As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 2020.
Registration No. 333-______
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CLARIVATE PLC
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Jersey, Channel Islands |
7374 |
Not Applicable |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
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(Primary Standard Industrial
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(I.R.S. Employer
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Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road
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(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices) |
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Vistra USA, LLC
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(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service) |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☐
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐ __________
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐ __________
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐ __________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer ☐ |
Accelerated filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer ☒ |
Smaller reporting company ☐ |
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Emerging growth company ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☒
(1) | Includes ordinary shares granted pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. |
(2) | Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the high and low sales prices of the ordinary shares as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on May 27, 2020. |
The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Subject to Completion, Dated June 1, 2020
The information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We and the selling shareholders may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PROSPECTUS
40,000,000 Ordinary Shares
CLARIVATE PLC
(incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands)
This is a public offering of 40,000,000 ordinary shares of Clarivate Plc (formerly known as Clarivate Analytics Plc), a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands. We are offering 14,000,000 ordinary shares and the selling shareholders identified in this prospectus are offering 26,000,000 ordinary shares. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares by the selling shareholders.
Our ordinary shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “CCC.” On May 29, 2020, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on NYSE was $22.89.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Investing in our ordinary shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 18 of this prospectus.
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Proceeds, before expenses, to Clarivate |
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Proceeds, before expenses, to the selling shareholders |
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(1) See “Underwriting” for a description of all compensation payable to the underwriters.
Certain of the selling shareholders have granted the underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional 6,000,000 ordinary shares, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus, at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.
The underwriters expect to deliver the ordinary shares to purchasers on or about, 2020 through the book-entry facilities of The Depository Trust Company.
Joint Bookrunners
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Citigroup |
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
The date of this prospectus is , 2020.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information |
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
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F-1 |
Neither we, the selling shareholders nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. Neither we, the selling shareholders, nor the underwriters take responsibility for, or can provide any assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our ordinary shares.
For investors outside the United States: Neither we, the selling shareholders nor the underwriters have done anything that would permit our offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of ordinary shares and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.
NOTE ON DEFINED TERMS AND PRESENTATION
We employ a number of defined terms in this prospectus for clarity and ease of reference, which we have capitalized so that you may recognize them as such. Generally, we explain a defined term the first time it is used.
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As used throughout this prospectus, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “Clarivate,” the “Company,” “our,” “us” and “we” refer to Clarivate Plc and its consolidated subsidiaries; “Baring” refers to the affiliated funds of Baring Private Equity Asia Pte Ltd that from time to time hold our ordinary shares; and “Onex” refers to the affiliates of Onex Partners Advisor LP that from time to time hold our ordinary shares. At our annual general meeting of shareholders held on May 7, 2020, our shareholders approved a change of our corporate name from “Clarivate Analytics Plc” to “Clarivate Plc”.
Unless otherwise indicated, amounts throughout this prospectus are presented in thousands, except for share and per share amounts.
Foreign Private Issuer Status and Financial Presentation
We currently qualify as a foreign private issuer (“FPI”) under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We currently anticipate that we will retain FPI status until at least December 31, 2020. However, even though we qualify as an FPI, we report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and we have elected to file on domestic forms, including "S" series registration statements and our periodic and current reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K.
Industry and Market Data
The market data and other statistical information used throughout this prospectus are based on industry publications and surveys, public filings and various government sources. Industry publications and surveys generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but there can be no assurance as to the accuracy or completeness of the included information. Statements as to our ranking, market position and market estimates (including estimates of the sizes and future growth rates of our markets) are based on independent industry publications, government publications, third-party forecasts and management’s good faith estimates and assumptions about our markets and our internal research. We have not independently verified such third-party information nor have we ascertained the underlying economic assumptions relied upon in those sources, and we are unable to assure you of the accuracy or completeness of such information contained in this prospectus. While we are not aware of any misstatements regarding our market, industry or similar data presented herein, such data involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors. See “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus.
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SUMMARY
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary may not contain all the information that may be important to you, and we urge you to read this entire prospectus carefully, including the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections and our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding to invest in our ordinary shares. Some of the statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for more information.
Clarivate Plc
We are a leading global information services and analytics company serving the scientific research, intellectual property and life sciences end-markets. We provide structured information and analytics to facilitate the discovery, protection and commercialization of scientific research, innovations and brands. Our product portfolio includes well-established, market-leading brands such as Web of Science, Derwent
Innovation, Life Sciences, CompuMark and MarkMonitor. We believe that our flagship products hold a #1 or #2 global position by revenues across the respective markets they serve, including abstracting and indexing databases, life science regulatory and competitive intelligence and intellectual property protection (including patent, trademarks and brand protection). We serve a large, diverse and global customer base. As of December 31, 2019, we served over 40,000 entities in more than 170 countries, including the top 30 pharmaceutical companies by revenues and 50 global patent offices. We believe that the strong value proposition of our content, user interfaces, visualization and analytical tools, combined with the integration of our products and services into customers’ daily workflows, leads to our substantial customer loyalty as evidenced by their high propensity to renew their subscriptions with us.
Our structure is comprised of two product groups: Science and Intellectual Property (“IP”). The Science Group consists of the Web of Science and Life Science Product Lines. The IP Group consists of the Derwent, CompuMark and MarkMonitor Product Lines. This structure enables a sharp focus on cross-selling opportunities within the markets we serve and provides substantial scale.
Corporations, government agencies, universities, law firms and other professional services organizations around the world depend on our high-value, curated content, analytics and services. Unstructured data has grown exponentially over the last decade. This trend has resulted in a critical need for unstructured data to be meaningfully filtered, analyzed and curated into relevant information that facilitates key operational and strategic decisions made by businesses, academic institutions and governments worldwide. Our highly curated, proprietary information created through our sourcing, aggregation, verification, translation and categorization of data has resulted in our solutions being embedded in our customers’ workflow and decision-making processes.
For the twelve months ended March 31, 2020, we generated approximately $980,912 of revenues. We generated recurring revenues through our subscription-based model, which accounted for 82.0% of our revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020. In each of the past three years, we have also achieved annual revenue renewal rates in excess of 90%. (For information on annual revenue renewal rates, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Key Performance Indicators — Annual Revenue Renewal Rates.”) No single customer accounted for more than 1% of revenues and our ten largest customers represented only 5% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020.
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The following charts illustrate our revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 by group, type and geography:
Recent Developments
Annual General Meeting
We held our first annual general meeting of shareholders on Thursday, May 7, 2020. At the annual general meeting, our shareholders approved, among other things, our ability to repurchase ordinary shares in open-market transactions and from Onex and Baring from time to time, as well as certain amendments to our articles of association. See “Description of Share Capital.”
Acquisition of Decision Resources Group
On February 28, 2020, we acquired 100% of the assets, liabilities and equity interests of Decision Resources Group (“DRG”), a premier provider of high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, from Piramal Enterprises Limited, which is a part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. The acquisition helps us expand our core businesses and provides us with the potential to grow in the Life Sciences Product Line (“LSPL”).
The aggregate consideration paid in connection with the closing of the DRG acquisition was $964,997, comprised of $900,000 of base cash plus $6,100 of cash closing adjustments, and up to 2,895,638 of ordinary shares to be issued to Piramal Enterprises Limited on March 1, 2021. The contingent stock consideration was valued at $58,897 on the closing date and is subject to revaluation at each period end.
In February 2020, we completed an underwritten public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares, generating net proceeds of $540,597, which we used to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition. In addition, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund the remainder of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses. As the result of the additional term loan, we had $1,256,850 outstanding under our term loan facility at March 31, 2020.
We expect the DRG acquisition to be accretive to our earnings in 2020 with opportunities for significant revenue and cost synergies. DRG generated $207,107 of revenues in 2019, as compared with $189,215 of revenues in 2018 (representing approximately 9% growth). In 2019, DRG also had a net loss of $20,473 and Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $47,600. We expect to achieve cost synergies of approximately $30,000 within the first 18 months after the closing of the transaction, which in addition to revenue synergies, is expected to drive DRG’s financial performance and expand its Adjusted EBITDA margin towards the Clarivate target of over 40%. See “— Summary Historical Financial Information — Reconciliation of DRG Adjusted EBITDA to Net (Loss)” for additional discussion of DRG’s Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin and a reconciliation of DRG’s Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to DRG’s most directly comparable GAAP measure. See “Risk Factors — We may not be able to achieve the expected benefits of the DRG acquisition, including anticipated revenue and cost synergies, and costs associated with achieving synergies or integrating DRG may exceed our expectations.”
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Redemption of Public Warrants
On December 31, 2019, we had outstanding 34,399,886 warrants (“public warrants”) that were originally issued to the public in connection with the Churchill Capital Corp initial public offering, and 18,300,000 warrants (“private warrants”) issued in a concurrent private placement. Each warrant is exercisable for one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. During the period from January 1, 2020 to February 21, 2020, 24,132,666 public warrants were exercised. On February 20, 2020, we announced that all public warrants that remained outstanding on March 23, 2020 would be redeemed at $0.01 per warrant. In addition, we announced that all public warrants would thereafter be exercisable only on a “cashless” basis, pursuant to which exercising public warrant holders would receive 0.4626 ordinary shares for each public warrant exercised. After February 21, 2020, 4,747,432 ordinary shares were issued on exercise of public warrants and on March 23, 2020, 4,649 public warrants were redeemed. As of March 31, 2020 no public warrants were outstanding. The private warrants were not subject to this redemption and all remain outstanding. See “Description of Share Capital — Warrants.”
MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy and Antifraud Disposition
In November 2019, we announced an agreement to sell the MarkMonitor™ brand protection, antipiracy and antifraud businesses, and completed such divestiture on January 1, 2020. We retained the MarkMonitor Domain Management business.
Our Products
Our product portfolio as of December 31, 2019 is summarized below.
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Science Group |
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Intellectual Property Group |
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Web of Science |
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Life Sciences |
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Derwent |
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CompuMark |
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MarkMonitor |
Product Description |
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Used to navigate scientific and academic research discoveries, conduct analysis and evaluate research impact |
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Used by life sciences firms for drug research, market intelligence and regulatory compliance |
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Used to search and analyze patents |
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Used to monitor trademarks on an ongoing basis |
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Used to register and manage portions of web domains |
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Curated Information Set |
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Database of 1B+ citations, 166mm+ index records |
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73,000+ drug program records, 340,000 clinical trial records |
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Database of 80mm+ patent filings across 50 patent offices |
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180+ patent and trademark offices |
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Database of 1.3mm corporate domain names |
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Customers |
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7,000+ leading academic institutions and governments and research intensive corporations use Web of Science and its Journal Impact Factor |
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Trusted by the top 30 pharma companies and hundreds of research groups |
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Used by 50 patent offices, large R&D organizations of Fortune 1000 companies and various universities |
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15 industrial databases, 70 Pharma in-use databases |
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MarkMonitor manages 44% of the top 50 most trafficked corporate website domain portfolios |
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Notable Products |
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Web of Science InCites ScholarOne |
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Cortellis RI Integrity Newport |
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Derwent Innovation TechStreet |
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Watch Screen Search |
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Domain Management Brand Protection |
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Our Strategy
The Clarivate management team, led by Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jerre Stead, is implementing a transformation strategy designed to improve operations, increase cash flow and accelerate revenues growth. Our transition to standalone operations since our 2016 separation from Thomson Reuters Corporation and its affiliates (“Thomson Reuters”) has required extensive management time and focus and involved significant expenditures, including sizeable payments to Thomson Reuters under the transition services agreement formerly in effect. We believe that our transition to a standalone company positions us to implement our transformation strategy and to improve our productivity compared to other leaders in the information services sector on a revenues per employee basis and in terms of our Adjusted EBITDA margins.
Under Mr. Stead’s leadership, we are embarking on a race to deliver excellence to the markets we serve and continue our evolution as a world-class organization. As we move forward, the focus will be on three basic principles; focus, simplify and execute. This means:
1. | Focusing on our core capabilities and the greatest opportunities for growth. |
2. | Simplifying our organization and processes. The focus on two product groups will be the driver for streamlining our operations. |
3. | Relentlessly driving execution of our strategy and growth plans. |
These changes will help us operate with greater focus and urgency. They will ensure that we put our clients first, drive accountability throughout the organization, accelerate decision-making, and promote consistency. These tenets will enable us to deliver long-term, sustainable growth.
With a proven operational playbook, we have quickly pursued initiatives to set ourselves on a growth trajectory. Our results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 continue to prove that our transformation is underway.
(1) | For a reconciliation of our non-GAAP measures to the corresponding most closely related measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Certain Non-GAAP Measures.” |
(2) | Results calculated for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. |
(3) | “ACV” or “annualized contract value” refers to the annualized value for a 12-month period following a given date of all subscription-based client license agreements, assuming that all license agreements that come up for renewal during that period are renewed. The figure above represents the year-over-year growth in the annual value of our subscriptions as of March 31, 2020 as compared to March 31, 2019. For |
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information on ACV see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Key Performance Indicators — Annualized Contract Value.” |
(4) | Retention rate measurement period is for the three months ended March 31, 2020. |
Operational Improvement Initiatives
We are in the process of implementing several cost-saving and margin improvement initiatives designed to generate substantial incremental cash flow. We have engaged a strategic consulting firm to assist us in optimizing our structure and cost base. The focus of these initiatives is to identify significant cost reductions to be implemented over the next several quarters, enabling us to deliver margins consistent with those of our peer group. Some examples include:
● | decreasing costs by simplifying organizational structures and rationalizing general and administrative functions to enhance a customer-centric focus; |
● | using artificial intelligence and the latest technologies to reduce costs and increase efficiencies for content sourcing and curation; |
● | moving work performed by contractors in-house to best-cost geographic locations, particularly India, where we have significant scale that can be leveraged; |
● | achieving headcount productivity benchmarks and operational efficiency metrics based on alignment with quantified sector leader benchmarks; |
● | expanding existing operations in best-cost geographic locations, aligning with business objectives; |
● | minimizing our real estate footprint by reducing facility locations substantially over the next three years; and |
● | divesting non-core assets. |
Revenue Growth Initiatives
We believe a significant opportunity exists for us to accelerate revenue growth by increasing the value of our products and services, developing new products, cross-selling certain products and optimizing sales force productivity. Actions to achieve such revenue growth are expected to include:
● | developing new value-added products and services; |
● | delivering an enhanced client experience through ongoing renovations to our products’ user interface and user experience; |
● | offering additional analytics that enhance existing products and services; |
● | moving up the value chain by providing our clients with predictive and prescriptive analytics, allowing for stronger growth and higher retention rates; |
● | expanding our footprint with new and existing customers, with significant opportunity for growth in the Asia Pacific and emerging markets; |
● | broadening our consulting capabilities, in particular in the Science Group, where there is considerable opportunity for us to deliver high value consulting services to drive significant revenue growth; |
● | optimizing product pricing and packaging based on customer needs; |
● | increasing sales force focus on large accounts; |
● | expanding our inside sales capability to improve account coverage; and |
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● | restructuring our incentive plans to drive new business, as well as cross-selling among similar products and overlapping buying centers. |
The above actions are part of an overarching effort to improve retention rates and new business growth rates to best-in-class levels across our portfolio.
Pursue Acquisition Opportunities
Given the fragmented nature of the broader information services industry, we track and, where appropriate, will continue to pursue opportunities across our product groups. From 2017 through 2019, we completed five small add-on acquisitions to augment our existing portfolio of assets and provide additional datasets and services for our customers. Our completed acquisitions include Publons and Kopernio in WOSPL, SequenceBase in DPL and TrademarkVision and Darts-ip in CPL. Certain of these acquisitions are fully integrated into our platform, while others continue to be integrated, and we believe they have already provided additional value to our customers.
In February 2020, we consummated the acquisition of DRG, our largest acquisition to date, in LSPL. See “— Recent Developments.”
We are evaluating additional acquisition opportunities to supplement our existing platform and enable us to enter new markets. Our focus is on disciplined and accretive investments that leverage our core strengths and enhance our current product, market, geographic and customer strategies. We believe that the combination of Mr. Stead’s successful acquisition track record and our scale and status as a global information services leader uniquely positions us to create value through additional acquisitions.
Positive Sector Dynamics Support Our Trajectory
We operate in the global information services and analytics sector, which is experiencing robust growth due to many factors. Data and analytics have become critical inputs into broader corporate decision-making in today’s marketplace, and companies and institutions are seeking services like ours to enhance the predictive nature of their analysis. In addition to greater demand for our services, rapid innovation within our customers’ businesses has created new use cases for our services. Third-party industry reports estimate the global data and analytics market will grow from $155 billion in 2018 to $219 billion by 2021, a 12.1% compound annual growth rate over the period. This represents the target addressable market across verticals that have a need for data and analytical services.
Source: IDC, Outsell, Inc. all rights reserved.
(1) | The Predictive Analytics and Data Markets is defined as the combined Worldwide Business Analytics Services, Worldwide Big Data and Analytics Software and Worldwide Organizational Data as a Service markets per IDC. |
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Customers of data and analytics products continue to approach complex business decisions in new ways. We believe that these customers are placing greater emphasis and value on the ability to embed predictive and prescriptive analytics into their decision-making processes. These customers are using smart data to anticipate what will happen in the future, as opposed to using historical data to study what has happened in the past. As such, we are investing in these critical, forward-facing products and solutions. We believe offering these types of products will increase the value clients place on our products, allow for stronger growth and open new addressable markets, as illustrated below.
Significant Move Up the Value Chain with Smart Data Offerings
Our Competitive Strengths
Leading Market Positions in Attractive and Growing Global Markets
We offer a collection of high-quality, market-leading information and analytic products and solutions serving the intellectual property, scientific research and life sciences end-markets. Through our products and services, we address the large and growing demand from corporations, government agencies, universities, law firms and other professional services organizations worldwide for comprehensive, industry-specific content and analytical tools to facilitate the discovery, development, protection, commercialization and measurement of scientific research, innovations and brands. We believe that our flagship products hold a #1 or #2 by revenue across the respective markets they serve, including abstracting and indexing databases, life science regulatory and competitive intelligence and intellectual property protection (including patent, trademarks and brand protection). We also believe that the outlook for growth in each of our Product Lines is compelling because of customer demand for curated high-quality data, underpinned by favorable end-market trends, such as rising global R&D spending, growing demand for information services in emerging markets, the acceleration of e-commerce and the increasing number of patent and trademark applications.
A Trusted Partner Delivering Highly Curated Content Embedded Within Customer Workflows
We believe the substantial increase in unstructured data over the last decade has increased the importance of our proprietary, curated databases to our customers. This trend has resulted in a critical need for unstructured data to be meaningfully filtered, analyzed and curated into relevant information that facilitates key operational and strategic decisions made by businesses, academic institutions and governments worldwide. Our suite of branded information and analytic solutions provides access to content that has been collected, curated and standardized over decades, making our products and services highly valued and increasingly important for our customers. Our
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content curation and editorial teams include over 930 employees, who clean, analyze and classify unstructured data to ensure high-quality content and an enhanced user experience. We believe our solutions and commitment to excellence provide us with a significant advantage in both retaining existing and attracting new customers.
Attractive Business Model with Strong Free Cash Flow Profile
Approximately 82.0% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 were generated through annual or multi-year subscription agreements. In addition, we have been able to achieve annual revenues renewal rates in excess of 90% over the past two years. We believe our business has strong and attractive free cash flow characteristics due to our highly visible and recurring subscription revenues stream, attractive Adjusted EBITDA margins, low capital expenditure requirements and favorable net working capital characteristics. Anticipated revenues growth, margin improvement, the separation from Thomson Reuters and effective working capital management are expected to result in strong free cash flow generation. We believe this will create capacity to invest further into the business so that we can grow and maximize shareholder returns.
Diversified Product Lines with Longstanding Customer Relationships
We believe that the diversified nature of our Product Lines enhances the stability of our entire platform as we are not dependent on any one end-market, product, service or customer. We serve a large, diverse and global customer base, and as of December 31, 2019, we served over 40,000 entities in more than 170 countries, including the top 30 pharmaceutical companies by revenues and 50 global patent offices. No single customer accounted for more than 1% of revenues and our ten largest customers represented only 5% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020. We believe the strong value proposition offered by our content, combined with the integration of our products and services into our customers’ daily workflows and decision-making processes, leads to substantial customer loyalty. Our relationships with our top 50 customers by revenues span an average tenor of over 15 years. Our diverse global footprint is highlighted by the distribution of our revenues for twelve months ended March 31, 2020 by geography: Americas (47.6%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (28.3%), and Asia Pacific (24.1%).
Resilience Through Economic Cycles
We believe our business is resilient across economic cycles because our products and services are an integral part of our customers’ decision-making processes. We believe multi-year agreements also help to maintain this resiliency. For example, during the economic downturn in 2008, three of our key products — Web of Science, Life Sciences and Derwent Innovation — realized year-over-year revenues increases from 2008 to 2009. In addition, our diverse global footprint reduces our exposure to national and regional economic downturns.
Our performance is largely due to the sectors we serve and the deep integration of our products with our customers’ workflows, which provides for a resilient business model even during an economic downturn.
Proven and Experienced Leadership
Mr. Stead is a proven business operator with demonstrated success in shareholder value creation. At Clarivate, Mr. Stead brings his decades of expertise in the information services sector to guide a talented and experienced management team sourced from world-class, global companies, most of whom have decades of experience in their respective areas of expertise.
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Corporate Information
Clarivate Plc is organized under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands. We were initially registered on January 7, 2019, and at our 2020 annual general meeting, our shareholders approved a change of our corporate name from “Clarivate Analytics Plc” to “Clarivate Plc”. Our registered office is located at 4th Floor, St Paul’s Gate, 22-24 New Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE1 4TR. Our principal business offices are located at Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8EZ, United Kingdom, where our main telephone number is +44 207 4334000. We maintain a website at www.clarivate.com. The information contained in, or accessible through our website is not incorporated by reference in, and should not be considered part of, this prospectus. In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers (including Clarivate) that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Investors should contact us for any inquiries through the address and telephone number of our principal executive office.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We are an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (the “JOBS Act”). As such, we are eligible to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not “emerging growth companies” including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and exemptions from the requirements of holding a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. We expect that we will no longer be an “emerging growth company” as of December 31, 2020.
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THE OFFERING
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Ordinary shares offered by Clarivate |
14,000,000 shares |
Ordinary shares offered by the selling shareholders |
26,000,000 shares (or 32,000,000 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares), including 569,624 shares (or 2,404,680 shares, respectively) issuable upon the exercise and “net-share settlement” of outstanding options by certain of the selling shareholders in this offering (based upon an assumed public offering price per share of $22.89, which was the closing price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020). The actual number of vested options that certain of the selling shareholders will continue to hold after completion of this offering, and the number of shares exercised and surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement in connection with the exercise of the vested options held by such selling shareholders in this offering, may vary from this assumption and will be based on the actual public offering price per share in this offering. |
Ordinary shares to be outstanding immediately after this offering |
386,733,891 shares (or 388,568,947 shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares). |
Option to purchase additional shares |
Certain of the selling shareholders have granted the underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional 6,000,000 ordinary shares, within 30 days of the date of this prospectus, at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts, on the same terms as set forth in this prospectus. |
Listing |
Our ordinary shares are listed on NYSE under the symbol “CCC.” The closing price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020 was $22.89. |
Use of proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering received by us for general corporate purposes. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares by the selling shareholders. See “Use of Proceeds”. |
Dividend policy |
We presently intend to retain our earnings for use in business operations and, accordingly, we do not anticipate that our board will declare dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of our credit facilities and the indenture governing our secured notes due 2026 include restrictions that may impact our ability to pay dividends. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our board and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, distributable reserves, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board deem relevant. |
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Voting rights |
Each of our ordinary shares entitles the holder to one vote on all matters upon which our ordinary shares are entitled to vote. |
Lock-up agreements |
We, the members of our board of directors and our executive officers, as well as the selling shareholders, have agreed with the underwriters, subject to certain exceptions, not to offer, sell, or dispose of any shares of our share capital or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of our share capital during the 60-day period following the date of this prospectus. We intend to file a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC shortly after completion of this offering, but this registration statement, once declared effective, would not be made available under the current terms of the lock-up agreements for the issuance or resale of any securities that are subject to these lock-up agreements while they remain in effect. See “Underwriting.” |
Risk factors |
See “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider before deciding to invest in our ordinary shares. |
The number of ordinary shares to be outstanding after this offering reflects the sum of (i) 365,164,267 ordinary shares actually outstanding as of May 15, 2020 plus (ii) the assumed issuance of (A) all 7,000,000 Merger Shares anticipated to be issued under the Sponsor Agreement prior to the consummation of this offering (see “Executive Compensation — Determination of Executive Compensation — CEO — Pre-Merger Compensation” and “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions — Transactions Involving Related Persons — Sponsor Agreement”), (B) 569,624 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise and net-share settlement of outstanding options to be exercised by certain of the selling shareholders in this offering (based upon an assumed public offering price per share of $22.89, which was the closing price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020), and (C) 14,000,000 ordinary shares being offered by us in this offering, and excludes:
● | 9,647,876 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding under our 2019 Incentive Award Plan as of May 15, 2020 which are not being issued or sold in this offering, and are exercisable at various prices ranging from $6.61 to $37.48 per ordinary share; |
● | 1,503,369 ordinary shares underlying restricted stock units that were granted under our 2019 Incentive Award Plan as of May 15, 2020; |
● | 550,189 ordinary shares underlying performance stock units that were granted under our 2019 Incentive Award Plan as of May 15, 2020; |
● | 18,300,000 ordinary shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding private warrants at an exercise price of $11.50 per ordinary share; and |
● | Up to 2,895,638 ordinary shares to be issued to Piramal Enterprises Limited as consideration to finance the DRG acquisition. |
Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the option granted to the underwriters to purchase up to 6,000,000 additional shares in connection with the offering.
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SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following summary historical financial information of Clarivate for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 has been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Clarivate Plc (formerly known as Clarivate Analytics Plc) included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary historical financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 has been prepared in accordance with GAAP and has been derived from Clarivate’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. In the opinion of management, such unaudited financial information reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for those periods. Our first quarter 2020 financial results reflect the contribution of DRG’s results for the period subsequent to the closing of the DRG acquisition on February 28, 2020. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any future period.
Other Financial and Required Reported Data:
Financial Data
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For the Three Months Ended |
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For the Year Ended December 31, |
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March 31, |
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2019 |
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2018 |
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2017 |
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2020 |
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2019 |
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(in millions) |
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Adjusted revenues(1) |
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$ |
974.8 |
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$ |
951.2 |
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$ |
935.4 |
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$ |
242.5 |
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$ |
234.2 |
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Adjusted EBITDA(2) |
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294.1 |
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272.9 |
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319.7 |
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78.2 |
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59.2 |
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Adjusted EBITDA margin(3) |
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30.2 |
% |
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28.7 |
% |
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34.2 |
% |
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32.2 |
% |
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25.3 |
% |
Capital expenditures |
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69.8 |
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45.4 |
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37.8 |
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19.4 |
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6.0 |
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Required Reported Data
We are required to report Standalone Adjusted EBITDA, which is substantially similar to Consolidated EBITDA and EBITDA as such terms are defined under our credit facilities and indenture, pursuant to the reporting covenants contained in such agreements. In addition, our management uses Standalone Adjusted EBITDA to assess compliance with various incurrence-based covenants in these agreements. For more information, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity — Required Reported Data — Standalone Adjusted EBITDA.”
(1) | Adjusted revenues normalizes for the impact of purchase accounting adjustments to deferred revenues and the impact of divestments. The following table reconciles net revenues to adjusted net revenues for the periods presented: |
(a) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
(b) | Reflects revenues from our Intellectual Property Management (“IPM”) Product Line, which was divested in October 2018. |
(2) | Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and interest income and expense adjusted to exclude acquisition or disposal-related transaction costs (such costs include net income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and interest income and expense from divestitures), losses on extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation, unrealized foreign currency gains/(losses), transition services agreement costs, separation and integration costs, transformational and restructuring expenses, acquisition-related adjustments to deferred revenues, merger related costs from our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, non-cash income/(loss) on equity and cost method investments, non-operating income or expense, the impact of certain non-cash, legal settlements and other items that are included in net income for the period that we do not consider indicative of its ongoing operating performance and certain unusual items impacting results in a particular period. The adjustments reflected in our Adjusted EBITDA have not been prepared with a view towards complying with Article 11 of Regulation S-X. Adjusted EBITDA is intended to provide additional information on a more comparable basis than would be provided without such adjustments. |
In future periods, we will need to make additional capital expenditures in order to replicate capital expenditures associated with previously shared services on a stand-alone basis. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. These measures are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, net cash flows provided by operating activities, total net cash flows or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP or as alternatives to net cash flows from operating activities or total net cash flows as measures of our liquidity.
Reduction of ongoing standalone and transition services agreement costs have been, and are expected to continue to be, a component of our strategy.
Certain of the adjustments included to arrive at Adjusted EBITDA are related to our transition to a standalone company. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the included adjustments.
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The use of Adjusted EBITDA instead of GAAP measures has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations and operating cash flows as reported under GAAP. For example, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect:
● | our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures; |
● | changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; |
● | interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt; |
● | any cash income taxes that we may be required to pay; |
● | any cash requirements for replacements of assets that are depreciated or amortized over their estimated useful lives and may have to be replaced in the future; or |
● | all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our statements of cash flows. |
Our definition of and method of calculating Adjusted EBITDA may vary from the definitions and methods used by other companies when calculating adjusted EBITDA, which may limit their usefulness as comparative measures.
We prepared the information included in this prospectus based upon available information and assumptions and estimates that we believe are reasonable. We cannot assure you that our estimates and assumptions will prove to be accurate.
Because we incurred transaction, transition, integration, transformation, restructuring and transition services agreement costs in connection with the separation from Thomson Reuters, borrowed money in order to finance our operations, and used capital and intangible assets in our business, and because the payment of income taxes is necessary if we generate taxable income after the utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards, any measure that excludes these items has material limitations. As a result of these limitations, these measures should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to us to invest in the growth of our business or as a measure of our liquidity.
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The following table reconciles net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented:
(a) | In 2020, this related to a new transition services agreement and offset by the reverse transition services agreement from the sale of MarkMonitor assets. In prior periods, this includes accruals for payments to Thomson Reuters under the transition services agreement. These costs have decreased substantially in 2019, as we are in the final stages of implementing our standalone company infrastructure. |
(b) | Includes costs incurred in connection with and after the separation from Thomson Reuters relating to the implementation of our standalone company infrastructure and related cost-savings initiatives. These costs include mainly transition consulting, technology infrastructure, personnel and severance expenses relating to our standalone company infrastructure, which are recorded in Transition, transformation and integration expenses, and other line items of our income statement, as well as expenses related to the restructuring and transformation of our business following the separation from Thomson Reuters, mainly related to the integration of separate business units into one functional organization and enhancements in our technology. |
(c) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
(d) | Includes costs incurred to complete business combination transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, and typically includes advisory, legal and other professional and consulting costs. |
(e) | Reflects the write down of a tax indemnity asset. |
(f) | Reflects the IPM Product Line’s operating margin, excluding amortization and depreciation, prior to its divestiture in October 2018. |
(g) | Reflects costs incurred in connection with the initiative, following our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, to streamline our operations by simplifying our organization and focusing on two product groups. |
(h) | Includes primarily the net impact of foreign exchange gains and losses related to the re-measurement of balances and other items that do not reflect our ongoing operating performance. |
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(3) | Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by Adjusted revenues. |
Reconciliation of DRG Adjusted EBITDA to Net (Loss)
Set forth below is a reconciliation of DRG Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, to DRG’s net (loss), for each of the periods presented. The non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only, and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly-titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”
The financial results for the periods presented below have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, DRG’s management. While DRG’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP, they may not reflect the adoption of all accounting standards that would be required if DRG were part of a U.S. public company during the periods presented.
We include non-GAAP measures in this prospectus, including DRG Adjusted EBITDA, because they are a basis upon which DRG’s management has assessed, and on which our management now assesses, DRG’s performance and are believed to be reflective of the underlying trends and indicators of DRG’s business. These measures are not a substitute for GAAP financial measures or disclosures. The 2019 and 2018 information in the table below has been derived from DRG’s 2019 and 2018 financial statements included in this prospectus. Our independent registered public accounting firm has not audited, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to DRG’s results for the periods presented below. Accordingly, our independent registered public accounting firm does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.
DRG Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by using net (loss) before provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and interest income and expense adjusted to exclude the other items identified in the table below that DRG does not consider indicative of its ongoing operating performance.
(1) | Includes costs incurred related to various restructuring efforts as a result of changes in leadership and the integration of acquisitions. Costs include mainly severance expense for terminated personnel from acquired businesses and exit cost obligations related to exiting certain facilities. Costs in 2019 do not reflect adoption of ASC 842. |
(2) | Reflects costs related to completed and uncompleted acquisitions, primarily related to third party professional fees. |
(3) | Costs in 2019 relate primarily to retention bonuses paid to certain employees and incremental executive salaries paid and long-term incentive plan accruals in contemplation of the sale of DRG, as well as management fees paid to a related party. Costs in 2018 primarily relate to retention bonuses paid to employees of acquired companies, severance paid to certain executives and management fees paid to a related party. |
(4) | Reflects primarily a one-time payment received in 2019 related to a failed sale of one of DRG’s businesses and other one-time adjustments. |
(5) | DRG’s Adjusted EBITDA Margin for a particular period is calculated by dividing DRG’s Adjusted EBITDA by DRG’s gross revenues for such period. |
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in our ordinary shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information in this prospectus before you decide to purchase our ordinary shares. If any of the risks discussed in this prospectus actually occurs, alone or together with additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may be materially adversely affected. If this were to occur, the value of our ordinary shares may decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.
We operate in highly competitive markets and may be adversely affected by this competition.
The markets for our products and services are highly competitive and are subject to rapid technological changes and evolving customer demands and needs. We compete on the basis of various factors, including the quality of content embedded in our databases and those of our competitors, customers’ perception of our products relative to the value that they deliver, user interface of the products and the quality of our overall offerings.
Many of our principal competitors are established companies that have substantial financial resources, recognized brands, technological expertise and market experience, and these competitors sometimes have more established positions in certain Product Lines and geographies than we do. We also compete with smaller and sometimes newer companies, some of which are specialized with a narrower focus than our company, and face competition from other Internet services companies and search providers.
Our competitors may be able to adopt new or emerging technologies or address customer requirements more quickly than we can. New and emerging technologies can also have the impact of allowing start-up companies to enter the market more quickly than they would have been able to in the past. We may also face increased competition from companies that could pose a threat to our business by providing more in-depth offerings, adapting their products and services to meet the demands of their customers or combining with one of their competitors to enhance their products and services. A number of our principal competitors may continue to make acquisitions as a means to improve the competitiveness of their offerings. In order to better serve the needs of our existing customers and to attract new customers, we must continue to:
● | enhance and improve our existing products and services (such as by adding new content and functionalities); |
● | develop new products and services; |
● | invest in technology; and |
● | strategically acquire additional businesses and partner with other businesses in key sectors that will allow us to offer a broader array of products and services. |
Our ability to compete successfully is also impacted by the growing availability of information from government information systems and other free sources, as well as competitors who aggressively market their products as a lower cost alternative. See “—Increased accessibility to free or relatively inexpensive information sources may reduce demand for our products and services.” Because some of our competitors are able to offer products and services that may be more cost effective than ours, including through the provision of price incentives for new customers, and because some of our competitors’ products and services may be seen as having greater functionality or performance than ours, the relative value of some of our products or services could be diminished. In addition, some of our competitors combine competing products with complementary products as packaged solutions, which could pre-empt use of our products or solutions. Competition from such free or lower cost sources may require us to reduce the price of some of our products and services (which may result in lower revenues) or make additional capital investments (which might result in lower profit margins). If we are unable or unwilling to reduce prices or make additional investments in the future, we may lose customers and our financial results may be adversely affected. In addition, implementation of annual price increases by us from time to time may also, in some cases, cause customers to use lower-cost competitors.
Certain of our distribution partners have licensing rights to portions of our content for use within their platforms. Over time they may become more directly competitive with us (subject to the terms of their agreements with us) if they were to advance their technology more efficiently and effectively than we do.
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Additionally, some of our customers may decide to develop independently certain products and services that they obtain from us, including through the formation of consortia. Educating our customers on the intricacies and uses of our products and services could, in certain cases, improve their ability to offer competing products and services as they look to expand their business models. If more of our customers become self-sufficient, demand for our products and services may be reduced. If we fail to compete effectively, our financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.
We may not be able to achieve the expected benefits of the DRG acquisition, including anticipated revenue and cost synergies, and costs associated with achieving synergies or integrating DRG may exceed our expectations.
We may not be able to achieve the expected benefits of the DRG acquisition, including anticipated revenue and cost synergies. There can be no assurance that the DRG acquisition will be beneficial to us. We may not succeed in cross-selling our other products and services to DRG’s customer base, or in cross-selling DRG’s products and services to our existing customer base. Moreover, we may not be able to integrate the assets acquired in the DRG acquisition or achieve our expected cost synergies without increases in costs or other difficulties. The integration process may be complex, costly and time-consuming. We expect to incur expenses in connection with the integration of DRG acquisition. While it is anticipated that certain expenses will be incurred to achieve operational synergies, such expenses are difficult to estimate accurately, and may exceed current estimates. Accordingly, the benefits from the DRG acquisition may be offset by costs incurred or delays in integrating the businesses. Any unexpected costs or delays incurred in connection with the integration of the DRG acquisition could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects, as well as the market price of our ordinary shares.
The overall integration of the businesses may result in material unanticipated problems, expenses, liabilities, competitive responses, loss of customer relationships, and diversion of management’s attention. In addition, even if the operations of our business and DRG’s business are integrated successfully, we may not realize the full benefits of the DRG acquisition, including the synergies, cost savings or sales or growth opportunities that we expect. These benefits may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame, or at all. Furthermore, additional unanticipated costs may be incurred in the integration of the businesses.
Our ability to make specified claims against the seller in the DRG acquisition generally expires over time and we may be left with no recourse for liabilities and other problems associated with the DRG acquisition that we do not discover prior to the expiration date related to such matters under our agreement to acquire DRG.
The market price of our ordinary shares may decline as a result of the DRG acquisition if, among other things, the integration of the entities to be acquired in the DRG acquisition is unsuccessful, if we fail to realize the anticipated cost or revenue synergies, or if the related liabilities, expenses or transaction costs are greater than expected. The market price of our ordinary shares may decline if we do not achieve the perceived benefits of the DRG acquisition as rapidly or to the extent anticipated by us or by securities market participants or if the effect of the DRG acquisition on our business, results of operations or financial condition or prospects is not consistent with our expectations or those of securities market participants. Furthermore, the DRG acquisition may subject us to new types of risks to which we were not previously exposed.
If our products and services do not maintain and/or achieve broad market acceptance, or if we are unable to keep pace with or adapt to rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and changing regulatory requirements, our revenues could be adversely affected.
Our business is characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and changing regulatory requirements. Our growth and success depend upon our ability to keep pace with such changes and developments and to meet changing customer needs and preferences. In order to enable our sales personnel to sell new products and services effectively, we must invest resources and incur additional costs in training programs on new products and services and key differentiators and business values.
The process of developing our products and services is complex and may become increasingly complex and expensive in the future due to the introduction of new platforms, operating systems and technologies. Our ability
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to keep pace with technology and business and regulatory changes is subject to a number of risks, including that we may find it difficult or costly to:
● | update our products and services and develop new products and services quickly enough to meet our customers’ needs; |
● | make some features of our products work effectively and securely over the Internet or with new or changed operating systems; |
● | update our products and services to keep pace with business, evolving industry standards, regulatory requirements and other developments in the markets in which our customers operate; and |
● | integrate or further develop acquired products or technologies successfully or at all. |
The items reflected in the adjustments included in Standalone Adjusted EBITDA may not be achieved.
We have made adjustments to net income (loss) to calculate Standalone Adjusted EBITDA. These adjustments reflect certain items related to our transition to a standalone operation since our 2016 separation from Thomson Reuters and other items that we are permitted to add back under the corresponding definitions in our credit facilities and the indenture governing our secured notes due 2026. For example, in calculating Standalone Adjusted EBITDA, we have added back, among other things, the annualization effect of cost savings implementation during the year and excess standalone costs, the impact of the DRG acquisition on our Adjusted EBITDA as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2020, certain restructuring and integration costs, acquisition-related costs and other unusual and/or non-recurring items. We cannot provide assurance that our estimates and assumptions in calculating Standalone Adjusted EBITDA will prove to be accurate. For example, we believe that the standalone costs that we have incurred to date and expect to incur through 2020 are not reflective of the standalone costs that we expect that we will incur starting in 2021 and onwards (“steady state standalone costs”). As a result, we have made an adjustment when calculating Standalone Adjusted EBITDA to reflect the excess of current standalone costs to steady state standalone costs. If the actual annualized effect of cost savings we have implemented is less than our estimates, our cost savings initiatives adversely affect our operations or cost more or take longer to implement than we project, our steady state standalone costs are higher than our estimates, and/or if our assumptions prove to be inaccurate, our Standalone Adjusted EBITDA will be lower than we anticipate.
In addition, Standalone Adjusted EBITDA is adjusted, and the corresponding definitions in our credit facilities and the indenture governing our secured notes due 2026 permit us to adjust, for items that would not meet the standards for inclusion in pro forma financial statements under accounting regulations, such as the add-back for the impact of the DRG Acquisition. Some of these adjustments may be considered to be too speculative to merit adjustment under accounting regulations. Although Standalone Adjusted EBITDA is required pursuant to the terms of the reporting covenants under the credit facilities and the indenture, investors should not consider Standalone Adjusted EBITDA as a substitute for analysis of our results of operations and operating cash flows as reported under GAAP or as indicative of our performance for any future period.
The DRG financial information presented herein may not reflect the adoption of all accounting standards that would be required if DRG were part of a U.S. public company during the periods presented.
While DRG’s financial information presented herein is prepared in accordance with GAAP, it may not reflect the adoption of all accounting standards that would be required if DRG were part of a U.S. public company during the periods presented. We cannot assure you that such financial information is adequate to assess the impact of the DRG acquisition on our future financial performance or condition.
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We may be unable to achieve some or all of the operational cost improvements and other benefits that we expect to realize.
We may not be able to realize all of the cost savings we expect to achieve. We believe that we will be able to achieve additional annual cost savings as a result of other initiatives, particularly by pursuing a number of operational cost improvements identified during diligence, increased overall focus on cost control as a stand-alone company and certain ongoing restructuring initiatives we plan to undertake. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully realize the expected benefits of these initiatives. A variety of risks could cause us not to realize some or all of the expected benefits or cost savings. These risks include, among others, higher than expected standalone overhead expenses, delays in the anticipated timing of activities related to such initiatives, increased difficulty and cost in establishing ourselves as an independent company, lack of sustainability in cost savings over time, unexpected costs associated with operating our business, inability to eliminate duplicative back office overhead or redundant selling and general and administrative functions and inability to avoid labor disruptions in connection with any integration of the foregoing, particularly in connection with any headcount reductions. Our ability to successfully manage organizational changes is important for our future business success. In particular, our reputation and results of operations could be harmed if employee morale, engagement or productivity decline as a result of organizational or other changes.
Moreover, our implementation of these initiatives may disrupt our operations and performance, and our estimated cost savings from these initiatives are based on several assumptions that may prove to be inaccurate and, as a result, we cannot assure you that we will realize these cost savings. If, for any reason, the benefits we realize are less than our estimates, or our improvement initiatives adversely affect our operations or cost more or take longer to implement than we project, or if our assumptions prove inaccurate, our results of operations may be materially adversely affected.
We are dependent on third parties, including public sources, for data, information and other services, and our relationships with such third parties may not be successful or may change, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
Substantially all of our products and services are developed using data, information or services obtained from third-party providers and public sources, or are made available to our customers or are integrated for our customers’ use through information and technology solutions provided by third-party service providers.
We have commercial relationships with third-party providers whose capabilities complement our own and, in some cases, these providers are also our competitors. The priorities and objectives of these providers, particularly those that are our competitors, may differ from ours, which may make us vulnerable to unpredictable price increases and unfavorable licensing terms. Agreements with such third-party providers periodically come up for renewal or renegotiation, and there is a risk that such negotiations may result in different rights and restrictions which could impact our customers’ use of the content. Moreover, providers that are not currently our competitors may become competitors or be acquired by or merge with a competitor in the future, any of which could reduce our access to the information and technology solutions provided by those companies. If we were to expand our product and service offerings, whether through organic growth or acquisitions, we may launch products and services that compete with providers that are not currently our competitors, which could negatively impact our existing relationships. If we do not maintain, or obtain the expected benefits from, our relationships with third-party providers or if a substantial number of our third-party providers or any key service providers were to withdraw their services, we may be less competitive, our ability to offer products and services to our customers may be negatively affected, and our results of operations could be adversely impacted.
We also depend on public sources in the development of our products and services. These public sources are usually free to access or are available at minimal cost, and do not compete directly with our products and services. If such public sources were to begin competing with us directly, or were to increase the cost to access their data, prohibit us from collecting and synthesizing the data they provide or cease existing altogether, our results of operations could be adversely impacted.
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Increased accessibility to free or relatively inexpensive information sources may reduce demand for our products and services.
In recent years, more public sources of free or relatively inexpensive information have become available, particularly through the Internet, and this trend is expected to continue. For example:
● | some governmental and regulatory agencies have increased the amount of information they make publicly available at no cost; |
● | several companies and organizations have made certain information publicly available at little or no cost; and |
● | “open source” software that is available for free may also provide some functionality similar to that in some of our products. |
Public sources of free or relatively inexpensive information may reduce demand for our products and services. Demand could also be reduced as a result of cost-cutting, reduced spending or reduced activity by customers. Our results of operations would be adversely affected if our customers choose to use these public sources as a substitute for our products or services.
We generate a significant percentage of our revenues from recurring subscription-based arrangements, and if we are unable to maintain a high annual revenue renewal rate, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
For the twelve months ended March 31, 2020, approximately 82.0% of our revenues were subscription-based. In order to maintain existing revenues and to generate higher revenues, we are dependent on a significant number of our customers renewing their arrangements with us. Although many of these arrangements have automatic renewal provisions, with appropriate notice these arrangements are cancellable and our customers have no obligation to renew their subscriptions after the expiration of their initial subscription period. As a result, our past annual revenue renewal rates may not be indicative of our future annual revenue renewal rates, and our annual revenue renewal rates may decline or fluctuate in the future as a result of a number of factors, including customer satisfaction with our products and services, our prices and the prices offered by competitors, reductions in customer spending levels and general economic conditions. Our revenues could also decline if a significant number of our customers renewed their arrangements with us, but reduced the amount of their spending.
