Article I the Merger

Sections
Agreement And Plan Of Merger
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of September 20, 2023 (the “Agreement Date”), by and among Cisco Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), Spirit Merger Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Splunk Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
Recitals
A. The board of directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) and the boards of directors of Parent and Merger Sub (or duly authorized committees thereof) have determined that it would be advisable to, and in the best interests of, their respective companies and the stockholders of their respective companies that Merger Sub merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company to survive the Merger and to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and, in furtherance thereof, have approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (collectively, the “Transactions”).
B. Parent, Merger Sub and the Company desire to set forth certain representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements in connection with the Merger as set forth herein.
C. Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement and as a material inducement to the willingness of Parent to enter into this Agreement, certain of the Company’s stockholders are entering into voting agreements in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (each, a “Voting Agreement”), pursuant to which such stockholders have, among other matters, agreed to vote their shares of Company Common Stock in favor of, and otherwise support, the Merger and the other Transactions, each on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in their respective Voting Agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1. Certain Definitions.
(a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below.
Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a customary confidentiality agreement (i) that contains provisions that are no less favorable in the aggregate to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement, including with respect to the treatment of confidential information and the non-solicitation of the Company’s employees and (ii) that does not include any provision for any exclusive right to negotiate with such Person or having the effect of restricting the Company from fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement, including under Section 5.3; provided that such confidentiality agreement need not contain any direct or indirect “standstill” or similar covenant or other provision that would restrict the making, or amendment, of any Acquisition Proposal (and related communications) to the Company or the Company Board.
Acquisition Proposal” means any offer or proposal (other than an offer or proposal by Parent or Merger Sub) relating to an Acquisition Transaction.
Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions (other than the Merger) involving:
(i) any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by any Person or Group, whether from the Company or any other Person(s), of securities representing more than 15% of the total outstanding voting power of the Company after giving effect to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition, including pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer by any Person or Group that, if consummated in accordance with its terms, would result in such Person or Group beneficially owning more than 15% of the total outstanding voting power of the Company after giving effect to the consummation of such tender or exchange offer;
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(ii) any direct or indirect purchase (including by way of a merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or other transaction), license or other acquisition by any Person or Group of assets (including equity securities of any Subsidiary of the Company) constituting or accounting for more than 15% of the revenue, net income or consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or
(iii) any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or other transaction involving the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries whose business accounts for more than 15% of the revenue, net income or consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole) in which the stockholders of the Company (or such Subsidiary) prior to such transaction will not own at least 85%, directly or indirectly, of the surviving company.
Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
Antitrust Laws” means the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 1-7, as amended; the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 12-27, 29 U.S.C. §§ 52-53, as amended; the HSR Act; the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 41-58, as amended; and all other applicable federal, state, multinational, or foreign law, regulation or decree designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions for the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening competition, including through merger or acquisition.
Applicable Legal Requirements” means any federal, state, foreign, local, municipal, multi-national or other law, statute, constitution, resolution, decree, ordinance, order (including any executive order), directive, judgment, code, permit, rule, regulation, ruling or legally enforceable requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity and any Orders.
Business” means the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Business Day” means a day (i) other than Saturday or Sunday and (ii) on which commercial banks are open for business in San Francisco, California.
Capped Call Counterparties” means, in respect of the Capped Call Transactions entered into in 2018, each of Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Capital LLC, Jefferies International Limited and UBS AG, London Branch and in respect of the Capped Call Transactions entered into in 2020, Barclays Bank PLC, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Bank of America, N.A. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, New York Branch.
Capped Call Documentation” means the letter agreements related to call options on the shares of Company Common Stock, dated as of September 18, 2018, September 20, 2018, June 2, 2020, and June 4, 2020, by and between the Company and each Capped Call Counterparty, together with any related side letters or other ancillary documents (as may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time).
Capped Call Transactions” means the transactions contemplated by the Capped Call Documentation.
CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or any other corresponding or similar provision of any other applicable Legal Requirement enacted in connection with COVID-19 (including an Executive Order of the U.S. President pursuant to Section 7508A of the Code).
Cash-Out Amount” means: (i) with respect to (A) a Vested Company Option or (B) an Unvested Company Option, to the extent such Unvested Company Option would have become vested under the vesting schedule in place for such award immediately prior to or at the Effective Time assuming satisfaction of such service-based vesting schedule (each such amount that would have become vested, an “Option Vesting Portion”), an amount of cash, without interest, equal to (I) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Vested Company Option or Option Vesting Portion, as applicable, multiplied by (II) the Per Share Cash Amount less the exercise price per share of such Vested Company Option or Option Vesting Portion, as applicable, in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided that if the exercise price per share of such Company Option is equal to or greater than the Per Share Cash Amount, the Cash-Out Amount for such Company Option shall be zero and (ii) with respect to (A) (I) a Vested Company RSU or (II) an Unvested Company RSU, to the extent such Unvested Company RSU would have become vested under the vesting schedule in place for such award immediately prior to or at the Effective Time assuming satisfaction of such service-based vesting schedule (each such amount that would have become vested, an “RSU Vesting Portion”)
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or (B) (I) a Vested Company PSU or (II) an Unvested Company PSU, to the extent such Unvested Company PSU would have become vested under the vesting schedule in place for such award immediately prior to or at the Effective Time (assuming conversion of performance-based vesting to service-based vesting and satisfaction of such service-based vesting schedule (and the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject thereto as a result of such conversion based on actual performance through Closing as determined prior to the Closing by the Company Board or committee thereof in accordance solely with the terms applicable to such Unvested Company PSU)) (each such amount that would have become vested, a “PSU Vesting Portion”), an amount of cash, without interest, equal to (x) the number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon settlement of such Vested Company RSU, RSU Vesting Portion, Vested Company PSU or PSU Vesting Portion, as applicable, multiplied by (y) the Per Share Cash Amount.
Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company Capital Stock” means the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock.
Company Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
Company ESPP” means the Company’s 2012 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended on September 7, 2022.
Company Equity Plans” means the equity incentive plans, programs, agreements or arrangements of the Company, collectively and as amended, including the Company’s 2003 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company’s 2022 Equity Incentive Plan, the Company’s 2022 Inducement Plan and the Company’s Amended and Restated 2022 Equity Incentive Plan.
Company Material Adverse Effect” means with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, any change, event, occurrence, circumstance, condition or effect (each, an “Effect”) that, individually or taken together with all other Effects (i) would, or would reasonably be expected to, be or become materially adverse to the business, financial condition, operations or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that none of the following shall be deemed in and of themselves, either alone or in combination to constitute, and none of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there is, or would reasonably be likely to be, such an Effect, taken as a whole: (A) changes in general economic conditions or financial (including changes in interest rates or monetary policies), credit, foreign exchange, securities or capital markets, including any disruption thereof, in the United States or elsewhere in the world or the global economy generally, (B) changes generally affecting the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, (C) changes in Applicable Legal Requirements after the Agreement Date, (D) changes in GAAP, or other accounting standards or regulations or principles or interpretations thereof, that apply to the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case, after the Agreement Date, (E) political, economic or regulatory conditions (or changes therein), any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, insurrection or war, sabotage or acts of terrorism, (F) epidemics, pandemics, or contagions (including COVID-19), quarantine restrictions or other COVID-19 Measures, social or political conditions, protests or public demonstrations (including civil unrest), wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, other natural disasters, cyber attacks, data breaches or any escalation or worsening of any of the foregoing or (G) changes in the trading volume or trading prices of such entity’s capital stock (provided that such exception shall not apply to any underlying Effect that may have caused such change in the trading prices or volumes that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” that may have caused such failure or such downgrades), (H) any failure to meet market revenue or earnings expectations, including revenue or earnings projections or predictions made by the Company (whether or not publicly announced) or securities or financial analysts and any resulting analyst downgrades of the Company’s securities (provided that such exception shall not apply to any underlying Effect that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of “Company Material Adverse Effect” that may have caused such failure or such downgrades), (I) the negotiation, execution, announcement, performance, existence or pendency of this Agreement or the anticipated consummation of the Merger and the other Transactions, including (1) by reason of the identity of Parent, any communications by Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Affiliates or Representatives, (2) changes in the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ relationships with employees, customers, distributors, suppliers, vendors, licensors, regulators or other business partners as a result of the foregoing and (3) departures of officers or employees (provided that the exceptions in this clause (I) will not apply with respect to the representations and warranties contained in Section 2.3(b) or to Section 6.3(a) and Section 7.1(f) to the extent related to such portions of such representations and warranties), (J) any actions taken
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or failure to take action, in each case, that Parent has expressly in writing approved, consented to or requested or (K) any Transaction Litigation; provided that the exceptions in clauses (A) through (F) shall not apply to the extent that such changes disproportionately and adversely affect the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as compared to other participants in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate, in which case only the incremental disproportionate adverse impact of such Effect may be taken into account when determining whether there is a Company Material Adverse Effect or (ii) would, or would reasonably be expected to, prohibit, materially impede or materially delay the Company’s ability to consummate the Transactions in accordance with this Agreement (provided that the absence of or failure to obtain any consent, approval, waiver or clearance from any Governmental Entity under Antitrust Laws or Foreign Investment Laws with respect to the Transactions shall not in and of itself constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect under this clause (ii)).
Company Options” means options to purchase shares of Company Common Stock.
Company Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.
Company PSUs” means performance-based restricted stock units granted under the Company Equity Plans.
Company RSUs” means restricted stock units granted under the Company Equity Plans.
Continuing Employees” means the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time.
Contract” means any legally binding written agreement, contract, subcontract, lease, binding understanding, obligation, promise, instrument, indenture, mortgage, note, option, guarantee, warranty, purchase order, license, sublicense, insurance policy, benefit plan, commitment or undertaking of any nature.
Convertible Notes” means, collectively, (i) the 1.125% convertible senior notes due September 15, 2025 (the “2025 Convertible Notes”) issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of September 21, 2018 (the “2025 Convertible Notes Indenture”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), (ii) the 1.125% convertible senior notes due June 15, 2027 (the “2027 Convertible Notes”) issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of June 5, 2020 (the “2027 Convertible Notes Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee and (iii) the 0.75% convertible senior notes due July 15, 2026 (the “2026 Convertible Notes”) issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of July 9, 2021 (the “2026 Convertible Notes Indenture”), by and between the Company and the Trustee.
