THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON JULY 7, 2022, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED. |
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON JULY 7, 2022, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED. |
D.F. King & Co., Inc. 48 Wall Street New York, New York 10005 Shareholders Call (Toll-Free): (877) 478-5040 Banks and Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550 By Email: ETTX@dfking.com |
Securities Sought | | | All issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Entasis Therapeutics Holdings Inc. |
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Price Offered Per Share | | | $2.20 (the “Offer Price”), net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon and less any applicable withholding taxes |
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Scheduled Expiration of Offer | | | 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on July 7, 2022, unless the offer is extended or earlier terminated. |
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Purchaser | | | Innoviva Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Innoviva, Inc., a Delaware corporation. |
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Entasis Board Recommendation | | | On May 22, 2022, the Entasis board of directors (the “Entasis Board”), based on the recommendation of its Special Transactions Committee (the “Special Transactions Committee), unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of Entasis and its stockholders (other than the Purchaser Parties (as defined herein)); (ii) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger; (iii) resolved that the Merger Agreement and the Merger be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL and that the Merger be consummated as soon as practicable following consummation of the Offer; and (iv) recommended that stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Shares (as defined below) pursuant to the Offer. |
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Supporting Stockholders | | | Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of Entasis entered into Tender and Support Agreements with Innoviva and Purchaser pursuant to which each such person agreed, among other things, to tender all of the Shares beneficially owned by such person in the Offer. The Supporting Stockholders (as defined below) beneficially own, in the aggregate, approximately 2.32% of the outstanding Shares. |
• | Innoviva Merger Sub, Inc. (“Purchaser”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Innoviva, Inc. (“Parent”, and together with Purchaser, the “Purchaser Parties”), is offering to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Entasis. Innoviva is a company with a portfolio of royalties and other healthcare assets. |
• | Purchaser is a Delaware corporation which was formed for the sole purpose of making the Offer and completing the process by which Purchaser will be merged with and into Entasis (the “Merger”) in accordance with the Merger Agreement (as defined herein) and the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). |
• | determined that the Merger Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of Entasis and its stockholders (other than the Purchaser Parties); |
• | approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger; |
• | resolved that the Merger Agreement and the Merger be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL and that the Merger be consummated as soon as practicable following consummation of the Offer; and |
• | recommended that stockholders accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer. |
(a) | there having been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Offer on or prior to the Expiration Time (as defined below) that number of Shares which, excluding any Shares beneficially owned by (a) Purchaser or Parent and (b) Manoussos Perros (the “Entasis CEO”), represent at least one more Share than fifty percent (50%) of the Shares not beneficially owned by such persons in causes (a) and (b) outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer (the “Minimum Condition”); |
(b) | as of immediately prior to the Expiration Time no governmental entity of any competent jurisdiction shall have (x) enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any (A) order, writ, ruling, injunction, judgment, stipulation, determination, award or decree (“Order”), or (B) federal, state, provincial, local, municipal, multi-national or foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, constitution, code, arbitration award, common law, franchise, license, requirement or permit (“Law”), or (y) taken any other action then in effect, in each case, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that has the effect of enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Offer or the Merger (the “Governmental Entity Condition”); |
(c) | the representations and warranties of Entasis (A) set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization), Section 4.2(d) (Capitalization) and Section 4.3 (Company Subsidiaries) being true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Expiration Time as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), (B) set forth in Section 4.9(b) (Absence of Certain Changes), and Section 4.24 (Brokers or Finders) being true and correct in all respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Expiration Time as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), (C) set forth in the other subsections of Section 4.2 (Capitalization) being true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis accuracies) as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Expiration Time as though made on and as of such date (except |
(d) | Entasis not having failed to perform or comply in any material respect with any obligation, agreement, or covenant required to be performed or complied with by it under the Merger Agreement, in each case, on or prior to the Expiration Time; |
(e) | Since the date of the Merger Agreement, there not having occurred any event, condition, change, occurrence or development of a state of facts that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; |
(f) | Parent having received a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of Entasis dated as of the Closing Date certifying on behalf of Entasis to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (c), (d) and (e) above; and |
(g) | the Merger Agreement not having been validly terminated in accordance with its terms. |
• | waive the Minimum Condition; |
• | decrease the Offer Price or change the form of consideration payable in the Offer; |
• | decrease the maximum number of Shares subject to or sought to be purchased in the Offer; |
• | impose conditions on the Offer in addition to the Offer Conditions or amend, modify or supplement any condition in a manner adverse to the Company’s stockholders; |
• | amend any other term of the Offer in a manner that is materially adverse to the Company’s stockholders; or |
• | extend or otherwise change the Expiration Time except as required or permitted under the Merger Agreement. |
• | tender your Shares in the Offer by delivering (A) the certificates representing your Shares, together with a completed and signed Letter of Transmittal and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the Depositary (as defined herein), or (B) a completed and signed Letter of Transmittal indicating that you tender all of your Shares, together with any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the Depositary, or |
• | (ii) tender your Shares by following the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, not later than the Expiration Time. |
