UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14D-9
(Amendment No. 6)
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement
Under Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
SKULLCANDY, INC.
(Name
of Subject Company)
SKULLCANDY, INC.
(Name
of Person Filing Statement)
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
83083J104
(CUSIP Number
of Class of Securities)
Patrick Grosso
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and Corporate Affairs,
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Skullcandy, Inc.
1441
West Ute Boulevard, Suite 250
Park City, Utah 84098
(435) 940-1545
(Name,
address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications
on behalf of the persons filing statement)
With copies to:
Cary K. Hyden
David M.
Wheeler
Latham & Watkins LLP
650 Town Center Drive, 20th Floor
Costa Mesa, California 92626
(714) 540-1235
¨
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Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.
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Purpose of Amendment.
This Amendment No. 6 (this
Amendment
) amends and supplements the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 of Skullcandy, Inc.
(the
Company
) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
SEC
) on July 6, 2016 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the
Schedule 14D-9
). The Schedule 14D-9 relates
to the tender offer by Powder Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (
Purchaser
) and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Incipio, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (
Parent
), to purchase any and all of
the issued and outstanding shares of the Companys common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the
Company Shares
), other than any Company Shares that are owned immediately prior to the commencement of the Offer (as defined
below) by Parent, Purchaser, the Company or any of their wholly owned subsidiaries, at a purchase price of $6.10 per Company Share (the
Offer Price
), net to the seller thereof in cash, without interest and less any required
withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amended Offer to Purchase, dated August 3, 2016 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the
Offer to Purchase
), and in the related
Amended Letter of Transmittal (which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute the
Offer
). The Offer is described in a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (as may
be amended or supplemented from time to time, the
Schedule TO
) filed by Parent and Purchaser with the SEC on July 6, 2016, as amended. The Offer to Purchase and the Amended Form of Letter of Transmittal are filed as Exhibits
(a)(1)(F) and (a)(1)(G), respectively, to the Schedule TO.
Except as otherwise set forth below, the information set forth in the Schedule 14D-9 remains
unchanged and is incorporated by reference as relevant to the items in this Amendment. Capitalized terms used and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Schedule 14D-9. This Amendment is being filed to reflect
certain updates as reflected below.
Item 2.
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Identity and Background of the Filing Person.
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Item 2 of the Schedule 14D-9 is
hereby amended and supplemented by replacing the first seven paragraphs under the heading Tender Offer with the following:
This Schedule 14D-9 relates to the tender offer by Powder Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation
(
Purchaser
) and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Incipio, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (
Parent
), to purchase any and all of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (the
Company
Shares
), other than any Company Shares that are owned immediately prior to the commencement of the Offer (as defined below) by Parent, Purchaser, the Company or any of their wholly owned subsidiaries, at a purchase price of $6.10 per
Company Share (the
Offer Price
), net to the seller thereof in cash, and less any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Amended Offer to Purchase, dated August 3, 2016 (as further
amended or supplemented from time to time, the
Offer to Purchase
), and in the related Amended Letter of Transmittal (which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute
the
Offer
). The Offer is described in a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the
Schedule TO
) filed by Parent and Purchaser with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the
SEC
) on July 6, 2016. The Amended Offer to Purchase and the Amended Form of Letter of Transmittal are filed as Exhibits (a)(13) and (a)(14), respectively, hereto and are incorporated herein by reference.
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 23, 2016, by and among Parent, Purchaser
and the Company (the
Original Merger Agreement
), as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated August 3, 2016, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
Amendment
and, together with the Original Merger Agreement, and as
it may be further amended or supplemented from time to time, the
Merger Agreement
). The Merger Agreement provides that, among other things, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, following completion of the
Offer, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended (the
DGCL
), Purchaser will be merged into and with the Company (the
Merger
). Following the consummation of the
Merger, the
1
Company will continue as the surviving corporation (the
Surviving Corporation
) as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The Merger will be effected under Section 251(h) of the
DGCL, which 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 acquired
corporation that would otherwise be required to approve a merger of the acquired corporation, and the stockholders that did not tender their shares in the tender offer 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 vote or written consent of the stockholders of the acquired corporation. Accordingly, if Purchaser consummates the Offer, the Merger Agreement contemplates that the parties will effect
the closing of the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of the Company in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.
The obligation of Purchaser to purchase the Company Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not validly withdrawn
prior to the expiration of the Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including (i) that there shall have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn a number of Company Shares
that, when added to the Company Shares then owned by Purchaser, if any, represents at least a majority of all then outstanding Company Shares, (ii) the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting period (and any extensions thereof) under the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the
HSR Act
), (iii) the absence of any law or order by any government, court or other governmental entity that would make illegal or otherwise prohibit the
consummation of the Offer, the acquisition of the Company Shares by Parent or Purchaser or the Merger, (iv) the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement, subject to certain customary exceptions, (v) the
Companys material compliance with covenants contained in the Merger Agreement, (vi) there not having been a material adverse effect with respect to the Company that is continuing as of immediately prior to the termination of the Offer, and
(vii) certain other customary conditions. As of the date of the Original Merger Agreement, Purchaser and its affiliates did not own any Company Shares. The Merger Agreement is not subject to a financing condition.
At the effective time of the Merger (the
Effective Time
), by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of the holders of any Company Shares, each outstanding Company Share (excluding any Company Shares (i) owned immediately prior to the Effective Time by Parent, Purchaser or the Company or any wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, Purchaser or
the Company or (ii) held by stockholders who have properly and validly perfected their appraisal rights under Delaware law) will be canceled and extinguished and automatically converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer
Price, without interest and less any required withholding taxes. In addition, at the Effective Time, each option to purchase Company Shares that remains outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a
Company Option
)
will be accelerated in full and each Company Option will be canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, if any, without interest and less any required withholding taxes, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the
excess, if any, of (A) the Offer Price minus (B) the exercise price per share of such Company Option and (ii) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company Option. At the Effective Time, each Company restricted stock unit or performance stock
unit that remains outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (each, a
Company RSU Award
) will be accelerated in full (which, in the case of a Company RSU Award that vests in whole or in part on the basis of achievement of
performance goals, shall be determined as if performance were at 100% of targeted performance) and each Company RSU Award will be canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, if any, without interest and less any required
withholding taxes, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Offer Price and (ii) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time.
The Company, until the earlier of consummation of the Offer or the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated, has agreed
that the Company and its subsidiaries may not, and will cause its and their respective representatives not to, directly or indirectly through another person, except as otherwise described in the following sentence, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly
encourage any proposal or inquiry that constitutes, or is reasonably likely to lead to, an acquisition proposal, (ii) other than informing
2
persons of the applicable provisions described in the Merger Agreement, enter into, continue or participate in any discussions or any negotiations regarding, any acquisition proposal or (iii)
resolve, propose or agree to do any of the foregoing. Notwithstanding this limitation, prior to the consummation of the Offer, the Company may under certain circumstances provide information to third parties that submit a written, unsolicited
alternative acquisition proposal that the board of directors of the Company (the
Company Board
) has determined, in good faith, constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger
Agreement), and the Company may request clarification on the terms and conditions with respect to any unsolicited alternative acquisition proposal. The Company Board may also terminate the Merger Agreement in order to accept a Superior Proposal and
may change its recommendation in the event the Company Board determines, in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors fiduciary
duties under applicable law, subject to certain restrictions.
The Merger Agreement is summarized in the Offer to Purchase
in Section 11 under the heading Purpose of the Offer and Plans for Skullcandy; Merger Agreement and Other Agreements. The summary of the Merger Agreement set forth in the Offer to Purchase and any summary of provisions of the Merger
Agreement set forth herein do not purport to be complete and each is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement. Copies of the Original Merger Agreement and the Amendment are filed as Exhibits (e)(1) and (e)(23), respectively,
hereto and are incorporated herein by reference. The expiration date of the Offer is midnight, New York Time, on August 17, 2016, subject to extension in certain circumstances set forth in the Merger Agreement and described in the Offer to
Purchase.
Item 3.
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Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.
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1. Item 3 of the
Schedule 14D-9 is hereby amended and supplemented by replacing in its entirety the subsection under the heading Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the CompanyConsideration for Company Shares Tendered Pursuant
to the Offer with the following:
Consideration
for
Company
Shares
Tendered
Pursuant
to the
Offer
If the directors and executive
officers of the Company who own Company Shares tender their Company Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer, they will receive the same Offer Price on the same terms and conditions as the other stockholders of the Company. As of July 26, 2016, the
directors and executive officers of the Company and their affiliates beneficially owned an aggregate of 1,063,452 Company Shares, which for purposes of this subsection excludes any Company Shares issuable upon exercise or settlement of Company
Options and Company RSU Awards (each, as defined below) held by such individuals. If the directors and executive officers and their affiliates were to tender all of such Company Shares pursuant to the Offer, and those Company Shares were accepted
for purchase and purchased by Purchaser, the directors and executive officers and their affiliates would receive an aggregate of $6,487,057 in cash, without interest, less any required withholding taxes. For a description of the treatment of Company
Options and Company RSU Awards held by the directors and executive officers of the Company, see below under the heading Merger AgreementEffect of the Merger on Stock Awards.
The following table sets forth, as of July 26, 2016, the cash consideration that each executive officer and director and his
or her affiliates would be entitled to receive in respect of outstanding Company Shares beneficially owned by him, her or it (excluding Company Shares underlying unvested Company Options and Company RSU Awards), assuming such individual or his, her
or its affiliate were to tender all of his, her or its outstanding Company Shares pursuant to the Offer and those Company Shares were accepted for purchase and purchased by Purchaser.
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Name
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Number of
Shares
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Consideration
Payable in
Respect of
Shares
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Executive Officers
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S. Hoby Darling
|
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75,251
|
|
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$
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459,031
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Jason Hodell
|
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22,717
|
|
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$
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138,574
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Sam Paschel, Jr.
|
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36,982
|
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$
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225,590
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David Raffone
|
|
|
|
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Patrick Grosso
|
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17,682
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$
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107,860
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Non-Employee Directors
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Rick Alden
(1)
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683,597
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$
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4,169,942
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Jay Brown
(2)
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21,684
|
|
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$
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132,272
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Doug Collier
|
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31,622
|
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$
|
192,894
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Jeff Kearl
(3)
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57,160
|
|
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$
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348,676
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Scott Olivet
|
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34,957
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$
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213,238
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Heidi ONeill
|
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21,559
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$
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131,510
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Greg Warnock
|
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60,241
|
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$
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367,470
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3
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(1)
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Excludes shares of Common Stock held by Ptarmagin, LLC (
Ptarmagi
n
). Ptarmagins two members are trusts of which Rick Alden and his children are beneficiaries, but the voting and
dispositive power over Ptarmagins shares of Common Stock is held by a third-party manager. Based on the information contained in the Schedule 13D/A filed by Ptarmagin and Mr. Alden with the SEC on June 14, 2016, Ptarmagin beneficially owns
3,639,886 shares of Common Stock.
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(2)
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Mr. Brown ceased to be a director of the Company effective as of May 18, 2016.
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(3)
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Represents (i) 43,510 shares of Common Stock held directly by Mr. Kearl and (ii) 13,650 shares of Common Stock held by Monarch Partners. Mr. Kearl is the manager of Monarch Partners and holds voting and dispositive
power of the shares held by Monarch Partners. Mr. Kearl may be deemed to indirectly beneficially own the shares held by Monarch Partners. The address of Monarch Partners is 38 Via Divertirse, San Clemente, California 92673.
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* * *
2. Item 3 of the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby
amended and supplemented by replacing in its entirety the subsection under the heading Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the CompanyMerger AgreementEffect of the Merger on Stock Awards with the
following:
Effect
of the
Merger
on Stock
Awards
Stock
Options
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Company Option will be
accelerated in full and each Company Option will be canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, if any, without interest and less any required withholding taxes, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the excess, if
any, of (A) the Offer Price minus (B) the exercise price per share of such Company Option, and (ii) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company Option.
The table below sets forth information regarding the Company Options held by each of the Companys executive officers and
directors as of July 26, 2016.
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Number
of Vested
Company
Options
|
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Value of
Vested
Company
Options
|
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Number
of
Unvested
Company
Options
|
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Value of
Unvested
Company
Options
|
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Total
Value of
Vested
and
Unvested
Company
Options
|
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Executive Officers
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S. Hoby Darling
|
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517,687
|
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$
|
430,189
|
|
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368,632
|
|
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$
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373,629
|
|
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$
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803,818
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Jason Hodell
|
|
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79,895
|
|
|
|
|
|
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317,116
|
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$
|
276,277
|
|
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$
|
276,277
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Sam Paschel, Jr.
|
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82,318
|
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$
|
24,100
|
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207,387
|
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$
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231,319
|
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$
|
255,429
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David Raffone
|
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16,684
|
|
|
|
|
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102,380
|
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$
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103,604
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$
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103,604
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Patrick Grosso
|
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33,369
|
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$
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10,849
|
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93,294
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$
|
107,220
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$
|
118,069
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Non-Employee Directors
|
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Rick Alden
|
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28,000
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Jay Brown
(1)
|
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Doug Collier
|
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28,000
|
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|
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Jeff Kearl
|
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57,378
|
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$
|
168,336
|
|
|
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$
|
168,336
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Scott Olivet
|
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28,000
|
|
|
|
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Heidi ONeill
|
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Greg Warnock
|
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28,000
|
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(1)
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Mr. Brown ceased to be a director of the Company effective as of May 18, 2016.
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Restricted
Stock
Units
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, effective as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Company RSU Award will be
accelerated in full (which, in the case of a Company RSU Award that vests in whole or in part on the basis of achievement of performance goals, shall be determined as if performance were at 100% of targeted performance) and each Company RSU Award
will be canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, if any, without interest and less any required withholding taxes, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the Offer Price and (ii) the number of Company Shares
underlying such Company RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time.
4
The table below sets forth information regarding the Company RSU Awards held by
each of the Companys executive officers and directors as of July 26, 2016 (and, with respect to Company RSU Awards that vest in whole or in part on the basis of achievement of performance goals, the number of Company RSUs that would vest at
100% of targeted performance is reflected).
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Name
|
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Number of
Company
RSUs
Held
|
|
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Value of
Company
RSUs
|
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Executive Officers
|
|
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|
|
|
|
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S. Hoby Darling
|
|
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98,953
|
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$
|
603,613
|
|
Jason Hodell
|
|
|
151,518
|
|
|
$
|
924,260
|
|
Sam Paschel, Jr.
|
|
|
55,185
|
|
|
$
|
336,629
|
|
David Raffone
|
|
|
57,644
|
|
|
$
|
351,628
|
|
Patrick Grosso
|
|
|
14,649
|
|
|
$
|
89,359
|
|
Non-Employee Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rick Alden
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
138,635
|
|
Jay Brown
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Doug Collier
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
138,635
|
|
Jeff Kearl
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
138,635
|
|
Scott Olivet
|
|
|
29,829
|
|
|
$
|
181,957
|
|
Heidi ONeill
|
|
|
29,119
|
|
|
$
|
177,626
|
|
Greg Warnock
|
|
|
30,113
|
|
|
$
|
183,689
|
|
|
(1)
|
Mr. Brown ceased to be a director of the Company effective as of May 18, 2016.
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* * *
3. Item 3 of the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby amended and supplemented by replacing the first paragraph under the heading Arrangements with Current
Executive Officers and Directors of the CompanyOther Compensatory Arrangements with Executive Officers and Directors with the following:
On June 23, 2016, the Company entered into amended and restated employment agreements (the
Amended and
Restated
Employment
Agreement
s
) with each of the Companys executive officers. The Amended and Restated Employment Agreements supersede the named executive officers previous employment
agreements. As of the date of the Merger Agreement, there had been no discussions between any Skullcandy officer, on the one hand, and any representative or affiliate of Parent, on the other, relating to post-Merger employment with Parent.
5
Item 4.
|
The Solicitation or Recommendation.
|
Item 4 of the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby
amended and supplemented by replacing in its entirety the content of this item with the following:
Recommendation of the Company
Board.
At a meeting of the Company Board held on August 3, 2016, the Company Board (i) determined that the Amendment,
including the Offer Price, is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable the Amendment, and approved the Offer, the Merger, the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and all
other actions or matters necessary or appropriate to give effect to the foregoing, and (iii) resolved to recommend that the Companys stockholders accept the Offer and tender all of their Company Shares pursuant to the Offer.
Accordingly, and for the other reasons described in more detail below, the Company Board hereby recommends that the
Companys stockholders accept the Offer and tender all of their Company Shares pursuant to the Offer.
A copy of
the letter to the Companys stockholders communicating the Company Boards recommendation is filed as Exhibit (a)(19) to this Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the joint press release issued by Parent and
the Company on June 24, 2016, announcing the Original Merger Agreement, the Offer and the Merger, is filed as Exhibit (a)(7) to this Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated herein by reference. A copy of the joint press release issued by Parent and the
Company on August 3, 2016, announcing the Amendment is filed as Exhibit (a)(12) to this Schedule 14D-9 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Background and Reasons for the Company Boards Recommendation.
Background of the Offer
The Company Board and management have continually evaluated the Companys business and financial plans and prospects. As
part of this evaluation, the Company Board has periodically considered various strategic alternatives in an effort to enhance value to the Companys stockholders. To that end, over the last few years, the Company Board has worked with the
Companys financial advisor, Peter J. Solomon Securities Company, LLC (
PJSC
), to assess potential strategic alternatives available to the Company, including at times exploring a potential sale of the Company, to enhance value
to the Companys stockholders, including having discussions and exchanging information with several third parties from time to time.