Convertible Notes Indentures” means, collectively, the 2025 Convertible Notes Indenture, the 2027 Convertible Notes Indenture and the 2026 Convertible Notes Indenture.
COVID-19” means SARS-Co V-2, SARS-Co V-2 or COVID-19 or any evolutions, variants or mutations thereof.
COVID-19 Measures” means quarantine, “shelter in place,” “stay at home,” workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester, safety or similar laws, directives, restrictions, guidelines, responses or recommendations of or promulgated by any Governmental Entity, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, or other reasonable actions taken in response to the foregoing or otherwise, in each case, in connection with or in response to COVID-19 and any evolutions, variants or mutations thereof or related or associated epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks.
Delaware Law” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended.
Dissenting Shares” means any shares of Company Capital Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and in respect of which appraisal rights shall have been properly demanded (and not withdrawn or lost) in accordance with Delaware Law in connection with the Merger.
Dissenting Stockholder” means any stockholder of the Company holding Dissenting Shares as of the Effective Time.
Encumbrance” means, with respect to any asset or security, right, property, any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, charge, security interest, title retention device, conditional sale or other security arrangement, collateral assignment, claim, charge, adverse claim of title, ownership or right to use, restriction or other encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, right, property or security (including any restriction on (i) the voting of any security or the transfer of any security, (ii) the use of any owned asset and (iii) the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any tangible asset).
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Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Foreign Investment Law” means any applicable Laws, including any state, national or multi-jurisdictional Laws, that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions by foreigners to acquire interests in or control over domestic equities, securities, entities, assets, land or interests on national interest, national security or public order grounds.
GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the relevant periods.
Governmental Entity” means any supranational, national, state, municipal, local or foreign government, any court, tribunal, arbitrator, quasi-judicial or administrative agency, commission or other governmental official, authority or instrumentality, in each case whether domestic or foreign, any stock exchange or similar self-regulatory organization or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory, Taxing or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority.
Government Official” means any officer or employee of a government or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity or on behalf of any such government, department, agency or instrumentality or for, or on behalf of, such public international organization, including, but not limited to, directors, officers, managers, employees and other agents of any enterprise owned directly or indirectly by a government or public international organization.
Group” has the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.
HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
Knowledge” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, the actual knowledge (and not constructive or imputed knowledge) of any individual set forth on Schedule 1.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter with respect to a fact, circumstance, event or other matter, in each case, as of the time any representation with respect to the foregoing was made, with no duty to make any inquiry.
Legal Proceeding” means any action, inquiry, claim, charge, complaint, demand, proceeding, suit, hearing, lawsuit, litigation, arbitration, mediation, audit, inquiry, investigation, or other similarly formal legal proceeding in each case brought by or pending before any Governmental Entity, arbitrator, mediator, or other tribunal, in each case, other than in connection with the ordinary course prosecution of trademarks or patents.
Liabilities” means all debts, liabilities and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, determined or determinable, asserted or unasserted, known or unknown, including those arising under any Applicable Legal Requirement, Order or Contract, regardless of whether the same would be required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP or disclosed in the notes thereto.
made available” means, with respect to any statement in this Agreement or the Company Disclosure Letter to the effect that any information, document or other material has been “made available” to Parent, that such information, document or material was: (i) made available for review by Parent and its Representatives in the virtual data room established in connection with the Transactions at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the execution of this Agreement or (ii) the relevant part of which is contained in unredacted form in the Company SEC Reports; provided that any information, document or material that has been made available or delivered to Parent or its Representatives pursuant to a request by Parent or its Representative that was made within a twenty-four (24) hour period immediately prior to the execution of the Agreement shall be deemed made available or delivered, as long as such information, document or material was made available or delivered at least six (6) hours prior to the execution of the Agreement.
Open Source Materials” means software or other material that is distributed as “free software,” “open source software” or under similar licensing or distribution terms (including, but not limited to, the GNU General Public License (GPL), GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), Mozilla Public License (MPL), BSD licenses, the Artistic License, the Netscape Public License, the Sun Community Source License (SCSL), the Sun Industry Standards License (SISL), the Apache License and any license identified as an open source license by the Open Source Initiative (www.opensource.org)).
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Order” means any judgment, writ, decree, stipulation, determination, assessment, decision, legal or arbitration award, settlement or consent agreement, charge, ruling, injunction, restraining order or other order issued, promulgated or entered into by or with (or in the case of a settlement or consent agreement, subject to) any Governmental Entity or any arbiter, whether temporarily, preliminarily or permanently in effect.
Ordinary Course of Business” means, in reference to any action taken by the Company, or its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, including through any Subsidiary, that, in reference to such action (or inaction) (i) is consistent with the Company’s past practices and (ii) is taken (or refrained from being taken) in the ordinary course of the Company’s normal day-to-day operations.
Parent Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that would, or would reasonably be expected to, prohibit, materially impede or materially delay Parent’s or Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the Transactions in accordance with this Agreement and Applicable Legal Requirements (provided that the absence of or failure to obtain any consent, approval, waiver or clearance from any Governmental Entity under Antitrust Laws or Foreign Investment Laws with respect to the Transactions shall not in and of itself constitute a Parent Material Adverse Effect).