• | if on the then-effective Expiration Time, the Minimum Condition has not been satisfied or any of the other Offer Conditions have not been satisfied or waived by Parent or Purchaser if permitted by the Merger Agreement, then Purchaser shall (and Parent shall cause Purchaser to) extend the Offer on one or more occasions in consecutive increments of not more than ten business days each, or for such longer period as the parties may agree in writing in order to permit the satisfaction of such Offer Conditions (subject to the right of Parent or Purchaser to waive any Offer Conditions, other than the Minimum Condition); provided, however, notwithstanding the above, if on the then-effective Expiration Time, the Minimum Condition has not been satisfied and a Change in Recommendation (as defined herein) has occurred prior to the then-effective Expiration Time and remains in effect, Purchaser shall, and Parent shall cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer by only one period of no more than ten business days (the “Limited Extension”); and |
• | Purchaser shall (and Parent shall cause Purchaser to) extend the Offer for the minimum period required by applicable Law, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or Nasdaq or its staff. |
Terms of the Offer. |
• | Entasis mutually agrees to terminate the Merger Agreement by written agreement; |
• | any governmental entity having competent jurisdiction shall have (x) enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order, in each case, which is then in effect, or (y) taken any other action, in each case, permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Offer or the Merger and such Law, Order or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, that neither Parent nor Purchaser’s breach of, or failure to fulfill, any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the enactment, issuance, promulgation, enforcement or entry of any such Order or other action; |
• | the Acceptance Time shall not have occurred by August 8, 2022 (the “Termination Date”); provided, that neither Parent nor Purchaser’s breach of, or failure to fulfill, any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement in any manner has been the cause of, or resulted in, in any material respect, the failure of the Acceptance Time to occur by the Termination Date; |
• | there has been a breach or failure of any representation, warranty or covenant of Entasis set forth in the Merger Agreement that has given rise to or would reasonably be expected to give rise to the failure of certain of the Offer Conditions and as a result of such breach or failure, such condition is not capable of being satisfied prior to the Termination Date, or if capable of being cured, has not been cured within 30 days of the receipt by Entasis of written notice from Parent of such breach or failure stating Parent’s intention to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms (or any shorter period of the time that remains between the date Parent provides written notice of such breach or failure and the Termination Date); provided, however, that, Parent is not itself in material breach of the Merger Agreement and such breach would result in Entasis having the right to terminate the Merger Agreement; |
• | Entasis shall have effected a Change in Recommendation or shall have willfully breached the provisions relating to Acquisition Proposals (as defined below) under the Merger Agreement. |
Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares. |
Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares. |
Withdrawal Rights. |
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences. |
Price Range of Shares; Dividends. |
| | | High | | | Low | |
Year Ended December 31, 2022 | | | | | ||
First Quarter | | | $2.37 | | | $1.40 |
Second Quarter (through June 6, 2022) | | | $2.19 | | | $1.75 |
Year Ended December 31, 2021 | | | | | ||
First Quarter | | | $3.74 | | | $1.95 |
Second Quarter | | | $3.21 | | | $1.76 |
Third Quarter | | | $3.88 | | | $2.21 |
Fourth Quarter | | | $3.47 | | | $2.03 |
Year Ended December 31, 2020 | | | | | ||
First Quarter | | | $5.64 | | | $1.75 |
Second Quarter | | | $4.00 | | | $2.20 |
Third Quarter | | | $4.25 | | | $2.04 |
Fourth Quarter | | | $2.93 | | | $1.58 |
Certain Information Concerning Entasis. |
Certain Information Concerning Parent and Purchaser. |
Source and Amount of Funds. |
Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Entasis. |
The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements. |
• | Purchaser shall be merged with and into Entasis and the separate existence of Purchaser shall thereupon cease; and |
• | Entasis shall continue its existence under the DGCL as the Surviving Corporation and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. |
• | Merger Sub shall have accepted for payment all Subject Shares (as defined below); and |
• | No governmental entity of any competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Order or Law or taken any other action which is then in effect (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that has the effect of enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Offer or the Merger or the other contemplated transactions under the Merger Agreement (the “Contemplated Transactions”). |
• | Each Share not beneficially owned (having the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by the Purchaser Parties (the “Unaffiliated Shares”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) Shares to be cancelled pursuant to provisions relating to the conversion of capital |
• | Each share of common stock of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation with the same rights, powers, and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation; |
• | All Shares that are beneficially owned by the Purchaser Parties or held by the Company as treasury stock, in each case immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefore; |
• | Each Share converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration shall automatically cease to exist and the holders immediately prior to the Effective Time of Shares not represented by certificates (“Book-Entry Shares”) and the holders of certificates that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represent Shares (the “Certificates”) shall cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares other than the right to receive, upon surrender of such Book-Entry Shares or Certificates in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Merger Consideration for each such Share held by them. |
• | the corporate organization, standing and power of Entasis and its subsidiaries; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ capitalization; |
• | the outstanding capital stock of Entasis’ subsidiaries; |
• | Entasis’ corporate power and authority to enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the transactions contemplated thereby; |
• | the due execution and delivery by Entasis of the Merger Agreement and the enforceability of the Merger Agreement against Entasis; |
• | Entasis’ Board’s actions in support of the Merger Agreement; |
• | governmental filings and certain other governmental and other third party consents and approvals, and no violations of organizational or governance documents; |
• | Entasis’ SEC filings and compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the listing and governance requirements of Nasdaq; |
• | Entasis’ financial statements, disclosure controls and internal controls; |
• | the accuracy of information provided by Entasis for inclusion in certain SEC filings relating to the Offer; |
• | the absence of undisclosed liabilities; |
• | the absence of certain changes involving Entasis and its subsidiaries since certain specified dates; |
• | the absence of material pending or threatened legal proceedings against Entasis or its subsidiaries; |
• | the absence of an Order respecting Entasis or its subsidiaries, or a material Order prohibiting certain conduct by an officer of Entasis or its subsidiaries; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ permits and compliance with applicable laws, including health care laws; |