On February 10, 2016, as part of the Company Boards evaluation of its performance and its ongoing process to consider
potential strategic alternatives, the Company Board met in person and by telephone with PJSC, management, and its legal advisor, Latham & Watkins LLP (
Latham
). Prior to engaging in discussions regarding the Companys
potential exploration of strategic alternatives, the Company Board provided the members of the Company Board the opportunity to recuse themselves if they were potentially interested in participating as a bidder in any strategic alternatives being
explored by the Company. Rick Alden, a Company Board member and founder of the Company, expressed his interest in potentially participating as a bidder in a strategic transaction involving the Company. Mr. Alden then recused himself from the
meeting, and acknowledged that he would no longer receive any materials or be involved in the discussions of the Company Board related to the evaluation and consideration of potential strategic alternatives. No other Company Board members expressed
any interest in potentially participating as a bidder in the Companys exploration of potential strategic alternatives at that time.
After Mr. Aldens recusal, representatives of PJSC presented, at the request of the Company Board, results of PJSCs
preliminary financial analysis of the Companys historical and potential future operating performance and plans, as prepared by management, and various potential strategic alternatives available to the Company. The presentation included a
preliminary financial analysis of forecasts for continuing operations as an independent company, as prepared by management, including uncertainties around the Companys outlook and the retail markets in general. The presentation also included a
preliminary financial analysis of other potential strategic alternatives, including opportunities to further reduce costs, restructure the business, or sell some or all of the Company. Following PJSCs presentation, the Company Board began
6
a detailed discussion of potential strategic alternatives with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham. As part of that discussion, the Company Board, management and its representatives
discussed the merits of exploring potential strategic alternatives, possible procedures and whether the Company should conduct a broad or more targeted outreach to third parties in connection with the exploration of a potential strategic
transaction. As part of its discussion, the Company Board discussed the advantages of conducting a broad outreach process, including, among others, the potential to assist the Company Board to obtain a potentially higher value transaction and
negotiate more favorable terms if the Company chose to engage in a strategic transaction. The Company Board also considered the material disadvantages of conducting a broad outreach process to explore a strategic transaction as compared to a more
targeted outreach process, including, among others, increased risk of leaks that could harm the competitive position of the Company, potential to turn away potential bidders, additional work force disruption that could negatively impact sales and
progress on other key operating performance metrics and delay the ultimate timing of, and thereby increase the execution risks of, a potential strategic transaction. The Company Board also concluded that, based on the advice of PJSC and the Company
Boards prior experiences with third parties approaching the Company related to exploring potential strategic alternatives, they could compile a targeted list of select parties likely to have both the interest and ability to move on a timely
basis to evaluate and potentially enter into a strategic transaction with the Company for a price that should result in a better outcome for the Companys stockholders than remaining an independent company, while minimizing the disadvantages of
exploring a potential strategic transaction by going to a broad group of potential bidders and maintaining the option to broaden the list of potential bidders later in the process. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Company Board determined
that a more targeted outreach involving multiple strategically selected potential bidders would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders in connection with the Companys exploration of a potential strategic transaction. The
Company Board discussed with management and representatives of PJSC a list of potential parties to be contacted as part of the initial outreach. After further discussions, the Company Board authorized and directed PJSC and management to contact four
potential strategic parties and three private equity firms, which included Mr. Alden, Party A, Party B, Party C, Party D, Party F and Party G (the
Initial Bidders
), to gauge interest in exploring a potential strategic
transaction with the Company after the Company announced its earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2015. The Company Board also assessed other potential strategic parties and private equity firms that management and PJSC could consider
contacting if the Company Board decided to expand its outreach beyond the Initial Bidders.
Commencing later that day, at
the request and direction of the Company Board, representatives of PJSC and management contacted each of the Initial Bidders to gauge interest in a potential strategic transaction with the Company. Representatives of PJSC and management indicated to
each Initial Bidder that the Company would generally be available for in-person meetings and discussions starting in early March 2016, after its year-end earnings announcement. On February 10, 2016, the closing price of the Companys Common
Stock was $3.20 per share.
On February 10, 2016, S. Hoby Darling, the Companys Chief Executive Officer, contacted
Mr. Alden by telephone to discuss Mr. Aldens potential interest in exploring a potential strategic transaction with the Company. Mr. Alden confirmed his interest in doing so.
Also on February 10, 2016, Mr. Darling contacted Party A, a private equity firm, by telephone to discuss its potential interest
in exploring a potential strategic transaction with the Company. Party A also expressed interest in exploring further a potential strategic transaction involving the Company.
On February 11, 2016, Mr. Darling contacted Party B, a strategic party, to discuss its potential interest in exploring a
potential strategic transaction involving the Company, and Party B expressed interest in meeting with management to further discuss such a potential strategic transaction involving the Company. On that same day, following initial contact from Mr.
Darling, Party C, a strategic party, and Party D, a private equity firm, each also expressed interest in further exploring a potential strategic transaction involving the Company.
7
In February, management also received an unsolicited expression of interest from
representatives of Party E, a private equity firm, regarding a potential strategic transaction involving the Company. At the direction of the Company Board, representatives of PJSC informed Party E that the Company had already begun exploring a
potential strategic transaction with other parties, and invited Party E to participate in further discussions with the Company regarding Party Es interest. Representatives of Party E confirmed that they would be interested in further exploring
a potential strategic transaction involving the Company.
On February 16, 2016, Andy Fathollahi, the Chief Executive
Officer of Parent, informally met with Mr. Darling in Park City, Utah after an introduction by a mutual business acquaintance and engaged in informal discussions about their respective businesses, but did not discuss the Companys exploration
of potential strategic alternatives.
On February 19, 2016, at the direction of the Company Board, representatives of PJSC
contacted Party F, a private equity firm, which also expressed interest in participating in the Companys process for exploring potential strategic transaction involving the Company.
On March 2, 2016, the Company announced its earnings for the fourth quarter and fiscal year of 2015. On that same day, the
closing price of the Companys Common Stock was $3.58 per share.
On March 3, 2016, representatives of PJSC sent a
form of nondisclosure and standstill agreement to each of the potentially interested parties (other than Party A, which had previously entered into a nondisclosure and standstill agreement with the Company in connection with previous discussions
with the Company). The standstill provisions in the form agreement prohibited the parties from making unsolicited offers to purchase the Company, in order to allow the Company and its advisors to control its exploration of the potential strategic
transaction and potentially maximize the initial offers made by the interested parties (which standstills would terminate if the Company engaged in certain strategic transactions). Beginning on March 3, 2016, each of Parties B through F began
negotiating the form of nondisclosure and standstill agreement with the Company. In early March 2016, the Company also began preparing and populating a virtual data room, in preparation to share additional confidential information about the Company
with the potential bidders that signed a nondisclosure agreement.
On March 14, 2016, Party D entered into a nondisclosure
agreement with the Company, which contained standstill provisions substantially identical to those of the other potentially interested parties.
Beginning mid-March 2016, representatives of PJSC began distributing copies of a confidential presentation about the Company to
each of the interested parties once such party signed a nondisclosure agreement. From that same period and through May 9, 2016, the Companys management and its advisors held in-person meetings and follow-up conversations by telephone with the
interested parties to facilitate their due diligence efforts and address any questions the parties may have regarding the Company. PJSC and the Company also began providing to the interested parties that signed nondisclosure agreements certain
non-public information requested by them to help them better evaluate the Company in connection with a potential strategic transaction.
On March 16, 2016, Mr. Darling and Doug Collier, Chairman of the Company Board, received from Parent an unsolicited, written
nonbinding indication of interest to purchase all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all cash, at a price per share of $5.50. Parent indicated that it could not finance its offer without external capital, but that its
existing capital providers indicated their support of the transaction, and Parent would not require a financing contingency. Parent requested exclusivity through June 30, 2016. Mr. Darling informed Mr. Fathollahi that the Company was in the early
stages of exploring a potential strategic transaction, and invited Parent to participate in further discussions related thereto. Mr. Fathollahi confirmed that Parent would be interested in participating in exploring such a potential strategic
transaction, and representatives of PJSC sent to Parent a draft of the form of nondisclosure and standstill agreement.
On
March 16, 2016, the closing price of the Companys Common Stock was $3.96 per share.
8
On March 17, 2016, March 30, 2016 and March 31, 2016, each of Party C, Party E
and Party F entered into a nondisclosure agreement with the Company, respectively, each of which contained standstill provisions substantially identical to those of the other interested parties.
On March 31, 2016, the Company also approached Party G, a strategic party, to determine whether Party G would be interested in
exploring a strategic transaction with the Company. Party G responded that same day that it would review the potential opportunity internally, and would respond to the Company once it was able to evaluate.
That same day, Party B informed Mr. Darling that Party B was primarily interested in the Companys Astro Gaming product
lines, and suggested that it might be interested in acquiring that part of the Companys business exclusively, or partnering with other parties to bid on the entire Company.
On April 4, 2016, Mr. Alden indicated to representatives of PJSC that he did not intend to enter into a nondisclosure agreement
or standstill agreement at this time. PJSC communicated to Mr. Alden and his advisors that his refusal to enter into a nondisclosure agreement would prevent the Company from sharing with him or his advisors non-public information about the Company,
which would be provided to the other potential bidders that signed nondisclosure agreements, which may disadvantage Mr. Alden relative to other potential bidders, notwithstanding his historical access to Company information as a member of the
Company Board.
In early April 2016, at the direction of the Company, representatives of PJSC sent a bid procedures letter
to each of the potential bidders that had expressed interest in exploring further a potential strategic transaction involving the Company. The letter requested the submission of nonbinding indications of interest by May 10, 2016. The Company also
authorized Latham to begin preparing a draft of a merger agreement to provide to each of the potential bidders.
On April
6, 2016 and April 18, 2016, respectively, Parent and Party B entered into a nondisclosure agreement with the Company, each of which contained standstill provisions substantially identical to those of the other parties then party to a nondisclosure
agreement with the Company.
On April 8, 2016, Jeff Kearl, a member of the Company Board, inquired about potentially
participating in a potential bid with Mr. Alden in connection with the Companys potential strategic transaction. Based on his inquiry, Mr. Kearl informed the Company Board that he would recuse himself from future Company Board meetings in
connection with the Companys exploration of a strategic transaction.
Between April 8, 2016 and April 19, 2016, Mr.
Collier, management and representatives of Latham and PJSC held numerous discussions regarding Mr. Kearls potential participation in the Companys exploration of a potential strategic transaction.
On April 19, 2016, the Company Board, other than Mr. Alden and Mr. Kearl, who continued to recuse themselves, met with
management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss Mr. Kearls potential involvement as a potential bidder in the Companys exploration of a potential strategic transaction, including the procedures the Company Board should take
to ensure independence, impartiality in the process, and increased competitiveness in potential price and process. The Company Board determined that Mr. Kearl could consider participating in a potential bid with Mr. Alden in connection with the
Companys exploration of a potential strategic transaction, subject to certain conditions communicated to Mr. Kearl to help ensure a fair and transparent process for all potential bidders, including recusal from all related Company Board
communications and signing a nondisclosure agreement before sharing any further nonpublic information.
On April 21, 2016,
Party E informed representatives of PJSC that it would only be interested in acquiring the Companys low-price product lines, and would not be interested in submitting an indication of interest in connection with the potential strategic
transaction involving the Company as a whole. Similarly, on April 22, 2016, Party G communicated to the Company that it was not interested in submitting an indication of interest in connection with the potential strategic transaction involving the
Company.
9
On April 25, 2016, Greg Warnock, a member of the Company Board, informed the
Company that he had been approached by Mr. Alden to participate in a potential bid with Mr. Alden in connection with the Companys potential strategic transaction. Mr. Warnock was uncertain as to whether he would be interested in participating,
but he informed the Company Board that he would recuse himself from future Company Board meetings in connection with the Companys exploration of a strategic transaction.
On April 30, 2016, the virtual data room was made available to all potential bidders that remained involved in the exploration
of a potential strategic transaction involving the Company and had signed a nondisclosure agreement to provide them confidential information about the Company and allow them to conduct further due diligence.
Later that day, the Company Board, other than Messrs. Alden, Kearl and Warnock, who continued to recuse themselves, met by
telephone with management and representatives of PJSC, Latham and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Delaware legal advisor to the Company (
Richards Layton
), to discuss the potential participation of Mr. Kearl and Mr. Warnock
with Mr. Alden. The Company Board discussed with its representatives the strategic transaction process to date, including the potential participation of Messrs. Alden, Kearl and Warnock as potential bidders. In response to these discussions and
on the advice of legal counsel, the Company Board established a special committee consisting of three independent members of the Company Board designated as the Strategic Transactions Committee (the
Strategic Transactions
Committee
) to review any proposals received by the Company, manage the potential strategic process for the Company Board, and report to the independent members of the Company Board on the results of its deliberations. The Strategic
Transactions Committee consisted of Mr. Collier, as Chairman, Heidi ONeill and Scott Olivet, who were selected on the basis of their independence from the potential strategic process, finance and investment backgrounds and their relative
availability to assume additional and potentially time-consuming responsibilities on behalf of the Company Board. The Company Board then discussed with Richards Layton and Latham the fiduciary duties of the members of the Company Board and the
Strategic Transactions Committee, and the potential concerns related to the participation of another Company Board member in the potential strategic process, including the information about the process received by the Company Board members to date,
the ability to maintain the impartiality of the Strategic Transactions Committee and the potential strategic process, and the ability to isolate participating Company Board members from future information related to the process. After extensive
deliberations, the Company Board determined that Mr. Kearl and Mr. Warnock could participate in the potential strategic process, subject to certain conditions to help ensure a fair and transparent process for all potential bidders, including
recusal from all related Company Board communications and signing a nondisclosure agreement before any further nonpublic information regarding the Company would be shared.
On May 8, 2016, representatives of Latham contacted Mr. Aldens advisors to remind them that Mr. Alden and any of his
affiliates would need to execute a nondisclosure agreement before the Company could provide them with access to the virtual data room or any other confidential information about the Company.
On May 9, 2016, representatives of Party A and Party F indicated to representatives of PJSC that they would not be submitting
indications of interest in connection with the potential strategic transaction.
Also on May 9, 2016, representatives of
Mr. Alden indicated that they would be unable to submit an indication of interest by the May 10 deadline based on their progress to date, but hoped to be able to provide the Company with an indication of interest by the following week.
From mid-March 2016 through May 9, 2016, the Companys management and its advisors continued to hold in-person meetings
with the various potential bidders, address diligence-related questions regarding the Company from the potential bidders and provide supplemental diligence materials requested by the potential bidders.
10
On May 9 and 10, 2016, PJSC received written nonbinding indications of
interest from the following parties, in each case, with the following terms:
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Party D submitted a nonbinding indication of interest to purchase all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all cash, at a price per share of $4.35. Party D indicated it did not expect to have a
debt financing contingency, but did not provide further details on its plans to finance the proposed acquisition.
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Party C submitted a nonbinding indication of interest to purchase all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all stock, at a price equivalent per share of $4.45. Party C confirmed that it would
require public stockholder approval for the proposed acquisition.
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Party B submitted a nonbinding indication of interest to purchase all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all cash, at a range of prices per share between $4.5571 and $5.3166, subject to further
due diligence by Party B. Party B requested exclusivity through June 22, 2016, and suggested it would require 30 business days to complete its due diligence.
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Parent submitted a nonbinding indication of interest to purchase all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all cash, at a price per share of $5.50, which was substantively the same as the prior
indication of interest submitted by Parent on March 16, 2016. Parent indicated that it could not finance its offer without external capital, but that its existing capital providers indicated their support of the transaction, and Parent would not
require a financing contingency. Parent requested exclusivity through June 30, 2016.
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On May 10, 2016, the
closing price of the Companys Common Stock was $3.75 per share.
On May 12, 2016, the Strategic Transactions
Committee and management met by telephone with representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss the terms and conditions of the indications of interest received on May 10, 2016, and the status of discussions with other parties that had not submitted an
indication of interest, including Mr. Alden. The Strategic Transactions Committee, management and its advisors discussed each of the indications of interests as well as the Companys future prospects as a stand-alone entity and other strategic
alternatives available to the Company. In particular, the Strategic Transactions Committee discussed the merits of a potential all-cash sale relative to an all-stock sale, as proposed by Party C. The Strategic Transactions Committee noted that an
all-cash sale of the Company would provide certainty of the value to the Company stockholders, and also avoid the potential delays and uncertainty related to requiring a vote from Party Cs stockholders. Based on these discussions, the
Strategic Transactions Committee tentatively determined that an all-cash sale of the Company at a compelling price was preferable to an acquisition by Party C in an all-stock transaction.
In addition, the Strategic Transactions Committee discussed the relative prices set forth in each of the indications of
interests, noting the potential for additional uncertainty of price related to those giving a price range rather than a fixed dollar amount. The Strategic Transactions Committee also noted that none of the current bidders expressly indicated that
they would require a financing contingency, but discussed with its advisors the potential risks to deal certainty and delays inherent with any bidder that required debt or equity financing, even without an expressed contingency. The Strategic
Transactions Committee also discussed the requests for exclusivity from certain of the bidders, and determined that none of the current proposals presented favorable enough terms for enhancing the value to the stockholders to justify granting
exclusivity to any one party at this time.