In addition, because most of the revenues we report in each quarter are the result of subscription agreements entered into or renewed in previous quarters, a decline in subscriptions in any one quarter may not affect our results in that quarter, but could reduce revenues in future quarters. We may not be able to adjust our cost structure in response to sustained or significant downturns in revenues. Moreover, renewal dates for our subscription agreements are typically concentrated in the first quarter. Adverse events impacting us or our customers occurring in the first quarter may result in us failing to secure subscription agreement renewals, which would have a disproportionately adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations in future periods.
Failure to protect the reputation of our brands may adversely impact our credibility as a trusted source of content and may have a negative impact on our business. In addition, in certain jurisdictions we engage sales agents in connection with the sale of certain of our products and services. It is difficult to monitor whether such agents’ representation of our products and services is accurate. Poor representation of our products and services by agents, or entities acting without our permission, could have an adverse effect on our reputation and our business.
Any significant disruption in or unauthorized access to our computer systems or those of third parties that we utilize in our operations, including those relating to cybersecurity or arising from cyber-attacks, could result in a loss or degradation of our products or services, unauthorized disclosure of data or our customers losing confidence in our security measures, which could adversely impact our business.
Our reputation and ability to attract, retain and serve our customers is dependent upon the reliable performance and security of our computer systems and those of third parties that we utilize in our operations.
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These systems may be subject to damage or interruption from natural disasters, terrorist attacks, power loss, telecommunications failures and cybersecurity risks.
Our computer systems and those of third parties we use in our operations are vulnerable to cybersecurity risks, including cyber-attacks, both from state-sponsored entities and individual activity, such as computer viruses, denial of service attacks, physical or electronic break-ins and similar disruptions. We have implemented certain systems and processes to thwart hackers and protect our data and systems; however, these systems and processes may not be effective and may have the unintentional effect of reducing the functionality of our operations. Any significant disruption to our operations or access to our systems could result in a loss of customers and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Our ability to effectively use the Internet may also be impaired due to system or infrastructure failures, service outages at third-party Internet providers or increased government regulation, and such impairment may result in shortage of capacity and increased costs associated with such usage. These events may affect our ability to store, process and transmit data and services to our customers.
We collect, store and use public records, IP and sensitive data. In addition, our internal systems contain confidential information, our proprietary business information and personally identifiable information of our employees and customers. A number of our customers and suppliers also entrust us with storing and securing their own confidential data and information. Similar to other global multinational companies that provide services online, we experience cyber-threats, cyber-attacks and other attempts to breach the security of our systems, which can include unauthorized attempts to access, disable, improperly modify or degrade our information, systems and networks, the introduction of computer viruses and other malicious codes and fraudulent “phishing” e-mails that seek to misappropriate data and information or install malware onto users’ computers. Cyber-threats in particular vary in technique and sources, are persistent, frequently change and increasingly are more sophisticated, targeted and difficult to detect and prevent. In particular, our MarkMonitor brand of products, which are used to detect and protect against domain name infringements, have been, and will continue to be, the target of cyber-attacks due to the nature of the offering they provide.
Under the transition services agreement with Thomson Reuters, we relied on dedicated Thomson Reuters personnel who were responsible for maintaining appropriate levels of cyber-security for products and services hosted in Thomson Reuters data centers. In order to comply with Thomson Reuters’ system access requirements and procedures, only Thomson Reuters’ information security personnel could provide support for products and services hosted in Thomson Reuters data centers. We have gradually transitioned away from this arrangement and hired our own information security personnel. These information security personnel are still relatively new to us and may not be able to provide the same level of support that Thomson Reuters personnel previously provided. We also utilize third-party technology, products and services to help identify, protect and remediate our information technology systems and infrastructure against security breaches and cyber-incidents. However, our measures may not be adequate or effective to prevent, identify or mitigate attacks or breaches caused by employee error, malfeasance or other disruptions. In addition, we rely on a system of internal processes and software controls, along with policies, procedures and training to protect the confidentiality of customer data. If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, if an employee, consultant or third-party provider purposely circumvents or violates our internal controls, policies or procedures or if we fail to adequately address the requirements of our customers’ internal controls, policies or procedures, as a result of contractual requirements or otherwise, then unauthorized access to, or disclosure or misappropriation of, customer data could occur.
Any fraudulent, malicious or accidental breach of data security could result in unintentional disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, customer, vendor, employee or other confidential or sensitive data or information, which could potentially result in additional costs to our company to enhance security or to respond to occurrences, lost sales, violations of privacy or other laws, notifications to individuals, penalties or litigation. While we maintain what we believe is sufficient insurance coverage that may (subject to certain policy terms and conditions including self-insured deductibles) cover certain aspects of security and cyber-risks and business interruption, our insurance coverage may not cover all costs or losses. Additionally, any fraudulent, malicious or accidental breach of data security could result in our disclosing valuable trade secrets, know-how or other confidential information. Media or other reports of perceived security vulnerabilities to our systems or those of our third-party suppliers,
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even if no breach has been attempted or occurred, could also adversely impact our brand and reputation and cause customers to lose confidence in our security measures and reliability, which would harm our ability to retain customers and gain new ones, and materially impact our business and results of operations.
We rely upon a third party cloud computing service to support our operations, and any disruption of or interference with our use of such service or material change to our arrangement with this provider could adversely affect our business.
We currently host the vast majority of our computing on a distributed computing infrastructure platform for business operations, or what is commonly referred to as a “cloud” computing service, and have completed the migration of our product and services platform from Thomson Reuters to a third party cloud computing service.
We do not have control over the operations of the facilities of the third party cloud computing service that we use. These facilities are vulnerable to damage or interruption from natural disasters, cyber security attacks, including ransomware attacks, terrorist attacks, power losses, telecommunications failures, or other unanticipated problems which could result in lengthy interruptions to our operations. In the event of damage or interruption, our insurance policies may not adequately compensate us for any losses that we may incur. These facilities could also be subject to break-ins, computer viruses, sabotage, intentional acts of vandalism, and other misconduct. Our uninterrupted use of this third party cloud computing service is critical to our success. This, coupled with the fact that we cannot easily switch our cloud computing operations to another cloud provider, means that any disruption of or interference with our use of our current third party cloud computing service could disrupt our operations and our business would be adversely impacted.
Our third party cloud computing service provider provides us with their standard computing and storage capacity, service level agreements, and related support in exchange for timely payment by us under the terms of our agreement, which continues until terminated by either party. Such provider may terminate the agreement without cause by providing 90 days’ prior written notice, and may terminate the agreement with 30 days’ prior written notice for cause, including any material default or breach of the agreement by us that we do not cure within the 30-day period. If any of our arrangements with our third party cloud computing service provider are terminated, we could experience interruptions in our products and services, as well as delays and additional expenses in arranging new facilities and services.
Our third party cloud computing service provider does not have an obligation to renew its agreements with us on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. If we are unable to renew our agreements on commercially reasonable terms, our agreements are prematurely terminated, or we add additional infrastructure providers, we may experience costs or downtime in connection with the transfer to, or the addition of, new data center providers. If these providers increase the cost of their services, we may have to increase fees to our customers, and our operating results may be adversely impacted.
We may be unable to derive fully the anticipated benefits from organic growth, existing or future acquisitions, joint ventures, investments or dispositions.
We seek to achieve our growth objectives by (i) optimizing our offerings to meet the needs of our customers through organic development, including by delivering integrated workflow platforms, cross-selling our products across our existing customer base, acquiring new customers and implementing operational efficiency initiatives, (ii) through acquisitions, joint ventures, investments and dispositions and (iii) through implementing our transformational strategy in connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019. If we are unable to successfully execute on our strategies to achieve our growth objectives or drive operational efficiencies, or if we experience higher than expected operating costs that cannot be adjusted accordingly, our growth rates and profitability could be adversely affected.
Acquisitions have not historically been a significant part of our growth strategy; however, going forward, we expect to evaluate and, where appropriate, opportunistically undertake acquisitions. To the extent that we seek to grow our business through acquisitions, we may not be able to successfully identify attractive acquisition opportunities or make acquisitions on terms that are satisfactory to our company from a commercial perspective. In addition, competition for acquisitions in the markets in which we operate during recent years has increased, and may increase costs of acquisitions or cause us to refrain from making certain acquisitions. We may also be
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subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny from competition and antitrust authorities in connection with acquisitions. Achieving the expected returns and synergies from existing and future acquisitions will depend in part upon our ability to integrate the products and services, technology, administrative functions and personnel of these businesses into our Product Lines in an efficient and effective manner. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so, or that our acquired businesses will perform at anticipated levels or that we will be able to obtain these synergies. Management resources may also be diverted from operating our existing businesses to certain acquisition integration challenges. If we are unable to successfully integrate acquired businesses, our anticipated revenues and profits may be lower. Our profit margins may also be lower, or diluted, following the acquisition of companies whose profit margins are less than those of our existing businesses.
In addition, we may incur earn-out and contingent consideration payments in connection with future acquisitions, which could result in a higher than expected impact on our future earnings. We may also finance future transactions through debt financing, including significant draws on our revolving credit facility or use of any incremental capacity under our term loan facility, the issuance of our ordinary shares, the use of existing cash, or any combination of the foregoing. Acquisitions financed with debt could require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows to principal and interest payments and could subject us to restrictive covenants. Future acquisitions financed with our own cash could further deplete the cash and working capital available to fund our operations adequately. Difficulty borrowing funds, selling securities or generating sufficient cash from operations to finance our activities may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We may also decide from time to time to dispose of assets or Product Lines that are no longer aligned with strategic objectives and we deem to be non-core. Once a decision to divest has been made, there can be no assurance that a transaction will occur, or if a transaction does occur, there can be no assurance as to the potential value created by the transaction. The process of exploring strategic alternatives or selling a business could negatively impact customer decision-making and cause uncertainty and negatively impact our ability to attract, retain and motivate key employees. In addition, we expend costs and management resources to complete divestitures. Any failures or delays in completing divestitures could have an adverse effect on our financial results and on our ability to execute our strategy.
The international scope of our operations may expose us to increased risk, and our international operations and corporate and financing structure may expose us to potentially adverse tax consequences.
We have international operations and, accordingly, our business is subject to risks resulting from differing legal and regulatory requirements, political, social and economic conditions and unforeseeable developments in a variety of jurisdictions. Our international operations are subject to the following risks, among others:
● | political instability; |
● | international hostilities, military actions, terrorist or cyber-terrorist activities, natural disasters, pandemics, and infrastructure disruptions; |
● | differing economic cycles and adverse economic conditions; |
● | unexpected changes in regulatory environments and government interference in the economy; |
● | changes to economic sanctions laws and regulations, including regulatory exemptions that currently authorize certain of our limited dealings involving sanctioned countries; |
● | varying tax regimes, including with respect to the imposition of withholding taxes on remittances and other payments by our partnerships or subsidiaries; |
● | differing labor regulations, particularly in India where we have a significant number of employees; |
● | foreign exchange controls and restrictions on repatriation of funds; |
● | fluctuations in currency exchange rates; |
● | inability to collect payments or seek recourse under or comply with ambiguous or vague commercial or other laws; |
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● | insufficient protection against product piracy and differing protections for IP rights; |
● | varying attitudes towards censorship and the treatment of information service providers by foreign governments, in particular in emerging markets; |
● | difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified management and employees, or rationalizing our workforce; |
● | differing business practices, which may require us to enter into agreements that include non-standard terms; and |
● | difficulties in penetrating new markets due to entrenched competitors, lack of recognition of our brands or lack of local acceptance of our products and services. |
Our overall success as a global business depends, in part, on our ability to anticipate and effectively manage these risks, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so without incurring unexpected costs. If we are not able to manage the risks related to our international operations, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially affected.
The spread of COVID-19 has created a global public health crisis and precautionary measures, such as “stay-at-home orders,” have been instituted by governments to mitigate its spread. In response to the crisis, our workforce has transitioned to a remote working arrangement with limited impact to our operations. However, the potential impact of the virus and the widespread adoption of these precautionary measures have resulted in general deterioration in business, economic, and market conditions that could affect our customers. This unprecedented environment may negatively impact our customers’ liquidity and their ability to make timely payments. This environment may also impact our third-party service providers’ businesses and operations. A prolonged pandemic and delayed recovery could reduce or delay our ability to generate new subscription revenues or transactional revenues. As the impact of COVID-19 is an evolving situation, we continue to evaluate the impact on our business, our customer base and the demand for our products and services.
We have expanded our presence in a number of major regions, including China, and any future actions or escalations by either the United States or China that affect trade relations may cause global economic turmoil and potentially have a negative impact on our business. In particular, we may have access to fewer business opportunities and our operations in that region may be negatively impacted.
As a result of the international scope of our operations and our corporate and financing structure, we are subject to taxation in, and to the tax laws and regulations of, multiple jurisdictions. We are also subject to intercompany pricing laws, including those relating to the flow of funds between our companies pursuant to, for example, purchase agreements, licensing agreements or other arrangements. Adverse developments in these laws or regulations, or any change in position regarding the application, administration or interpretation of these laws or regulations in any applicable jurisdiction, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, changes in or to the interpretation of the tax laws or tax treaties of the countries in which we operate may adversely affect the manner in which we have structured our business operations and legal entity structure to efficiently realize income or capital gains and mitigate withholding taxes, and may also subject us to tax and return filing obligations in such countries that do not currently apply to us. Such changes may increase our tax burden and/or may cause us to incur additional costs and expenses in compliance with such changes. In addition, the tax authorities in any applicable jurisdiction may disagree with the positions we have taken or intend to take regarding the tax treatment or characterization of any of our transactions, including the tax treatment or characterization of our indebtedness. If any applicable tax authorities were to successfully challenge the tax treatment or characterization of any of our transactions, it could result in the disallowance of deductions, the imposition of withholding taxes, the reallocation of income or other consequences that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, the U.S. Congress, the UK Government, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (the “OECD”), and other government agencies in jurisdictions where we and our affiliates do business have had an extended focus on issues related to the taxation of multinational corporations. Also, within the EU, the European Council Directive 2016/1164 (Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (“ATAD”)) and Directive
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2017/952 (“ATAD II”) required EU member states to transpose certain measures affecting multinational corporations into national legislation by December 31, 2019. Further, the introduction of a digital services tax, (such as the United Kingdom digital services tax introduced with effect from April 1, 2020) may increase our tax burden which and could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Finally, the international scope of our business operations subjects us to multiple overlapping tax regimes that can make it difficult to determine what our obligations are in particular situations. For example, we have been advised that we should be able to deliver the Merger Shares, consistent with our obligations under the Sponsor Agreement, to the recipients thereof without withholding for U.K. employment and related taxes. However, it is possible that Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) could dispute our position and proceed against us for the amount of such taxes, which could be significant and, if sustained, could adversely affect our cash flows and financial position. Although we believe we would ultimately prevail in any such a proceeding, there can be no assurance that we would not be required to pay a significant amount in settlement of any such a claim brought by HMRC.
Our international operations require us to comply with various trade restrictions, such as sanctions and export controls.
We are subject to various trade restrictions, including trade and economic sanctions and export controls (collectively, “Trade Controls”), imposed by governments around the world with jurisdiction over our operations. Such Trade Controls prohibit or restrict transactions involving certain persons and certain designated countries or territories, including Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea and the Crimea Region of Ukraine. Our failure to successfully comply with applicable Trade Controls may expose us to legal, business or reputational harm, possibly including criminal fines, imprisonment, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions, debarment from government contracts and other measures. Investigations of alleged violations can be expensive and disruptive.
As part of our business, we engage in limited sales and transactions involving certain countries that are targets of Trade Controls. We believe that such sales and transactions are authorized by applicable regulatory exemptions. Under the informational materials exemption to the U.S. economic sanction programs, we are permitted to make certain sales to Iran, Cuba and Syria.
We endeavor to conduct our activities in compliance with applicable Trade Controls and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote compliance. However, we cannot guarantee that our policies and procedures will be effective in preventing violations, which could adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition and results of operations. Further, we cannot predict the nature, scope or effect of future regulatory requirements, including changes that may affect existing regulatory exceptions, and we cannot predict the manner in which existing laws and regulations might be administered or interpreted.
Our failure to comply with the anti-corruption laws of the United States and various international jurisdictions could negatively impact our reputation and results of operations.
Doing business on a worldwide basis requires us to comply with anti-corruption laws and regulations imposed by governments around the world with jurisdiction over our operations, which may include the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and the UK Bribery Act 2010 (“UK Bribery Act”), as well as the laws of the countries where we do business. These laws and regulations may restrict our operations, trade practices, investment decisions and partnering activities. The FCPA, the UK Bribery Act and other applicable laws prohibit us and our officers, directors, employees and business partners acting on our behalf, including agents, from corruptly offering, promising, authorizing or providing anything of value to “foreign officials” for the purposes of influencing official decisions or obtaining or retaining business or otherwise obtaining favorable treatment. The UK Bribery Act also prohibits non-governmental “commercial” bribery and accepting bribes. As part of our business, we deal with governments and state-owned business enterprises, the employees and representatives of which may be considered “foreign officials” for purposes of the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act. We also are subject to the jurisdiction of various governments and regulatory agencies around the world, which may bring our personnel and representatives into contact with “foreign officials” responsible for issuing or renewing permits, licenses or approvals or for enforcing other governmental regulations.
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In addition, some of the international locations in which we operate lack a developed legal system and have elevated levels of corruption. Our international operations expose us to the risk of violating, or being accused of violating, anti-corruption laws and regulations. Our failure to successfully comply with these laws and regulations may expose us to reputational harm, as well as significant sanctions, including criminal fines, imprisonment, civil penalties, disgorgement of profits, injunctions and debarment from government contracts, as well as other remedial measures. Investigations of alleged violations can be expensive and disruptive. We maintain policies and procedures designed to comply with applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations. However, there can be no guarantee that our policies and procedures will effectively prevent violations by our employees or business partners acting on our behalf, including agents, for which we may be held responsible, and any such violation could adversely affect our reputation, business, financial condition and results of operations.
Brexit may have a negative effect on global economic conditions, financial markets and our business.
We have material business operations in Europe, and our headquarters is in the United Kingdom which is currently undergoing the process of “Brexit”, or withdrawal from the European Union. Although we generated only approximately 4.4% of our revenues in the United Kingdom for the year ended December 31, 2019, Brexit-related developments and the potential consequences of them, have had and may continue to have a material adverse effect upon global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets, and could significantly reduce global market liquidity and restrict the ability of key market participants to operate in certain financial markets. Asset valuations, currency exchange rates and credit ratings have been and may continue to be subject to increased market volatility. Lack of clarity about future United Kingdom laws and regulations as the United Kingdom determines which European Union laws to replace or replicate, including financial laws and regulations, tax and free trade agreements, tax and customs laws, intellectual property rights, environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, immigration laws, employment laws and transport laws could increase costs, depress economic activity, restrict our access to capital, impair our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and have other adverse consequences. If the United Kingdom and the European Union are unable to negotiate acceptable withdrawal terms, barrier-free access between the United Kingdom and other European Union member states or among the European economic area overall could be diminished or eliminated. Any of these factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and reduce the price of our ordinary shares.
If governments or their agencies reduce their demand for our products or services or discontinue or curtail their funding, our business may suffer. Moreover, if we fail to comply with government contracting regulations, we could suffer a loss of revenues or incur price adjustments or other penalties.
The principal customers for certain of the products and services offered by our Web of Science Product Line are universities and government agencies, which fund purchases of these products and services from limited budgets that are sensitive to changes in private and governmental sources of funding. Recession, economic uncertainty or austerity have contributed, and may in the future contribute, to reductions in spending by such sources. Accordingly, any further decreases in budgets of universities or government agencies, which have remained under pressure, or changes in the spending patterns of private or governmental sources that fund academic institutions, are likely to adversely affect our results of operations.
In addition, we are subject to government procurement and contracting regulations, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation (the “FAR”). The FAR governs U.S. government contract pricing, including the establishment of fixed prices and labor categories/fixed hourly rates for the performance of certain of our U.S. government contracts. Under the FAR, certain contract pricing may be subject to change. Additionally, under the FAR, the U.S. government is entitled, after final payment on certain negotiated contracts, to examine our cost records with respect to such contracts and to seek a downward adjustment to the price of the contract if it determines that we failed to furnish complete, accurate and current cost or pricing data in connection with the negotiation of the price of the contract.
In connection with our U.S. government contracts, we are also subject to government inquiries, audits and review of our performance under contracts, our related cost structure and compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards. The U.S. government contracting entity may also review the adequacy of and our compliance with our internal policies, procedures and internal controls. The U.S. government contracting party
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may modify, curtail or terminate its contracts and subcontracts with us, without prior notice and either at its convenience or for default based on performance. In addition, funding pursuant to our U.S. government contracts may be reduced or withheld as part of the U.S. Congressional appropriations process due to fiscal constraints, changing U.S. priorities or due to other reasons. Further, as a U.S. government contractor, we are subject to U.S. government inquiries, investigations, legal actions and liabilities that would not apply to a non-U.S. government contractor. In certain circumstances, if we do not comply with the terms of a contract or with regulations or statutes, our U.S. government contracts could be terminated, we could be subject to downward contract price adjustments or refund obligations, we could be assessed civil or criminal penalties (including under the False Claims Act) or we could be debarred or suspended from obtaining future contracts with the U.S. government for a specified period of time. Any such termination, adjustment, sanction, debarment or suspension could have an adverse effect on our business. We also could suffer reputational harm if allegations of impropriety were made against us, even if such allegations are later determined to be false.
Our collection, storage and use of personal data are subject to applicable data protection and privacy laws, and any failure to comply with such laws may harm our reputation and business or expose us to fines and other enforcement action.
In the ordinary course of business, we collect, store, use and transmit certain types of information that are subject to different laws and regulations. In particular, data security and data protection laws and regulations that we are subject to often vary significantly by jurisdiction.
For example, the new EU-wide General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) became applicable on May 25, 2018, replacing the data protection laws of each EU member state. The GDPR implemented more stringent operational requirements for processors and controllers of personal data, including, for example, expanded disclosures about what and how personal information is to be used, limitations on retention of information, increased requirements to erase an individual’s information upon request, mandatory data breach notification requirements and higher standards for data controllers to demonstrate that they have obtained valid consent from individuals to process their personal data (or reliance on another appropriate legal basis) for certain data processing activities. It also significantly increased penalties for noncompliance, including where we act as a data processor. Although we have executed intracompany “Standard Contractual Clauses” in compliance with the GDPR, which allow for the transfer of personal data from the EU to other jurisdictions (including the United States), data security and data protection laws and regulations are continuously evolving. There are currently a number of legal challenges to the validity of EU mechanisms for adequate data transfers (such as the Privacy Shield Framework and the Standard Contractual Clauses), and our work could be impacted by changes in law as a result of a future review of these transfer mechanisms by European regulators under the GDPR, as well as current challenges to these mechanisms in the European courts. Brexit may also mean that we are required to take additional steps to ensure that data flows from EU members states to the United Kingdom are not disrupted and remain permissible after the exit date.
In recent years, U.S. and European lawmakers and regulators have expressed concern over electronic marketing and the use of third-party cookies, web beacons and similar technology for online behavioral advertising. In the EU, marketing is defined broadly to include any promotional material and the rules specifically on e-marketing are currently set out in the ePrivacy Directive which will be replaced by a new ePrivacy Regulation. While no official time frame has been given for the ePrivacy Regulation, there will be a transition period after the ePrivacy Regulation is agreed for compliance, and commentators consider it unlikely to come into force before 2021. We are likely to be required to expend further capital and other resources to ensure compliance with these changing laws and regulations.
The ePrivacy Regulation will be directly implemented into the laws of each of the EU Member States, without the need for further enactment. When implemented, the ePrivacy Regulation is expected to alter rules on third-party cookies, web beacons and similar technology for online behavioral advertising and to impose stricter requirements on companies using these tools. Regulation of cookies and web beacons may lead to broader restrictions on our online activities, including efforts to understand followers’ Internet usage and promote ourselves to them. The current draft of the ePrivacy Regulation significantly increases fining powers to the same levels as the GDPR. Given the delay in finalizing the ePrivacy Regulation, certain EU regulators have issued guidance (including UK and French data protection regulators) on the requirement to seek strict opt-in,
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unbundled consent to use all nonessential cookies. We will need to make changes to our cookies notice to meet these requirements but we do not anticipate that the new regulation will significantly adversely affect us.
In addition, California has enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, which became effective on January 1, 2020. The CCPA requires new disclosures to California consumers, imposes new rules for collecting or using information, requires companies to comply with data subject access and deletion requests, and affords California consumers new abilities to opt out of certain disclosures of personal information. It remains unclear what, if any, regulations will be implemented pursuant to the law or how it will be interpreted. However, as passed, the effects of the CCPA potentially are significant and may require us to modify our data collection or processing practices and policies and to incur substantial costs and expenses in an effort to comply.
Although we have implemented policies and procedures that are designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, if our privacy or data security measures fail to comply with applicable current or future laws and regulations, we may be subject to fines, litigation, regulatory investigations, enforcement notices requiring us to change the way we use personal data or our marketing practices or other liabilities such as compensation claims by individuals affected by a personal data breach, as well as negative publicity and a potential loss of business. Fines are significant in some countries (e.g., the GDPR introduced fines of up to €20,000,000 or up to 4% of the total worldwide annual turnover of the preceding financial year (whichever is higher)) as well as litigation, compensation claims by affected individuals (including class action type litigation where individuals suffer harm), regulatory investigations and enforcement notices requiring us to change the way we use personal data.
Actions by governments that restrict access to our platform in their countries could substantially harm our business and financial results.
Governments of one or more countries in which we operate from time to time seek to censor the Internet, restrict access to selected foreign websites from their country, or otherwise impose restrictions if they consider such information or the provision thereof is in violation of their laws or regulations.
Governmental authorities in other countries may seek to restrict user access to our products if they consider us to be in violation of their laws or for other reasons. In the event that the information and analytics provided on our platform is subject to censorship, or any governmental authorities restrict access to our products, or our competitors are able to successfully penetrate new geographic markets or capture a greater share of existing geographic markets that we cannot access or where we face restrictions, our ability to maintain or expand our geographical markets may be adversely affected, and our business operations and financial results could be adversely affected.
We may face IP infringement claims that could be costly to defend and result in our loss of significant rights.
From time to time, we may receive notices from third parties claiming infringement by our products and services of third-party patent and other IP rights. As the number of products and services in our markets increases and the functionality of these products and services further overlaps with third-party products and services, we may become increasingly subject to claims by a third party that our products and services infringe on such party’s IP rights. In addition, there is a growing occurrence of patent suits being brought by non-practicing organizations that use patents to generate revenues without manufacturing, promoting or marketing products or investing in R&D in bringing products to markets. These organizations continue to be active and target whole industries as defendants. We may not prevail in any such suit given the complex technical issues and inherent uncertainties in IP litigation. If an infringement suit against us is successful, we may be required to compensate the third party bringing the suit either by paying a lump sum or ongoing license fees to be able to continue selling a particular product or service. This type of compensation could be significant. We might also be prevented or enjoined by a court from continuing to provide the affected product or service and may be forced to significantly increase our development efforts and resources to redesign such product or service. We may also be required to defend or indemnify any customers, partners or agents who have been sued for allegedly infringing a third party’s patent in connection with using one of our products or services. Responding to IP claims, regardless of the validity, can be time-consuming for our personnel and management, result in costly litigation, cause product shipment delays,
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cause unavailability of our products or services delivered electronically and harm our reputation, any of which could adversely affect our results of operations.
We operate in a litigious environment which may adversely affect our financial results.
We may become involved in legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business, including litigation regarding employment matters, breach of contract and other commercial matters. Due to the inherent uncertainty in the litigation process, the resolution of any particular legal proceeding could result in changes to our products and business practices and could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.
We may need to recognize impairment charges related to goodwill, identified intangible assets and fixed assets.
We have substantial balances of goodwill and identified intangible assets. We are required to test goodwill and any other intangible assets with an indefinite life for possible impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently when circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. We are also required to evaluate amortizable intangible assets and fixed assets for impairment if there are indicators of a possible impairment.
Based on the results of the annual impairment test as of October 1, 2019, the fair values of our reporting units exceeded the individual reporting unit’s carrying value, and goodwill was not impaired. We did not identify any impairment triggers as of December 31, 2019, except for the sale of the Brand Protection, AntiPiracy and AntiFraud solutions of the MarkMonitor Product Line. See Note 5 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information.
There is significant judgment required in the analysis of a potential impairment of goodwill, identified intangible assets and fixed assets. If, as a result of a general economic slowdown, deterioration in one or more of the markets in which we operate or impairment in our financial performance and/or future outlook, the estimated fair value of our long-lived assets decreases, we may determine that one or more of our long-lived assets is impaired. An impairment charge would be recorded if the estimated fair value of the assets is lower than the carrying value and any such impairment charge could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.
If we fail to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting, our ability to produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations could be impaired.
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. In particular, Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (“Section 404”) will require us to perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting. We will be required to provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting commencing with the annual report that we file for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Pursuant to Section 404, once we are no longer an “emerging growth company,” we will also be required to include with such annual report an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event, in their opinion, the Company has not maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Any failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and could cause a decline in the trading price of our ordinary shares.
We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that
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information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. We are also continuing to improve our internal control over financial reporting. In order to develop, maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting, we have expended, and anticipate that we will continue to expend, significant resources, including accounting-related and audit-related costs and significant management oversight.
Our current controls and any new controls that we develop may become inadequate because of changes in conditions in our business. Further, weaknesses in our disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting may be discovered in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement could harm our results of operations or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and may result in a restatement of our consolidated financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could also adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which would likely have a negative effect on the trading price of Clarivate shares. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, we may not be able to remain listed on the NYSE.
We have and will continue to have high levels of indebtedness and our relatively large fixed costs magnify the impact of revenues fluctuations on our operating results.
We had approximately $1,956,850 of indebtedness as of March 31, 2020, primarily consisting of $1,256,850 outstanding under our term loan facility and $700,000 outstanding under our secured notes due 2026. No amounts were outstanding under our $250,000 revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2020. These notes and initial credit facilities were originally entered into in October 2019. We used net proceeds from the sale of our secured notes due 2026, together with initial proceeds from our credit facilities to, among other things, redeem our prior 7.875% senior notes due 2024, refinance all amounts under our prior credit facilities, fund the termination of the tax receivable agreement and pay fees and expenses related to the foregoing. In addition, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility in connection with the DRG acquisition.
Because borrowings under our term loan facility bear interest at variable rates, any increase in interest rates on debt that we have not fixed using interest rate hedges will increase our interest expense, reduce our cash flow or increase the cost of future borrowings or refinancings. Our indebtedness could have important consequences to our investors, including, but not limited to:
● | increasing vulnerability to, and reducing its flexibility to respond to, general adverse economic and industry conditions; |
● | requiring the dedication of a substantial portion of cash flow from operations to the payment of principal of, and interest on, its indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of such cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, joint ventures or other general corporate purposes; |
● | limiting flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and the competitive environment; and |
● | limiting our ability to borrow additional funds and increasing the cost of any such borrowing. |
Other than variable rate debt, we believe our business has relatively large fixed costs and low variable costs, which magnifies the impact of revenues fluctuations on our operating results. As a result, a decline in our revenues may lead to a relatively larger impact on operating results. A substantial portion of our operating expenses will be related to personnel costs, regulation and corporate overhead, none of which can be adjusted quickly and some of which cannot be adjusted at all. Our operating expense levels will be based on our expectations for future revenues. If actual revenues are below management’s expectations, or if our expenses increase before revenues do, both revenues less transaction-based expenses and operating results would be materially and adversely affected. Because of these factors, it is possible that our operating results or other
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operating metrics may fail to meet the expectations of stock market analysts and investors. If this happens, the market price of our ordinary shares may be adversely affected.
A downgrade to our credit ratings would increase our cost of borrowing and adversely affect our ability to access the capital markets.
Our cost of borrowing under our credit facilities and our ability and the terms under which we may access the credit markets are affected by credit ratings assigned to us by the major credit rating agencies. These ratings are premised on our performance under assorted financial metrics and other measures of financial strength, business and financial risk, industry conditions, timeliness of financial reporting, and other factors determined by the credit rating agencies. Our current ratings have served to lower our borrowing costs and facilitate access to a variety of lenders. However, there can be no assurance that our credit ratings or outlook will not be lowered in the future in response to adverse changes in these metrics and factors caused by our operating results or by actions that we take, that reduce our profitability, or that require us to incur additional indebtedness for items such as substantial acquisitions, significant increases in costs and capital spending in security and IT systems, significant costs related to settlements of litigation or regulatory requirements, or by returning excess cash to shareholders through dividends. A downgrade of our credit ratings would increase our cost of borrowing, negatively affect our ability to access the capital markets on advantageous terms, or at all, negatively affect the trading price of our securities, and have a significant negative impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.
We are a holding company that depends on cash flow from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations, and any restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or make other payments to us may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.
As a holding company, we require dividends and other payments from our subsidiaries to meet cash requirements. Minimum capital requirements mandated by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over some of our regulated subsidiaries indirectly restrict the amount of dividends paid upstream. In addition, repatriations of cash from our subsidiaries may be subject to withholding, income and other taxes in various applicable jurisdictions. If our subsidiaries are unable to pay dividends and make other payments to us when needed, we may be unable to satisfy our obligations, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
Our articles of association contain anti-takeover provisions that could adversely affect the rights of our shareholders.
Our articles of association contain provisions to limit the ability of others to acquire control of our Company or cause us to engage in change of control transactions, including, among other things:
● | provisions that authorize our board of directors, without action by our shareholders, to issue additional ordinary shares and preferred shares with preferential rights determined by our board of directors; |
● | provisions that permit only a majority of our board of directors or one or more of our shareholders who together hold at least 10% of the voting rights of our shareholders to call shareholder meetings; |
● | provisions that impose advance notice requirements, minimum shareholding periods and ownership thresholds, and other requirements and limitations on the ability of shareholders to propose matters for consideration at shareholder meetings; provided, however, such advance notice procedure will not apply to Onex, Baring or Jerre Stead or his successor (as the “Designated Shareholder” under the Director Nomination Agreement entered into in connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp) for so long as such person is entitled to nominate one or more members of our board of directors pursuant to our Shareholders Agreement or the Director Nomination Agreement; and |
● | a staggered board whereby our directors are divided into three classes, with each class subject to retirement and re-election once every three years on a rotating basis. |
These provisions could have the effect of depriving our shareholders of an opportunity to sell their shares at a premium over prevailing market prices by discouraging third parties from seeking to obtain control of our
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company in a tender offer or similar transaction. With our staggered board of directors, at least two annual general meetings of shareholders will generally be required in order to effect a change in a majority of our directors. Our staggered board of directors can discourage proxy contests for the election of our directors and purchases of substantial blocks of our shares by making it more difficult for a potential acquirer to gain control of our board of directors in a relatively short period of time.
If a U.S. person is treated as owning at least 10% of our ordinary shares, such holder may be subject to adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.
If a U.S. person is treated as owning (directly, indirectly or constructively) at least 10% of the value or voting power of our ordinary shares, such person may be treated as a “United States shareholder” with respect to us or to any of our subsidiaries that constitute a “controlled foreign corporation” (in each case, as such terms are defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)). Certain United States shareholders of a controlled foreign corporation may be required to annually report and include in its U.S. taxable income, as ordinary income, its pro rata share of “Subpart F income,” “global intangible low-taxed income” and certain investments in U.S. property by controlled foreign corporations, whether or not we make any distributions to such United States shareholder. A failure by a United States shareholder to comply with its reporting obligations may subject the United States shareholder to significant monetary penalties and other adverse tax consequences, and may extend the statute of limitations with respect to the United States shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax return for the year for which such reporting was due. We cannot provide any assurances that we will assist investors in determining whether we or any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries are controlled foreign corporations or whether any investor is a United States shareholder with respect to any such controlled foreign corporations. We also cannot guarantee that we will furnish to United States shareholders information that may be necessary for them to comply with the aforementioned obligations. United States investors should consult their own advisors regarding the potential application of these rules to their investments in us. The risk of being subject to increased taxation may deter our current shareholders from increasing their investment in us and others from investing in us, which could impact the demand for, and value of, our ordinary shares.
If we are characterized as a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes, our U.S. investors may suffer adverse tax consequences.
If 75% or more of our gross income in a taxable year, including our pro rata share of the gross income of any company, U.S. or foreign, in which we are considered to own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the shares by value, is passive income, then we will be a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Alternatively, we will be considered to be a PFIC if at least 50% of our assets in a taxable year, averaged over the year and ordinarily determined based on fair market value and including our pro rata share of the assets of any company in which we are considered to own, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of the shares by value, are held for the production of, or produce, passive income. If we were to be a PFIC, and a U.S. investor does not make an election to treat us as a qualified electing fund (“QEF”) or a “mark-to-market” election, “excess distributions” to a U.S. investor, and any gain recognized by a U.S. investor on a disposition of our ordinary shares, would be taxed in an unfavorable way. Among other consequences, our dividends would be taxed at the regular rates applicable to ordinary income, rather than the 20% maximum rate applicable to certain dividends received by an individual from a qualified foreign corporation, and, to the extent that they constituted excess distributions, certain “interest” charges may apply. In addition, gains on the sale of our shares would be treated in the same way as excess distributions. The tests for determining PFIC status are applied annually and it is difficult to make accurate predictions of future income and assets, which are relevant to the determination of PFIC status.
Based on the current composition of our income and assets, we do not believe that we were a PFIC in 2019, and do not currently expect to become a PFIC in the future. However, because the PFIC asset and income tests are applied on an annual basis, there can be no assurance that we will not be a PFIC in the current taxable year or any future taxable year. If we do become a PFIC in the future, U.S. investors who hold ordinary shares during a period when we are a PFIC will be subject to the foregoing rules, even if we cease to be a PFIC, subject to exceptions for U.S. investors who made a timely QEF election or mark-to-market election, or certain other elections. We do not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable you to make a QEF
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election. Accordingly, our investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the application of PFIC rules.
Future resales of our ordinary shares and/or warrants may cause the market price of our securities to drop significantly, even if our business is doing well.
Onex, Baring and other parties have been granted rights pursuant to the registration rights agreement to require us to register, in certain circumstances, the resale under the Securities Act of ordinary shares of us or warrants held by them, subject to certain conditions. The sale or possibility of sale of these ordinary shares and/or warrants could have the effect of increasing the volatility in our share price or putting significant downward pressure on the price of our ordinary shares and/or warrants.
We may issue additional ordinary shares or other equity securities without your approval, which would dilute your ownership interests and may depress the market price of Clarivate’s ordinary shares.
As of March 31, 2020 we had private warrants outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 18,300,000 ordinary shares. In addition, certain of our current and former employees and service providers hold options to purchase ordinary shares pursuant to the Clarivate Analytics Plc 2019 Incentive Award Plan. Pursuant to this plan, Clarivate may issue an aggregate of up to 60,000,000 ordinary shares, which amount may be subject to increase from time to time. Clarivate may also issue additional ordinary shares or other equity securities of equal or senior rank in the future in connection with, among other things, future acquisitions or repayment of outstanding indebtedness, without shareholder approval, in a number of circumstances.
Our issuance of additional ordinary shares or other equity securities of equal or senior rank would have the following effects:
● | our existing shareholders’ proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease; |
● | the amount of cash available per share, including for payment of dividends in the future, may decrease; |
● | the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding ordinary share may be diminished; and |
● | the market price of our ordinary shares may decline. |
If you purchase our ordinary shares in this offering, you will incur immediate and substantial dilution in the book value of your ordinary shares. You will likely experience further dilution if we issue ordinary shares in future offerings, including financing transactions, or upon exercise of options or vesting of other equity awards.
The public offering price in this offering will be substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our ordinary shares. Investors purchasing ordinary shares in this offering will pay a price per share that substantially exceeds the book value of our tangible assets after subtracting our liabilities. As a result, investors purchasing ordinary shares in this offering are expected to incur immediate dilution of $27.30 per share, assuming a public offering price of $22.89 (the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020). To the extent outstanding warrants or options are exercised or other equity awards vest, there will be further dilution to new investors. As a result of the dilution to investors purchasing ordinary shares in this offering, investors may receive significantly less than the purchase price paid in this offering, if anything, in the event of our liquidation. For a further description of the dilution that you will experience immediately after this offering, see “Dilution.”
You may face difficulties in protecting your interests as a shareholder, as Jersey law provides substantially less protection when compared to the laws of the United States.
We are incorporated under Jersey law. The rights of holders of ordinary shares are governed by Jersey law, including the provisions of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991, as amended (the “Jersey Companies Law”), and by our articles of association. These rights differ in certain respects from the rights of shareholders in typical U.S. corporations.
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It may be difficult to enforce a U.S. judgment against us or our directors and officers outside the United States, or to assert Securities law claims outside of the United States.
A number of our directors and executive officers are not residents of the United States, and the majority of our assets and the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for investors to effect service of process upon us within the United States or other jurisdictions, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. See “Description of Share Capital — Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.” Additionally, it may be difficult to assert Securities law claims in actions originally instituted outside of the United States. Foreign courts may refuse to hear a Securities law claim because foreign courts may not be the most appropriate forum in which to bring such a claim. Even if a foreign court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that the law of the jurisdiction in which the foreign court resides, and not U.S. law, is applicable to the claim. Further, if U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law must be proved as a fact, which can be a time-consuming and costly process, and certain matters of procedure would still be governed by the law of the jurisdiction in which the foreign court resides.
Uncertainty relating to the likely phasing out of LIBOR by 2021 may result in our paying increased interest under our credit facilities.
In July 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. As a result, the continuation of LIBOR on its current basis is not guaranteed after 2021, and currently it appears highly likely that LIBOR will be discontinued or substantially modified by 2021.
Borrowings under our credit facilities bear interest at rates determined using LIBOR as the reference rate. At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect that any discontinuance, modification or other reform of LIBOR or any other reference rate, or the establishment of alternative reference rates, may have on LIBOR, other benchmarks, or LIBOR-based debt instruments such as our credit facilities. However, the use of alternative reference rates or other reforms could cause the interest rates payable under our credit facilities to be substantially higher than we would otherwise have expected.
Our actual results of operations may differ materially from the unaudited pro forma financial data included in this prospectus.
The unaudited pro forma financial data included in this prospectus is not necessarily indicative of what our actual results of operations would have been for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020 had the DRG acquisition been completed on the date indicated, nor are they necessarily indicative of future results of operations for any future period. The unaudited pro forma financial data has been derived from our audited and unaudited financial statements and DRG’s audited financial statements and accounting records, and reflects assumptions and adjustments that are based upon estimates that are subject to change. The purchase price allocation for the DRG acquisition as of the closing date of February 28, 2020 is preliminary and may change upon completion of the determination of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and the final purchase price allocation may be different from that reflected in the pro forma purchase price allocation presented in this prospectus. Accordingly, the final acquisition accounting adjustments may differ materially from the pro forma adjustments reflected in this prospectus, and other factors not presented in such unaudited pro forma financial data may adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
We have broad discretion in the use of the net proceeds to us from this offering and may not use them effectively, may use them in ways with which you may not agree and in ways that may not earn a profit.
We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering received by us for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.” Consequently, our board of directors and management will have broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds we receive in this offering. You will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of this offering that we receive. The results and effectiveness of the use of proceeds are uncertain, and we could spend the proceeds in ways that you do not agree with or that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our ordinary shares. Pending their use, we may invest the net proceeds from this offering in a manner that does not produce income or that loses value.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus includes statements that express our opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results and therefore are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms “believes,” “estimates,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “seeks,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this prospectus and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, among other things, anticipated cost savings, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the markets in which we operate. Such forward-looking statements are based on available current market material and management’s expectations, beliefs and forecasts concerning future events impacting us. Factors that may impact such forward-looking statements include:
● | our ability to make, consummate and integrate acquisitions, including the DRG acquisition, and realize any expected benefits or effects of any acquisitions or the timing, final purchase price, costs associated with achieving synergies or integration or consummation of any acquisitions, including the DRG acquisition; |
● | our ability to compete in the highly competitive markets in which we operate, and potential adverse effects of this competition; |
● | our ability to maintain revenues if our products and services do not achieve and maintain broad market acceptance, or if we are unable to keep pace with or adapt to rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and changing regulatory requirements; |
● | our ability to achieve all expected benefits from the items reflected in the adjustments included in Standalone Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure; |
● | our ability to achieve operational cost improvements and other anticipated benefits of our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019; |
● | our dependence on third parties, including public sources, for data, information and other services; |
● | increased accessibility to free or relatively inexpensive information sources; |
● | our ability to maintain high annual revenue renewal rates as recurring subscription-based arrangements generate a significant percentage of our revenues; |
● | any significant disruption in or unauthorized access to our computer systems or those of third parties that we utilize in our operations, including those relating to cybersecurity or arising from cyber-attacks; |
● | our reliance on our own and third-party telecommunications, data centers and network systems, as well as the Internet; |
● | potential adverse tax consequences resulting from the international scope of our operations, corporate structure and financing structure; |
● | increased risks resulting from our international operations, including from pandemics such as the COVID-19 global public health crisis; |
● | our ability to comply with various trade restrictions, such as sanctions and export controls, resulting from our international operations; |
● | our ability to comply with the anti-corruption laws of the United States and various international jurisdictions; |
● | the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU; |
● | government and agency demand for our products and services and our ability to comply with government contracting regulations; |
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● | changes in legislation and regulation, which may impact how we provide products and services and how we collect and use information, particularly relating to the use of personal data; |
● | actions by governments that restrict access to our platform in their countries; |
● | potential intellectual property infringement claims; |
● | our ability to operate in a litigious environment; |
● | our potential need to recognize impairment charges related to goodwill, identified intangible assets and fixed assets; |
● | our ability to make timely and accurate financial disclosure and maintain effective systems of internal controls; |
● | our substantial indebtedness, which could adversely affect our financial condition, limit our ability to raise additional capital to fund our operations and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our indebtedness; and |
● | other factors beyond our control, including the impact from COVID-19. |
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on us. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting us will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those factors described under the heading “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We will not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We expect to receive approximately $309.6 million in net proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares we are offering hereby assuming a public offering price of $22.89 (the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020), after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering received by us for general corporate purposes.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares by the selling shareholders, including from any exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares from certain of the selling shareholders.