• | Entasis’ tests and preclinical and clinical trials; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ tax matters; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ material contracts; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ intellectual property; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ real property; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ insurance; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ employee benefit plans, ERISA matters and other employment benefit matters; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ labor matters; |
• | Entasis’ and its subsidiaries’ environmental matters; |
• | certain regulatory matters regarding Entasis and its subsidiaries; |
• | brokers’ and other advisors’ fees or commission payable by Entasis in connection with the Merger and related transactions; |
• | an opinion delivered to the Entasis Board by MTS Securities; |
• | state anti-takeover statutes; and |
• | bank accounts. |
• | the corporate organization, standing and valid existence of Parent and Purchaser; |
• | Parent’s and Purchaser’s respective power and authority relating to the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and required authorizations; |
• | the due execution and delivery by Parent and Purchaser of the Merger Agreement and the validity and enforceability of the Merger Agreement against Parent and Purchaser; |
• | required governmental approvals; |
• | the accuracy of the information supplied by Parent or Purchaser for inclusion in certain SEC filings relating to the Offer; |
• | operations of Purchaser; |
• | brokers’ and other advisors’ fees or commission payable by Parent or Purchaser based on arrangements made by Parent or Purchaser; |
• | the independent investigation of Parent and Purchaser; |
• | the non-reliance of Parent and Purchaser on Entasis’ estimates, projects, and other forecasts; |
• | Parent’s financing commitment to Purchaser related to consummating the Offer, the Merger, and the other Contemplated Transactions under the Merger Agreement; |
• | the absence of pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened legal proceedings against Parent or Purchaser that would have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Parent Material Adverse Effect; |
• | the absence of an Order against Parent or Purchaser that would have, or reasonably be expected to have, a Parent Material Adverse Effect; and |
• | ownership of Entasis’ Shares. |
• | offer, issue, deliver, sell, grant, dispose of, pledge or otherwise encumber, or authorize or propose the offering, issuance, delivery, sale, grant, disposition, pledge or encumbrance of (i) except pursuant to a |
• | redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, or propose to redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any outstanding shares of capital stock or other securities of any Acquired Companies; |
• | split, combine, subdivide or reclassify any capital stock or other Equity Interests of any of the Acquired Companies or declare, accrue, set aside for payment or pay any dividend in respect of any outstanding capital stock or other Equity Interests of any of the Acquired Companies or otherwise make any payments to any such holders in their capacity as such; |
• | acquire, sell, lease, license, transfer, encumber or dispose of, or agree to acquire, sell, lease, license, transfer, encumber or dispose of, any material assets, properties or rights, other than in the ordinary course of business; |
• | (i) incur, create, issue or assume any indebtedness or guarantee or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness (including increasing the indebtedness under contracts in existence as of the date hereof); (ii) voluntarily create any encumbrances on any property or assets of any of the Acquired Companies; or (iii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other than loans among any of the Company and any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company; |
• | (i) except as required by applicable Law or the terms of a plan in effect as of the date hereof, increase the compensation or benefits of any employee, director or individual independent contractor of Entasis or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) accelerate the vesting or payment of any compensation or benefits of any employee, director or individual independent contractor of Entasis or any of its subsidiaries, except as expressly contemplated in the equity awards provisions of the Merger Agreement, (iii) enter into, amend or terminate any plan (or any plan, program, agreement or arrangement that would be a plan if in effect on the date hereof) or grant, amend or terminate any awards thereunder, (iv) fund any payments or benefits that are payable or to be provided under any plan, except as required by the terms of such plan or applicable Law, (v) terminate without “cause” any employee with an annual base salary in excess of $75,000 or any director or individual independent contractor of Entasis or any of its subsidiaries, (vi) make any loan to any employee, director or individual independent contractor of Entasis or any of its subsidiaries (other than advancement of expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices), or (vii) enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with a labor union, works council or similar organization; or (viii) permit any payment period to be in effect under the ESPP, permit any participant contributions to be made or accumulated under the ESPP, or authorize or commence any new payment period under the ESPP; |
• | terminate, modify, assign or amend, or waive or assign any material rights under, any material contract of the Acquired Companies, or enter into or become bound by any contract that would be a company material contract of the Acquired Companies under the terms of the Merger Agreement if in existence on the date hereof, in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | change any of its material accounting principles, practices or methods unless required by Law or GAAP; |
• | amend or permit the adoption of any amendment to the organizational documents or to the charter or other organizational documents of any of the other Acquired Companies, or form any subsidiary; |
• | acquire any equity interest or other interest in any other entity or effect or become a party to any merger, consolidation, plan of arrangement, share exchange, business combination, amalgamation, recapitalization, reclassification of shares, stock split, reverse stock split, issuance of bonus shares, division or subdivision of shares, consolidation of shares or similar transaction; |
• | authorize or make any commitment with respect to any material capital expenditure that is not budgeted in Entasis’ current plan approved by the Entasis Board as of the date hereof; |
• | except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, (i) make or change any material tax election, (ii) adopt or change any material method of tax accounting, (iii) file any material amended tax return, (iv) enter into any tax allocation agreement, tax sharing agreement or tax indemnity agreement relating to any material tax, (v) surrender the right to claim a material tax refund, (vi) settle or compromise any claim, notice, audit report, or assessment in respect of any material tax, (vii) consent to any waiver of the statute of limitations period applicable to any material tax claim or assessment, (viii) request any material tax ruling, (ix) fail to pay any material tax when such tax becomes due and payable, or (x) prepare any tax returns in a manner which is not consistent with the past custom and practice with respect to the treatment of such items on such tax returns; |
• | commence any legal proceeding, except (A) as required with respect to continuation of legal proceedings previously commenced and routine collection matters and other matters in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices; or (B) legal proceedings in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Support Agreements and the Contemplated Transactions; |
