or held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders for a period of three (3) years following the date such person became an interested stockholder unless:
| the transaction in which the stockholder became an interested stockholder or the business combination was approved by board of directors of the corporation before the time of the business combination; |
| upon completion of the transaction that made it an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the commencement of the transaction (excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) the voting stock owned by directors who are also officers or held in employee benefit plans in which the employees do not have a confidential right to tender or vote stock held by the plan); or |
| the business combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation and ratified by 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which the interested stockholder did not own. Each of Parent and Purchaser is not, nor at any time for the past three (3) years has been, an interested stockholder of the Company as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL. In accordance with the provisions of Section 203, the Company Board has approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, as described in Item 4 under the heading Reasons for the Recommendation and, therefore, the restrictions of Section 203 are inapplicable to the Offer, the Merger and the associated transactions. |
Appraisal Rights
No appraisal rights are available in connection with the Offer. However, if Purchaser purchases Company Shares in the Offer and the Merger is consummated, stockholders who do not validly tender into the Offer and who otherwise comply with the applicable requirements and procedures of Section 262 of the DGCL will be entitled to demand appraisal of their Company Shares and receive in lieu of the consideration payable in the Merger a cash payment equal to the fair value of their Company Shares, as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL, plus interest, if any, on the amount determined to be the fair value, subject to the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL. Such appraised value may be greater than, the same as or less than the Per Share Merger Consideration. Any Company stockholder contemplating the exercise of its appraisal rights should review carefully the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL, particularly the procedural steps required to properly demand and perfect such rights. Company stockholders should note that the opinions of the investment banking firm as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration payable in a sale transaction, such as the Offer and the Merger, are not opinions as to, and do not otherwise address, fair value under Section 262 of the DGCL.
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THE FOLLOWING BRIEF SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE FULL TEXT OF SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THIS SCHEDULE 14D-9 AS ANNEX B. THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY DOES NOT CONSTITUTE ANY LEGAL OR OTHER ADVICE NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE A RECOMMENDATION THAT COMPANY STOCKHOLDERS EXERCISE APPRAISAL RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL. ALL REFERENCES IN SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL AND IN THIS SUMMARY TO A COMPANY STOCKHOLDER ARE TO THE RECORD HOLDER OF COMPANY SHARES IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME AS TO WHICH APPRAISAL RIGHTS ARE ASSERTED.
Under the DGCL, if the Merger is completed, holders of Company Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time who (i) did not tender their Company Shares in the Offer, (ii) follow the procedures set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL and (iii) do not thereafter withdraw their demand for appraisal of such Company Shares or otherwise lose their appraisal rights, in each case in accordance with the DGCL, will be entitled to have their Company Shares appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive payment of the fair value of such Company Shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with a fair rate of interest, as determined by such court.
Under Section 262 of the DGCL, where a merger is approved under Section 251(h) of the DGCL, either a constituent corporation before the Effective Time, or the surviving corporation within ten (10) days thereafter, shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the merger and that appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of Section 262 of the DGCL. THIS SCHEDULE 14D-9 CONSTITUTES THE FORMAL NOTICE OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL.
Under Delaware law, the procedures to properly demand and perfect appraisal rights must be carried out by and in the name of those registered as the holders of record of Company Shares. Stockholders who are the beneficial owners but not the holders of record of Company Shares, and who wish to demand such appraisal rights, are advised to consult promptly with the holders of record as to the timely exercise of such rights and to cause such holders of record to make the appropriate demand and to otherwise comply with the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL MAY RESULT IN A TERMINATION OR LOSS OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS.
Any Company stockholder wishing to exercise appraisal rights is urged to consult legal counsel before attempting to exercise such rights.
If a Company stockholder elects to exercise appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL, such stockholder must do all of the following:
(i) | prior to the later of the consummation of the Offer (which will occur at the date and time of the acceptance and payment for Company Shares pursuant to and subject to the conditions of the Offer) and twenty (20) days after the date of this Schedule 14D-9, deliver to the Company at One Market Plaza, Suite 1100, San Francisco, California 94105, Attention: General Counsel, a written demand for appraisal of the Company Shares, which demand must reasonably inform the Company of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder is demanding appraisal; |
(ii) | not tender his, her or its Company Shares in the Offer; and |
(iii) | continuously hold of record the Company Shares from the date on which the written demand for appraisal is made through the Effective Time. |
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Any stockholder who sells Company Shares in the Offer will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights with respect thereto but rather, receive the Offer Price, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, as well as the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal, as applicable.
Appraisal Procedures.
The right to appraisal will be lost unless it is perfected by full and precise satisfaction of the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, the text of which is set forth in full in Annex B hereto. Mere failure to execute and return a Letter of Transmittal to the paying agent, or failure to deliver Company Share certificates to the paying agent, as the case may be, does NOT satisfy the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL. Rather, a separate written demand for appraisal must be properly executed and delivered to the Company as described herein and in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL.
As provided under Section 262 of the DGCL, failure of a stockholder to make a written demand for appraisal (or failure of a beneficial owner of Company Shares to cause the record holder of such Company Shares to demand an appraisal of such Company Shares) within the time limits provided in Section 262 of the DGCL will result in the loss of such stockholders appraisal rights. The written demand for appraisal must be executed by or for the stockholder of record. The demand should set forth, fully and correctly, the stockholders name as it appears on the Company Share certificate or certificates that represent such stockholders Company Shares or in the book entry that represents such stockholders Company Shares, as the case may be. If the relevant Company Shares are owned of record in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such as by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian or attorney-in-fact, execution of the demand must be made in such capacity, and if the Company Shares are owned of record by more than one person, such as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, the demand must be executed by or for all joint owners. An authorized agent, including one of two or more joint owners, may execute the demand for appraisal for a stockholder of record; provided, however, that the agent must identify the record owner(s) and expressly disclose the fact that, in executing the demand, the agent is acting as agent for the record owner(s).
A record holder, such as a broker, fiduciary, depositary or other nominee, who holds Company Shares as a nominee for others, may exercise appraisal rights with respect to the Company Shares held for all or less than all beneficial owners of Company Shares as to which such person is the record owner. In such case, the written demand must set forth the number of Company Shares covered by such demand. Where the number of Company Shares is not expressly stated, the demand will be presumed to cover all Company Shares held in the name of such record owner.
A beneficial owner of Company Shares held in street name who desires appraisal should take such actions as may be necessary to ensure that a timely and proper demand for appraisal is made by the record holder of such Company Shares. Securities held through brokerage firms, banks and other financial institutions are frequently deposited with and held of record in the name of a nominee of a central security deposit, such as The Depository Trust Company. In the case of Company Shares held through such a central securities depository nominee, a demand for appraisal of such Company Shares must be made by or on behalf of the depository nominee and must identify the depository nominee as record owner. Any beneficial holder desiring appraisal who holds Company Shares through a brokerage firm, bank or other financial institution is responsible for ensuring that the demand for appraisal is made by the record holder of such Company Shares. The beneficial holder of such Company Shares who desires appraisal should instruct such firm, bank or institution that the demand for appraisal must be made by the record holder of such Company Shares, which may be the nominee of a central security depository if the Company Shares have been so deposited. As required by Section 262 of the DGCL, a demand for appraisal must reasonably inform the Company of the identity of the holder(s) of record (which may be a nominee as described above) and that such stockholder intends thereby to demand appraisal of such Company Shares.
Within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the Effective Time, but not thereafter, the Surviving Corporation or any holder of Company Shares who has complied with the provisions of Section 262 of the
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DGCL and is entitled to appraisal rights thereunder may commence an appraisal proceeding by filing a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the fair value of the Company Shares held by all such holders. If no such petition is filed within the one hundred and twenty (120) day period, appraisal rights will be lost for all holders of Company Shares who had previously demanded appraisal of their Company Shares. The Company is under no obligation, and has no present intention, to file such a petition. Accordingly, any Company stockholder who wishes to perfect such stockholders appraisal rights will be required to initiate all necessary action within the time prescribed in Section 262 of the DGCL. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within sixty (60) days after the Effective Time, any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined a proceeding as a named party shall have the right to withdraw such stockholders demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered pursuant to the Merger. Notwithstanding that a demand for appraisal must be executed by or for a stockholder of record, a beneficial owner of Company Shares held either in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such beneficial owner may, in such beneficial owners own name, file a petition for appraisal with respect to Company Shares beneficially owned by such person and as to which appraisal rights have properly been perfected.
Within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the Effective Time, any holder of Company Shares who has complied with the requirements for exercise of appraisal rights will be entitled, upon written request, to receive from the Surviving Corporation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of Company Shares with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such Company Shares. Such statement must be mailed (a) within ten (10) days after a written request therefor has been received by the Surviving Corporation or (b) within ten (10) days after the expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal, whichever is later. A beneficial owner of Company Shares held either in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such beneficial owner may, in such beneficial owners own name, make such a request.
If a petition for an appraisal is timely filed with the Delaware Court of Chancery by a stockholder, service of a copy thereof must be made upon the Surviving Corporation, which will then be obligated within twenty (20) days to provide the Delaware Register in Chancery with a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their Company Shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their Company Shares have not been reached by the Company. The Delaware Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Court of Chancery, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition to the Surviving Corporation and the petitioning stockholders in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL. As required by Section 262 of the DGCL, the Court of Chancery is empowered to conduct a hearing on such petition to determine those stockholders who have complied with Section 262 of the DGCL and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court of Chancery may require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their Company Shares to submit their Company Share certificates to the Delaware Register in Chancery for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceeding and, if any such stockholder fails to comply with such direction, the Court of Chancery may dismiss the proceedings as to such stockholder. Pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, the Court of Chancery shall dismiss the proceedings as to all holders of such Company Shares who are otherwise entitled to appraisal rights unless (1) the total number of Company Shares entitled to appraisal exceeds 1% of the outstanding Company Shares of the class or series eligible for appraisal or (2) the value of the consideration provided in the Merger or consolidation for such total number of Company Shares exceeds $1 million.
After determining the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the Court of Chancery will appraise the fair value of their Company Shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Unless the Court of Chancery in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause shown, interest on the amount determined to be the fair value shall accrue from the Effective Time through the date of the payment of the judgment, shall be compounded quarterly, and shall accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharges) as established from time to time during the period between the Effective Time and the date of payment of the judgment. At any time before the entry of judgment in the proceedings, the Surviving
48
Corporation may pay to each stockholder entitled to appraisal an amount in cash, in which case interest shall accrue thereafter as provided herein only upon the sum of (1) the difference, if any, between the amount so paid and the fair value of the Company Shares as determined by the Court of Chancery, and (2) interest theretofore accrued, unless paid at that time. The Surviving Corporation is under no obligation to make such voluntary cash payment prior to such entry of judgment.
Stockholders considering the exercise of appraisal rights should be aware that the fair value of their Company Shares as determined under Section 262 of the DGCL could be greater than, the same as or less than the value of the Per Share Merger Consideration. In determining fair value, the Delaware Court of Chancery shall take into account all relevant factors. In Weinberger v. UOP, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court discussed the factors that could be considered in determining fair value in an appraisal proceeding, stating that proof of value by any techniques or methods which are generally considered acceptable in the financial community and otherwise admissible in court should be considered and that [f]air price obviously requires consideration of all relevant factors involving the value of a company. The Delaware Supreme Court has stated that in making this determination of fair value the court must consider market value, asset value, dividends, earnings prospects, the nature of the enterprise and any other facts which could be ascertained as of the date of the merger which throw any light on future prospects of the merged corporation. Section 262 of the DGCL provides that fair value is to be exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger. In Cede & Co. v. Technicolor, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court stated that such exclusion is a narrow exclusion [that] does not encompass known elements of value, but which rather applies only to the speculative elements of value arising from such accomplishment or expectation. In Weinberger, the Delaware Supreme Court construed Section 262 of the DGCL to mean that elements of future value, including the nature of the enterprise, which are known or susceptible of proof as of the date of the merger and not the product of speculation, may be considered.
The costs of the appraisal proceeding (which do not include attorneys fees or the fees and expenses of expert witnesses) may be determined by the Court of Chancery and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder, the Court may also order that all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with an appraisal, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and the fees and expenses of experts utilized in the appraisal proceeding, be charged pro rata against the value of all the Company Shares entitled to be appraised. Absent such an order, each party is responsible for his, her or its own expenses.
From and after the Effective Time, no stockholder, whether or not such stockholder has duly demanded an appraisal in compliance with Section 262 of the DGCL, shall be entitled to vote any Company Shares for any purpose or entitled to the payment of dividends or other distributions on any Company Shares (except dividends or other distributions, if any, payable to stockholders of record as of a record date prior to the Effective Time).
If any stockholder who demands appraisal of such stockholders Company Shares under Section 262 of the DGCL fails to perfect, or effectively withdraws or loses, such stockholders right to appraisal, as provided in the DGCL, the Company Shares of such stockholder will be converted into the right to receive the Per Share Merger Consideration, without interest and subject to any taxes required to be withheld under applicable law, and then such stockholders must follow the procedures set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and accompanying instructions in order to receive payment of the Per Share Merger Consideration.