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2020 on:
● | a historical basis; and |
● | an adjusted basis to give effect to the sale by us of 14,000,000 ordinary shares in this offering at an assumed public offering price of $22.89 (the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020), after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. |
This table should be read in conjunction with our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, each included elsewhere in this prospectus, and with “Selected Historical Financial Information” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
(1) | Amount excludes estimated original issue discount and deferred financing costs. |
(2) | Reflects aggregate principal amount of our secured notes due 2026 and excludes deferred financing costs. |
(3) | Does not reflect the issuance of up to 2,895,638 ordinary shares as partial consideration for the DRG acquisition, which issuance will be deferred until March 1, 2021, and which is subject to adjustment pending the resolution of certain unresolved claims of DRG, if any. |
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DILUTION
If you invest in our ordinary shares, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per ordinary share and the as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share after this offering.
At March 31, 2020, we had a net tangible book value of $(2,012) million, corresponding to a net tangible book value of $(5.51) per ordinary share. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total assets less our total liabilities, excluding intangible assets, divided by 364,938,052, the total number of our ordinary shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020.
After giving effect to this offering, and subject to the assumptions and exclusions set forth in the final paragraph of this section, assuming a public offering price of $22.89 (the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020), after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value estimated at March 31, 2020 would have been approximately $(1,703) million, representing $(4.41) per ordinary share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $1.11 per ordinary share to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of $27.30 per ordinary share to new investors purchasing ordinary shares in this offering. Dilution for this purpose represents the difference between the price per ordinary share paid by these purchasers and as adjusted net tangible book value per ordinary share immediately after the completion of the offering.
The following table illustrates this dilution to new investors purchasing ordinary shares in the offering at March 31, 2020 (after giving effect to the sale of ordinary shares hereby, and subject to the assumptions and exclusions set forth in the final paragraph of this section).
For purposes of the above discussion and table, the number of ordinary shares to be outstanding after this offering reflects the sum of (i) 364,938,052 ordinary shares actually outstanding as of March 31, 2020 plus (ii) the assumed issuance of (A) all 7,000,000 Merger Shares anticipated to be issued under the Sponsor Agreement prior to the consummation of this offering, (B) 569,624 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise and net-share settlement of outstanding options to be exercised by certain of the selling shareholders in this offering (based upon an assumed public offering price per share of $22.89, which was the closing price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020), and (C) 14,000,000 ordinary shares being offered by us in this offering, and excludes certain ordinary shares (i) issuable upon the exercise of options outstanding under our 2019 Incentive Award Plan and not being issued or sold in connection with this offering, (ii) underlying restricted stock units that were granted under our 2019 Incentive Award Plan, (iii) underlying performance stock units that were granted under our 2019 Incentive Award Plan and (iv) issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants. To the extent that these shares are issued, you will experience further dilution. See “Risk Factors — We may issue additional ordinary shares or other equity securities without your approval, which would dilute your ownership interests and may depress the market price of Clarivate’s ordinary shares.” In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of such securities may result in further dilution to our shareholders.
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DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND POLICY
Holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends proportionately when, as and if declared by our board of directors, subject to Jersey Companies Law solvency requirements, as well as restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness.
We presently intend to retain our earnings for use in business operations and, accordingly, we do not anticipate that our board will declare dividends in the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of our credit facilities and the indenture governing our secured notes due 2026 include restrictions that may impact our ability to pay dividends.
Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our board and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, distributable reserves, contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our board deem relevant.
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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following selected historical financial information of Clarivate as of and for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 has been prepared in accordance with GAAP and has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Clarivate Plc (formerly known as Clarivate Analytics Plc) included elsewhere in this prospectus except for balance sheet information as of December 31, 2017 which has been derived from Clarivate’s accounting records. The selected historical financial information as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 has been prepared in accordance with GAAP and has been derived from Clarivate’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus except for balance sheet information as of March 31, 2019 which has been derived from Clarivate’s accounting records. In the opinion of management, such unaudited financial information reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for those periods. Our first quarter 2020 financial results reflect the contribution of DRG’s results for the period subsequent to the closing of the DRG acquisition on February 28, 2020. The results of operations for the interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year or any future period.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
On February 28, 2020, we acquired 100% of the assets, liabilities and equity interests of DRG, a premier provider of high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, from PEL, which is a part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. The acquisition helps us expand our core businesses and provides us with the potential to grow in the Life Sciences Product Line.
The aggregate consideration paid in connection with the closing of the DRG acquisition was $964,997, comprised of $900,000 of base cash plus $6,100 of cash closing adjustments, and up to 2,895,638 of ordinary shares to be issued to PEL on March 1, 2021. The contingent stock consideration was valued at $58,897 on the closing date and is subject to revaluation at each period end.
In February 2020, we completed an underwritten public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares, generating net proceeds of $540,597, which were used to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition. In addition, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund the remainder of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses.
The aforementioned events are hereinafter referred to as the “DRG Transactions.”
A pro forma balance sheet as of March 31, 2020 is not required as our balance sheet as of March 31, 2020 reflects the impact of the acquisition.
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations do not give effect to this offering. The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations give effect to the DRG Transactions and include adjustments for the following:
● | application of the acquisition method of accounting under the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification, which the Company refers to as ASC 805, “Business Combinations”; |
● | incremental term loan borrowings of $360,000; and underwritten public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares used to fund the acquisition of DRG; |
● | transaction costs incurred in connection with the DRG acquisition; and |
● | certain reclassifications to conform the historical financial statement presentation of DRG and Clarivate. |
The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations and related notes are based on and should be read in conjunction with (i) the historical audited consolidated financial statements of Clarivate and the related notes, (ii) the historical unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Clarivate as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the related notes and (iii) the historical audited combined financial statements of DRG and the related notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019, in each case, included in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020, give effect to the DRG Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2019, and combine the historical results of operations of Clarivate and DRG. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 combines the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of Clarivate for the three months ended March 31, 2020, with DRG’s statement of operations for the period from January 1, 2020 through February 27, 2020 derived from the books and records of DRG. The historical statements of operations of Clarivate and DRG have been adjusted in the accompanying pro forma condensed combined statements of operations to give pro forma effect to events that are (i) directly attributable to the DRG Transactions, (ii) factually supportable and (iii) expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations and related notes are being provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to represent what the actual combined results of operations would have been had the DRG Transactions been completed on the date indicated, nor are they necessarily indicative of the combined future results of operations for any future period.
45
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations give effect to the acquisition of DRG using the acquisition method of accounting under U.S. GAAP. The acquisition method of accounting is dependent upon certain procedures, such as valuations, appraisals, and discussions and input from DRG management, which have been performed to obtain the necessary information to recognize the acquired assets and liabilities at fair value. The purchase price allocation for this acquisition as of the closing date of February 28, 2020 is preliminary and may change upon completion of the determination of the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The final purchase price allocation may be different from that reflected in the pro forma purchase price allocation presented herein, and these differences may be material.
46
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2020
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
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Note 3 |
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Note 4 |
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Note 4 |
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DRG |
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Period from |
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January 1, |
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||
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2020 to |
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Acquisition |
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February 27, |
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and Related |
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Financing |
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|||||
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Clarivate |
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2020 |
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Pro Forma |
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Pro Forma |
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Pro Forma |
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|||||
|
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(Historical) |
|
(Historical) |
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Adjustments |
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Adjustments |
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Combined |
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|||||
Revenues, net |
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$ |
240,592 |
|
$ |
23,215 |
|
$ |
1,534 |
(e) |
$ |
— |
|
$ |
265,341 |
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Operating costs and expenses: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(82,399) |
|
|
(14,918) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(97,317) |
|
Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(86,948) |
|
|
(18,981) |
|
|
5,335 |
(a) |
|
— |
|
|
(100,594) |
|
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(17,469) |
|
|
(47,387) |
|
|
47,387 |
(d) |
|
— |
|
|
(17,469) |
|
Depreciation |
|
|
(2,329) |
|
|
(1,273) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(3,602) |
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Amortization |
|
|
(49,112) |
|
|
(3,136) |
|
|
(4,412) |
(b) |
|
— |
|
|
(56,660) |
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Transaction expenses |
|
|
(26,689) |
|
|
— |
|
|
17,276 |
(c) |
|
|
|
|
(9,413) |
|
Transition, integration and other related expenses |
|
|
(2,232) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(2,232) |
|
Restructuring |
|
|
(7,754) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(7,754) |
|
Other operating income (expense), net |
|
|
6,032 |
|
|
698 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
6,730 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(268,900) |
|
|
(84,997) |
|
|
65,586 |
|
|
— |
|
|
(288,311) |
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Loss from operations |
|
|
(28,308) |
|
|
(61,782) |
|
|
67,120 |
|
|
— |
|
|
(22,970) |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(30,940) |
|
|
(6,623) |
|
|
— |
|
|
11,287 |
(f) |
|
(26,276) |
|
Loss before income tax |
|
|
(59,248) |
|
|
(68,405) |
|
|
67,120 |
|
|
11,287 |
|
|
(49,246) |
|
Benefit (Provision) for income taxes |
|
|
(14,753) |
|
|
23,106 |
|
|
— |
|
|
(23,545) |
(g) |
|
(15,192) |
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Net loss |
|
$ |
(74,001) |
|
$ |
(45,299) |
|
$ |
67,120 |
|
$ |
(12,258) |
|
$ |
(64,438) |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
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Per share: |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
Basic and diluted |
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$ |
(0.22) |
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|
|
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|
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|
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$ |
(0.18) |
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Weighted average shares outstanding |
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Basic and diluted |
|
|
343,129,833 |
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|
|
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355,261,701 |
(h) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations.
47
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
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Note 2 |
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Note 3 |
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Note 4 |
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Note 4 |
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Acquisition |
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|
|
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|
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and Related |
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Financing |
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||
|
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Clarivate |
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DRG |
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Pro Forma |
|
Pro Forma |
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Pro Forma |
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|||||
|
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(Historical) |
|
(Historical) |
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Adjustments |
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Adjustments |
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Combined |
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|||||
Revenues, net |
|
$ |
974,345 |
|
$ |
207,107 |
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$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
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$ |
1,181,452 |
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(346,503) |
|
|
(96,751) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(443,254) |
|
Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(368,675) |
|
|
(76,500) |
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|
4,337 |
(a) |
|
— |
|
|
(440,838) |
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Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(51,383) |
|
|
(5,374) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(56,757) |
|
Depreciation |
|
|
(9,181) |
|
|
(7,223) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(16,404) |
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Amortization |
|
|
(191,361) |
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|
(23,388) |
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|
(21,900) |
(b) |
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— |
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|
(236,649) |
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Impairment on assets held for sale |
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|
(18,431) |
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|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
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|
(18,431) |
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Transaction expenses |
|
|
(46,214) |
|
|
(69) |
|
|
439 |
(c) |
|
|
|
|
(45,844) |
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Transition, integration and other related expenses |
|
|
(14,239) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(14,239) |
|
Restructuring |
|
|
(15,670) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(15,670) |
|
Legal Settlement |
|
|
39,399 |
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|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
39,399 |
|
Other operating income (expense), net |
|
|
4,826 |
|
|
1,900 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
6,726 |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(1,017,432) |
|
|
(207,405) |
|
|
(17,124) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1,241,961) |
|
Loss from operations |
|
|
(43,087) |
|
|
(298) |
|
|
(17,124) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(60,509) |
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(157,689) |
|
|
(19,002) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1,460) |
(f) |
|
(178,151) |
|
Loss before income tax |
|
|
(200,776) |
|
|
(19,300) |
|
|
(17,124) |
|
|
(1,460) |
|
|
(238,660) |
|
Benefit (Provision) for income taxes |
|
|
(10,201) |
|
|
(1,173) |
|
|
— |
|
|
4,166 |
(g) |
|
(7,208) |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(210,977) |
|
$ |
(20,473) |
|
$ |
(17,124) |
|
$ |
2,706 |
|
$ |
(245,868) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
Per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
Basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.77) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(0.82) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
|
273,883,342 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
301,483,342 |
(h) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations.
48
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the three months ended March 31, 2020, give effect to the DRG Transactions as if they had occurred on January 1, 2019, and combine the historical results of operations of Clarivate and DRG. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 combines the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of Clarivate for the three months ended March 31, 2020, with DRG’s statement of operations for the period from January 1, 2020 through February 27, 2020 derived from the books and records of DRG.
The historical statements of operations of Clarivate and DRG have been adjusted in the accompanying pro forma condensed combined statements of operations to give pro forma effect to events that are (i) directly attributable to the DRG Transactions, (ii) factually supportable and (iii) expected to have a continuing impact on the combined results. Direct, incremental acquisition-related transaction costs reflected in the historical financial statements of Clarivate or DRG are removed from the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations because they will not have a continuing impact on the combined results. Additionally, other adjustments have been made for items that will not have an ongoing impact including share-based compensation expense related to the acceleration of equity awards.
The accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations and related notes are presented for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to be indicative of the actual results that would have been achieved if the DRG Transactions had been consummated on the date indicated, or that will be achieved in the future. The pro forma condensed combined statements of operations do not reflect the costs of any integration activities or benefits that may result from realization of revenue growth or operational synergies expected to result from the DRG Transactions.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations should be read in conjunction with the historical financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
There were no material transactions and balances between Clarivate and DRG for the periods presented.
2. Reclassification Adjustments
Certain reclassifications have been made to the historical presentation of the combined statement of operations of DRG to conform to the financial statement presentation of Clarivate. The following summarizes the
49
reclassification adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019.
3. Purchase Price Accounting and Related Adjustments
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2019, and the three months ended March 31, 2020, give effect to the DRG Transactions as if they occurred on January 1, 2019.
(a) | Represents the removal of incremental executive salaries paid during the year ended December 31, 2019 and executive severance paid during the period January 1, 2020 to February 27, 2020 and recorded in DRG’s historical statements of operations and incurred in contemplation of the sale of DRG. |
(b) | Upon consummation of the acquisition of DRG, Clarivate recognized assets of $381,000 for customer relationships, $50,200 for database and content, $5,200 for tradename, $23,000 for purchased software and $28,000 for backlog. |
All amortization adjustments related to identified intangible assets as a result of the DRG Transactions are recorded to Amortization expense. The estimated amortization expense was computed using the straight-line method based on an estimated useful life of the identifiable definite-lived intangible assets.
50
The final determination of the fair value of intangible assets, as well as estimated useful lives, if any, remains subject to change and will be finalized during the measurement period that does not exceed twelve months. Any resulting change in the fair value would have a direct impact to amortization expense, which could be material.
(c) | Represents the removal of actual transaction costs related to the DRG Transactions included in the consolidated statement of operations of Clarivate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the year ended December 31, 2019 because their impact is non-recurring. The transaction costs primarily consist of legal and other professional services fees. |
(d) | Represents one-time share-based compensation costs that were recognized by DRG as a result of existing change in control provisions related to DRG’s employee incentive plans. |
(e) | Represents the removal of the deferred revenues fair value adjustment included in Clarivate’s historical results for the three months ended March 31, 2020. |
Note 4: Financing Adjustments
(f) | Represents adjustments to interest expense related to the following: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Year Ended |
||
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
December 31, 2019 |
||
Estimated interest expense on new financing (1) |
|
$ |
(2,944) |
|
$ |
(19,853) |
Elimination of historical interest expenses (2) |
|
|
2,801 |
|
|
17,450 |
Amortization of deferred financing costs (3) |
|
|
(42) |
|
|
(650) |
Remove historical DRG interest expense (4) |
|
|
3,822 |
|
|
1,593 |
Remove term loan facility termination fee (5) |
|
|
7,650 |
|
|
— |
Total pro forma adjustment to interest expense |
|
$ |
11,287 |
|
$ |
(1,460) |
A 1/8 percent change in the interest assumed above would result in an aggregate increase or decrease to interest expense of $70 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and $403 for the year ended December 31, 2019.
(g) | Represents adjustments to income tax benefit (provision) for the impact of the pro forma adjustments using an estimated blended statutory income tax rate of 27.2% for both the three months ended March 31, 2020 and for the year ended December 31, 2019. The actual effective tax rate of Clarivate may differ materially from the pro forma tax rates due to, among other factors, changes in tax laws, the impact of permanent tax differences, income tax reserves determined in connection with the acquisition and tax planning. |
(h) | The pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share calculations are based on the basic and diluted weighted average shares of Clarivate ordinary shares plus ordinary shares issued in February 2020 by Clarivate through the Offering, proceeds of which were used to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition. The pro forma basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding are a combination of the historical weighted average shares of Clarivate ordinary shares and the ordinary share impact of the Offering. |
Weighted average shares outstanding are as follows:
52
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with “Selected Historical Financial Information” and our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere in this prospectus. Certain statements in this section are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements regarding our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. Our future results and financial condition may differ materially from those we currently anticipate as a result of the factors we describe under “Risk Factors.” Certain income statement amounts discussed herein are presented on an actual and on a constant currency basis. We calculate constant currency by converting the non-U.S. dollar income statement balances for the most current year to U.S. dollars by applying the average exchange rates of the preceding year. Certain amounts that appear in this section may not sum due to rounding.
Overview
We offer a collection of high quality, market leading information and analytic products and solutions through our Science and Intellectual Property (“IP”) Product Groups. Our Science Product Group consists of our Web of Science and Life Science Product Lines, and our IP Product Group consists of our Derwent, CompuMark and MarkMonitor Product Lines. Our highly curated Web of Science products are offered primarily to universities, helping them navigate scientific literature, facilitate research and evaluate and measure the quality of researchers, institutions and scientific journals across various academic disciplines. Our Life Sciences Product Line offerings serve the content and analytical needs of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies across the drug development lifecycle, including content on discovery and pre-clinical research, competitive intelligence, regulatory information and clinical trials. Our Derwent Product Line offerings help patent and legal professionals in R&D intensive businesses evaluate the novelty and patentability of new ideas and products to help protect and research patents. Our CompuMark products and services allow businesses and legal professionals to access our comprehensive trademark database. Finally, our MarkMonitor offerings include enterprise web domain portfolio management products and services.
Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations
The following factors have affected the comparability of our results of operations between the periods presented in this prospectus and may affect the comparability of our results of operations in future periods.
Our Transition to Operations as a Standalone Business
We began to transition to a standalone company in October 2016, when Onex and Baring acquired subsidiaries and assets comprising the intellectual property and science business of Thomson Reuters for approximately $3,600,000 and formed Clarivate.
Transition Services Agreement
At the time of our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016, we entered into a transition services agreement with Thomson Reuters, pursuant to which Thomson Reuters provided us with certain transitional support services, including facilities management, human resources, accounting and finance, sourcing, certain data center services, and sales and marketing and other back office services. As of the date of this prospectus, we have replaced all transition services agreement services by building up comparable internal functions during the course of 2017, 2018 and 2019, though we continued to rely to a limited extent on certain Thomson Reuters data center services until we complete our product migration to either Amazon Web Services, or our own systems in 2019. Pursuant to the transition services agreement, we paid Thomson Reuters a fee based on Thomson Reuters’ historical allocation for such services to our business when it was owned by Thomson Reuters. These transition services agreement fees amounted to $10,481, $55,764 and $89,942 in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our standalone operating costs have differed substantially from the historical costs of services under the transition services agreement and may differ substantially in the future, which may impact the comparability of our results of operations between the periods presented in this prospectus and with those for future periods.
53
Purchase Accounting Impact of Our Separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016
In addition, purchase accounting adjustments related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 included a revaluation of deferred revenues to account for the difference in value between the customer advances retained by us upon the consummation of our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 and our outstanding performance obligations related to those advances. The difference in value is written down as an adjustment to revenues as the related performance obligations, which cannot be recognized as revenues under GAAP, are fulfilled. This resulted in negative adjustments to revenues of $438, $3,152, and $49,673 in the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the relevant performance obligations have been substantially fulfilled and the valuation difference has been written down. As a result, our consolidated revenues and margins are not comparable between the periods presented in this prospectus and may not be comparable with those for future periods. To facilitate comparability between periods we present Adjusted Revenues in this prospectus to eliminate, among other things, the impact of the deferred revenues adjustment. See “— Certain Non-GAAP Measures — Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues.”
Merger with Churchill Capital Corp
In January 2019, we entered into an agreement to merge with Churchill Capital Corp, which closed in May 2019. At closing, our available cash increased by approximately $682,087, of which $650,000 was applied to pay down our existing debt and the remainder was used to pay costs related to the merger and for general corporate purposes.
Following the consummation of the merger, our ordinary shares and warrants began trading on the NYSE and NYSE American, respectively. Our filings with the SEC and listing on the NYSE have required us to develop the functions and resources necessary to operate as a public company, including employee-related costs and equity compensation, which have resulted in increased operating expenses, which we estimate to be approximately $6,458 per year.
Acquisition of Decision Resources Group
On February 28, 2020, we acquired 100% of the assets, liabilities and equity interests of DRG, a premier provider of high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, from Piramal Enterprises Limited, which is a part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. The acquisition helps us expand our core businesses and provides us with the potential to grow in the Life Sciences Product Line.
The aggregate consideration paid in connection with the closing of the DRG acquisition was $964,997, comprised of $900,000 of base cash plus $6,100 of cash closing adjustments, and up to 2,895,638 ordinary shares to be issued to Piramal Enterprises Limited on March 1, 2021. The contingent stock consideration was valued at $58,897 on the closing date and will be revalued at each period end.
In February 2020, we completed an underwritten public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares, generating net proceeds of $540,597, which we used to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition. In addition, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund the remainder of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses. As the result of the additional term loan, we had $1,256,850 outstanding under our term loan facility at March 31, 2020.
MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy and Antifraud Disposition
In November 2019, we entered into an agreement with an unrelated third-party for the sale of certain assets and liabilities of our MarkMonitor Product Line within the IP Group. We retained the MarkMonitor Domain Management business. As of December 31, 2019, we determined that these assets and liabilities met the criteria to be classified as held for sale. As a result, we recorded an impairment loss of $18,431 for the year ended December 31, 2019, and we recorded an immaterial loss on the divestiture during the three months ended March 31, 2020. All assets and liabilities of the divested business are reclassified to Assets held for sale and Liabilities held for sale respectively on our December 31, 2019 Consolidated Balance Sheet. The divestiture did not
54
represent a strategic shift, and is not expected to have a significant effect on our financial results or operations in future periods, although as a result our consolidated revenues and profits for the periods presented in this prospectus may not be comparable between periods or with those for future periods.
Refinancing Transactions
In October 2019, we closed a private offering of $700,000 in principal amount of secured notes due 2026 and entered into new credit facilities in an initial principal amount of $1,150,000. We used the net proceeds from the offering of notes, together with drawings under the credit facilities, to refinance all amounts outstanding under our prior credit facilities, to redeem our then-outstanding notes and pay fees and expenses related to the foregoing, and to fully fund our $200,000 payment obligation under the agreement terminating our obligations under the tax receivable agreement entered into in connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp.
Termination of Tax Receivable Agreement
In connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp, we entered into a tax receivable agreement with Onex and Baring and certain other pre-merger shareholders of the Company. The tax receivable agreement generally would have required us to pay the counterparties 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, realized (or, in some cases, deemed to be realized) as a result of the utilization of certain tax assets. In August 2019, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which all of our future payment obligations under the tax receivable agreement would terminate in exchange for a payment of $200,000, which we made in November 2019. We believe that termination of the tax receivable agreement will significantly improve our free cash flow profile by eliminating near-term cash outflows of up to $30,000 annually that we were expecting to pay starting in early 2021.
IPM Product Line Divestiture
In October 2018, we sold certain subsidiaries and assets related to our intellectual property management (IPM) Product Line for a total purchase price of $100,130 gross of restricted cash and cash included in normalized working capital and related adjustments, of which $31,378 was used to repay a portion of the term loan. As a result, we recorded a net gain on sale of $36,072 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus include the results of operations related to our divested IPM Product Line through the date of divestiture, including revenues of $0, $20,450 and $31,854 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The divestiture did not represent a strategic shift, and is not expected to have a significant effect on our financial results or operations in future periods, although as a result our consolidated revenues and profits for the periods presented in this prospectus may not be comparable between periods or with those for future periods. To facilitate comparability between periods we present Adjusted Revenues in this prospectus to eliminate, among other things, IPM Product Line revenues for 2019, 2018, and 2017. See “— Certain Non-GAAP Measures — Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues.”
Darts-ip Acquisition
On November 27, 2019, our IP Product Group completed the acquisition of Darts-ip, a leading provider of case law data for intellectual property professionals. We acquired 100% of the voting equity interest of the acquired business. All assets and liabilities are included in our consolidated financial statements.
Effect of Currency Fluctuations
As a result of our geographic reach and operations across regions, we are exposed to currency transaction and currency translation impacts. Currency transaction exposure results when we generate revenues in one currency and incur expenses in another. While we seek to limit our currency transaction exposure by matching revenues and expenses, we are not always able to do so. For example, our revenues were denominated approximately 81% in U.S. dollars, 9% in euros, 3% in British pounds and 7% in other currencies for the year ended December 31, 2019, 79% in U.S. dollars, 7% in euros, 7% in British pounds and 7% in other currencies for the year ended December 31, 2018 and 79% in U.S. dollars, 7% in euros, 7% in British pounds and 7% in other
55
currencies for the year ended December 31, 2017, while our direct expenses before depreciation and amortization, tax and interest in 2019, 2018 and 2017, were denominated approximately 70%, 70%, and 73% in U.S. dollars, 9%, 9%, and 8% in euros, 13%, 11%, and 11% in British pounds and 8%, 10%, and 8% in various other currencies, respectively.
The financial statements of our subsidiaries outside the U.S. and the UK are typically measured using the local currency as the functional currency. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated at the balance sheet date exchange rates, while income and expense items are translated at the average monthly exchange rates. Resulting translation adjustments are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Subsidiary monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in currencies other than the functional currency are remeasured using the month-end exchange rate in effect during each month, with any related gain or loss recorded in Other operating expense, net within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
We do not currently hedge our foreign currency transaction or translation exposure. As a result, significant currency fluctuations could impact the comparability of our results between periods, while such fluctuations coupled with material mismatches in revenues and expenses could also adversely impact our cash flows. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”
Key Performance Indicators
We regularly monitor the following key performance indicators to evaluate our business and trends, measure our performance, prepare financial projections and make strategic decisions.
Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues
We present Adjusted Revenues, which excludes the impact of the deferred revenue purchase accounting adjustment (recorded in connection with the separation from Thomson Reuters) and revenues from divestitures. We also present, for certain fiscal periods included in this prospectus, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues, which exclude the revenues from divestitures. We present these measures because we believe it is useful to readers to better understand the underlying trends in our operations. See “— Certain Non-GAAP Measures — Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues” below for important information on the limitations of Adjusted Revenues and their reconciliation to the respective revenues measures under U.S. GAAP.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin
Adjusted EBITDA is presented because it is a basis upon which our management assesses our performance, and we believe it is useful for investors to understand the underlying trends of our operations. See “— Certain Non-GAAP Measures — Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin” for important information on the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA and its reconciliation to our Net loss under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA represents net loss before provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, interest income and expense adjusted to exclude acquisition or disposal-related transaction costs (such costs include net income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and interest income and expense from divestitures), losses on extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation, unrealized foreign currency gains/(losses), costs associated with the transition services agreement with Thomson Reuters, which we entered into in connection with our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016, separation and integration costs, transformational and restructuring expenses, acquisition-related adjustments to deferred revenues, costs related to our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, non-cash income/(loss) on equity and cost method investments, non-operating income or expense, the impact of certain non-cash, legal settlements and other items that are included in net income for the period that the Company does not consider indicative of its ongoing operating performance and certain unusual items impacting results in a particular period. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by Adjusted Revenues.
56
Annualized Contract Value
Annualized Contract Value (“ACV”), at a given point in time, represents the annualized value for the next 12 months of subscription-based client license agreements, assuming that all expiring license agreements during that period are renewed at their current price level. License agreements may cover more than one product and the standard subscription period for each license agreement typically runs for no less than 12 months. The renewal period for our subscriptions starts 90 days before the end of the current subscription period, during which customers must provide notice of whether they intend to renew or cancel the license agreement.
An initial subscription period for new customers may be for a term of less than 12 months, in certain circumstances. Most of our customers, however, opt to enter into a full 12-month initial subscription period, resulting in renewal periods spread throughout the calendar year. Customers that license more than one subscription-based product may, at any point during the renewal period, provide notice of their intent to renew only certain subscriptions within the license agreement and cancel other subscriptions, which we typically refer to as a downgrade. In other instances, customers may upgrade their license agreements by adding additional subscription-based products to the original agreement. Our calculation of ACV includes the impact of downgrades, upgrades, price increases, and cancellations that have occurred as of the reporting period. For avoidance of doubt, ACV does not include fees associated with transactional revenues.
We monitor ACV because it represents a leading indicator of the potential subscription revenues that may be generated from our existing customer base over the upcoming 12-month period. Measurement of subscription revenues as a key operating metric is particularly relevant because a majority of our revenues are generated through subscription-based products, which accounted for 82.6%, 81.7%, 81.2% of our total revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, and 79.7% and 82.2% of our total revenues in each of the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. We calculate and monitor ACV for each of our Groups (excluding the IPM Product Line, which we sold in October 2018), and use the metric as part of our evaluation of our business and trends.
The amount of actual subscription revenues that we earn over any 12-month period are likely to differ from ACV at the beginning of that period, sometimes significantly. This may occur for numerous reasons, including subsequent changes in annual revenue renewal rates, impact of price increases (or decreases), cancellations, upgrades and downgrades, and acquisitions and divestitures.
We calculate the ACV on a constant currency basis to exclude the effect of foreign currency fluctuations.
The following table presents ACV as of the dates indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
Variance |
|
March 31, |
|
Variance |
|
||||||||||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
||||||
|
|
(dollars in thousands) |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Annualized Contract Value |
|
$ |
793,727 |
|
$ |
767,021 |
|
$ |
26,706 |
|
3.5 |
% |
$ |
820,254 |
|
$ |
765,100 |
|
$ |
55,154 |
|
7.2 |
% |
Annual Revenue Renewal Rates
Our revenues are primarily subscription based, which leads to high revenue predictability. Our ability to retain existing subscription customers is a key performance indicator that helps explain the evolution of our historical results and is a leading indicator of our revenues and cash flows for the subsequent reporting period.
“Annual revenue renewal rate” is the metric we use to determine renewal levels by existing customers across all of our Groups, and is a leading indicator of renewal trends, which impact the evolution of our ACV and results of operations. We calculate the annual revenue renewal rate for a given period by dividing (a) the annualized dollar value of existing subscription product license agreements that are renewed during that period, including the value of any product downgrades, by (b) the annualized dollar value of existing subscription product license agreements that come up for renewal in that period. “Open renewals,” which we define as existing subscription product license agreements that come up for renewal, but are neither renewed nor canceled by customers during the applicable reposting period, are excluded from both the numerator and denominator of the calculation. We calculate the annual revenue renewal rate to reflect the value of product downgrades but not the value of product upgrades upon renewal, because upgrades reflect the purchase of additional services.
57
The impact of upgrades, new subscriptions and product price increases is reflected in ACV, but not in annual revenue renewal rates. Our annual revenue renewal rates were 90.1%, 91.7% and 91.0% for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, and 93.0% and 93.0% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Key Components of Our Results of Operations
Revenues, net
We categorize our revenues into two categories: subscription and transactional.
Subscription-based revenues are recurring revenues that are earned under annual, multi-year, or evergreen contracts, pursuant to which we license the right to use our products to our customers. Revenues from the sale of subscription data and analytics solutions are typically invoiced annually in advance and recognized ratably over the year as revenues are earned. Subscription revenues are driven by annual revenue renewal rates, new subscription business, price increases on existing subscription business and subscription upgrades and downgrades from recurring customers. Substantially all of our historical deferred revenues purchase accounting adjustments are related to subscription revenues.
Transactional revenues are earned under contracts for specific deliverables that are typically quoted on a product, data set or project basis and often derived from repeat customers, including customers that also generate subscription-based revenues. Transactional products and services are invoiced according to the terms of the contract, typically in arrears. Transactional content revenues are usually delivered to the customer instantly or in a short period of time, at which time revenues are recognized. Transactional revenues also include, to a lesser extent, professional services, which are typically performed under contracts that vary in length from several months to years for multi-year projects and are typically invoiced based on the achievement of milestones. The most significant components of our transactional revenues include our “clearance searching” and “backfiles” products.
Cost of Revenues, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Cost of revenues consists of costs related to the production, servicing and maintenance of our products and are comprised primarily of related personnel costs, such as salaries, benefits and bonuses for employees, fees for contracted labor, and data center services and licensing costs. Cost of revenues also includes the costs to acquire or produce content, royalties payable and non-capitalized R&D expenses. Cost of revenues does not include production costs related to internally generated software, which are capitalized.
Selling, General and Administrative, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Selling, general and administrative costs consist primarily of salaries, benefits, commission and bonuses for the executive, finance and accounting, human resources, administrative, sales and marketing personnel, third-party professional services fees, such as legal and accounting expenses, facilities rent and utilities and technology costs associated with our corporate infrastructure.
Depreciation
Depreciation expense relates to our fixed assets, including mainly computer hardware and leasehold improvements, furniture and fixtures. These assets are depreciated over their expected useful lives, and in the case of leasehold improvements over the shorter of their useful life or the duration of the related lease.
Amortization
Amortization expense relates to our finite-lived intangible assets, including mainly databases and content, customer relationships, internally generated computer software and trade names. These assets are amortized over periods of between two and 20 years. Definite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment when indicators are present, and, if impaired, are written down to fair value based on discounted cash flows. No impairment of intangible assets has been identified during any financial period included in our accompanying audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements.
58
Impairment on Assets Held for Sale
Impairment on assets held for sale represents an impairment charge recorded for certain assets classified as assets held for sale.
Share-based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense includes costs associated with stock options granted to and certain modifications for certain members of management and expense related to the issuance of shares in connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019.
Transaction Expenses
Transaction expenses are incurred to complete business combination transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, and typically include advisory, legal and other professional and consulting costs.
Transition, Integration and Other Related Expenses
Transition, integration and other related expenses, including transformation expenses, mainly reflect the costs of transitioning certain activities performed under the transition services agreement by Thomson Reuters and certain consulting costs related to standing up our back-office systems to enable our operation on a stand-alone basis. These costs include labor costs of full time employees currently working on migration projects, including primarily employees whose labor costs are capitalized in other circumstances (such as employees working on application development). In 2019, these costs also relate to the Company’s transition expenses incurred following the merger with Churchill Capital Corp.
Restructuring
Restructuring expense includes costs associated with involuntary termination benefits provided to employees under the terms of a one-time benefit arrangement, certain contract termination costs, and other costs associated with an exit or disposal activity.
Legal Settlement
Legal settlement represents a net gain recorded for cash received in relation to closure of a confidential legal matter.
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net
Other operating income (expense), net consists of gains or losses related to legal settlements and the disposal of our assets, asset impairments or write-downs and the consolidated impact of re-measurement of the assets and liabilities of our company and our subsidiaries that are denominated in currencies other than each relevant entity’s functional currency.
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense, net consists of expense related to interest on our borrowings under our term loan facility and our secured notes due 2026, the amortization and write off of debt issuance costs and original discount, and interest related to certain derivative instruments.
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes
A benefit or provision for income tax is calculated for each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. The benefit or provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. Under this approach, deferred taxes represent the future tax consequences expected to occur when the reported amounts of assets and liabilities are recovered or paid. The benefit or provision for income taxes represents income taxes paid or payable for the current year plus the change in deferred taxes during the year. Deferred taxes result from differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities and are adjusted for
59
changes in tax rates and tax laws when changes are enacted. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. Interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and income tax related penalties are included in the provision for income taxes.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019
The following table presents the results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
Variance Increase / (Decrease) |
|
|||||||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
|
$ |
|
% |
|
|||
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues, net |
|
$ |
240,592 |
|
$ |
234,025 |
|
$ |
6,567 |
|
2.8 |
% |
Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(82,399) |
|
|
(89,267) |
|
|
(6,868) |
|
(7.7) |
% |
Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(86,948) |
|
|
(92,296) |
|
|
(5,348) |
|
(5.8) |
% |
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(17,469) |
|
|
(3,176) |
|
|
14,293 |
|
N/M |
|
Depreciation |
|
|
(2,329) |
|
|
(2,051) |
|
|
278 |
|
13.6 |
% |
Amortization |
|
|
(49,112) |
|
|
(56,106) |
|
|
(6,994) |
|
(12.5) |
% |
Transaction expenses |
|
|
(26,689) |
|
|
(10,270) |
|
|
16,419 |
|
N/M |
|
Transition, integration and other related expenses |
|
|
(2,232) |
|
|
(1,161) |
|
|
1,071 |
|
92.2 |
% |
Restructuring |
|
|
(7,754) |
|
|
— |
|
|
7,754 |
|
N/M |
|
Other operating income (expense), net |
|
|
6,032 |
|
|
(5,617) |
|
|
11,649 |
|
N/M |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(268,900) |
|
|
(259,944) |
|
|
8,956 |
|
3.4 |
% |
Loss from operations |
|
|
(28,308) |
|
|
(25,919) |
|
|
2,389 |
|
9.2 |
% |
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(30,940) |
|
|
(33,101) |
|
|
(2,161) |
|
(6.5) |
% |
Loss before income tax |
|
|
(59,248) |
|
|
(59,020) |
|
|
228 |
|
0.4 |
% |
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
(14,753) |
|
|
(240) |
|
|
14,513 |
|
N/M |
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(74,001) |
|
$ |
(59,260) |
|
$ |
14,741 |
|
24.9 |
% |
Revenues, Net
Revenues, net of $240,592 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, increased by $6,567, or 2.8%, from $234,025 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. On a constant currency basis, Revenues, net increased $8,305, or 3.5% for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Adjusted Revenues, which excludes the impact of the deferred revenues adjustment, increased $8,285, or 3.5%, to $242,474 in the three months ended March 31, 2020 from $234,189 in the three months ended March 31, 2019. On a constant currency basis, Adjusted Revenues increased $10,023, or 4.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. For an explanation of our calculation of Adjusted Revenues and the limitations as to its usefulness, see “— Certain Non-GAAP Measures — Adjusted Revenues.”
60
The following tables present the amounts of our subscription and transactional revenues for the periods indicated, as well the drivers of the variances between periods, including as a percentage of such revenues.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
Subscription revenues increased by $743, or 0.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. On a constant currency basis, subscription revenues increased by $2,124, or 1.1%. Acquisitive subscription growth is generated from the acquisitions of Darts-ip in November 2019 and DRG in February 2020. Disposal subscription reduction is derived from the divestiture of the MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy, and Antifraud products in January 2020. Organic subscription revenues increased primarily due to price increases and new business, consistent with the growth in the annualized contract value.
Transactional revenues increased by $7,542, or 18.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2020. On a constant currency basis, transactional revenues increased by $7,899, or 18.9%. Acquisitive transactional growth is generated from the acquisitions of Darts-ip in November 2019 and DRG in February 2020. Disposal transactional reduction is derived from the divestiture of the MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy, and Antifraud products in January 2020. Organic transactional revenues decreased due to timing of product offerings and volume. This decrease was offset partially by increased revenues related to the upgrades of the Techstreet product offerings.
61
The table below presents our revenue split by geographic region for the periods indicated, as well the drivers of the variances between periods, including as a percentage of such revenues.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
Acquisitive growth for all regions was related to the acquisitions of Darts-ip in November 2019 and DRG in February 2020. Disposal reduction is derived from the divestiture of the MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy, and Antifraud products in January 2020. On a constant currency basis, Americas revenues increased by $4,985, or 4.4%, with organic growth slightly increasing due to increased subscription revenues offset by decreased transactional revenues. On a constant currency basis, Europe/Middle East/Africa revenues increased by $950, or 1.4%, with organic growth slightly decreasing due to a reduction in subscription revenue and transaction revenue remaining flat. On a constant currency basis, Asia Pacific revenues increased $4,088, or 7.4%, with organic growth increasing due to increases in subscription and transactional revenues.
The following tables, and the discussion that follows, present our revenues by Product Group for the periods indicated, as well the drivers of the variances between periods, including as a percentage of such revenues.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
Science Product Group: Revenues of $147,260 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased $18,049, or 14.0% from $129,211 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . On a constant currency basis,
62
revenues increased by $19,292, or 15.0%. Acquisitive transactional growth is generated from the acquisition of DRG in February 2020. Organic revenues increased due to price increases and new business in subscription revenues, partially offset by a minimal decrease in transactional revenues due to timing of product offerings.
IP Product Group: Revenues of $95,214 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 decreased $9,764, or 9.3% from $104,978 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. On a constant currency basis, revenue decreased $9,269, or 8.8%, driven by subscription and transactional revenue. Acquisitive transactional growth is generated from the acquisition of Darts-ip in November 2019. Disposal reduction is derived from the disposal of the MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy, and Antifraud productions in January 2020. Organic revenues increased due to subscription and transactional growth primarily due to the upgrades of the Techstreet product offerings.
Cost of Revenues, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Cost of revenues of $82,399 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 decreased by $6,868, or 7.7%, from $89,267 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. On a constant currency basis, cost of revenues decreased by $4,160 or 4.7%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, respectively. On a constant currency basis, costs of revenues decreased due to a decrease in data center costs associated with our transition services agreement with Thomson Reuters.
Selling, General and Administrative, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Selling, general and administrative expense of $86,948 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, decreased by $5,348, or 5.8%, from $92,296 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. On a constant currency basis, selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $2,590, or 2.8%, for the three months ended March 31, 2020, reflecting an increase in employee related costs substantially offset by a decrease in costs associated with our transition services agreement with Thomson Reuters and certain business operating costs.
Share-based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense of $17,469 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased by $14,293 from $3,176 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2020 was largely due to additional expense related to the waived performance vesting condition associated with the Merger Shares.
Depreciation
Depreciation of $2,329 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 increased by $278, or 13.6% from $2,051 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 . The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2020 was driven by the additional depreciation on assets acquired through the acquisitions of Darts-ip in November 2019 and DRG in February 2020. This increase was offset by run-off of previously purchased capital expenditures.
Amortization
Amortization of $49,112 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 decreased by $6,994, or 12.5%, from $56,106 for the three months ended March 31, 2019, The decreases in the three months ended March 31, 2020 was predominately related to intangible assets acquired in connection with our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 that are now fully amortized and reduction of amortization on the Mark Monitor intangible assets disposed in January 2020. These decreases were offset partially by an increase in the amortization of intangible assets acquired through the acquisitions of Darts-ip in November 2019 and DRG in February 2020.
Transaction Expenses
Transaction expenses of $26,689 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, increased by $16,419, from $10,270 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in the three months ended March 31, 2020 was due to costs incurred in association with the closing of an offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares and costs associated with the acquisition of DRG during the three months ended March 31, 2020 compared to lower costs
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incurred in association with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp during the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Transition, Integration, and Other Related Expenses
Transition, integration, and other expenses of $2,232 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, increased by $1,071, from $1,161 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase in the period three months ended March 31, 2020 is due to additional costs associated with the remediation of the material weakness, which has been completed.
Restructuring
Restructuring of $7,754 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, increased by $7,754, from $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase is related to an initiative, following our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, to streamline our operations by simplifying our organization and focusing on two product groups.
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net
Other operating income (expense), net of $6,032 income for the three months ended March 31, 2020, changed by $11,649, from an expense of $5,617 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The change was attributable to the consolidated impact of the remeasurement of the assets and liabilities of our Company that are denominated in currencies other than each relevant entity’s functional currency.
Interest Expense
Interest expense, net of $30,940 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, decreased by $2,161, or 6.5% from $33,101 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decreases in the period three months ended March 31, 2020 was due to lower interest payments resulting from lower interest rates on the Company’s borrowings as the result of the refinancing transaction in October 2019.
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes
There was a provision of $14,753 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to a provision of $240 for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The increase was due to additional provision related to the DRG acquisition and reflected the mix of taxing jurisdictions in which pre-tax profits and losses were recognized.
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Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared to the Years Ended December 31, 2018 and 2017
The following table presents the results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017:
Revenues, net
Revenues, net of $974,345 in 2019 increased by $5,877, or 0.6%, from $968,468 in 2018. Adjusted Revenues, which exclude the impact of the deferred revenues adjustment and revenues from the IPM Product Line prior to its date of divestiture, increased $23,613, or 2.5% to $974,783 in 2019 from $951,170 in 2018.
Revenues, net increased by $50,834, or 5.5%, from $917,634 in 2017 to $968,468 in 2018. Adjusted Revenues, which exclude the impact of the deferred revenues adjustment and revenues from the IPM Product Line prior its date of divestiture, increased $15,717, or 1.7%, to $951,170 in 2018 from $935,453 in 2017
For an explanation of our calculation of Adjusted Revenues and the limitations as to its usefulness, see “—Certain Non-GAAP Measures — Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues.”
The comparability of our Revenues, net between periods was impacted by several factors described under “—Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations.” above. In addition to the deferred revenues adjustment and the divestiture of the IPM Product Line, our results were also impacted by foreign currency effects and revenue from ongoing business, as discussed below.
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The table below presents the items that impacted the change in our revenues, net between periods.
Revenues, net from our ongoing business improved for both our Product Groups, led by Science, reflecting a trend consistent with the increase in our ACV between periods, mainly due to product price increases and new business. The evolution of our recurring business is discussed further below by Product Group.
The following tables present the amounts of our subscription and transactional revenues, for the periods indicated.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
Subscription revenues of $805,518 in 2019 increased by $11,421, or 1.4% from $794,097 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, subscription revenues increased by $15,959, or 2.0%. Subscription revenues from ongoing business increased primarily due to price increases and new business within the Science Product Group, consistent with the growth in the annualized contract value and revenue increases related to upgrade of the Techstreet product offerings. This revenue growth was offset by a decrease due to the IPM Product Line divestiture.