• | subject to the stockholder litigation provisions of the Merger Agreement, waive, release, assign, settle or compromise or offer or propose to waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material legal proceeding; |
• | extend, renew or enter into any contracts containing non-compete or exclusivity provisions that (A) would materially restrict or limit the operations of any of the Acquired Companies or (B) apply to any current or future affiliates of Entasis, the Surviving Corporation or Parent; |
• | other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, materially reduce the amount of insurance coverage or terminate or fail to renew any material existing insurance policies; |
• | waive, terminate or allow to lapse any material intellectual property rights owned by Entasis or its subsidiaries; |
• | authorize, recommend, propose, enter into, adopt a plan or announce an intention to adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, merger (other than the Merger), consolidation or other reorganization (other than reorganizations involving only wholly owned subsidiaries of Entasis which would not result in a material increase in the tax liability of any of the Acquired Companies); or |
• | agree, authorize or commit to take, or adopt any resolutions of the Board in support of, or enter into any contract, to do any of the foregoing. |
• | solicit or initiate, or knowingly facilitate or knowingly encourage the submission of any Acquisition Proposal or the making of any inquiry or proposal that would reasonably be expected to lead to any Acquisition Proposal; |
• | furnish any nonpublic information regarding, or afford access to, the properties, books or records of any of the Acquired Companies to any person with the intent to facilitate or encourage an Acquisition Proposal; |
• | engage in discussions or negotiations with any person relating to any Acquisition Proposal; |
• | approve, endorse, recommend or enter into any agreement in principle, letter of intent, merger agreement, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement relating to any Acquisition Proposal; |
• | amend or grant any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement or approve any transaction under, or permit any Third Party to become an “interested stockholder” under, Section 203 of the DGCL; or |
• | resolve to propose, agree or publicly announce an intention to do any of the foregoing. |
• | Continuation of Benefits. The Purchaser Parties shall, or shall cause their affiliates to, provide to each employee of Entasis or any of its subsidiaries who continues employment with the Purchaser Parties, Entasis or any of their respective subsidiaries following the Closing (each, a “Continuing Employee”), for a period of one year immediately following the Closing Date (or such earlier date as such Continuing Employee’s employment terminates for any reason), (i) an annual base salary or wage rate, as applicable, that is no less than the annual base salary or wage rate provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Merger Closing, (ii) a target annual cash incentive compensation opportunity (as set forth in the confidential disclosure letter provided in connection with the Merger Agreement) and cash severance benefits (including COBRA subsidies), that are no less favorable than those that such Continuing Employee was eligible for immediately prior to the Merger Closing, and (iii) employee benefits (excluding equity-based compensation, non-qualified deferred compensation, long-term incentive compensation, severance, retention, change in control or similar benefits, retiree welfare benefits and defined benefit pension benefits) that are comparable in the aggregate to those provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Merger Closing. Notwithstanding clause (iii) of the preceding sentence, Purchaser Parties shall, and shall cause their affiliates and the Surviving Corporation to, honor the obligations of Entasis and its subsidiaries under certain pre-existing compensation plans and agreements with Continuing Employees following the Merger Closing. |
• | Service Credit. With respect to any “employee benefit plan,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, or other benefit plan or arrangement maintained by the Purchaser Parties or their affiliates (including Entasis) in which any Continuing Employee is eligible to participate on or after the Closing Date (“Purchaser Plan”), for purposes of determining eligibility to participate in and vesting with respect to such plan, as of the Closing Date, the Purchaser Parties shall use the Purchaser Parties’ reasonable best efforts to, or shall use the Purchaser Parties’ reasonable best efforts to cause their affiliates to, cause each Continuing Employee’s service with Entasis or its affiliates (but not service with any predecessor employer) prior to the Closing Date to be treated as service with the Purchaser Parties and their affiliates (including Entasis) as of the Closing Date; provided that such recognition of service shall not operate to duplicate any benefits of a Continuing Employee with respect to the same period of service or to the extent that such service is not recognized under such Purchaser Plan for other employees of the Purchaser Parties; provided, further, that such service shall not be recognized for purposes of benefit accruals under any defined benefit pension plan, nonqualified deferred compensation plan, or retiree health or welfare plan or arrangement or vesting of any cash, equity or equity-based compensation plan, program or arrangement. Entasis shall provide all reasonable assistance and information as the Purchaser Parties may reasonably request during the period between the date of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time in connection with the benefits to be provided under the |
• | Health Coverage. With respect to any health and welfare plan maintained by the Purchaser Parties or their affiliates (including Entasis) in which any Continuing Employee is eligible to participate on or after the Closing Date, the Purchaser Parties shall use the Purchaser Parties’ reasonable best efforts to, or shall use the Purchaser Parties’ reasonable best efforts to cause their affiliates to, (i) waive, or cause to be waived, preexisting conditions, limitations, exclusions, actively-at-work requirements and waiting periods with respect to participation by and coverage of each Continuing Employee (and his or her eligible dependents), and (ii) recognize, or cause to be recognized, the dollar amount of all copayments, deductibles and similar expenses incurred by each Continuing Employee (and his or her eligible dependents) during the plan year in which the Closing Date occurs for purposes of satisfying such plan year’s deductible and co-payment limitations under the relevant welfare benefit plans in which each Continuing Employee (and his or her eligible dependents) will be eligible to participate on and after the Closing Date. |
• | No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing in the Merger Agreement shall confer upon any current or former employee or other service provider of Entasis or any of its affiliates any right to continue in the employ or service of any of the Purchaser Parties or any of their respective affiliates, or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of any of the Purchaser Parties or any of their respective affiliates, which rights are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge or terminate the services of any employee or other service provider of Entasis or any of its affiliates at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause. In no event shall the terms of the Merger Agreement be deemed to (i) establish, amend or modify any plan or any other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement maintained or sponsored by any of the Purchaser Parties or any of their respective affiliates, or (ii) alter or limit the ability of any of the Purchaser Parties or any of their respective affiliates to amend, modify or terminate any plan in accordance with its terms after the Effective Time (subject to the Purchaser Parties’ obligation to comply with Sections 6.13(a), (b), or (c) of the Merger Agreement). Nothing in this paragraph shall create any third party beneficiary rights in any current or former employee or other service provider of Entasis or any of its affiliates (or any beneficiaries or dependents thereof) or any right in any other person, including any employees, former employees, any participant or any beneficiary thereof in any plan or Purchaser Plan. |