At any time within sixty (60) calendar days after the Effective Time, any stockholder who has demanded appraisal and who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party shall have the right to withdraw the demand and accept the consideration offered in the Merger. After that period, a stockholder may withdraw a demand for appraisal only with the written consent of the Surviving Corporation. No appraisal proceeding in the Court of Chancery will be dismissed as to any stockholder, however, without the approval of the Court of Chancery, which may be conditioned on such terms as the Court deems just; provided, however, that this provision shall not affect the right of any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal
49
proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party to withdraw such stockholders demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered pursuant to the Merger within sixty (60) calendar days of the Effective Time.
FAILURE TO STRICTLY FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL MAY RESULT IN A TERMINATION OR LOSS OF APPRAISAL RIGHTS UNDER SECTION 262 OF THE DGCL.
Legal Proceedings.
Lawsuits arising out of or relating to the Offer, the Merger or the other associated transactions may be filed in the future.
Regulatory Approvals.
United States Antitrust Compliance
Under the HSR Act and the rules that have been promulgated thereunder by the FTC, certain acquisition transactions may not be consummated unless certain information has been furnished to the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the Antitrust Division) and certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied. The purchase of Company Shares pursuant to the Offer is subject to such requirements. See Section 16 Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals in the Offer to Purchase.
The HSR Act provides for an initial fifteen (15) calendar-day waiting period for cash tender offers following the FTCs and the Antitrust Divisions receipt of Parents Premerger Notification and Report Form under the HSR Act before Parent and Purchaser may purchase Company Shares in the Offer. If the fifteenth (15th) calendar day of the initial waiting period is not a business day, the initial waiting period is extended until 11:59 PM of the next business day. Parent and the Company each filed a Premerger Notification and Report Form with the FTC and the Antitrust Division for review in connection with the Offer on May 14, 2018. Accordingly, the initial waiting period applicable to the purchase of Company Shares will expire at 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on May 29, 2018 unless the waiting period is earlier terminated by the FTC and the Antitrust Division or extended by a formal request from the FTC or the Antitrust Division for additional information or documentary material from Parent prior to that time, or if Parent withdraws its HSR filing under pursuant to the HSR Act. If, before expiration or early termination of the initial fifteen (15) calendar-day waiting period, either the FTC or the Antitrust Division issues a request for additional information or documentary material from to the Parent and the Company, the waiting period with respect to the Offer and the Merger will be extended for an additional period of ten (10) calendar days following the date of Parents substantial compliance with that request. Complying with a request for additional information or documentary material may take a significant amount of time.
At any time before or after the consummation of any such transactions, the FTC or the Antitrust Division could take such action under the antitrust laws of the United States as it deems necessary or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the purchase of Company Shares pursuant to the Offer or seeking divestiture of the Company Shares so acquired or divestiture of substantial assets of the Company. Private parties (including individual States) may also bring legal actions under the antitrust laws of the United States. The Company does not believe that the consummation of the Offer will result in a violation of any applicable antitrust laws. However, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Offer on antitrust grounds will not be made, or if such a challenge is made, what the result will be.
German Antitrust Compliance
A merger notification was submitted to the German Bundeskartellamt (the Federal Cartel Office) on May 8, 2018 triggering a one (1) month Phase 1 review period which expires on June 8, 2018. If the Federal
50
Cartel Office informs the parties within the one (1) month period that it does not object to the closing of the Offer and Merger, the closing of the Offer and the Merger are approved. The closing of the Offer and the Merger are deemed approved if no decision is issued within the review period. There is a worldwide bar on closing until the Federal Cartel Office has approved the transaction or the transaction is deemed to be approved and absent an investigation by the Federal Cartel Office. The commencement of such formal investigation would extend the waiting period up to four (4) months (five (5) months if conditions or remedies are proposed by the parties) from the date of receipt by the Federal Cartel Office of the complete notification; further extensions of the waiting period would only be possible with the consent of the parties or in the event that the parties do not properly comply with their duty to provide information upon request from the Federal Cartel Office. The completion of the Offer and Merger without German merger control clearance could result in administrative penalties and the Offer and Merger being deemed invalid under German law. If the Federal Cartel Office determines that the acquisition of Shares in the Offer or the Merger would significantly impede effective competition, and particularly if it determines that such acquisition would lead to the creation or strengthening of a dominant market position, it may prohibit the acquisition of the Company Shares in the Offer or the Merger or impose other conditions or remedies, including divestitures.
Annual and Quarterly Reports.
For additional information regarding the business and the financial results of the Company, please see the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and the amendment thereto, as filed with the SEC on March 5, 2018 and April 30, 2018, respectively, and the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 as filed with the SEC on May 8, 2018.
Forward-Looking Statements.
All of the statements in this document (including those incorporated by reference), other than historical facts, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the statements made concerning the pending acquisition of the Company by Parent and Purchaser, and are based on a number of assumptions that could ultimately prove inaccurate. Forward-looking statements made herein with respect to the Offer, the Merger and related transactions, including, for example, the timing of the completion of the Merger and the potential benefits of the Merger, reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. Due to known and unknown risks, the Companys actual results may differ materially from its expectations or projections. The following factors, among others, could cause actual plans and results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements: (i) uncertainties as to the timing of the Offer and the Merger; (ii) uncertainties as to how many Company stockholders will tender their Company Shares in the Offer; (iii) the possibility that competing offers will be made; (iv) the possibility that various closing conditions for the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement may not be satisfied or waived; (v) the risk that the Merger Agreement may be terminated in circumstances requiring the Company to pay a termination fee; (vi) risks related to obtaining the requisite consents to the Offer and the Merger, including, without limitation, the risk that a regulatory approval that may be required for the proposed transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including under the HSR Act and the GWB is delayed, is not obtained, or is obtained subject to conditions that are not anticipated; (vii) the possibility that the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement may not be timely completed, if at all; (viii) the risk that, prior to the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, if at all, the Companys business and its relationships with employees, collaborators, vendors and other business partners could experience significant disruption due to transaction-related uncertainty; (ix) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the Offer or the Merger may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; and (x) the risks and uncertainties pertaining to the Companys business, and elsewhere in the Companys public periodic filings with the SEC, as well as the tender offer materials filed and to be filed by Purchaser in connection with the Offer. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include those set forth in the Companys SEC reports, including, without limitation, the risks described in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, and the
51
amendment thereto, and the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, which are both on file with the SEC. The Companys SEC filings are available publicly on the SECs website at www.sec.gov, on the Companys website at https://www.rpxcorp.com/ under the Investor Relations section or upon request via email to ir@rpxcorp.com. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
ITEM 9. | EXHIBITS |
The following exhibits are filed with this Schedule 14D-9:
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
(a)(1)(A) |
Offer to Purchase, dated May 21, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(A) to the Schedule TO). | |
(a)(1)(B) |
Form of Letter of Transmittal (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(B) to the Schedule TO). | |
(a)(1)(C) |
Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(C) to the Schedule TO). | |
(a)(1)(D) |
Form of Letter from the Information Agent to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(D) to the Schedule TO). | |
(a)(1)(E) |
Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(E) to the Schedule TO). | |
(a)(1)(F) |
Summary Advertisement as published in the Wall Street Journal on May 21, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(F) to the Schedule TO). | |
(a)(5)(A) |
Opinion of GCA Advisors, LLC, dated April 30, 2018 (included as Annex A to this Schedule 14D-9). | |
(a)(5)(B) |
Joint Press Release issued by HGGC, LLC and RPX Corporation on May 1, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 1, 2018). | |
(a)(5)(C) |
Press Release issued by RPX Corporation on May 1, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 1, 2018). | |
(a)(5)(D) |
Joint Press Release issued by the Company and Parent on May 21, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(5)(B) to the Schedule TO). | |
(e)(1) |
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated April 30, 2018, among Riptide Parent, LLC, Riptide Purchaser, Inc. and RPX Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018). | |
(e)(2) |
Confidentiality Agreement, dated January 9, 2018, between RPX Corporation and HGGC, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(2) to the Schedule TO). | |
(e)(3) |
Exclusivity Agreement Letter, dated April 26, 2018, from HGGC, LLC to RPX Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(3) to the Schedule TO). | |
(e)(4) |
Limited Guarantee, dated as of April 30, 2018, by each of the Fund II Investors in favor of RPX Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(4) to the Schedule TO). | |
(e)(5) |
Form of Indemnification Agreement between RPX Corporation and each officer and director (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2011). |
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Exhibit No. |
Description | |
(e)(6) |
2008 Stock Plan, as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2011). | |
(e)(7) |
Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant (Early Exercise) and Stock Option Agreement under 2008 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2011). | |
(e)(8) |
Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement under 2008 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2011). | |
(e)(9) |
Form of Notice of Stock Exercise (Early Exercise) under 2008 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2011). | |
(e)(10) |
Form of Notice of Stock Exercise under 2008 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, filed with the SEC on January 21, 2011). | |
(e)(11) |
2011 Equity Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the SEC on March 7, 2011). | |
(e)(12) |
Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant and Stock Option Agreement under 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2011). | |
(e)(13) |
Form of Notice of Stock Option Grant (Non-Employee Directors) and Stock Option Agreement (Non-Employee Directors) under 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2011). | |
(e)(14) |
Form of Notice of Stock Unit Award and Stock Unit Agreement under 2011 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, filed with the SEC on April 29, 2011). | |
(e)(15) |
Agreement and Plan of Merger, by and among RPX Corporation, National Acquisition Corp., Inventus Solutions, Inc. and Inventus Intermediaries, LLC entered into on December 13, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 28, 2016). | |
(e)(16) |
Agreement, dated May 25, 2016, by and among RPX Corporation, the Mangrove Partners Master Fund, Ltd. and Mangrove Partners (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 8-K, filed May 26, 2016). | |
(e)(17) |
RPX Corporation Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors, as Amended May 23, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017). | |
(e)(18) |
Employment Offer Letter by and between RPX Corporation and David Anderson, dated as of October 12, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 10-Q, filed August 3, 2017). | |
(e)(19) |
Employment Offer Letter by and between RPX Corporation and Martin Roberts, dated as of September 17, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 10-K, as amended, filed March 5, 2018). | |
(e)(20) |
Employment Offer Letter by and between RPX Corporation and Edward Straube, dated as of February 15, 2013. |
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Exhibit No. |
Description | |
(e)(21) |
Service Agreement, by and between Unified OS Limited and Paul Mankoo, dated as of March 11, 2015. | |
(e)(22) |
Amendment No. 1 to RPX Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018 (incorporated by reference to RPX Corporations Annual Report on Form 10-K/A, filed with the SEC on April 30, 2018). | |
(e)(23) |
Severance and Change of Control Agreement by and between RPX Corporation and David Anderson, dated as of March 21, 2018 (incorporated by reference to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2018). | |
(e)(24) |
Severance and Change of Control Agreement by and between RPX Corporation and Martin Roberts, dated as of March 21, 2018 (incorporated by reference to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2018). | |
(e)(25) |
Severance and Change of Control Agreement by and between RPX Corporation and Edward Straube, dated as of March 21, 2018. | |
(e)(26) |
E-mail from Martin Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of RPX Corporation, sent to RPX Corporations Employees, dated May 21, 2018. | |
(e)(27) |
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of RPX Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to RPX Corporations Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC on January 21, 2011). | |
(e)(28) |
Amended and Restated By-Laws of RPX Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to RPX Corporations Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 11, 2015). |
Annex A: Opinion of GCA Advisors, LLC.
Annex B: Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
54
SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this Schedule 14D-9 is true, complete and correct.
RPX CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Martin Roberts | |
Martin Roberts | ||
CEO and President |
Dated: May 21, 2018
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ANNEX A
GCA ADVISORS, LLC
One Maritime Plaza | 25th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111 | United States
+1-415-318-3600 | www.gcaglobal.com
CONFIDENTIAL
April 30, 2018
Board of Directors
RPX Corporation
Steuart Tower, One Market Plaza
1 Market Street, #1100
San Francisco, CA 94105
Members of the Board:
We understand that RPX Corporation, a Delaware corporation (RPX), Riptide Parent, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Parent), and Riptide Purchaser, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Purchaser), plan to enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 30, 2018 (the Merger Agreement) that provides for, among other things, Parent to cause Purchaser to commence a tender offer (the Tender Offer) for all the shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of RPX (the RPX Common Stock) at a price for each share equal to $10.50, payable in cash (the Consideration). The Agreement further provides that, following completion of the Tender Offer, Purchaser will be merged with and into RPX (the Merger). In the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, each outstanding share of RPX Common Stock, other than shares of RPX Common Stock held by holders who are entitled to demand and who properly exercise appraisal rights with respect thereto in accordance with Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware ) (the DGCL) (unless such holders fail to perfect or effectively withdraw or lose their rights to appraisal and payment under the DGCL) and shares that are held by RPX as treasury stock, or owned by Parent, Purchaser or any other wholly owned subsidiary of Parent or RPX, will be converted into the right to receive the Consideration, without any interest thereon. As a result of the Tender Offer and the Merger (together, the Transaction), RPX would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The terms and conditions of the Transaction are more fully set forth in the Merger Agreement.