The Strategic Transactions Committee also reviewed with its advisors the
initial draft of the merger agreement prepared by representatives of Latham and senior management. Representatives of Latham discussed with the Strategic Transactions Committee the key features of the draft, including the representations and
warranties, covenants, conditions to closing, termination rights, go-shop provisions and anti-trust obligations. The Strategic Transactions Committee focused on certain key terms, including the go-shop provisions, the termination fee, the anti-trust
provisions and the conditions to closing, focusing on the effect of these terms on the certainty of closing a potential transaction and the effect on any potential
11
competing proposal that could be received after signing a definitive merger agreement. The Strategic Transactions Committee instructed management and Latham to share the proposed draft with the
bidders and begin negotiating with those bidders that were still exploring a potential strategic sale transaction involving the Company. Representatives of Latham again reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee key principles related to its
fiduciary duties with respect to the potential sale of the Company. Representatives of PJSC and Latham reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee the proposed process moving forward, including an overview of what the next round of the
bidding process would include, the status of the various parties due diligence efforts, and projected timelines for potentially identifying and signing a deal based on the current bidders.
At the conclusion of the May 12 meeting, the Strategic Transactions Committee directed its advisors to continue to explore
a potential strategic transaction involving the Company with each of Party B, Party D and Parent and attempt to negotiate for a higher price from each of them, while also continuing to discuss and negotiate with Mr. Alden. The Strategic Transactions
Committee also directed management and its advisors to inform Party C that, at its proposed price and consideration mix, the Company would not be interested in its proposal. The Strategic Transactions Committee and its advisors discussed potential
timing for soliciting the next round of proposals, including the projected timelines that the bidders estimated were needed to complete due diligence and the uneven progress made by each party. The Strategic Transactions Committee instructed
management and PJSC to urge all bidders to work towards finalizing a proposed transaction as soon as possible, but did not yet establish a date by which the next round of bids would be due.
On May 12, 2016, management and representatives of PJSC informed Party B, Party C, Party D, Parent and Mr. Alden of the
Strategic Transactions Committees instructions, and requested that each bidder come back to the Company with their best offers, as well as comments to the proposed merger agreement, as soon as possible. Management and representatives of PJSC
also encouraged each bidder to engage in further diligence in the Companys virtual data room and to schedule further informational and diligence sessions with senior management of the Company to the extent needed to finalize their proposals.
On May 12, 2016, representatives of Party C informed representatives of PJSC that it would not be interested in increasing
the purchase price in its indication of interest or submitting an all-cash offer at this time, and thus would not continue to pursue a strategic transaction with the Company.
From May 12, 2016 through June 23, 2016, the Companys management and advisors continued to respond to due diligence
requests, meet in person or by telephone with the various bidders, update the virtual data room based on requests from the bidders and address questions arising from each bidders internal procedures.
On May 13, 2016, the Company provided the draft of the merger agreement to the prospective bidders by posting it to the virtual
data room.
On May 16, 2016, representatives of Party B confirmed with representatives of PJSC that it would be willing to
move forward in the process without exclusivity. Party B also informed PJSC that it would begin reaching out to private equity sponsors to seek a potential partner to help Party B sell off the Companys businesses, other than Astro Gaming,
following its potential acquisition of the Company.
On May 17, 2016, Party Ds advisors indicated to representatives
of PJSC that Party D would be unable to increase the price of its bid and would no longer be interested in exploring the potential acquisition of the Company.
On May 18, 2016, representatives of Latham received an initial mark-up of the draft of the merger agreement from Parents
legal counsel, Rutan & Tucker, LLP (
Rutan
). Representatives of Latham reviewed this draft with Company management and PJSC, and prepared an issues list highlighting principal outstanding issues, including the removal of the
go-shop provisions, certain fiduciary outs for the Company Board and certain carve-outs to the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect, the expansion of certain conditions to the tender offer and the merger and interim operating
restrictions, the removal of the
12
availability of expectation damages and a termination fee equal to 4.2% of the total transaction equity value. Management instructed Latham to negotiate for terms more closely aligned with the
draft presented to the Strategic Transactions Committee, with an emphasis on such terms that would increase the Companys ability to enter into potential superior proposals and exercise the Company Boards fiduciary duties.
From May 20, 2016 through June 1, 2016, Party B requested various consents from the Company to approach private equity
sponsors, and the Company negotiated joinders to Party Bs nondisclosure agreement in connection with those sponsors and, once executed, granted such sponsors access to the virtual data room.
On May 22, 2016, in order to facilitate the sharing of some of the Companys potentially competitively sensitive
information requested by bidders, the Company agreed to establish clean team procedures by which certain individuals within the bidders organization and their advisors would be granted access to certain restricted folders in the virtual data
room. Representatives of Latham drafted a form clean team agreement, and representatives of PJSC sent the form to the bidders who had already signed a nondisclosure agreement for review and comment.
On May 24, 2016, Parent executed the clean team agreement in the form provided.
On May 24, 2016, a member of the Companys senior management responsible for the Astro Gaming products and a
representative of PJSC met in person with representatives of Party B to discuss various due diligence matters.
On June 1,
2016, representatives of Latham sent a revised draft of the merger agreement to Rutan on behalf of Parent, which incorporated the comments from the Companys management.
As of early June 2016, Mr. Alden had not submitted an indication of interest to the Company. However, on June 3, 2016,
representatives of Mr. Alden indicated that Mr. Alden intended to submit a nonbinding indication of interest by June 6, 2016, that the indication of interest contemplated participation by Ptarmagin, and that Mr. Alden was also considering
partnerships with two to four individual private equity partners in connection with his proposal. Ptarmagins two members are trusts of which Mr. Alden and his children are beneficiaries, but the voting and dispositive power over
Ptarmagins shares of Common Stock is held by a third-party manager. Mr. Aldens representatives requested separate meetings with management for each of the potential equity partners. Representatives of PJSC indicated that, given
managements business schedule and the speed at which the process was moving, it would be difficult to facilitate individual meetings, but that management would be happy to accommodate a meeting with Mr. Alden and all potential partners
that would like to participate. Mr. Aldens representatives informed PJSC that they would discuss the foregoing with Mr. Alden and schedule a management meeting as soon as possible.
Mr. Aldens representatives also informed representatives of Latham that Mr. Alden, together with Ptarmagin and
several other affiliated parties, intended to publicly file an amendment to Ptarmagins Schedule 13D, stating that Mr. Alden determined to explore potential transactions in which he may cause one of his affiliates to make an offer to purchase
some or all of the shares of the Companys Common Stock or otherwise pursue a going private transaction, and he proposed that Ptarmagin participate in any such offer. Representatives of Latham and PJSC discussed with management and
the Strategic Transactions Committee the immediate and future impact such a filing would likely have on the Companys stock price and process, given the fact that those statements would be publicly filed.
On June 5, 2016, the Companys management team and representatives of PJSC met in person with Parents management and
representatives in Park City, Utah to discuss various due diligence matters.
On June 6, 2016, representatives of Latham
received a revised draft of the merger agreement from Rutan on behalf of Parent. Representatives of Latham reviewed this draft with Company management and PJSC, and prepared an issues list highlighting principal outstanding issues, which showed
limited movement with respect to the removal of the go-shop provisions, certain fiduciary outs for the Company Board and
13
certain carve-outs to the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect, the expansion of certain conditions to the tender offer and the merger and interim operating restrictions, and
a termination fee equal to 3.9% of the transaction equity value. Management discussed the draft with representatives of Latham, and instructed Latham to continue to negotiate for terms more closely aligned with the draft presented to Strategic
Transactions Committee. Between June 6, 2016 and June 15, 2016, representatives of Latham continued to negotiate the draft of the merger agreement and related documents with Parent and representatives of Rutan on behalf of Parent.
On June 7, 2016, after market hours, Mr. Alden, Ptarmagin, and certain affiliated entities filed an amendment to
Ptarmagins Schedule 13D, indicating Mr. Aldens intention to explore a potential sale transaction involving the Company. Following this filing, the Company became aware of speculation by certain media outlets that the Company was a
potential takeover target and may be in discussions with Mr. Alden to effectuate a go-private transaction, and the Company received informal inquiries from third parties based on that market speculation.
Shortly thereafter, representatives of PJSC received a written nonbinding indication of interest from an entity formed and
owned by Mr. Alden, SKDY, LLC (
SKDY
), which was not publicly filed. The indication of interest stated that Mr. Alden, through SKDY, would be willing to purchase all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all
cash, at a range of prices per share between $4.50 and $5.50, subject to further due diligence by SKDY, its affiliates and potential partners. Mr. Alden suggested that SKDY would require approximately 30 days from the date on which Mr. Alden and
SKDY were to sign a nondisclosure agreement to complete its due diligence and to finalize a definitive agreement. Representatives of Mr. Alden also indicated that SKDY anticipated using a combination of debt and equity financing (including the
shares held by Mr. Alden and Ptarmagin) to consummate the potential strategic transaction, but did not identify which partner or partners Mr. Alden intended to have participate therein.
That night, Mr. Darling received a communication from Mr. Fathollahi, expressing concern after learning that Mr. Alden was
involved in the strategic process. Mr. Fathollahi expressed his concerns that Mr. Aldens relationship with the Company might impact Parents treatment in the strategic process and the timing of the process, and Parent was reluctant to
expend significant resources if Parent would ultimately only serve as a market check for Mr. Alden. Mr. Darling assured Mr. Fathollahi that, while he was not on the Strategic Transactions Committee, the Companys strategic process had been
impartial to the best of his knowledge, and that he believed the Strategic Transactions Committee would recommend to the Company Board to enter into an agreement if it was in the best interests of the Companys stockholders, regardless of the
identity of the bidder. Mr. Fathollahi indicated that Parent did not want to delay the process, and intended to continue to move forward as quickly as possible.
On June 8, 2016, the closing price of the Common Stock was $4.56 per share, compared to a closing price on the previous trading
day of $3.93 per share, an increase of approximately 16%.
On June 8, 2016, the Strategic Transactions Committee met by
telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss the status of negotiations with the current bidders. Representatives of Latham reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee its fiduciary duties, and representatives
of PJSC reviewed the current proposals, including the most recent proposal from Mr. Alden, and the status of each bidder with respect to their respective due diligence processes and progress towards negotiating a definitive merger agreement.
Representatives of PJSC noted that Parent was meaningfully ahead of Party B and Mr. Alden in terms of due diligence and was the only party to have begun negotiating a definitive merger agreement. Management and representatives of PJSC and Latham
further noted that Mr. Aldens proposal had still not identified a partner, and only the highest end of its price range was competitive with Parents current bid. In addition, representatives of Latham confirmed that Mr. Alden and SKDY
still had not signed or begun negotiating a nondisclosure and standstill agreement, and Mr. Aldens proposal suggested that they would need an additional 30 days from the date that the nondisclosure and standstill agreement was executed to
potentially complete any strategic sale transaction. Management also informed the Strategic Transactions Committee of Mr. Darlings discussion with Mr. Fathollahi from the previous day, including the potential risk of Parent withdrawing its
interest if the process were to be significantly delayed.
14
The Strategic Transactions Committee discussed with management and
representatives of PJSC and Latham the benefits and risks involved in delaying the process to allow Party B and Mr. Alden to catch up to Parent, including, among others, the potential for increased competition on price and other terms, the increased
risk of further leaks that could harm the competitive position of the Company, the potential for Parent or others to withdraw their interest, and the additional work force disruption which could negatively impact sales and progress on other key
operating performance metrics. The Strategic Transactions Committee noted that both Party B and Mr. Alden had already been aware of this process for nearly four months, received numerous communications from PJSC informing them that they were falling
behind and had no less time than Parent to move their bid process forward, and there would be no guarantees that the additional time would result in a proposal better than that of Parent. The Strategic Transactions Committee further noted that the
proposals from both Party B and Mr. Alden were based on price ranges, and only the highest ends of both ranges were competitive with Parents proposed purchase price, and there would be no assurances that either bidder would ultimately offer at
the top end of their respective ranges. The Strategic Transactions Committee similarly noted that neither Party B nor Mr. Alden had yet provided comments to the draft merger agreement, and thus it was unclear whether or not the terms of such an
offer would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
At the conclusion of the June 8 meeting of
the Strategic Transactions Committee, the Strategic Transactions Committee directed its advisors to proceed to the next round of bidding with each of Party B, Parent and Mr. Alden and attempt to negotiate for a higher price from each of them, and,
with respect to Parent, for more favorable terms in the merger agreement. The Strategic Transactions Committee also directed its advisors to encourage Party B and Mr. Alden to provide comments to the draft merger agreement, so that the Strategic
Transactions Committee can better evaluate the terms of their respective proposals.
Later on June 8, 2016, representatives
of Mr. Alden provided to representatives of Latham an initial mark-up of the nondisclosure agreement, in which, among other things, Mr. Alden rejected the inclusion of a standstill provision and suggested he was unwilling to sign the
nondisclosure agreement in his individual capacity. From June 8, 2016 through June 13, 2016, representatives of Latham and representatives of Mr. Alden negotiated Mr. Aldens nondisclosure agreement.
Also on June 8, 2016, Party B executed the clean team agreement substantively in the form provided.
On June 9, 2016, representatives of PJSC attended a teleconference meeting with one of Party Bs sponsors to address
certain due diligence matters.
On June 13, 2016, Mr. Alden and SKDY executed a nondisclosure agreement, which named both
of them as parties to the nondisclosure agreement and included a standstill provision substantially identical to those in the nondisclosure agreements signed by other parties. On June 14, 2016, Mr. Alden and his advisors were granted access to the
virtual data room, and from June 14, 2016 through June 20, 2016, representatives of PJSC provided responses to Mr. Alden and his advisors with respect to follow-up due diligence requests.
On June 14, 2016, Mr. Alden and Ptarmagin filed an amendment to their Schedule 13D to file a copy of the nondisclosure
agreement. On June 14, 2016, the closing price of the Companys Common Stock was $4.58 per share.
Also on June 14,
2016, members of management, including Mr. Darling, met with members of Parents management team and their financial advisors to discuss remaining due diligence and operational questions.
On June 15, 2016, the Strategic Transactions Committee met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham
to review the status of negotiations and discussions with the current bidders. Representatives of Latham reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee its fiduciary duties, and representatives of Latham and PJSC reviewed the current status of
each bidder with respect to their due
15
diligence processes and progress towards negotiating a definitive merger agreement. Mr. Darling and PJSC reported to the Strategic Transactions Committee on the meeting with Parent on the
previous day, confirming that it was very productive. Representatives of Latham also provided an update on the latest draft of the definitive merger agreement from Parent, and informed the Strategic Transactions Committee that the only key open
items related to the go-shop provision, the termination fee, and the unwillingness to make available to the Company or its stockholders expectation damages. Representatives of Latham also informed the Strategic Transactions Committee that they had
not received copies of the debt commitment papers from Parent, but they expected to receive them within the next week. Representatives of PJSC and Latham confirmed that Mr. Alden and SKDY had executed a nondisclosure agreement, but neither Mr. Alden
nor Party B had indicated when or if the Company should expect an initial mark-up of the draft merger agreement.
The
Strategic Transactions Committee and its advisors discussed potential timing for soliciting the next round of bids, and the Strategic Transactions Committee directed PJSC to instruct the bidders that their best and final bids will be due on June 21,
2016.
Following the meeting, representatives of Latham sent a revised draft of the merger agreement to Parent.
On June 16, 2016, Mr. Alden called representatives of PJSC to discuss the strategic process to date. PJSC reiterated that the
Company had run, and would continue to run, an impartial process, and that the Company would only enter into a definitive agreement if it is in the best interests of the Companys stockholders.
On June 16, 2016, representatives of Party B called representatives of PJSC to indicate that they have received bids from
sponsors in connection with their proposal, but none of them were strong enough to allow Party B to bid on the Companys entire business.
On June 17, 2016, at the request of Party B and after discussions with the Strategic Transactions Committee, management and
representatives of Latham, representatives of PJSC facilitated an introduction between Mr. Alden and Party B to allow discussions regarding a potential partnership between the parties and to elicit a potentially stronger bid.
On June 20, 2016, representatives of Parent provided to the Company drafts of their substantially final debt commitment papers
from Monroe Capital, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
On June 21, 2016, Mr. Alden delivered a letter to representatives of
PJSC stating that he was not prepared to submit a bid at this time. He indicated that he was frustrated with the speed at which the process had moved forward, although he acknowledged that the Company and its advisors instructed him to move as
quickly as possible. He indicated that he remained interested in pursuing a potential transaction with the Company. The letter did not contain any further indication of a price that Mr. Alden might be willing to offer.
Later that day, Party B delivered a nonbinding indication of interest to representatives of PJSC to purchase all of the
Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all cash, at a range of prices per share between $4.80 and $5.20, subject to further due diligence by Party B. The top range of this indication of interest was approximately $0.11 less than Party
Bs previous indication of interest. Party B indicated that it would require 20 additional business days to complete its due diligence. The indication of interest stated that Party B would pay with cash on hand, and would not require outside
financing. Party B did not provide a mark-up of the draft merger agreement.