• | by mutual written agreement of Parent and Entasis; |
• | by either Parent or Entasis: |
○ | (i) if any governmental entity having competent jurisdiction shall have, enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order which is then in effect or taken any other action, in each case, permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Offer or the Merger and such Order or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement under this paragraph shall not be available to a party whose breach of, or failure to fulfill, any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the enactment, issuance, promulgation, enforcement or entry of any such Order or other action; or |
○ | (ii) if the Acceptance Time shall not have occurred by the Termination Date; provided, that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph shall not be available to any party whose breach of, or failure to fulfill, any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement in any manner has been the cause of, or resulted in, in any material respect, the failure of the Acceptance Time to occur by the Termination Date (it being understood that the Purchaser Parties shall be deemed a single Party for purposes of the foregoing proviso). |
• | by Entasis, if: |
○ | a breach or failure of any representation, warranty or covenant of any Purchaser Party set forth in the Merger Agreement, shall have occurred, which breach or failure has given rise to or would reasonably be expected to give rise to a Parent Material Adverse Effect and such breach is not capable of being cured by the Termination Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 days of the receipt by the Purchaser Parties of written notice from Entasis of such breach or failure stating Entasis’ intention to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph (or any shorter period of the time that remains between the date Entasis provides written notice of such breach or failure and the Termination Date); provided, however, that, Entasis shall not have the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph if it is then in material breach of the Merger Agreement and such breach would result in certain of the Offer Conditions not being satisfied; |
○ | if Purchaser fails to commence the Offer in accordance with Section 2.1(a) of the Merger Agreement or if Purchaser fails to consummate the Offer in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; provided, that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph shall not be available to Entasis if Entasis’ breach of its obligations under Section 2.2 of the Merger Agreement is the primary cause of, or resulted in, Purchaser’s failure to commence the Offer in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement; or |
○ | If the Minimum Condition is not satisfied as of the Expiration Time of the Limited Extension. |
• | by Parent, if: |
○ | a breach or failure of any representation, warranty or covenant of Entasis set forth in the Merger Agreement shall have occurred, which breach or failure has given rise to or would reasonably be expected to give rise to the failure of certain of the Offer Conditions and as a result of such breach or failure, such condition would not be capable of being satisfied prior to the Termination Date, or if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured within 30 days of the receipt by Entasis of written notice from Parent of such breach or failure stating Parent’s intention to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to this paragraph (or any shorter period of the time that remains between the date Parent provides written notice of such breach or failure and the |
○ | (A) Entasis shall have effected a Change in Recommendation whether or not permitted by Section 6.3 of the Merger Agreement, or (B) Entasis shall have willfully breached Section 6.3 of the Merger Agreement. |
Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Entasis |
The Recommendation by the Board of Directors of Entasis |
Position of Parent and Purchaser Regarding Fairness of the Offer and the Merger |
• | The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately 50% over the closing price of the Shares on January 31, 2022, which was the last trading day prior to the date Parent’s original offer was made public, and approximately 22% over the closing price of the Shares on May 20, 2022, the last trading day prior to execution of the Merger Agreement. |
• | The Offer will provide holders with liquidity at a substantial premium, without the brokerage and other costs typically associated with market sales. |
• | Neither the Offer nor the Merger is subject to any financing condition. |
• | The Offer Price will be paid in cash. Therefore, holders of Shares will receive a certain prescribed value in the Offer or the Merger. |
• | The Entasis Board made the recommendation to the Unaffiliated Stockholders to tender their Shares as described in the Schedule 14D-9 filed by Entasis with the SEC. |
• | The Entasis Board and the Special Transactions Committee determined that the Offer and the Merger were fair and in the best interests of Entasis and the Unaffiliated Stockholders as described in the Schedule 13E-3 filed by Entasis with the SEC. |
• | In addition, the Entasis Parties reasonably believe that the Offer is procedurally fair to the Unaffiliated Stockholders, based on the following factors considered by them: |
○ | The factors considered by, and the findings of, the Entasis Board with respect to the procedural fairness of the Offer and the Merger to the Unaffiliated Stockholders as described in the Schedule 13E-3 filed by Entasis with the SEC. |
○ | The Entasis Board has recommended that the Unaffiliated Stockholders tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. The Entasis Board, including all of the directors who are not Entasis employees, and the Special Transactions Committee each unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interest of, Entasis and its Unaffiliated Stockholders. |
○ | The Purchaser Parties did not participate in and did not have any influence on the deliberative process of, or the conclusions reached by, the Entasis Board or the Special Transactions Committee or the negotiating positions of the Entasis Board. |
○ | The Entasis Board retained its own independent legal and financial advisors to assist the Entasis Board in connection with the Offer and the Merger. |
○ | The Offer Price of $2.20 per Share and the other terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement resulted from extensive negotiations between the Entasis Board and its advisors and the Purchaser Parties and their advisors. |
○ | The fact that the Entasis Board received an opinion from its financial advisor, dated May 22, 2022, that the Offer Price to be received by the Unaffiliated Stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such Unaffiliated Stockholders. See “Item 4. The Solicitation or Recommendation—Opinion of MTS Securities, LLC” and Annex B of the Schedule 14D-9. |
○ | The Entasis Board had access to all of the information prepared or otherwise developed by Entasis’ management and made available to the Purchaser Parties. |