Transactional revenues of $169,265 in 2019 decreased by $8,258, or 4.7% from $177,523 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, transactional revenues decreased by $6,867, or 3.9%. The decline in transactional revenues is due to the loss of income related to the IPM Product Line divestiture, a lower demand for patent services in the period and reflected timing and product offerings within the IP Product Group. The revenues
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decline was offset partially by increased revenues related to the upgrades of the Techstreet product offerings and the TrademarkVision acquisition.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
Subscription revenues of $794,097 in 2018 increased by $8,380, or 1.1% from $785,717 in 2017. On a constant currency basis, subscription revenues increased by $4,113, or 0.5%. The increase in subscription revenues between periods mainly reflected the effect of product price increases partially offset by a reduction in the income related to the IPM divestiture in October 2018.
Transactional revenues of $177,523 in 2018 decreased by $4,067, or 2.2% from $181,590 in 2017. On a constant currency basis, transactional revenues decreased by $5,870, or 3.2%. The decrease in Adjusted Transactional Revenues reflects our product and sales strategy to enhance our subscription product offerings and a reduction in the income related to the IPM divestiture in October 2018.
The following tables present the amounts of our adjusted subscription and adjusted transactional revenues, for the periods indicated.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
(2) | Reflects the revenue generated by the IPM Product Line for the year ended December 31, 2018. We sold the IPM Product Line in October 2018. |
Adjusted subscription revenues of $805,518 in 2019 increased by $29,103, or 3.7% from $776,415 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, adjusted subscription revenues increased by $33,641, or 4.3%. Adjusted subscription revenues from ongoing business increased primarily due to price increases and new business within the Science Product Group, consistent with the growth in the Clarivate’s ACV, combined with revenues from the TrademarkVision and Darts-ip acquisitions, and increases related to upgrade of the Techstreet product offerings.
Adjusted transactional revenues of $169,265 in 2019 decreased by $5,490, or 3.1% from $174,755 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, adjusted transactional revenues decreased by $4,099, or 2.3%. The decline in adjusted transactional revenues reflected timing and product offerings within the IP Product Group and demand
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for patent services in the period. The revenues decline was offset partially by increased revenues related upgrades in the Techstreet product offerings.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
(2) | Reflects the revenue generated by the IPM Product Line for the year ended December 31, 2018. We sold the IPM Product Line in October 2018. |
Adjusted subscription revenues of $776,415 in 2018 increased by $21,952, or 2.9% from $754,463 in 2017. On a constant currency basis, adjusted subscription revenues increased by $17,685, or 2.3%. The increase in Adjusted Subscription Revenues is primarily due to price increases and new business within the Science Product Group and IP Product Group.
Adjusted transactional revenues of $174,755 in 2018 decreased by $6,235, or 3.4% from $180,990 in 2017. On a constant currency basis, adjusted transactional revenues decreased by $8,038, or 4.4%. The decrease in Adjusted Transactional Revenues reflects our product and sales strategy to enhance our subscription product offerings.
The tables present our revenues split by geographic region, separating the impacts of the deferred revenues adjustment and the IPM Product Line:
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
(2) | Reflects the revenue generated by the IPM Product Line for the year ended December 31, 2018. We sold the IPM Product Line in October 2018. |
On a constant currency basis, Americas revenues increased by $7,205, or 1.6%, primarily due to improved subscription revenues partially offset by a decline in transactional revenues, consistent with the explanations above. On a constant currency basis, Europe/Middle East/Africa revenues increased by $11,396, or 4.1%, primarily due to improved subscription revenues and an increase in transactional revenues as the result of
68
increased demand and product offerings. On a constant currency basis, Asia Pacific revenues increased $10,941, or 4.9%, primarily due to improved subscription revenues partially offset by a decline in transactional revenues.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
(2) | Reflects the revenue generated by the IPM Product Line for the year ended December 31, 2018. We sold the IPM Product Line in October 2018. |
On a constant currency basis, Americas revenues increased by $10,647, or 2.4%, primarily due to improved subscription revenues partially offset by a decline in transactional revenues. On a constant currency basis, Europe/Middle East/Africa revenues decreased by $4,959, or 1.8%, primarily due to improved subscription revenues. On a constant currency basis, Asia Pacific revenues increased $3,959, or 1.8%, primarily due to improved subscription revenues.
The following tables, and the discussions that follow, present our revenues by Group for the periods indicated.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
(2) | Reflects the revenue generated by the IPM Product Line for the year ended December 31, 2018. We sold the IPM Product Line in October 2018. |
Science Group: Revenues of $547,542 in 2019 increased by $19,665, or 3.7%, from $527,877 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, revenues increased by $21,671, or 4.1%, driven by organic subscription revenue growth, primarily due to price increases and new business across the product offerings, consistent with the growth in the ACV. Additionally transactional revenues increased minimally due to increased demand and timing of the product offerings.
Intellectual Property Group: Revenues of $427,241 in 2019, increased by $3,948, or 0.9%, from $423,293 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, revenues increased by $7,868, or 1.8%, driven by revenues related to the
69
Techstreet product upgrades. This increase was offset by a decrease from the transactional revenues due to the demand for patent services in the period, and timing and product offerings.
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment made as a result of purchase accounting related to our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 |
(2) | Reflects the revenue generated by the IPM Product Line for the year ended December 31, 2018. We sold the IPM Product Line in October 2018. |
Science Group: Revenues of $527,877 in 2018 increased by $8,887, or 1.7%, from $518,990 in 2017. On a constant currency basis, revenues increased by $6,571, or 1.3%. Exclusive of these currency translation effects, subscription revenues increased mainly due to net price increases on our subscription revenues products and new subscription business across our Product Lines. The increase in subscription revenues was partially offset by a decrease in transactional revenues across several products, reflecting our product and sales strategy to enhance our subscription product offerings.
Intellectual Property Group: Revenues of $423,293 in 2018, increased by $6,830, or 1.6%, from $416,463 in 2017. On a constant currency basis, revenues increased by $3,076, or 0.7%. Exclusive of these currency translation effects, subscription revenues increased mainly due to net price increases on our subscription revenues products and new subscription business across our Product Lines. The increase in subscription revenues was partially offset by a decrease in transactional revenues across several products, reflecting our product and sales strategy as discussed above.
Cost of Revenues, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Cost of revenues of $346,503 in 2019, decreased by $49,996, or 12.6%, from $396,499 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, cost of revenues decreased by $45,330, or 11.4%, due to a $32,493 decrease in transition services agreement data center costs and a $11,489 decrease in costs associated with the divestiture of the IPM Product Line.
Cost of revenues increased by $2,284, or 0.6%, from $394,215 in 2017 to $396,499 in 2018. Excluding the $3,764 of cost attributable to foreign currency translation effects, Cost of revenues declined slightly between periods. The change also reflected a $23,300 decrease in transition services agreement fees allocated to Cost of revenues and a $9,000 decrease in consulting fees for outside services as well as an increase of $36,000 in technology related costs attributable to the in-house establishment of functions for maintaining our product content to replace services previously provided by Thomson Reuters, mainly cloud computing and data service centers.
Selling, General and Administrative, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Selling, general and administrative expense of $368,675 in 2019, remained consistent by $702, or 0.2%, from $369,377 in 2018. On a constant currency basis, cost of revenues increased by $3,280, or 0.9%. The change reflected a $22,128 increase in people related costs which is due to the increase in headcount for the stand-alone transition. This increase was offset by a decrease of $6,154 in contract labor, $9,095 in transition services agreement fees and $2,709 of costs related to the divestiture of the IPM product line.
70
Selling, general and administrative expense, excluding depreciation and amortization, increased by $26,234, or 7.6%, from $343,143 in 2017 to $369,377 in 2018. Excluding the $2,039 of cost attributable to foreign currency translation effects, the increase was driven by a $16,000 increase in people related cost such as salaries and recruitment costs which were driven by an increase in headcount and merit raises, a $6,000 increase in professional fees such as audit and tax fees due to an increase in required reporting, and a $4,102 increase in telecommunication costs. These increases in cost were offset by a net $1,000 decline in cost primarily associated with facility, technology, and advertising cost incurred as a standalone company compared to the cost that would have been paid to Thomson Reuters.
Share-based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense of $51,383 in 2019, increased by $37,668, from $13,715 in 2018 primarily driven by accelerated vesting and expense related to our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, offset by forfeited options and a lower number of grants in the year.
Share-based compensation expense decreased by $3,948, or 22.4%, from $17,663 in 2017 to $13,715 in 2018, reflecting a net decrease in equity compensation vesting attributable to a decline in grants in 2018 from 2017 and 2017 from 2016.
Depreciation
Depreciation expense of $9,181 in 2019, decreased by $241, or 2.6%, from $9,422 in 2018, driven by the run-off of previously purchased capital expenditures. This decrease was partially offset by new purchases of fixed assets.
Depreciation expense increased by $2,425, or 34.7%, from $6,997 in 2017 to $9,422 in 2018. The increase relates primarily to increased purchases of fixed assets, particularly computer hardware.
Amortization
Amortization expense of $191,361 in 2019, decreased by $36,442, or 16.0%, from $227,803 in 2018, primarily related to intangible assets acquired in connection with our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 that are now fully amortized, coupled with the divestiture of the IPM Product Line and related assets.
Amortization expense increased by $6,337, or 2.9%, from $221,466 in 2017 to $227,803 in 2018. The increase primarily relates to an increase in intangible assets related to the Publons acquisition, and computer software associated with the capitalization of internal and external labor during 2018. This was partially offset by a reduction in intangible amortization due to the divestiture of the IPM Product Line and related assets.
Impairment on Assets Held for Sale
The year ended December 31, 2019 includes an impairment on assets held for sale of $18,431. On November 3, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with OpSec Security for the sale of certain assets and liabilities of its MarkMonitor Product Line within its IP Group. At December 31, 2019, an impairment charge of $18,431 was recognized in the Statement of Operations during the fourth quarter to reduce the Assets Held for Sale to their fair value. See Note 5 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information.
Transaction Expenses
Transaction expenses of $46,214 in 2019, increased by $43,757, from $2,457 in 2018. The increase in transaction expenses primarily relate to costs incurred in association with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019 coupled with costs related to the debt refinancing, secondary offerings, contingent payment earn out adjustments and divestitures and acquisitions.
Transaction expenses increased by $212, or 9.4%, from $2,245 in 2017 to $2,457 in 2018. Transaction expenses primarily related to acquisitions and dispositions that occurred during the applicable period.
71
Transition, Integration and Other Related Expenses
Transition, integration, and other expenses of $14,239 in 2019, decreased by $47,043, or 76.8%, from $61,282 in 2018. The decrease reflects the slowing pace of costs incurred in connection with establishing our standalone company infrastructure following our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016.
Transition, integration, and other expenses decreased by $17,413, or 22.1%, from $78,695 in 2017 to $61,282 in 2018. The decrease reflects the gradual slowing in the pace of costs incurred to establish our standalone company infrastructure as we completed the establishment of necessary functions, systems and processes. We expect the pace of costs incurred to continue to slow.
Restructuring
Restructuring of $(15,670) in 2019, increased by $15,670, from $0 in 2018. The increase is related to an initiative, following our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, to streamline our operations by simplifying our organization and focusing on two product groups.
Legal Settlement
The year ended December 31, 2019 includes a gain for a confidential legal settlement of $39,399.
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net
Other operating income (expense), net of $4,826 in 2019, decreased by $1,553, or 24.3% from $6,379 in 2018, attributable to the consolidated impact of the remeasurement of the assets and liabilities of our company that are denominated in currencies other than each relevant entity’s functional currency.
Other operating income (expense), net was $6,379 in 2018, compared to other operating expense of $237 in 2017. Of the $6,616 change between periods, $3,575 was attributable to the consolidated impact of the remeasurement of the assets and liabilities of our company that are denominated in currencies other than each relevant entity’s functional currency and a $36,072 net gain from the sale of the IPM Product Line and related assets, which was partially offset by a $33,819 loss on the write down of a tax indemnity asset due to a dispute with the indemnitor.
Interest Expense, net
Interest expense, net of $157,689 in 2019, increased by $26,884, or 20.6%, from $130,805 in 2018. The increase was attributable to the write down of deferred financing charges and original issuance discount on our prior term loan facility in proportion to the principal paydown; in addition to debt extinguishment and refinancing related costs on the October 2019 refinancing of our prior credit facilities and notes. This was offset by lower interest payments due to lower interest and LIBOR rates as a result of the refinance and the voluntary prepayment of our prior term loan in connection with the closing of our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019.
Interest expense, net decreased by $7,391, or 5.3%, from $138,196 in 2017 to $130,805 in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to debt issuance cost write-offs resulting from debt amendments in 2017, and associated lower interest rate margin in the fourth quarter. These decreases were partially offset by increases in LIBOR, which was the base rate on our term loan facility, through the course of 2018.
Provision for Income Taxes
Provision for income tax of $10,201 in 2019, increased by $4,552, or 80.6%, from $5,649 in 2018. The increase in tax expense is due to the base erosion and anti-abuse (BEAT) tax and tax on mergers, offset by deferred tax movements. Our effective tax rate is (5.1)% in 2019 and was (2.4)% in 2018. Differences in effective tax rates for the reported periods are attributable to changes in valuation allowance, BEAT tax, non-deductible capitalization costs and changes in income/losses for the different rates in various jurisdictions. The current year effective tax rate may not be indicative of our effective tax rates for future periods.
Provision for income tax of $5,649 in 2018 increased by $26,942 from a benefit of $21,293 in 2017. The provision in 2018, despite a loss before tax reflects unrecognized tax losses and valuation allowance. In 2017 we
72
recorded a $16,500 one-time tax benefit, attributable to changes in Belgian and U.S. tax rates. Our effective tax rate was (2.4)% in 2018 and was 7.5% in 2017. Differences in effective tax rates for the reported periods are attributable mainly to changes in valuation allowance and temporary differences and the one-time impacts discussed below, and may not be indicative of our effective tax rates for future periods. In addition, changes in applicable tax rates were enacted in 2017, including in Belgium and the United States, and the Company recorded a tax benefit related to these changes. We did not provide for income or withholding taxes on the undistributed income of our foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2018, because we intend to permanently reinvest these earnings.
Certain Non-GAAP Measures
We include non-GAAP measures in this prospectus, including Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues, Adjusted Transactional Revenues, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free Cash Flow because they are a basis upon which our management assesses our performance and we believe they reflect the underlying trends and indicators of our business by allowing management to focus on the most meaningful indicators of our continuous operational performance.
Although we believe these measures are useful for investors for the same reasons, we recommend users of the financial statements to note these measures are not a substitute for GAAP financial measures or disclosures. We provide reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the corresponding most closely related GAAP measure.
Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues
We present Adjusted Revenues, which excludes the impact of the deferred revenues purchase accounting adjustment (recorded in connection with the separation from Thomson Reuters and acquisitions) and revenues from divestitures. We also present Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues, which exclude the revenues from divestitures. We present these measures because we believe they are useful to readers to better understand the underlying trends in our operations.
Our presentation of Adjusted Revenues, Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues is for informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of our future results. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and only using non-GAAP measures for supplementary analysis.
The following table presents our calculation of Adjusted Revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and a reconciliation of this measure to our Revenues, net for the same periods:
The following table presents our calculation of Adjusted Revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 and a reconciliation of this measure to our Revenues, net for the same periods:
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The following table presents our calculation of Adjusted Subscription Revenues and Adjusted Transactional Revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and a reconciliation of these measures to Subscription revenues and Transactional revenues, respectively, for the same periods:
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin
Adjusted EBITDA is presented because it is a basis upon which our management assesses our performance, and we believe it is useful for investors to understand the underlying trends of our operations. See “— Certain Non-GAAP Measures — Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin” for important information on the limitations of Adjusted EBITDA and its reconciliation to our Net loss under GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA represents net loss before provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, interest income and expense adjusted to exclude acquisition or disposal-related transaction costs (such costs include net income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization and interest income and expense from divestitures), losses on extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation, unrealized foreign currency gains/(losses), costs associated with the transition services agreement with Thomson Reuters, which we entered into in connection with our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016, separation and integration costs, transformational and restructuring expenses, acquisition-related adjustments to deferred revenues, costs related to our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, non-cash income/(loss) on equity and cost method investments, non-operating income or expense, the impact of certain non-cash, legal settlements and other items that are included in net income for the period that the Company does not consider indicative of its ongoing operating performance and certain unusual items impacting results in a particular period. Adjusted EBITDA margin is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by Adjusted Revenues.
Our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by any of the adjusted items. In addition, because of these limitations, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of liquidity or discretionary cash available to us to fund our cash needs, including investing in the growth of our business and meeting our obligations. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP results and only use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin for supplementary analysis.
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Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019
The following table presents our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 and reconciles these measures to our Net loss for the same periods:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
||||
(in thousands, except percentages) |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
|
||
Net loss |
|
$ |
(74,001) |
|
$ |
(59,260) |
|
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
14,753 |
|
|
240 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
51,441 |
|
|
58,157 |
|
Interest, net |
|
|
30,940 |
|
|
33,101 |
|
Transition services agreement costs(1) |
|
|
1,551 |
|
|
5,273 |
|
Transition, transformation and integration expense(2) |
|
|
2,228 |
|
|
2,460 |
|
Deferred revenues adjustment(3) |
|
|
1,882 |
|
|
164 |
|
Transaction related costs(4) |
|
|
26,689 |
|
|
10,270 |
|
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
17,469 |
|
|
3,176 |
|
Restructuring(5) |
|
|
7,754 |
|
|
— |
|
Other(6) |
|
|
(2,484) |
|
|
5,644 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
78,222 |
|
$ |
59,225 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
|
32.2 |
% |
|
25.3 |
% |
(1) | In 2020, this is related to a new transition services agreement and offset by the reverse transition services agreement from the sale of MarkMonitor assets. In 2019, this includes payments to Thomson Reuters under the transition services agreement entered into in connection with our 2016 separation from Thomson Reuters. |
(2) | Includes costs incurred in connection with and after our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 relating to the implementation of our standalone company infrastructure and related cost-savings initiatives. These costs include mainly transition consulting, technology infrastructure, personnel and severance expenses relating to our standalone company infrastructure, which are recorded in Transition, integration, and other line-item of our income statement, as well as expenses related to the restructuring and transformation of our business following our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016, mainly related to the integration of separate business units into one functional organization and enhancements in our technology. |
(3) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
(4) | Includes costs incurred to complete business combination transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, and typically include advisory, legal and other professional and consulting costs. |
(5) | Reflects costs incurred in connection with the initiative, following our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, to streamline our operations by simplifying our organization and focusing on two product groups. |
(6) | Includes primarily the net impact of foreign exchange gains and losses related to the re-measurement of balances and other items that do not reflect our ongoing operating performance. |
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Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
The following table presents our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, and reconciles these measures to our Net loss for the same periods:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|
|||||||
Net loss |
|
$ |
(210,977) |
|
$ |
(242,162) |
|
$ |
(263,930) |
|
(Benefit) provision for income taxes |
|
|
10,201 |
|
|
5,649 |
|
|
(21,293) |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
200,542 |
|
|
237,225 |
|
|
228,463 |
|
Interest, net |
|
|
157,689 |
|
|
130,805 |
|
|
138,196 |
|
Transition services agreement costs(1) |
|
|
10,481 |
|
|
55,764 |
|
|
89,942 |
|
Transition, transformation and integration expense(2) |
|
|
24,372 |
|
|
69,185 |
|
|
86,809 |
|
Deferred revenues adjustment(3) |
|
|
438 |
|
|
3,152 |
|
|
49,673 |
|
Transaction related costs(4) |
|
|
46,214 |
|
|
2,457 |
|
|
2,245 |
|
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
51,383 |
|
|
13,715 |
|
|
17,663 |
|
Gain on sale of IPM Product Line |
|
|
— |
|
|
(36,072) |
|
|
— |
|
Tax indemnity asset(5) |
|
|
— |
|
|
33,819 |
|
|
— |
|
IPM adjusted operating margin(6) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(5,897) |
|
|
(6,811) |
|
Restructuring(7) |
|
|
15,670 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Legal Settlement |
|
|
(39,399) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Impairment on assets held for sale |
|
|
18,431 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
Other(8) |
|
|
9,021 |
|
|
5,221 |
|
|
(1,250) |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
294,066 |
|
$ |
272,861 |
|
$ |
319,707 |
|
Adjusted EBITDA margin |
|
|
30.2 |
% |
|
28.7 |
% |
|
34.2 |
% |
(1) | Includes accruals for payments to Thomson Reuters under the transition services agreement. These costs have decreased substantially in 2019, as we are in the final stages of implementing our standalone company infrastructure. |
(2) | Includes costs incurred in connection with and after our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 relating to the implementation of our standalone company infrastructure and related cost-savings initiatives. These costs include mainly transition consulting, technology infrastructure, personnel and severance expenses relating to our standalone company infrastructure, which are recorded in Transition, integration, and other line-item of our income statement, as well as expenses related to the restructuring and transformation of our business following our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 mainly related to the integration of separate business units into one functional organization and enhancements in our technology. |
(3) | Reflects deferred revenues fair value accounting adjustment arising from purchase price allocation in connection with our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016. See “— Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations — Our Transition to Operations as a Standalone Business — Purchase Accounting Impact of Our Separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016.” |
(4) | Includes consulting and accounting costs associated with acquisitions and the sale of the IPM Product Line and sale of MarkMonitor business. |
(5) | Reflects the write down of a tax indemnity asset. |
(6) | Reflects the IPM Product Line’s operating margin, excluding amortization and depreciation, prior to its divestiture in October 2018. |
(7) | Reflects costs incurred in connection with the initiative, following our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, to streamline our operations by simplifying our organization and focusing on two product groups. |
(8) | Includes primarily the net impact of foreign exchange gains and losses related to the re-measurement of balances and other items that do not reflect our ongoing operating performance. |
76
Free Cash Flow
We use free cash flow in our operational and financial decision-making and believe free cash flow is useful to investors because similar measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors, ratings agencies and other interested parties to evaluate our competitors and to measure the ability of companies to service their debt.
Our presentation of free cash flow should not be construed as a measure of liquidity or discretionary cash available to us to fund our cash needs, including investing in the growth of our business and meeting our obligations. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our U.S. GAAP results.
We define free cash flow as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. For further discussion on free cash flow, including a reconciliation to cash flows provided by operating activities, refer to “—Liquidity and Capital Resources — Cash Flows” below.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity describes the ability of a company to generate sufficient cash flows to meet the cash requirements of its business operations, including working capital needs, capital expenditures, debt service, acquisitions, other commitments and contractual obligations. Our principal sources of liquidity include cash from operating activities, cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and amounts available under our revolving credit facility. We consider liquidity in terms of the sufficiency of these resources to fund our operating, investing and financing activities for a period of 12 months after the financial statement issuance date.
Our cash flows from operations are generated primarily from payments from our subscription customers. As described above, the standard term of a subscription is typically 12 months. When a customer enters into a new subscription agreement, or submits a notice to renew their subscription, we typically invoice for the full amount of the subscription period, record the balance to deferred revenues, and ratably recognize the deferral throughout the subscription period. As a result, we experience cash flow seasonality throughout the year, with a heavier weighting of operating cash inflows occurring during the first half, and particularly first quarter, of the year, when most subscription invoices are sent, as compared to the second half of the year.
We require and will continue to need significant cash resources to, among other things, meet our debt service requirements under our credit facilities, our secured notes due 2026 and any future indebtedness, fund our working capital requirements, make capital expenditures (including related to product development), and expand our business through acquisitions. We continue to assess the changing environment in relation to COVID-19 and conducted a scenario planning exercise to assess the potential impact on our liquidity and our future financial position. The scenario planning has taken into account our existing cash position, the creditworthiness of our banking partners, potential revenue outcomes (in both a worst and reasonable downside scenario), and to be prudent evaluated potential reductions in the cost base. Based on our forecasts, we believe that cash flow from operations, available cash on hand and available borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility will be adequate to service debt, meet liquidity needs and fund necessary capital expenditures for at least the next 12 months. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including the number of future acquisitions, data center infrastructure investments, and the timing and extent of spending to support product development efforts. We could be required, or could elect, to seek additional funding through public or private equity or debt financings; however, additional funds may not be available on terms acceptable to us.
Cash and cash equivalents were $308,021, $76,130, $25,575, and $53,186 as of March 31, 2020, December 31, 2019, December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. We had approximately $1,956,850 of debt as of March 31, 2020, consisting primarily of $1,256,850 in borrowings under our term loan facility, and $700,000 in outstanding principal of secured notes due 2026 with no borrowings under our revolving credit facility as of the date. As of December 31, 2019, we had approximately $1,665,000 of debt, consisting primarily of $900,000 in borrowings under our term loan facility, $700,000 in outstanding principal of secured notes due 2026 and $65,000 of borrowings under our revolving credit facility (which borrowings under our revolving credit facility we subsequently paid down in full in February 2020). On February 28, 2020, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses. See “—Debt Profile” below.
77
Cash Flows
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019
The following table discloses our consolidated cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
||||
|
|
March 31, |
||||
(in thousands) |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
$ |
46,106 |
|
$ |
42,453 |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(900,967) |
|
|
(5,957) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
1,091,606 |
|
|
(33,836) |
Effect of exchange rates |
|
|
(2,013) |
|
|
(190) |
Increase in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
|
234,732 |
|
|
2,470 |
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash beginning of the year |
|
|
76,139 |
|
|
25,584 |
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash end of the period |
|
$ |
310,871 |
|
$ |
28,054 |
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities consists of net loss adjusted for non-cash items, such as: depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets, deferred income taxes, share-based compensation, deferred finance charges and changes in net working capital assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $46,106 and $42,453 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively. The $46,106 of net cash from operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2020 included net loss of $74,001 off set with $66,150 of non-cash adjustments and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $53,957. The improvement in operating cash flows was driven by increased in revenue illustrating an increase in sales year over year and offset by a higher operating loss driven by a $14,513 increase in the provision for income taxes and $16,419 increase in transaction expense related to the acquisition of DRG and the February share offering.
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $900,967 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Cash flows used in investing is attributable to: and (1) $885,323 of key business intangible assets acquired from DRG, (2) $19,395 in capital expenditures and (3) $3,751 of divestiture related to the sale of the MarkMonitor AntiFraud, Antipiracy, and Brand Protection products.
Net cash used in investing activities was $5,957 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 reflecting capital expenditures.
Our capital expenditures in both 2020 and 2019 consisted primarily of capitalized labor, consulting and other costs associated with product development.
Cash Flows Provided by (Used) in Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $1,091,606 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Key drivers of cash flows provided by financing include: (1) proceeds of $540,597 from the issuance of ordinary shares related to our public offering in February 2020, (2) $360,000 from the issuance of an incremental term loan and (3) $278,708 from the exercise of warrants and employee share options This activity was offset by cash flows used in financing related to: (1) $65,000 repayment of borrowings under the revolving credit facility, (2) $10,420 of payments related to tax withholdings for stock-based compensation, (3) $4,115 payment related to the TradeMark Vision contingent earn-out, (5) payment of debt issuance costs related to the issuance of the incremental term loan and (5) $3,150 principle payment on the term loan facility.
In February 2020, we completed an underwritten public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares, generating net proceeds of $540,597, which we used to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition. In addition, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net
78
proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund the remainder of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses.
Net cash used in financing activities was $33,836 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. Key drivers of cash flows used in financing include a $30,000 repayment of borrowings under the revolving credit facility and a recurring term loan facility principal repayments of $3,836.
During the period January 1, 2020 to February 21, 2020, 24,132,666 public warrants were exercised for one ordinary share per whole warrant at a price of $11.50 per share.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31 2019, 2018 and 2017
The following table discloses our consolidated cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
$ |
117,580 |
|
$ |
(26,100) |
|
$ |
6,667 |
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
|
(140,885) |
|
|
11,934 |
|
|
(40,205) |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
75,215 |
|
|
(32,605) |
|
|
22,818 |
Effect of exchange rates |
|
|
(971) |
|
|
(5,193) |
|
|
3,248 |
Increase (Decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
50,939 |
|
|
(51,964) |
|
|
(7,472) |
Cash and cash equivalents beginning of the year |
|
|
25,584 |
|
|
77,548 |
|
|
85,020 |
Less: Cash included in assets held for sale, end of period |
|
|
(384) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Cash and cash equivalents end of the year |
|
$ |
76,139 |
|
$ |
25,584 |
|
$ |
77,548 |
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities consists of net loss adjusted for non-cash items, such as: depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and intangible assets, deferred income taxes, share-based compensation, deferred finance charges and for changes in net working capital assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $117,580 for the year ended December 31, 2019 compared to net cash used in operating activities of $26,100 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The $117,580 of net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2019 includes net loss of $210,977 offset with $324,842 of non-cash adjustments and changes in operating assets and liabilities of $3,715. The improvement in operating cash flows was driven by: (1) continual increase in deferred revenue illustrating an increase in sales year over year; (2) lower operating loss, which included the impact of a $39,399 gain on legal settlement and (3) a decrease of $47,043 in Transition, integration and other related expenses as a result of establishing a standalone company infrastructure.
Net cash used in operating activities was $26,100 for the year ended December 31, 2018 compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $6,667 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The $32,767 negative change in 2018 was primarily due to a $27,200 change in operating working capital. Accounts receivable increased due to price increases across our Product Lines along with a slight increase in the aging of the accounts, compared to the prior year change, reflecting strong collections efforts. Deferred revenues increased in both 2018 and 2017 reflecting continued increases in sales year over year. Accounts payable continues to decrease, reflecting the shortening of our accounts payable outstanding period to a normalized level, compared to the prior year backlog in payments. Excluding the reduction in Accrued expenses for the IPM Product Line Divesture, the activity in both years was consistent. While the current year change was minimal, the 2017 change in Other assets is a result of sales commission capitalization in connection with the adoption of ASC 606.
Net cash provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2017 decreased by $200,429 to $6,667 from $207,096 for the year ended December 31, 2016. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in deferred revenue, accounts payable and accruals offset partially by an increase in accounts receivables.
79
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $140,885 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Cash flows used in investing reflects the following activity: (1) $69,836 in capital expenditures; (2) $68,424 for the acquisition of Darts-ip, a provider of global IP case law data and analytics headquartered in Brussels, Belgium; (3) $2,625 for the acquisition of key business assets of SequenceBase.
Net cash provided by investing activities was $11,934 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Cash flows used in investing reflects the following activity: (1) $80,883 in net proceeds from the IPM Product Line divestiture (net of restricted cash and cash included in normalized working capital, as well as a working capital adjustment of $6,135), partially offset by (2) $45,410 in capital expenditures and (3) $23,539 in acquisitions, mainly TradeMarkVision and Kopernio.
Net cash used in investing activities was $40,205 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Cash flows used in investing reflects the following activity: (1) $37,804 in capital expenditures; (2) $7,401 in acquisitions related to Publons, a researcher-facing peer-review data and recognition platform; (3) offset by $5,000 in proceeds from the sale of an equity method investment.
Our capital expenditures in 2019, 2018 and 2017 consisted primarily of capitalized labor, consulting and other costs associated with product development.
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $75,215 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Key drivers of the cash flows provided by financing include: (1) $1,600,000 of proceeds related to the refinance of debt as described in Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus; (2) $682,087 of proceeds from our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, net of cash acquired; (3) $200,000 related to the tax receivable agreement (see Note 20 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for additional detail; (4) $70,000 in proceeds from our revolving credit facility; (5) $1,582 for the exercise of warrants and employee share options. This activity was offset by cash flows used in financing due to: (1) $1,342,651 due to the extinguishment of old debt; (2) Payment of $641,509 on our prior term loan facility upon consummation of the transaction with Churchill (includes $11,509 of recurring term loan principal repayments); (3) $50,000 repayment of borrowings under our prior revolving credit facility, and (4) $41,923 of debt issuance costs pursuant to the new debt.
Net cash used in financing activities was $32,605 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Key drivers of the cash flows used in financing include: (1) $46,709 in net repayments of debt under our term loan facility, mainly driven by an excess cash repayment of $31,378 following the IPM Product Line divestiture and standard recurring principle repayments of $15,000; (2) $30,000 repayment of borrowings under our revolving credit facility and (3) $2,470 contingent purchase price paid as a result of Publons achieving the first tier of milestones and performance metrics. This activity was offset by cash flows provided by financing due to: (1) $45,000 draw on our revolving credit facility in the second half of 2018, and (2) $1,574 for the exercise of warrants and employee share options.
Net cash provided by financing activities was $22,818 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Key drivers of the cash flows provided by financing include: (1) $30,000 in proceeds from our revolving credit facility; (2) $9,058 in proceeds from the issuance of equity related to management; offset by (3) $15,423 in principal payments on our term loan facility.
In February 2020, we completed an underwritten public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares, generating net proceeds of $540,597, which we used to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition. In addition, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund the remainder of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses.
During the period January 1, 2020 to February 21, 2020, 24,132,666 public warrants were exercised for one ordinary share per whole warrant at a price of $11.50 per share. We used a portion of the total proceeds of
80
$277,526 from the warrant exercises to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and are using the remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes.
Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP measure)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 and 2019
The following table reconciles free cash flow measure, which is a non-GAAP measure, to net cash provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended |
||||
|
|
March 31, |
||||
(in thousands) |
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
$ |
46,106 |
|
$ |
42,453 |
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(19,395) |
|
|
(5,957) |
Free cash flow |
|
$ |
26,711 |
|
$ |
36,496 |
Free cash flow was $26,711 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, compared to $36,496 for the three months ended March 31, 2019. The decrease in free cash flow was primarily due to higher capital expenditures.
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017
The following table reconciles free cash flow measure, which is a non-GAAP measure, to net cash provided by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
|
|
(in thousands) |
|||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
|
$ |
117,580 |
|
$ |
(26,100) |
|
$ |
6,667 |
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(69,836) |
|
|
(45,410) |
|
|
(37,804) |
Free cash flow |
|
$ |
47,744 |
|
$ |
(71,510) |
|
$ |
(31,137) |
Free cash flow was $47,744 for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a use of $71,510 for the year ended December 31, 2018 and a use of $31,137 for the year ended December 31, 2017. The increase in free cash flow was primarily due to higher net cash provided by operating activities.
Required Reported Data — Standalone Adjusted EBITDA
We are required to report Standalone Adjusted EBITDA, which is substantially similar to Consolidated EBITDA and EBITDA as such terms are defined under our credit facilities, dated as of October 31, 2019 and the indenture governing our secured notes due 2026 issued by Camelot Finance S.A. and guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries, respectively. In addition, the credit facilities and the indenture contain certain restrictive covenants that govern debt incurrence and the making of restricted payments, among other matters. These restrictive covenants utilize Standalone Adjusted EBITDA as a primary component of the compliance metric governing our ability to undertake certain actions otherwise proscribed by such covenants. Standalone Adjusted EBITDA reflects further adjustments to Adjusted EBITDA for cost savings already implemented and excess standalone costs.
Because Standalone Adjusted EBITDA is required pursuant to the terms of the reporting covenants under the credit facilities and the indenture and because this metric is relevant to lenders and noteholders, management considers Standalone Adjusted EBITDA to be relevant to the operation of its business. It is also utilized by management and the compensation committee of the Board as an input for determining incentive payments to employees.
Excess standalone costs are the difference between our actual standalone company infrastructure costs, and our estimated steady state standalone infrastructure costs. We make an adjustment for the difference because we have had to incur costs under the transition services agreement, with Thomson Reuters after we had implemented the infrastructure to replace the services provided pursuant to the transition services agreement, thereby incurring dual running costs. Furthermore, there has been a ramp up period for establishing and optimizing the necessary
81
standalone infrastructure. Since our separation from Thomson Reuters, we have had to transition quickly to replace services provided under the transition services agreement, with optimization of the relevant standalone functions typically following thereafter. Cost savings reflect the annualized “run rate” expected cost savings, net of actual cost savings realized, related to restructuring and other cost savings initiatives undertaken during the relevant period.
Standalone Adjusted EBITDA is calculated under the credit facilities and the indenture by using our consolidated net loss for the trailing 12-month period (defined in the credit facilities and the indenture as our U.S. GAAP net income adjusted for certain items specified in the credit facilities and the indenture) adjusted for items including: taxes, interest expense (which includes other adjustments that were presented in the offering memorandum used in connection with the issuance of the secured notes due 2026), depreciation and amortization, non-cash charges, expenses related to capital markets transactions, acquisitions and dispositions, restructuring and business optimization charges and expenses, consulting and advisory fees, run-rate cost savings to be realized as a result of actions taken or to be taken in connection with an acquisition, disposition, restructuring or cost savings or similar initiatives, “run rate” expected cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and synergies related to the transition projected by us, costs related to any management or equity stock plan, and earnout obligations incurred in connection with an acquisition or investment and other items as described below. In addition, as permitted under the credit facilities and the indenture, we have calculated Standalone Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 by giving effect to the DRG acquisition and our realization of certain cost synergies in respect thereof as if the DRG acquisition had been consummated at the beginning of such twelve month period.
The following table reconciles Standalone Adjusted EBITDA to our Net loss for the periods presented:
(1) | In 2020, this is related to a new transition services agreement and offset by the reverse transition services agreement from the sale of MarkMonitor assets. In 2019, this includes payments to Thomson Reuters under the transition services agreement entered into in connection with our 2016 separation from Thomson Reuters. |
(2) | Includes cash payments in connection with and after our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016 relating to the implementation of our standalone company infrastructure and related cost-savings initiatives. These cash payments include mainly transition consulting, technology infrastructure, personnel and severance expenses relating to our standalone company infrastructure, which are recorded in Transition, integration, |
82
and other line-item of our income statement, as well as cash payments related to the restructuring and transformation of our business following our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016, mainly related to the integration of separate business units into one functional organization and enhancements in our technology. This also includes cash payments following our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, to streamline our operations by simplifying our organization and focusing on two product groups. |
(3) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
(4) | Includes costs incurred to complete business combination transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, and typically include advisory, legal and other professional and consulting costs. |
(5) | Reflects costs incurred in connection with the initiative, following our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, to streamline our operations by simplifying our organization and focusing on two product groups. |
(6) | Includes primarily the net impact of foreign exchange gains and losses related to the re-measurement of balances and other items that do not reflect our ongoing operating performance. |
(7) | Represents the impact of DRG Adjusted EBITDA for the period beginning April 1, 2019 until the acquisition date of February 28, 2020 to reflect our Standalone Adjusted EBITDA as though the DRG acquisition occurred at the beginning of the presented period. |
(8) | Reflects the estimated annualized run-rate cost savings, net of actual cost savings realized, related to restructuring and other cost savings initiatives undertaken during the period (exclusive of any cost reductions in our estimated standalone operating costs). |
(9) | Reflects the difference between our actual standalone company infrastructure costs, and our estimated steady state standalone operating costs, which were as follows: |
The foregoing adjustments (8) and (9) are estimates and are not intended to represent pro forma adjustments presented within the guidance of Article 11 of Regulation S-X. Although we believe these estimates are reasonable, actual results may differ from these estimates, and any difference may be material. See “— Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”
Debt Profile
Secured Notes Due 2026
On October 31, 2019, we closed a private offering of $700,000 in aggregate principal amount of secured notes due 2026 bearing interest at 4.50% per annum. The secured notes due 2026 were issued by Camelot Finance S.A., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Clarivate, are secured on a first-lien pari passu basis with borrowings under the credit facilities, and are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain of Clarivate’s subsidiaries. We used the net proceeds from the offering of secured notes due 2026, together with proceeds from the credit facilities discussed below to, among other things, redeem in full our secured notes due 2026, refinance all amounts terminating under the tax receivable agreement and under the prior credit facilities, fund in full the $200,000 payment pursuant to the agreement and pay fees and expenses related to the foregoing.
The indenture governing the secured notes due 2026 contains covenants which, among other things, limit the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including acquired indebtedness), issuance of certain preferred stock, the payment of dividends, making restricted payments and investments, the purchase or acquisition or retirement for value of any equity interests, the provision of loans or advances to restricted subsidiaries, the sale or lease or transfer of any properties to any restricted subsidiaries, the transfer or sale of assets, and the creation of certain liens. As of the date of this prospectus, we are in compliance with the indenture covenants.
83
Credit Facilities
On October 31, 2019, we entered into a $900,000 term loan facility, which was fully drawn at closing, and a $250,000 revolving credit facility, which was undrawn at closing. The revolving credit facility matures on October 31, 2024 and the term loan facility matures on October 31, 2026. On February 28, 2020 we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition.
Borrowings under the credit facilities bear interest at a floating rate which can be, at our option, either (i) a Eurocurrency rate plus an applicable margin or (ii) an alternate base rate (equal to the highest of (i) the rate which Bank of America, N.A. announces as its prime lending rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus one-half of 1.00% and (iii) the Eurocurrency rate for an interest period of one month for loans denominated in dollars plus 1.00%) plus an applicable margin, in either case, subject to a Eurocurrency rate floor of 0.00%. Commencing March 31, 2020, the term loan facility will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an amount equal to 1.00% per annum of the original par principal amount thereof, with the remaining balance due at final maturity.
The credit facilities are secured by substantially all of our assets and the assets of all of our U.S. restricted subsidiaries and certain of our non- U.S. subsidiaries, including those that are or may be borrowers or guarantors under the credit facilities, subject to customary exceptions. The credit facilities contain customary events of default and restrictive covenants that limit us from, among other things, incurring certain additional indebtedness, issuing preferred stock, making certain restricted payments and investments, certain transfers or sales of assets, entering into certain affiliate transactions or incurring certain liens. These limitations are subject to customary baskets, including certain limitations on debt incurrence and issuance of preferred stock, subject to compliance with a consolidated coverage ratio of Consolidated EBITDA (as defined in the credit facilities), a measure substantially similar to our Standalone Adjusted EBITDA disclosed above under “— Required Reported Data — Standalone Adjusted EBITDA”, to consolidated cash interest expense (as defined in the credit facilities) greater than 2.00 to 1.00 or a total net leverage ratio (as defined in the credit facilities) not to exceed 6.50 to 1.00. In addition, the credit facilities require us to comply with a springing financial covenant pursuant to which we may not exceed a first lien net leverage ratio (as defined under the credit facilities) of 7.25 to 1.00, to be tested as of the last day of any quarter (commencing with the quarter ending March 31, 2020) when more than 35% of the revolving credit facility (excluding (i) non-cash collateralized, issued and undrawn letters of credit in an amount up to $20,000 and (ii) any cash collateralized letters of credit) is utilized at such date. As of March 31, 2020, our consolidated coverage ratio was 4.65 to 1.00 and our consolidated leverage ratio was 3.87 to 1.00. As of the date of this prospectus, we are in compliance with the covenants in the credit facilities.
The credit facilities provide that, upon the occurrence of certain events of default, our obligations thereunder may be accelerated and the lending commitments terminated. Such events of default include payment defaults to the lenders, material inaccuracies of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness (including the secured notes due 2026), voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy proceedings, material money judgments, loss of perfection over a material portion of collateral, material ERISA/pension plan events, certain change of control events and other customary events of default, in each case subject to threshold, notice and grace period provisions.
Commitments and Contingencies
Our contingent liabilities consist primarily of letters of credit and performance bonds and other similar obligations in the ordinary course of business.
Additionally, the Company has agreed to pay the former shareholders of acquired companies certain amounts in conjunction with the Publons, TradeMarkVision and Kopernio acquisitions. Regarding the Publons acquisition, the Company agreed to pay the former shareholders up to an additional $9,500 through 2020, of which $2,371 and $2,470 was paid in 2019 and 2018 respectively. Regarding the TradeMarkVision acquisition, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders earn-out payments through 2020. Regarding the Kopernio acquisition, the Company agreed to pay contingent consideration of up to $3,500 through 2021. Amounts payable are contingent upon Publons’, TrademarkVision’s and Kopernio’s achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had an outstanding liability for Publons of $3,480 related to the estimated
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fair value of this contingent consideration included in Accrued expenses and Other current liabilities. As of March 31, 2020, the Company had an outstanding liability for TradeMarkVision of $0 related to the estimated fair value of this contingent consideration. The Company paid $8,000 of the contingent purchase price in the three months ended March 31, 2020, as a result of TradeMark Vision achieving milestones and performance metrics. As of March 31, 2020, the Company recognized over the concurrent service period an outstanding liability for Kopernio of $1,269 related to the estimated fair value of this contingent compensation earn-out. The liability is included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. In conjunction with the acquisition of DRG, the Company agreed to pay up to 2,895,638 shares as contingent stock consideration, valued at $58,897 on the closing date of the acquisition. See Note 4 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information on the contingent stock consideration. Amounts payable are contingent upon any indemnity losses or claims to indemnity losses occurring within that one year period. The liability increased by $1,187 since the acquisition date due to an increase in the estimated fair value of this contingent stock consideration, which resulted in a liability of $60,084 as of March 31, 2020. The outstanding balance was included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020.
In 2018, we wrote down our $33,819 tax indemnity asset, based on a dispute with the indemnitor which was later resolved by a confidential legal settlement.
Off Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not currently have any off-balance sheet arrangements and do not have any holdings in variable interest entities.
Contractual Obligations
We have various contractual obligations and commercial commitments that are recorded as liabilities in our financial statements. Other items, such as purchase obligations and other executory contracts, are not recognized as liabilities in our consolidated financial statements, but are required to be disclosed.
In the table below, we set forth our significant enforceable and legally binding obligations and future commitments as of December 31, 2019.
(1) | This amount also includes interest, which, for the floating rate portion of our debt has been calculated based on the applicable base rates (i.e., LIBOR) in effect as of December 31, 2019. |
(2) | Our operating lease obligations include future minimum lease payments under all our non-cancellable operating leases with an initial term in excess of one year. We adopted the new accounting standard for leases, ASC 842, on January 1, 2019, under which operating leases are to be recorded as balance sheet liabilities, with a corresponding right of use asset. See Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. |
(3) | Includes purchase obligations, primarily for cloud computing services and software licenses, pursuant to agreements to purchase goods and services that are enforceable, legally binding, and specify significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, fixed minimum or variable pricing provisions, and the approximate timing of the transactions. Purchase orders made in the ordinary course of business are excluded from the above table. Any amounts for which we are liable are reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as Accounts payable or Accrued expenses. |
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On August 21, 2019, Camelot entered into an agreement, terminating all future payment obligations of Camelot under the tax receivable agreement in exchange for a payment of $200,000, which Camelot paid on November 7, 2019 with a portion of the net proceeds from the Refinancing Transactions.