That same evening, Parent delivered a
nonbinding indication of interest to representatives of PJSC to purchase all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock, in all cash, at a price per share of $5.55. Parent confirmed its due diligence was complete and provided executed
copies of its debt commitment letters. Parent also provided a revised draft of the proposed merger agreement, which proposed a termination fee of 3.2%, removed the go-shop provisions, and excluded the Company and its stockholders
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from being able to recover expectation damages. Parent indicated that it was prepared to sign the merger agreement that same day, and stated that the offer would expire at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
on June 23, 2016. On June 21, 2016, the closing price of the Companys Common Stock was $4.52 per share.
Later that
same evening, the Strategic Transactions Committee met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to review the current proposals and status of the latest round of bids received by the Company. Representatives of Latham
again reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee its fiduciary duties. Representatives of PJSC communicated to the Strategic Transactions Committee that Mr. Alden was not able to submit a bid at this time, and summarized the contents of his
letter. Representatives of PJSC also summarized Party Bs indication of interest, including the reduction in the high-end of its price range, and Party Bs request for an additional 20 business days to complete diligence. Lastly,
representatives of PJSC and Latham provided an update on the latest bid and draft of the merger agreement from Parent. Latham informed the Strategic Transactions Committee that certain key items remained open, including those related to the
go-shop
provisions, the termination fee and the unwillingness to make available to the Company or its stockholders expectation damages in the event of a breach.
The Strategic Transactions Committee, management and its advisors discussed these events, including Mr. Aldens inability
to prepare an offer, the reduction in the purchase price range for Party B, Parents incremental increase in price, and unwillingness of Parent to provide certain deal terms, such as the go-shop provisions, lower termination fee, or expectation
damages, as well as the potential risk of losing the interest of Parent if the process was extended. Management, representatives of PJSC and the Strategic Transactions Committee reviewed the debt commitment papers and financial information provided
by Parent and determined that there was some room to continue to seek a higher price. The Strategic Transactions Committee instructed management and PJSC to negotiate with Parent for better deal terms and a higher price, and to negotiate with Party
B for a higher price.
On the morning of June 22, 2016, representatives of PJSC informed Parent that the Company would be
unwilling to enter into a potential strategic transaction with Parent without additional deal terms, including the go-shop provision, and without a higher price.
That same morning, representatives of PJSC separately informed Party B that it would need to present a significantly higher
purchase price per share to cause the Company to extend the process to accommodate the additional time Party B needed. Representatives of Party B suggested that Party B might be able to increase its proposed purchase price to as high as $5.35 per
share, but would be unable to increase it further without significantly more time to identify a potential partner and complete its due diligence.
In the afternoon on June 22, 2016, representatives of Parent informed PJSC that Parent would be willing to provide a 30-day
go-shop provision in exchange for a single termination fee of 3.5%, no expectation damages, and no change in the proposed purchase price. Later that afternoon, Parent provided a revised draft of the definitive merger agreement, reflecting those
terms.
On the evening of June 22, 2016, the Strategic Transactions Committee met by telephone with management and
representatives of PJSC and Latham to review Party Bs response and the terms of Parents latest proposal. Representatives of Latham and PJSC summarized the terms of the revised merger agreement with Parent. The Strategic Transactions
Committee discussed with management and its advisors the best approach to extract further stockholder value from the negotiations, including the relative value of a higher purchase price, go-shop provisions, the availability of expectation damages,
and the size of the termination fee. After deliberations and advice from management and its advisors, the Strategic Transactions Committee instructed management and representatives of PJSC to attempt to negotiate for a higher price and add to the
draft merger agreement the availability of expectation damages.
On the morning of June 23, 2016, representatives of PJSC
informed Parent that the Company would be unwilling to enter into a proposed transaction with Parent without a higher price and the availability of expectation damages, in addition to the terms previously presented. After some further negotiations,
Parent informed PJSC that it would accept the inclusion of expectation damages and increased its purchase price to $5.75 per share. Representatives of Latham revised the proposed merger agreement to reflect those terms.
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On the afternoon of June 23, 2016, the Strategic Transactions Committee held a
special meeting by telephone, with members of management and representatives of PJSC and Latham participating, to consider approval of the proposed Merger Agreement with Parent. At this meeting,
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representatives of Latham again reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee their fiduciary duties when considering the proposed transaction;
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management and representatives of Latham reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee the outcome of the negotiations with Parent and the revised terms and conditions of the proposed merger agreement; and
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representatives of PJSC reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee PJSCs financial analysis of the $5.75 per share cash consideration, and reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee the
opinion that PJSC was prepared to deliver to the Company Board to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations
upon the review undertaken in preparing its opinion, the $5.75 per share cash consideration to be paid to the Companys stockholders (other than as specified in such opinion) pursuant to the Original Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial
point of view, to such stockholders.
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The Strategic Transactions Committee considered various reasons for and
against approving the proposed transaction with Parent. The Strategic Transactions Committee also evaluated the proposal against the Companys other strategic alternatives, including remaining an independent company. The Strategic Transactions
Committee also considered the Companys recent communications with the other bidders engaged in the Companys strategic process and its belief that none of the other bidders would have the interest and ability to enter into a definitive
agreement to acquire the Company for a price higher than $5.75 per share on similar or more favorable terms, on a timetable that would not expose the Company to significant risk of losing the proposed transaction with Parent. In this
regard, the Strategic Transactions Committee noted Party Bs and Mr. Aldens failure to ever present any comments to the draft merger agreement to the Company and Mr. Aldens lack of responsiveness to the Company in the beginning
of the process. The Strategic Transactions Committee also noted the existence of the go-shop provision in the Original Merger Agreement, which would allow the Company to solicit additional potential bids in the future. After discussions with its
financial and legal advisors and members of the Companys senior management, and in light of the reasons considered, the Strategic Transactions Committee unanimously (i) recommended that the Company Board determine that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders, and declared it advisable, to enter into the Original Merger Agreement, (ii) recommended that the Company Board approve the execution and delivery by the Company of the Original Merger Agreement, the
performance by the Company of its covenants and agreements contained in the Original Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Offer and the Merger upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Original Merger Agreement, and (iii)
recommended, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Original Merger Agreement, that the Company Board recommend that the stockholders accept the Offer and tender their shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer.
Immediately following the meeting of the Strategic Transactions Committee, the Company Board, other than Messrs. Alden, Kearl
and Warnock, who continued to recuse themselves, met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to review and discuss the same information covered in the meeting of the Strategic Transactions Committee immediately prior.
PJSC delivered to the Company Board an oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated June 23, 2016, to the effect that, as of the date of such written opinion and based upon and subject to various assumptions
made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken in preparing its opinion as set forth in such written opinion, the $5.75 per share cash consideration to be paid to the Companys
stockholders (other than as specified in such written opinion) pursuant to the Original Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such stockholders. The Company Board similarly considered the
18
various reasons for and against approving the Original Merger Agreement. The Company Board also considered the recommendations of the Strategic Transactions Committee. After discussions with its
financial and legal advisors and members of the Companys senior management, and in light of the reasons considered, the Company Board, other than Mr. Darling, who recused himself from the vote, (i) determined that it is in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders, and declared it advisable, to enter into the Original Merger Agreement, (ii) approved the execution and delivery by the Company of the Original Merger Agreement, the performance by the Company of its covenants
and agreements contained in the Original Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Offer and the Merger upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Original Merger Agreement, and (iii) resolved, subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Original Merger Agreement, to recommend that the stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Company Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer.
Later on June 23, 2016, Parent, Purchaser and the Company executed and delivered the Original Merger Agreement. Prior to the
open of U.S. markets on June 24, 2016, the Company and Parent issued press releases announcing the execution of the Original Merger Agreement.
Under the terms of the Original Merger Agreement, until 30 calendar days following the public announcement of the Original
Merger Agreement (the
Go-Shop Period
), the Company, its subsidiaries and representatives had the right to, directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate, facilitate and encourage any acquisition proposals including by providing
access to non-public information pursuant to an acceptable confidentiality agreement and (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with respect to any acquisition proposal or otherwise cooperate with or
assist or participate in or facilitate any such discussions or negotiations or any effort or attempt to make any acquisition proposal. The standstill provisions contained in the nondisclosure agreements, to which the Company and the potentially
interested parties entered into in connection with the proposed exploration of strategic alternatives, terminated automatically by their terms upon execution of the Original Merger Agreement.
Beginning on June 24, 2016 and during the Go-Shop Period, PJSC contacted 99 third parties, including Mill Road Capital
Management LLC (
Mill Road
), Mr. Alden and Party B, on behalf of the Company to determine whether those parties might be interested in pursuing a transaction with the Company that would be superior to the then current proposed
transaction with Parent.
On June 24, 2016, the Company received an unsolicited written indication of interest from Mill
Road to acquire all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock for $6.05 per share in cash (the
June
24 Mill Road Proposal
), which was attached as an exhibit to Mill Roads Schedule 13D filed
with the SEC. The June 24 Mill Road Proposal was based on publicly available information and was conditioned upon completion of due diligence, final internal approvals and the negotiation and execution of a definitive transaction agreement. The
June 24 Mill Road Proposal also required that the Company grant exclusivity to Mill Road for 60 days. As part of that Schedule 13D, Mill Road also disclosed that it and its affiliates had acquired approximately 9.8% of the outstanding shares of
the Companys Common Stock.
On June 26, 2016, the Company Board, other than Messrs. Alden, Kearl and Warnock, who
continued to recuse themselves, met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss the June 24 Mill Road Proposal. The Company Board noted that, while the price was higher than that of the current proposed
transaction with Parent, the June 24 Mill Road Proposal was subject to significant conditions, including due diligence and a 60-day exclusivity period, which, the Company Board noted, would have violated the Original Merger Agreement and given
Parent the right to terminate the Original Merger Agreement. The Company Board also discussed the potential time necessary for Mill Road to complete its due diligence, the potential impact of such a delay on the current proposed transaction with
Parent or the delay on any transaction with Mill Road and the potential for such diligence to impact Mill Roads proposed price. The Company Board determined that the June 24 Mill Road Proposal in its current form was too uncertain and
contained too many conditions to be reasonably likely to lead to a proposal superior to the current proposed transaction with Parent at that time. The Company Board instructed representatives of Latham and PJSC to promptly engage with Mill Road
during the Go-Shop Period to facilitate Mill Roads due diligence process and encourage the potential development of a revised proposal from Mill Road that may be superior to the current proposed transaction with Parent.
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On June 28, 2016, the June 24 Mill Road Proposal terminated by its terms.
Between June 28, 2016 and July 1, 2016, nine of the 99 contacted third parties expressed initial interest in pursuing a
potential transaction with the Company, including Mr. Alden, Party B and Mill Road. Each of the seven parties who had not previously entered into nondisclosure agreements with the Company entered into such an agreement with the Company, including
Mill Road, who entered into such an agreement on June 29, 2016. These seven nondisclosure agreements did not contain standstill provisions. Six parties expressed continued interest in a potential transaction with the Company after executing a
nondisclosure agreement, and each such party was given access to the virtual data room on the same day that such party executed its nondisclosure agreement with the Company.
Between June 28, 2016 and July 23, 2016, management and representatives of PJSC held in-person and telephonic meetings and
follow-up conversations by telephone with certain of the interested parties, including Mill Road and Mr. Alden, to facilitate their due diligence efforts and address any questions the parties may have had regarding the Company.
As a result of certain of the interested parties expressing an inability to submit a proposal to acquire the Company without
working with a partner, upon the direction of the Company Board, certain parties, including Mill Road, Mr. Alden, and Party B, were permitted to discuss the possibility of partnering with other parties in connection with a potential alternative
transaction involving the Company. At the separate requests of both Mr. Alden and Mill Road, they were permitted to discuss the possibility of partnering together in connection with their interest in a potential alternative transaction involving the
Company.
Prior to July 23, 2016, representatives of each of the interested parties, including Mr. Alden and Party B, other
than Mill Road, informed representatives of PJSC that it would not submit a proposal related to a potential transaction with the Company.
In the afternoon on July 23, 2016, Mill Road submitted to the Company a written indication of interest to acquire all of the
Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock for $6.05 per share in cash (the
July
23 Mill Road Proposal
). Unlike the June 24 Mill Road Proposal, the July 23 Mill Road Proposal was not conditioned
upon due diligence or exclusivity. As part of the July 23 Mill Road Proposal, Mill Road also submitted a draft of a definitive merger agreement, which contained terms and conditions that were substantively identical to the Original Merger
Agreement, other than the increase of the per share price to $6.05, a reduced termination fee, and the removal of the go-shop provisions. On July 22, 2016, the closing price of the Companys Common Stock was $5.97 per share.
On July 23, 2016, at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, the Go-Shop Period expired. Prior to the expiration of the Go-Shop Period,
representatives of the Company informed Mill Road that, pursuant to the terms of the Original Merger Agreement, the Company had to immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing discussions and negotiations with any party as of the
expiration of the Go-Shop Period, including Mill Road. The Company did not receive any further indications of interest or proposals from any other potential bidder prior to the expiration of the Go-Shop Period. Pursuant to the terms of the Original
Merger Agreement, the Company ceased all discussions and negotiations with all parties, including Mill Road, on July 23, 2016, at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, terminated all data room access for all parties and delivered destruction notices pursuant to
each of the applicable nondisclosure agreements to all such parties.
On July 24, 2016, Mill Road submitted to the Company
an unsolicited written indication of interest to acquire all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock for $6.05 per share in cash, on terms substantially identical to the July 23 Mill Road Proposal (the
July
24 Mill Road Proposal
).
Later that day, the Strategic Transactions Committee
met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss the July 24 Mill Road Proposal. The Strategic Transactions Committee discussed the terms of the July 24 Mill Road Proposal, as well as the relative timing
of the
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proposed transactions with Parent and Mill Road, the potential risks associated with a delay in a proposed transaction with Mill Road relative to the current proposed transaction with Parent, the
potential required payment of the termination fee to Parent under the Merger Agreement if the Company were to terminate the Original Merger Agreement to enter into a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and the terms of the equity
and debt commitments presented by Mill Road as part of the July 24 Mill Road Proposal. After deliberations, the Strategic Transactions Committee determined that the July 24 Mill Road Proposal was reasonably likely to lead to a Superior
Proposal. The Strategic Transactions Committee instructed representatives of PJSC and Latham to engage in discussions and negotiations with Mill Road and its advisors in accordance with the terms of the Original Merger Agreement to attempt to
negotiate a Superior Proposal.
On July 25, 2016, the Company issued a press release announcing the expiration of the
Go-Shop Period, the receipt of the July 24 Mill Road Proposal, and the intention of the Company to engage in discussions and negotiations with Mill Road in accordance with the terms of the Original Merger Agreement to attempt to negotiate a
Superior Proposal.
From July 25, 2016 to July 28, 2016, at the direction of the Strategic Transactions Committee,
representatives from PJSC and Latham negotiated with representatives from Mill Road to improve the terms of the July 24 Mill Road Proposal, particularly with respect to the Companys potential recourse against Mill Road in the event of a
breach of the proposed merger agreement and reduced time periods in which the parties would make required anti-trust filings and commence the tender offer, as to expedite the closing of a potential transaction with Mill Road.
On July 27, 2016, representatives from Mill Road orally suggested to representatives of PJSC and Latham that Mill Road would be
prepared to reduce the time periods to make anti-trust filings and launch the tender offer in connection with the July 24 Mill Road Proposal and to grant the Company a $5.8 million reverse termination fee in the event of a breach of the
proposed merger agreement by Mill Road.
Later that evening, the Strategic Transactions Committee met by telephone with
management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss the status of the negotiations with Mill Road since the prior meeting and the most recent terms suggested by Mill Road. The Strategic Transactions Committee emphasized that, given the fact
that the proposed affiliates of Mill Road that would be party to the proposed merger agreement were holding companies, it was important that the Company obtain a guarantee from a Mill Road affiliate with liquidity and assets, so that the Company
would have adequate recourse in the event of a breach by Mill Road of the proposed merger agreement. The Strategic Transactions Committee instructed representatives of PJSC and Latham to engage in further discussions and negotiations with Mill Road
and its advisors to attempt to negotiate for more favorable terms and to urge Mill Road to put such terms in a written proposal, so that the Strategic Transactions Committee could evaluate whether to recommend to the Company Board that such proposal
was a Superior Proposal.
On July 28, 2016, following further negotiations between representatives of PJSC and Latham and
representatives of Mill Road, the Company received from Mill Road a revised written indication of interest to acquire all of the Companys outstanding shares of Common Stock for $6.05 per share in cash, along with a revised draft of a
definitive merger agreement and debt and equity commitment papers (the
July
28 Mill Road Proposal
), the terms of which were materially identical to those of the July 24 Mill Road Proposal, except that Mill
Road included a revised guarantee under which the affiliate of Mill Road that was to provide the equity commitment agreed to guarantee for the benefit of the Company any damages caused by breaches of the proposed merger agreement by Mill Road up to
the amount of the equity commitment, less the value of the Company Shares held by Mill Road and its affiliates.