○ | Unaffiliated Stockholders will have sufficient time to make a decision whether or not to tender their Shares in the Offer: |
• | The Offer will remain open for a minimum of 20 business days. |
• | If Parent amends the Offer to include any material additional information, Parent will, if necessary to allow adequate dissemination and investor response, extend the Offer for a sufficient period to allow the Unaffiliated Stockholders to consider the additional information. |
○ | Each of the Unaffiliated Stockholders will be able to decide voluntarily whether or not to tender such stockholder’s Shares. |
○ | The Offer is subject to a non-waivable Minimum Condition, which requires that the number of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn, excluding any Shares beneficially owned (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by (a) the Purchaser Parties and (b) the Entasis CEO, represent at least one more Share than fifty percent (50%) of the Shares not beneficially owned by such persons in clauses (a) and (b) outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer. |
○ | If we consummate the Offer, we will acquire all remaining Shares (other than Dissenting Shares, Shares owned by Parent or Purchaser or Shares held in the treasury of Entasis or owned by any wholly owned subsidiary of Entasis) for the same cash price in the Merger. |
○ | If the Merger is consummated, each stockholder of Entasis at the Effective Time who has not tendered its shares as provided herein, and who otherwise complies with the applicable statutory procedures under Section 262 of the DGCL, will be entitled to receive a judicial determination of the fair value of the Dissenting Shares (exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger) and to receive payment of such judicially determined amount in cash, together with such rate of interest, if any, as the Delaware court may determine. See Section 19—“Appraisal Rights; Rule 13e-3.” |
○ | Following the successful completion of the Offer and the Merger, the Unaffiliated Stockholders will not face the risk of any decline in the value of the Shares. |
• | Purchaser Parties provided financing to Entasis on a non-dilutive basis to allow Entasis to sufficient liquidity to fully negotiate a transaction. |
• | Entasis conducted a fulsome process, represented by experienced financial advisors, to identify transaction partners. Parent supported and facilitated Entasis’ process and no other viable transactions emerged from that process. |
• | As a standalone company, Entasis would require significant amounts of capital to continue its development and commercialization. Subsequent capital infusions would likely dilute the ownership stake of Entasis’ existing stockholders. |
• | The biotechnology sector in which Entasis operates its business has faced significant market decline since Parent’s original offer was made public. Despite this market decline, Parent has not reduced its offer price and, instead, has increased its offer price on two occasions. |
• | Any stockholder who tenders all its Shares in the Offer or has its Shares converted into cash in the Merger would cease to participate in the future earnings or growth, if any, of Entasis or benefit from increases, if any, in the value of Entasis. |
• | The receipt of cash for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See Section 5—Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.” |
Certain Effects of the Offer. |
Dividends and Distributions. |
Certain Conditions to the Offer. |
(a) | there being validly tendered in the Offer and not validly withdrawn that number of Shares which, excluding any Beneficially Owned Shares by (a) Parent and Purchaser and (b) the Entasis CEO, represent at least one more Share than fifty percent (50%) of the Shares not beneficially owned by such persons in clauses (a) and (b) outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer (the “Minimum Condition”); |
(b) | as of immediately prior to the Expiration Time no governmental entity of any competent jurisdiction shall have (x) enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any (A) Order, or (B) Law, or (y) taken any other action then in effect, in each case, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that has the effect of enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Offer or the Merger (as defined below) or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. (the “Governmental Entity Condition”); |
(c) | the representations and warranties of Entasis (A) set forth in Section 4.1 (Organization), Section 4.2(d) (Capitalization), and Section 4.3 (Company Subsidiaries) being true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Expiration Time as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), (B) set forth in Section 4.9(b) (Absence of Certain Changes), and Section 4.24 (Brokers or Finders) being true and correct in all respects as of the Merger Agreement and as of the Expiration Time as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), (C) set forth in Section 4.2 (Capitalization) being true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis accuracies) as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Expiration Time as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), and (D) set forth in the Merger Agreement (other than those listed in the preceding clause (c)(A), (c)(B)) and (c)(C) being true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation on any representation or warranty indicated by the words “Company Material Adverse Effect,” “in all material respects,” “in any material respect,” “material” or “materially”) as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Expiration Time as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such earlier date), except, in the case of this clause (c)(D), where the failure of any such representations and warranties to be so true and correct does not, and would not be reasonably expected to, have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; |
(d) | Entasis not having failed to perform or comply in any material respect with any obligation, agreement, or covenant required to be performed or complied with by it under the Merger Agreement, in each case, on or prior to the Expiration Time; |
(e) | Since the date of the Merger Agreement, there not having occurred any event, condition, change, occurrence or development of a state of facts that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; |
(f) | Parent having received a certificate signed by a duly authorized officer of Entasis certifying on behalf of Entasis to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (c), (d) and (e) above; and |
(g) | the Merger Agreement not having been validly terminated in accordance with its terms. |
• | waive the Minimum Condition; |
• | decrease the Offer Price or change the form of consideration payable in the Offer; |
• | decrease the maximum number of Shares subject to or sought to be purchased in the Offer; |
• | impose conditions on the Offer in addition to the Offer Conditions or amend, modify or supplement any condition in a manner adverse to the Company’s stockholders; |
• | amend any other term of the Offer in a manner that is materially adverse to the Company’s stockholders; or |
• | extend or otherwise change the Expiration Time except as required or permitted by Section 2.1(e) (The Offer) of the Merger Agreement. |
Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals. |
Appraisal Rights; Rule 13e-3. |
Transactions and Arrangements Concerning the Shares and Other Securities of Entasis. |
Certain Agreements between Parent and its Affiliates and Entasis. |
Interests of Certain Entasis Directors and Executive Officers in the Offer and the Merger. |
Fees and Expenses. |
SEC filing fee | | | $6,438.32 |
Depositary costs | | | $55,475.00 |
Information agent fees | | | $100,000.00 |
Financial advisor fees and expenses | | | $1,910,000.00 |