You have asked for our opinion as to whether, as of the date hereof, the Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of RPX Common Stock. For purposes of the opinion set forth herein, we have:
(i) | reviewed a draft, dated April 29, 2018, of the Merger Agreement and certain related documents; |
(ii) | reviewed certain publicly available financial statements, financial projections and other business and financial information of RPX; |
(iii) | reviewed certain non-public financial statements and other financial and operating data concerning RPX prepared by the management of RPX; |
(iv) | reviewed certain non-public financial projections relating to RPX prepared by the management of RPX; |
(v) | discussed the past and current operations and financial condition and the prospects of RPX with the management of RPX and the Board of Directors of RPX (the Board); |
FRANKFURT | LONDON | MANCHESTER | MILAN | NEW YORK OSAKA | SAN FRANCISCO | SHANGHAI | SINGAPORE | TEL AVIV | TOKYO | ZURICH |
Investment banking activities outside the U.S. are conducted by affiliates of GCA Advisors, LLC |
A-1
GCA ADVISORS, LLC
One Maritime Plaza | 25th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111 | United States
+1-415-318-3600 | www.gcaglobal.com
(vi) | reviewed and discussed with the management of RPX and the Board certain alternatives to the Transaction; |
(vii) | reviewed and discussed with the management of RPX and the Board their views of the strategic rationale for the Transaction; |
(viii) | reviewed the recent reported closing prices and trading activity for RPX Common Stock; |
(ix) | prepared and evaluated a discounted cash flow analysis based on projected future cash flows of RPX provided by management of RPX; |
(x) | compared the financial performance of RPX, and the prices and trading activity of the RPX Common Stock, with those of certain other publicly-traded companies that we believe to be generally relevant in evaluating the business of RPX; |
(xi) | reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain precedent transactions that we believe to be generally relevant in evaluating the business of RPX; |
(xii) | reviewed publicly available information concerning certain precedent transactions having financial characteristics that we believe make them generally relevant in evaluating the Transaction; |
(xiii) | participated in discussions and negotiations among representatives of RPX and Parent; and |
(xiv) | performed such other analyses and considered such other factors as we deemed appropriate. |
We have assumed and relied upon, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of the information reviewed by us for the purposes of this opinion. We have not undertaken any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or reasonableness of, or independent verification of, such information. In addition, we have not conducted or assumed any obligation to conduct any physical inspection of the properties or facilities of RPX. With respect to the financial and cash flow projections relating to RPX and prepared by the management of RPX, we have assumed that they were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of RPXs management as to the future financial performance of RPX and that such projections provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. We assume no responsibility for and express no view as to such projections or the assumptions on which they are based. We have not made any independent valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities of RPX or concerning the solvency or fair value of RPX, nor have we been furnished with any such valuations or appraisals. In addition, we have assumed that the Transaction will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement without waiver by any party of any material rights thereunder or any amendment or modification thereto, that the representations and warranties made by the parties thereto are true and correct in all respects material to our analysis, that all governmental, regulatory and other consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the Transaction will be timely obtained without any restriction, and that the Merger Agreement executed by the parties thereto does not differ in any material respect from the draft of the Merger Agreement we have reviewed. We have not made any independent investigation of any legal, accounting or tax matters affecting the Transaction, and we have assumed the correctness of all legal, accounting and tax advice given to RPX and the Board. Our opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to us as of, and can be evaluated only as of, the date hereof. We assume no responsibility for updating or revising our opinion based on events or circumstances that may occur after the date of this letter.
FRANKFURT | LONDON | MANCHESTER | MILAN | NEW YORK OSAKA | SAN FRANCISCO | SHANGHAI | SINGAPORE | TEL AVIV | TOKYO | ZURICH |
Investment banking activities outside the U.S. are conducted by affiliates of GCA Advisors, LLC |
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GCA ADVISORS, LLC
One Maritime Plaza | 25th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94111 | United States
+1-415-318-3600 | www.gcaglobal.com
We have acted as financial advisor to RPX in connection with the Transaction and will receive a fee for our services, a portion of which will be payable upon delivery of this opinion and a significant portion of which is contingent upon the consummation of the Transaction, and RPX has agreed to reimburse our expenses and indemnify us against certain liabilities arising out of our engagement. In the future, GCA Advisors, LLC may provide financial advisory services for Parent or its affiliates.
It is understood that this letter is for the information of the Board and may not be used or summarized for any other purpose, or relied upon by any other party, without our prior written consent, except that this opinion may be included in its entirety, if required, in the Schedule 14D-9 (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or any proxy or information statement mailed to the holders of RPX Common Stock in respect of the Transaction.
This opinion does not address RPXs underlying business decision to enter into the Merger Agreement or the relative merits of the Transaction as compared to any alternatives that may be available to RPX, and it does not constitute a recommendation to RPX, the Board or any committee thereof, RPXs stockholders or any other person as to any specific action that should be taken in connection with the Transaction. We have not been asked to express, nor do we offer, any opinion as to the material terms of the Merger Agreement or the structure of the Transaction, and we are not expressing any opinion as to the prices at which RPX Common Stock will trade at any time, including following announcement of the Transaction.
We do not express any view on, and our opinion does not address, any other term or aspect of the Merger Agreement or the Transaction, nor the fairness of the amount or nature of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the officers, directors or employees of RPX, or class of such persons, in connection with the Transaction, whether relative to the Consideration or otherwise. This opinion has been approved by a fairness committee of GCA Advisors, LLC.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion on the date hereof that the Consideration to be received by the holders of RPX Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
Very truly yours,
GCA ADVISORS, LLC
/s/ |
FRANKFURT | LONDON | MANCHESTER | MILAN | NEW YORK OSAKA | SAN FRANCISCO | SHANGHAI | SINGAPORE | TEL AVIV | TOKYO | ZURICH |
Investment banking activities outside the U.S. are conducted by affiliates of GCA Advisors, LLC |
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ANNEX B
SECTION 262 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
§ 262 Appraisal rights.
(a) | Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand pursuant to subsection (d) of this section with respect to such shares, who continuously holds such shares through the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has neither voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant to § 228 of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery of the fair value of the stockholders shares of stock under the circumstances described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section, the word stockholder means a holder of record of stock in a corporation; the words stock and share mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words; and the words depository receipt mean a receipt or other instrument issued by a depository representing an interest in 1 or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository. |
(b) | Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to be effected pursuant to § 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to § 251(g) of this title and, subject to paragraph (b) (3) of this section, § 251(h) of this title), § 252, § 254, § 255, § 256, §257, § 258, § 263 or § 264 of this title: |
(1) | Provided, however, that, except as expressly provided in § 363(b) of this title, no appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which stock, or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting of stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either: (i) listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation as provided in § 251(f) of this title. |
(2) | Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this section, appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation if the holders thereof are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to §§ 251, 252, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this title to accept for such stock anything except: |
(A) | Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof; |
(B) | Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock (or depository receipts in respect thereof) or depository receipts at the effective date of the merger or consolidation will be either listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders; |
(C) | Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing paragraphs (b)(2)a. and b. of this section; or |
(D) | Any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts and cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing paragraphs (b)(2)a., b. and c. of this section. |
(3) | In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation party to a merger effected under § 251(h), § 253 or § 267 of this title is not owned by the parent immediately prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation. |
(4) | In the event of an amendment to a corporations certificate of incorporation contemplated by § 363(a) of this title, appraisal rights shall be available as contemplated by § 363(b) of this title, and the |
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procedures of this section, including those set forth in subsections (d) and (e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as practicable, with the word amendment substituted for the words merger or consolidation, and the word corporation substituted for the words constituent corporation and/or surviving or resulting corporation. |
(c) | Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a provision, the provisions of this section, including those set forth in subsections (d), (e) and (g) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is practicable. |
(d) | Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows: |
(1) | If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting, shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record date for notice of such meeting (or such members who received notice in accordance with § 255(c) of this title) with respect to shares for which appraisal rights are available pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section that appraisal rights are available for any or all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section and, if 1 of the constituent corporations is a nonstock corporation, a copy of § 114 of this title. Each stockholder electing to demand the appraisal of such stockholders shares shall deliver to the corporation, before the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand for appraisal of such stockholders shares. Such demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such stockholders shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to take such action must do so by a separate written demand as herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective date of such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not voted in favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of the date that the merger or consolidation has become effective; or |
(2) | If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to § 228, § 251(h), § 253, or § 267 of this title, then either a constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger or consolidation or the surviving or resulting corporation within 10 days thereafter shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section and, if 1 of the constituent corporations is a nonstock corporation, a copy of § 114 of this title. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also notify such stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any stockholder entitled to appraisal rights may, within 20 days after the date of mailing of such notice or, in the case of a merger approved pursuant to § 251(h) of this title, within the later of the consummation of the offer contemplated by § 251(h) of this title and 20 days after the date of mailing of such notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation the appraisal of such holders shares. Such demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such holders shares. If such notice did not notify stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation, either (i) each such constituent corporation shall send a second notice before the effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights of the effective date of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the surviving or resulting corporation shall send such a second notice to all such holders on or within 10 days after such effective date; provided, however, that if such second notice is sent more than 20 days following the sending of |
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the first notice or, in the case of a merger approved pursuant to § 251(h) of this title, later than the later of the consummation of the offer contemplated by § 251(h) of this title and 20 days following the sending of the first notice, such second notice need only be sent to each stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded appraisal of such holders shares in accordance with this subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to give either notice that such notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive either notice, each constituent corporation may fix, in advance, a record date that shall be not more than 10 days prior to the date the notice is given, provided, that if the notice is given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the record date shall be such effective date. If no record date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the effective date, the record date shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the notice is given. |
(e) | Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has complied with subsections (a) and (d) of this section hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights, may commence an appraisal proceeding by filing a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party shall have the right to withdraw such stockholders demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of subsections (a) and (d) of this section hereof, upon written request, shall be entitled to receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or consolidation and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. Such written statement shall be mailed to the stockholder within 10 days after such stockholders written request for such a statement is received by the surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal under subsection (d) of this section hereof, whichever is later. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a person who is the beneficial owner of shares of such stock held either in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person may, in such persons own name, file a petition or request from the corporation the statement described in this subsection. |
(f) | Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which shall within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1 or more publications at least 1 week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation. |
(g) | At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to such stockholder. If immediately before the merger or consolidation the shares of the class |
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or series of stock of the constituent corporation as to which appraisal rights are available were listed on a national securities exchange, the Court shall dismiss the proceedings as to all holders of such shares who are otherwise entitled to appraisal rights unless (1) the total number of shares entitled to appraisal exceeds 1% of the outstanding shares of the class or series eligible for appraisal, (2) the value of the consideration provided in the merger or consolidation for such total number of shares exceeds $1 million, or (3) the merger was approved pursuant to § 253 or § 267 of this title. |
(h) | After the Court determines the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the appraisal proceeding shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the Court of Chancery, including any rules specifically governing appraisal proceedings. Through such proceeding the Court shall determine the fair value of the shares exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or consolidation, together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. Unless the Court in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause shown, and except as provided in this subsection, interest from the effective date of the merger through the date of payment of the judgment shall be compounded quarterly and shall accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time to time during the period between the effective date of the merger and the date of payment of the judgment. At any time before the entry of judgment in the proceedings, the surviving corporation may pay to each stockholder entitled to appraisal an amount in cash, in which case interest shall accrue thereafter as provided herein only upon the sum of (1) the difference, if any, between the amount so paid and the fair value of the shares as determined by the Court, and (2) interest theretofore accrued, unless paid at that time. Upon application by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court may, in its discretion, proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the stockholders entitled to an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and who has submitted such stockholders certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery, if such is required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally determined that such stockholder is not entitled to appraisal rights under this section. |
(i) | The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares, together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to the stockholders entitled thereto. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the certificates representing such stock. The Courts decree may be enforced as other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any state. |
(j) | The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all the shares entitled to an appraisal. |
(k) | From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights as provided in subsection (d) of this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation); provided, however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided in subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of such stockholders demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation, either within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with the written approval of the corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court deems just; provided, however that this provision shall not |
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affect the right of any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party to withdraw such stockholders demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, as set forth in subsection (e) of this section. |
(l) | The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the shares of such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they assented to the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of the surviving or resulting corporation. |
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Exhibit (e)(20)
RPX CORPORATION
ONE MARKET PLAZA, STEUART TOWER, SUITE 800
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
FEBRUARY 15, 2013
Max Straube
Dear Max:
RPX Corporation (the Company) is pleased to offer you employment on the following terms:
1. Position. Your initial title will be Vice President, Client Development, and you will initially report to Steve Swank, Senior Vice President, Client Development and Client Relations. This is a full-time position.
2. Commencement of Employment. This letter is conditioned upon your agreement to begin employment with the Company no later than March 4, 2013.
3. Cash Compensation. The Company will pay you a starting salary at the rate of $175,000 per year, payable in accordance with the Companys standard payroll schedule. This salary will be subject to adjustment pursuant to the Companys employee compensation policies in effect from time to time.