Per Share Cash Amount” means $157.00 in cash per share of Company Common Stock.
Permitted Encumbrance” means (i) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established to the extent required by GAAP, (ii) statutory liens that are incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business and that are not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith (provided that reserves established in accordance with GAAP have been recorded on the Company Balance Sheet for any such contest), (iii) any Encumbrance representing the rights of suppliers and subcontractors in the Ordinary Course of Business under the terms of any Contracts to which the relevant party is a party or under general principles of commercial or government contract law (including mechanics’, materialmen’s, carriers’, workmen’s, warehouseman’s, repairmen’s, landlords’ and similar liens granted or which arise in the Ordinary Course of Business), (iv) such imperfections of title and non-monetary Encumbrances and other liens, in each case incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business, that are not reasonably likely to materially detract from or interfere with the use of the properties subject thereto or affected thereby, or otherwise materially impair any business operations involving such properties, (v) liens incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds and similar obligations, (vi) any Encumbrances for which appropriate reserves have been established in the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries, (vii) liens securing indebtedness of the Company or its Subsidiaries for borrowed money or notes, bonds or other debt securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries in each case that is reflected on the Company Balance Sheet or Schedule 2.4(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (viii) any Encumbrances arising under equipment leases with third parties (to the extent the Company is not in breach of such leases), (ix) liens arising under applicable securities laws, (x) with respect to leases of real property, Encumbrances on the underlying real property, (xi) licenses of or covenants not to assert under Intellectual Property Rights, or (xii) non-exclusive licenses granted to customers in the Ordinary Course of Business.
Person” means any natural person, company, corporation, limited liability company, general partnership, limited partnership, trust, proprietorship, unincorporated association, joint venture, business organization, Governmental Entity or other entity or organization.
Representatives” means, collectively, with respect to any Person, such Person’s officers, directors, Affiliates, employees, agents or advisors, including any investment banker, broker, attorney, accountant, financial advisor, consultant or other authorized representative of such Person.
Repurchase Rights” means outstanding rights to repurchase Unvested Company Shares that are held by the Company or similar restrictions in the Company’s favor with respect to shares of Company Capital Stock.
SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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Subsidiary” of any Person means (i) a corporation more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, (ii) a partnership of which such Person or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, is the general partner and has the power to direct the policies, management and affairs of such partnership, (iii) a limited liability company of which such Person or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, is the managing member and has the power to direct the policies, management and affairs of such company or (iv) any other Person (other than a corporation, partnership or limited liability company) in which such Person or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, has at least a majority ownership or the power to direct the policies, management and affairs thereof (including by contract).
Tax” (and, with correlative meaning, “Taxes,” “Taxable” and “Taxing”) means any net income, alternative or add-on minimum tax, gross income, estimated, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, fringe benefit, capital stock, profits, license, registration, withholding, payroll, social security (or equivalent) or any other applicable social contribution, employment, unemployment, disability, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real, tangible or intangible), environmental or windfall profit tax, custom duty or other tax, contribution, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, in each case, in the nature of a tax, together with any interest, penalty or addition to tax (whether disputed or not) imposed by any Tax Authority.
Tax Authority” means any Governmental Entity responsible for the assessment, determination, collection or administration of any Tax (domestic or foreign).
Tax Return” means any return, statement, report or form (including estimated Tax returns and reports, withholding Tax returns and reports, any schedule or attachment and information returns and reports) filed or required to be filed with any Tax Authority with respect to Taxes.
Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department under the Code.
Unvested Company Options” means any Company Options that are not Vested Company Options.
Unvested Company PSUs” means any Company PSUs that are not Vested Company PSUs.
Unvested Company RSUs” means any Company RSUs that are not Vested Company RSUs.
Unvested Company Shares” means any shares of Company Capital Stock that are restricted, subject to Repurchase Rights or otherwise not fully vested under the terms of any Contract with the Company at the Effective Time (including any stock option agreement, stock option exercise agreement, restricted stock purchase agreement or restricted stock grant agreement).
Vested Company Options” means any Company Options that (i) are vested under the terms of any Contract with the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any stock option agreement or (ii) vest effective as of the Effective Time and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Contract with the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any stock option agreement).
Vested Company PSUs” means any Company PSUs that (i) are vested but not yet settled under the terms of any Contract with the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any performance stock unit agreement or (ii) vest effective as of the Effective Time based on attainment of the actual level of performance as determined prior to the Closing by the Company Board or a committee thereof in accordance solely with the terms of the applicable Contract with the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any performance stock unit agreement).
Vested Company RSUs” means any Company RSUs that are (i) vested but not yet settled under the terms of any Contract with the Company as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any restricted stock unit agreement), (ii) outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a non-employee member of the Company Board or (iii) vest effective as of the Effective Time and in accordance with the terms of the applicable Contract with the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time (including any restricted stock unit agreement).