Legal fees and expenses | | | $1,000,000.00 |
Printing and related fees | | | $93,123.00 |
Total | | | $3,165,036.32 |
Miscellaneous. |
Name | | | Position with Innoviva |
Pavel Raifeld | | | Chief Executive Officer |
Marianne Zhen | | | Chief Accounting Officer |
George W. Bickerstaff, III | | | Director |
Deborah L. Birx, M.D. | | | Director |
Mark A. DiPaolo, Esq. | | | Director |
Jules Haimovitz | | | Director |
Odysseas D. Kostas, M.D. | | | Director |
Sarah J. Schlesinger, M.D. | | | Director |
Name | | | Position with Purchaser |
Pavel Raifeld | | | President, Director |
Marianne Zhen | | | Secretary, Director |
| | | Security Ownership | |||||||
Person | | | Number1 | | | Percent | | | Transactions in Past 60 Days |
Parent | | | 57,345,7941 | | | 71.2% | | | — |
Purchaser | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Pavel Raifeld | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Marianne Zhen | | | — | | | — | | | — |
George W. Bickerstaff, III | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Deborah L. Birx, M.D. | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Mark A. DiPaolo, Esq. | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Jules Haimovitz | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Odysseas D. Kostas, M.D. | | | — | | | — | | | — |
Sarah J. Schlesinger, M.D. | | | — | | | — | | | — |
1 | Includes (1) 20,000,000 Shares held by Innoviva Strategic Opportunities LLC and (2) Shares reserved for future issuance pursuant to the outstanding warrants of Entasis in accordance with Rule 13D-3. |
(a) | Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who holds shares of stock on the date of the making of a demand pursuant to subsection (d) of this section with respect to such shares, who continuously holds such shares through the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has neither voted in favor of the merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant to § 228 of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of Chancery of the fair value of the stockholder’s shares of stock under the circumstances described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section, the word “stockholder” means a holder of record of stock in a corporation; the words “stock” and “share” mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words; and the words “depository receipt” mean a receipt or other instrument issued by a depository representing an interest in 1 or more shares, or fractions thereof, solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is deposited with the depository. |
(b) | Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to be effected pursuant to § 251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to § 251(g) of this title), § 252, § 254, § 255, § 256, § 257, § 258, § 263 or § 264 of this title: |
(1) | Provided, however, that no appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which stock, or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the meeting of stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation (or, in the case of a merger pursuant to § 251(h), as of immediately prior to the execution of the agreement of merger), were either: (i) listed on a national securities exchange or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders; and further provided that no appraisal rights shall be available for any shares of stock of the constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require for its approval the vote of the stockholders of the surviving corporation as provided in § 251(f) of this title. |
(2) | Notwithstanding paragraph (b)(1) of this section, appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of stock of a constituent corporation if the holders thereof are required by the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to §§ 251, 252, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this title to accept for such stock anything except: |
a. | Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect thereof; |
b. | Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts in respect thereof, which shares of stock (or depository receipts in respect thereof) or depository receipts at the effective date of the merger or consolidation will be either listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders; |
c. | Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing paragraphs (b)(2)a. and b. of this section; or |
d. | Any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts and cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts described in the foregoing paragraphs (b)(2) a., b. and c. of this section. |
(3) | In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation party to a merger effected under § 253 or § 267 of this title is not owned by the parent immediately prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation. |
(4) | [Repealed.] |
(c) | Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of |
(d) | Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows: |
(1) | If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting, shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record date for notice of such meeting (or such members who received notice in accordance with § 255(c) of this title) with respect to shares for which appraisal rights are available pursuant to subsection (b) or (c) of this section that appraisal rights are available for any or all of the shares of the constituent corporations, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section and, if 1 of the constituent corporations is a nonstock corporation, a copy of § 114 of this title. Each stockholder electing to demand the appraisal of such stockholder’s shares shall deliver to the corporation, before the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation, a written demand for appraisal of such stockholder’s shares; provided that a demand may be delivered to the corporation by electronic transmission if directed to an information processing system (if any) expressly designated for that purpose in such notice. Such demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such stockholder’s shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to take such action must do so by a separate written demand as herein provided. Within 10 days after the effective date of such merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation shall notify each stockholder of each constituent corporation who has complied with this subsection and has not voted in favor of or consented to the merger or consolidation of the date that the merger or consolidation has become effective; or |
(2) | If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to § 228, § 251(h), § 253, or § 267 of this title, then either a constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger or consolidation or the surviving or resulting corporation within 10 days thereafter shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of this section and, if 1 of the constituent corporations is a nonstock corporation, a copy of § 114 of this title. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also notify such stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any stockholder entitled to appraisal rights may, within 20 days after the date of giving such notice or, in the case of a merger approved pursuant to § 251(h) of this title, within the later of the consummation of the offer contemplated by § 251(h) of this title and 20 days after the date of giving such notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting corporation the appraisal of such holder’s shares; provided that a demand may be delivered to the corporation by electronic transmission if directed to an information processing system (if any) expressly designated for that purpose in such notice. Such demand will be sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the appraisal of such holder’s shares. If such notice did not notify stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation, either (i) each such constituent corporation shall send a second notice before the effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation that are entitled to appraisal rights of the effective date of the merger or consolidation or (ii) the surviving or resulting corporation shall send such a second notice to all such holders on or within 10 days after such effective date; provided, however, that if such second notice is sent more than 20 days following the sending of the first notice or, in the case of a merger approved pursuant to § 251(h) of this title, later than the later of the consummation of the offer contemplated by § 251(h) of this title and 20 days following the sending of the first notice, such second notice need only be sent to each stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights and who has demanded appraisal of such holder’s shares in accordance with this subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to give either notice that such notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to |