4. Incentive Compensation Plan. You will also be eligible to participate in the Companys Client Development Incentive Plan, a copy of which will be provided to you after you begin employment. Your incentive plan targets will be established with your Manager and will be based primarily on the amount of membership revenue you generate for the Company. For 2013, your incentive compensation will not be less than $87,500, and you will receive $87,500 on the Companys first regular payroll date in September. No incentive plan payment will be paid unless you are an employee of the Company on the date the incentive plan payment is paid. Please note that this incentive plan does not constitute a contract of employment or alter the at will status of your employment and may be adjusted at any time in the Companys sole discretion.
5. Equity Compensation. We are also pleased to offer you an award of 3,000 restricted stock units (RSUs). You will not receive additional RSUs under the incentive plan until the equity portion of any incentive compensation earned exceeds 3,000 RSUs. This grant is subject to the approval of the Companys Board of Directors and will vest in equal quarterly installments over the next year of employment. For administrative reasons, vesting of restricted stock units will occur only on the Companys established quarterly vesting dates rather than on the anniversary of your vesting commencement date. These awards will be subject to the terms and conditions applicable to awards granted under the Companys 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as described in the applicable Plan and award agreement.
Max Straube
February 15, 2013
Page 2
6. Employee Benefits. As a regular employee of the Company, you will be eligible to participate in a number of Company-sponsored benefits. In addition, you will be entitled to paid time off in accordance with the Companys PTO policy, as in effect from time to time.
7. Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement. Like all Company employees, you will be required, as a condition of your employment with the Company, to sign the Companys standard Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.
8. Employment Relationship. Your employment with the Company will be at will, meaning that either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause. Any contrary representations that may have been made to you are superseded by this letter agreement. This is the full and complete agreement between you and the Company on this term. Although your job duties, title, compensation, and benefits, as well as the Companys personnel policies and procedures, may change from time to time, the at will nature of your employment may only be changed in an express written agreement signed by you and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than you). While you render services to the Company, you will not engage in any other employment, consulting, or other business activity (whether full-time or part-time) that would create a conflict of interest with the Company. By signing this letter of agreement, you confirm to the Company that you have no contractual commitments or other legal obligations that would prohibit you from performing your duties for the Company.
9. Tax Matters.
(a) Withholding. All forms of compensation referred to in this letter agreement are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other deductions required by law.
(b) Tax Advice. You are encouraged to obtain your own tax advice regarding your compensation from the Company. You agree that the Company does not have a duty to design its compensation policies in a manner that minimizes your tax liabilities, and you will not make any claim against the Company or its Board of Directors related to tax liabilities arising from your compensation.
10. Interpretation, Amendment, and Enforcement. This letter agreement and Exhibit A constitute the complete agreement between you and the Company, contains all of the terms of your employment with the Company, and supersedes and replaces any and all prior offers, agreements, statements, and representations made by or on behalf of the Company, whether written or oral, including any statements and representations made in any advertisement or in the course of any job interviews, discussions, or negotiations for this position. This letter agreement may not be amended or modified, except by an express written agreement signed by both you and a duly authorized officer of the Company (other than you). The terms of this letter agreement and the resolution of any disputes as to the meaning, effect, performance, or validity of this letter agreement or arising out of, related to, or in any way connected with this letter agreement, your employment with the Company, or any other relationship between you and the Company (the Disputes) will be
Max Straube
February 15, 2013
Page 3
governed by California law, excluding laws relating to conflicts or choice of law. You and the Company submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in San Francisco, California in connection with any Dispute or any claim related to any Dispute.
* * * * *
As required by law, your employment with the Company is contingent upon your providing legal proof of your identity and authorization to work in the United States. This offer is contingent upon our receipt of a satisfactory investigation report of your background.
You may indicate your agreement with these terms and accept this offer by signing and dating both the enclosed duplicate original of this letter agreement and the enclosed Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement and returning them to me.
This offer shall remain in effect through 5:00 pm on February 22, 2013, after which time it shall become void.
Very truly yours, |
RPX CORPORATION |
/s/ Dawn Piper |
By: Dawn Piper |
Title: Vice President, Human Resources |
I have read and accept this employment offer:
/s/ Edward Max Straube |
Signature of Employee |
Dated: February 19, 2013 |
Exhibit (e)(21)
DATED 11 March 2015
(1) UNIFIED OS LIMITED
(2) PAUL MANKOO
SERVICE AGREEMENT
160 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4QQ
Tel: 020 7184 7000 Fax: 020 7184 7001
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THIS AGREEMENT IS MADE ON 11 March 2015
BETWEEN:
(1) | UNIFIED OS LIMITED a company registered in England and Wales under number 07090661 whose registered office is at Provident House, Provident Place, Islington, London N1 0NT (the Company) and |
(2) | PAUL MANKOO of 4 St Raphaels House, 86 Mattock Lane, Ealing, London, W5 5BJ (the Executive). |
This Agreement sets out the terms on which the Executive will serve the Company.
1. | Definition and Interpretation |
1.1 | The definitions contained in the First Schedule apply to all defined terms in this Agreement and its schedules. |
1.2 | Words importing one gender include all other genders and words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa. |
1.3 | References to any statutory provisions include any modifications or re-enactments of those provisions and all subordinate legislation made under them. |
1.4 | The clause headings do not form part of this Agreement and shall not be taken into account in its construction or interpretation. |
1.5 | References in this Agreement to clauses and to the schedules are references to the clauses of and the schedules to this Agreement and references to this Agreement include the schedules the provisions of which form part of this Agreement and are incorporated herein. |
2. | Conditions |
2.1 | This Agreement shall not be binding on the Company until it has been unconditionally executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Company, and provided that: |
2.1.1 | the Executive has unconditionally executed and delivered this Agreement to the Company on or prior to the Commencement Date; and |
2.1.2 | the Executive may lawfully perform all of his duties under this Agreement at the Commencement Date and is not restricted in any way from performing such duties under any court order or contractual obligation to any third party (whether express or implied and including without limitation any notice period or the provisions of any restrictive covenants or confidentiality obligations). |
3. | Term of Employment |
3.1 | The Company shall employ the Executive and the Executive shall serve the Company from the Commencement Date, subject to the other terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless and until either party shall give to the other not less than six (6) months notice in writing to terminate this Agreement. |
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3.2 | The Executives period of continuous employment with the Company for statutory purposes began on 1 December 2012. No employment with a previous employer counts as continuous employment with the Company. |
3.3 | The Company reserves the right in its absolute discretion at any time lawfully to terminate this Agreement with immediate effect by giving notice of such termination to the Executive that the Company is exercising its right under this clause and that it will pay the Executive in lieu of notice. Such payment shall be an amount equal to the basic salary, any earned but unpaid bonus payable, pursuant to clause 7.3, as at the Termination Date, and the value of any contractual benefits which the Executive would have earned and received from the date of such termination until the first date upon which his employment could, save in accordance with this clause 3.3, otherwise have been lawfully terminated and any such amounts shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive from a subsequent employer. Additionally, within 30 days following the Executives termination under this clause 3.3, the Company shall determine in its good faith discretion whether and to what extent, if any, the Executive had attained the applicable performance goals in effect for the applicable calendar year in which termination occurred and if so, shall pay the Executive a prorated performance bonus for the partial year in which such termination occurs. Any such amount shall be paid to the Executive concurrently with any other payments made under this clause 3.3. |
Any payment to the Executive made pursuant to this clause 3.3 will be subject to tax and other statutory deductions as required by law. Nothing in this clause shall confer upon the Executive any entitlement or expectation (whether by implied term or otherwise) to receive any payment in lieu of notice, whether as a consequence of the lawful or unlawful termination by either party of this Agreement.
3.4 | The Company may elect to make any payment pursuant to clause 3.3 in equal monthly instalments in arrears to coincide with the Companys regular payroll cycle. |
3.5 | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be under any obligation to vest in or assign to the Executive any powers or duties and may without the need to give any reason for so doing during any period of notice served or purported to be served under this Agreement: |
3.5.1 | require the Executive to perform no, limited, partial, and/or alternative duties which are commensurate with his status (including without limitation such duties as the Company may specify by way of handover and/or special projects); |
3.5.2 | suspend or exclude the Executive from all or any premises of the Company and/or any Group Company; and |
3.5.3 | require the Executive not to contact any or specific customers, clients, suppliers, employees, officers, agents, or any professional advisers of the Company and/or any Group Company in connection with the business of the Company and/or any Group Company; and |
3.5.4 | require the Executive to return to the Company all property belonging to the Company including, without limitation, documents and other materials belonging to the Company and/or any Group Company. |
3.6 | The Executives salary will remain payable and other benefits will continue to be provided in the normal way (the Executive will continue to be bound by all express and implied obligations under this Agreement). |
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4. | Duties |
4.1 | The Executive will serve the Group in the capacity of President of Inventus International and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and will, notwithstanding his job title, carry out such duties (which are commensurate with his status) as the Board may from time to time reasonably determine and shall report to the Chief Executive Officer of Inventus Solutions, Inc. at the date of this Agreement, or such other person/s as the Board may nominate from time to time in writing, including the Board itself. |
4.2 | The Executive shall be an executive director and, subject always to the control of the Board, shall carry out such duties and (without further remuneration) accept such offices and directorships, notwithstanding the Executives job title but consistent with his status, as may be assigned to the Executive from time to time by the person to whom he reports and by the Board and such duties and/or offices and/or directorships may relate to the business of the Company or of any Group Company. |
4.3 | The Executive warrants that by virtue of entering into this Agreement and performing the duties set out in this Agreement he will not be in breach of any contract of service or for the provision of services or any partnership agreement and will, save as implied by law, be free from all agreements, arrangements or other restrictions restricting his right to compete with any person or to solicit clients or employees of any person or in any way restricting him from performing this Agreement in accordance with its terms. |
4.4 | The Executive agrees that he is at all times during his employment (including during any period of suspension) subject to a duty of goodwill, trust, confidence, exclusive service, faith and fidelity to the Company. The Executive agrees that, without limitation and in addition to his fiduciary duties and any other duties implied by law, his duties include to: |
4.4.1 | faithfully, efficiently and diligently perform his duties and exercise his powers; |
4.4.2 | use his best efforts to promote, develop and extend the business, interests and reputation of the Company and the Group; |
4.4.3 | carry out his duties and exercise his powers jointly with any other person who may at any time be appointed by the Company to act jointly with the Executive; |
4.4.4 | comply with lawful and reasonable directions and/or restrictions of the Board and all rules, regulations, requirements and recommendations from time to time laid down or adopted by the Company and/or the Group or by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction in which the Company or the Group operates from time to time; |
4.4.5 | comply with the Companys anti-corruption and bribery policy and related procedures; |
4.4.6 | promptly provide (in writing, if so requested) such information, advice and explanations as the Company may reasonably require in connection with his activities in relation to the business of the Company and/or any Group Company; |
4.4.7 | promptly disclose (in writing, if so requested) to the Board together with all necessary particulars any matter of which he becomes aware which adversely affects the Company and/or the Group or may tend to prejudice or injure the interests of the Company and/or the Group including without limitation any matter which could be the subject of a qualifying disclosure for the purpose of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and Section 43B of the Employment Rights Act 1996 (whistleblowing) and/or including without limitation any act or omission of any other person (whether or not employed by the Company); and |
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4.4.8 | promptly provide (in writing, if so requested), details of any misconduct or breach of duty, whether by the Executive or any other person (whether or not employed by any Group Company) and any other information which comes into his possession which adversely affects or may adversely affect the Company and/or the Group or their respective businesses including (without limitation) the plans of any senior employee to leave the Company or any Group Company, to join a competitor or compete with any business carried on by the Company and/or any Group Company, or any misuse of the Companys property or resources (including, without limitation, any Confidential Information). |
4.5 | Notwithstanding the above, the Executive may engage in civic, charitable or religious activities, as long as such activities do not materially interfere or conflict with the performance of the Executives duties under this Agreement. In addition, the Executive may serve on boards of directors of closely held companies as long as (a) such board positions do not materially interfere or conflict with the Executives responsibilities to the Company or the Executives ability to perform his duties under this Agreement and (b) the Executive receives the prior written approval of the Board. |
4.6 | The Executive shall not without the prior written consent of the Board: |
4.6.1 | incur on behalf of the Company or the Group any capital expenditure in excess of such sum as may be authorised from time to time except in the ordinary course of business of the Company or Group; or |