Later that
evening, the Strategic Transactions Committee met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss the July 28 Mill Road Proposal. The Strategic Transactions Committee discussed the terms of the July 28 Mill
Road Proposal, as well as the relative timing of the proposed transactions with Parent and Mill Road, the potential risks associated with a delay in a proposed transaction with Mill Road relative to the current proposed transaction with Parent, the
potential required
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payment of the termination fee to Parent under the Original Merger Agreement if the Company were to terminate the Original Merger Agreement to enter into the July 28 Mill Road Proposal, the
terms of the revised guarantee and its potential impact on the Companys recourse in the event of a breach, and the terms of the equity and debt commitments presented by Mill Road as part of the July 28 Mill Road Proposal. After
deliberations and consultation with representatives from Latham and PJSC, the Strategic Transactions Committee recommended to the Company Board that it determine that the July 28 Mill Road Proposal was a Superior Proposal and that failure to
terminate the Original Merger Agreement and enter into the July 28 Mill Road Proposal and change its recommendation to the Companys stockholders in connection therewith would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
The Strategic Transactions Committee also recommended that the Company Board authorize management to deliver written notice to Parent of the Company Boards determination and intention, at or after 12:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on August 3,
2016, to terminate the Original Merger Agreement to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the July 28 Mill Road Proposal and change its recommendation to the Companys stockholders to recommend the July 28 Mill Road
Proposal, subject to Parents rights pursuant to the Original Merger Agreement to make revised proposals to the Company during that period.
Later that same night, the Company Board, other than Messrs. Alden, Kearl and Warnock, who continued to recuse themselves, met
by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to discuss the July 28 Mill Road Proposal. Following similar discussions and a discussion of the recommendation of the Strategic Transactions Committee, and upon further
consultation with representatives of Latham and PJSC, the Company Board, other than Mr. Darling, who recused himself from the vote, determined that the July 28 Mill Road Proposal was a Superior Proposal and that failure to terminate the
Original Merger Agreement and enter into the July 28 Mill Road Proposal and change its recommendation to the Companys stockholders in connection therewith would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law. The Company
Board also authorized management to deliver a notice to Parent consistent with the Strategic Transactions Committees recommendation.
On July 29, 2016, the Company issued a press release announcing the Company Boards determination that the
July 28 Mill Road Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal and the Companys notice to Parent of its intention, at or after 12:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on August 3, 2016, to terminate the Original Merger Agreement to enter into a
definitive agreement with respect to the July 28 Mill Road Proposal and change its recommendation to the Companys stockholders in connection therewith. Until such time, Parent had the right to make revised proposals to the Company. A copy
of the July 29, 2016 press release is attached to this Schedule 14D-9 as Exhibit (a)(11) and is incorporated herein by reference. On July 28, 2016, the closing price of the Companys Common Stock was $6.03 per share.
Shortly before 12:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on August 3, 2016, Parent delivered to the Company a signed copy of a proposed
amendment to the Original Merger Agreement (the
Amendment
), which, among other things, increased the purchase price from $5.75 per share to $6.10 per share, increased the termination fee to approximately $6.6 million to maintain a
termination fee equal to 3.5% of the equity value, and removed the go-shop provisions from the Original Merger Agreement. Parent provided, along with the proposed Amendment, updated debt and equity commitment papers in connection with the increased
offer price.
In the early morning of August 3, 2016, the Strategic Transactions Committee held a special meeting by
telephone, with members of management and representatives of PJSC and Latham participating, to discuss and evaluate the proposed Amendment and the July 28 Mill Road Proposal. At this meeting,
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representatives of Latham again reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee their fiduciary duties when considering the proposed transactions from Parent and Mill Road;
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management and representatives of Latham reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee the outcome of the negotiations with Parent and Mill Road and the terms and conditions of the proposed Amendment and the
July 28 Mill Road Proposal; and
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representatives of PJSC reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee PJSCs financial analysis of the $6.10 per share cash consideration, and reviewed with the Strategic Transactions Committee the opinion
that PJSC was prepared to deliver to the Company Board to the effect that, as of August 3, 2016 and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the $6.10 in cash per Company Share to be paid to the holders (other than
Parent and its affiliates) of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders.
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The Strategic Transactions Committee considered various reasons for and against approving the proposed amendment with Parent.
The Strategic Transactions Committee also evaluated the July 28 Mill Road Proposal, and compared it against the proposal from Parent in the Amendment. The Strategic Transactions Committee considered the various terms of each proposed
transaction, as well as the relative timing and likelihood of closing of each proposed transaction. The Strategic Transactions Committee noted, among other things, that despite the higher termination fee, the proposal by Parent was at a higher
purchase price and would likely close on a shorter timeline than the proposed July 28 Mill Road Proposal. After discussions with its financial and legal advisors and members of the Companys senior management, and in light of the reasons
considered, the Strategic Transactions Committee unanimously (i) recommended that the Company Board determine that the July 28 Mill Road Proposal was no longer deemed to be a Superior Proposal under the Merger Agreement and that failure to
terminate the Merger Agreement and enter into an agreement with Mill Road pursuant to the July 28 Mill Road Proposal and make an Adverse Recommendation Change in connection therewith would no longer be inconsistent with the Company Boards
fiduciary duties, (ii) recommended that the Company Board approve and declare advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders the Amendment, including the revised offer price, (iii) recommended that the Company Board
approve the execution and delivery by the Company of the Amendment and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (iv) recommended, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, that the Company Board
recommend that the stockholders accept the Offer and tender their shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer.
Immediately
following the meeting of the Strategic Transactions Committee, the Company Board, other than Messrs. Alden, Kearl and Warnock, who continued to recuse themselves, met by telephone with management and representatives of PJSC and Latham to review and
discuss the same information covered in the meeting of the Strategic Transactions Committee. After a discussion of the same matters discussed in the Strategic Transactions Committee meeting, PJSC delivered to the Company Board an oral opinion, which
was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion August 3, 2016, to the effect that, as of August 3, 2016 and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the $6.10 in cash per Company Share to be paid to the
holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders. The Company Board similarly considered the various reasons for and against approving the
Amendment, including an evaluation of and comparison to the July 28 Mill Road Proposal. The Company Board also considered the recommendations of the Strategic Transactions Committee. After discussions with its financial and legal advisors and
members of the Companys senior management, and in light of the reasons considered, the Company Board, other than Mr. Darling, who recused himself from the vote, (i) determined that the July 28 Mill Road Proposal was no longer a Superior
Proposal pursuant to the Merger Agreement and that failure to terminate the Merger Agreement and enter into an agreement with Mill Road pursuant to the July 28 Mill Road Proposal and make an Adverse Recommendation Change in connection therewith
would no longer be inconsistent with the Company Boards fiduciary duties, (ii) approved and declared advisable and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders the Amendment, including the revised offer price, (iii) approved the
execution and delivery by the Company of the Amendment and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and (iv) resolved, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, to recommend that the stockholders accept the
Offer and tender their Company Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer.
Later in the morning on August 3, 2016, Parent,
Purchaser and the Company executed and delivered the Amendment. Prior to the open of U.S. markets on August 3, 2016, the Company and Parent issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Amendment and that the Company Board had
determined, after consultation with its outside counsel and financial advisor, that the July 28 Mill Road
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Proposal no longer constituted a Superior Proposal. The press release also stated that the Company Board continues to recommend that the Companys stockholders accept the Offer and tender
their Company Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. A copy of the press release is attached to this Statement as Exhibit (a)(12) and is incorporated herein by reference. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, upon the determination that
the July 28 Mill Road Proposal was no longer a Superior Proposal, the Company ceased all discussions with Mill Road.
Reasons for
the Recommendation of the Company Board
In evaluating the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby,
including the Offer and the Merger, and recommending that the Companys stockholders accept the Offer and tender all of their Company Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee consulted with the
Companys senior management, Latham and PJSC and considered and analyzed a wide and complex range of factors. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee also consulted with Latham regarding the Company Boards and the
Strategic Transactions Committees fiduciary duties, legal due diligence matters and the terms of the Merger Agreement and related agreements. Based on these consultations, considerations and analyses, and the factors discussed below, the
Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee concluded that entering into the Merger Agreement with Parent and Purchaser would yield the highest value reasonably available for the Companys stockholders and is fair to, and in the best
interests of, the Companys stockholders.
The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee believed the
following material factors and benefits supported its determination and recommendation:
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Premium to Market Price
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered the relationship of the Offer Price to the current and historical market prices of the Company Shares. The Offer
Price to be paid in cash for each Company Share would provide stockholders of the Company with the opportunity to receive a significant premium over the current and historical market price of the Company Shares. The Company Board and the Strategic
Transactions Committee reviewed historical market prices, volatility and trading information with respect to the Company Shares, including the fact that the Offer Price represents:
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a premium of approximately 55.2% over the closing price per share of the Company Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 7, 2016, the last trading day before the public filing by Mr. Alden and Ptarmagin of a
statement on Schedule 13D that they had decided to explore making an offer to acquire the Company; and
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a premium of approximately 37.1% over the closing price per share of the Company Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market on June 22, 2016, the trading day before the execution of the Merger Agreement.
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The Prospects of the Company
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered the Companys prospects and risks if the Company were to remain an independent publicly traded company in
connection with the entry into the Original Merger Agreement. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee discussed the Companys current business and financial plans, including the risks and uncertainties associated with
achieving and executing upon the Companys business and financial plans in the short- and long-term, as well as the general risks of market conditions that could reduce the price of the Common Stock. Among the potential risks identified by the
Company Board were:
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the Companys ability to continue to grow its revenues and to maintain sales of its currently marketed products;
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the Companys ability to successfully manufacture, distribute, commercialize and
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make profitable new products, including with respect to changing compatibility and connectivity standards within the audio accessories business and increasing manufacturing costs;
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the Companys available resources relative to its competitors, many of which are substantially larger with greater financial, technical, promotional and other resources than the Company and with greater
diversification of product lines, which allow them to compete more effectively on price, negotiate more effectively with retailers and licensors, and diversify their risk across various product categories;
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the Companys ability, and the ability of the Companys in-licensors, to obtain and maintain patent coverage for its product candidates, including risks related to acquiring adequate
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intellectual property protection for new product lines and lines of business, pending and any future patent infringement lawsuits, re-examinations and the risk of generic products competing with any products marketed by
the Company;
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the Companys reliance on several key retailers for the majority of the Companys sales;
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the competitive nature of the Companys technology-driven industry and target markets, particularly in light of the recent consolidation activity involving certain of the Companys competitors;
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the current challenges facing the consumer products market generally, including the financial challenges and bankruptcies affecting brick and mortar retailers and the reduction in consumer spending;
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the Companys ability to accurately forecast and predict sales cycles with retailers in the current retail environment and its potential effects on the Companys financial metrics;
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pending and potential future material litigation and investigative matters against the Company or its officers and directors; and
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general risks and market conditions that could reduce the market price of the Company Shares.
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Certainty of Value
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered that the consideration to be received by the Companys stockholders in the Offer and the Merger will consist entirely
of cash, which provides liquidity and certainty of value to stockholders. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee believed this certainty of value was compelling compared to the long-term value creation potential of the
Companys business taking into account the risks of remaining independent and pursing the Companys current business and financial plans.
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Potential Strategic Alternatives
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered
possible alternatives to the acquisition by Parent (including the alternative proposal from Mill Road, and, in connection with entry into the Original Merger Agreement, the possibility of continuing to operate the Company as an independent publicly
traded entity, the viability of investments in other product lines and businesses and the desirability and perceived risks of those alternatives), potential benefits and risks to the Companys stockholders of these alternatives and the timing
and likelihood of effecting such alternatives. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee
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also considered the Company Boards and the Strategic Transactions Committees assessment that none of these alternatives was reasonably likely to present superior opportunities for the
Company to create greater value for the Companys stockholders, taking into account risks of execution as well as business, competitive, industry and market risks. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee also considered the
possibility that Parent could withdraw its proposal if the Company delayed in proceeding with Parents Offer.
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Full and Fair Value
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee believed that the Offer Price of $6.10 per Company Share represents full and fair value for the Company Shares, taking into account
the Company Boards and the Strategic Transactions Committees familiarity with the business strategy, assets, prospects and projected results for the 2016 to 2020 fiscal years, and the relative certainty of the consideration in cash for
the Offer as compared to forecasted financial results.
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Negotiations with Parent and Terms of the Merger Agreement
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee believed that the Offer Price of $6.10 per Company Share represented the highest value
reasonably obtainable for the Company Shares, based on the progress and outcome of its negotiations with Parent, as well as a number of changes in the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement from the version initially proposed by Parent that
were favorable to the Company, and that the Offer Price was the highest price per Company Share that Parent was willing to pay and that the Merger Agreement contained the most favorable terms to the Company to which Parent was willing to agree.
Terms of the Merger Agreement supporting the Company Boards and the Strategic Transactions Committees belief include:
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Ability to Respond to Certain Unsolicited Acquisition Proposals
. The Merger Agreement permits the Company Board, in furtherance of the exercise of its fiduciary duties under Delaware law, to engage in
negotiations or discussions with any third-party that has made an unsolicited and written acquisition proposal that the Company Board determines, in good faith, constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal (as defined in the
Merger Agreement).
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Change of Recommendation
. The Company Board has the right, prior to the purchase of Company Shares pursuant to the Offer, to withhold, withdraw, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Parent or
Purchaser, its recommendation to its stockholders of the Offer or to terminate the Merger Agreement to concurrently enter into a definitive Alternative Acquisition Agreement (as defined in the Merger Agreement), including in connection with a
Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), provided that the Company Board may not make such an adverse recommendation change unless (i) the Company notifies Parent in writing at least three business days before the adverse
recommendation change of its intention to take such action, and provides Parent with certain information relating to the Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or other basis for the adverse recommendation change and (ii) the Company
Board determines, after consultation with outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law. After delivering notice to Parent of the potential recommendation
change, the Company must consider in good faith any revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement made by Parent, and if such terms are revised, then the Company Board may not change its recommendation unless it again finds that the failure to do
so would still be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties. In the event of any material amendment or modification to any Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or any material change to the facts and circumstances relating to the
adverse recommendation change, the Company must notify Parent within two business days of any such amendment or modification and must negotiate in good faith with Parent regarding revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement.
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Fiduciary Termination Right
. The Company Board may terminate the Merger Agreement to accept a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) if (i) the Company has materially complied with requirements
set forth in the previous bullet and (ii) in the case of a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), the Company pays to Parent $6,601,237 (the
Termination Fee
), which the Company Board believed was reasonable and
would not likely deter competing bids.
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Conditions to Consummation of the Offer and Merger; Likelihood of Closing
. The fact that Parents obligations to purchase Company Shares in the Offer and to close the Merger are subject to limited conditions
and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are reasonably likely to be consummated,.
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Extension of Offer Period
. The fact that the Purchaser must, if requested by the Company, extend the Offer for successive extension periods of 10 business days each (or any longer period as may be approved in
advance by the Company) if at any scheduled expiration of the Offer any condition to the Offer has not been satisfied or waived (other than the minimum condition set forth in the Merger Agreement, which may not be waived by Purchaser), and must
extend the Offer twice (and for further extension periods, in its sole and absolute discretion) for an extension period of 10 business days if all conditions to the Offer other than the minimum condition have been met.
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No Financing Condition
. The representation of Parent and Purchaser that they would have access to sufficient cash resources to pay the amounts required to be paid under the Merger Agreement and that the Offer and
the Merger are not subject to a financing condition.
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Availability of Expectation Damages
. The fact that the Company and its stockholders are entitled to seek expectation damages in the event that Parent or Purchaser breaches the Merger Agreement.
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Speed and Likelihood of Completion
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered the anticipated timing of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
including the structure of the transaction as a cash tender offer for all outstanding Company Shares, with the anticipated result of allowing stockholders to receive the Offer Price in a relatively short time frame, followed by the Merger in which
stockholders (other than Parent, Purchaser or the Company or any wholly owned subsidiary of the foregoing) who do not validly exercise appraisal rights will receive the same consideration received by those stockholders who tender their Company
Shares in the Offer. In connection with the Amendment, the Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee also considered the progress that had already occurred with respect to the satisfaction of certain conditions, such as the termination
of the waiting period under the HSR Act, and the launch of the Offer by Purchaser on July 6, 2016. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered that the potential of closing in a relatively short time frame could also reduce
the amount of time in which the Companys business would be subject to the potential uncertainty of closing and related disruption. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee also considered the availability of Section 251(h) of
the DGCL, which would permit Parent to close the Merger under Delaware law more quickly than alternative structures, and increase the likelihood that the Merger is consummated.
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Business Reputation of Parent
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered the business reputation, management and financial resources of Parent, including the financing commitment that
Parent obtained from Monroe Capital, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. with respect to the transaction. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee believed that these factors supported the conclusion that a transaction with Parent and
Purchaser could be completed relatively quickly and in an orderly manner.
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Opinion of the Companys Financial Advisor
. The opinion of PJSC rendered to the Company Board on August 3, 2016, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated such date, to the
effect that, as of August 3, 2016 and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the $6.10 in cash per Company Share to be paid to the holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of Company Shares pursuant to the
Merger Agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders, as more fully described below under the heading Opinion of the Companys Financial Advisor.
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Appraisal Rights
. The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee considered the fact that the stockholders that do not tender their Company Shares in the Offer and who properly exercise their
appraisal rights under Delaware law will be entitled to such appraisal rights in connection with the Merger.
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The Recommendation of the Strategic Transactions Committee
. The Company Board considered the recommendation as to the advisability of the Offer, the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement from the Strategic Transactions Committee, based on its close contact with the transaction process.