(e) | Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has complied with subsections (a) and (d) of this section hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights, may commence an appraisal proceeding by filing a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party shall have the right to withdraw such stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of subsections (a) and (d) of this section hereof, upon request given in writing (or by electronic transmission directed to an information processing system (if any) expressly designated for that purpose in the notice of appraisal), shall be entitled to receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting from the consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the merger or consolidation (or, in the case of a merger approved pursuant to § 251(h) of this title, the aggregate number of shares (other than any excluded stock (as defined in § 251(h)(6)d. of this title)) that were the subject of, and were not tendered into, and accepted for purchase or exchange in, the offer referred to in § 251(h)(2)), and, in either case, with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. Such statement shall be given to the stockholder within 10 days after such stockholder’s request for such a statement is received by the surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal under subsection (d) of this section hereof, whichever is later. Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a person who is the beneficial owner of shares of such stock held either in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person may, in such person’s own name, file a petition or request from the corporation the statement described in this subsection. |
(f) | Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a copy thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which shall within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or resulting corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1 or more publications at least 1 week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs thereof shall be borne by the surviving or resulting corporation. |
(g) | At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as to such stockholder. If immediately before the merger or consolidation the shares of the class or series of stock of the constituent corporation as to which appraisal rights are available were listed on a national securities exchange, the Court shall dismiss the proceedings as to all holders of such shares who are otherwise entitled to appraisal rights unless (1) the total number of shares entitled to appraisal exceeds 1% of the outstanding shares of the class or series eligible for appraisal, (2) the value of the consideration provided in the merger or consolidation for such total number of shares exceeds $1 million, or (3) the merger was approved pursuant to § 253 or § 267 of this title. |
(h) | After the Court determines the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the appraisal proceeding shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of the Court of Chancery, including any rules specifically governing appraisal proceedings. Through such proceeding the Court shall determine the fair value of the shares exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or consolidation, together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value, the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. Unless the Court in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause shown, and except as provided in this subsection, interest from the effective date of the merger through the date of payment of the judgment shall be compounded quarterly and shall accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time to time during the period between the effective date of the merger and the date of payment of the judgment. At any time before the entry of judgment in the proceedings, the surviving corporation may pay to each stockholder entitled to appraisal an amount in cash, in which case interest shall accrue thereafter as provided herein only upon the sum of (1) the difference, if any, between the amount so paid and the fair value of the shares as determined by the Court, and (2) interest theretofore accrued, unless paid at that time. Upon application by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court may, in its discretion, proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the stockholders entitled to an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this section and who has submitted such stockholder’s certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery, if such is required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally determined that such stockholder is not entitled to appraisal rights under this section. |
(i) | The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares, together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to the stockholders entitled thereto. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the case of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of the certificates representing such stock. The Court’s decree may be enforced as other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such surviving or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any state. |
(j) | The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and taxed upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon application of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all the shares entitled to an appraisal. |
(k) | From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no stockholder who has demanded appraisal rights as provided in subsection (d) of this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation); provided, however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within the time provided in subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal of such stockholder’s demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or consolidation, either within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with the written approval of the corporation, then the right of such stockholder to an appraisal shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal proceeding in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Court deems just; provided, however that this provision shall not affect the right of any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party to withdraw such stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or consolidation within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, as set forth in subsection (e) of this section. |
(l) | The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the shares of such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they assented to the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued shares of the surviving or resulting corporation. |