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Other capitalized terms used herein and not defined in Section 1.1(a) have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the following Sections:
“Agreement”
Preamble
“Agreement Date”
Preamble
“Anti-Corruption Law”
2.8
“Author”
2.10(k)
“Certificate of Merger”
1.2
“Certificates”
1.9(c)
“Change of Recommendation”
5.2(b)
“Closing”
1.3
“Closing Date”
1.3
“COBRA”
2.13(c)
“Company”
Preamble
“Company 401(k) Plan”
5.14
“Company Associate”
4.2(b)
“Company Authorizations”
2.7(b)
“Company Balance Sheet Date”
2.4(b)
“Company Board”
Recitals
“Company Board Recommendation”
5.2(b)
“Company Customer End-Users”
2.10(w)
“Company Customers”
2.10(w)
“Company Disclosure Letter”
Article II
“Company Employee Plans”
2.13(a)
“Company IAA”
2.18(b)
“Company Insiders”
5.15
“Company Intellectual Property”
2.11(a)(i)
“Company Intellectual Property Agreements”
2.11(a)(ii)
“Company-Owned Intellectual Property”
2.11(a)(iii)
“Company Products”
2.11(a)(iv)
“Company Registered Intellectual Property”
2.11(a)(v)
“Company Representatives”
5.3(a)
“Company SEC Reports”
2.4(a)
“Company Source Code”
2.10(a)(vi)
“Company Stockholder Approval”
2.3(a)
“Company Stockholder Meeting”
5.2(a)
“Company Termination Fee”
7.3(b)
“Company Voting Debt”
2.2(c)
“Confidential Information”
2.10(o)
“Confidentiality Agreement”
5.5(a)
“Current ESPP Offering”
5.11
“Effect”
Company Material Adverse Effect
“Effective Time”
1.4
“Electronic Delivery”
8.4
“End Date”
7.1(b)
“Enforceability Limitations”
2.3(a)
“Environmental and Safety Laws”
2.11(a)(i)
“ERISA”
2.13(a)
“ERISA Affiliate”
2.13(a)
“EU”
2.19(a)(ii)
“Exchange Agent”
1.9(a)
“Existing D&O Policy”
5.15(b)
“Facilities”
2.11(a)(ii)
“FASB ASC”
2.4(b)
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“Financial Statements”
2.4(b)
“Foreign Plan”
2.13(h)
“Government Contract”
2.18(a)(xiii)
“Hazardous Materials”
2.11(a)(iii)
“Indemnified Parties”
5.15(a)
“Intellectual Property Rights”
2.10(a)(vii)
“Intervening Event”
5.3(e)(iii)
“ITAR”
2.19(a)(i)
“Leased Real Property”
2.11(b)
“Material Contract”
2.19(a)
“Maximum Premium”
5.15(b)
“Measurement Date”
2.2(a)
“Merger”
Recitals
“Merger Notification and Foreign Investment Filings”
5.6(a)
“Merger Sub”
Preamble
“Notice of Intervening Event”
5.3(e)
“Notice of Superior Proposal”
5.3(d)(iv)
“Option Vesting Portion”
Cash-Out Amount
“Parent”
Preamble
“Parent 401(k) Plan”
5.14
“Parent Termination Fee”
7.3(d)
“Pre-Closing Period”
4.1
“Property”
2.11(a)(iv)
“Proxy Statement”
2.22
“PSU Vesting Portion”
Cash-Out Amount
“Regulation S-K”
2.4(b)
“Rejection Recommendation”
7.1(h)
“Release”
2.11(a)(v)
“Repurchase Transaction”
5.22(c)
“Required Fiduciary Disclosure”
5.3(f)
“RSU Vesting Portion”
Cash-Out Amount
“Sales Taxes”
2.12(l)
“SCHIP”
2.16
“Significant Customer”
2.17(a)
“Significant Supplier”
2.17(b)
“SOXA”
2.4(e)
“Standard Inbound IP Agreements”
2.10(a)(xi)
“Standard NDA”
2.10(a)(xi)
“Standard Outbound IP Agreements”
2.10(a)(xii)
“Superior Proposal”
5.3(c)
“Superior Proposal Materials”
5.3(d)(iv)
“Surviving Corporation”
1.2
“Third-Party Intellectual Property”
2.10(a)(xiii)
“Transactions”
Recitals
“Triggering Event”
7.1(h)
“Trustee”
1.1(a)
“Uncertificated Shares”
1.9(c)
“Unvested Cash”
1.8(a)(v)
“Unvested Cash (Shares)”
1.8(a)(ii)
“Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs)”
1.8(a)(iv)
“Unvested Cash (PSUs)”
1.8(a)(v)
“WARN Act”
2.13(n)
“Workbook”
5.13
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1.2. The Merger. At the Effective Time, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the certificate of merger in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Certificate of Merger”), which shall include the form of certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, and the applicable provisions of Delaware Law, Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation. The Company, as the surviving corporation after the Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Surviving Corporation.”
1.3. Closing. Unless this Agreement is earlier and validly terminated in accordance with Section 7.1, the closing of the Transactions (the “Closing”) shall take place (i) at a time to be specified by the parties hereto on the third (3rd) Business Day after the satisfaction or waiver of each of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions) or (ii) at such other date and time as the parties hereto agree in writing. The Closing shall take place by remote communication and by the exchange of executed documents by electronic transmission. The date on which the Closing occurs is herein referred to as the “Closing Date.”