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The Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee also considered a variety of uncertainties and risks and other
potentially negative factors in its deliberations concerning the Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including, but not limited to, the following:
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No Stockholder Participation in Future Growth or Earnings
. The nature of the Offer and the Merger as a cash transaction means that the stockholders will not participate in future earnings or growth of the Company
and will not benefit from any appreciation in value of the combined company.
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Risk Associated with Failure to Complete the Offer and Consummate the Merger
. The possibility that the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, might not be
consummated, and the fact that if the Offer and the Merger are not consummated, (i) the Companys directors, senior management and other employees will have expended extensive time and effort and will have experienced significant distractions
from their work during the pendency of the transaction, (ii) the Company will have incurred significant transaction costs, (iii) the Companys continuing business relationships consultants, licensors, business partners and employees may be
adversely affected, (iv) the trading price of the Company Shares could be adversely affected, and (v) the markets perceptions of the Companys prospects could be adversely affected.
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Interim Restrictions on Business Pending the Completion of the Offer and the Merger
. Restrictions on the conduct of the Companys business prior to the Effective Time due to pre-closing covenants in the
Merger Agreement whereby the Company agreed that it will carry on its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. Subject to specified exceptions, the Company will not take a number of actions related to the conduct of
its business without the prior written consent of Parent, which may have a material adverse effect on the Companys ability to respond to changing market and business conditions in a timely manner or at all.
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No Solicitation and Termination Fee
. The Merger Agreement precludes the Company from soliciting
alternative acquisition proposals, and requires the Company to pay to Parent the Termination Fee in certain circumstances, including those described above in connection with
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entering into a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), as well as if the Company Board changes its recommendation with respect to the Offer, or if the Merger Agreement is
terminated for Parents failure to satisfy the Minimum Condition (as defined in the Merger Agreement) within six months after the Merger Agreement was signed and the Company enters into an alternative transaction within 12 months of that
termination.
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Effects of Transaction Announcement
. The effect of the public announcement of the Merger Agreement, including effects on the Companys stock price, and the Companys ability to attract and retain key
management and scientific and research personnel during the pendency of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, as well as the likelihood of litigation in connection with the Merger.
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Timing Risks
. The amount of time it could take to complete the Offer and the Merger, including the risk that Parent and Purchaser may not receive the necessary regulatory approvals or clearances to complete the
Offer or the Merger, or that governmental authorities could attempt to condition their approvals or clearances of the Offer or the Merger on one or more of the parties compliance with certain burdensome terms or conditions which may cause one
of the Offer conditions not to be satisfied.
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Taxable Consideration
. The gains from the consideration to be received by the stockholders in the Offer and the Merger will be taxable to the stockholders for federal income tax purposes.
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Potential Conflicts of Interest
. The fact that certain of the Companys officers and directors, including those that were recused from the Company Board during the process, may have interests in the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement that are different from, or in addition to, those of the Companys other stockholders.
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Potential that Minimum Condition may not be met
. The fact that the Minimum Condition may not be met because certain stockholders hold a significant number of Company Shares, and such stockholders may decide not
to tender.
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The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Company Board and the
Strategic Transactions Committee is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive, but includes the material reasons and factors considered by the Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee in reaching their respective conclusions and
recommendation in relation to the Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions proposed thereby. In view of the wide variety of reasons and factors considered and the complexity of these matters, the Company Board and the Strategic
Transactions Committee did not find it practical to, and did not, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specified factors considered in reaching their determinations or the reasons for such determinations. Individual directors may
have given differing weights to different factors or may have had different reasons for their ultimate determination. In addition, the Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee did not reach any specific conclusion with respect to any
of the factors or reasons considered. Instead, the Company Board and the Strategic Transactions Committee conducted an overall analysis of the factors and reasons described above and determined in their business judgment that, in the aggregate, the
potential benefits of the Offer and the Merger to the stockholders of the Company outweighed the risks or potential negative consequences.
Opinion of the Companys Financial Advisor.
PJSC delivered its opinion to the Company Board that, as of August 3, 2016 and based upon and subject to the factors and
assumptions set forth therein, the $6.10 in cash per Company Share to be paid to the holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders.
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The full text of the written opinion of PJSC, dated August 3, 2016, which sets
forth assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached as Annex III. PJSC provided its opinion for the information and assistance of the Company Board
in connection with its consideration of the Offer and the Merger. The PJSC opinion is not a recommendation as to whether or not any holder of Company Shares should tender such Company Shares in connection with the Offer or how any such holder
should act on any matter relating to the Offer and the Merger.
For purposes of its opinion, PJSC:
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reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other information of the Company;
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reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating data concerning the Company prepared and provided to PJSC by the management of the Company and approved for PJSCs use by the
Company;
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reviewed certain financial projections for the Company prepared and provided to PJSC by the management of the Company and approved for PJSCs use by the Company (the Projections);
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discussed the past and current operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company with management of the Company;
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reviewed the reported prices and trading activity of the Company Shares;
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compared the financial performance and condition of the Company and the reported prices and trading activity of the Company Shares with that of certain other publicly traded companies that PJSC deemed relevant;
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reviewed publicly available information regarding the financial terms of certain transactions that PJSC deemed relevant, in whole or in part, to the Offer and the Merger;
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participated in certain discussions among management and other representatives of each of Parent and the Company;
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reviewed the Merger Agreement; and
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performed such other analyses as PJSC deemed appropriate.
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PJSC assumed and
relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the information reviewed by PJSC for the purposes of its opinion and PJSC did not assume any responsibility for the independent verification of such information and relied on such information being
complete and correct. PJSC relied on assurances of the management of the Company that they are not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information inaccurate or misleading in any respect material to PJSCs
opinion. With respect to the Projections, PJSC assumed that the Projections were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the future financial performance of the Company. PJSC did not
conduct a physical inspection of the facilities or property of the Company. PJSC did not assume any responsibility for or perform any independent valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities of the Company, nor was PJSC furnished with
any such valuation or appraisal. Furthermore, PJSC did not consider any tax, accounting or legal effects of the Offer and the Merger or transaction structure on any person or entity.
PJSC also assumed that the Offer and the Merger will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement,
without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement (including, without limitation, the consideration to be received by the holders of the Company Shares in the Offer and the Merger), and that, in the course of
obtaining the necessary regulatory or third party approvals, consents and releases for the Offer and the Merger, no delay, limitation, restriction or condition will be imposed that would have an adverse effect on the Company or the contemplated
benefits of the Offer and the Merger. PJSC further assumed that all representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement were and will be true and correct as of all the dates made or deemed made and that all parties to the Merger
Agreement will comply with all covenants of such parties thereunder.
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PJSCs opinion is necessarily based on economic, market and other conditions
as in effect on, and the information made available to PJSC as of, August 2, 2016. In particular, PJSC does not express any opinion as to the prices at which the Company Shares may trade at any future time or as to the impact of the Offer and
the Merger on the solvency or viability of the Company, Parent or Purchaser or the ability of the Company, Parent or Purchaser to pay their respective obligations when they come due. Furthermore, PJSCs opinion does not address the
Companys underlying business decision to undertake the Offer and the Merger, and the opinion does not address the relative merits of the Offer and the Merger as compared to any alternative transactions that might be available to the
Company. PJSCs opinion does not address any other aspect or implication of the Offer and the Merger or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with the Offer and the Merger or otherwise except as
expressly identified therein. PJSC expresses no view as to, and PJSCs opinion does not address, the fairness (financial or otherwise) of the amount or nature or any other aspect of any compensation to any officers, directors or employees
of any parties to the Offer and the Merger, or any class of such persons, relative to the consideration to be paid to the holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of the Company Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The issuance by
PJSC of its opinion was authorized by PJSCs fairness opinion committee.
The following summarizes the significant
financial analyses performed by PJSC and provided to, and reviewed with, the Company Board in connection with the delivery of PJSCs opinion. The financial analyses summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In
order to fully understand PJSCs financial analyses, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. Considering the data in the
tables below 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 PJSCs financial analyses. The
following summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses performed by PJSC, nor does the order of analyses described represent relative importance or weight given to those analyses by PJSC. Except as
otherwise noted, the following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before August 2, 2016, and is not necessarily indicative of current market conditions.
Historical Company Share Trading Analysis
.
PJSC reviewed the historical trading prices and volumes for the Company Shares for the 52-week period ending August 2,
2016. In addition, PJSC analyzed the consideration to be paid to holders of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement in relation to, among other things, (i) the closing price per Company Share on June 7, 2016 (the Undisturbed
Date), the last trading day before the public filing by a stockholder of a statement on Schedule 13D that such stockholder has decided to explore making an offer to acquire the Company, (ii) the closing price per Company Share as of June 22,
2016 (the Pre Announcement Date), the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Original Merger Agreement, (iii) the closing price per Company Share as of August 2, 2016, (iv) the highest closing price per Company Share for the
52-week period ending August 2, 2016, and (v) the lowest closing price per Company Share for the 52-week period ending August 2, 2106.
This analysis indicated that the price per Company Share to be paid to holders of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger
Agreement represented:
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a premium of 55.2% based on the closing price per Company Share, as of the Undisturbed Date, of $3.93;
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a premium of 37.1% based on the closing price per Company Share, as of the Pre Announcement Date, of $4.45;
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a premium of 0.7% based on the closing price per Company Share, as of August 2, 2016, of $6.06;
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a discount of 23.6% based on the closing price per Company Share, as of August 7, 2015, of $7.98, which was the highest closing price for the 52-week period ending August 2, 2016; and
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a premium of 107.5% based on the closing price per Company Share, as of January 20, 2016, of $2.94, which was the lowest closing price for the 52-week period ending August 2, 2016.
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PJSC also analyzed the enterprise value (which represents the equity value plus
book values of total debt, including preferred stock and minority interest, less cash) (EV) calculated based on (i) the closing price per Company Share as of the Undisturbed Date, (ii) the closing price per Company Share as of the Pre
Announcement Date, and (iii) the closing price per Company Share as of August 2, 2016.
This analysis indicated that the EV
of $147.4 million, calculated based on the price per Company Share to be paid to holders of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement, represented:
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a premium of 105.0% to the EV of $71.9 million based on the closing price per Company Share as of the Undisturbed Date;
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a premium of 69.3% to the EV of $87.1 million based on the closing price per Company Share as of the Pre Announcement Date; and
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a premium of 9.1% to the EV of $135.1 million based on the closing price per Company Share as of August 2, 2016.
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Equity Research Analyst Price Targets.
PJSC reviewed selected public market trading price targets for the Company Shares prepared and published by three Wall Street
research analysts that published or confirmed price targets as of (i) the Undisturbed Date and (ii) August 2, 2016. PJSC reviewed the most recent 12-month price target published by each analyst as of those two dates. These targets reflect
each analysts estimate of the public market trading price of the Company Shares within 12 months from the time the price target was published. As of the Undisturbed Date, the range of selected equity analyst price targets for the Company
Shares was from $4.50 to $7.00 per Company Share. As of August 2, 2016, the range of selected equity analyst price targets for the Company Shares was from $5.75 to $6.65 per Company Share.
PJSC also reviewed the potential acquisition prices for the Company Shares prepared and published by the three Wall Street
research analysts after the Undisturbed Date. The range of potential acquisition prices for the Company Shares was from $5.50 to $6.65 per Company Share.
The public market trading price targets published by securities research analysts do not necessarily reflect current market
trading prices for the Company Shares, and these estimates are subject to uncertainties, including the future financial performance of the Company and future financial market conditions.
Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analysis
.
PJSC reviewed and compared certain financial information for the Company to corresponding financial information for the
following publicly traded corporations in the electronics industry (collectively, the selected companies), which PJSC divided into a large-cap category and a small-cap category:
Large-Cap
Small-Cap
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Although none of the selected companies is directly comparable to
the Company, the companies included were chosen because they are publicly traded companies with operations that, for purposes of analysis, may be considered similar to certain operations of the Company.
PJSC also calculated and compared various financial multiples for the selected companies and the Company based on historical
financial data from publicly available sources, forecasts from Wall Street research available as of August 2, 2016 for the selected companies, and the Projections.
With respect to the selected companies and the Company, PJSC calculated:
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EV as a multiple of latest twelve months (LTM) net sales
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EV as a multiple of LTM earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization (EBITDA);
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EV as a multiple of estimated EBITDA for 2016;
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EV as a multiple of estimated EBITDA for 2017;
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EV as a multiple of LTM earnings before interest and tax (EBIT);
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price per share as a multiple of estimated earnings per share (EPS) for 2016; and
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price per share as a multiple of estimated EPS for 2017.
|
33
The table below summarizes the results of these calculations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise Value
as a Multiple of:
|
|
|
|
Large Cap Selected
Companies
|
|
Small Cap Selected
Companies
|
LTM Net Sales
|
|
Range:
|
|
1.0x 3.3x
|
|
0.2x 0.9x
|
|
Median:
|
|
1.7x
|
|
0.5x
|
|
|
|
|
LTM EBITDA
|
|
Range:
|
|
8.2x 14.4x
|
|
6.6x 9.7x
|
|
Median:
|
|
12.8x
|
|
7.3x
|
|
|
|
|
2016E EBITDA
|
|
Range:
|
|
7.8x 14.9x
|
|
4.3x 7.0x
|
|
|
Median:
|
|
12.1x
|
|
5.7x
|
|
|
|
|
2017E EBITDA
|
|
Range:
|
|
7.1x 14.6x
|
|
3.8x 29.5x
|
|
|
Median:
|
|
10.1x
|
|
4.4x
|
|
|
|
|
LTM EBIT
|
|
Range:
|
|
10.4x 18.6x
|
|
12.1x 14.9x
|
|
|
Median:
|
|
15.2x
|
|
13.5x
|
|
|
|
|
Price as a Multiple of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2016E EPS
|
|
Range:
|
|
12.8x 23.4x
|
|
10.1x 14.0x
|
|
|
Median:
|
|
19.4x
|
|
13.3x
|
|
|
|
|
2017E EPS
|
|
Range:
|
|
10.9x 21.3x
|
|
6.3x 10.2x
|
|
|
Median:
|
|
16.5x
|
|
9.2x
|
PJSC then used an illustrative range of multiples to calculate a range of implied values for
the Company Shares based on the Projections, as summarized below. The ranges of multiples used by PJSC were chosen by PJSC utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account PJSCs review of the multiples of the
selected companies.
|
|
|
|
|
Enterprise Value
as a multiple of:
|
|
Range of
Multiples
|
|
Implied Per
Company Share
Value
|
LTM Net Sales
|
|
0.25x 0.55x
|
|
$3.75 $6.44
|
LTM EBITDA
|
|
6.5x 8.5x
|
|
4.76 5.75
|
Estimated 2016 EBITDA
|
|
4.5x 7.0x
|
|
5.37 7.46
|
Estimated 2017 EBITDA
|
|
4.0x 4.5x
|
|
5.39 5.86
|
LTM EBIT
|
|
12.0x 15.0x
|
|
3.32 3.79
|
34
|
|
|
|
|
Price Per Company Share
as a multiple of:
|
|
Range of
Multiples
|
|
Implied Per
Company Share
Value
|
Estimated 2016 EPS
|
|
10.0x 14.0x
|
|
$3.02 4.23
|
Estimated 2017 EPS
|
|
6.5x 10.0x
|
|
2.38 3.66
|
PJSC then adjusted this range of implied values per Company Share by applying to them an
illustrative control premium of 36%, which reflects the average control premium (to the closing price one day prior to announcement) paid in all announced cash transactions for U.S. based targets with enterprise values ranging from $100
million to 300 million from July 2013 to July 2016, excluding finance, brokerage, insurance and real estate companies, as reported by publicly available sources. The implied per Company Share values, including a control premium,
resulting from this analysis were as follows:
|
|
|
Enterprise Value
as a multiple of:
|
|
Implied Per Company Share Value Including
36% Control Premium
|
LTM Net Sales
|
|
$5.10 $8.76
|
LTM EBITDA
|
|
6.48 7.83
|
Estimated 2016 EBITDA
|
|
7.30 10.14
|
Estimated 2017 EBITDA
|
|
7.33 7.97
|
LTM EBIT
|
|
4.52 5.16
|
|
|
Price Per Company Share
as a multiple of:
|
|
Implied Per Company Share Value Including
36% Control Premium
|
Estimated 2016 EPS
|
|
$4.11 5.75
|
Estimated 2017 EPS
|
|
3.23 4.97
|
Selected Precedent Transactions Analysis.
PJSC analyzed certain publicly available information relating to the following selected transactions in the electronics
industry since 2005 (collectively, the selected transactions):
|
|
|
|
|
Target
|
|
Acquiror
|
|
Announcement Date
|
mophie, inc.
|
|
ZAGG Inc
|
|
February 2016
|
Cobra Electronics Corp
|
|
Monomoy Capital Partners
|
|
August 2014
|
Teac Corporation
|
|
Gibson Guitar Corp
|
|
March 2013
|
Nixon, Inc.
|
|
Trilantic Capital Management
|
|
February 2012
|
iFrogz Inc.
|
|
ZAGG Inc.
|
|
June 2011
|
Klipsch Group Inc.
|
|
VOXX International Corporation
|
|
January 2011
|
D&M Holdings Inc.
|
|
Bain Capital Private Equity
|
|
June 2008
|
Martin Audio Ltd.
|
|
LOUD Technologies
|
|
March 2007
|
International DisplayWorks, Inc.
|
|
Flextronics International Ltd.
|
|
September 2006
|
Polk Audio, Inc.
|
|
DEI Holdings, Inc.
|
|
August 2006
|
Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc.
|
|
Plantronics, Inc.
|
|
July 2005
|
Boston Acoustics, Inc.
|
|
D&M Holdings Inc.
|
|
June 2005
|
Although none of the selected transactions is directly comparable to the Offer and the Merger,
the target companies in the selected transactions were companies with operations that, for the purposes of analysis, may be considered similar to certain of the Companys results and product candidate profile, and as such, for purposes of
analysis, the selected transactions may be considered similar to the Offer and the Merger.