In addition, in connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019, Onex Partners Advisors LP, an affiliate of Onex, received a fee of $5,400 and BPEA, an affiliate of Baring, received a fee of $2,100 in the second quarter of 2019. See “Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions — Company Related Person Transactions — Consulting Services and Advisory Agreements.”
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates, will affect our cash flows or the fair value of our holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange risk related to our transactions and our subsidiaries’ balances that are denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, our functional currency. See “— Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations — Effect of Currency Fluctuations” for more information about our foreign currency exchange rate exposure. In accordance with our treasury policy, we seek to naturally hedge our foreign exchange transaction exposure by matching the transaction currencies for our cash inflows and outflows. For example, where commercially feasible, we seek to borrow in the same currencies in which cash flows from operations are generated. In the past, we have used derivatives to hedge foreign currency exchange risk arising from receipts and payments denominated in foreign currencies on a limited basis, primarily in our IPM Product Line, which we divested in October 2018. We do not currently hedge our foreign exchange transaction or translation exposure, but may consider doing so in the future.
Revenues denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollars amounted to $185,894, or approximately 19.1%, of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019. A significant majority of this amount was denominated in euro, British pounds and Japanese yen. A 5% increase or decrease in the value of the euro, British pound and Japanese yen relative to the U.S. dollar would have caused our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019 to increase or decrease by $9,295.
Interest Rate Risk
Our interest rate risk arises from our long-term borrowings at floating interest rates. Borrowings under our credit facilities are subject to floating base interest rates, plus a margin. As of March 31, 2020, we had $1,256,850 of floating rate debt outstanding under the credit facilities, consisting of borrowings under the term loan facility for which the base rate was one-month LIBOR (subject, with respect to the term loan facility only, to a floor of 0.00%, which stood at 0.99% as of March 31, 2020. Of this amount, we hedged $339,724 of our principal amount of our floating rate debt under hedges that we deemed effective as of March 31, 2020. As a result, $917,126 of our outstanding long-term debt effectively bore interest at floating rates. A 100 basis point increase or decrease in the applicable base interest rate under the credit facilities would have had an impact of $2,165 and $3,207 on our cash interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. For additional information on our outstanding debt and related hedging, see Notes 11 and 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
In April 2017, the Company entered into interest rate derivative arrangements with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on $300,000 of its term loan, effective April 30, 2021. Additionally, in May 2019, the Company entered into additional interest rate derivative arrangements with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on $50,000 of its term loan, effective March 2021 and maturing in September 2023. The Company will apply hedge accounting by designating the interest rate swaps as a hedge in applicable future quarterly interest payments.
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It is not clear what impact, if any, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union will have on the interest rate on our indebtedness and related derivative instruments. The United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on January 31, 2020. Under the terms of the withdrawal agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union, a transition period is in effect until December 31, 2020. During the transition period, the United Kingdom will be treated in all material respects as though it is a member of the European Union, with most EU laws applying to and in the United Kingdom. In addition, the United Kingdom will remain in the European Union single market and customs union and free movement of people will continue until the end of the transition period.
However, the terms of a future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union are not clear at this time. Therefore, there is a risk that if there is no agreement at the end of the transition period, or the agreement is detrimental to the United Kingdom, LIBOR could become an unauthorized “third country” benchmark for the purposes of the European Union Benchmarks Regulation, and neither European Union banks, nor their counter parties will be able to reference it.
In addition, in July 2017 the UK Financial Conduct Authority announced its intention to phase out LIBOR rates by the end of 2021. It is not possible to predict the effect of any changes in the methods by which LIBOR is determined, or any other reforms to LIBOR that may be enacted in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. Such developments may cause LIBOR to perform differently than in the past, including sudden or prolonged increases or decreases in LIBOR, or cease to exist, resulting in the application of a successor base rate under our credit facilities, which in turn could have unpredictable effects on our interest payment obligations under our credit facilities. See "Risk Factors - Uncertainty relating to the likely phasing out of LIBOR by 2021 may result in our paying increased interest under our credit facilities."
Credit Risk
We are not currently exposed to market instruments, except for the effective interest rate hedges discussed above. We are, however, exposed to credit risk on our accounts receivable, and we maintain an allowance for potential credit losses. As of December 31, 2019, no single customer accounted for more than 1% of our consolidated revenues. Further, given our subscription-based revenues model, where a significant portion of customer obligations are payable to us upfront, and our credit control procedures, we believe that our exposure to customer credit risk is currently limited.
Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate estimates, which are based on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. We consider the following accounting policies to be critical to understanding our financial statements because the application of these policies requires significant judgment on the part of management, which could have a material impact on our financial statements if actual performance should differ from historical experience or if our assumptions were to change. The following accounting policies include estimates that require management’s subjective or complex judgments about the effects of matters that are inherently uncertain. For information on our significant accounting policies, including the policies discussed below, see Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Revenue Recognition
We derive revenues from contracts with customers by selling information on a subscription and single transaction basis as well as performing professional services. Our subscription contract agreements contain standard terms and conditions, and most contracts include a one-year subscription, although we may provide a multi-year subscription in certain instances. In some cases, contracts provide for variable consideration that is contingent upon the occurrence of uncertain future events, such as retroactive discounts provided to the customers, indexed or volume based discounts, and revenues between contract expiration and renewal. We estimate the amount of the variable consideration at the expected value or at the most likely amount depending on
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the type of consideration. Estimated amounts are included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenues recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The estimate of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of its anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available to us.
Most of our revenues are derived from subscription contract arrangements, which may contain multiple performance obligations. For these arrangements, the transaction price is allocated to the identified performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling prices. We utilize standard price lists, together with consideration of market conditions, customer demographics, and geographic location, to determine the standalone selling price for most of our products and services, however certain products may not have a standalone selling price that is directly observable, which requires judgment.
See Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further discussion.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recorded at the amount invoiced to customers and do not bear interest. We maintain an allowance for doubtful accounts for losses resulting from the inability of specific customers to meet their financial obligations, representing our best estimate of probable credit losses in existing trade accounts receivable. A specific reserve for doubtful receivables is recorded against the amount due from these customers. For all other customers, we recognize reserves for doubtful receivables by evaluating factors such as the length of time receivables are past due, historical collection experience, and the economic and competitive environment. If any of these estimates change or actual results differ from expected results, then an adjustment is recorded in the period in which the amounts become reasonably estimable.
Business Combinations
In a business combination, substantially all identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired are accounted for using the acquisition method at the acquisition date and are recorded at their respective fair values. One of the most significant estimates relates to the determination of the fair value of these assets and liabilities. The determination of the fair values is based on estimates and judgments made by management. Our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. Measurement period adjustments are reflected at the time identified, up through the conclusion of the measurement period, which is the time at which all information for determination of the values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed is received, and is not to exceed one year from the acquisition date.
Goodwill is measured at the acquisition date as the fair value of the consideration transferred (including, if applicable, the fair value of any previously held equity interest and any non-controlling interests) less the net recognized amount (which is generally the fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
When a business combination involves contingent consideration, we record a liability for the estimated cost of such contingencies when expenditures are probable and reasonably estimable. A significant amount of judgment is required to estimate and quantify the potential liability in these matters. We engage outside experts as deemed necessary or appropriate to assist in the calculation of the liability; however, management is responsible for evaluating the estimate. We reassess the estimated fair value of the contingent consideration each financial reporting period over the term of the arrangement. Any resulting changes identified subsequent to the measurement period are recognized in earnings and could have a material effect on our results of operations.
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Other Identifiable Intangible Assets, net
Other identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value upon acquisition and are subsequently carried at cost less accumulated amortization or accumulated impairment for indefinite-lived intangible assets. Where applicable, other identifiable intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives as follows:
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Customer relationships |
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2 – 14 years |
Databases and content |
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13 – 20 years |
Other |
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N/A |
Finite-lived trade names |
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18 years |
Indefinite-lived trade names |
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Indefinite |
The carrying values of other identifiable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. The carrying values of indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually, or more frequently when circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. The test for impairment compares the carrying amounts to the fair value based on current revenues projections of the related operations, under the relief from royalty method. Any excess of the carrying value over the amount of fair value is recognized as an impairment. Any such impairment would be recognized in full in the reporting period in which it has been identified and could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Goodwill
We test goodwill annually for impairment in the fourth quarter, or more frequently when circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. Goodwill represents the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of that reporting unit, an impairment charge to goodwill is recognized for the excess. Our reporting units are one level below the operating segment, as determined in accordance with ASC 350, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, we identified five reporting units.
We completed our most recent annual goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of 2019. As a part of our assessment of each reporting unit’s estimated fair value and likelihood of impairment, we include both a quantitative and qualitative evaluation. In the testing, we assess various qualitative factors to determine whether the fair value of a reporting unit may be less than its carrying amount. If a determination is made that, based on the qualitative factors, an impairment does not exist, then we are not required to perform further testing. If the aforementioned qualitative assessment results in concluding that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit may be less than its carrying amount, the fair value of the reporting unit will be determined and compared to its carrying value including goodwill. We estimate the fair value of our reporting units using the income approach. Under the income approach, we calculate the fair value of a reporting unit based on the present value of estimated cash flows. Cash flow projections are based on our estimates of revenues growth rates and operating margins. The discount rate is based on the weighted average cost of capital adjusted for the relevant risk associated with the characteristics of the business and projected cash flows.
Based on the results of the annual impairment test as of October 1, 2019, the fair values of our reporting units exceeded the individual reporting unit’s carrying value, and goodwill was not impaired.
Share-Based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense includes cost associated with stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted to certain members of key management.
The stock option fair value is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires management to make certain assumptions of future expectations based on historical and current data. The assumptions include the expected term of the stock option, expected volatility, dividend yield, and risk-free interest rate. The expected term represents the amount of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, based on forecasted exercise behavior. The risk-free rate is based on the rate at grant date of zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Notes with a term comparable to the expected term of the option. Expected volatility is
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estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable public entities’ stock price from the same industry. Our dividend yield is based on forecasted expected payments, which are expected to be zero for the immediate future. We recognize compensation expense over the vesting period of the award on a graded-scale basis, and we recognize forfeitures as they occur.
The stock-based compensation cost of time-based RSU grants is calculate by multiplying the grant date fair market value by the number of shares granted. We recognize compensation expense over the vesting period of the award on a graded-scale basis, and we recognize forfeitures as they occur.
Derivative Financial Instruments
We may use interest rate derivatives to manage risks generally associated with interest rate fluctuations. These derivative instruments are used as risk management tools and not for speculative or trading purposes.
We use interest rate derivatives with counterparties to reduce our exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on a portion of our outstanding term loan facility and revolver borrowings. We apply hedge accounting and have designated these instruments as cash flow hedges of the risk associated with floating interest rates on designated future quarterly interest payments. Management assumes the hedge is highly effective and therefore changes in the value of the hedging instrument are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Any ineffectiveness is recorded in earnings. Amounts in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transactions affect earnings, or upon termination of the hedging relationship.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
We disclose and recognize the fair value of our assets and liabilities using a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). A financial instrument’s level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.
The following valuation techniques are used to measure fair value for assets and liabilities:
Level 1 — Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 — Significant other observable inputs (e.g., quoted prices for similar items in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar items in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable such as interest rate and yield curves, and market-corroborated inputs); and
Level 3 — Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which are valued based on management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.
Movements in the fair value of financial instruments could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations.
Taxation
Certain items of income and expense are not recognized in our financial statements and income tax returns in the same year, which creates timing differences. These timing differences result in (1) deferred income tax liabilities that create an increase in future income taxes, and (2) deferred income tax assets that create a reduction in future income taxes. Recognition of deferred tax assets is based on management’s belief that it is more likely than not that the income tax benefit associated with certain temporary differences, income tax credits, capital loss carryforwards, and income tax operating loss, would be realized. We record a valuation allowance to reduce the deferred tax assets to equal an amount that is more likely than not to be realized. The amount of the valuation allowance is based on the assessment of future taxable income by tax jurisdiction and tax planning strategies. If the estimate of future taxable income or tax strategies changes at any time, we would record an adjustment to the
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valuation allowance. Such an adjustment could have a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in tax laws and tax rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future. The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions across our global operations. ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, states that a benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of the technical merits. We first record unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities in accordance with ASC 740 and then adjust these liabilities when changes are identified, as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available at the time of establishing the liability. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from the current estimate of the unrecognized tax benefit liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information is available and could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations.
Interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and income tax related penalties are included in the provision for income taxes.
Deferred tax is provided on taxable temporary differences arising on investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries and equity method investees, except where we intend, and are able, to reinvest such amounts on a permanent basis.
Tax Receivable Agreement
In connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp, we entered into a tax receivable agreement with Onex, Baring and certain other pre-merger shareholders of the Company. The tax receivable agreement generally would have required us to pay the counterparties 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, realized (or, in some cases, deemed to be realized) as a result of the utilization of certain tax assets. In August 2019, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which all of our future payment obligations under the tax receivable agreement would terminate in exchange for a payment of $200,000, which we made in November 2019. The settlement of the original tax receivable agreement liability was accounted for as an adjustment to Equity.
Prior to termination of the tax receivable agreement, there may have been significant changes to the estimate of our liability due to various reasons including changes in corporate tax law, changes in estimates of the amount or timing of future taxable income, and other items. Changes in those estimates would have been recognized as adjustments to the related liability, with offsetting impacts recorded in the statement of operations as Other operating income (expense), net.
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits
We provide retirement benefits to certain employees, including defined benefit pension plans. The determination of benefit obligations and expense is based on actuarial models. In order to measure benefit costs and obligations using these models, critical assumptions are made with regard to the discount rate, expected return on assets, and the assumed rate of compensation increases. Other assumptions involve demographic factors such as turnover, retirement, and mortality rates. Changes in material assumptions could materially affect the amounts, particularly the long-term rate of return on plan assets and the rate used to discount the projected benefit obligation. Management reviews these assumptions periodically and updates them when its experience deems it appropriate to do so.
The discount rate is determined annually by management. For most international markets, the discount rate is based on the results of a modeling process in which the plans’ expected cash flows (based on the plans’ duration as of December 31, 2019 market conditions) is matched with the spot rate from a current yield curve of an index of high quality (Standard & Poor’s AA and above) corporate bonds to develop the present value of the expected cash flow, and then determine the discount rate. In India specifically, the discount rate is set based on the yields of the Indian Government bonds, appropriate to the duration of the plan liabilities. As a sensitivity measure, a 100-basis point increase in the discount rate for all of our plans, absent any other changes in assumptions, would
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result in a $2,300 decrease in the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2019. A 100-basis point decrease in the discount rate would result in a $1,800 increase in the projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 2019.
We sponsor only one specific plan, the Belgium plan, that has a plan asset. The plan asset has a rate of return guaranteed by the insurance company.
In selecting an expected return on our plan assets, we consider obtaining a rate that is consistent with the level of risk taken, and to target performance rates that meet the standard required by local regulations for our defined benefit plan. The actual return on plan assets will vary from year to year versus this assumption. We believe it is appropriate to use long-term expected forecasts in selecting the expected return on assets. As such, there can be no assurance that our actual return on plan assets will approximate the long-term expected forecasts. Our current strategy is to invest primarily in 100% insurance contracts, that do not have target asset allocation ranges, and a guarantee that the plan asset will always provide a minimum rate of return.
Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
For recently issued and adopted accounting pronouncements, see Note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.
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BUSINESS
We are a leading global information services and analytics company serving the scientific research, intellectual property and life sciences end-markets. We provide structured information and analytics to facilitate the discovery, protection and commercialization of scientific research, innovations and brands. Our product portfolio includes well-established, market-leading brands such as Web of Science, Derwent
Innovation, Life Sciences, CompuMark and MarkMonitor. We believe that our flagship products hold a #1 or #2 global position by revenues across the respective markets they serve, including abstracting and indexing databases, life science regulatory and competitive intelligence and intellectual property protection (including patent, trademarks and brand protection). We serve a large, diverse and global customer base. As of December 31, 2019, we served over 40,000 entities in more than 170 countries, including the top 30 pharmaceutical companies by revenues and 50 global patent offices. We believe that the strong value proposition of our content, user interfaces, visualization and analytical tools, combined with the integration of our products and services into customers’ daily workflows, leads to our substantial customer loyalty as evidenced by their high propensity to renew their subscriptions with us.
Our structure is comprised of two product groups: Science and Intellectual Property (“IP”). The Science Group consists of the Web of Science and Life Science Product Lines. The IP Group consists of the Derwent, CompuMark and MarkMonitor Product Lines. This structure enables a sharp focus on cross-selling opportunities within the markets we serve and provides substantial scale.
Corporations, government agencies, universities, law firms and other professional services organizations around the world depend on our high-value, curated content, analytics and services. Unstructured data has grown exponentially over the last decade. This trend has resulted in a critical need for unstructured data to be meaningfully filtered, analyzed and curated into relevant information that facilitates key operational and strategic decisions made by businesses, academic institutions and governments worldwide. Our highly curated, proprietary information created through our sourcing, aggregation, verification, translation and categorization of data has resulted in our solutions being embedded in our customers’ workflow and decision-making processes.
For the twelve months ended March 31, 2020, we generated approximately $980,912 of revenues. We generated recurring revenues through our subscription-based model, which accounted for 82.0% of our revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020. In each of the past three years, we have also achieved annual revenue renewal rates in excess of 90%. (For information on annual revenue renewal rates, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Key Performance Indicators — Annual Revenue Renewal Rates.”) No single customer accounted for more than 1% of revenues and our ten largest customers represented only 5% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020.
The following charts illustrate our revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 by group, type and geography:
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Our Products
Our product portfolio as of December 31, 2019 is summarized below.
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Science Group |
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Intellectual Property Group |
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Web of Science |
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Life Sciences |
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Derwent |
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CompuMark |
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MarkMonitor |
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Product Description |
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Used to navigate scientific and academic research discoveries, conduct analysis and evaluate research impact |
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Used by life sciences firms for drug research, market intelligence and regulatory compliance |
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Used to search and analyze patents |
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Used to monitor trademarks on an ongoing basis |
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Used to register and manage portions of web domains |
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Curated Information Set |
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Database of 1B+ citations, 166mm+ index records |
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73,000+ drug program records, 340,000 clinical trial records |
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Database of 80mm+ patent filings across 50 patent offices |
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180+ patent and trademark offices |
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Database of 1.3mm corporate domain names |
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Customers |
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7,000+ leading academic institutions and governments and research intensive corporations use Web of Science and its Journal Impact Factor |
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Trusted by the top 30 pharma companies and hundreds of research groups |
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Used by 50 patent offices, large R&D organizations of Fortune 1000 companies and various universities |
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15 industrial databases, 70 Pharma in-use databases |
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MarkMonitor manages 44% of the top 50 most trafficked corporate website domain portfolios |
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Notable Products |
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Web of Science InCites ScholarOne |
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Cortellis RI Integrity Newport |
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Derwent Innovation TechStreet |
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Watch Screen Search |
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Domain Management Brand Protection |
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Our Strategy
The Clarivate management team, led by Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jerre Stead, is implementing a transformation strategy designed to improve operations, increase cash flow and accelerate revenues growth. Our transition to standalone operations since our 2016 separation from Thomson Reuters has required extensive management time and focus and involved significant expenditures, including sizeable payments to Thomson Reuters under the transition services agreement formerly in effect. We believe that our transition to a standalone company positions us to implement our transformation strategy and to improve our productivity compared to other leaders in the information services sector on a revenues per employee basis and in terms of our Adjusted EBITDA margins.
Under Mr. Stead’s leadership, we are embarking on a race to deliver excellence to the markets we serve and continue our evolution as a world-class organization. As we move forward, the focus will be on three basic principles; focus, simplify and execute. This means:
1. | Focusing on our core capabilities and the greatest opportunities for growth. |
2. | Simplifying our organization and processes. The focus on two product groups will be the driver for streamlining our operations. |
3. | Relentlessly driving execution of our strategy and growth plans. |
These changes will help us operate with greater focus and urgency. They will ensure that we put our clients first, drive accountability throughout the organization, accelerate decision-making, and promote consistency. These tenets will enable us to deliver long-term, sustainable growth.
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With a proven operational playbook, we have quickly pursued initiatives to set ourselves on a growth trajectory. Our results for the three months ended March 31, 2020 continue to prove that our transformation is underway.
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Proven Playbook with Multiple Levers |
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First Quarter 2020 Financial Highlights |
Accelerate Revenue Growth |
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Q1 2020 Earnings(1) |
~ Product and pricing enhancement strategies |
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1.Revenue growth 2.8%(2) |
~ Increased pipeline of new products |
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2.Adjusted revenue growth (at constant currency) 4.2%(2) |
~ Build strength in Asia Pacific |
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3.Subscription revenue growth 0.4% which includes organic subscription revenue growth (at constant currency) of 3.3%(2) |
~ Optimizing pricing and cross-sell |
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4.Transactional revenue growth 18.1% |
Enhance Margins |
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5.ACV growth (at constant currency) 7.2%(3) |
~ Benefit from top-line initiatives |
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6.93.0% retention rate(4) |
~ Simplifying G&A structure |
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7.Net loss of $74,001 (reduction in Net loss of 24.8%)(2) |
~ Consolidating footprint |
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8.Adjusted EBITDA margin 32.2%(2) |
~ Increase automation and cloud infrastructure |
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9.Adjusted EBITDA margin improvement 690 bps(2) |
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10.Adjusted EBITDA growth 32.1%(2) |
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11.Completed acquisition of DRG |
1. | For a reconciliation of our non-GAAP measures to the corresponding most closely related measures calculated in accordance with GAAP, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Certain Non-GAAP Measures.” |
2. | Results calculated for the three months ended March 31, 2020 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2019. |
3. | “ACV” or “annualized contract value” refers to the annualized value for a 12-month period following a given date of all subscription-based client license agreements, assuming that all license agreements that come up for renewal during that period are renewed. The figure above represents the year-over-year growth in the annual value of our subscriptions as of March 31, 2020 as compared to March 31, 2019. For information on ACV see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Key Performance Indicators — Annualized Contract Value.” |
4. | Retention rate measurement period is for the three months ended March 31, 2020. |
Operational Improvement Initiatives
We are in the process of implementing several cost-saving and margin improvement initiatives designed to generate substantial incremental cash flow. We have engaged a strategic consulting firm to assist us in optimizing our structure and cost base. The focus of these initiatives is to identify significant cost reductions to be implemented over the next several quarters, enabling us to deliver margins consistent with those of our peer group. Some examples include:
● | decreasing costs by simplifying organizational structures and rationalizing general and administrative functions to enhance a customer-centric focus; |
● | using artificial intelligence and the latest technologies to reduce costs and increase efficiencies for content sourcing and curation; |
● | moving work performed by contractors in-house to best-cost geographic locations, particularly India, where we have significant scale that can be leveraged; |
● | achieving headcount productivity benchmarks and operational efficiency metrics based on alignment with quantified sector leader benchmarks; |
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● | expanding existing operations in best-cost geographic locations, aligning with business objectives; |
● | minimizing our real estate footprint by reducing facility locations substantially over the next three years; and |
● | divesting non-core assets. |
Revenue Growth Initiatives
We believe a significant opportunity exists for us to accelerate revenue growth by increasing the value of our products and services, developing new products, cross-selling certain products and optimizing sales force productivity. Actions to achieve such revenue growth are expected to include:
● | developing new value-added products and services; |
● | delivering an enhanced client experience through ongoing renovations to our products’ user interface and user experience; |
● | offering additional analytics that enhance existing products and services; |
● | moving up the value chain by providing our clients with predictive and prescriptive analytics, allowing for stronger growth and higher retention rates; |
● | expanding our footprint with new and existing customers, with significant opportunity for growth in the Asia Pacific and emerging markets; |
● | broadening our consulting capabilities, in particular in the Science Group, where there is considerable opportunity for us to deliver high value consulting services to drive significant revenue growth; |
● | optimizing product pricing and packaging based on customer needs; |
● | increasing sales force focus on large accounts; |
● | expanding our inside sales capability to improve account coverage; and |
● | restructuring our incentive plans to drive new business, as well as cross-selling among similar products and overlapping buying centers. |
The above actions are part of an overarching effort to improve retention rates and new business growth rates to best-in-class levels across our portfolio.
Pursue Acquisition Opportunities
Given the fragmented nature of the broader information services industry, we track and, where appropriate, will continue to pursue opportunities across our product groups. From 2017 through 2019, we completed five small add-on acquisitions to augment our existing portfolio of assets and provide additional datasets and services for our customers. Our completed acquisitions include Publons and Kopernio in Science and TrademarkVision, SequenceBase and Darts-ip in IP. Certain of these acquisitions are fully integrated into our platform, while others continue to be integrated, and we believe they have already provided additional value to our customers.
In February 2020, we consummated the acquisition of DRG, our largest acquisition to date , in LSPL. See “—Recent Developments.”
We are evaluating additional acquisition opportunities to supplement our existing platform and enable us to enter new markets. Our focus is on disciplined and accretive investments that leverage our core strengths and enhance our current product, market, geographic and customer strategies. We believe that the combination of Mr. Stead’s successful acquisition track record and our scale and status as a global information services leader uniquely positions us to create value through additional acquisitions.
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Positive Sector Dynamics Support Our Trajectory
We operate in the global information services and analytics sector, which is experiencing robust growth due to many factors. Data and analytics have become critical inputs into broader corporate decision-making in today’s marketplace, and companies and institutions are seeking services like ours to enhance the predictive nature of their analysis. In addition to greater demand for our services, rapid innovation within our customers’ businesses has created new use cases for our services. Third-party industry reports estimate the global data and analytics market will grow from $155 billion in 2018 to $219 billion by 2021, a 12.1% compound annual growth rate over the period. This represents the target addressable market across verticals that have a need for data and analytical services.
Source: IDC, Outsell, Inc. all rights reserved.
(1) | The Predictive Analytics and Data Markets is defined as the combined Worldwide Business Analytics Services, Worldwide Big Data and Analytics Software and Worldwide Organizational Data as a Service markets per IDC. |
Customers of data and analytics products continue to approach complex business decisions in new ways. We believe that these customers are placing greater emphasis and value on the ability to embed predictive and prescriptive analytics into their decision-making processes. These customers are using smart data to anticipate what will happen in the future, as opposed to using historical data to study what has happened in the past. As such, we are investing in these critical, forward-facing products and solutions. We believe offering these types of products will increase the value clients place on our products, allow for stronger growth and open new addressable markets, as illustrated below.
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Significant Move up the Value Chain with Smart Data Offerings
Our Competitive Strengths
Leading Market Positions in Attractive and Growing Global Markets
We offer a collection of high-quality, market-leading information and analytic products and solutions serving the intellectual property, scientific research and life sciences end-markets. Through our products and services, we address the large and growing demand from corporations, government agencies, universities, law firms and other professional services organizations worldwide for comprehensive, industry-specific content and analytical tools to facilitate the discovery, development, protection, commercialization and measurement of scientific research, innovations and brands. We believe that our flagship products hold a #1 or #2 by revenue across the respective markets they serve, including abstracting and indexing databases, life science regulatory and competitive intelligence and intellectual property protection (including patent, trademarks and brand protection). We also believe that the outlook for growth in each of our Product Lines is compelling because of customer demand for curated high-quality data, underpinned by favorable end-market trends, such as rising global R&D spending, growing demand for information services in emerging markets, the acceleration of e-commerce and the increasing number of patent and trademark applications.
A Trusted Partner Delivering Highly Curated Content Embedded Within Customer Workflows
We believe the substantial increase in unstructured data over the last decade has increased the importance of our proprietary, curated databases to our customers. This trend has resulted in a critical need for unstructured data to be meaningfully filtered, analyzed and curated into relevant information that facilitates key operational and strategic decisions made by businesses, academic institutions and governments worldwide. Our suite of branded information and analytic solutions provides access to content that has been collected, curated and standardized over decades, making our products and services highly valued and increasingly important for our customers. Our content curation and editorial teams include over 930 employees, who clean, analyze and classify unstructured data to ensure high-quality content and an enhanced user experience. We believe our solutions and commitment to excellence provide us with a significant advantage in both retaining existing and attracting new customers.
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Attractive Business Model with Strong Free Cash Flow Profile
Approximately 82.0% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020 were generated through annual or multi-year subscription agreements. In addition, we have been able to achieve annual revenues renewal rates in excess of 90% over the past two years. We believe our business has strong and attractive free cash flow characteristics due to our highly visible and recurring subscription revenues stream, attractive Adjusted EBITDA margins, low capital expenditure requirements and favorable net working capital characteristics. Anticipated revenues growth, margin improvement, the separation from Thomson Reuters and effective working capital management are expected to result in strong free cash flow generation. We believe this will create capacity to invest further into the business so that we can grow and maximize shareholder returns.
Diversified Product Lines with Longstanding Customer Relationships
We believe that the diversified nature of our Product Lines enhances the stability of our entire platform as we are not dependent on any one end-market, product, service or customer. We serve a large, diverse and global customer base, and as of December 31, 2019, we served over 40,000 entities in more than 170 countries, including the top 30 pharmaceutical companies by revenues and 50 global patent offices. No single customer accounted for more than 1% of revenues and our ten largest customers represented only 5% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020. We believe the strong value proposition offered by our content, combined with the integration of our products and services into our customers’ daily workflows and decision-making processes, leads to substantial customer loyalty. Our relationships with our top 50 customers by revenues span an average tenor of over 15 years. Our diverse global footprint is highlighted by the distribution of our revenues for twelve months ended March 31, 2020 by geography: Americas (47.6%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (28.3%), and Asia Pacific (24.1%).
Resilience Through Economic Cycles
We believe our business is resilient across economic cycles because our products and services are an integral part of our customers’ decision-making processes. We believe multi-year agreements also help to maintain this resiliency. For example, during the economic downturn in 2008, three of our key products — Web of Science, Life Sciences and Derwent Innovation — realized year-over-year revenues increases from 2008 to 2009. In addition, our diverse global footprint reduces our exposure to national and regional economic downturns.
Our performance is largely due to the sectors we serve and the deep integration of our products with our customers’ workflows, which provides for a resilient business model even during an economic downturn.
Proven and Experienced Leadership
Mr. Stead is a proven business operator with demonstrated success in shareholder value creation. At Clarivate, Mr. Stead brings his decades of expertise in the information services sector to guide a talented and experienced management team sourced from world-class, global companies, most of whom have decades of experience in their respective areas of expertise.
Background and History
Clarivate Plc is organized under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands. We were initially registered on January 7, 2019, and at our 2020 annual general meeting, our shareholders approved a change of our corporate name from “Clarivate Analytics Plc” to “Clarivate Plc”. Our registered office is located at 4th Floor, St Paul’s Gate, 22-24 New Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE1 4TR. Our principal business offices are located at Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8EZ, United Kingdom, where our main telephone number is +44 207 4334000. We maintain a website at www.clarivate.com. In addition, the SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers (including Clarivate) that file electronically with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Our predecessors date back to the acquisition of two industry-leading information services businesses: Derwent World Patents Index (“DWPI”) and Institute for Scientific Information (“ISI”). DWPI was founded in 1951 by Monte Hyams who first began abstracting and publishing British patents on a weekly basis. This
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platform was then launched as the first online patent search tool in 1974. ISI was founded in 1957 by Dr. Eugene Garfield as a series of databases which laid the foundation for modern day bibliometrics and the influential Journal Impact Factor indicator. Thomson Reuters acquired DWPI in 1984 and ISI in 1992; it made further investments in complementary businesses centered on life science research, domain management and brand protection.
Since Thomson Reuters acquired DWPI and ISI, the business now known as Clarivate has emerged as the leading global information services and analytics company serving the scientific research, intellectual property and life sciences end-markets. Through product development, investment and acquisitions, we have developed a full suite of solutions providing high-value structured information that facilitates the discovery, protection and commercialization of scientific research, innovations and brands.
During the majority of its time under prior ownership, the Company operated as a set of non-core, separate divisions until Thomson Reuters decided in 2015 to divest them. This decision led to two key transformative events.
The first transformative event occurred in October 2016, when Onex and Baring acquired subsidiaries and assets comprising the intellectual property and science business of Thomson Reuters for approximately $3,600,000 and formed Clarivate.
Onex, Baring and the new executive team they put in place focused on transitioning us to be a standalone company and completed a substantial number of operational improvements, including:
● | building a new senior executive management team; |
● | investing in our core products to upgrade their content, functionality, analytical tools and user interfaces; |
● | completing the acquisitions of Publons, Kopernio, TrademarkVision, and SequenceBase to complement our product offerings; |
● | implementing initial cost savings initiatives; and |
● | fully transitioning the business from reliance on Thomson Reuters. |
The second transformative event occurred in January 2019, when Churchill Capital Corp, a special purpose acquisition company led by Mr. Stead, announced that it would combine with Clarivate in a transaction completed in May 2019. Following the merger, the ordinary shares of Clarivate began trading on NYSE under the symbol “CCC”.
Recent Developments
Acquisition of Decision Resources Group
On February 28, 2020, we acquired 100% of the assets, liabilities and equity interests of DRG, a premier provider of high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, from Piramal Enterprises Limited, which is a part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. The acquisition helps us expand our core businesses and provides us with the potential to grow in the Life Sciences Product Line.
The aggregate consideration paid in connection with the closing of the DRG acquisition was $964,997, comprised of $900,000 of base cash plus $6,100 of cash closing adjustments, and up to 2,895,638 of ordinary shares to be issued to Piramal Enterprises Limited on March 1, 2021. The contingent stock consideration was valued at $58,897 on the closing date and is subject to revaluation at each period end.
In February 2020, we completed an underwritten public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares, generating net proceeds of $540,597, which we used to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition. In addition, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund the remainder of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses. As the result of the additional term loan, we had $1,256,850 outstanding under our term loan facility at March 31, 2020.
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We expect the DRG acquisition to be accretive to our earnings in 2020 with opportunities for significant revenue and cost synergies. DRG generated $207,107 of revenues in 2019, as compared with $189,215 of revenues in 2018 (representing approximately 9% growth). In 2019, DRG also had a net loss of $20,473 and Adjusted EBITDA of $47,600. We expect to achieve cost synergies of approximately $30,000 within the first 18 months after the closing of the transaction, which in addition to revenue synergies, is expected to drive DRG’s financial performance and expand its Adjusted EBITDA margin towards the Clarivate target of over 40%. See “— Summary Historical Financial Information — Reconciliation of DRG Adjusted EBITDA to Net (Loss)” for additional discussion of DRG’s Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and a reconciliation of DRG’s Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to DRG’s most directly comparable GAAP measure. See “Risk Factors — We may not be able to achieve the expected benefits of the DRG acquisition, including anticipated revenue and cost synergies, and costs associated with achieving synergies or integrating DRG may exceed our expectations.”
Redemption of Public Warrants
On December 31, 2019, we had outstanding 34,399,886 warrants (“public warrants”) that were originally issued to the public in connection with the Churchill Capital Corp initial public offering, and 18,300,000 warrants (“private warrants”) issued in a concurrent private placement. Each warrant is exercisable for one ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. During the period from January 1, 2020 to February 21, 2020, 24,132,666 public warrants were exercised. On February 20, 2020, we announced that all public warrants that remained outstanding on March 23, 2020 would be redeemed at $0.01 per warrant. In addition, we announced that all public warrants would thereafter be exercisable only on a “cashless” basis, pursuant to which exercising public warrant holders would receive 0.4626 ordinary shares for each public warrant exercised. After February 21, 2020, 4,747,432 ordinary shares were issued on exercise of public warrants and on March 23, 2020, 4,649 public warrants were redeemed. As of March 31, 2020 no public warrants were outstanding. The private warrants were not subject to this redemption and all remain outstanding. See “Description of Share Capital — Warrants.”
MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy and Antifraud Disposition
In November 2019, we announced an agreement to sell the MarkMonitor™ brand protection, antipiracy and antifraud businesses, and completed such divestiture on January 1, 2020. We retained the MarkMonitor Domain Management business.
Our Product Lines
SCIENCE GROUP (57.5% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020)
Our Science Group consists of our Web of Science and Life Science Product Lines. Both provide curated, high-value, structured information that is delivered and embedded into the workflows of our customers, which include research intensive corporations, life science organizations and universities world-wide.
Web of Science Product Line
Our Web of Science Product Line (“WOSPL”) provides products and services to organizations that plan, fund, implement and utilize research. We deliver search and discovery services to researchers with proprietary scientific data; we help researchers cite their research with workflow tools; we provide data and analytics to allow for global measures of research excellence and university rankings; we support governments and policy makers worldwide in assessment programs; and we inform a wide range of sector specific consultation and reporting activities to national and institutional research agencies across the G20 countries. We believe that the high quality and unique nature of WOSPL’s products and the informed approach of our professional service expertise have resulted in our information, services and workflow tools becoming embedded within the fabric of the research community. Key products include Web of Science, InCites, Journal Citation Reports, EndNote, ScholarOne, Converis, Publons and Kopernio.
Web of Science (“WOS”), our flagship product, holds a unique and pivotal role in the infrastructure of R&D and is frequently utilized as a reference standard in the academic, institutional and corporate sectors. It provides publication records and essential metadata from trusted published assets and is linked and indexed together via
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over one billion tracked citations from over 166 million index records going back to 1900 within the core Web of Science, and back to 1864 in Zoological Record. A key metric we provide is the “Journal Impact Factor” (“JIF”), which we believe is the most influential and best-known research metric of the last 50 years. Its primary value is as a journal-level metric to assess what journals are the most impactful, but universities and research funders use JIF to inform their evaluation of research excellence when assessing faculty and selecting funding grantees. Researchers also rely on the JIF to identify top-tier journals where they should publish their content.
Example Use Cases
● | A physics professor planning a research program and making a grant proposal accesses WOS to evaluate the current state of research in her discipline, identify emerging trends within highly regarded and relevant scientific journals and select a research topic, while the grant-making institutions will use WOS’s analytic tools to measure the professor’s credentials. |
● | A university provost interested in evaluating her university’s chemistry department accesses WOS and our analytical tool InCites to measure the strength of the university’s research output and benchmark it against comparable institutions, find the best researchers to bolster the university’s ranking and improve the caliber of research and find highly cited researchers, departments and laboratories. |
Life Sciences Product Line
Our Life Sciences Product Line (“LSPL”) provides products and services primarily to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Our products are market leaders in regulatory intelligence and competitive intelligence, and our clinical trial offering is rapidly gaining share. We believe we provide a unique end-to-end proposition, which links to early research workflows, and believe there is an opportunity to stretch further into the approval and post-approval phases of drug development. Key products include Cortellis, Newport Integrity and DRG.
Cortellis, our flagship LSPL product, is used by strategy, business development, drug development, medical affairs and clinical professionals at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to support research, market intelligence and competitive monitoring in connection with the development and commercialization of new drugs. Our customers use the database to access and evaluate scientific data, drug pipeline data, clinical trial information, drug monographs, pharmaceutical M&A data and regulatory information, all of which has been aggregated, curated and classified by our team of scientific experts who evaluate and select data for inclusion in the database from a wide array of sources. In addition, our team of experts creates high-value content from this data, such as analytics, abstracts, conference summaries and regulatory reports. As of December 31, 2019, our data included more than 73,000 drug program records and more than 340,000 clinical trial records.
Example Use Case
● | An analyst at a pharmaceutical firm who is evaluating several potential R&D programs will access the Cortellis database to assess competitive products in the drug development pipeline, review clinical trial data and summarize regulatory information. |
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GROUP (42.5% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020)
Our Intellectual Property Group consists of our Derwent, CompuMark and MarkMonitor Product Lines. These Product Lines help manage customer’s end-to-end portfolio of intellectual property from patents to trademarks to corporate website domains.
Derwent Product Line
Our Derwent Product Line (“DPL”) enables customers to evaluate the novelty of potential new products, confirm freedom to operate with respect to their product design, help them secure patent protection, assess the competitive technology landscape and ensure that their products comply with required industry standards. We provide a range of analytics capabilities and data visualization tools to improve the efficiency and accuracy of IP-driven decisions. Key products include Derwent Innovation, Techstreet and IP Professional Services.
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Derwent Innovation, our flagship DPL product, is used by R&D professionals and lawyers to monitor patent filings, search existing patents and analyze data to support R&D decision-making. It is a critical resource to help our customers secure patent protection and address litigation of patent infringement. The product is powered by Derwent World Patents Index, our proprietary database of over 80 million patent publications from 50 patent offices, which represented 98% of all patents published globally in 2018 and has been developed and curated for over 50 years. The database combines data science with our team of domain experts who correct, enrich and abstract over six million global patents per year in over 30 languages, as of December 31, 2019. We provide customers with easy-to-understand summaries of patent filings that are prepared by our domain experts, who index and translate the highly technical and intentionally obscure patent filings into understandable abstracts that provide insights into a patent’s novelty, use and advantage over prior patents.
Example Use Case
● | An employee developing a new product or idea (e.g., a chemical engineer or a product designer) will access the Derwent Innovation database of patents to evaluate the novelty and determine the patentability of the new product or idea. |
CompuMark Product Line
Our CompuMark Product Line (“CPL”) provides trademark research and protection services for businesses and law firms globally and relies on our leading trademark database. CompuMark’s offerings span the entire life cycle of a trademark, from determining availability of a proposed trademark to monitoring for infringement post registration. CPL provides global trademark research and protection to corporations and law firms globally. Over the last 30 years, the organization has curated content from more than 180 patent and trademark offices. Coupled with industry specific sources, including over 15 industrial design databases and 70 Pharma In-Use Databases as of December 31, 2019, CompuMark delivers the most comprehensive data set for trademark professionals available.
Key products include trademark screening, trademark searching and trademark watching. We do this by (i) providing customers with sophisticated self-service tools to narrow large lists of potential trademarks, which we refer to as “screening”; (ii) preparing detailed, custom reports post screening that uncover potential risks related to a proposed trademark, which we refer to as “clearance searching”; and (iii) monitoring trademark applications and other data sources on a recurring subscription revenues basis to alert clients to potential instances of infringement post registration, which we refer to as “watching.”
Example Use Case
● | An attorney for a large law firm helps clear a trademark for use by its corporate customer as part of a new product launch. The attorney first conducts a “knock-out” search as part of a preliminary screening process using our trademark research tool and then later orders an analyst curated “Full Search” report by CompuMark to ensure the availability of the proposed trademark in the markets in which the customer will be operating. In this way, the attorney can clear both the word and image mark for use by his/her client. The lawyer will then subscribe to CompuMark’s trademark watching services to continually ensure that none of their customers’ valuable trademarks are being infringed upon. |
MarkMonitor Product Line
Our MarkMonitor Product Line (“MPL”) helps global enterprises establish, manage, optimize and protect their online presence. MPL provides a suite of technology services for brand managers, IT managers, marketing teams, and legal counsel in corporations to register and manage portfolios of domain names critical for their business. This allows customers to achieve the right balance of being easily found online without overpaying for domains that generate little to no Internet user traffic. MPL also provides data and domain industry insights which help enterprises maximize the power of their portfolios, and mitigate cyber squatters’ attempts to register domains aimed to defraud consumers.
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Example Use Case
● | An in-house counsel uses MarkMonitor to ensure that important domain names are registered and protected from security threats such as domain hijacking, spam, and other forms of DNS abuse. |
Customers
We serve a large, diverse and global customer base and, as of December 31, 2019, we served over 40,000 entities in more than 170 countries as well as the top 30 pharmaceutical companies by revenue and 50 global patent offices. Our customers either use our databases on an exclusive basis or on a dual-sourced basis.
No single customer accounted for more than 1% of revenues and our ten largest customers represented only 5% of revenues for the twelve months ended March 31, 2020.
Competitive Environment
We believe the principal competitive factors in our business include the quality of content embedded in our databases and those of our competitors, customers’ perception of our products relative to the value that they deliver, user interface of the products and the quality and breadth of our overall offerings. We believe we compete favorably with respect to each of these factors.
We believe no single competitor currently offers the same scope of services and market coverage we provide, nor do we provide the same scope of services and market coverage as our competitors. The breadth of markets we serve exposes us to a broad range of competitors as described below.
Our primary competitors differ by product line and include the following companies and product offerings:
● | Abstracting and Indexing Database Market: Elsevier (Scopus, SciVal), Digital Science (Dimensions) and ProQuest (RefWorks); |
● | Patent Protection Market: CPA Global (Innography and IP services), IHS Markit (Engineering Workbench, ecommerce store), LexisNexis (TotalPatent), Minesoft (PatBase), Questel (Orbit) and SAI Global (i2i, ecommerce store); |
● | Life Sciences Regulatory and Competitive Intelligence Market: Evaluate (Evaluate Pharma), Global Data (Global Data Pharmaceuticals), Informa (Pharma Intelligence, BioMedTracker, Pharmaprojects, Trialtrove, Sitetrove), IQVIA (Tarius) and Qiagen (Qiagen Services); |
● | Trademark Protection Market: Corsearch (Contour, Corsearch Screening, search and watch services), TrademarkNow (NameCheck, LogoCheck, NameWatch) and Markify (ComprehensiveSearch, ProSearch and trademark and domain watch); and |
● | Domain Management Market: Corporation Service Company (CSC) (domain name management, online brand protection, anti-counterfeiting services), Incopro (online brand protection, content protection intelligence, site blocking intelligence and advertising Monitoring), Yellow (anti-piracy, anti-counterfeiting and IP protection), Phish Labs (phishing incident response and brand protection), Friend MTS (anti-piracy and content management) and AppDetex (domain management and online brand protection) and Red Point Solutions (anti-piracy and brand protection). |
Sources of Data
The data supporting our products and services is sourced principally through two different types of arrangements. First, we source data generally at little or no cost from public sources, including federal, state and local governments. Second, we purchase data from third-party data aggregators under contracts that reflect prevailing market pricing for the data elements purchased.
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Technology
Our information technology systems are fundamental to our success. They are used for the storage, processing, access and delivery of the data which forms the foundation of our business and the development and delivery of our solutions provided to our customers.
Much of the technology we use and provide to our customers is developed, maintained and supported by approximately 800 employees and approximately 570 contractors, as of December 31, 2019. We generally own or have secured ongoing rights to use for the purposes of our business all the customer-facing applications which are material to our operations.
We are continually transforming our content, products, services and company to better meet our customers’ needs. We also are focused on securing our customer data and global systems as we implement and enhance our security programs. We are migrating the infrastructure for several of our customer applications and content databases to a third-party service provider, which provides a distributed computing infrastructure platform for business operations, or what is commonly referred to as a “cloud” computing service.