4.6.2 | enter into on behalf of the Company or the Group any commitment, contract or arrangement otherwise than in the normal course of business or outside the scope of his normal duties or of an unusual or onerous or long term nature; |
4.6.3 | under any circumstances whatsoever either directly or indirectly receive or accept for his own benefit or the benefit of any third person known to him, any commission, rebate, discount, gratuity or profit from any person, company or company having business transactions with the Company and/or any Group Company; |
4.6.4 | in competition with the Company and/or any Group Company, directly or indirectly take any steps to enable the Executive to compete with any business carried on by the Company and/or any Group Company; and |
4.6.5 | at any time knowingly or willingly do or cause or permit to be done anything which is calculated or may tend to prejudice or injure the interests of the Group including to encourage, procure or assist any third party to do anything which, if done by the Executive would be a breach of his duties under this Agreement. |
5. | Place of Employment |
5.1 | The Executives place of employment shall be at the Companys office at 120 Moorgate, London, EC2M 6UR or any other place within Central London or such other place which would result in the Executive having a commute to the place of employment commensurate with that which the Executive has as at the date of this Agreement (from his residential address as at the date of this Agreement). |
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5.2 | The Executive may from time to time be reasonably required at the absolute discretion of the Board to undertake travel both within the United Kingdom and internationally for the proper performance of his duties. Such travel shall not exceed a period of two weeks in respect of each trip without the Executives consent in writing. |
6. | Hours of Work |
6.1 | The Executive shall devote himself exclusively to the performance of his duties during the Companys normal hours of work (which are from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Monday to Friday inclusive). The Executive will also work any further hours as may from time to time become necessary in order to perform his duties to the satisfaction of the Board without additional remuneration. |
6.2 | It is acknowledged and agreed that the Executive is a managing executive with autonomous decision making powers and that the duration of his working time is not measured and can be determined by the Executive. Accordingly, pursuant to Regulation 20 of the WTR, Regulations 4(1), 4(2), 6(1), 6(2), 6(7), 10(1), 11(1) 11(2) and 12(1) of the WTR do not apply to the Executives employment under this Agreement. |
7. | Remuneration and Benefits |
7.1 | The Executive will be paid a salary of £170,000 per annum subject to deductions for tax and national insurance contributions as required by law, payable in arrears by electronic transfer no later than the last day of each calendar month. Salary will accrue from day to day. |
7.2 | Where, in its absolute discretion, the Board reviews the Executives salary, the Board shall be under no obligation to award the Executive any increase but the Board may not reduce it. |
7.3 | The Executive will be eligible to be considered for an annual discretionary bonus up to 100 percent of his basic salary which shall be determined by reference to the Executives achievement against performance objectives, which shall be set by the Board, in its absolute discretion. The payment, the amount (if any), the nature and the timing of such bonus and the terms upon which such bonus may be payable (including without limitation the deferral of any discretionary bonus or part thereof) are all at the Companys absolute discretion. The fact that a bonus is paid in one year or in relation to a particular period is no guarantee of (and does not give rise to any expectation of or entitlement to) a bonus in any subsequent year or in relation to any subsequent period. |
7.4 | The Executive shall be neither eligible to be considered for nor entitled to receive any discretionary bonus if at the time the bonus is due to be paid he is no longer employed by the Company (save to the extent provided for under clause 3.3 above or clause 17 below), or he is under notice of termination of employment (whether given by him or the Company). If the Executive is suspended pursuant to clause 16.3 of this Agreement, he shall not be considered for a bonus until such period of suspension expires and the complaint which led to the suspension is resolved. |
7.5 | Subject always to the rules of the relevant scheme in force from time to time, the Executive shall be entitled to: |
7.5.1 | the benefit of private medical expenses insurance for the Executive; |
7.5.2 | the benefit of critical illness insurance; and |
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7.5.3 | the benefit of life assurance at 5 times basic salary (as increased from time to time) provided by a life assurance provider as reasonably agreed between the parties. |
7.6 | The Company may amend the terms, provider, rules or scale of any benefit at any time provided any such amendment is of general application to all senior employees of the Group. |
7.7 | The Executive agrees that for the purposes of the Employment Rights Act 1996 the Company may apply any sums which may be due from the Company to the Executive (including, without limitation, accrued salary and/or holiday pay and/or any payment in lieu of notice) at the Termination Date against any sums which may be due from the Executive to the Company (whether in respect of any overpayment or mistaken payment of salary or in respect of a matter requiring written authorisation pursuant to the Employment Rights Act 1996 or otherwise) and the Executive further agrees that if he fails to give due notice of termination of this Agreement, the Company may retain any such sum without prejudice to its right to claim damages for any additional loss it may suffer as a result. |
8. | Holidays |
8.1 | The Companys holiday year runs from 1st January to 31st December. The Executive is entitled, in addition to English statutory public holidays, to 30 days paid holiday in each holiday year, accruing on a daily basis. This entitlement includes the Executives entitlement under the WTR. Any entitlement to annual leave over and above the Executives entitlement under the WTR shall be taken such that it does not cause material detriment to the Company. The Executive shall not be permitted to carry over any annual leave over and above the Executives entitlement under the WTR, which cannot be taken during the holiday year in question, into the subsequent holiday year and nor shall he be entitled to payment in lieu for such untaken holiday. |
8.2 | The Executive will consult with the Chief Executive Officer of Inventus Solutions Inc. or the Board (as applicable) as to the dates on which he proposes to take his holiday whose agreement to his holiday dates will not be unreasonably withheld. |
8.3 | The Executives holiday entitlement will be pro-rated in the year of joining and leaving the Company. On the termination of his employment, the Executive will be entitled to a payment in lieu of any accrued but untaken holiday at the rate of 1/260th of the basic salary in respect of each day of holiday entitlement, fractions of a day being rounded down to the nearest whole number of days. If the Executive has taken holidays in excess of his entitlement, the Company may deduct from his final salary payment an amount equal to the gross salary paid to him in respect of such holidays and the Executive expressly consents to any such deductions. |
8.4 | The Executive will not accrue any contractual holiday entitlement during any period of Garden Leave nor during any period of sickness absence in excess of one month save that any entitlement to annual leave pursuant to the WTR shall continue to accrue during such period and the Company reserves the right in its absolute discretion to require the Executive to take any accrued but untaken holiday entitlement during any period of notice served by either party. |
9. | Expenses |
The Company shall reimburse the Executive (against production of satisfactory receipts) all reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses reasonably, necessarily and properly incurred by him in the performance of his duties. The Executive undertakes to observe the Companys policy on expenses from time to time as may be notified to him.
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10. | Sickness |
10.1 | If the Executive is absent from work due to illness, accident or other such incapacity, he must notify the Company on the first day of absence. The Executive must keep the Company regularly informed of his absence and the likely duration. If the absence lasts 7 calendar days or less, the Executive must complete a self-certification form on his return to work. For absences lasting more than 7 calendar days, the Executive must produce a medical certificate from his doctor stating the reason for his absence. Further medical certificates are required for each further week of sickness absence. Failure to notify the Company of his absence may render the Executive subject to disciplinary action and may also bar him from receiving sick pay. |
10.2 | Subject to the Companys right to terminate the employment under clauses 3 and 16 of this Agreement and the Executives compliance with this clause 10, any payment of salary (which shall be inclusive of any Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)) and provision of contractual benefits during his absence shall be at the sole discretion of the Company. |
10.3 | Any payments to which the Executive is entitled under any social security scheme (whether or not claimed by the Executive) may be deducted from any sick pay paid to the Executive by the Company. |
10.4 | At all times the Company reserves the right to withhold, discontinue or request repayment of any sick pay other than statutory sick pay if: |
10.4.1 | the Executive fails to comply with the Companys absence procedure; |
10.4.2 | the Company is satisfied that there has been an abuse of the sick pay arrangements or misrepresentation of the Executives health; or |
10.4.3 | the Executive behaves in a way likely to delay, hinder or impede recovery; or |
10.4.4 | if his sickness absence commences following the instigation by the Company of any disciplinary proceedings in respect of the Executives employment. |
10.5 | The Company may on such terms and conditions as it shall determine appoint a replacement to undertake some or all of the Executives duties if the Executive is absent from work by reason of illness, accident or other incapacity in excess of 20 consecutive working days. Such replacement shall only remain in place during the course of the Executives sickness absence and/or during any phased return to work. |
10.6 | If the Executive shall be prevented from performing his duties as a result of illness, accident or incapacity for any period in excess of 6 consecutive months or an aggregate of 120 working days (whether consecutive or not) in any period of 12 consecutive months, the Company may, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, terminate the Executives employment by giving the statutory minimum period of notice and the Executive shall not be entitled to any additional compensation. The Companys right to terminate pursuant to this clause 10.6 shall apply even when such termination would or might cause the Executive to forfeit any entitlement to sick pay or other benefits. |
10.7 | The Executive may be required at the request of the Company during the course of his employment to attend a doctor or clinic nominated by the Company for the purpose of a comprehensive medical examination to determine his fitness for continued employment and shall use his reasonable endeavours to ensure the prompt delivery of the relevant |
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report to the Company. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988, the Executive will permit the Company access to any medical report relating to his physical or mental health and which is relevant to his ability to perform his duties from a medical or other practitioner whether or not such practitioner is or has been responsible for his clinical care or treatment. |
10.8 | If the Executive is incapable of performing his duties by reason of injuries sustained wholly or partly as a result of actionable negligence, nuisance or breach of any statutory duty or any criminal conduct on the part of any third party the Executive shall notify the Company of that fact as soon as reasonably practicable and all payments made to the Executive by the Company under this clause in respect of any consequent absence shall, to the extent that compensation is recoverable either from the third party and/or any other body constitute loans by the Company to the Executive and shall be repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this clause to the extent that the Executive recovers compensation for loss of earnings. Where the Executive recovers any compensation for loss of earnings as referred to in this clause, he shall notify the Company in writing forthwith and shall repay the amount due to the Company under this clause within 28 days of receipt of such compensation. |
11. | Directorships |
11.1 | Any office or directorship held by the Executive is subject to the Articles of Association (the Articles) of that company. In the case of any conflict between the Articles and this Agreement, the Articles will prevail. |
11.2 | Unless the Executives employment is terminated, the Executive will not, without the consent of the Company, resign any office or directorship held by him as a consequence of his employment by the Company, and will not do or omit to do anything that would provide grounds for his disqualification as a director of any Group Company. |
11.3 | The Executive will resign from any office or directorship held in the Company and/or any Group Company and/or all other companies of which he shall have been appointed as a director by any Group Company, if so requested by the Board at any time during or upon the termination of his employment. |
11.4 | If the Executive fails to comply with clause 11.3 above, the Executive irrevocably agrees that the Board may appoint any director or officer of the Company or any Group Company to act as the Executives attorney to execute any document or do anything in his name necessary to effect his resignation. |
12. | Outside Interests and Dealings in Securities |
12.1 | The Executive shall disclose promptly in writing to the Board all his interests (whether by way of shareholdings, directorships or otherwise) in any businesses other than those of the Company or Group. The Executive shall not, when employed by the Company, be directly or indirectly concerned or interested in any trade or occupation or business other than the businesses of the Company and the Group except with written permission pursuant to a resolution of the Board (such permission not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) save that the Executive shall be permitted to hold, by way of bona fide investment only, shares or securities: |
12.1.1 | in a company whose shares are not admitted to trading on a Recognised Investment Exchange provided that |
(a) | the Executive does not hold more than 49% in nominal value of shares or other securities; and |
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(b) | such company has no business relationship with the Company or any Group Company and has not in the past had any such relationship; and |
(c) | such companys business does not in the reasonable opinion of the Board compete with any business for the time being carried on by the Company or any Group Company; and |
(d) | such shareholding does not give rise to any conflict of interest with the Executives duties hereunder or with duties of the Company or of the Group to clients with whom the Executive had dealings (other than minimal dealings) during the 24 months prior to the making of the investment; and |
(e) | the Executive does not participate in the management of such company; and |
12.1.2 | in a company whose shares are admitted to trading on a Recognised Investment Exchange not exceeding 5% in nominal value of the securities of that class. |
12.2 | In this clause 12 the expression occupation shall not include membership of a local authority, council or any other public or private work (whether for profit or otherwise) provided that such occupation does not, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, interfere with the Executives performance of his duties for the Company. |
12.3 | The Executive or his Immediate Relatives shall not be entitled to receive or obtain directly or indirectly any discount, rebate, commission or other benefit in respect of any business transacted (whether or not by him), by or on behalf of the Company or any Group Company and if his Immediate Relatives or any other company or business entity in which he is interested, shall directly or indirectly obtain any such discount, rebate, commission or other benefit he shall forthwith account to the Company or the relevant Group Company for the amount received or value of the benefit so obtained. |