35
For each of the selected transactions, PJSC calculated and compared the
enterprise value implied by the transaction as a multiple of the LTM Net Sales, LTM EBITDA and LTM EBIT of the target (each, a EV/LTM Net Sales Multiple, a EV/LTM EBITDA Multiple and a EV/LTM EBIT Multiple,
respectively). The following table presents the results of this analysis:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transaction Enterprise
Value as a Multiple of:
|
|
Selected Transactions
|
|
|
Range
|
|
|
Median
|
|
|
Mean
|
|
LTM Net Sales
|
|
|
38.3% 371.2
|
%
|
|
|
117.5
|
%
|
|
|
138.6
|
%
|
LTM EBITDA
|
|
|
5.6x 34.4x
|
|
|
|
8.7x
|
|
|
|
11.4x
|
|
LTM EBIT
|
|
|
6.2x 59.9x
|
|
|
|
10.2x
|
|
|
|
17.3x
|
|
PJSC calculated an illustrative range of implied values per Company Share by applying a range
of EV/LTM Net Sales Multiples of 50% to 180%, EV/LTM EBITDA Multiples of 6.0x to 11.0x, and EV/LTM EBIT Multiples of 7.0x to 17.0x to the LTM Net Sales, LTM EBITDA, and LTM EBIT, respectively, of the Company, as provided by Company
management. This analysis resulted in an illustrative range of implied equity values of $4.25 to $6.58 per Company Share. The range of EV/LTM Net Sales Multiples, EV/LTM EBITDA Multiples, and EV/LTM EBIT Multiples used by PJSC were chosen
by PJSC utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account PJSCs review of the selected transactions.
Illustrative Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
.
PJSC performed an illustrative discounted cash flow analysis on the Company using the Projections. Using discount rates
ranging from 13.0% to 15.0%, reflecting estimates of the Companys weighted average cost of capital, PJSC discounted to present value as of August 2, 2016, (i) estimates of free cash flow for the Company for the fourth quarter of 2016 through
2020, calculated as provided below based on the Projections and (ii) a range of illustrative terminal values for the Company, which were calculated by applying perpetuity growth rates ranging from 3.0% to 7.0%, to a terminal year estimate of the
free cash flow to be generated by the Company, as reflected in the Projections. The estimates of free cash flow for the Company for the fourth quarter of 2016 through 2020 were derived by PJSC by using the EBIT provided in the Projections,
calculating tax-effected EBIT for the fourth quarter of 2016 through 2020, using a tax rate of 30.5% for the fourth quarter of 2016 and of 29.0% for 2017 through 2020, adding depreciation and amortization estimates provided in the Projections, and
subtracting estimated changes in expenditures and net working capital also provided in the Projections, PJSC derived ranges of illustrative enterprise values for the Company by adding the ranges of present values it derived above. PJSC
then added to the range of illustrative enterprise values it derived for the Company the amount of net cash, as provided by the management of the Company, to derive a range of illustrative equity values for the Company. PJSC then divided this
range of illustrative equity values by the number of the Companys fully diluted shares, as provided by the management of the Company, to derive a range of illustrative present values of $5.32 to $8.76 per Company Share.
Illustrative Present Value of Future Company Share Price Analysis.
PJSC performed illustrative analysis of the implied present values per Company Share, as of August 2, 2016, based on
theoretical future values of the Company Shares, as of January 1 of each year from 2017 through 2020, derived by PJSC based on the Projections.
Using the Projections, PJSC derived a range of theoretical values per Company Share as of August 2, 2016 and as of
January 1 of each year from 2017 through 2020, by applying, with respect to each such date, illustrative one year forward price to earnings per Company Share multiples ranging from 10.5x to 19.5x to the estimate of the earnings per Company
Share for the current year, as reflected in the Projections, to derive ranges of implied equity values per Company Share as of such dates. As noted above, PJSC assumed that the Projections were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best
currently available estimates and judgments of the future financial performance of the Company.
36
By applying a discount rate of 14.5%, reflecting an estimate of the
Companys cost of equity, PJSC discounted to present value, as of August 2, 2016, the ranges of theoretical values of the Company Shares, as of August 2, 2016 and as of January 1 of each year from 2017 through 2020, to yield a range of
illustrative present values per Company Share of $3.63 to $9.56.
Miscellaneous
In arriving at PJSCs opinion, PJSC performed a variety of financial analyses, the material portions of which are
summarized above. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. Selecting portions of the analyses or of the summary set forth above, without
considering the analyses as a whole, could create an incomplete view of the processes underlying PJSCs opinion. In arriving at its fairness determination, PJSC considered the results of all of its analyses and did not attribute any
particular weight to any factor or analysis considered by it. Rather, PJSC made its determination as to fairness on the basis of its experience and professional judgment after considering the results of all of its analyses. No company or
transaction used in the above analyses as a comparison is directly comparable to the Company or the Offer and the Merger.
PJSC prepared these analyses for purposes of PJSCs providing its opinion to the Company Board as to the fairness from a
financial point of view to the holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of Company Shares of the $6.10 in cash per Company Share to be paid to such holders of Company Shares pursuant to the Merger Agreement. These analyses do not purport
to be appraisals nor do they necessarily reflect the prices at which businesses or securities actually may be sold. Analyses based upon forecasts of future results are not necessarily indicative of actual future results, which may be
significantly more or less favorable than suggested by these analyses. Because these analyses are inherently subject to uncertainty, being based upon numerous factors or events beyond the control of the parties or their respective advisors,
none of the Company, Parent, PJSC or any other person assumes responsibility if future results are materially different from those forecast.
The $6.10 in cash per Company Share was determined through arms-length negotiations between the Company and Parent and
was approved by the Company Board. PJSC provided advice to the Company during these negotiations. PJSC did not, however, recommend any specific amount of consideration to the Company or the Company Board or that any specific amount of
consideration constituted the only appropriate consideration for the Offer and the Merger.
As described above, PJSCs
opinion to the Company Board was one of many factors taken into consideration by the Company Board in making its determination to approve the Merger Agreement. The foregoing summary does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses
performed by PJSC in connection with the fairness opinion and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the written opinion of PJSC attached as Annex III.
Natixis, S.A. (Natixis), which became the holder of a majority of PJSCs outstanding equity on June 8, 2016,
is, together with its affiliates, engaged in advisory, underwriting and financing, principal investing, sales and trading, research, investment management, insurance and other financial and non-financial activities and services for various persons
and entities. Natixis and its affiliates and employees, and funds or other entities they manage or in which they invest or have other economic interests or with which they co-invest, may at any time purchase, sell, hold or vote long or short
positions and investments in securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments of the Company, Parent, any of their respective affiliates and third parties, including Goode Partners LLC
(Goode), a significant stockholder of Parent, and its affiliates and portfolio companies, or any currency or commodity that may be involved in the Offer and the Merger.
The Company selected PJSC as its financial advisor because it is a recognized financial advisory firm that has substantial
experience in transactions similar to the Offer and the Merger. Pursuant to a letter agreement dated July 17, 2015, as amended on February 26, 2016, the Company engaged PJSC to act as its
37
financial advisor in connection with the Offer and the Merger. The engagement letter between the Company and PJSC provides for a transaction fee that is estimated, based on the information
available as of the date of announcement, at approximately $4.7 million, a substantial portion of which is contingent upon consummation of the Offer and the Merger and a portion of which was payable upon the delivery by PJSC of its opinion. In
addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse PJSC for its expenses and to indemnify PJSC against certain liabilities arising out of its engagement by the Company. In the past, PJSC has provided financial advisory services to the Company and its
affiliates, including having delivered an opinion on June 23, 2016 to the Company Board that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the purchase price of $5.75 in cash per Company Share to be
paid to the holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of Company Shares pursuant to the Original Merger Agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders. Except in connection with the delivery of PJSCs opinions to the
Company Board, in the past two years, PJSC has not received any material fees for rendering financial advisory services to the Company or its affiliates. In the future, PJSC, Natixis and their respective affiliates may provide financial advisory
services to the Company, Parent, Goode and their respective affiliates and, in the case of Goode, portfolio companies and in the future may receive compensation for rendering these services. In addition, Natixis or its affiliates may have
co-invested with Goode from time to time and may have invested in limited partnership units of affiliates of Goode. PJSC has not provided financial advisory services to Parent, Purchaser and any of their respective affiliates, and Natixis has
advised PJSC that, in the past two years, it has not provided any corporate or investment banking services to Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates.
Certain 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. However, the Companys management regularly prepares internal financial forecasts regarding its future operations for subsequent fiscal
years.
In connection with the Companys strategic planning process, the Companys management prepared and
provided to the Company Board and PJSC risk-adjusted, forward-looking financial information for the fiscal years 2015 through 2020 based upon projections developed by the Company in April 2016. These internal, risk-adjusted financial forecasts for
the fiscal years 2015 through 2020 (the
Initial Forecasts
) were reviewed by the Company Board and used by PJSC in connection with their opinion dated June 23, 2016 to the Company Board and related financial analyses. In July 2016,
the Companys management prepared an ordinary course update to certain internal, risk-adjusted financial forecasts to reflect the actual financials of the Company as of the end of the second quarter of 2016 and updated estimates through the end
of 2016 (the
Updated Forecasts
, and, together with the Initial Forecasts, the
Forecasts
), which were used by PJSC in connection with their opinion dated August 3, 2016 to the Company Board and related financial
analyses. The Forecasts are subject to certain assumptions, risks and limitations, as described below. A summary of the Forecasts is set forth below.
The Forecasts 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 generally accepted accounting principles. In addition, the Forecasts
were not prepared with the assistance of or reviewed, compiled or examined by independent accountants. The Forecasts do not comply with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (
GAAP
). The summary of the Forecasts 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 because these Forecasts were made available to the Company Board and PJSC. The Forecasts may differ
from publicized 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 Merger.
The Forecasts were based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and may be beyond the control of
the Companys management. Important factors that may affect actual results and result in such forecasts not being achieved include, but are not limited to: failure to
38
consummate the Merger; the effects of disruption caused by the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, collaborators, vendors and other business partners;
the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the Offer or the Merger may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; and risks and uncertainties pertaining to the Companys business, including the risks and
uncertainties detailed in the Companys public periodic filings with the SEC. In addition, the Forecasts may be affected by the Companys ability to achieve strategic goals, objectives and targets over the applicable period. These
assumptions upon which the Forecasts were based necessarily involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and regulatory conditions and financial market conditions, all of which are difficult or impossible to
predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Companys control. The Forecasts also reflect assumptions as to certain business decisions that are subject to change.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the projections will be realized, and actual results may vary materially from those
shown. The inclusion of the Forecasts in this Schedule 14D-9 should not be regarded as an indication that the Company and PJSC or their respective affiliates, officers, directors, advisors or other representatives considered or consider the
Forecasts necessarily predictive of actual future events, and the Forecasts should not be relied upon as such. None of the Company, PJSC, or their respective affiliates, officers, directors, advisors or other representatives can give any assurance
that actual results will not differ from these Forecasts, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or otherwise revise or reconcile the Forecasts to reflect circumstances existing after the date such Forecasts were generated or to reflect
the occurrence of future events even in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying the projections are shown to be in error. Neither the Company, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, PJSC intends to make publicly available any update
or other revisions to these Forecasts. None of the Company or its respective 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 the Forecasts or that forecasted results will be achieved. The Company has made no representation to Parent or Purchaser, in the Merger Agreement or otherwise, concerning these
Forecasts.
The estimates of EBITDA included in the Forecasts were calculated using GAAP and other measures which are
derived from GAAP, but such estimates constitute non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial
information presented in compliance with GAAP, and non-GAAP financial measures as used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts used by other companies.
In light of the foregoing factors and the uncertainties inherent in these projections, stockholders are cautioned not to
place undue, if any, reliance on these projections.
Initial Forecasts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Amounts in millions)
|
|
Full
Year
2016
|
|
|
Jul
Dec
2016
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Revenue
|
|
$
|
295.9
|
|
|
$
|
192.4
|
|
|
$
|
320.2
|
|
|
$
|
369.2
|
|
|
$
|
428.6
|
|
|
$
|
482.8
|
|
EBITDA Pre-Stock Based Compensation
|
|
|
30.4
|
|
|
|
29.6
|
|
|
|
33.8
|
|
|
|
41.5
|
|
|
|
49.8
|
|
|
|
58.6
|
|
EBITDA Post-Stock Based Compensation
|
|
|
25.5
|
|
|
|
27.1
|
|
|
|
28.7
|
|
|
|
36.7
|
|
|
|
44.8
|
|
|
|
53.4
|
|
EBIT
|
|
|
13.4
|
|
|
|
20.6
|
|
|
|
16.3
|
|
|
|
23.0
|
|
|
|
30.7
|
|
|
|
39.4
|
|
Tax Rate
|
|
|
30.5
|
%
|
|
|
30.5
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
Diluted E.P.S.
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
0.37
|
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
0.68
|
|
|
$
|
0.86
|
|
Capital Expenditures
|
|
|
10.7
|
|
|
|
5.4
|
|
|
|
11.7
|
|
|
|
11.7
|
|
|
|
13.3
|
|
|
|
13.2
|
|
Source / (Use) of Cash from Change in Net Working Capital
|
|
|
19.4
|
|
|
|
0.6
|
|
|
|
(4.7
|
)
|
|
|
(9.8
|
)
|
|
|
(11.8
|
)
|
|
|
(10.2
|
)
|
39
Updated Forecasts:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Amounts in millions)
|
|
Full Year
2016
|
|
|
Oct Dec
2016
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2019
|
|
|
2020
|
|
Net Revenue
|
|
$
|
294.2
|
|
|
$
|
120.1
|
|
|
$
|
320.2
|
|
|
$
|
369.2
|
|
|
$
|
428.6
|
|
|
$
|
482.8
|
|
EBITDA Pre-Stock Based Compensation
|
|
|
30.1
|
|
|
|
22.6
|
|
|
|
33.8
|
|
|
|
41.5
|
|
|
|
49.8
|
|
|
|
58.6
|
|
EBITDA Post-Stock Based Compensation
|
|
|
25.4
|
|
|
|
21.5
|
|
|
|
28.7
|
|
|
|
36.7
|
|
|
|
44.8
|
|
|
|
53.4
|
|
EBIT
|
|
|
13.5
|
|
|
|
18.2
|
|
|
|
16.3
|
|
|
|
23.0
|
|
|
|
30.7
|
|
|
|
39.4
|
|
Tax Rate
|
|
|
30.5
|
%
|
|
|
30.5
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
Diluted E.P.S
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.44
|
|
|
$
|
0.37
|
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
0.68
|
|
|
$
|
0.86
|
|
Capital Expenditures
|
|
|
8.7
|
|
|
|
2.2
|
|
|
|
11.7
|
|
|
|
11.7
|
|
|
|
13.3
|
|
|
|
13.2
|
|
Source / (Use) of Cash from Change in Net Working Capital
|
|
|
22.4
|
|
|
|
(10.3
|
)
|
|
|
(7.8
|
)
|
|
|
(9.8
|
)
|
|
|
(11.8
|
)
|
|
|
(10.2
|
)
|
Item 5.
|
Persons/Assets Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used.
|
Item 5 of the Schedule
14D-9 is hereby amended and supplemented by replacing the first paragraph of the item with the following:
In
connection with PJSCs services as the financial advisor to the Company Board, the Company has agreed to pay PJSC an aggregate fee of approximately $4.7 million, $1.1 million of which was payable upon the rendering of PJSCs opinion to the
Company Board dated June 23, 2016, $250,000 of which was payable upon the rendering of PJSCs opinion to the Company Board dated August 3, 2016 and approximately $3.3 million of which is payable contingent upon consummation of the
Offer and the Merger. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse certain of PJSCs expenses arising, and to indemnify PJSC against certain liabilities that may arise, out of PJSCs engagement.