Intellectual Property
As of December 31, 2019, we owned approximately 644 registered trademarks, 276 trademark applications, 2,846 domain names, 68 granted patents and 58 patent applications. We also own certain proprietary software. In addition, we are licensed to use certain third-party software, and obtain significant content and data through third-party licensing arrangements with content providers. We consider our trademarks, service marks, databases, software and other IP to be proprietary, and we rely on a combination of statutory (e.g., copyright, trademark, trade secret and patent), contractual and technical safeguards to protect our IP rights. We believe that the IP we own and license is sufficient to permit us to carry on our business as presently conducted.
Our agreements with our customers and business partners place certain restrictions on the use of our IP. As a general practice, employees, contractors and other parties with access to our proprietary information sign agreements that prohibit the unauthorized use or disclosure of our IP and confidential information.
New Product Development
We believe that innovation is essential to our success and is one of our primary bases of competition. We believe we are uniquely positioned to help shape how professionals find, evaluate, interact with, consume and act upon information. We are focused on developing capabilities to improve our products’ user interfaces, analytical tools, searching algorithms and content curation processes. Our current focus includes building out a technology platform focused on search technologies, big data and analytics, machine learning, social computing and natural language technologies. This will enable more rapid product development as we shift our investment focus toward new products rather than maintenance of legacy technology.
We also add to our business line offerings through acquisitions. Since our separation from Thomson Reuters in 2016, we have completed five small add-on acquisitions to augment our existing portfolio of assets and provide additional datasets and services for our customers. Given the fragmented nature of the broader information services industry, we track and, where appropriate, have pursued opportunities across our Product Lines. These include Publons and Kopernio in WOSPL, SequenceBase in DPL and TrademarkVision and Darts-ip in CPL. Certain of these acquisitions are fully integrated into our platform, while others continue to be integrated and we believe they have already provided additional value to our customers.
In February 2020, we consummated the acquisition of DRG, our largest acquisition to date, in LSPL. See "Recent Developments — Acquisition of Decision Resources Group."
When we find it advantageous, we augment our proprietary data sources and systems by forming alliances with other leading information providers and technology companies and integrating their product offerings into our offerings. This approach gives our customers the opportunity to obtain the information they need from a single source and more easily integrate the information into their workflows.
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Marketing, Sales and Customer Support
We primarily sell our products and services directly to our customers, although some of our products and services are sold through partners. Focusing some of our sales and marketing efforts on digital sales and marketing has allowed us to broaden our range of customers and reduce sales and marketing costs. We have a dedicated global sales force, which, as of December 31, 2019, consisted of approximately 1,155 people.
We annually develop sales, distribution and marketing strategies on a product-by-product and service-by-service basis. We leverage customer data, business and market intelligence and competitive profiling to retain customers and cross-sell products and services, while also working to promote unified brand recognition across all our products and services.
Our sales teams participate in both service and sales activities. They provide direct support, interacting frequently with assigned customers to assure a positive experience using our products and services. Sales people primarily seek out new sales opportunities, including existing customer retention and upsell, and work with the various sales teams to coordinate sales activity and provide the best solutions for our customers. A portion of our sales people’s compensation is tied to revenues retention. We believe our sales people’s product knowledge and local presence differentiates us from our competition.
In addition, we employ product specialists who are subject-matter experts and work with sales people on specific opportunities for their assigned products. Both sales people and product specialists have responsibility for identifying new sales opportunities. A team approach and a common customer relationship management system allow for effective coordination between the two groups.
Employees
As of December 31, 2019, approximately 4,090 full-time and approximately 113 part-time employees support our business operations. The employee count excludes employees related to the MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Antipiracy and Antifraud Disposition. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations” for information related to the disposition. None of our employees in the United States are represented by unions; however, customary representation by unions and works councils applies for certain of our non-U.S. employees. We consider our relationship with our employees to be good and have not experienced interruptions to operations due to labor disagreements.
Seasonality
Our cash flows from operations are generated primarily from payments from our subscription customers and the standard term of a subscription is typically 12 months. When a customer enters into a new subscription agreement, or submits a notice to renew their subscription, we typically invoice for the full amount of the subscription period, record the balance to deferred revenues and ratably recognize the deferral throughout the subscription period. As a result, we experience cash flow seasonality throughout the year, with a heavier weighting of operating cash inflows occurring during the first half, and particularly first quarter, of the year, when most subscription invoices are sent, as compared to the second half of the year.
Regulatory Environment
Certain of our Product Lines provide authorized customers with products and services such as access to public records. Our Product Lines that provide such products and services are subject to applicable privacy and consumer information laws and regulations, including U.S. federal and state and European Union and member state regulation. Our compliance obligations vary from regulator to regulator, and may include, among other things, strict data security programs, submissions of regulatory reports, providing consumers with certain notices and correcting inaccuracies in applicable reports. Many of these laws and regulations are complex and their application to us, our customers or the specific services and relationships we have with our customers are not always clear. Our failure to accurately anticipate the application of these laws and regulations, or any failure to comply, could create liability for us, result in adverse publicity and otherwise negatively affect our business. See “— Risk Factors” for more information about the impact of government regulation on our company.
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Principal Properties
The Company’s primary office spaces as of March 31, 2020 are represented in the table below.
We believe that our properties, taken as a whole, are in good operating condition, are suitable and adequate for our current business operations, and that additional or alternative space will be available on commercially reasonable terms for future use and expansion.
Legal Proceedings
From time to time, we are a party to various lawsuits, claims and other legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of our business. While the outcomes of these matters are uncertain, management does not expect that the ultimate costs to resolve these matters will have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
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INFORMATION ABOUT EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
As of May 31, 2020, our board of directors and executive officers are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Name |
|
Age |
|
Position |
Jerre Stead |
|
77 |
|
Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
Sheryl von Blucher |
|
58 |
|
Director |
Jane Okun Bomba |
|
57 |
|
Director |
Kosty Gilis |
|
46 |
|
Director |
Balakrishnan S. Iyer |
|
63 |
|
Director |
Michael Klein |
|
56 |
|
Director |
Nicholas Macksey |
|
40 |
|
Director |
Karen G. Mills |
|
66 |
|
Director |
Anthony Munk |
|
60 |
|
Director |
Charles J. Neral |
|
61 |
|
Director |
Richard W. Roedel |
|
70 |
|
Director |
Mukhtar Ahmed |
|
52 |
|
President, Science Group |
Richard Hanks |
|
55 |
|
Chief Financial Officer |
Stephen Hartman |
|
50 |
|
General Counsel and Global Head of Corporate Development |
Jeff Roy |
|
51 |
|
President, IP Group |
Jerre Stead has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company since June 30, 2019 and Executive Chairman of our board since May 13, 2019. Mr. Stead served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IHS Markit Ltd., a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions, from its formation in 2016 through 2017 and as Executive Chairman of its predecessor company, IHS Inc., from 2000 through 2016 and as both Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 2015 through 2016 and from 2006 through 2013. Mr. Stead previously served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of DTN LLC, which provides services in relation to the delivery of weather, agricultural, energy and commodity market information from 2017 to 2018 and also previously served as its Executive Chairman. Mr. Stead previously served as Chairman and CEO of Ingram Micro from 1996 to 2000 and as Chairman and CEO of Legent Corporation in 1995. Mr. Stead has also previously served as Chairman and CEO of Honeywell-Phillips Medical Electronics, Chairman and CEO of Square D Company and Chairman and CEO of AT&T Global Information Solutions. Mr. Stead has served on over 30 corporate boards during his career and in 2017 received the B. Kenneth West Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Corporate Directors. Mr. Stead is a graduate of the University of Iowa, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and of the Harvard University Advanced Management Program in Switzerland. Mr. Stead was selected to serve on the board of directors due to his significant experience leading and growing companies in information services.
Sheryl von Blucher has been a member of our board since May 13, 2019. Ms. von Blucher has over 30 years of experience in a variety of roles in the global integrated energy, information services, technology services and software, and public and non-profit sectors. She has led strategic and portfolio planning, operations, and corporate finance and development for both domestic and international organizations. Ms. von Blucher served as Co-Chief Executive Officer of DTN LLC from 2017 to 2018. Prior to this, she joined IHS Inc. in 2000 as Senior Vice President of Planning and Corporate Development, and then served as an Advisor to the Chairman & CEO of the company from 2007 through 2017. Ms. von Blucher has also worked in private-equity portfolio management as a partner and managing director for the JMJS Group, a private equity partnership. Ms. von Blucher currently serves on the Board of Directors of Washington Prime Group, Inc.; Capital Canyon Club and Golf Development LLC; and on the Board of Trustees for the not-for-profit Guideposts. Ms. von Blucher holds a bachelor’s degree from Rice University and a master’s degree from Harvard University. Ms. von Blucher was selected to serve on the board of directors due to her significant experience as a senior executive in information services.
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Jane Okun Bomba has been a member of the board since her election at the 2020 annual general meeting. Ms. Okun Bomba also serves on the Board of Directors of Service Source International since March 2020 and Brightview Holdings, Inc. since April 2019. Ms. Okun Bomba has served as President of Saddle Ridge Consulting since January 2018 and advises on a range of strategic issues, including investor relations, corporate perception and governance, transaction integration, human resources and ESG. Previously, from 2004 to 2017, Ms. Okun Bomba was an executive at IHS Markit, most recently as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, where she led 450 people in corporate functions including HR, Marketing, Communications, Sustainability and Investor Relations. Prior to IHS, she was a partner at Genesis, Inc. and headed investor relations at Velocom, MediaOne Group, and Northwest Airlines. She held various management positions in corporate finance at Northwest Airlines and American Airlines, and was a CPA at PriceWaterhouse. Ms. Okun Bomba serves on the board of Kickstart International and is a member of the International Women’s Forum. She is a member of the University of Michigan, Ross School of Business Advisory Board and the School of Literature, Science and Arts Dean’s Advisory Committee. Ms. Okun Bomba holds both a BGS and an MBA from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. She completed graduate studies at the Stockholm School of Economics, and board director education in the Women’s Director Development Program at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University and the Directors’ Consortium. Ms. Okun Bomba was selected to serve on the board of directors due to her significant experience in human resources, finance and investor relations.
Kosty Gilis has been a member of our board since October 2016 and Clarivate’s board since its formation in January 2019. Mr. Gilis is a Managing Director of Onex. Since joining Onex in 2004, Mr. Gilis has worked on numerous private equity transactions including the acquisitions and realizations of Allison Transmission and Tomkins plc, as well as the acquisitions of Emerald Expositions, WireCo Worldgroup and SMG. He currently also serves on the Board of Emerald Expositions Events, Inc. and ASM Global, and previously served on the boards of Allison Transmission Holdings, Inc., Gates Global Inc. and WireCo Worldgroup Inc. Prior to joining Onex, Mr. Gilis was a Vice President at Willis Stein & Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm and was a management consultant at Bain & Company in Toronto, Canada and Johannesburg, South Africa. Mr. Gilis is a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a B.S. in Economics, and Harvard Business School, where he earned an MBA. Mr. Gilis was selected to serve on the board of directors due to his significant experience in a variety of financing transactions and business services investments.
Balakrishnan S. Iyer has been a member of our board since May 13, 2019. Mr. Iyer served as a Board member of IHS Markit Ltd. (previously IHS Inc.) from 2003 to 2019. Mr. Iyer also has served on the Board of Directors of Skyworks Solutions Inc. since 2002 and Power Integrations, Inc. since 2004. Previously, Mr. Iyer was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Conexant Systems, Inc. from 1998 to 2003. He held various leadership positions at VLSI Technology Inc., including Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1997 to 1998 and Vice President, Corporate Controller from 1993 to 1997. Mr. Iyer served on the Board of Directors of Conexant Systems from 2002 to 2011, Life Technologies (and its predecessor Invitrogen) from 2001 to 2014 and QLogic Corporation from 2003 to 2016. Mr. Iyer holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, an MS in Industrial Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Iyer was selected to serve on the board of directors due to his significant financial and corporate governance experience in information services.
Michael Klein has been a member of our board since May 13, 2019. Mr. Klein currently serves as a Director for Credit Suisse Group AG and Credit Suisse AG. Mr. Klein is the founder and managing partner of M. Klein and Company, LLC, which he founded in 2012. M. Klein and Company, LLC is a global strategic advisory firm that provides its clients a variety of advice tailored to their objectives. Mr. Klein is a strategic advisor to global companies, boards of directors, senior executives, governments and institutional investors. Mr. Klein’s background in strategic advisory work was built during his 30-year career, including more than two decades at Citi and its predecessors, during which he initiated and executed strategic advisory transactions. He began his career as an investment banker in the M&A Advisory Group at Salomon Smith Barney and subsequently became Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Citi Markets and Banking, with responsibilities for global corporate and investment banking and Global Transaction Services across Citi. Mr. Klein is a graduate of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelors of Science in Economics with
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concentrations in finance and accounting. Mr. Klein was selected to serve on the board of directors due to his significant investment banking and advisory experience, including for companies in information services.
Nicholas Macksey has been a member of our board since October 2016. Mr. Macksey is a Managing Director of BPEA. Since joining BPEA in 2006, Mr. Macksey has worked on numerous private equity transactions. These transactions include Courts Asia Limited, Nord Anglia Education Inc., Vistra Group Limited, SAI Global Limited, Giant Interactive Group Inc. Prior to joining Baring Mr. Macksey was a Senior Associate at Westpac Institutional Bank. Mr. Macksey graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Queensland and is also a CFA charter holder. Mr. Macksey was selected to serve on the board due to his significant investment and business services experience.
Karen G. Mills has been a member of our board since May 13, 2019. Ms. Mills is currently a Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on technology, U.S. competitiveness, and entrepreneurship. Ms. Mills was a member of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet, serving as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2009 to 2013. She is President of MMP Group, which invests in financial services, consumer products and technology solutions businesses. Prior to this, Ms. Mills held leadership positions in the private sector, including as a partner in several private equity firms. Ms. Mills is Vice Chair of the immigration services company Envoy Global and a past director of Arrow Electronics and Scotts Miracle-Gro. She also serves as a director of the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and as a member of the Harvard Corporation. Ms. Mills holds an AB in economics from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Mills was selected to serve on the board of directors due to her significant experience in government, academia and investment.
Anthony Munk has been a member of our board since October 2016. Mr. Munk is a Senior Managing Director at Onex. Since joining Onex in 1988, Mr. Munk has worked on numerous private equity transactions, including the acquisitions and realizations of Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., RSI Home Products, Tomkins plc, Vencap Equities Alberta Ltd., Imperial Parking Ltd., ProSource Inc., and Loews Cineplex; and the initial public offering of the Cineplex Galaxy Income Fund, which acquired the Canadian operations of Loews Cineplex, Cineplex Odeon, and the operations of Onex’ subsidiary, Galaxy Entertainment. More recently, Mr. Munk was involved in the acquisitions by Onex of Ryan LLC, Jeld-Wen Holdings Inc., Jack’s Family Restaurants and Moran Foods, LLC (“Save-A-Lot”). Mr. Munk also currently serves on the boards of directors of Ryan LLC, Jeld-Wen and SGS. Mr. Munk previously served on the board of directors of Save-A-Lot, Barrick Gold Corporation, RSI Home Products, Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Cineplex Inc., SMG, and Jack’s Family Restaurants. Prior to joining Onex, Mr. Munk was a Vice President with First Boston Corporation in London, England and an Analyst with Guardian Capital in Toronto. Mr. Munk is a graduate of Queen’s University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. Mr. Munk was selected to serve on the board of directors due to his significant experience in a variety of strategic and financing transactions and investments.
Charles J. Neral has been a member of our board since July 2017 and also serves on the Board of Directors of SAI Global. In 2016, he founded Neral Associates, LLC which provides advisory services to public and private clients. Prior to that, from July 2012 to January 2016, Mr. Neral served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SunGard. He also served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SafeNet from October 2009 to June 2012. From 1981 to 2009, Mr. Neral served in a variety of positions across IBM’s Sales, Server, Global Services and Software Business lines including executive roles in Asia Pacific, IBM Corporate Headquarters and ultimately serving as the Chief Financial Executive of IBM’s Software Segment (2004 to 2009). Mr. Neral holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance from New York University. Mr. Neral was selected to serve on the board of directors due to his significant business and advisory experience.
Richard W. Roedel has been a member of our board since his election at the 2020 annual general meeting. Mr. Roedel also serves on the Board of Directors of Brightview Holdings, Inc., Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, LSB Industries, Inc. and Luna Innovations Incorporated. Mr. Roedel also currently serves on the Board of Directors of IHS Markit Inc. but will not be seeking reelection thereto when his current term expires at its annual general meeting of stockholders in April 2020. Mr. Roedel serves as Non-Executive Chairman of Six Flags, LSB and Luna Innovations. Mr. Roedel has previously served on the boards of Lorillard, Inc., Sealy Corporation, BrightPoint, Inc, Broadview Holdings, Inc., Dade Behring Holdings, Inc. and
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TakeTwo Interactive Software, Inc. Mr. Roedel is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Risk Oversight Advisory Council. Mr. Roedel was appointed to a three year term, ending in 2017, on the Standing Advisory Group of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). Until 2000, Mr. Roedel was employed by BDO Seidman LLP, having been managing partner of its Chicago and New York Metropolitan area offices and later Chairman and CEO. Mr. Roedel is a graduate of The Ohio State University and a CPA. Mr. Roedel was selected to serve on the board of directors due to his significant finance, accounting and risk management experience.
Mukhtar Ahmed has been President, Science Group of the Company since January 2019. He joined the Company in January 2018 as President of Life Sciences. Prior to joining, Mr. Ahmed served as President of eHealth Solutions at BioClinica from April 2015 to December 2017 and as Global Vice President at Oracle from November 2011 to April 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Ahmed served in senior executive positions at various multinational corporations including Parexel and Kendle International, as well as board-level positions with the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. Mr. Ahmed holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Computer Systems from Brunel University and a diploma in computing from Buckinghamshire College.
Richard Hanks has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Company since March 2017. Mr. Hanks served as Chief Financial Officer of BDP International from April 2013 to March 2017 and as Chief Financial Officer and an Executive Vice President of infoGROUP, Inc. from 2010 to 2013. Prior to that, Mr. Hanks served as Chief Operating Officer of Enterprise Media Group (EMG) of Dow Jones & Company Inc. from 2007 to 2010. From 1999 to 2006, Mr. Hanks served as Chief Financial Officer of Factiva, LLC. Prior to that, he served as Finance Director for the Corporate and Media Information Division of Reuters, Finance Director for the Financial Times Business Limited, Director of Operations Research and Internal Audit for SmithKline Beecham PLC and Senior Manager of Corporate Finance and Restructuring at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Hanks is a Chartered Accountant and is a graduate of the University of Nottingham, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Economics (B.A. with Honors).
Stephen Hartman has been General Counsel and Global Head of Corporate Development of the Company since July 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Hartman served as Deputy General Counsel, TR Professional, General Counsel for Thomson Scientific and as Chief Counsel (EMEA) for Thomson Financial. Before joining Thomson Reuters in 2000, Mr. Hartman served as European counsel for Primark. Mr. Hartman is a graduate of the University of Nottingham.
Jeff Roy has been President, IP Group of the Company since September 2019. He joined the Company in September 2017 as President of CompuMark. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Roy served as Global Head of Operations and Client Support for ICE Data Services at the Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) from February 2016 to September 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Roy served as Managing Director, Data Operations and Client Support for Interactive Data Inc., which was acquired by ICE in December 2015, from January 2011 to February 2016. Prior to that, Mr. Roy was the founder and CEO of Implementation Factory, Inc. Mr. Roy holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from Hofstra University.
Family Relationships
There are no family relationships between any of Clarivate’s executive officers and directors.
Independence of Directors
We adhere to the rules of NYSE in determining whether a director is independent. The NYSE listing standards generally define an “independent director” as a person, other than an executive officer of a company or any other individual having a relationship which, in the opinion of the issuer’s board of directors, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. The board has determined that Sheryl von Blucher, Kosty Gilis, Balakrishnan S. Iyer, Nicholas Macksey, Karen G. Mills, Anthony Munk, Charles J. Neral, Jane Okun Bomba and Richard Roedel are independent directors. Mr. Munk serves as our lead independent director.
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Board Committees
Risk Committee Information and Risk Oversight
Our board of directors has established a risk committee. The risk committee consists of Messrs. Iyer, Neral, Stead and Gilis and Mesdames Mills and von Blucher. The risk committee has a written charter. The purpose of the risk committee is to assist the board of directors in overseeing the risk management activities designed and implemented by Clarivate’s management. Clarivate’s risk committee and board of directors also considers specific risk topics, including risks associated with Clarivate’s strategic initiatives, business plans and capital structure. Clarivate’s management, including its executive officers, is primarily responsible for managing the risks associated with operation and business of the company and provides appropriate updates to the board of directors and the audit committee. Clarivate’s board of directors delegates to the audit committee oversight of its risk management process, and Clarivate’s other committees also consider risk as they perform their respective committee responsibilities. All committees report to the board of directors as appropriate, including when a matter rises to the level of material or enterprise risk.
Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors
Clarivate has established a separately standing audit committee, nominating and corporate governance committee and compensation committee.
Audit Committee Information
Clarivate has established an audit committee comprised of independent directors. The audit committee consists of Messrs. Neral and Iyer and Ms. Mills. Each of the members of the audit committee is independent under the applicable listing standards. The audit committee has a written charter. The purpose of the audit committee is, among other things, to appoint, retain, set compensation of, and supervise Clarivate’s independent accountants, review the results and scope of the audit and other accounting related services and review Clarivate’s accounting practices and systems of internal accounting and disclosure controls.
Financial Experts on Audit Committee
The audit committee will at all times be composed exclusively of “independent directors,” as defined for audit committee members under the NYSE listing standards and the rules and regulations of the SEC, who are “financially literate.” “Financially literate” generally means being able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, including a company’s balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. In addition, Clarivate is required to certify to the NYSE that the committee has, and will continue to have, at least one member who has past employment experience in finance or accounting, requisite professional certification in accounting, or other comparable experience or background that results in the individual’s financial sophistication.
Mr. Neral serves as a financial expert on the audit committee.
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Information
Clarivate has established a nominating and corporate governance committee of the board of directors comprised of Messrs. Gilis and Macksey and Ms. von Blucher. The nominating and corporate governance committee has a written charter. The nominating and corporate governance committee is responsible for overseeing the selection of persons to be nominated to serve on Clarivate’s board of directors.
Guidelines for Selecting Director Nominees
The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider persons identified by its members, management, shareholders, investment bankers and others. The guidelines for selecting nominees, which are specified in the nominating and corporate governance committee charter, generally provide that persons to be nominated:
● | should have demonstrated notable or significant achievements in business, education or public service; |
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● | should possess the requisite intelligence, education and experience to make a significant contribution to the board of directors and bring a range of skills, diverse perspectives and backgrounds to its deliberations; and |
● | should have the highest ethical standards, a strong sense of professionalism and intense dedication to serving the interests of the shareholders. |
The nominating and corporate governance committee will consider a number of qualifications relating to management and leadership experience, background and integrity and professionalism in evaluating a person’s candidacy for membership on the board of directors. The nominating and corporate governance committee may require certain skills or attributes, such as financial or accounting experience, to meet specific board needs that arise from time to time and will also consider the overall experience and makeup of its members to obtain a broad and diverse mix of board members. The nominating and corporate governance committee will not distinguish among nominees recommended by shareholders and other persons.
Compensation Committee Information
The board of directors of Clarivate has established a compensation committee. The compensation committee consists of Messrs. Gilis and Macksey and Ms. von Blucher. The compensation committee has a written charter. The purpose of the compensation committee is to review and approve compensation paid to Clarivate’s officers and directors and to administer Clarivate’s incentive compensation plans, including authority to make and modify awards under such plans.
Any award made pursuant to an individual subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act must consist of a committee of two or more members of the board who are “nonemployee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3(d)(1) under the Exchange Act.
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Our chief executive officer and executive chairman, Mr. Stead, was a member of our Compensation Committee during 2019. Mr. Stead no longer serves on our Compensation Committee as of January 1, 2020. In addition, in 2019, Mr. Stead designated Ms. von Blucher, a member of our Compensation Committee, to receive 1,800,000 Merger Shares in recognition of her founding of Churchill and in exchange for Ms. von Blucher agreeing to subject her Clarivate shares to specified transfer restrictions, see “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence — Transactions Involving Related Persons.” Other than Mr. Stead and Ms. von Blucher, none of the members of the Compensation Committee were at any time during 2019, or at any other time, an officer or employee of Clarivate or had any relationship requiring disclosure under the SEC’s rules regarding related person transactions. During 2019, none of our executive officers served on the board of directors or compensation committee of a company that has an executive officer that serves on our Board of Directors or the Compensation Committee.
Code of Ethics
Clarivate has adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all of its employees, officers, and directors. This includes Clarivate’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. The full text of Clarivate’s Code of Ethics is posted on its website at https://ir.clarivate.com/Governance-Documents. Clarivate intends to disclose on its website any future amendments of the Code of Ethics or waivers that exempt any principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, persons performing similar functions, or Clarivate’s directors from provisions in the Code of Ethics.
Statement of Significant Differences Between our Corporate Governance Practices and NYSE Corporate Governance Standards for U.S. Issuers
Pursuant to exceptions for foreign private issuers, we are not required to comply with certain of the corporate governance practices followed by U.S. companies under NYSE listing standards. However, Section 303A.11 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual requires that we state any significant differences between our corporate
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governance practices and the practices required by the NYSE. In this regard, if we believe that circumstances warrant, we may elect to comply with provisions of Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 in lieu of the NYSE shareholder approval requirements applicable to certain dilutive events, such as the establishment or material amendment of certain equity-based compensation plans. In addition, our compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance committee are not required to perform annual performance evaluations.
Compensation of Directors
Non-employee directors who are not employees or affiliates of Baring Private Equity Asia Pte Ltd (“Baring”) or Onex Partners Advisor LP (“Onex”) receive compensation comprised of an annual retainer for Board service, annual retainers for applicable committee service, and meeting fees. These payments are quantified in the table below.
Directors may elect to receive 50.0% of their annual Board retainer in shares of Clarivate stock. Directors do not receive grants of stock options or stock awards.
In addition to the fees described above, reimbursement is provided for travel, lodging and other reasonable expenses. Some of this expense reimbursement is taxable in the UK, and in those cases, the Company provides a tax gross-up so that directors would not have been responsible for paying taxes on their expense reimbursements.
The Nominating and Governance Committee periodically evaluates the compensation of our non-employee directors, with the assistance of Pay Governance, the Compensation Committee’s consultant. Pay Governance reviews director pay levels and provides analyses on where the Company is positioned relative to the Company’s compensation. The Nominating and Governance Committee may bring recommendations for adjustments to non-employee director compensation to the Board for review and approval.
The following table provides information concerning the compensation of each of our non-employee directors who received compensation during fiscal year 2019. Other than directors who elected to receive 50.0% of the annual Board retainer in shares of Clarivate stock, none of the non-employee directors received stock options, stock awards, or non-equity incentive compensation.
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Non-Employee Director Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fees earned or |
|
Other |
|
Total |
|
|
paid in cash(1) |
|
compensation(2) |
|
compensation |
Name(1) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
Martin Broughton |
|
112,500 |
|
— |
|
112,500 |
Michael Klein |
|
112,500 |
|
— |
|
112,500 |
Balakrishnan S. Iyer(3) |
|
138,750 |
|
1,630 |
|
140,380 |
Charles E. Moran(4) |
|
176,250 |
|
34 |
|
176,284 |
Charles J. Neral(4) |
|
240,000 |
|
72 |
|
240,072 |
Sheryl von Blucher |
|
132,346 |
|
5,426 |
|
137,772 |
Karen G. Mills(3) |
|
131,250 |
|
1,209 |
|
132,459 |
Vin Caraher (4)(5) |
|
112,500 |
|
297 |
|
112,797 |
(1) | Kosty Gilis, Anthony Munk and Amir Motamedi do not receive compensation as they are affiliates of Onex. Matthew Scattarella and Nicholas Macksey do not receive compensation as they are affiliates of Baring. Mr. Stead, who serves as our CEO, has not received any compensation for director services other than what is disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table. |
(2) | All other compensation was for reimbursement of UK taxes due on certain aspects of ordinary business travel considered as taxable compensation by the UK tax authorities. |
(3) | Mr. Iyer and Ms. Mills elected to receive half of their Board retainer fees, excluding meeting fees and committee retainers and equal to $28,125 for each, in shares of Clarivate stock. The number of shares they received was calculated by dividing $28,125 by $13.34, the closing price of our stock on May 13, 2019, the day of the first scheduled Board meeting following the Merger. Mr. Iyer and Ms. Mills each received 2,108 shares of Clarivate stock in lieu of half of their cash retainer. |
(4) | Messrs. Moran, Neral and Caraher were directors of Clarivate prior to the Merger and their reported fees include payments for their services prior to the Merger. |
(5) | Mr. Caraher’s service as a director ended on May 13, 2019 in connection with the Merger. |
The Company’s Amended and Restated Memorandum of Association provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company shall indemnify its directors and officers against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, which they may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions in connection with the Company other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default. The Company maintains a directors’ and officers’ liability policy for the benefit of any director or officer in the event of any loss or liability the director or officer may experience in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust, whether or not we may otherwise indemnify such officer or director.
Shareholder and Interested Party Communications
Shareholders and interested parties may communicate with the board of directors by contacting the Company secretary, Stephen Hartman, at Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8EZ, UK. Mr. Hartman also serves as our general counsel.
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
(Amounts are Actuals, Unless Otherwise Noted)
Introduction
This Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A) describes how we determine compensation provided to the executive officers whose compensation is described herein and who are referred to as named executive officers (“NEOs”).
Our active NEOs are:
● | Jerre Stead — Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
● | Richard Hanks — Chief Financial Officer |
● | Mukhtar Ahmed — President, Science Group |
● | Jeff Roy — President, Intellectual Property (“IP”) Group |
● | Stephen Hartman — General Counsel and Global Head of Corporate Development |
In addition, we will be reporting compensation for the following two former executive officers, who served during the last fiscal year: Jay Nadler, former Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Annette Thomas, former Chief Executive Officer, Scientific and Academic Research.
Executive Summary
Who We Are
We are a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics that accelerate the pace of innovation. To achieve this, we deliver critical data, information, workflow solutions and deep domain expertise to innovators everywhere. We offer solutions that drive the entire lifecycle of innovation, including the following:
● | Scientific and academic research |
● | Patent intelligence and compliance standards |
● | Pharmaceutical and biotech intelligence |
● | Trademark, domain and brand protection |
Fiscal year 2019 reflected a transformational year for Clarivate. In May 2019, we transitioned from a private to a publicly held company through the merger of Churchill Capital Corp (“Churchill”) and Clarivate Analytics Plc (the “Merger”). From a business perspective, we have made significant accomplishments in a short period, as described under “2019 Business Highlights” and “2019 Financial Results” below.
Since the Merger, we have been highly focused on building a culture of high engagement and accountability. We are moving forward with a sense of urgency and intense external curiosity about what drives success for our customers. We understand that our own success and future is inextricably linked to the success and future of the world around us, and that identifying and addressing gaps in our environmental, social and governance performance will ultimately make us more globally competitive and allow us to drive profitable growth for the long-term.
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We have a vibrant, engaged workforce guided by a common mission, values and strategic goals.
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Executive Compensation Disclosures
We are voluntarily providing this CD&A and the related compensation disclosure. As mentioned above, Clarivate is currently classified as a FPI, and with this classification we are not required to provide a CD&A and detailed individual compensation information for our NEOs. However, we believe it is important to provide our shareholders with transparent disclosure of our past year’s executive compensation. We have chosen not to have a say on pay vote this year, as we have not yet had time to fully implement our planned compensation programs.
Shareholder Engagement
We are subjecting ourselves to the U.S. disclosure rules to be able to engage with shareholders more effectively. In 2020, we plan to reach out to our shareholders to discuss our executive compensation and corporate governance practices as they relate to executive compensation, and we will consider our shareholders’ input as we continue to refine our executive compensation program.
2019 Business Highlights
Clarivate is the leading provider of intellectual property and scientific information. In 2019, we have accomplished the following (see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Factors Affecting the Comparability of Our Results of Operations — Our Transition to Operations as a Standalone Business”).
● | Completed the separation of our business from Thomson Reuters infrastructure |
● | Consolidated five Product Lines into two Product Groups: the Science Group and the IP Group (Mr. Ahmed and Mr. Roy were chosen to lead the Science Group and the IP Group, respectively) |
● | Initiated organizational efficiency work, including headcount optimization, facilities consolidation, technology modernization, and vendor rationalization and renegotiation |
● | Refinanced our debt capital structure to improve the weighted average cost of debt and lower interest expense by approximately $18.0 million per year |
● | Completed two secondary offerings totaling 89,355,000 ordinary shares (including the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares) held by our private equity sponsors and other shareholders |
● | Completed the buyout of the tax receivable agreement for $200.0 million |
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● | Acquired two businesses (Sequencebase and Darts-ip) to augment our existing portfolio of IP assets and reached an agreement to divest our non-core brand protection assets |
● | Implemented a customer delight program to focus our improvement efforts |
● | Commenced the process to acquire Decision Resources Group, which expands our Life Sciences services and solutions portfolio to enable customers worldwide to accelerate life-changing innovations and improve patient outcomes and access; a definitive agreement was reached in January 2020, and the acquisition closed on February 28, 2020 |
2019 Financial Results
The table below highlights our key financial metrics which we measured for purposes of compensating our NEOs in 2019.
Key Financial Results
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2019 Results |
|
2018 Results |
||
Revenue |
|
$ |
974,345 |
|
$ |
968,468 |
Adjusted Revenue |
|
$ |
974,783 |
|
$ |
951,170 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
294,066 |
|
$ |
272,861 |
Standalone Adjusted EBITDA |
|
$ |
336,066 |
|
$ |
310,968 |
Free Cash Flow |
|
$ |
47,744 |
|
$ |
(71,510) |
See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Certain Non-GAAP Measures” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources” for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP to GAAP financial measures.”
Return to Shareholders
We have delivered a strong return to our shareholders through the year. On December 31, 2019, Clarivate stock closed at $16.80 per share providing our shareholders with a 24.6% increase in value from the Merger (on May 14, 2019, the first trading day following the Merger, Clarivate stock closed at $13.48 per share) and providing investors who had invested in Churchill as of the end of 2018 and continued to hold their shares with a 75.9% increase in value from December 31, 2018, when our stock closed at $9.55 per share.
Approach to Performance-Based Compensation
To reward achievement in 2019, we maintained a target-based annual incentive plan (the “AIP”) that delivered annual cash payments to the NEOs and other senior employees based on achievement of pre-determined financial goals of the Company tied to adjusted revenue, standalone adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow (for employees with group-wide responsibility) and Product Line revenue and product contribution (for employees within Product Lines). The AIP also has an individual performance modifier. Our active NEOs had target payments ranging from 58.2% to 100.0% of their annual base salaries, depending upon their positions. As a result of the financial performance described in the table above, the AIP pool tied to corporate goals was funded at 100.0% of target.
Because our long-term incentive compensation program was not in effect in 2019, the percentage of fiscal year 2019 compensation that was at risk is not a full reflection of NEO compensation over a normal period. Beginning in 2020, we are expecting approximately 90% of our CEO’s compensation to be at risk and approximately 70% of the other NEOs’ compensation, on average as a group, to be at risk. For purposes of these estimates, compensation is comprised of base salary, AIP target and long-term incentive target, with AIP target and long-term incentive target both counting as at-risk pay.
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Key Compensation Decisions
In 2019, we made decisions that impacted the compensation our NEOs received during 2019 as well as the structure of our future executive compensation program.
Initially, our executive compensation program for 2019 was designed and implemented as a private-equity owned company. As the year progressed and we became a public company, we focused on aligning and simplifying our organization, instilling a strong sense of urgency and accountability and further structuring Clarivate for incremental growth and profitability. In connection with this restructuring, there were several changes at the senior leadership level, including the appointment of Mr. Stead as our new CEO and subsequent personnel changes at the senior level in order to help achieve Mr. Stead’s goals for the Company. These leadership changes have required us to offer new compensation packages, adjust other compensation, and approve severance arrangements. Details of these compensation decisions are described further in this CD&A.
Since the Merger, we have been pivoting our executive compensation programs to align with the expectations of our public shareholders and expect that compensation for the 2020 fiscal year will create a performance-based culture and reward colleagues for collective performance and demonstration of our values. Although some of our plans will not take effect until 2020, we began planning a compensation program whose goals are to:
● | Provide appropriate rewards for achievement of business objectives and which support the creation of long-term shareholder value, including the granting of performance-based equity tied to three-year performance goals and relative shareholder return; |
● | Align with best practices from a corporate governance perspective, including having an appropriate peer group of comparator companies; and |
● | Attract, retain and motivate the high-caliber executive talent needed to support our growth targets. |
Corporate Governance and Compensation Program Enhancements
We are committed to having policies in place to ensure effective oversight of our executive compensation program and strong corporate governance. Because we began the year as a private-equity-held firm, we are still implementing some governance policies relating to executive compensation. The table below highlights practices in effect in 2019 as well as practices we will be implementing in 2020.
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WHAT WE DO |
WHAT WE DON’T DO |
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þ We have an independent compensation consultant |
We do not provide our CEO with an employment agreement |
|
þ We have adopted share ownership guidelines for our executive officers and the Board of Directors |
⌧ We do not permit our employees to engage in hedging transactions |
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þ Beginning in 2020, we will have a Compensation Committee that is fully comprised of independent directors |
⌧ We do not permit our employees to pledge the Company’s securities to secure margin or other loans |
|
þ Beginning in 2020, the majority of NEO pay will be at risk and dependent upon performance |
⌧ We do not reprice underwater stock options |
|
þ The mix of executive officer equity awards in 2020 will include a performance-based element |
⌧ We do not provide excise tax gross-up payments |
|
þ In 2020, we intend to engage with our shareholders to discuss executive compensation and corporate governance matters |
⌧ We do not have an evergreen provision that automatically adds shares to our equity incentive plan |
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Our Approach to Pay
Compensation Philosophy
Our compensation in 2019 recognized Clarivate’s legacy as a private-equity-held firm, including: (i) increased emphasis on cash incentives, which were at risk based on pre-assigned company financial targets, (ii) pay levels targeted at or below market median without specific reference to an identified peer group for benchmarking, and (iii) historic stock options whose primary purpose was to create value for recipients alongside the private equity sponsors upon a Liquidity Event (as defined in the Clarivate Analytics Plc 2019 Incentive Award Plan (the “2019 Incentive Plan”)).
Soon after the merger with Churchill, we began reviewing our compensation programs in order to reflect our public company status and to create a performance-based culture and reward colleagues for collective performance and demonstration of our values. We adopted the following guiding principles for compensation and benefits:
● | Our total rewards strategy should support our mission, vision and values |
● | Our compensation philosophy must attract, retain and motivate top talent |
● | Our compensation programs should be globally consistent and locally competitive |
● | Our incentives need to be aligned to key business objectives appropriate to colleague roles |
● | Our compensation programs must support a pay-for-performance culture |
We assessed our long-term and short-term incentive plans against these principles and determined that our AIP is well designed for future purposes and not in need of significant change (other than our normal review in the ordinary course and setting of suitably demanding annual targets). However, we determined that stock options that had been tied to private equity returns did not give us the adaptability we need for providing ongoing competitive pay or to allow for a wider distribution of incentives to colleagues who are key to ensuring we hit our goals. Beginning in 2020, equity grants pursuant to our 2019 Incentive Plan will be comprised of a mix of restricted stock units: (a) performance-based units (“PRSUs”) tied to long-term financial and operational metrics with a relative total shareholder return modifier, and (b) time-based units (“RSUs”) that will vest over time.
Peer Group Benchmarking
With guidance from Pay Governance LLC, our independent compensation consultant, we established a peer group for benchmarking executive pay based on the following guiding principles:
● | Companies engaged in intelligence development, data analytics, digital delivery or cybersecurity/intellectual property protections |
● | Revenues between $300 million – $3.0 billion (approximately 0.3x – 3.0x Clarivate) |
● | Market capitalization between $1.0 – $24.0 billion (approximately 0.25x – 5.0x Clarivate) |
● | Business/talent competitors of Clarivate |
● | A group of between 10 to 25 companies so that results are statistically reliable, and the peer group is sustainable over time |
● | Sufficient pay data is available for companies identified as potential peers |
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Based on this analysis, we selected the following companies as our primary peer group for compensation benchmarking in 2019:
Determination of Executive Compensation
Role of the Compensation Committee
Following the closing of the Merger, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors has administered the compensation program for our executive officers and executive leadership team.
With respect to CEO compensation, the Compensation Committee:
● | Reviews and approves the corporate goals and objectives; |
● | Evaluates the CEO’s performance in light of these goals and objectives; and |
● | Sets the CEO’s compensation based upon the evaluation of the CEO’s performance. (Under its charter, the Compensation Committee may set the CEO’s compensation either alone or, if directed by the Board, in conjunction with a majority of the independent directors on the Board.) |
Additionally, the Compensation Committee reviews and sets or makes recommendations to the Board regarding the compensation of the executive officers other than the CEO.
The Compensation Committee reviews and approves or recommends to the Board regarding the adoption or amendment of the Company’s incentive compensation and equity-based plans and arrangements. The Compensation Committee administers these plans and has authority to make and modify awards under these plans.
The Compensation Committee considers a variety of factors when making compensation decisions, including:
● | Experience, responsibilities, and both individual and overall Company performance |
● | Internal equity among executives |
● | Executive role in succession planning |
● | Competitive external market data and trends |
● | Alignment with shareholders, customers and colleagues |
Role of Compensation Consultant
During 2019, the Compensation Committee engaged Pay Governance LLC as its independent compensation consultant to advise on executive compensation matters. Pay Governance specializes in executive compensation and related governance matters and does not perform any unrelated services for Clarivate. The Compensation Committee has sole authority with regard to the decision to retain the compensation consultant and, while the compensation consultant interacts with management from time to time in order to best coordinate with and deliver services to the Compensation Committee, it reports directly to the Compensation Committee with respect to its compensation consulting advice.
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Role of Management
At the Compensation Committee’s request, management provides us with information, analyses and recommendations regarding our executive compensation program. From May 2019, our CEO was a member of the Compensation Committee and participated in compensation decisions, other than those decisions that were directly related to the CEO’s own compensation. Starting in 2020, the CEO will no longer serve on the Compensation Committee, which is consistent with our decision to report as a domestic filer.
CEO
At the time of the Merger, Mr. Stead was named Executive Chairman, and shortly thereafter Mr. Stead agreed to expand his role to become our CEO effective as of June 30, 2019. Mr. Stead has had a long and very successful career generating value for investors as a public company CEO. Over the last two decades, he led one of the fastest-growing and most successful companies in the information services sector, IHS Markit Ltd.
Post-Merger Compensation. Mr. Stead has been provided with an annual salary of $600,000 (pro-rated for the time he served as CEO) and an AIP target equal to 100.0% of his annual salary. Prior to the time that Mr. Stead’s AIP payout could be calculated, he requested and the Compensation Committee agreed that he be paid only 50.0% of his earned AIP payout. Mr. Stead has also requested that he not have an employment agreement. We have been advised by our compensation consultant, Pay Governance LLC, that Mr. Stead’s compensation (excluding the Merger Shares discussed below) is below market compared to our peer group. Given Mr. Stead’s successful track record and years of experience in the information services industry, we will review his compensation as compared to our peer group in 2020.
Pre-Merger Compensation. Under the Sponsor Agreement, Clarivate, Churchill and the other parties thereto agreed that Clarivate would issue 7,000,000 ordinary shares ("Merger Shares") to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein, including themselves, upon Clarivate’s achievement of a closing share price on the NYSE of at least $20.00 per share for 40 days over a 60 consecutive trading day period on or before the sixth anniversary of the closing of the Merger. Of the 7,000,000 Merger Shares, Mr. Stead was delegated the authority to designate recipients of up to 4,000,000. As of December 31, 2019, 1,000,000 Merger Shares were designated
123
for Mr. Stead, and he retained the authorization to designate the recipients of a residual 400,000 unissued Merger Shares. On January 31, 2020, our Board agreed to waive the performance vesting condition described above, and such Merger Shares are expected to be issued to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein prior to the consummation of this offering. Additionally, the terms of the Sponsor Agreement provided that the Churchill board of directors could allocate up to 1,000,000 immediately vested non-qualified stock options that would be granted after the close of the Merger. At that time, the Churchill board of directors designated that the options would be granted to Mr. Stead given his agreement to serve as the executive chairman of Clarivate following the Merger. These options were then granted to Mr. Stead with an exercise price of $13.30, the fair market value as of the May 20, 2019 grant date. The stock options will only have value to Mr. Stead if our share price remains above the $13.30 exercise price. While we are required to report the Merger Shares and stock options designated for Mr. Stead as compensation to him under the rules of the SEC, the Merger Shares and stock options were actually received by Mr. Stead in his role as a founder of Churchill and were part of the terms of the Merger, which were negotiated on an arm’s length basis among the parties to the Sponsor Agreement, and not a decision of the Compensation Committee.
Base Salary. In connection with the Merger and restructuring described in “Key Compensation Decisions” above, we provided salary adjustments to Messrs. Ahmed, Roy and Hartman. Over the course of the year, Mr. Ahmed received two separate salary increases (the first being 13.8% and the second being 21.6%). The first increase, in July 2019, was after the Merger to align his pay with the competitive market, and the second increase, effective in September 2019, was in recognition of his appointment as head of one of our two primary Product Groups. In total Mr. Ahmed’s salary increased from $414,050 at the beginning of the year to $573,300 at year-end. Mr. Roy received a 17.6% increase in salary, from $382,500 to $450,000 after the Merger, which aligns his pay with the competitive market and recognizes his appointment as head of one of our two primary Product Groups. Both Messrs. Ahmed and Roy have significantly increased areas of responsibility and hold critically important roles. Mr. Hartman received a 25.0% increase in salary, from $305,760 to $382,200, in recognition of his expanded responsibilities as general counsel of a public company and to align his pay with the competitive market. Messrs. Hartman and Ahmed are based in the United Kingdom and their salaries have been converted to USD using a GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.274, which is a rate set at the beginning of 2019 using a six-month forward look which we use for the purposes of our budgetary planning.