12.4 | The provisions of sections 820 to 825 (inclusive) of the Companies Act 2006 (as amended) shall apply in determining for the purpose of this Agreement whether the Executive has an interest in any shares or other securities. |
13. | Post Termination Restrictions |
13.1 | The Executive undertakes to observe the provisions of the Second Schedule to this Agreement. |
14. | Confidentiality |
14.1 | The Executive acknowledges that during the course of his employment he will have access to and is likely to obtain Confidential Information. |
14.2 | Without prejudice to any common law duties owed to the Company, the Executive agrees that he will not, during or after his employment, except as authorised by the Company or as required by law or his duties, use, divulge or disclose to any person, firm or organisation, any Confidential Information which may come to his knowledge during his employment. The Executive further agrees to use his best endeavours to prevent the unauthorised use or disclosure of such information. |
14.3 | This restriction will not apply to information which becomes public (other than through unauthorised disclosure by the Executive or otherwise due to the Executives default), and is not intended to exclude or restrict his right to make a protected disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998. |
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15. | Intellectual Property |
15.1 | The Executive will immediately disclose and promptly communicate full details of any Inventions to the Company. Any Invention will belong to the Company or such Group Company as the Company may nominate for the purpose. The Executive will not disclose to any third party or exploit any Invention unless authorised by the Company or in the proper performance of his duties. |
15.2 | The Executive hereby assigns to the Company or any other Group Company as appropriate to the extent allowed by law all his existing and future rights (including all Intellectual Property), title and interests in all Inventions. To the extent that any right in such Inventions may not be assigned to the Company or other Group Company, the Executive will hold all such rights on trust for the Company. |
15.3 | In any event, at the request and expense of the Company, the Executive will, whether during or following the termination of his employment (howsoever occasioned), give the Company all information and assistance as may be necessary to enable the Company effectively to exploit and/or protect, in the UK or any other part of the world, any Invention and will execute all documents and do all things which may be necessary for vesting patents, trademarks or other equivalent protection when obtained and all rights, title and interest to and in the same, in the Company (or as it may direct) as legal and beneficial owner. |
15.4 | The Executive hereby irrevocably appoints the Company to take any action in his name and execute any document on his behalf for the purpose of giving to the Company (or its nominee) the full benefit of the provisions of this clause. If there is any doubt as to whether such a document or action has been executed or carried out within the authority conferred by this clause, a certificate in writing signed by any director or the Company Secretary will be conclusive evidence that such is the case. |
15.5 | The Executive waives all of his moral rights (as defined in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988) and all similar rights in other jurisdictions in any works produced during the Executives employment with the Company in which copyright is vested in the Company or any Group Company whether by virtue of this clause 15.5 or otherwise. |
15.6 | The Executive will promptly notify the Company in writing if he becomes aware of any infringement or suspected infringement of any Intellectual Property in any Invention. |
16. | Termination and Suspension of Employment |
16.1 | The Executives employment and this Agreement may be terminated immediately without notice or payment in lieu of notice if the Executive shall: |
16.1.1 | be guilty of any gross misconduct or conducts himself (in connection with the employment or otherwise) wilfully in a way which is materially detrimental to the Company and/or any Group Company; |
16.1.2 | commit a serious breach of this Agreement or, after written warning, commit any repeated or continued material breach of his obligations under this Agreement; |
16.1.3 | become bankrupt, have an interim receiving order made against him or make any deed of arrangement or composition with his creditors generally; |
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16.1.4 | commit any act of fraud or dishonesty or be guilty of conduct (whether or not connected with his employment) bringing the Company and/or the Group into disrepute or otherwise affect prejudicially and materially the interests of the Company of the Group; or |
16.1.5 | be convicted of any criminal offence (excluding an offence under road traffic legislation in the United Kingdom or elsewhere for which he is not sentenced to any term of imprisonment whether immediate or suspended) or be disqualified from holding office in a company by virtue of any legislation. |
16.1.6 | repeatedly and wilfully fail to carry out the lawful and reasonable instructions of the Board and the Executive has been given written warning/s of such failure and a reasonable period in which to remedy such failure; |
16.1.7 | have provided any information by way of background checks to any Clearlake or any Clearlake affiliate over the 14 day period prior to the date of this Agreement, which is found to be false or misleading; |
16.1.8 | become addicted to alcohol or any drug (not being a drug prescribed for him by a medical practitioner for the treatment of a condition other than drug addiction) the possession of which is controlled by law; or |
16.1.9 | commit any unlawful act of discrimination, victimisation or harassment. |
16.2 | The Executive shall notify the Board immediately of any circumstances which would entitle the Company to terminate his employment under this clause 16. |
16.3 | In order to investigate a complaint or allegation against the Executive of misconduct or some other serious issue relating to his employment and to allow the Company to carry out whatever investigations it deems appropriate, the Company may for whatever period it considers necessary suspend him on full pay and other contractual benefits and require him not to enter any premises of the Company and/or the Group and abstain from contacting specific or all employees, officers, agents, investors, clients, counter-parties, analysts, brokers, professional advisers, suppliers to or other business contacts of the Company and/or the Group. The Executive shall not be employed by or provide services to any third party during any period for which he is suspended pursuant to this clause 16.3 and shall remain bound by all his express and implied duties as an employee of the Company save as varied by this clause. |
16.4 | With a view to ensuring that his departure can be arranged with the minimum of inconvenience or disruption to the Business of the Company and the Group and its relationship with third parties and its other employees, the Executive undertakes not, without the prior approval of the Board as to the timing and manner of any communication about his departure, to inform any of his colleagues or any third party (whether by making any announcement or otherwise) about the proposed cessation of his employment. |
17. | SEVERANCE PAYMENT |
17.1 | The Company agrees that the occurrence of any of the following shall entitle the Executive, at his discretion, to terminate his employment with immediate effect upon notifying the Company in writing: |
17.1.1 | a material breach by the Company of any of the terms and provisions of this Agreement and if such breach is capable of being cured, the Company fails to do so within 15 days after receiving written notice of such breach from the Executive; |
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17.1.2 | a material reduction in the Executives salary or a material reduction in the Executives benefits under this Agreement; |
17.1.3 | a material reduction in the Executives authority or reporting; or |
17.1.4 | the relocation of the Executives place of employment outside central London or such other place which would result in the Executive having a commute to the place of employment which would not be commensurate with that which the Executive has as at the date of this Agreement (from his residential address as at the date of this Agreement). |
17.2 | If the Executive shall, at his discretion, terminate his employment in accordance with clause 17.1, then, subject to clause 17.4, the Executive shall be entitled to a severance payment equal to the aggregate of: (i) a payment representing six months of the Executives then basic salary; (ii) any earned but unpaid bonus payable, pursuant to clause 7.3, as at the Termination Date, and as determined by the Board in its absolute discretion; and (iii) the value of any contractual benefits which the Executive would have earned and received from the Termination Date until the first date upon which his employment could, save in accordance with clause 17.1, otherwise have been lawfully terminated (together the Severance Payment). Additionally, within 30 days following termination of employer by the Executive under clause 17.1, the Company shall determine in its good faith discretion whether and to what extent, if any, the Executive had attained the applicable performance goals in effect for the applicable calendar year in which termination occurred and if so, shall pay the Executive a prorated performance bonus for the partial year in which such termination occurs. Any such amount shall be paid to the Executive concurrently with the Severance Payment and the amount of any Severance Payment shall not be reduced by any compensation earned by the Executive from a subsequent employer. |
17.3 | Any Severance Payment made to the Executive pursuant to this clause 17 will be subject to tax and other statutory deductions as required by law. |
17.4 | For the avoidance of doubt, the Executive is not required to exercise his rights under clause 17.1 to terminate his employment under this Agreement and the Company is not required to pay the Severance Payment unless the Executive has entered into the settlement agreement pursuant to clause 17.5. |
17.5 | The payment of the Severance Payment shall be conditional upon the Executive signing a settlement agreement on terms satisfactory to the Company (acting reasonably) in full and final settlement of any and all claims he might have arising out of his employment and its termination. |
17.6 | For the avoidance of doubt, the Board in its sole discretion shall determine the hiring of any management team member or other key employee. The addition of any such management team member or other key employee shall not entitle the Executive to terminate his contract and/or claim the Severance Payment for the purposes of this clause 17, provided that the Board in exercising such discretion does not cause a material change in the Executives reporting line. |
18. | Discipline and Grievances |
There are no disciplinary or grievance procedures which form a contractually binding part of this Agreement. If the Executive is dissatisfied with any disciplinary decision relating to his employment or if the Executive wishes to seek redress of any grievance relating to his employment, he should apply in writing to the person or persons to whom he reports.
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19. | Return of Company Property |
19.1 | On the termination of the Executives employment for any reason howsoever arising or earlier at the Companys specific request, the Executive will immediately return to the Company all property belonging or relating to the Company and any Group Company that is in his possession or under his control. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes (but is not limited to) keys, security cards, computers, and all documents, records, correspondence, papers and other materials (and any copies thereof), whether in hard copy or in electronic or machine readable form, made or kept by, or provided to, the Executive during his employment. The Executive will not retain any copies or extracts of such material. |
19.2 | The Executive shall transfer to the Company or such other person as it may direct all shares held by him in any Group Company as nominee or trustee for the Company and deliver to the Company the certificates therefore and the Executive hereby irrevocably appoints the Company as his attorney to execute any such transfers on his behalf. |
20. | Reconstruction or Amalgamation |
20.1 | If the Executives employment is terminated by reason of the liquidation of the Company in order to effect its reconstruction or amalgamation, the Executive will have no claim against the Company provided that he is offered employment with the Company or undertaking resulting from the reconstruction or amalgamation on terms and conditions that are no less favourable to him than the terms of this Agreement. |
21. | Data Protection |
21.1 | The Executive agrees and acknowledges that the Company may monitor and/or record telephone calls to or from him and his use of electronic mail systems provided by the Company and/or Group in the course of his employment. |
21.2 | For the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998, the Executive hereby gives his consent to the holding, processing and transfer of personal data and sensitive personal data both inside and, where necessary, outside the European Economic Area provided by him to the Company and/or any other Group Company for all purposes relating to the Appointment. Including, but not limited to: |
21.2.1 | administering and maintaining personal records; |
21.2.2 | paying and reviewing salary and other remuneration and benefits; |
21.2.3 | providing and administering benefits; |
21.2.4 | undertaking performance appraisals and reviews; |
21.2.5 | sickness and other absence records; |
21.2.6 | taking decisions as to the Executives fitness for work; |
21.2.7 | providing references and information to future employees and, if necessary, governmental and quasi governmental bodies for Social Security and other purposes, Her Majestys Revenue and Customs and the Contributions Agency; and |
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21.2.8 | providing information to future purchasers of the Company or any other Group Company or of the businesses in which the Executive works and their respective advisers. |
21.3 | The Company reserves the right to carry out searches about the Executive through credit reference agencies or through the Companys own customer records at any time during the employment of the Executive. In signing this Agreement the Executive hereby gives permission for the Company and any other Group Company to carry out such searches. |
22. | Notices |
22.1 | Notice given to a party under this Agreement shall be in writing in the English language and, save in relation to notice by email, signed by or on behalf of the party giving it. It shall be delivered by hand or sent to the party at the address (including email address) given in this Agreement or as otherwise notified in writing to the other party. |
22.2 | Any such notice shall be deemed to have been received: |
22.2.1 | if delivered by hand, at the time the notice is left at the address or given to the addressee; |
22.2.2 | in the case of pre-paid first class UK post or other next working day delivery service, at midday on the second business day after posting or at the time recorded by the delivery service; |
22.2.3 | in the case of fax, at the time of successful transmission; or |
22.2.4 | in the case of email, at the time of transmission (unless the sender receives an automated response which indicates that the notice in question was not received by the intended recipient, in which case such notice shall not be deemed to have been received). |
22.3 | A notice shall have effect from the earlier of its actual or deemed receipt by the addressee. For the purpose of calculating deemed receipt: |
22.3.1 | all references to time are to local time in the place of deemed receipt; and |
22.3.2 | if deemed receipt would occur on a Saturday or Sunday or a public holiday when banks are not open for business, deemed receipt is at 9.00 am on the next business day. |
22.4 | A notice required to be given under this Agreement shall be validly given if sent by e-mail from and/or to the email addresses of the managing director for the Company and the Executives company email account (or any personal email address the Executive notifies to the Company). |
22.5 | This clause 22 does not apply to the service of any proceedings or other documents in any legal action. |
23. | Statutory Particulars |
This Agreement contains the written particulars of employment which the Company is obliged to provide the Executive under the Employment Rights Act 1996.
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24. | Collective Agreements |
There are no collective agreements which directly affect the terms of the Executives employment.