Item 6.
|
Interest in Securities of the Subject Company.
|
Item 6 of the Schedule 14D-9 is
hereby amended and supplemented by replacing in its entirety the content of this item with the following:
No
transactions in the Company Shares have been effected during the past 60 days by the Company, or, to the Companys knowledge after making reasonable inquiry, any of the directors, executive officers, subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company,
except for the transactions set forth below:
See chart of transactions below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name of Person
|
|
Transaction
Date
|
|
|
Number of
Shares
|
|
|
Sale, Purchase
or Exercise
Price per
Share
(If Applicable)
|
|
|
Nature of Transaction
|
|
Patrick Grosso
|
|
|
07/15/16
|
|
|
|
2,189
|
|
|
$
|
6.10
|
|
|
|
Sale
|
(1)
|
Rick Alden
|
|
|
07/12/16
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
6.11
|
|
|
|
Sale
|
(2)
|
Rick Alden
|
|
|
06/14/16
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
4.55
|
|
|
|
Sale
|
(2)
|
Rick Alden
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(3)
|
Jeff Kearl
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(3)
|
Oliver Scott
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(3)
|
Oliver Scott
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
14,204
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(4)
|
Heidi ONeill
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(3)
|
Heidi ONeill
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
14,204
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(4)
|
Greg Warnock
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(3)
|
Greg Warnock
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
14,204
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(4)
|
Douglas Collier
|
|
|
05/18/16
|
|
|
|
22,727
|
|
|
$
|
3.52
|
|
|
|
Company RSU Award
|
(3)
|
Rick Alden
|
|
|
05/10/16
|
|
|
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
3.72
|
|
|
|
Sale
|
(2)
|
|
(1)
|
Represents shares withheld for tax purposes upon the vesting of Company RSU Awards.
|
|
(2)
|
Represents sales of shares effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan by Rick Alden.
|
|
(3)
|
Represents time-based Company RSU Awards which vest 100% on the earlier of (1) the first anniversary of the date of grant or (2) the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders, subject in either case to the
persons continued service on the Company Board through such date.
|
|
(4)
|
Represents time-based Company RSU Awards which vest in four equal installments on May 18, 2016, June 30, 2016, September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2016, subject to the persons continued service on the Company
Board through such date.
|
40
Item 7.
|
Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals.
|
Item 7 of the Schedule 14D-9
is hereby amended and supplemented by deleting the second and third paragraphs of this item.
Item 8.
|
Additional Information.
|
Item 8 of the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby amended and
supplemented by replacing in its entirety the subsection Named Executive Officer Golden Parachute Compensation with the following:
Named Executive Officer Golden Parachute Compensation.
The information set forth in the table below is intended to comply with Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K, which requires
disclosure of information about certain compensation for each named executive officer that is based on or otherwise relates to the Offer and the Merger.
If the Offer is completed in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the consummation of the Offer will constitute a
change in control under the terms of the Amended and Restated Employment Agreements with the Companys named executive officers. The table below describes the estimated potential payments to each of the Companys named
executive officers under the terms of their Amended and Restated Employment Agreements and equity awards. The amounts shown reflect only the additional payments or benefits that a named executive officer would have received upon the occurrence of
the named executive officers termination by the Company other than for cause or the named executive officers resignation with good reason, each within 18 months following a change in control of the Company. The amounts shown do not
include the value of payments or benefits that would have been earned, or any amounts associated with equity awards that would vest pursuant to their terms on or prior to the closing of the Offer and the Merger, absent such a termination. Please
note that the amounts indicated below are estimates based on the material assumptions described in the notes to the table below, which may or may not actually occur. Some of these assumptions are based on information currently available and, as a
result, the actual amounts, if any, that may become payable to a named executive officer may differ in material respects from the amounts set forth below. Furthermore, for purposes of calculating such amounts, the Company has assumed:
|
|
|
a price per share of the Company Shares of $6.10, which is the Offer Price;
|
|
|
|
the closing of the Offer and the Merger on August 19, 2016; and
|
|
|
|
with respect to each named executive officer, a termination of employment by the executive for good reason or by the Company without cause, in each case, on August 19, 2016, in which case such executive would be
entitled to receive each of the payments and benefits described in further detail below.
|
Golden Parachute
Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Cash
(1)
|
|
|
Equity
(2)
|
|
|
Perquisites/
Benefits
(3)
|
|
|
Other
(4)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
S. Hoby Darling
|
|
$
|
2,534,795
|
|
|
$
|
977,242
|
|
|
$
|
22,093
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
3,559,130
|
|
Jason Hodell
|
|
$
|
1,025,443
|
|
|
$
|
1,200,537
|
|
|
$
|
20,749
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
2,271,729
|
|
Sam Paschel, Jr.
|
|
$
|
793,543
|
|
|
$
|
443,097
|
|
|
$
|
11,890
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,273,530
|
|
David Raffone
|
|
$
|
621,620
|
|
|
$
|
455,232
|
|
|
$
|
4,957
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,106,809
|
|
Patrick Grosso
|
|
$
|
803,573
|
|
|
$
|
196,579
|
|
|
$
|
17,674
|
|
|
$
|
25,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,042,826
|
|
|
(1)
|
Under the Amended and Restated Employment Agreements, cash severance would be payable in a lump sum on the 60
th
day following a termination without cause or for good
reason, in either case, during the period on or within 18 months following a change of control (i.e., pursuant to a double trigger arrangement), subject, in either case, to such executives timely execution, delivery and
non-revocation of a general release of claims. In either such event, pursuant to the Amended and Restated Employment Agreements, the named executive officer will receive severance payments equal to the sum of the executives base salary and
target bonus for the fiscal year in which such termination occurs, multiplied by 2.5 (for Mr. Darling), 2.0 (for Messrs. Hodell and Grosso) and 1.5 (for Messrs. Raffone and Paschel), plus a pro-rata portion of such executives annual bonus
based on such executives service during the year of termination.
|
41
The following table quantifies the base salary severance and bonus component of severance
included in the aggregate total reported in the column.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Base Salary
Severance
|
|
|
Target
Bonus
Component
of Severance
|
|
|
Pro-Rata
Bonus
Component
of Severance
|
|
S. Hoby Darling
|
|
$
|
1,125,000
|
|
|
$
|
1,125,000
|
|
|
$
|
284,795
|
|
Jason Hodell
|
|
$
|
618,400
|
|
|
$
|
309,200
|
|
|
$
|
97,843
|
|
Sam Paschel, Jr.
|
|
$
|
463,800
|
|
|
$
|
231,900
|
|
|
$
|
97,843
|
|
David Raffone
|
|
$
|
363,450
|
|
|
$
|
181,497
|
|
|
$
|
76,673
|
|
Patrick Grosso
|
|
$
|
484,600
|
|
|
$
|
242,300
|
|
|
$
|
76,673
|
|
|
(2)
|
Under the Amended and Restated Employment Agreements, each named executive officer would be entitled to accelerated vesting of his unvested equity-based compensation pursuant to a double trigger arrangement
(i.e., the occurrence of a change of control and such executives qualifying termination as described in footnote (1) above).
|
Additionally, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) each Company Option will be accelerated in full and each Company Option will be canceled
and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, if any, without interest and less any required withholding taxes, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the excess, if any, of (1) the Offer Price minus (2) the exercise price per
share of such Company Option, and (B) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company Option and (ii) each Company RSU Award will be accelerated in full (which, in the case of a Company RSU Award that vests in whole or in part on the basis of
achievement of performance goals, shall be determined as if performance were at 100% of targeted performance) and each Company RSU Award will be canceled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, if any, without interest and less
any required withholding taxes, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the Offer Price and (B) the number of Company Shares underlying such Company RSU Award immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Amounts included in this column as they relate to payment for Company Options and Company RSU Awards are single trigger payments
(closing of the Offer and the Merger) because they would be paid at the Effective Time, without regard to whether the named executive officer experiences a termination of employment.
The following table quantifies the value of the unvested Company Options and Company RSU Awards held by the named executive officers, assuming
a price per share of Company Common Stock equal to the Offer Price of $6.10, consistent with the methodology applied under SEC Regulation M-A Item 1011(b) and Regulation S-K Item 402(t)(2).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Number
of
Unvested
Stock
Options
|
|
|
Value of
Unvested
Stock
Options
|
|
|
Number of
Restricted
Stock
Units
|
|
|
Value of
Restricted
Stock
Units
|
|
S. Hoby Darling
|
|
|
368,632
|
|
|
$
|
373,629
|
|
|
|
98,953
|
|
|
$
|
603,613
|
|
Jason Hodell
|
|
|
317,116
|
|
|
$
|
276,277
|
|
|
|
151,518
|
|
|
$
|
924,260
|
|
Sam Paschel, Jr.
|
|
|
195,683
|
|
|
$
|
219,264
|
|
|
|
36,694
|
|
|
$
|
223,833
|
|
David Raffone
|
|
|
96,755
|
|
|
$
|
103,604
|
|
|
|
57,644
|
|
|
$
|
351,628
|
|
Patrick Grosso
|
|
|
93,294
|
|
|
$
|
107,220
|
|
|
|
14,649
|
|
|
$
|
89,359
|
|
|
(3)
|
Amounts include the estimated value of Company-paid or subsidized continued healthcare coverage for each named executive officer for up to 30 months (for Mr. Darling), 24 months (for Messrs. Hodell and Grosso) and 18
months (for Messrs. Raffone and Paschel), which the named executive officers are entitled to receive under the Amended and Restated Employment Agreements upon a qualifying termination in connection with a change in control as described in footnote
(1) above. As a result, these amounts are double trigger benefits.
|
|
(4)
|
Under the Amended and Restated Employment Agreements, each named executive officer would be entitled to a reimbursement of up to $25,000 for outplacement services upon the occurrence of a change of control and such
executives qualifying termination as described in footnote (1) above. As a result, these benefits are double trigger benefits.
|
42
Narrative
Disclosure
to Named
Executive
Officer
Golden Parachute
Compensation Table
The Company has entered into Amended
and Restated Employment Agreements with each named executive officer, each of which provides for severance payments and benefits, including equity award acceleration, upon certain terminations of employment. For more information relating to these
arrangements, see the description of such agreements in Item 3 above under the heading Arrangements with Current Executive Officers and Directors of the CompanyOther Compensatory Arrangements with Executive Officers and
Directors.
Item 9 of the Schedule 14D-9 is hereby amended and supplemented by inserting the following
exhibit thereto:
|
|
|
Exhibit
No.
|
|
Description
|
(a)(15)*
|
|
Opinion of Peter J. Solomon Securities Company, LLC, dated August 3, 2016 (included as Annex III to this
Schedule 14D-9).
|
|
|
(a)(16)
|
|
Amended Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(H) to the Schedule TO).
|
|
|
(a)(17)
|
|
Amended Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(I) to the Schedule TO).
|
|
|
(a)(18)
|
|
Amended Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(J) to the Schedule TO).
|
|
|
(a)(19)*
|
|
Letter to Stockholders of the Company, dated August 5, 2016, from S. Hoby Darling, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
|
43
SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
|
|
|
Skullcandy, Inc.
|
|
|
By:
|
|
/s/ Patrick Grosso
|
Name:
|
|
Patrick Grosso
|
Title:
|
|
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
and
Corporate Affairs, Chief Legal
Officer and Secretary
|
Dated: August 5, 2016
ANNEX III
August 3, 2016
Board of Directors
Skullcandy, Inc.
1441 West Ute Boulevard
Suite 250
Park City, UT 84098
Ladies and Gentlemen:
You have asked us to
advise you with respect to the fairness to the holders (other than Incipio LLC (Parent) and its affiliates) of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the Shares), of Skullcandy, Inc. (the
Company) from a financial point of view of the $6.10 in cash per Share (the Consideration) to be paid to the holders of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 23, 2016 (the
Agreement), as amended on August 3, 2016, by and among Parent, Powder Merger Sub, Inc., a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Acquisition Sub), and the Company.
We understand that the Agreement provides that Parent will cause Acquisition Sub to commence a tender offer (the Tender Offer) for
all of the issued and outstanding Shares pursuant to which Acquisition Sub will pay the Consideration for each Share accepted. The Agreement further provides that, following the consummation of the Tender Offer, under circumstances specified in
the Agreement, Acquisition Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the Merger and, together with the Tender Offer, the
Transactions) and that, upon the effectiveness of the Merger, each Share not tendered and accepted in the Tender Offer (other than Shares held by (i) the Company, Parent or Acquisition Sub, or by any of their respective direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiaries, or (ii) stockholders that shall have neither voted in favor of the adoption of the Agreement nor consented thereto in writing and that shall have properly and validly perfected their statutory rights of appraisal
in respect of such Shares) will be cancelled and converted into the right to be paid the Consideration.
For purposes of the opinion set
forth herein, we have:
(i) reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other information of the Company;
(ii) reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating data concerning the Company prepared
and provided to us by the management of the Company and approved for our use by the Company;
(iii) reviewed certain
financial projections for the Company prepared and provided to us by the management of the Company and approved for our use by the Company;
(iv) discussed the past and current operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company with management of the
Company;
(v) reviewed the reported prices and trading activity of the Shares;
(vi) compared the financial performance and condition of the Company and the reported prices and trading activity of the Shares
with that of certain other publicly traded companies that we deemed relevant;
(vii) reviewed publicly available
information regarding the financial terms of certain transactions that we deemed relevant, in whole or in part, to the Transactions;
(viii) participated in certain discussions among management and other representatives of each of Parent and the Company;
(ix) reviewed the Agreement; and
(x) performed such other analyses as we have deemed appropriate.
We have assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the information reviewed by us
for the purposes of this opinion and we have not assumed any responsibility for independent verification of such information and have relied on such information being complete and correct. We have relied on assurances of the management of the
Company that they are not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information inaccurate or misleading in any respect material to our opinion. With respect to the financial projections, we have assumed that the financial
projections were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the future financial performance of the Company. We have not conducted a physical inspection of the facilities or property of the
Company. We have not assumed any responsibility for or performed any independent valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities of the Company, nor have we been furnished with any such valuation or appraisal. Furthermore, we have not
considered any tax, accounting or legal effects of the Transactions or transaction structure on any person or entity.
We have also
assumed that the Transactions will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement (including, without limitation, the Consideration to be paid to
the holders of the Shares in the Transactions), and that, in the course of obtaining the necessary regulatory or third party approvals, consents and releases for the Transactions, no delay, limitation, restriction or condition will be imposed that
would have an adverse effect on the Company or the contemplated benefits of the Transactions. We have further assumed that all representations and warranties set forth in the Agreement are and will be true and correct as of all the dates made
or deemed made and that all parties to the Agreement will comply with all covenants of such parties thereunder.
Our opinion is
necessarily based on economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to us as of, August 2, 2016. In particular, we do not express any opinion as to the prices at which the Shares may trade at any
future time or as to the impact of the Transactions on the solvency or viability of the Company, Parent or Acquisition Sub or the ability of the Company, Parent or Acquisition Sub to pay their respective obligations when they come
due. Furthermore, our opinion does not address the Companys underlying business decision to undertake the Transactions, and our opinion does not address the relative merits of the Transactions as compared to any alternative transactions
that might be available to the Company. Our opinion does not address any other aspect or implication of the Transactions or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into in connection with the Transactions or otherwise except
as expressly identified herein.
Natixis, S.A. (Natixis), which became the holder of a majority of our outstanding equity on
June 8, 2016, is, together with its affiliates, engaged in advisory, underwriting and financing, principal investing, sales and trading, research, investment management, insurance and other financial and non-financial activities and services for
various persons and entities. Natixis and its affiliates and employees, and funds or other entities they manage or in which they invest or have other economic interests or with which they co-invest, may at any time purchase, sell, hold or vote
long or short positions and investments in securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments of the Company, Parent, any of their respective affiliates and third parties, including Goode
Partners LLC (Goode), a significant shareholder of Parent, and its affiliates and portfolio companies
,
or any currency or commodity that may be involved in the Transactions.
We have acted as financial advisor to the Company in connection with this transaction and will receive a fee for our services, a substantial
portion of which is contingent upon the closing of the Merger and a portion of which is payable upon the delivery of this letter. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse our expenses and indemnify us against certain liabilities arising
out of our engagement. In the past we have provided and are currently providing financial advisory services to the Company and its affiliates, including having delivered an opinion on June 23, 2016 to the Board of Directors of the Company that,
as of such date and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the purchase price of $5.75 in cash per Share to be paid to the holders of the Shares (other than Parent and its affiliates) pursuant to the Agreement (as
in effect on June 23, 2016), was fair from a financial point of view to such holders. We have received and in the future may receive compensation for rendering the aforementioned services. In the future, we, Natixis and our respective
affiliates may provide financial advisory services to the Company, Parent, Goode and their respective affiliates and, in the case of Goode, portfolio companies and in the future may receive compensation for rendering these services. In
addition, Natixis or its affiliates may have co-invested with Goode from time to time and may have invested in limited partnership units of affiliates of Goode.
This letter and our advisory services are provided for the information and assistance of the Board of Directors of the Company in connection
with its consideration of the Transactions. This letter may not be reproduced, summarized, described, referred to or used for any other purpose without our prior written consent, except as part of a recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9
related to the Tender Offer or a proxy statement that is required to be filed by the Company in connection with the Transactions, provided that this letter is quoted in full in such recommendation statement or proxy statement, as the case may
be. We express no view as to, and our opinion does not address, the fairness (financial or otherwise) of the amount or nature or any other aspect of any compensation to any officers, directors or employees of any parties to the Transactions, or
any
class of such persons, relative to the Consideration to be paid to the holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement. This letter does not constitute
a recommendation to any holder of Shares as to whether or not such holder should tender Shares pursuant to the Tender Offer or how any such holder should act on any matter relating to the Transactions. The issuance of this opinion has been
authorized by our fairness opinion committee.
Based on, and subject to, the foregoing, we are of the opinion that on the date hereof, the
Consideration to be paid to the holders (other than Parent and its affiliates) of the Shares pursuant to the Agreement is fair from a financial point of view to such holders.
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Very truly yours,
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PETER J. SOLOMON SECURITIES COMPANY, LLC
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/s/ Peter J. Solomon Securities Company, LLC
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Skullcandy, Inc. (MM) (NASDAQ:SKUL)
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