1.4. Effective Time. At the Closing, after the satisfaction or waiver in writing of each of the conditions set forth in Article VI, Merger Sub and the Company shall cause the Certificate of Merger to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the relevant provisions of Delaware Law (the time of acceptance by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of such filing, or such later time as may be agreed by Parent and the Company and specified in the Certificate of Merger, being referred to herein as the “Effective Time”).
1.5. Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of Delaware Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company shall become debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
1.6. Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws.
(a) At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Company shall be amended in its entirety to read as set forth in Attachment A to the Certificate of Merger, until thereafter amended as provided by Delaware Law and such certificate of incorporation (subject to Section 5.14(a)).
(b) At the Effective Time, the parties hereto shall cause the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation to be amended and restated in their entirety to read as set forth on Exhibit C attached hereto, until thereafter amended as provided by Delaware Law, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and such bylaws (subject to Section 5.14(a)).
1.7. Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.
(a) The parties hereto shall take all necessary action prior to the Closing so that, effective as of the Effective Time, the members of the board of directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be appointed as the sole members of the board of directors of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) The parties hereto shall take all necessary action prior to the Closing so that, effective as of the Effective Time, the officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be appointed as the sole officers of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors are duly appointed and qualified or their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
1.8. Effect on Company Capital Stock, Unvested Company Shares, Company Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs.
(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and without any action on the part of any holder of Company Capital Stock:
(i) Company Common Stock. At the Effective Time, each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Dissenting Shares and shares cancelled pursuant to Section 1.8(c)) shall be automatically converted into the right to receive, subject to and in
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accordance with Section 1.9, an amount of cash equal to the Per Share Cash Amount, without interest. As of the Effective Time, all such shares of Company Common Stock shall automatically be cancelled and no longer be deemed outstanding, and the holders thereof shall not have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Per Share Cash Amount, without interest, upon surrender of Certificates and/or Uncertificated Shares in accordance with Section 1.9.
(ii) Unvested Company Shares. The cash payment pursuant to Section 1.8(a)(i) in exchange for Unvested Company Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be subject to the same restrictions, vesting arrangements or Repurchase Rights that were applicable to such Unvested Company Shares immediately prior to or at the Effective Time. Therefore, cash otherwise payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a)(i) in exchange for Unvested Company Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (“Unvested Cash (Shares)”) shall not be payable by Parent at the Effective Time, and shall instead become payable by Parent on the date that such Unvested Company Share would have become vested under the vesting schedule in place for such shares immediately prior to or at the Effective Time and shall otherwise remain subject to substantially the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the underlying Unvested Company Share immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided that if the vesting conditions and terms are not satisfied and vesting ceases at any point after the Effective Time, and a portion of the Unvested Cash (Shares) remains unvested (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting provisions applicable thereto), no cash payments shall be made in respect of such unvested portion of the Unvested Cash (Shares), except the repurchase price described below, with respect to such portion of the Unvested Cash (Shares) allocable to Unvested Company Shares. To the extent vested, Parent shall make, or in its discretion shall cause a paying agent authorized by Parent to administer such payments on Parent’s behalf to make, all such required payments to holders of Unvested Cash (Shares) no later than the end of the second completed payroll cycle of Parent following the date on which the corresponding Unvested Cash Shares would have become vested under the vesting schedule in place for such awards at the Effective Time and in no event later than two and one-half (2.5) months following the end of the calendar year in which the corresponding Unvested Cash Shares would have become vested (subject to other restrictions and other terms of such vesting schedule and giving effect to the applicable terms with respect to acceleration of vesting under any agreement (or form thereof) set forth on Schedule 2.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter). All amounts payable pursuant to this Section 1.8(a)(ii) shall be treated as payment in respect of the sale of such Unvested Company Shares, subject to any required withholding of Taxes, and shall be paid without interest. All outstanding Repurchase Rights shall be assigned to Parent in the Merger and shall thereafter be exercisable by Parent upon the same terms and subject to the same conditions that were in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that Repurchase Rights may be exercised by Parent retaining the Unvested Cash (Shares) into which such Unvested Company Shares have been converted and paying to the former holder thereof the repurchase price in effect for each such share subject to such Repurchase Right immediately prior to the Effective Time. No Unvested Cash (Shares), or right thereto, may be pledged, encumbered, sold, assigned or transferred (including any transfer by operation of law), by any Person, other than Parent, or be taken or reached by any legal or equitable process in satisfaction of any Liability of such Person, prior to the distribution to such Person of such Unvested Cash (Shares) in accordance with this Agreement.
(iii) Vested Company Options, Vested Company RSUs and Vested Company PSUs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Parent will not assume any Vested Company Option, Vested Company RSU or Vested Company PSU. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without the need for any further action on the part of the holder thereof, each Vested Company Option that is unexpired, unexercised and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each Vested Company RSU that is outstanding and has not yet been settled as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and each Vested Company PSU that is outstanding and has not yet been settled as of immediately prior to the Effective Time shall terminate and be converted into and represent the right to receive the applicable Cash-Out Amount from Parent for such Vested Company Option, Vested Company RSU or Vested Company PSU; provided that the Surviving Corporation and Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from such Cash-Out Amount the amount of withholding for Taxes required to be deducted and withheld as a result of the Transactions. The Cash-Out Amount payable pursuant to this Section 1.8(a)(iii) shall be rounded down to the nearest cent and computed after aggregating Cash-Out Amounts for all Vested Company Options, Vested Company RSUs or Vested Company PSUs represented by a particular grant held by such Person.