25. | Governing Law and Jurisdiction |
25.1 | This Agreement and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales. |
25.2 | The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim that arises out of or in connection with this agreement or its subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims). |
26. | Miscellaneous |
26.1 | This Agreement: |
26.1.1 | contains the whole of the terms agreed in respect of the Executives employment; |
26.1.2 | is in substitution for any other previous agreement or arrangement in respect of the Executives employment with the Group; and |
26.1.3 | shall only be capable of being varied by a supplemental agreement or memorandum signed by both parties. |
26.2 | Notwithstanding the termination of this Agreement, save as otherwise provided herein, the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect to the extent that the obligations of the Executive which are expressed to operate thereafter or are of a continuing nature are concerned and may be enforced against the Executive accordingly. |
26.3 | This document has been executed as a deed and is delivered and takes effect on the date stated at the beginning of it. |
EXECUTED as a DEED by: UNIFIED OS LIMITED acting by |
||||
Director | ) | /s/ N.P. Kilby | ||
Noel Kilby | ||||
(Print name) | ||||
Director | ) | /s/ Paul Mankoo | ||
Paul Mankoo | ||||
(Print name) | ||||
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EXECUTED as a DEED by: PAUL MANKOO |
) |
/s/ Paul Mankoo | ||
in the presence of: | ||||
Signed by witness | ) | /s/ Dimple Purohit | ||
Name of witness | Dimple Purohit | |||
Address: | BERWIN LEIGHTON PAISNER ADELAIDE HOUSE LONDON BRIDGE LONDON EC4R 9HA | |||
Occupation: | SOLICITOR |
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SCHEDULE 1
1. | Definitions |
In this schedule unless the context otherwise requires the following expressions shall have the following meanings (and all other capitalised terms are as defined in the main body of this Agreement):
1.1 | the Board means the board of directors for the time being of Inventus Solutions, Inc. or any committee of the board of directors authorised by Inventus Solutions, Inc. for the purpose of this Agreement; |
1.2 | the Business means the substantive business of the Company or any part thereof and any other substantive business or part thereof carried on by any Group Company as at the Termination Date and/or during the Protected Period and to which the Executive has rendered services or about which he has acquired Confidential Information or by which he has been engaged at any time during the Protected Period; |
1.3 | Commencement Date means the date of this Agreement; |
1.4 | Confidential Information means information of a confidential or secret nature which includes but is not limited to: |
1.4.1 | all information in whatever form (including, without limitation, in written, oral, visual, audio or electronic form or on tape or disk) relating the Company, any Group Company or any parent company of Inventus Solutions, Inc., or its assets (including, without limitation, details of the activities, businesses, business strategy, marketing plans, sales forecasts, investments, prospective investments (and the respective terms of such investments), research activities, inventions, ideas, computer programs, secret processes, designs, technology used, financial information, results and forecasts of the Company, any Group Company or any parent company of Inventus Solutions, Inc., past, present or projected, goods and services, and details of a confidential nature of its employees and contractors and of the requirements, terms of trade and identity and contact details of its suppliers and customers whether held by the Executive within his own personal social media account or otherwise); |
1.4.2 | any Inventions (including but not limited to the Companys software systems), created or developed by the Companys and/or any Companys employees or consultants; |
1.4.3 | any other information specifically designated by the Company and/or any Group Company and/or any parent company of Inventus Solutions, Inc. as confidential; and |
1.4.4 | any information in relation to which the Company and/or any Group Company and/or any parent company of Inventus Solutions, Inc. owes a duty of confidentiality to any third party; |
1.5 | Client means any person, firm or company who or which at any time during the Protected Period was a client of the Company and/or any other Group Company with whom or which the Executive dealt or for whom or which the Executive was responsible on behalf of the Company and/or any other Group Company at any time during the Protected Period; |
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1.6 | directly or indirectly means (without prejudice to the generality of the expression) whether as principal or agent (either alone or jointly or in partnership with any other person, firm or company), or as a shareholder or holder of loan capital in any other company, or being concerned or interested in any other person, firm or company, and whether as a director, member, partner, consultant, employee or otherwise; |
1.7 | Garden Leave means any period during which the Executive is excluded from his duties or some of them pursuant to clause 3.5 of the main body of this Agreement. |
1.8 | Goods and Services means any goods and services competitive with those supplied by the Company and/or any other Group Company at any time during the Protected Period and in the supply of which the Executive was involved or concerned or for which he was responsible at any time during the Protected Period; |
1.9 | Group means Inventus Solutions Inc. and any subsidiary and/or subsidiary undertaking of Inventus Solutions, Inc. whether in the United Kingdom or elsewhere in the world (and subsidiary undertaking shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, any partnership (whether a limited liability partnership or otherwise)) and, unless the context requires otherwise, words and expressions defined in the Companies Act 2006 (as amended) shall have the same meaning in this definition; |
1.10 | Group Company means any entity in the Group; |
1.11 | Immediate Relatives means spouse, partner, children, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents, and the aforesaid relatives by marriage. |
1.12 | Intellectual Property means (without prejudice to the generality of the expression) any discovery, formula, database right, invention (whether patentable or not, and whether or not patent protection has been applied for or granted), process, secret process, concept, methodology, improvement in procedure, trademark application, trade mark, service mark (whether registered or unregistered), business name, patent design, patent, registered or unregistered design (whether or not design rights subsist in it), utility model, technique, algorithm, system, source code, software, formula, formula improvement, development, proprietary information, trade name, website, internet domain name, logo, artwork, slogan, know-how, technical information, trade secret, financial model, computer models (including models for asset selection and pricing), works in which copyright subsists or may subsist (including computer software and preparatory and design materials therefore and any user manuals or other related material), topography rights and all works protected by rights or forms of protection of a similar nature or having equivalent effect anywhere in the world or other intellectual or industrial property right; |
1.13 | Invention means any Intellectual Property made, discovered, created, acquired or produced by the Executive (whether alone or jointly with any other person) during the course of the Executives employment which relates to or is useful in connection with the business or any product or service of the Company and/or the Group; |
1.14 | Prospective Client means any person, firm or company who or which was at any time during the Protected Period engaged in negotiations, with which the Executive was personally involved, with the Company and/or any other Group Company with a view to purchasing or obtaining Goods and Services from the Company and/or any other Group Company; |
1.15 | Protected Period means the period of 12 months immediately preceding the earlier of the Termination Date and the commencement of any Garden Leave; |
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1.16 | Recognised Investment Exchange means an investment exchange as defined by section 285 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000; |
1.17 | Restricted Territory means any geographic area in which the relevant Group Company conducts the Business or part thereof; |
1.18 | the Restriction Period means the period of 12 months following the Termination Date reduced by any period spent by the Executive on Garden Leave; |
1.19 | Senior Executive means a person who at any time whilst the Executive was employed by the Company or engaged by any Group Company: |
1.19.1 | is engaged or employed (other than in a clerical, secretarial or administrative capacity) as an employee director or consultant of that company; and |
1.19.2 | is or was engaged in a capacity in which he obtained Confidential Information or is likely to be able to solicit clients of the Company and/or any Group Company or is able to influence the client connections of the Company and/or any Group Company; and |
1.19.3 | is so engaged at any time during the Protected Period; |
1.19.4 | earning in excess of £50,000 per annum; and |
1.19.5 | with whom the Executive had dealings in the course of his duties during the Protected Period; |
1.20 | Termination Date means the date of termination of this Agreement whether lawful or unlawful; and |
1.21 | WTR means the Working Time Regulations 1998. |
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SCHEDULE 2
1. | The parties to this Agreement agree and acknowledge that it is reasonable and necessary for the protection of the Confidential Information, goodwill, stable workforce, trade secrets and trade connections of the Business that the Executive should be restrained in the terms of the covenants set out in this Schedule from making available or using for the benefit of himself or a competitor or potential competitor Confidential Information or trade connections which the Executive has obtained and is likely to obtain in the course of his employment with the Company. |
2. | The Executive accordingly covenants with the Company that in view of the circumstances referred to in paragraph 2 of this Schedule, he will not (other than for and on behalf of the Company and/or any Group Company) without the prior written consent of the Board (such consent to be withheld only so far as may be reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the Group) directly or indirectly: |
2.1 | at any time during the Restriction Period: |
2.1.1 | be engaged or concerned or interested or participate in a business the same as or in competition with the Business or relevant part thereof in any Restricted Territory provided always that this paragraph shall not restrain the Executive from being engaged or concerned in any business concern in so far as his duties or work shall relate solely to: |
(a) | geographical areas where the business concern is not in competition with the Business; or |
(b) | services or activities with which the Executive were not concerned to a material extent during the Protected Period; |
in either case provided that no Senior Executive with whom the Executive had material contact in the course of his employment is also engaged or concerned or interested in such business (whether as an employee, agent, director or consultant);
2.1.2 | in respect of any Goods and Services solicit, facilitate the solicitation of or canvass the custom or business of any Client (including without limitation by sending any update to any Client via social media whether such update is automatic or otherwise); |
2.1.3 | in respect of any Goods and Services, solicit, facilitate the solicitation of or canvass the custom or business of any Prospective Client (including without limitation by sending any update to any Client via social media whether such update is automatic or otherwise); |
2.1.4 | in respect of any Goods and Services, deal with or provide or supply any Client; |
2.1.5 | in respect of any Goods and Services, deal with or provide or supply any Prospective Client; |
2.1.6 | offer employment to or employ or offer to conclude any contract for services with or engage any Senior Executive; |
2.1.7 | solicit or entice any Senior Executive to leave his employment with or cease his directorship of or consultancy with the Company or any Group Company; |
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2.2 | at any time: |
2.2.1 | solicit or entice or endeavour to solicit or entice any person to breach his contract of employment or contract for services with the Company or any Group Company or procure or facilitate such by any person, firm or company; |
2.2.2 | do or say anything likely or calculated to lead any person, firm or company to withdraw from or cease to continue offering to the Company or any Group Company any rights of purchase, sale, import, distribution or agency then enjoyed by it; |
2.2.3 | disclose to any person (except as required by law) or any regulatory authority or use to the detriment of the Company or any Group Company any Confidential Information which the Executive has acquired before the Termination Date provided always that his obligation shall not extend to any matter which is or shall be in the public domain otherwise than through the Executives own default; or |
2.2.4 | falsely represent himself as being connected with or interested in the Company and/or any Group Company or in the Business. |
3. | The Executive agrees that if, during his employment pursuant to this Agreement or the continuance in force of the restrictions set out in this Schedule, he receives an offer of employment or engagement in any capacity from any person, the Executive will immediately provide that person with a complete and accurate copy of this Schedule. |
4. | The Executive hereby acknowledges and agrees with the Company that: |
4.1 | each of the sub-clauses contained in paragraph 2 of this Schedule constitutes an entirely separate severable and independent covenant and restriction on him; |
4.2 | the duration, extent and application of each of the restrictions contained in paragraph 2 of this Schedule is no greater than is necessary for the protection of the goodwill and trade connections of the Business; and |
4.3 | if that any restriction on the Executive contained in paragraph 2 of this Schedule shall be found void but would be valid if some part thereof were deleted such restriction shall apply with any such deletion as may be necessary to make it valid and effective; and |
4.4 | his obligations under this Schedule shall, with respect to each Group Company, constitute a separate and distinct covenant in respect of which he hereby covenants with the Company as trustee for each such other company; and |
4.5 | the Company shall be entitled to seek to enforce such restrictions not only on behalf of itself but also on behalf of any other Group Company. |
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Exhibit (e)(25)
RPX CORPORATION
SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
This Severance and Change in Control Agreement (the Agreement) is made and entered into, as of March 21, 2018 (the Effective Date), by and between Edward F. Straube (the Executive) and RPX Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company).
This Agreement provides severance and acceleration benefits in connection with certain qualifying terminations of Executives employment with the Company. Upon its effectiveness and for its duration, this Agreement shall supersede any existing agreements between Executive and the Company relating to severance and/or accelerated vesting of equity awards in connection with Executives termination of employment with the Company.
Certain capitalized terms are defined in Section 8.
The Company and Executive agree as follows:
1. Term. Unless terminated sooner or renewed by the Companys Board of Directors or its Compensation Committee, this Agreement will terminate automatically if a Change in Control has not occurred on or prior to March 21, 2019.
2. Severance Benefits.
(a) Severance Benefits. If Executive is subject to an Involuntary Termination which occurs within nine (9) months following a Change in Control and Executive satisfies the conditions described in Section 2(b) below, then Executive shall be entitled to the following severance benefits: (i) the Company will pay Executive an amount equal to one (1) times his Base Salary, (ii) the Company will pay Executive an amount equal to 50% of Executives target bonus as calculated assuming 100% achievement of plan, (iii) the Company will pay Executive an additional lump sum payment equal to the amount required to maintain Executives current benefits pursuant to COBRA for a period of twelve (12) months, and (iv) one hundred percent of the unvested portion of each outstanding equity award that Executive holds as of the Involuntary Termination will vest and, if applicable, become exercisable. Subject to Section 2(b) below, the amounts described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 2(a) will be paid in equal installments over the twelve-month period following Executives Involuntary Termination, in accordance with the Companys standard payroll procedures.
(b) Preconditions to Severance Benefits / Timing of Benefits. As a condition to Executives receipt of any benefits described in Section 2, Executive shall execute and allow to become effective a general release of claims in substantially the form attached hereto and, if requested by the Companys Board of Directors, must immediately resign as a member of the Companys Board of Directors and as a member of the board of directors of any subsidiaries of the Company. Executive must execute and return the release on or before the date specified by the Company, which will in no event be later than fifty (50) days after Executives employment
terminates. If Executive fails to return the release by the deadline or if Executive revokes the release, then Executive will not be entitled to the benefits described in this Section 2. Assuming compliance with this Section 2(b), all such benefits will be paid or commence within 60 days after Executives Involuntary Termination and, once they commence, will include any unpaid amounts accrued from the date of Executives Involuntary Termination. However, if such 60-day period spans calendar years, then payment will in any event be made or commence in the second calendar year. In addition, if during the period Executive is receiving benefits hereunder, Executive fails to comply with the provisions of his Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement that lawfully restrict Executives use of the Companys trade secrets or that restrict Executive from soliciting the Companys employees, then the Companys obligation to pay any unpaid benefits hereunder will immediately terminate.
3. Section 409A. The Company intends that all payments and benefits provided under this Agreement or otherwise are exempt from, or comply with, with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) so that none of the payments or benefits will be subject to the additional tax imposed under Code Section 409A, and any ambiguities herein will be interpreted in accordance with such intent. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each payment, installment or benefit payable under this Agreement is hereby designated as a separate payment. In addition, if the Company determines that Executive is a specified employee under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) at the time of Executives Separation, then (i) any severance payments or benefits, to the extent that they are subject to Code Section 409A, will not be paid or otherwise provided until the first business day following (A) expiration of the six-month period measured from Executives Separation or (B) the date of Executives death and (ii) any installments that otherwise would have been paid or provided prior to such date will be paid or provided in a lump sum when the severance payments or benefits commence.