Annual Incentive Plan
Our AIP is intended to reward achievement of operational and financial performance by aligning individual performance with our business strategy and objectives. Each NEO has a target AIP payout, which is defined as a percentage of the respective NEO’s eligible base pay. There is also a discretionary individual performance modifier, which may be used to increase or decrease an individual’s final payout up to twice the calculated payment, depending upon an assessment of that individual’s performance, determined by the Compensation Committee for NEOs, against individual objectives.
In mid-2019, the Compensation Committee adjusted the AIP target payout for the NEOs (other than for the CEO) as follows:
● | Mr. Hanks: 62.5% to 85.0% of his base salary |
● | Mr. Ahmed: 85.0% to 100.0% of his base salary |
● | Mr. Roy: 60% to 85% of his base salary |
● | Mr. Hartman: 50% to 65% of his base salary |
These adjustments were made to recognize the expanded roles following the Merger and restructuring. The increased targets have been pro-rated (from the date of adjustment) for purposes of determining the 2019 AIP payouts.
The AIP for our NEOs included goals which best represent our key business performance areas, including adjusted revenue, standalone adjusted EBITDA, and adjusted free cash flow. Additionally, Messrs. Roy and Ahmed had goals tied to Product Line performance.
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The table below provides the threshold, target and maximum AIP opportunities and actual results achieved in 2019 at the corporate level. Payments are interpolated between these levels.
2019 AIP Calculations
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2019 Corporate |
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2019 Corporate |
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Goal as % of |
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AIP Payout Level |
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Metric |
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Weighting |
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Payment Level |
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Goal |
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Target |
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2019 Results |
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Achieved |
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|||
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|
|
(in thousands) |
|
(in thousands) |
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|||
Adjusted Revenue(1) |
|
40% |
|
Threshold |
|
0 |
% |
$ |
962,000 |
|
97.9 |
% |
977,775 |
|
35.8 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Target |
|
100 |
% |
$ |
982,600 |
|
100.0 |
% |
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|
|
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|
|
|
Maximum |
|
200 |
% |
$ |
1,080,000 |
|
110.0 |
% |
|
|
|
|
Standalone Adjusted EBITDA(1) |
|
40% |
|
Threshold |
|
0 |
% |
$ |
325,000 |
|
97.9 |
% |
338,219 |
|
43.4 |
%(2) |
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|
|
Target |
|
100 |
% |
$ |
332,000 |
|
100.0 |
% |
|
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Maximum |
|
200 |
% |
$ |
365,200 |
|
110.0 |
% |
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|
|
Adjusted Free Cash Flow(1) |
|
20% |
|
Threshold |
|
0 |
% |
$ |
42,800 |
|
75.0 |
% |
57,600 |
|
20.8 |
% |
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|
|
Target |
|
100 |
% |
$ |
57,000 |
|
100.0 |
% |
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Maximum |
|
200 |
% |
$ |
71,300 |
|
125.0 |
% |
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|
Calculated Annual Incentive Payout (as a Percentage of Target) |
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|
100 |
% |
(footnotes in thousands)
(1) | Adjusted revenue and standalone adjusted EBITDA are presented at plan rates excluding results from two acquisitions that occurred late in 2019: Darts-ip, acquired in November 2019, and SequenceBase, acquired in September 2019. These exclusions and the presentation at plan rates resulted in the following differences between the amounts included above for 2019 AIP Calculations and the amounts reported in “Key Financial Results”: adjusted revenue plan results increased by $2,992; standalone adjusted EBITDA plan results increased by $2,153. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Certain Non-GAAP Measures” for a reconciliation of our non-GAAP to GAAP financial measures. Adjusted free cash flows for AIP purposes are presented at actual rates and are adjusted to exclude certain transactions that do not represent operations from our ongoing business. These adjustments resulted in an increase of $9,856 between the amount included above for 2019 AIP Calculation and the amount reported in “Key Financial Results.” |
(2) | The calculated payout for standalone adjusted EBITDA is 47.5%; however, the payout was set at 43.4% to ensure that payment based on non-GAAP adjustments would not adversely impact overall adjusted EBITDA. |
The table below illustrates the AIP payout calculations for Messrs. Stead, Hanks and Hartman, whose AIP goals were 100% tied to the corporate AIP goals shown above, plus an individual modifier for Messrs. Hanks and Hartman. The Compensation Committee utilized the individual performance modifier to increase the final payments to Messrs. Hanks and Hartman to recognize their leadership and accomplishments that were required for the successful and timely closing of the Merger and start of operations as a public company.
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Individual NEO AIP Calculations – 100% Corporate
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Total AIP |
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Payout |
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Eligible Base |
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Pro-Rata AIP |
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Corporate Goal |
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Voluntary |
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Individual |
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Final AIP |
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as Percent of |
|
Name |
|
Pay($) |
|
Target (%) |
|
Achievement (%) |
|
Forfeiture($) |
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Modifier ($) |
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Payout |
|
Target |
|
Jerre Stead(1) |
|
600,000 |
|
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
(300,000) |
|
— |
|
300,000 |
|
50.0 |
% |
Richard Hanks |
|
500,000 |
|
68.9 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
— |
|
5,445 |
|
350,000 |
|
101.6 |
% |
Stephen Hartman |
|
350,576 |
|
58.2 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
— |
|
15,813 |
|
220,000 |
|
107.7 |
% |
(1) | See “CEO Compensation” for additional discussion regarding Mr. Stead’s eligible earnings and voluntary forfeiture of AIP incentive payout. |
Messrs. Ahmed and Roy had 50% of their AIP tied to the corporate AIP goals shown above and 50% tied to the performance of the Product Lines for which they had responsibility. Their respective Product Lines did not achieve the applicable threshold performance levels; thus, Messrs. Ahmed and Roy are not receiving a payout for the portion of their AIP that is weighted to their Product Lines. Because of their leadership, vision and key contributions to the Company’s strategic path forward, the Compensation Committee utilized the individual performance modifier to increase their payouts, as shown in the following table.
Individual NEO AIP Calculations – 50% Corporate/50% Product Line
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Percentage of |
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AIP Payout |
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Total AIP |
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Weighted to |
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Payout |
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Eligible Base |
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Pro-Rata AIP |
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Corporate Goal |
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Corporate |
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Individual |
|
Final AIP |
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as Percent of |
|
Name |
|
Pay($) |
|
Target($) |
|
Achievement (%) |
|
Goals(%) |
|
Modifier($) |
|
Payout($) |
|
Target(%) |
|
Mukhtar Ahmed |
|
477,017 |
|
91.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
50.0 |
% |
132,896 |
|
350,000 |
|
80.6 |
% |
Jeff Roy |
|
416,527 |
|
69.9 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
50.0 |
% |
104,453 |
|
250,000 |
|
85.9 |
% |
Messrs. Hartman and Ahmed are based in the United Kingdom and, in the AIP tables above, their payments have been converted to USD using a GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.274. Since Mr. Nadler and Dr. Thomas were no longer employed with the Company as of the end of the fiscal year 2019, they did not receive an AIP payout tied to achievement of the performance goals.
Long-Term Incentive Plan
None of our NEOs received new equity grants in 2019 as compensation for their roles with Clarivate. As discussed previously under “Pre-Merger Compensation” above, as part of the Merger, Mr. Stead received an award of stock options for his role as a founder of Churchill.
In prior years, our NEOs, other than Mr. Stead, had received grants of non-qualified options under the Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited 2016 Equity Incentive Plan. In addition to compensatory grants, under this equity scheme, participants had an opportunity to invest in the then-private company and receive matching non-qualified stock options. After the Merger, these options were converted to non-qualified stock options under the 2019 Incentive Plan.
The terms of the stock options held by our NEOs, other than our CEO, provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a Liquidity Event which would require our “Principal Shareholders” (as defined in the 2019 Incentive Plan) to be holding less than 30% of the total shares of the Company that they held immediately after the Merger. The terms of the stock options held by our NEOs were approved when the Company was private-equity owned.
Benefits
We sponsor a qualified defined contribution plan (“401(k) Plan”) for U.S. employees, including U.S.-based NEOs. In addition, we sponsor a qualified defined contribution plan for UK employees, including UK-based
126
NEOs. Other than the qualified plans described above, we do not provide any other pension plan, supplemental retirement plan, or deferred compensation plan to our NEOs.
We also provide NEOs with life and medical insurance, and other benefits generally available to all employees. We provide limited perquisites.
Employment and Separation Agreements
Our CEO does not have an employment agreement. In prior years, Clarivate entered into employment agreements with Messrs. Hanks, Ahmed, Roy and Hartman as well as with our former officers, Mr. Nadler and Dr. Thomas.
The employment agreements that we have in place with Messrs. Hanks, Ahmed, Roy, and Hartman are for the purpose of establishing their employment terms. These employment agreements provide a description of compensation elements and benefits to which each NEO is entitled, as further discussed under “Employment Contracts” below.
In 2019, we also entered into separation agreements with Mr. Nadler and Dr. Thomas that are described under “Employment Contracts” and “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control.”
Compensation Policies
Stock Ownership Guidelines
In January 2020, we adopted the following stock ownership guidelines for our non-employee directors, CEO, executive officers and leadership team.
|
|
|
Position |
|
Stock Ownership Guidelines |
Chief Executive Officer |
|
6 times base salary |
Other Executive Officers and Leadership Team |
|
3 times base salary |
Non-employee Directors |
|
5 times annual retainer |
Insider Trading Policy
We have an insider trading policy that prohibits officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company from trading while in possession of material, non-public information about the Company. We have Company-wide trading blackouts that are in effect prior to the release of earnings and we require all executive officers and other key employees to pre-clear any transactions with the Company’s General Counsel or Chief Financial Officer.
No Hedging Policy
Certain forms of hedging or monetization transactions allow an individual to lock in much of the value of his or her share holdings, often in exchange for all or part of the potential for upside appreciation in the shares. We have a policy that prohibits directors, executive officers, employees and consultants from engaging in such transactions.
No Pledging Policy
We have a policy that prohibits our directors, executive officers, employees and consultants from pledging the Company’s securities as collateral to secure loans or otherwise. This prohibition includes a prohibition on holding the Company’s securities in a margin account, which would allow the director or executive officer to borrow against their holdings to buy securities.
Equity Grant Practices
Beginning in 2020, we expect to make annual equity awards, comprised of PRSUs and RSUs, to management during the first quarter of the year. We also expect to make broad-based grants to our non-
127
management employees in the fourth quarter of the year if we meet our Customer Delight goals. New hire and ad hoc grants may be made throughout the year.
Risk Management
The Board of Directors is responsible for the oversight of the Company’s ongoing assessment and management of material risks impacting our business. The Compensation Committee oversees compensation risk management by participating in the creation of, and approving, compensation elements, programs and performance metrics that encourage an appropriate level of risk-taking consistent with our business strategy. In 2019, we had a formulaic-based annual incentive plan with maximum caps and pre-established goals that focused on multiple areas across the Company. Beginning in 2020, we will have short-term and long-term incentive plans that include a mix of performance metrics that align with our overall corporate goals and strategy and do not encourage excessive risk taking in order to meet one particular goal. As noted above in “Compensation Policies,” we have stock ownership guidelines and prohibitions against hedging and pledging of our securities. We do not believe our current compensation practices and programs are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Impact of Accounting and Tax Treatment
The Compensation Committee considers the accounting and tax treatment to Clarivate and the NEOs in its decision-making process, including: the recognition of stock-based compensation; the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which eliminated the exception that allowed for the deductibility of certain performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code; and Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. We strive to ensure that there are no significant negative accounting implications due to the design of our compensation programs; however, we will base our decisions on what we believe is necessary and appropriate to further the growth of our Company, align with our shareholders interest, and pay for performance.
Executive Compensation Tables
2019 Summary Compensation Table
The following summary compensation table sets forth information concerning compensation paid or accrued to: (i) each person who served as our CEO during the fiscal year 2019, (ii) our chief financial officer, (iii) our three other most highly compensated executive officers who serve in such capacity as of the end of 2019, and
128
(iv) one former executive officer who would have been included as one of our three other most highly compensated executive officers had she been serving in that capacity at the end of 2019.
(1) | Mr. Stead was named Executive Chairman in connection with the closing of the Merger on May 13, 2019 and shortly thereafter, he agreed to expand his role to become our CEO effective June 30, 2019. Mr. Nadler served as our CEO prior to Mr. Stead and continued to serve as an advisor to the Company through year-end. Effective September 18, 2019, we entered into a separation agreement with Dr. Thomas. |
(2) | Represents the value of 1,000,000 Merger Shares based on the fair market value on the date of designation and calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of any estimated forfeitures. Information about the assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of the stock can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Note 3: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Share Based Compensation” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Note 17: Employment and Compensation Arrangements.” The reported amount does not include the value of the 400,000 Merger Shares over which Mr. Stead has retained the authority to designate, which were not designated as of December 31, 2019. As further described under “Pre-Merger Compensation” above, the Merger Shares were provided for in the Sponsor Agreement, the terms of which were negotiated on an arm’s length basis among the parties thereto. |
(3) | For Mr. Stead, the value of the option awards reflects the grant date fair value of stock options calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of any estimated forfeitures. As further described under “Pre-Merger Compensation” above, the stock options listed for Mr. Stead were provided for in the Sponsor Agreement, the terms of which were negotiated on an arm’s length basis among the parties thereto. For Dr. Thomas, the value of options reflects $5,553,629 of fair value related to stock options that were accelerated upon her termination and $300,086 in incremental expense related to the extension of exercise period for options that were vested at the time of her termination. The values for Dr. Thomas were calculated as of the modification date in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Information about the assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of the stock options can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Note 3: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies — Share Based Compensation” and “Note 17: Employment and Compensation Arrangements.” |
129
(4) | Represents annual incentive payments under our AIP that will be paid in March 2020 for 2019 performance. |
(5) | The table below provides a breakdown of All Other Compensation in 2019 for our NEOs: |
(a) | For Messrs. Stead, Hanks, Roy and Nadler, the matching contributions to retirement plans were under the Company’s 401(k) plan offered to employees located in the U.S. For Messrs. Ahmed and Hartman, the matching contributions to retirement plans were under the Company’s defined contribution plan offered to employees located in the UK. |
(b) | Mr. Nadler received a payment of $350,000 for ongoing advisory services from the date of his termination through December 31, 2019. In addition, because he made himself available to provide advisory services as provided in his separation agreement, in March 2020, Mr. Nadler will receive a full-year non-pro-rated AIP payment at target level performance in the amount of $800,000. |
(c) | Mr. Nadler and Dr. Thomas received reimbursement of certain legal fees related to their separations. |
(d) | Dr. Thomas received a notice payment in lieu of the United Kingdom’s required three-month notice period for salary and benefits. |
(e) | Mr. Nadler’s severance represents only payments made in 2019 as continuation of his severance benefits is contingent upon him remaining in compliance with restrictive covenants set forth in his original employment agreement, including a non-compete covenant. |
(6) | Messrs. Ahmed and Hartman and Dr. Thomas received cash payments in British Pounds. For purposes of the compensation tables, we used a GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.274 to convert their cash payments received to US dollars. |
130
Grants of Plan Based Awards During Fiscal Year 2019
The following table provides information regarding grants of plan-based awards to our NEOs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All other option |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All other stock |
|
awards: Number |
|
Exercise or |
|
Grant date fair |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
awards: Number |
|
of securities |
|
base price of |
|
value of stock |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated future payouts under non-equity |
|
of shares of stock |
|
underlying |
|
option |
|
and option |
||||
|
|
|
|
Approval |
|
incentive plan awards(1) |
|
or units |
|
options |
|
awards |
|
awards |
||||
Name |
|
Grant date |
|
date |
|
Threshold($) |
|
Target($) |
|
Maximum($) |
|
(#) |
|
(#)(2) |
|
($/Sh) |
|
($) |
Jerre Stead |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
600,000 |
|
1,200,000 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5/20/2019 |
|
5/20/2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
(3) |
13.30 |
|
2,940,000 |
|
|
5/26/2019 |
|
5/26/2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
(4) |
|
|
|
|
12,960,000 |
Richard Hanks |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
344,555 |
|
689,110 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mukhtar Ahmed |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
434,207 |
|
868,414 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff Roy |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
291,095 |
|
582,190 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen Hartman |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
204,187 |
|
408,374 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jay Nadler |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annette Thomas(5) |
|
|
|
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9/18/2019 |
|
9/16/2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
286,525 |
|
6.76 |
|
3,061,277 |
|
|
9/18/2019 |
|
9/16/2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
204,626 |
|
10.39 |
|
1,474,084 |
|
|
9/18/2019 |
|
9/16/2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
204,626 |
|
14.18 |
|
805,846 |
|
|
9/18/2019 |
|
9/19/2019 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
122,807 |
|
17.96 |
|
212,422 |
(1) | The threshold, target and maximum amounts shown under “Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards” reflect the ranges of payments that could be made under the AIP. Actual payments under the AIP are shown in the Summary Compensation Table. Because Mr. Nadler and Dr. Thomas terminated employment before the end of fiscal year 2019, they were not eligible to receive an AIP payout based on year-end performance. |
(2) | Stock options were granted pursuant to the 2019 Incentive Plan. |
(3) | As further described under “Pre-Merger Compensation” above, the stock options listed for Mr. Stead were provided for in the Sponsor Agreement, the terms of which were negotiated on an arm’s length basis among the parties thereto. |
(4) | Represents the value of 1,000,000 Merger Shares based on the fair market value on the date of designation and calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding the effect of any estimated forfeitures. Information about the assumptions used to calculate the grant date fair value of the stock can be found in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Note 17: Employment and Compensation Arrangements.” As further described under “Pre-Merger Compensation” above, the Merger Shares were provided for in the Sponsor Agreement, the terms of which were negotiated on an arm’s length basis among the parties thereto. |
(5) | The option awards listed for Dr. Thomas show the details of the accelerated vesting of her unvested stock options, pursuant to the terms of her separation agreement, as further described in “Former Officer Agreement.” The number of securities underlying her stock options is the number of stock options accelerated. The exercise price is the original exercise price of the accelerated stock options, and the amounts shown for grant date fair value includes $5,553,629 of fair value related to stock options that were accelerated upon her termination and excludes $300,086 of incremental expense related to the extension of the exercise period for her stock options that were vested upon her termination. |
131
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
The following table provides information concerning the outstanding equity awards held by the NEOs at the end of fiscal year 2019. Except for our CEO, our NEOs were holding only stock options at the end of the fiscal year; none were holding stock awards.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option awards |
|
Stock awards |
||||||||
|
|
Number of |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
underlying |
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market value of |
|
|
unexercised |
|
underlying |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of shares or |
|
shares or units of |
|
|
options |
|
unexercised options |
|
Option exercise |
|
|
|
units of stock that |
|
stock that have not |
|
|
(#) |
|
(#) |
|
price |
|
|
|
have not vested |
|
vested |
Name |
|
exercisable |
|
unexercisable |
|
($) |
|
Option expiration date |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
Jerre Stead |
|
1,000,000 |
(1) |
— |
|
13.30 |
|
5/19/2029 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
(8) |
16,800,000 |
Richard Hanks |
|
147,992 |
|
221,990 |
(2) |
6.61 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,710 |
|
158,563 |
(2) |
10.39 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
105,710 |
|
158,563 |
(2) |
14.18 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
63,426 |
|
95,138 |
(2) |
17.96 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,271 |
|
9,513 |
(3) |
6.61 |
|
5/22/2027 |
|
|
|
|
Mukhtar Ahmed |
|
46,248 |
|
184,991 |
(4) |
6.91 |
|
3/7/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,034 |
|
132,136 |
(4) |
10.85 |
|
3/7/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,034 |
|
132,136 |
(4) |
14.78 |
|
3/7/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,820 |
|
79,282 |
(4) |
18.72 |
|
3/7/2028 |
|
|
|
|
Jeff Roy |
|
73,996 |
|
110,995 |
(5) |
6.76 |
|
9/4/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,854 |
|
79,282 |
(5) |
10.39 |
|
9/4/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,854 |
|
79,282 |
(5) |
14.18 |
|
9/4/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,712 |
|
47,570 |
(5) |
17.96 |
|
9/4/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,928 |
|
11,892 |
(5) |
6.76 |
|
9/4/2027 |
|
|
|
|
Stephen Hartman |
|
50,661 |
|
33,774 |
(6) |
6.61 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,153 |
|
24,101 |
(6) |
10.39 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,153 |
|
24,101 |
(6) |
14.18 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,723 |
|
14,482 |
(6) |
17.96 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
79,281 |
|
52,855 |
(6) |
6.61 |
|
5/22/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,887 |
|
67,548 |
(7) |
8.14 |
|
11/12/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,051 |
|
48,203 |
(7) |
12.68 |
|
11/12/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,051 |
|
48,203 |
(7) |
17.23 |
|
11/12/2028 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,241 |
|
28,964 |
(7) |
21.78 |
|
11/12/2028 |
|
|
|
|
Jay Nadler |
|
863,098 |
|
— |
|
6.61 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,970,422 |
|
— |
|
10.39 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,970,422 |
|
— |
|
14.18 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,182,226 |
|
— |
|
17.96 |
|
3/2/2027 |
|
|
|
|
Annette Thomas |
|
477,541 |
|
— |
|
6.76 |
|
12/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
341,044 |
|
— |
|
10.39 |
|
12/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
341,044 |
|
— |
|
14.18 |
|
12/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
204,679 |
|
— |
|
17.96 |
|
12/31/2022 |
|
|
|
|
(1) | Represents stock options allocated to Mr. Stead. As further described under “Pre-Merger Compensation” above, the stock options were provided for in the Sponsor Agreement, the terms of which were negotiated on an arm’s length basis among the parties thereto. |
(2) | 40% of each of Mr. Hanks’ option awards expiring on March 2, 2027 was vested as of December 31, 2019 and 20% will vest on each of March 1, 2020; March 1, 2021; and March 1, 2022. |
(3) | 60% of Mr. Hanks’ option award expiring on May 22, 2027 was vested as of December 31, 2019 and 20% will vest on each of October 3, 2020 and October 3, 2021. |
(4) | 20% of each of Mr. Ahmed’s option awards was vested as of December 31, 2019 and 20% will vest on each of February 13, 2020; February 13, 2021; February 13, 2022; and February 13, 2023. |
(5) | 40% of each of Mr. Roy’s option awards was vested as of December 31, 2019 and 20% will vest on each of July 1, 2020; July 1, 2021; and July 1, 2022. |
(6) | 60% of each of Mr. Hartman’s option awards expiring on March 2, 2027 and May 22, 2027 were vested as of December 31, 2019 and 20% will vest on each of October 3, 2020 and October 3, 2021. |
(7) | 20% of each of Mr. Hartman’s option awards expiring on November 12, 2028 were vested as of December 31, 2019 and 20% will vest on each of November 13, 2020; November 13, 2021; November 13, 2022; and November 13, 2023. |
(8) | Represents the value of Mr. Stead’s allocated and unissued 1,000,000 Merger Shares based on the $16.80 closing price of Clarivate stock on December 31, 2019. The Merger Shares are further described under “Pre-Merger Compensation” above. |
Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2019 Table
The following table provides information concerning stock options that were exercised by the NEOs during fiscal year 2019. Only Mr. Nadler exercised options. None of our NEOs received shares upon vesting of stock awards during fiscal year 2019.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares |
|
Value Realized on |
|
|
Acquired Upon Exercise |
|
Exercise |
Name |
|
(#) |
|
($) |
Jay Nadler |
|
2,357,997 |
(1) |
24,457,399 |
(1) | Mr. Nadler used a net share exercise method through which 918,401 shares were withheld for the option exercise price, and 1,439,596 shares were issued to Mr. Nadler. |
Pension Benefits
We do not provide any pension plan, supplemental retirement plan, or deferred compensation plan benefits to our NEOs. We do provide company matches to employee contributions to qualified retirement plans and these are reported as All Other Compensation in the Summary Compensation Table.
Employment Contracts
Our CEO does not have an employment agreement.
NEO Agreements, other than CEO
In prior years, we entered in employment agreements with Messrs. Hanks, Ahmed, Roy, and Hartman.
On March 1, 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Hanks. Mr. Hanks’ employment agreement provides for an annual base salary to be reviewed at the discretion of management and the Compensation Committee and each salary adjustment is dependent on performance. Mr. Hanks is eligible to (a) participate in the AIP and is entitled to participate in employee benefits plans, programs and arrangements as are customarily accorded to our executives, and (b) participate in our 2019 Incentive Plan. In the event of an involuntary termination without cause, Mr. Hanks is eligible to receive 18 months’ of annual base salary continuation and a payment equal to 1.5 times his AIP target, as well as 18 months’ of continued benefits coverage. Payment of severance is contingent upon Mr. Hanks entering into a separation agreement, including a release of claims, with the Company. There is no eligibility for severance benefits if Mr. Hanks voluntarily resigns or the Company terminates him for cause. Mr. Hanks’ employment agreement does not constitute a contract of employment, does not entitle him to employment for any specified period and employment will continue to be considered “at will.”
Under his stock option agreements, Mr. Hanks is subject to confidentiality and intellectual property provisions and 12-month post-termination restrictive covenants related to non-competition and non-solicitation of employees and customers. His stock option agreements provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a Liquidity Event.
On January 1, 2018, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Ahmed, which constitutes a UK contract of employment. Mr. Ahmed’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary to be reviewed at the discretion of management and the Compensation Committee and each salary adjustment is dependent on performance. Mr. Ahmed is eligible to (a) participate in the AIP and is entitled to participate in employee benefits plans, programs and arrangements as are customarily accorded to our executives, and (b) participate in our 2019 Incentive Plan. In the event of an involuntary termination without cause as defined in the agreement, Mr. Ahmed is eligible to receive one year of annual salary. Payment of severance is contingent upon Mr. Ahmed entering into a separation agreement, including a release of claims, with the Company. There is
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no eligibility for severance benefits if Mr. Ahmed voluntarily resigns or the Company terminates him for cause. Under the terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Ahmed is subject to confidentiality and intellectual property provisions and 12-month post-termination restrictive covenants related to non-competition and non-solicitation of employees, customers and suppliers.
Mr. Ahmed’s stock option agreements provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a Liquidity Event.
On September 5, 2017, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Roy. Mr. Roy’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary to be reviewed at the discretion of management and the Compensation Committee and each salary adjustment is dependent on performance. Mr. Roy is eligible to (a) participate in the AIP and is entitled to participate in employee benefits plans, programs and arrangements as are customarily accorded to our executives, and (b) participate in our 2019 Incentive Plan. In the event of an involuntary termination without cause, Mr. Roy is eligible to receive 52 weeks’ severance of annual base salary continuation and 52 weeks’ continued benefits coverage. Mr. Roy is also entitled to be paid a prorated bonus if he is terminated without cause on or after April 1 of the year of termination. Payment of severance is contingent upon Mr. Roy entering into a separation agreement, including a release of claims, with the Company. There is no eligibility for severance benefits if Mr. Roy voluntarily resigns or the Company terminates him for cause. Mr. Roy’s employment agreement does not constitute a contract of employment, does not entitle him to employment for any specified period and employment will continue to be considered “at will.”
Under his stock option agreements, Mr. Roy is subject to confidentiality and intellectual property provisions and 12-month post-termination restrictive covenants related to non-competition and non-solicitation of employees and customers. His stock option agreements provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a Liquidity Event as defined in the 2019 Incentive Plan.
On April 22, 2013, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Hartman which constitutes a UK contract of employment. Mr. Hartman’s employment agreement provides for an annual base salary to be reviewed at the discretion of management and the Compensation Committee and each salary adjustment is dependent on performance. Mr. Hartman is eligible to participate in the AIP and is entitled to participate in employee benefits plans, programs and arrangements as are customarily accorded to our executives. Mr. Hartman’s employment agreement does not entitle him to severance in any termination event. Under the terms of is employment agreement, Mr. Hartman is subject to confidentiality and intellectual property provisions and six-month post-termination restrictive covenants related to non-competition and non-solicitation of employees, customers and suppliers.
Mr. Hartman’s stock option agreements provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a Liquidity Event.
Former CEO Agreements
Prior to 2019, the Company had an employment agreement with Mr. Nadler that provided for the following benefits in the event his employment was involuntarily terminated without “cause” (as defined in his employment agreement), subject to Mr. Nadler executing and not revoking a release of claims in favor of the Company: cash severance equal to 18 months’ of annual base salary continuation and payment of his AIP incentive at 1.5 times target payout for the year of termination, payment equal to the value of welfare benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (“COBRA”) for the earlier to occur of (a) 18 months (the severance period), (b) the date he is no longer eligible for welfare benefits under COBRA, or (c) the date when he is eligible to receive benefits from a subsequent employer, and acceleration of stock options due to vest in the 12 month period following the termination date, with exercisability through the earlier of 18 months following the termination date or the full original term of the stock options. Additionally, to the extent unpaid as of his termination date, Mr. Nadler was entitled to a cash payment equivalent to the annual incentive for the prior year on the basis of actual performance achieved.
In April 2019, prior to the close of the Merger, Mr. Nadler’s employment agreement was amended to provide increased benefits in the event his employment was involuntarily terminated without “cause,” subject to Mr. Nadler executing and not revoking a release of claims in favor of the Company, including cash severance equal to 24 months’ of annual base salary continuation and payment of his AIP incentive at two times his target payout for the year of termination, and payment equal to the value of welfare benefits under COBRA for the
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earlier to occur of (a) 24 months (the severance period), (b) the date he is no longer eligible for welfare benefits under COBRA, or (c) the date when he is eligible to receive benefits from a subsequent employer. Mr. Nadler’s employment agreement was further amended to provide that, in the event of his termination without cause within 12 months following a “change in control” (as defined in his employment agreement), the vesting of all outstanding, unvested stock options would be accelerated and the options would remain exercisable through the earlier of 24 months following the termination date or the full original term of the options.
Upon his separation from the Company in June 2019, we entered into a separation agreement that provided the following benefits, subject to Mr. Nadler entering into a release of claims in favor of the Company:
● | A severance payment of $3,000,000, which represents two times the sum of annual base salary and target AIP incentive which is payable in equal monthly installments over the 24-month period following the termination date |
● | Payment in an amount equal to the Company’s portion of payments which would have been required to be paid to continue medical, dental and vision coverage for Mr. Nadler and his dependents under the Company’s group healthcare plans under COBRA if Mr. Nadler and his dependents elect COBRA coverage for a 24-month period (the “COBRA Payment”) |
● | Accelerated vesting of 5,006,501 stock options which remain exercisable for the remainder of their term |
● | A contribution of $35,000 towards legal fees related to his separation |
● | In exchange for Mr. Nadler’s ongoing advisory services to the Company through December 31, 2019, (x) a payment of $350,000 in equal monthly installments beginning on July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019, (y) an amount equal to six times the monthly amount of the COBRA Payment in equal monthly installments beginning on July 1, 2019 through December 2019, and (z) a payment of $800,000 relating to his target AIP incentive to be paid in March 2020. |
In the separation agreement, Mr. Nadler agreed to abide by the restrictive covenants included in his amended employment agreement, including a 24-month post-termination non-competition covenant. Mr. Nadler’s continued severance is subject to his remaining in compliance with these covenants through the 24-month payment period.
Former Officer Agreement
Effective September 18, 2019, we entered into a separation agreement with Dr. Thomas. In recognition of the terms of Dr. Thomas’s employment agreement, her tenure and her agreement to release the Company from any and all claims, Dr. Thomas received certain payments described below. These payments were made in British Pounds Sterling and are reported here in U.S. currency, using a GBP:USD exchange rate of 1.274.
● | A payment of $254,283 for payment in lieu of her 3 months’ notice period related to salary and benefits, including accrued annual leave |
● | A severance payment of $2,293,200 representing 12 months annual base salary and two times the sum of target AIP incentive |
● | Accelerated vesting of 818,584 stock options |
● | A contribution of $12,740 towards legal fees related to her separation |
In the separation agreement Dr. Thomas agreed to abide by the confidentiality and intellectual property covenants set forth in her original employment agreement, in addition to the restrictive covenants set forth in her separation agreement, including a 12-month post-termination non-competition covenant.
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control
The information in the table below provides the estimated value of compensation that would have been paid to each of the NEOs in the event the NEO was involuntarily terminated by the Company for reason other than
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cause on December 31, 2019. Messrs. Stead and Hartman are not entitled to any payments upon termination. Other than the accelerated vesting of stock options that would occur in a Liquidity Event, none of the current NEOs would receive additional payments or benefits should their terminations be related to or following a change in control.
Potential Payments Upon Termination
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Salary and |
|
Continued |
|
|
|
Consulting |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AIP(1) |
|
benefits(1) |
|
Equity awards |
|
services |
|
Legal fees |
|
Notice fees(2) |
|
Total |
Name |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
|
($) |
Jerre Stead |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Richard Hanks |
|
1,387,500 |
|
31,309 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
1,418,809 |
Mukhtar Ahmed |
|
573,300 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
573,300 |
Jeff Roy |
|
832,500 |
|
23,329 |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
855,829 |
Stephen Hartman |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
|
— |
Jay Nadler(3) |
|
3,000,000 |
|
45,690 |
|
24,267,554 |
(4) |
1,150,000 |
|
35,000 |
|
— |
|
28,498,244 |
Annette Thomas(3) |
|
2,293,200 |
|
— |
|
5,009,752 |
(4) |
— |
|
12,750 |
|
254,283 |
|
7,569,985 |
(1) | See “Employment Contracts” for a description of how salary, AIP and continued benefits are determined for each NEO. |
(2) | Under UK employment law, a payment may be made in lieu of a termination notice period. We have not reported such a notice payment for our current NEOs based in the UK as they may be required to remain in service through the notice period. |
(3) | Amounts reported for Mr. Nadler and Dr. Thomas reflect actual values pursuant to their respective termination agreements. |
(4) | The vesting of Mr. Nadler’s and Dr. Thomas’ unvested stock options was accelerated in connection with their terminations. The values shown are equal to the difference between the value of Clarivate stock on Mr. Nadler’s and Dr. Thomas’ respective termination dates less the applicable exercise prices of the accelerated options, multiplied by the number of accelerated options. |
Other than Mr. Stead, whose stock options are currently vested, each NEO’s stock options provide for accelerated vesting in the event of a Liquidity Event. There are no other benefits to the NEOs in the event of a Liquidity Event or other form of change in control. The information in the table below provides the value of unvested stock options that would have been accelerated had there been a Liquidity Event on December 31, 2019.
Potential Payment Upon A Liquidity Event
|
|
|
|
|
Value of accelerated stock options(1) |
Name |
|
($) |
Jerre Stead |
|
— |
Richard Hanks |
|
3,790,839 |
Mukhtar Ahmed |
|
2,882,685 |
Jeff Roy |
|
1,949,702 |
Stephen Hartman |
|
1,883,944 |
(1) | The value of the stock options is calculated by multiplying (x) the difference between $16.80, the closing price of our stock on December 31, 2019 and the exercise price, by (y) the number of stock options accelerated. Stock options that have an exercise price greater than $16.80 are not included in the calculation above. |
CEO Pay Ratio
Below is (i) the 2019 annual total compensation of our CEO (calculated in accordance with SEC rules); (ii) the 2019 annual total compensation of our median employee; (iii) the ratio of the annual total compensation of our CEO to that of our median employee; and (iv) the methodology we used to calculate our CEO pay ratio.
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CEO Pay Ratio
|
|
|
CEO Annual Total Compensation |
|
16,598,115 |
Median Employee Annual Total Compensation |
|
51,217 |
Estimated CEO to Median Employee Pay Ratio |
|
324:1 |
As noted in the footnotes to the “Summary Compensation Table” and in “Pre-Merger Compensation,” Mr. Stead received Merger Shares and stock options in connection with the Merger. While we are required to report the Merger Shares and stock options designated for Mr. Stead as compensation under the rules of the SEC, these equity grants were received by Mr. Stead in his role as a founder of Churchill and were part of the terms of the Merger, which were negotiated on an arm’s length basis among the parties to the Sponsor Agreement, and not a decision of the Compensation Committee. The Merger Shares and stock options were not part of his CEO compensation, as determined by the Compensation Committee. If the values of the Merger Shares and stock options are excluded from the CEO Pay Ratio, the ratio is as follows:
Alternative CEO Pay Ratio
|
|
|
CEO Annual Total Compensation (excluding Merger Shares and stock options related to the Merger |
|
698,115 |
Median Employee Annual Total Compensation |
|
51,217 |
Estimated CEO to Median Employee Pay Ratio |
|
14:1 |
Methodology
Our CEO pay ratio is a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules. Our methodology and process are explained below.
● | Employee population: We selected December 1, 2019 as the date to determine the median employee. At that time, we had approximately 4,624 employees globally, comprised of 1,396 employees located in the U.S. and 3,228 employees located outside of the U.S. |
● | We included all full-time, part-time, seasonal and temporary employees worldwide, excluding our CEO, except that we relied on the De Minimis Exemption to decrease the number of countries where we obtained data. The impact of this exemption is less than 5% of our workforce, as permitted by the De Minimis Exemption. We excluded the 217 employees in the jurisdictions identified below. |
Country |
|
Number of employees
|
|
Country |
|
Number of employees
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Austria |
|
1 |
|
Kazakhstan |
|
2 |
|
Azerbaijan |
|
1 |
|
Korea, Republic of |
|
32 |
|
Brazil |
|
16 |
|
Mexico |
|
8 |
|
Canada |
|
20 |
|
New Zealand |
|
21 |
|
Chile |
|
2 |
|
Poland |
|
3 |
|
Colombia |
|
1 |
|
Russian Federation |
|
12 |
|
Czech Republic |
|
4 |
|
Singapore |
|
28 |
|
Denmark |
|
8 |
|
South Africa |
|
4 |
|
Egypt |
|
1 |
|
Taiwan |
|
12 |
|
Finland |
|
1 |
|
Thailand |
|
1 |
|
Hong Kong |
|
2 |
|
Turkey |
|
2 |
|
Ireland |
|
1 |
|
Ukraine |
|
1 |
|
Italy |
|
17 |
|
United Arab Emirates |
|
16 |
|
● | Of the 4,407 employees included in the CEO Pay Ratio calculation, 1,396 were in the U.S. and 3,011 were located outside of the U.S. |
● | Median employee: For purposes of this calculation, for each employee we used total base pay (including commissions, allowances, and additional month pay where applicable). We identified employees within |
137
$1,000 of the median and removed those employees who had anomalous compensation characteristics to determine the median employee. We then calculated the compensation of the median employee using the same methodology we used to calculate the CEO’s compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table. |
● | SEC rules for identifying the median employee and calculating the pay ratio based on that employee’s annual total compensation allow companies to adopt a variety of methodologies, to apply certain exclusions, and to make reasonable estimates and assumptions that reflect their employee populations and compensation practices. As a result, the pay ratio reported by other companies may not be comparable to the pay ratio reported above, as other companies have different employee populations and compensation practices and may utilize different methodologies, exclusions, estimates and assumptions in calculating their own pay ratios. In addition, the median employee’s annual total compensation is unique to that individual, and therefore, is not an indicator of the annual total compensation of any other individual or group of employees. |
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans
The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2019, with respect to compensation plans under which equity securities are authorized for issuance.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
Number of securities |
|
|
|
|
remaining available |
|
|
|
to be issued upon |
|
Weighted-average |
|
for issuance under |
|
|
|
|
exercise of |
|
exercise price of |
|
equity compensation |
|
|
|
|
outstanding options, |
|
outstanding options, |
|
plans (excluding |
|
|
|
|
warrants and |
|
warrants, and |
|
securities reflected |
|
|
|
|
rights(a) |
|
rights(b) |
|
in column(a))(c) |
|
|
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 Incentive Award Plan |
|
21,173,407 |
(2) |
$ |
12.18 |
(3) |
37,302,599 |
(4) |
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders(1) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants |
|
52,699,886 |
|
$ |
11.50 |
|
N/A |
|
Merger Shares |
|
7,000,000 |
|
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
Total |
|
73,873,293 |
|
|
N/A |
|
N/A |
|
(1) | See “— Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation.” See Note 16 of our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further information regarding the Warrants and the Merger Shares. |
(2) | Includes (a) 20,880,225 stock options and (b) 293,182 restricted share units that were issued with no exercise price or other consideration. |
(3) | The weighted-average exercise price is reported for the outstanding stock options reported in the first column. There are no exercise prices for the restricted share units. |
(4) | The total number of securities remaining available for issuance under equity compensation plans may be issued under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan. |
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS
We describe below transactions and series of similar transactions, during our last three fiscal years or currently proposed, to which we were a party or will be a party, in which:
● | the amounts involved exceeded or will exceed $120; and |
● | any of our directors, executive officers or beneficial holders of more than 5% of our ordinary shares had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. |
Other than as described below, there have not been, nor are there any currently proposed, transactions or series of similar transactions meeting this criteria to which we have been or will be a party other than certain compensation arrangements, which are described under “Executive Compensation.”
Transactions Involving Related Persons
Sponsor Agreement
In connection with the January 2019 execution of the execution of the agreement pursuant to which we agreed to merge with Churchill Capital Corp, the founders of Churchill Capital Corp, which include our directors Jerre Stead (our Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer) and our directors Michael S. Klein, Sheryl von Blucher, Karen G. Mills, Balakrishnan S. Iyer and certain of their affiliates, entered into the Sponsor Agreement.
Under the Sponsor Agreement, Mr. Stead, Ms. Blucher , and M. Klein Associates, Inc. and Garden State, affiliates of Mr. Klein (one of our directors), agreed with Clarivate to accept certain performance and time vesting conditions on certain Clarivate shares to be received by them in exchange for Churchill Capital Corp common stock purchased by them at or before Churchill Capital Corp’s initial public offering in September 2018, as well as on all of the Clarivate warrants to be received by them in exchange for Churchill Capital Corp warrants, in connection with the closing of the merger. Both performance and time vesting conditions applied to half of Mr. Stead’s, Ms. von Blucher’s and M. Klein Associates, Inc.’s Clarivate shares that were subject to vesting conditions (5,309,712 in aggregate), and time (but not performance) vesting conditions apply to the other half of their Clarivate shares that were subject to vesting conditions (5,309,712 in aggregate). Both performance and time vesting conditions applied to all of their and Garden State’s Clarivate warrants (17,265,826 in aggregate).
Pursuant to the performance vesting conditions, and subject to the time vesting conditions described below, half of the Clarivate shares held by Mr. Stead, Ms. von Blucher, and M. Klein Associates, Inc. that were subject to performance vesting conditions would vest upon Clarivate’s shares trading at $15.25 per share or above for 40 days in any 60-day period commencing on the first public sale by Onex and Baring of their ordinary shares (or, if earlier, the first anniversary of the closing of the merger) and during the three-and-a-half year period after closing of the merger, and the other half of their performance-based vesting shares and all of their and Garden State’s respective warrants would vest upon Clarivate’s shares trading at $17.50 per share or above for such a 40-day period during the five-year period after the closing of the merger.
Pursuant to the time vesting conditions, the Clarivate shares held by Mr. Stead, Ms. von Blucher, and M. Klein Associates, Inc. that were not subject to performance vesting conditions would vest in three equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the closing of the merger, while the Clarivate shares and warrants that were subject to performance vesting conditions would vest over the period of time between the first and third anniversaries of the closing of the merger.
In August 2019, Clarivate (on its behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries) agreed to waive the performance and time vesting conditions for all Clarivate shares and warrants subject to such conditions held by Mr. Stead, Ms. von Blucher, M. Klein Associates, Inc. and Garden State. These shares and warrants held by Mr. Stead, Ms. von Blucher, M. Klein Associates, Inc. and Garden State nevertheless remain subject to a lock-up for a period ranging from two to three years following the closing of the merger.
In the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company recognized additional share-based compensation expense related to the modification of certain awards under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan.
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Additionally, under the Sponsor Agreement, Clarivate, Churchill and the other parties thereto agreed that Clarivate would issue 7,000,000 Merger Shares to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein, including themselves, upon Clarivate’s achievement of a closing share price on the NYSE of at least $20.00 per share for 40 days over a 60 consecutive trading day period on or before the sixth anniversary of the closing of the merger. On January 31, 2020, our board agreed to waive this performance vesting condition, and all such Merger Shares are expected to be issued to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein prior to the consummation of this offering.
Registration Rights Agreement
Onex, Baring, the founders of Churchill Capital Corp and certain other pre-merger shareholders were granted registration rights in connection with the closing of our merger with Churchill Capital Corp. Certain provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including certain piggyback registration rights with respect to this offering, were waived by the Company, Onex and Baring in connection with this offering.
Shareholders Agreement and Director Nomination Agreement
In connection with consummation of our merger with Churchill Capital Corp, Onex, Baring, the founders of Churchill Capital Corp and certain other shareholders entered into a Shareholders Agreement and a Director Nomination Agreement. Pursuant to the Shareholders Agreement, Onex and Baring have the right to nominate a majority of the members of the board of directors until such time as Onex and Baring beneficially own less than 60% of the ordinary shares held by them immediately after the closing of the merger, and continue to have the right to nominate directors in a declining number based on their aggregate beneficial ownership percentage of the ordinary shares held by them immediately after the closing of the merger. Matters over which Onex and Baring will, directly or indirectly, exercise control include:
● | the election of our board of directors and the appointment and removal of our officers; |
● | mergers and other business combination transactions requiring shareholder approval, including proposed transactions that would result in our shareholders receiving a premium price for their shares; and |
● | amendments to our articles of association. |
Pursuant to the Director Nomination Agreement entered into in connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp, Mr. Stead, the Designated Shareholder, has the right to designate up to four nominees for the election to our board of directors for so long as Onex and Baring own at least 20% of their initial ordinary shares.
The directors are required to ensure that any individual nominated pursuant to the articles of association, the Director Nomination Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement shall be nominated for election as a director at the next general meeting of Clarivate, and such individual shall be appointed if approved by ordinary resolution at such general meeting.
Tax Receivable Agreement
In connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp, we entered into a tax receivable agreement with Onex, Baring and certain other pre-merger shareholders of the Company. The tax receivable agreement generally would have required us to pay the counterparties 85% of the amount of cash savings, if any, realized (or, in some cases, deemed to be realized) as a result of the utilization of certain tax assets. In August 2019, we entered into an agreement pursuant to which all of our future payment obligations under the tax receivable agreement would terminate in exchange for a payment of $200,000, which we made in November 2019.
Consulting Services and Advisory Agreements
In connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp, an affiliate of Onex received a consulting fee of $5,400 and an affiliate of Baring received a consulting fee of $2,100 for the year ended December 31, 2019.