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The Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, pay through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation (to the extent applicable) to each holder of a Vested Company Option, Vested Company RSU or Vested Company PSU the applicable Cash-Out Amount, within ten (10) Business Days following the Effective Time; provided that to the extent payment within such time or on such date would trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payments shall be made on the earliest date that payment would not trigger such Tax or penalty.
(iv) Unvested Company Options and Unvested Company RSUs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Parent will not assume the obligation to deliver shares with respect to any Unvested Company Option or any Unvested Company RSU. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without the need for any further action on the part of the holder thereof, each Unvested Company Option that is unexpired, unexercised and outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, and each Unvested Company RSU that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be converted into and represent the right to receive the applicable Cash-Out Amount from Parent for such Unvested Company Option or Unvested Company RSU in accordance with the terms of this Section 1.8(a)(iv) and subject to Section 1.8(a)(vi) (the “Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs)”).
(v) Unvested Company PSUs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Parent will not assume the obligation to deliver shares with respect to any Unvested Company PSU. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without the need for any further action on the part of the holder thereof, each Unvested Company PSU that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and represent the right to receive the applicable Cash-Out Amount from Parent for such Unvested Company PSU in accordance with the terms of this Section 1.8(a)(v) and subject to Section 1.8(a)(vi) (the “Unvested Cash (PSUs)” and, together with the Unvested Cash (Shares) and the Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs), the “Unvested Cash”).
(vi) Payment of Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs) and Unvested Cash (PSUs). The cash payment pursuant to (i) Section 1.8(a)(iv) for Unvested Company Options and Unvested Company RSUs shall remain subject to the same terms, conditions, restrictions and vesting arrangements that were applicable to such Unvested Company Options or Unvested Company RSUs, including those provisions for accelerated vesting on certain terminations of employment and (ii) Section 1.8(a)(v) for Unvested Company PSUs shall remain subject to the same terms, conditions, restrictions and service-based vesting arrangements that were applicable to such Unvested Company PSUs, including those provisions for accelerated vesting on certain terminations of employment, in each case, as in effect from time to time unless otherwise superseded by any applicable Contract between the holder thereof and the Company or Parent or their respective Affiliates, but effective from and after the Effective Time; provided that any performance-based vesting conditions shall no longer apply from and after the Effective Time. Therefore, the Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs) and Unvested Cash (PSUs) shall not be payable by Parent at the Effective Time, and shall instead become payable by Parent on the date that such Unvested Company Option, Unvested Company RSU or Unvested Company PSUs would have become vested in accordance with their terms. To the extent vested, Parent shall make, or in its discretion shall cause the Surviving Corporation to make, all such required payments to holders of Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs) and Unvested Cash (PSUs) no later than the end of the second completed payroll cycle following the date on which the corresponding Unvested Company Option, Unvested Company RSU and Unvested Company PSU would have become vested under the vesting schedule in place for such awards at the Effective Time and in no event later than two and one-half (2.5) months following the end of the calendar year in which the corresponding Unvested Company Option, Unvested Company RSU or Unvested Company PSU, would have become vested (subject to other restrictions and other terms of such vesting schedule and giving effect to the applicable terms with respect to acceleration of vesting under any agreement (or form thereof) set forth on Schedule 2.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter); provided that to the extent payment within such time or on such date would trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payments shall be made on the earliest date that payment would not trigger such Tax or penalty. The Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs) payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a)(iv) and Unvested Cash (PSUs) payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a)(v) on a given payment date shall be rounded down to the nearest cent and computed after aggregating Cash-Out Amounts for all Unvested Company Options, Unvested Company RSUs and Unvested Company PSUs represented by a particular grant previously held by such Person that would have vested on the relevant vesting date. No Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs) or Unvested Cash (PSUs), or right
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thereto, may be pledged, encumbered, sold, assigned or transferred (including any transfer by operation of law), by any Person, other than Parent, or be taken or reached by any legal or equitable process in satisfaction of any Liability of such Person, prior to the distribution to such Person of such Unvested Cash (Options/RSUs) and Unvested Cash (PSUs) in accordance with this Agreement.
(vii) Certain Non-U.S. Tax Matters. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, with respect to Company Options, Company PSUs, and Company RSUs held by individuals subject to Taxes imposed by the Laws of a country other than the United States, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in good faith prior to the Effective Time to consider alternatives to minimize the Tax impact of the provisions set forth in this Section 1.8(a), to include cooperating in good faith to apply for a revenue ruling or determination from a Governmental Entity on behalf of Parent or the Company, as applicable, to address such Tax impact (it being understood that Parent and Merger Sub need not take, and the Company shall not take, any action which would increase the costs (or accelerate the timing of payment) associated with the treatment set forth in this Section 1.8(a)).