4. Section 280G. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the payments and benefits provided pursuant to this Agreement, together with all other payments and benefits received or to be received by Executive (Payments), constitute parachute payments within the meaning of Code Section 280G, and, but for this Section 4, would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 (the Excise Tax), then the Payments shall be made to Executive either (i) in full or (ii) as to such lesser amount as would result in no portion of the Payments being subject to the Excise Tax (a Reduced Payment), whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the Excise Tax, results in Executives receipt on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Payments may be subject to the Excise Tax. If a Reduced Payment is to be made under this section, reduction of Payments will occur in the following order: reduction of cash payments, then cancellation of equity-based payments and accelerated vesting of equity awards, and then reduction of employee benefits. If accelerated vesting of equity awards is to be reduced, such acceleration of vesting will be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant. In the event that cash payments or other benefits are reduced, such reduction shall occur in reverse order beginning with the payments and benefits which are to be paid furthest away in time. All determinations required to be made under this Section 4 (including whether any of the Payments are parachute payments and whether to make a Reduced Payment) will be made by an independent accounting firm
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selected by the Company. For purposes of making the calculations required by this section, the accounting firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonably, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Code Sections 280G and 4999. The Company will bear the costs that the accounting firm may reasonably incur in connection with the calculations contemplated by this Section 4. The accounting firms determination will be binding on both Executive and the Company absent manifest error.
5. Companys Successors. Any successor to the Company to all or substantially all of the Companys business and/or assets shall assume the Companys obligations under this Agreement and agree expressly to perform the Companys obligations under this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent as the Company would be required to perform such obligations in the absence of a succession.
6. Miscellaneous Provisions.
(a) Modification or Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless the modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by an authorized officer of the Company (other than Executive). No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.
(b) Integration. This Agreement represents the entire agreement and understanding between the parties as to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement.
(c) Choice of Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the internal substantive laws, but not the conflicts of law rules, of the State of California.
(d) Tax Withholding. Any payments provided for hereunder are subject to reduction to reflect applicable withholding and payroll taxes and other reductions required under federal, state or local law.
(e) Notices. Any notice required by the terms of this Agreement shall be given in writing. It shall be deemed effective upon (i) personal delivery, (ii) deposit with the United States Postal Service, by registered or certified mail, with postage and fees prepaid or (iii) deposit with Federal Express Corporation, with shipping charges prepaid. Notice shall be addressed to the Company at its principal executive office (attention General Counsel) and to the Executive at the address that he or she most recently provided to the Company in accordance with this Subsection (e).
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(f) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in full force and effect.
(g) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
7. At-Will Employment. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall (a) confer upon Executive any right to continue in the employ of the Company, (b) constitute any contract or agreement of employment, or (c) interfere in any way with the at-will nature of Executives employment with the Company.
8. Definitions. The following terms referred to in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:
(a) Base Salary means Executives annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to an Involuntary Termination; provided, however, that in the event of a Resignation for Good Reason due to a reduction in Executives base salary, Base Salary means Executives annual base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction or as in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control, whichever is greater.
(b) Cause means (i) Executives intentional and unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets, which use or disclosure causes material harm to the Company, (ii) Executives material breach of any agreement with the Company, (iii) Executives material failure to comply with the Companys written policies or rules, (iv) Executives conviction of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (v) Executives gross negligence or willful misconduct relating to the Company, (vi) Executives continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from the Companys Board of Directors or (vii) Executives failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of the Company or its directors, officers or employees, if the Company has requested such cooperation. To the extent Executive commits an act that would constitute Cause pursuant to (ii), (iii), (vi) or (vii), Executive will be given notice and an opportunity to cure within thirty (30) days of receiving notice and, if Executive reasonably cures such act as determined by the Audit Committee of the Companys Board of Directors, it will not constitute Cause.
(c) Change in Control shall have the meaning set forth in the Companys 2011 Equity Incentive Plan, as in effect on the Effective Date.
(d) Disability means the Executives inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment.
(e) Involuntary Termination means either (i) a Termination without Cause or (ii) a Resignation for Good Reason.
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(f) Resignation for Good Reason means a Separation as a result of Executives resignation from employment after one of the following conditions has come into existence without Executives consent: (i) a material diminution in Executives duties, authority or responsibilities with the Company, as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Companys Board of Directors as constituted immediately prior to a Change in Control (the Compensation Committee), acting reasonably and in good faith; provided that it shall not be deemed a material diminution if Executive continues to perform duties that are substantially similar, in the aggregate, to the duties performed by Executive immediately prior to a Change in Control, as determined by the Compensation Committee, acting reasonably and in good faith, (ii) a reduction in Executives total compensation by more than 10%, other than as part of a Company-wide compensation adjustment, or (iii) a relocation of the Executives place of employment by more than fifty (50) miles from the Companys current offices in San Francisco, California. In order to constitute a Resignation for Good Reason, Executive must give the Company written notice of the condition within ninety (90) days after it comes into existence, the Company must fail to remedy the condition within thirty (30) days after receiving Executives written notice and Executive must terminate his or her employment within thirty (30) days after expiration of the cure period.
(g) Separation means a separation from service as defined in the regulations under Code Section 409A.
(h) Termination Without Cause means a Separation as a result of the termination of Executives employment by the Company without Cause and not as a result of Executives death or Disability.
[Signature Page Follows]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Agreement, in the case of the Company by its duly authorized officer, as of the day and year indicated below.
COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Martin Roberts | |
Name: | Martin Roberts | |
Title: | CEO | |
Date: | 3/21/18 | |
EXECUTIVE | ||
By: | /s/ Edward Max Straube | |
Name: | Edward Max Straube | |
Title: | S.V.P | |
Date: | 3/24/18 |
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GENERAL RELEASE OF ALL CLAIMS
In consideration of the severance benefits to be paid to Edward F. Straube (Executive) by RPX Corporation (the Company), as described in Paragraph 1 below, Executive, on Executives own behalf and on behalf of Executives heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, hereby fully and forever releases and discharges the Company and its directors, officers, employees, agents, successors, predecessors, subsidiaries, parent, shareholders, employee benefit plans and assigns (together called the Releasees), from all known and unknown claims and causes of action including, without limitation, any claims or causes of action arising out of or relating in any way to Executives employment with the Company, including the termination of that employment.
1. If Executive signs (and does not revoke) this General Release of All Claims (Release), the Company will provide Executive with the severance benefits described in Section 2 of the Severance and Change in Control Agreement, effective as of March 12, 2018, between the Company and Executive (the Severance Agreement).
2. Executives Company equity awards, to the extent vested and outstanding as of Executives employment termination date, will be treated as provided in the applicable equity plan and the related award agreements. Such agreements will remain in effect in accordance with their terms, and Executive acknowledges that Executive will remain bound by them. Except as provided in Section 2(a) of the Severance Agreement, any Company equity awards that are unvested as of Executives employment termination date will be automatically forfeited, and Executive will have no further rights to such awards. Executive acknowledges that the enclosed report accurately reflects a summary of Executives outstanding equity awards.
3. Executive understands and agrees that this Release is a full and complete waiver of all claims including, without limitation, claims of wrongful discharge, constructive discharge, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, harassment, retaliation, discrimination, violation of public policy, defamation, invasion of privacy, interference with a leave of absence, personal injury or emotional distress and claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Americans With Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), the California Labor Code, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Family Rights Act, the Family Medical Leave Act or any other federal or state law or regulation relating to employment or employment discrimination. Executive further understands and agrees that this waiver includes all claims, known and unknown, to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law. However, this release covers only those claims that arose prior to the execution of this Release. Execution of this Release does not bar any claim that arises hereafter, including (without limitation) a claim for breach of this Release. In addition, this Release does not cover any claim for indemnification Executive may have pursuant to a written indemnification agreement with the Company, the Companys bylaws or applicable law or Executives right to coverage under any applicable D&O insurance policy with the Company.
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4. Executive understands that this Agreement does not limit Executives ability to file a charge or complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal, state or local governmental agency or commission (each, a Government Agency). Executive further understands that this Agreement does not limit Executives ability to communicate with, or otherwise participate in any investigation or proceeding that may be conducted by, a Government Agency.
5. Executive also hereby agrees that nothing contained in this Release shall constitute or be treated as an admission of liability or wrongdoing by the Releasees or Executive.
6. In addition, Executive hereby expressly waives any and all rights and benefits conferred upon Executive by the provisions of Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, which states as follows:
A general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor.
7. If any provision of this Release is found to be unenforceable, it shall not affect the enforceability of the remaining provisions and the court shall enforce all remaining provisions to the full extent permitted by law.
8. This Release constitutes the entire agreement between Executive and Releasees with regard to the subject matter of this Release. It supersedes any other agreements, representations or understandings, whether oral or written and whether express or implied, which relate to the subject matter of this Release. Executive understands and agrees that this Release may be modified only in a written document signed by Executive and a duly authorized officer of the Company.
9. Executive understands and agrees that the Company shall have no obligation to provide to Executive any severance benefits described in the Severance Agreement unless and until Executive has complied with the requirements described in Section 2(b) of the Severance Agreement, including executing this Release within the time period specified in Paragraph 13 below and allowing this Release to become effective. Executive further understands and agrees that the Companys obligation to provide to Executive any unpaid severance benefits described in the Severance Agreement may terminate as described in Section 2(b) of the Severance Agreement.
10. Executive understands and agrees that at all times in the future Executive shall remain bound by the Executives Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the Company (the PIIA), a copy of which is enclosed herewith. This Release, the Severance Agreement, the PIIA, and the Indemnification Agreement you signed with the Company dated as of February 8, 2018 constitute the entire agreement between you and Releasees with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter.
11. Executive agrees that Executive will never make any negative or disparaging statements (orally or in writing) about the Company or its stockholders, directors, officers, employees, products, services or business practices, except as required by law. The Company agrees to instruct its executive officers and directors not to disparage Executive in any manner likely to be harmful to Executives personal or business reputation; provided that the Company (and its executive officers and directors) may respond accurately and fully to any question, inquiry or request for information when required by legal process.
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12. This Release shall be governed by and its provisions interpreted under the laws of the State of California.
13. Executive understands that Executive has the right to consult with an attorney before signing this Release. Executive also understands that Executive has twenty-one (21) days after receipt of this Release to review and consider this Release, discuss it with an attorney of Executives own choosing, and decide to execute it or not execute it. Executive also understands that Executive may revoke this Release during a period of seven (7) days after Executive signs it and that this Release will not become effective for seven days after Executive signs it (and then only if Executive does not revoke it). In order to revoke this Release, within seven days after Executive executes this Release Executive must deliver to the General Counsel at the Company a letter stating that Executive is revoking it. Executive understands that if Executive chooses to revoke this Release within seven (7) days after Executive signs it, Executive will not receive any severance benefits and the Release will have no effect.
14. Executive states that before signing this Release, Executive:
| Has read it, |
| Understands it, |
| Knows that he or she is giving up important rights, |
| Is aware of his or her right to consult an attorney before signing it, and |
| Has signed it knowingly and voluntarily. |
Date: |
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Signature | ||||
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Print Full Name |
Enclosures:
Equity Report
Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement
Indemnification Agreement
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Exhibit (e)(26)
Everyone:
This morning, affiliates of HGGC filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO to begin the tender offer for all outstanding shares of RPX. The Tender Offer Statement includes an offer to purchase and related letter of transmittal and explains to our stockholders how they can tender their shares. In addition, we filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC which, among other things, provides more information about RPX, further explanation of the Boards recommendation of the tender offer, and additional background of the proposed acquisition by HGGC.
These filings are a normal part of the transaction process, and they include disclosure about the timing of events and the various participants involved. There will likely be additional press coverage about the matters included in these filings, and some of our clients may have questions. If you receive questions regarding the offer, please let Max, Dave, Jen, and me know.
We continue to expect that the transaction will close in in the second or third quarter of 2018. I will provide additional updates as I have them.
Thanks very much.
Marty
Notice to Investors and Security Holders
This communication is neither a recommendation, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The solicitation and the offer to buy the shares of common stock of RPX Corporation (RPX) has been made pursuant to a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, containing an offer to purchase, letter of transmittal and related materials, that affiliates of HGGC, LLC, Riptide Parent, LLC (Parent) and Riptide Purchase, Inc. (Buyer) filed on May 21, 2018 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). Also on May 21, 2018, RPX filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with respect to the offer. The Tender Offer Statement (including an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal and other offer documents, each as amended) and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement, as amended, contain important information that should be read carefully and considered before any decision is made with respect to the tender offer. RPX, Buyer and Parent have filed or will file other relevant materials in connection with the proposed acquisition of RPX by Buyer pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement. RPX, Buyer and Parent have mailed or intend to mail these documents to the stockholders of RPX. All of the tender offer materials (and all other materials filed by RPX with the SEC) are available free of charge from the SEC through its website at www.sec.gov. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF RPX ARE ADVISED TO READ THE SCHEDULE TO AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9, INCLUDING THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT OF RPX, AS EACH MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, AS WELL AS ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY PRIOR TO MAKING ANY DECISIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER OR WHETHER TO TENDER THEIR RPX SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION (INCLUDING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER AND THE PARTIES THERETO).