(b) Capital Stock of Merger Sub. At the Effective Time, each share of capital stock of Merger Sub that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger and without further action on the part of the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, be converted into and become one share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation (and the shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation into which the shares of Merger Sub capital stock are so converted shall be the only shares of the Surviving Corporation’s capital stock that are issued and outstanding immediately after the Effective Time). The certificate evidencing ownership of shares of Merger Sub common stock will evidence ownership of the same number of shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(c) Cancellation of Company Capital Stock Owned by the Company and Parent. At the Effective Time, all shares of Company Capital Stock that are owned by the Company as treasury stock immediately prior to the Effective Time, and each share of Company Capital Stock owned by Parent or any direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company or Subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be cancelled without any conversion thereof.
(d) Adjustments. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into capital stock), reorganization, reclassification, combination, recapitalization or other like change with respect to the Company Capital Stock occurring after the Agreement Date and prior to the Effective Time, all references in this Agreement to specified numbers of shares of any class or series affected thereby, and all calculations provided for that are based upon numbers of shares of any class or series (or trading prices therefor) affected thereby, shall be equitably adjusted to the extent necessary to provide the parties hereto the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, reorganization, reclassification, combination, recapitalization or other like change.
(e) Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, if required by Delaware Law (but only to the extent required thereby), any shares of Company Common Stock held by any stockholder of the Company who has (i) neither voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement nor consented thereto in writing and (ii) properly and validly exercised their statutory rights of appraisal in respect of such shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with Section 262 of Delaware Law (the “Dissenting Company Shares”), will not be converted into, or represent the right to receive, the merger consideration pursuant to Section 1.8(a) and instead will entitle the holders thereof to such rights as are granted to such holders by Section 262 of Delaware Law. The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice and copies of any written demands for appraisal, withdrawals or attempted withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to applicable Law that are received by the Company relating to the Company’s stockholders’ demands of appraisal and (ii) the right to participate in (but not direct) all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any demand for appraisal under Delaware Law, including any determination to make any payment to a holder of Dissenting Company Shares under Section 262(h) of Delaware Law prior to the entry of judgment in the Legal Proceedings with respect to any demand for appraisal. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily make any payment or offer to make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such demands, or agree to do any of the foregoing in respect of any Dissenting Shares. If, after the Effective Time, any Dissenting Stockholder shall fail to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost the right to seek appraisal rights, the Dissenting Shares,
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pursuant to Section 262 of Delaware Law, will thereupon be deemed to have been converted into, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the merger consideration pursuant to Section 1.8(a) upon surrender of the Certificate or Uncertificated Shares that formerly evidenced such share of Company Capital Stock in the manner provided in Section 1.9(c).
1.9. Surrender of Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. Parent’s transfer agent, Computershare Inc. (or such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Parent and reasonably acceptable to Company), shall act as exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) in the Merger.
(b) Parent to Deposit Cash. At or promptly following the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause a Subsidiary of Parent to, deposit with the Exchange Agent for exchange in accordance with this Article I the cash payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a)(i) and Section 1.8(a)(iii) (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes the Unvested Cash) (provided that the cash payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a)(iii) may instead be paid directly by either Parent through its payroll provider or, if so directed by Parent, by the Surviving Corporation through its payroll provider and to the extent payment would trigger a Tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code, such payments shall be made on the earliest date that payment would not trigger such Tax or penalty).
(c) Exchange Procedures. Promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days) following the Effective Time, Parent shall instruct the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates (“Certificates”) that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock, (i) a letter of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent and shall contain such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use of such letter of transmittal in effecting surrender of Certificates in exchange for the cash payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a). Each holder of record of book-entry shares (“Uncertificated Shares”) shall not be required to deliver a Certificate or an executed letter of transmittal to the Exchange Agent to receive the cash payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a). In lieu thereof, each holder of record of one or more Uncertificated Shares may provide an “agent’s message” in customary form with respect to any Uncertificated Share (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request). Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange Agent together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Exchange Agent, or upon receipt by the Exchange Agent of an appropriate agent’s message (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request) in the case of book-entry transfer of Uncertificated Shares, each holder of such Certificate or such Uncertificated Shares shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a check for the cash amount that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to Section 1.8(a) in respect of the Company Capital Stock represented by such Certificate or such Uncertificated Shares (which, for the avoidance of doubt, excludes any Unvested Cash), and the Certificate or Uncertificated Shares so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Until so surrendered, outstanding Certificates and Uncertificated Shares will be deemed from and after the Effective Time, for all corporate purposes, to evidence only the right to receive cash pursuant to Section 1.8(a), except as provided in Section 1.8(e).
(d) No Interest. No interest will be paid or accrued on any cash payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a) or otherwise in connection with the Merger.
(e) Transfers of Ownership. If any cash amount payable pursuant to Section 1.8(a) is to be paid to a Person other than the Person to which the Certificate or Uncertificated Shares surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of the payment thereof that the Certificate or Uncertificated Shares so surrendered shall, as applicable, be properly endorsed and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the Person requesting such exchange shall have paid to Parent or any agent designated by it any transfer or other similar Taxes required by reason of the payment of cash in any name other than that of the registered holder of the Certificate or Uncertificated Shares surrendered, or established to the satisfaction of Parent or any agent designated by it that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.
(f) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 1.9, none of the Exchange Agent, the Surviving Corporation or any party hereto shall be liable to any Person for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Applicable Legal Requirement.
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