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Other
Vistra USA, LLC, a controlled affiliate of Baring, is a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $18 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and $765, $531 and $388 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company had an outstanding liability of $173 as of March 31, 2020 and of $160, 120 and $199 as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Churchill also engaged Klein Group, an affiliate of Michael Klein, to act as its financial advisor in connection with our merger with Churchill Capital Corp for an aggregate advisory fee of $12,500.
A former member of our key management is the Co-founder of a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and $278 and $865 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company had no outstanding liability as of March 31, 2020 and had an outstanding liability of $0 and $332 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. This vendor was not a related party during the three months ended March 31, 2020, nor in the year ended December 31, 2017.
Jerre Stead, our Chief Executive Officer, is the Co-founder of a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and $756 for the year ended December 31, 2019. We had no outstanding liability as of March 31, 2020 and outstanding liability of $10 as of December 31, 2019. This vendor was not a related party during the three months ended March 31, 2020, nor in years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017.
In connection with our acquisition of Publons, we paid a $716 consulting fee to Dr. Annette Thomas, our former Chief Executive Officer, Scientific and Academic Research, for the year ended December 31, 2017.
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PRINCIPAL AND SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The following table and accompanying footnotes presents information relating to the beneficial ownership of our ordinary shares (1) immediately prior to the completion of this offering, (2) following the sale of ordinary shares in this offering, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares and (3) following the sale of ordinary shares in this offering, assuming the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is exercised in full, by:
● | each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to own beneficially 5% or more of our outstanding ordinary shares; |
● | each of our directors and executive officers, individually; |
● | all directors and executive officers as a group; and |
● | the selling shareholders, which consists of the persons shown as having shares listed in the column “Shares to Be Sold in This Offering.” |
The number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by each person is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC, and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under such rules, beneficial ownership includes any shares over which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power, as well as any shares that the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days through the exercise of any option, warrant or other right. The number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by each person also assumes that all 7,000,000 Merger Shares to be issued under the Sponsor Agreement have been issued. Except as otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, we believe that each shareholder identified in the table below possesses sole voting and investment power over all the ordinary shares shown as beneficially owned by the shareholder in the table.
The percentages of beneficial ownership prior to the offering in the table below are calculated based on a number of ordinary shares outstanding equal to the sum of (i) 365,164,267 ordinary shares actually outstanding as of May 15, 2020 plus (ii) the assumed issuance of all 7,000,000 Merger Shares to be issued under the Sponsor Agreement prior to the consummation of this offering. The percentages of beneficial ownership after the offering in the table below are calculated based on a total number of ordinary shares outstanding that also reflects the issuance of 569,624 ordinary shares (or 2,404,680 ordinary shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) issuable upon the exercise and net-share settlement of outstanding options by certain of the selling shareholders in this offering (based upon an assumed public offering price per share of $22.89, which was the closing price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020). In addition, the number of shares beneficially owned after the offering by selling shareholders that are exercising options is further reduced by the number of shares surrendered to us as part of such net-share settlement. The actual number of vested options that certain of the selling shareholders will continue to hold after completion of this offering, and the number of shares exercised and surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement in connection with the exercise of the vested options held by such selling shareholders in this offering, may vary from this assumption and will be based on the actual public offering price per share in this offering.
We have only one class of shares outstanding, ordinary shares, and each ordinary share entitles its holder to one vote at any meeting of shareholders.
Unless otherwise indicated, the business address of each of the individuals is c/o Clarivate Plc, Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8EZ, UK.
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* |
Less than one percent. |
(1) | Includes: (i) 34,167,377 ordinary shares held by Onex Partners IV LP, (ii) 1,689,131 ordinary shares held by Onex Partners IV PV LP, (iii) 236,521 ordinary shares held by Onex Partners IV Select LP, (iv) 977,150 ordinary shares held by Onex Partners IV GP LP, (v) 1,258,995 ordinary shares held by Onex US Principals LP, (vi) 31,898,163 ordinary shares held by Onex Partners Holdings LLC, (vii) 2,019,440 ordinary shares held by New PCO II Investment Ltd. and (viii) 19,993,254 ordinary shares held by Onex Camelot Co-Invest LP. Onex Corporation, a corporation whose subordinated voting shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, and/or Mr. Gerald W. Schwartz, may be deemed to beneficially own the ordinary shares held by (a) Onex Partners IV LP, through Onex Corporation’s ownership of all of the equity of Onex Partners Canadian GP Inc., which owns all of the equity of Onex Partners IV GP Limited, the general partner of Onex Partners IV GP LP, the general partner of Onex Partners IV LP, (b) Onex Partners IV PV LP, through Onex Corporation’s ownership of all of the equity of Onex Partners Canadian GP Inc., which owns all of the equity of Onex Partners IV GP Limited, the general partner of Onex Partners IV GP LP, the general partner of Onex Partners IV PV LP, (c) Onex Partners IV Select LP, through Onex Corporation’s ownership of all of the equity of Onex Partners Canadian GP Inc., which owns all of the equity of Onex Partners IV GP LLC, the general partner of Onex Partners IV Select LP, (d) Onex Partners IV GP LP, through Onex Corporation’s ownership of all of the equity of Onex Partners Canadian GP Inc., which owns all of the equity of Onex Partners IV GP Limited, the general partner of Onex Partners IV GP LP, (e) Onex US Principals LP, through Onex Corporation’s ownership of all of the equity of Onex American Holdings II LLC, which owns all of the equity of Onex American Holdings GP LLC, the general partner of Onex US Principals LP, (f) Onex Partners Holdings LLC, through Onex Corporation’s ownership of all of the equity of Onex American Holdings II LLC, which owns all of the equity of Onex American Holdings Subco III LLC, which in turn owns all of the equity of Onex Partners Holdings LLC, (g) New PCO II Investment Ltd., through Gerald W. Schwartz’s indirect control of 1597257 Ontario Inc., which owns all of the voting equity of New PCo II |
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Investments Ltd., and (h) Onex Camelot Co-Invest LP, through Onex Corporation’s ownership of all of the equity of Onex Partners Canadian GP Inc., which owns all of the equity of Onex Partners IV GP Limited, the general partner of Onex Partners IV GP LP, the general partner of Onex Camelot Co-Invest LP. Mr. Gerald W. Schwartz, the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Onex Corporation, indirectly owns shares representing a majority of the voting rights of the shares of Onex Corporation, and as such may be deemed to beneficially own all of the ordinary shares beneficially owned by Onex Corporation. Mr. Schwartz disclaims such beneficial ownership. The address for Onex Corporation and Mr. Schwartz is 161 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5J 2S1 Canada. |
(2) | The Baring Asia Private Equity Fund VI, L.P.1 (“Fund VI1”) and The Baring Asia Private Equity Fund VI, L.P.2 (“FundVI2”) and certain affiliates indirectly hold approximately 35,871,123 ordinary shares. The general partner of Fund VI1 and Fund VI2 is Baring Private Equity Asia GP VI, L.P. (“Fund VI GP”). The general partner of Fund VI GP is Baring Private Equity Asia GP VI Limited (“Fund VI Limited”). As the sole shareholder of Fund VI Limited, Jean Eric Salata may be deemed to have voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares beneficially owned by Fund VI and Fund VI2 and their affiliates, but disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of Fund VI GP, Fund VI Limited, and Jean Eric Salata is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, 390 GT Ugland House, South Church Street, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. |
(3) | The information in the table above is based solely on information contained in this shareholder’s Schedule 13F under the Exchange Act filed by such shareholder with the SEC. The address of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. is 100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. |
(4) | The information in the table above is based solely on information contained in this shareholder’s Schedule 13F under the Exchange Act filed by such shareholder with the SEC. The address of Fidelity Management & Research Company is 245 Summer Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210. |
(5) | The information in the table above is based solely on information contained in this shareholder’s Schedule 13F under the Exchange Act filed by such shareholder with the SEC. The address of MFS Investment Management is 77 King Street West, Suite 3510, Toronto, A6 M5K 1B7. |
(6) | Includes (i) 4,880,963 ordinary shares held by Mr. Stead, (ii) 1,000,000 ordinary shares held by JMJS Group-II, LP, an affiliate of Mr. Stead, (iii) 1,000,000 ordinary shares held by Mr. Stead issuable upon the exercise of options exercisable, and (iv) 6,965,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Mr. Stead. |
(7) | Includes (i) 5,082,684 ordinary shares and (ii) 274,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Ms. von Blucher. |
(8) | Does not include ordinary shares held by funds managed by an affiliate of Onex Corporation. Mr. Gilis is a managing director of Onex Corporation. Mr. Gilis does not have voting or investment power with respect to the shares held by such funds. |
(9) | Includes (i) 258,279 ordinary shares and (ii) 274,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by the Iyer Family Trust dated 1/25/2001. Mr. Iyer, as trustee, has voting and investment power over these shares. |
(10) | Includes (i) 3,500,000 ordinary shares held by Mr. Klein, (ii) 5,655,738 ordinary shares held by Garden State Capital Partners LLC, (iii) 3,695,778 ordinary shares held by M. Klein Associates, Inc., and (iv) 4,026,826 ordinary shares and 6,000,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by M. Klein Associates, Inc. and Garden State, respectively. Mr. Klein holds an equity interest in and is the managing member of Garden State Capital Partners LLC and is the sole stockholder of M. Klein Associates, Inc. In such capacities, Mr. Klein is deemed to have voting and investment power over these shares. The address of Garden State Capital Partners LLC and M. Klein Associates, Inc. is 640 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10019. |
(11) | Does not include ordinary shares held by funds managed by an affiliate of Baring. Mr. Macksey is a managing director of Baring. Mr. Macksey does not have voting or investment power with respect to the shares held by such funds. |
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(12) | Includes (i) 129,140 ordinary shares held by Mills Family I, LLC, (ii) 137,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by Mills Family I, LLC, (iii) 129,139 ordinary shares held by K&BM LP and (iv) 137,000 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of warrants held by K&BM LP. Ms. Mills is the managing member of Mills Family I, LLC and the general partner of K&BM LP, and in such capacities has voting and investment power over the shares held by such entities. |
(13) | Does not include ordinary shares held by funds managed by an affiliate of Onex Corporation. Mr. Munk is a managing director of Onex Corporation. Mr. Munk does not have voting or investment power with respect to the shares held by such funds. |
(14) | Includes 264,272 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options. The number of shares beneficially owned after the offering by Mr. Ahmed is further reduced by the number of shares to be surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement of such options. |
(15) | Includes 648,528 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options. The number of shares beneficially owned after the offering by Mr. Hanks is further reduced by the number of shares to be surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement of such options. |
(16) | Includes (i) 132,137 ordinary shares and (ii) 272,201 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options. The number of shares beneficially owned after the offering by Mr. Hartman is further reduced by the number of shares to be surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement of such options. |
(17) | Includes 219,344 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options. The number of shares beneficially owned after the offering by Mr. Roy is further reduced by the number of shares to be surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement of such options. |
(18) | Includes 4,673,745 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options held by Mr. Nadler. In the offering, Mr. Nadler will not sell any ordinary shares unless the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares, and will sell 1,835,056 ordinary shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares. The number of shares beneficially owned after the offering by Mr. Nadler (in the event that the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) is further reduced by the number of shares to be surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement of such options. |
(19) | Represents ordinary shares held by 16 selling shareholders not listed above who, as a group, owned less than one percent of our outstanding ordinary shares prior to this offering. Includes an aggregate of (i) 898,223 ordinary shares and (ii) 698,331 ordinary shares issuable upon the exercise of options. The number of shares beneficially owned after the offering by any of such selling shareholders exercising options in the offering is further reduced by the number of shares to be surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement of such options. |
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DESCRIPTION OF SHARE CAPITAL
The following description of the material terms of the share capital of Clarivate is qualified by reference to Clarivate’s articles of association, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
General
Clarivate is a Jersey, Channel Islands public company with limited liability. Its affairs are governed by the articles of association and the Jersey Companies Law. Clarivate’s register of members is kept by Vistra (Jersey) Limited at 4th Floor, St. Paul’s Gate, 22-24 New Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE1 4TR. Our registered office is 4th Floor, St. Paul’s Gate, 22-24 New Street, St. Helier, Jersey JE1 4TR. Our secretary is Stephen Hartman of Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8EZ, UK.
Our authorized share capital is an unlimited number of no par value shares of any class. As of May 15, 2020, there were 365,164,267 ordinary shares issued and outstanding. No preferred shares have been issued.
Shares
General
Ogier, Jersey, Channel Islands counsel to Clarivate, has confirmed that all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Clarivate are fully paid and non-assessable. Certificates representing the outstanding ordinary shares of Clarivate are generally not issued (unless required to be issued pursuant to the articles of association) and legal title to the issued shares is recorded in registered form in the register of members. Holders of ordinary shares of Clarivate have no pre-emptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights.
The board of directors may provide for other classes of shares, including series of preferred shares, out of the authorized but unissued share capital, which could be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future offerings to raise capital for corporate purposes or for use in employee benefit plans. Such additional classes of shares will have such voting powers (full or limited or without voting powers), designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof as may be determined by the board of directors. If any preferred shares are issued, the rights, preferences and privileges of holders of ordinary shares will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of such preferred shares.
Dividends
The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by the board of directors of Clarivate, subject to the Jersey Companies Law and the articles of association. Dividends and other distributions on issued and outstanding ordinary shares may be paid out of the funds of Clarivate lawfully available for such purpose, subject to any preference of any outstanding preferred shares. Dividends and other distributions that are declared will be distributed among the holders of ordinary shares on a pro rata basis.
Voting rights
Each ordinary share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by way of poll.
In determining the number of votes cast for or against a proposal or a nominee, ordinary shares abstaining from voting on any resolution and votes by a broker that have not been directed by the beneficial owner to vote on any resolution in any particular manner will be counted for purposes of determining a quorum but not for purposes of determining the number of votes cast.
A quorum required for a meeting of shareholders requires the presence in person or by proxy of persons holding in aggregate not less than a simple majority of all voting share capital in issue (provided that the minimum quorum for any meeting shall be two shareholders entitled to vote).
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An ordinary resolution of the shareholders requires the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes cast at a quorate general meeting, while a special resolution requires the affirmative vote of no less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a quorate general meeting.
A special resolution is required for important matters such as an alteration of capital, removal of director for cause, merger or consolidation of Clarivate, change of name or making changes to the articles of association or the voluntary winding up of Clarivate.
Variation of rights
The rights attached to any class of shares (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of that class), such as voting, dividends and the like, may be varied only with the sanction of a special resolution passed at a general meeting The rights conferred upon the holders of the shares of any class shall not (unless otherwise provided by the terms of issue of that class) be deemed to be varied by the creation or issue of further shares ranking in priority to or pari passu with such previously existing shares. The rights conferred upon the holders of ordinary shares shall be deemed not to be varied by the conversion and redemption of ordinary shares in accordance with the articles of association or any purchase or redemption by the Company of its own shares.
Transfer of ordinary shares
Any shareholder may transfer all or any of his or her ordinary shares by an instrument of transfer in the usual or common form or any other form prescribed by the NYSE, as the designated stock exchange under the articles of association, or as otherwise approved by the board of directors.
In addition, the articles of association prohibit the transfer of shares of Clarivate in breach of the rules or regulations of the NYSE or any relevant securities laws (including the Exchange Act).
Liquidation
On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of ordinary shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares of Clarivate shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares of Clarivate on a pro rata basis.
Share repurchases
We may purchase our own ordinary shares on a stock exchange if approved by a special resolution of shareholders. At our 2020 annual general meeting, shareholders granted approval for us to conduct open-market purchases of up to 50 million ordinary shares on or prior to May 6, 2025, as approved by the board of directors.
We may also purchase our own ordinary shares in privately negotiated transactions if approved by both a special resolution of shareholders, as well as by an ordinary resolution in which votes of the selling shareholders are excluded. At our 2020 annual general meeting, shareholders granted approval for us to purchase up to 50 million ordinary shares on or prior to May 6, 2025, as approved by the board of directors, from Onex and Baring.
In addition, our articles of association permit our board of directors to make redeemable any ordinary shares that we wish to repurchase with the consent of the selling shareholder, and thus effectively allow our board of directors to authorize share repurchases without shareholder approval.
We may not buy back or redeem any ordinary shares unless the directors who authorize the buyback or redemption have made a statutory solvency determination that, immediately following the date on which the buyback or redemption is proposed, we will be able to continue to carry on business and discharge our liabilities as they fall due for the 12 months immediately afterward.
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Directors
Appointment and removal
The management of Clarivate is vested in its board of directors. The articles of association provide that there shall be a board of directors consisting of no fewer than two and no greater than 14 directors, unless increased or decreased from time to time by the board of directors or by shareholders in a general meeting. Currently, the board consists of 11 directors. So long as shares of Clarivate are listed on the NYSE, the board of directors of Clarivate shall include such number of “independent directors” as the relevant rules applicable to the listing of such shares on the NYSE require (subject to any applicable exceptions for “controlled” companies).
The directors are divided into three classes designated as Class I, Class II and Class III, respectively. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be practicable, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire board of directors. At the first annual general meeting of shareholders of Clarivate (held in May 2020), the term of office of the Class I directors expired and Class I directors were elected for a full term of three years, ending at our 2023 annual general meeting. At the second annual general meeting (expected in 2021), the term of office of the Class II directors will expire and Class II directors will be elected for a full term of three years. At the third annual general meeting (expected in 2022), the term of office of the Class III directors will expire and Class III directors will be elected for a full term of three years. At each succeeding annual general meeting, directors will be elected for a full term of three years to succeed the directors of the class whose terms expire at such annual general meeting.
In the event of any change in the number of directors, the board of directors shall apportion any newly created directorships among, or reduce the number of directorships in, such class or classes as shall equalize, as nearly as possible, the number of directors in each class. The board of directors may, in its discretion, reallocate any director to another class in connection with such a change in the number of directors; provided that no decrease in the number of directors constituting the directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
The directors of Clarivate shall ensure that any individual nominated pursuant to the articles of association, the Director Nomination Agreement and the Shareholders Agreement shall be nominated for election as a director at the next general meeting of Clarivate. In respect of any position on the board of directors that is not entitled to be nominated pursuant to the articles of association, the Director Nomination Agreement or the Shareholders Agreement, the directors shall have the right to nominate an individual for election as a director at the next general meeting of Clarivate. In both cases, such individual shall be appointed if approved by ordinary resolution at such general meeting. If a vacancy arises on the board of directors, the directors may fill such vacancy in accordance with the terms of the articles of association, the Director Nomination Agreement, the Shareholders Agreement, applicable law and the listing rules of the NYSE.
A director may be removed from office by the holders of ordinary shares by special resolution only for “cause” (as defined in the articles of association). In addition, a director may be removed from office by the board of directors by resolution made by the board of directors for “cause.”
The appointment and removal of directors is subject to the applicable rules of the NYSE and to the provisions of the Director Nomination Agreement and the Shareholders’ Agreement.
The detailed procedures for the nomination of persons proposed to be elected as directors at any general meeting of Clarivate are set out in the articles of association.
Indemnification of directors and officers
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the articles of association provide that the directors and officers of Clarivate shall be indemnified from and against all liability which they incur in execution of their duty in their respective offices, except liability incurred by reason of such director’s or officer’s actual fraud or willful default.
Alternate directors
Any director (other than an alternate director) may appoint any other person, including another director, to act in his or her place as an alternate director. No appointment shall take effect until the Director has given notice
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of the appointment to the other directors. A director may revoke his or her appointment of an alternate at any time. No revocation shall take effect until the director has given notice of the revocation to the other directors.
An appointed and acting alternate director shall (a) attend and vote at any board meeting or meeting of a committee of the directors at which the appointing director is not personally present; (b) sign any written resolution of the directors or a committee of the directors circulated for written consent; and (c) generally perform all the functions of the appointing director in his or her absence. An alternate director, however, is not entitled to receive any remuneration from the Company for services rendered as an alternate director.
A director who is also an alternate director shall be entitled to a separate vote for each director for whom he or she acts as alternate in addition to his or her own vote. Except as provided in the Company’s articles of association, an alternate director shall be deemed for all purposes to be a director and shall alone be responsible for his or her own acts and defaults and he or she shall not be deemed to be the agent of the director appointing him or her.
Exclusive Forum Provisions
Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the courts of the Island of Jersey are the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Company to the Company or the Company’s shareholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of Jersey law or the articles of association or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
Shareholder Proposals
A proposal may be properly brought before an annual general meeting by any shareholder of the Company who is a shareholder of record on both the date of the giving of the notice by such shareholder provided for in the articles of association and the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at such annual general meeting, and who complies with the notice and other procedures set forth in the articles of association, which are summarized below. Please see our articles of association for the full procedures.
Shareholder proposals other than director nominations
The articles of association set forth requirements for shareholders wishing to propose business other than the nomination of directors at an annual general meeting. An eligible shareholder who follows these procedures is not entitled to have their proposal included in the Company’s Proxy Statement and therefore would be required to solicit their own proxies in accordance with any applicable laws and rules.
For matters other than for the nomination for election of a director to be made by a shareholder, to be timely such shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Company at its principal executive offices not less than ninety (90) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual general meeting. However, if the Company’s annual general meeting occurs on a date more than thirty (30) days earlier or later than the Company’s prior year’s annual general meeting, then the directors will determine a date a reasonable period prior to the Company’s annual general meeting by which date the shareholder’s notice must be delivered and publicize such date in a filing pursuant to the Exchange Act, or via press release. Such publication shall occur at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date set by the directors.
To be in proper written form, a shareholder’s notice to the Company must set forth as to such matter such shareholder proposes to bring before the annual general meeting:
● | a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual general meeting, including the text of the proposal or business, and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual general meeting; |
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● | the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s Register of shareholders, of the shareholder proposing such business and any Associated Person (as defined below); |
● | the class or series and number of shares of the Company that are held of record or are beneficially owned by such shareholder or any Associated Person and any derivative positions held or beneficially held by the shareholder or any Associated Person; |
● | whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of such shareholder or any Associated Person with respect to any securities of the Company, and a description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder or any Associated Person with respect to any securities of the Company; |
● | any material interest of the shareholder or an Associated Person in such business, including a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between or among any of such shareholders or between or among any proposing shareholders and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such shareholder; and |
● | a statement as to whether such shareholder or any Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s voting shares required under applicable law and the rules of the Designated Stock Exchange to carry the proposal. |
An Associated Person of any shareholder includes:
● | any affiliate (as defined in the articles) of, or person acting in concert with, such shareholder, |
● | any beneficial owner of shares of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such shareholder and on whose behalf the proposal or nomination, as the case may be, is being made and |
● | any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with a person referred to in the preceding two bullets. |
Shareholder’s nomination of a director
The articles of association also set forth requirements for shareholders wishing to nominate directors. An eligible shareholder who follows these procedures is not entitled to have their nomination included in the Company’s Proxy Statement and therefore would be required to solicit their own proxies in accordance with any applicable laws and rules.
Subject to the Shareholders Agreement and the Director Nomination Agreement, for a nomination for election of a director to be made by a shareholder of the Company (other than directors to be nominated by any series of preferred shares, voting separately as a class), such shareholder must:
● | be a shareholder of record on both the date of the giving of the notice by such shareholder provided for in the articles of association and the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to vote at such annual general meeting, |
● | on each such date beneficially own more than 15% of the issued ordinary shares and |
● | have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Company. |
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If a shareholder is entitled to vote only for a specific class or category of Directors at a meeting of the shareholders, such shareholder’s right to nominate one or more persons for election as a Director at the meeting shall be limited to such class or category of Directors.
To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 90 nor more than 120 days prior to the meeting; provided, that if less than 130 days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the earlier of the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made.
To be in proper written form, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth:
● | as to each nominating shareholder: |
● | the information about the shareholder and its Associated Persons specified above under “Shareholder Proposals Other Than Director Nominations”; and |
● | any other information relating to such shareholder that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law and rules of the SEC or of the NYSE; and |
● | as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director: |
● | all information that would be required if such nominee was a nominating shareholder, as described above, except such information shall also include the business address and residence address of the person; |
● | the principal occupation or employment of the person; |
● | all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for appointment of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act or any successor provisions thereto, and any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law and rules of the SEC or of the NYSE; and |
● | a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationship, between or among any nominating shareholder and its affiliates and associates, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, his respective affiliates and associates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K of the Exchange Act if such nominating shareholder were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant. |
Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company in accordance with the rules of the NYSE.
Warrants
As of May 15, 2020, we had 18,300,000 private warrants outstanding. Each warrant is exercisable for $11.50 in cash or on a cashless basis, at the holder’s option, and will not be redeemable by us, in each case so long as they are still held by the initial purchasers or their affiliates. The warrants will expire on May 13, 2024 and may not be exercised thereafter.
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Holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of ordinary shares of Clarivate or any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive ordinary shares.
Holders may elect to be subject to a restriction on the exercise of their warrants such that an electing holder would not be able to exercise their warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder (together with such holder’s affiliates), to the warrant agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the ordinary shares outstanding.
The exercise price and number of ordinary shares issuable on exercise of the warrants shall be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or Clarivate’s recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of ordinary shares of Clarivate at a price below their respective exercise prices.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of warrants. If, upon exercise of warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, Clarivate will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of ordinary shares to be issued to the warrant holder.
Other Jersey, Channel Islands Law Considerations
Mandatory Purchases and Acquisitions
The Jersey Companies Law provides that where a person has made an offer to acquire a class or all of Clarivate’s outstanding ordinary shares not already held by the person and has as a result of such offer acquired or contractually agreed to acquire 90% or more of such outstanding ordinary shares, that person is then entitled (and may be required) to acquire the remaining ordinary shares. In such circumstances, a holder of any such remaining ordinary shares may apply to the courts of Jersey for an order that the person making such offer not be entitled to purchase the holder’s ordinary shares or that the person purchase the holder’s ordinary shares on terms different to those under which the person made such offer.
Clarivate is not subject to any regulations under which a shareholder that acquires a certain level of share ownership is then required to offer to purchase all of Clarivate’s remaining ordinary shares on the same terms as such shareholder’s prior purchase.
Compromises and Arrangements
Where Clarivate and its creditors or shareholders or a class of either of them propose a compromise or arrangement between Clarivate and its creditors or its shareholders or a class of either of them (as applicable), the courts of Jersey may order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors or of Clarivate’s shareholders or class of shareholders (as applicable) to be called in such a manner as the court directs. Any compromise or arrangement approved by a majority in number present and voting at the meeting representing 75% or more in value of the creditors or 75% or more of the voting rights of shareholders or class of either of them (as applicable) if sanctioned by the court, is binding upon Clarivate and all the creditors, shareholders or members of the specific class of either of them (as applicable).
Whether the capital of Clarivate is to be treated as being divided into a single or multiple class(es) of shares is a matter to be determined by the court. The court may in its discretion treat a single class of shares as multiple classes, or multiple classes of shares as a single class, for the purposes of the shareholder approval referred to above taking into account all relevant circumstances, which may include circumstances other than the rights attaching to the shares themselves.
Jersey Regulatory Matters
The Jersey Financial Services Commission (“JFSC”) has given, and has not withdrawn, its consent under Article 2 of the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958 to the issue of Clarivate’s ordinary shares. The JFSC is protected by the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Law 1947 against any liability arising from the discharge of its functions under that law.
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A copy of this prospectus has been delivered to the Jersey Registrar of Companies in accordance with Article 5 of the Companies (General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2002 and the Jersey Registrar of Companies has given, and has not withdrawn, his consent to its circulation.
It must be distinctly understood that, in giving these consents, neither the Jersey Registrar of Companies nor the JFSC takes any responsibility for the financial soundness of Clarivate or for the correctness of any statements made, or opinions expressed, with regard to Clarivate. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this prospectus, you should consult your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or other financial advisor.
The price of securities and the income from them can fluctuate. Nothing in this prospectus or anything communicated by or on behalf of Clarivate to holders or potential holders of any securities to be issued by Clarivate (or interests in them) is intended to constitute or should be construed as advice on the merits of the purchase of or subscription for any such securities (or interests in them) for the purposes of the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998.
The directors of Clarivate have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the facts stated in this prospectus are true and correct in all material respects, and that there are no other facts or opinions that would make any statement in the prospectus misleading if omitted. All the directors of Clarivate accept responsibility accordingly.
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities
U.S. laws do not necessarily extend either to us or our officers or directors. We are incorporated under the laws of the Jersey, Channel Islands. Some of our directors and officers reside outside of the United States. Substantially all of the assets of both us and our directors and officers are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process on either us or our officers and directors within the United States, or to enforce against these persons or us, either inside or outside the United States, a judgment obtained in a U.S. court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities or other laws of the United States or any State in the United States.
We have appointed Vistra USA, LLC, as our agent to receive service of process with respect to any action brought against us in the United States under the federal securities laws of the United States or of the laws of any state of the United States.
A judgment of a U.S. court is not directly enforceable in Jersey, but constitutes a cause of action which may be enforced by Jersey courts provided that:
● | the applicable U.S. courts had jurisdiction over the case, as recognized under Jersey law; |
● | the judgment is given on the merits and is final, conclusive and non-appealable; |
● | the judgment relates to the payment of a sum of money, not being taxes, fines or similar governmental penalties; |
● | the defendant is not immune under the principles of public international law; |
● | the same matters at issue in the case were not previously the subject of a judgment or disposition in a separate court; |
● | the judgment was not obtained by fraud; and |
● | the recognition and enforcement of the judgment is not contrary to public policy in Jersey. |
Jersey courts award compensation for the loss or damage actually sustained by the plaintiff. Although punitive damages are generally unknown to the Jersey legal system, there is no prohibition on them either by statute or customary law. Whether a particular judgment may be deemed contrary to Jersey public policy depends on the facts of each case, though judgments found to be exorbitant, unconscionable, or excessive will generally be deemed as contrary to public policy. Moreover, certain defendants may qualify for protection under Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980, an act of the UK extended to Jersey by the Protection of Trading Interests Act 1980 (Jersey) Order, 1983. This Act provides that a qualifying defendant is not liable for multiple damages, in excess of that required for actual compensation. A “qualifying defendant” for these purposes is a citizen of the
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UK and its Colonies (as defined in the Act), a corporation or other limited liability entity organized under the laws of the UK, Jersey or other territory for whose international relations the UK is responsible or a person conducting business in Jersey.
Jersey courts cannot enter into the merits of the foreign judgment and cannot act as a court of appeal or review over the foreign courts. It is doubtful that an original action based on U.S. federal or state securities laws could be brought before Jersey courts. In addition, a plaintiff who is not resident in Jersey may be required to provide a security bond in advance to cover the potential of the expected costs of any case initiated in Jersey. In addition, Clarivate has been further advised by our legal counsel in Jersey that it is uncertain as to whether the courts of Jersey would entertain original actions or enforce judgments from U.S. courts against us or our officers and directors which originated from actions alleging civil liability under U.S. federal or state securities laws.
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Material Differences Between Rights of Holders of Clarivate’s Ordinary Shares and Rights of Holders of the Common Stock of Delaware Corporations
Jersey, Channel Islands, companies are governed by the Jersey Companies Law. The Jersey Companies Law differs from laws applicable to Delaware corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of some significant differences between the provisions of the Jersey Companies Law applicable to Clarivate and, for comparison purposes, the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the State of Delaware and their shareholders.
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(c) otherwise properly brought before an annual general meeting by any holder of ordinary shares who (1) is such a holder of record on both (x) the date of the giving of the notice by such holder provided for in the articles of association and (y) the record date for the determination of holders of ordinary shares entitled to vote at such annual general meeting and (2) complies with the notice procedures set forth in the articles of association. |
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ORDINARY SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
As of May 15, 2020, there were 365,164,267 ordinary shares issued and outstanding (before giving effect to the issuance of (i) all 7,000,000 Merger Shares to be issued under the Sponsor Agreement prior to the consummation of this offering or (ii) 569,624 shares issuable upon the exercise and net-share settlement of outstanding options to be exercised by certain of the selling shareholders in this offering (based upon an assumed public offering price per share of $22.89, which was the closing price of our ordinary shares on NYSE on May 29, 2020)). The actual number of vested options that certain of the selling shareholders will continue to hold after completion of this offering, and the number of shares exercised and surrendered to us as part of the net-share settlement in connection with the exercise of the vested options held by such selling shareholders in this offering, may vary from this assumption and will be based on the actual public offering price per share in this offering. We, our officers and directors and the selling shareholders will enter into lock-up agreements in connection with this offering that will restrict transfers for a period of 60 days following the date of this prospectus, subject to certain exceptions. See “Underwriting.” Upon expiration of these lock-up agreements, all of the shares subject to these lock-up agreements will be eligible for resale in a public market, subject, in the case of shares held by our affiliates, to volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rule 144.
All of the ordinary shares sold in this offering will be freely transferable by persons other than by our “affiliates” (as defined under Rule 144) without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act. Sales of substantial amounts of the ordinary shares in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of the ordinary shares. Since no shares will be available for sale from certain of our shareholders shortly after this offering because of the contractual and legal restrictions on resale described below (including the lockup agreements), sales of substantial numbers of ordinary shares in the public market after these restrictions lapse could adversely affect the prevailing market price and our ability to raise equity capital in the future.
Lock-Up Agreements
We, the selling shareholders and our executive officers and directors will agree not to sell or transfer any ordinary shares or securities convertible into, exchangeable for, exercisable for, or repayable with ordinary shares, for 60 days after the date of this prospectus without first obtaining the written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, subject to certain exceptions. Specifically, we and these other persons will agree, with certain exceptions, not to directly or indirectly:
● | offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any ordinary shares, |
● | sell any option or contract to purchase any ordinary shares, |
● | purchase any option or contract to sell any ordinary shares, |
● | grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of any ordinary shares, |
● | otherwise dispose of or transfer any ordinary shares or securities exchangeable or exercisable for ordinary shares, |
● | file or cause to be filed a registration statement related to the ordinary shares (other than the filing of a shelf registration statement on Form S-3; see “Underwriting”), or |
● | enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of any ordinary share whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise. |
This lock-up provision applies to ordinary shares and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with ordinary shares. It also applies to ordinary shares owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition. Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC may not release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements held by Onex or Baring without our prior written consent.
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Rule 144
Under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, a person (or persons whose shares are aggregated) (1) who is not considered to have been one of our affiliates at any time during the 90 days preceding a sale and (2) who has beneficially owned the shares proposed to be sold for at least six months, including, in certain cases, the holding period of any prior owner other than an affiliate is entitled to sell his shares without restriction, subject to our compliance with the reporting obligations under the Exchange Act.
In general, under Rule 144, a person who is our affiliate and has beneficially owned ordinary shares for at least six months will be entitled to sell within any three-month period a number of shares that does not exceed the greater of (1) 1.0% of the number of ordinary shares then issued and outstanding and (2) the average weekly trading volume of the ordinary shares on NYSE during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 in connection with the sale.
Any such sales by an affiliate are also subject to manner of sale provisions, notice requirements and our compliance with Exchange Act reporting obligations.
Regulation S
Regulation S under the Securities Act provides that shares owned by any person may be sold without registration in the United States, provided that the sale is effected in an offshore transaction and no directed selling efforts are made in the United States (as these terms are defined in Regulation S), subject to certain other conditions. In general, this means that our shares may be sold in some other manner outside the United States without requiring registration in the United States.
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TAXATION
U.S. Tax Considerations
The following discussion describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined below) of an investment in our ordinary shares. This summary applies only to U.S. Holders that acquire ordinary shares in exchange for cash in this offering, hold the ordinary shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (as defined above) and have the U.S. dollar as their functional currency.
This discussion is based on the tax laws of the United States as in effect on the date of this document, including the Code and U.S. Treasury regulations in effect as of the date of this document, as well as judicial and administrative interpretations thereof available on or before such date. All of the foregoing authorities are subject to change, and any such change could apply retroactively and could affect the U.S. federal income tax consequences described below. The statements in this document are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) or any court, and thus no assurance can be provided that the U.S. federal income tax consequences discussed below will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained by a court if challenged by the IRS. Furthermore, this summary does not address any estate or gift tax consequences, any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences or any other tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences.
The following discussion does not describe all the tax consequences that may be relevant to any particular investor or to persons in special tax situations such as:
● | banks and certain other financial institutions; |
● | regulated investment companies; |
● | real estate investment trusts; |
● | insurance companies; |
● | broker-dealers; |
● | traders that elect to mark to market; |
● | tax-exempt entities or individual retirement accounts; |
● | persons liable for alternative minimum tax or the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income; |
● | U.S. expatriates; |
● | persons holding ordinary shares as part of a straddle, hedging, constructive sale, conversion or integrated transaction; |
● | persons that actually or constructively own 10 percent or more of Clarivate’s ordinary shares by vote or value; |
● | persons subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to ordinary shares being taken into account in an applicable financial statement; |
● | persons that are resident or ordinarily resident in or have a permanent establishment in a jurisdiction outside the United States; |
● | persons who acquired ordinary shares pursuant to the exercise of any employee share option or otherwise as compensation; or |
● | persons holding ordinary shares through partnerships or other pass-through entities. |
PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS ABOUT THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL TAX RULES TO THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS WELL AS THE STATE, LOCAL AND NON-U.S. TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF ORDINARY SHARES.
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As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of ordinary shares that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as:
● | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
● | a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
● | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
● | a trust that (1) is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more U.S. persons or (2) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. |
The tax treatment of a partner in an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that holds ordinary shares generally will depend on such partner’s status and the activities of the partnership. A U.S. Holder that is a partner in such partnership should consult its tax advisor.
Dividends and other distributions on ordinary shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company considerations discussed below, the gross amount of distributions made by Clarivate with respect to ordinary shares (including the amount of non-U.S. taxes withheld therefrom, if any) generally will be includible as dividend income in a U.S. Holder’s gross income, to the extent such distributions are paid out of Clarivate’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. To the extent that the amount of the distribution exceeds Clarivate’s current and accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles), such excess amount will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in its Clarivate ordinary shares, and thereafter as capital gain recognized on a sale or exchange. As Clarivate may not maintain calculations of its earnings and profits under U.S. federal income tax principles, a U.S. Holder should assume all distributions will be treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to U.S. corporations with respect to dividends received from other U.S. corporations. Dividends received by non-corporate U.S. Holders may be “qualified dividend income,” which is taxed at a lower applicable rate, if certain conditions are satisfied, including, among other things either (i) that the stock with respect to which such dividend is paid is readily tradable on an established securities market (such as the NYSE) in the United States or (ii) that the company paying the dividend qualifies for the benefit of a U.S. income tax treaty that meets certain requirements. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the lower rate for dividends paid with respect to ordinary shares.
Dividends on the ordinary shares generally will constitute foreign source income for foreign tax credit limitation purposes. Subject to certain complex conditions and limitations, any foreign taxes withheld on any distributions on the ordinary shares may be eligible for credit against a U.S. Holder’s federal income tax liability. For foreign tax credit purposes, dividends distributed by Clarivate with respect to ordinary shares will generally constitute “passive category income”. In lieu of claiming a foreign tax credit, U.S. Holders may deduct foreign taxes in computing their taxable income, subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law. An election to deduct foreign taxes instead of claiming foreign tax credits applies to all taxes paid or accrued in the taxable year.
Sale or other taxable disposition of ordinary shares
Subject to the passive foreign investment company considerations discussed below, upon a sale or other taxable disposition of ordinary shares, a U.S. Holder will recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such ordinary shares. Any such gain or loss generally will be treated as long term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the ordinary shares exceeds one year. Non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) generally are subject to U.S. federal income tax on long-term capital gain at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.
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Gain or loss, if any, realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale or other disposition of ordinary shares generally will be treated as U.S. source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences in their particular circumstances.
Passive Foreign Investment Company Considerations
Clarivate will be classified as a PFIC for any taxable year if either: (a) at least 75 percent of its gross income is “passive income” for purposes of the PFIC rules or (b) at least 50 percent of the value of its assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) is attributable to assets that produce or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, Clarivate will be treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets and earning its proportionate share of the income of any other corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, 25 percent or more (by value) of the shares.
Under the PFIC rules, if Clarivate were considered a PFIC at any time that a U.S. Holder holds the ordinary shares, Clarivate would continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder’s ordinary shares unless (i) Clarivate ceased to be a PFIC and (ii) the U.S. Holder made a “deemed sale” election under the PFIC rules.
Based on the current composition of Clarivate’s income and assets, Clarivate does not believe that it was a PFIC in 2019, and does not currently expect to become a PFIC in the future. However, the PFIC asset and income tests are factual determinations that depend on, among other things, the composition of the income and assets, and the market value of the shares and assets, of Clarivate and its subsidiaries from time to time, and thus the determination can only be made annually after the close of each taxable year. Therefore, no assurance can be given that Clarivate will not be classified as a PFIC for the current taxable year or any future taxable year.
If Clarivate is considered a PFIC at any time that a U.S. Holder holds ordinary shares, any gain recognised by the U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition of the ordinary shares, as well as the amount of any “excess distribution” (as defined below) received by the U.S. Holder, would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the ordinary shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other disposition (or the taxable year of receipt, in the case of an excess distribution) and to any year before Clarivate became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, for that taxable year, and an interest charge would be imposed. For the purposes of these rules, an excess distribution is the amount by which any distribution received by a U.S. Holder on ordinary shares exceeds 125 percent of the average of the annual distributions on the ordinary shares received during the preceding three years or the U.S. Holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter. In addition, if Clarivate is a PFIC and any of its subsidiaries is also a PFIC, a U.S. Holder may also be subject to the adverse tax consequences described above with respect to any gain or “excess distribution” realized or deemed realized in respect of such subsidiary PFIC. Certain elections may be available that would result in alternative treatments (such as mark-to-market treatment) of the ordinary shares if Clarivate is considered a PFIC; however, Clarivate does not currently intend to prepare or provide the information that would enable a U.S. Holder to achieve an alternative treatment by making an election to treat Clarivate as a qualified electing fund. In addition, if Clarivate were a PFIC for any taxable year, dividends received by a non-corporate U.S. Holder in that taxable year or the subsequent taxable year would not be eligible for the lower rate of tax applicable to “qualified dividend income.” If Clarivate is considered a PFIC, a U.S. Holder will also be subject to annual information reporting requirements. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors about the potential application of the PFIC rules to an investment in the ordinary shares and the potential consequences related thereto.
Information reporting and backup withholding
Dividend payments with respect to ordinary shares and proceeds from the sale, exchange or redemption of ordinary shares may be subject to information reporting to the IRS and U.S. backup withholding. A U.S. Holder may be eligible for an exemption from backup withholding if the U.S. Holder furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and makes any other required certification or is otherwise exempt from backup withholding. U.S. Holders who are required to establish their exempt status may be required to provide such certification on IRS Form W-9. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of the U.S. information reporting and backup withholding rules.
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Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld as backup withholding may be credited against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, and such U.S. Holder may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS and furnishing any required information.
Additional information reporting requirements
Certain U.S. Holders who are individuals (and certain entities) that hold an interest in “specified foreign financial assets” (which may include the ordinary shares) are required to report information relating to such assets, subject to certain exceptions (including an exception for ordinary shares held in accounts maintained by certain financial institutions). Penalties can apply if U.S. Holders fail to satisfy such reporting requirements. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the applicability of these and any other information reporting requirements to their acquisition and ownership of ordinary shares.
THE DISCUSSION ABOVE IS A GENERAL SUMMARY. IT DOES NOT COVER ALL TAX MATTERS THAT MAY BE IMPORTANT TO YOU. EACH PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER SHOULD CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR ABOUT THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN ORDINARY SHARES IN LIGHT OF THE INVESTOR’S OWN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Jersey Tax Considerations
This summary of Jersey taxation issues can only provide a general overview of this area and it is not a description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to invest in Clarivate.
The following summary of the anticipated treatment of Clarivate and holders of ordinary shares (other than residents of Jersey) is based on Jersey taxation law and practice as it is understood to apply at the date of this document and may be subject to any changes in Jersey law occurring after such date. It does not constitute legal or tax advice and does not address all aspects of Jersey tax law and practice (including such tax law and practice as it applies to any land or building situate in Jersey). Legal advice should be taken with regard to individual circumstances. Prospective investors in the ordinary shares should consult their professional advisors on the implications of acquiring, buying, selling or otherwise disposing of ordinary shares in Clarivate under the laws of any jurisdiction in which they may be liable to taxation.
Shareholders should note that tax law and interpretation can change and that, in particular, the levels and basis of, and reliefs from, taxation may change and may alter the benefits, if any, of investment in Clarivate.
Any person who is in any doubt about their tax position or who is subject to taxation in a jurisdiction other than Jersey should consult their own professional advisor.
Company Residence
Under the Income Tax (Jersey) Law 1961 (as amended) (“Tax Law”), a company shall be regarded as resident in Jersey if it is incorporated under the Jersey Companies Law unless:
● | its business is centrally managed and controlled outside Jersey in a country or territory where the highest rate at which any company may be charged to tax on any part of its income is 10% or higher; and |
● | the company is resident for tax purposes in that country or territory. |
It is intended that Clarivate will not be resident for tax purposes in Jersey and not subject to any rate of tax in Jersey as it will instead be resident in the United Kingdom where the tax rate is in excess of 10%.
Summary
Under current Jersey law, there are no capital gains, capital transfer, gift, wealth or inheritance taxes, or any death or estate duties. No capital or stamp duty is levied in Jersey on the issue, conversion, redemption, or transfer of ordinary shares. On the death of an individual holder of ordinary shares (whether or not such individual was domiciled in Jersey), duty at rates of up to 0.75% of the value of the relevant ordinary shares may be payable on the registration of any Jersey probate or letters of administration which may be required in order to
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transfer, convert, redeem, or make payments in respect of, ordinary shares held by a deceased individual sole shareholder, subject to a cap of £100,000.
Income Tax
The general rate of income tax under the Tax Law on the profits of companies regarded as resident in Jersey or having a permanent establishment in Jersey is 0% (“zero tax rating”) though certain exceptions from zero tax rating might apply.
Withholding Tax
For so long as Clarivate is subject to a zero tax rating, or is not deemed to be resident for tax purposes in Jersey, no withholding in respect of Jersey taxation will be required on payments in respect of the ordinary shares to any holder of the ordinary shares not resident in Jersey.
Stamp Duty
In Jersey, no stamp duty is levied on the issue or transfer of the ordinary shares except that stamp duty is payable on Jersey grants of probate and letters of administration, which will generally be required to transfer ordinary shares on the death of a holder of such ordinary shares if such holder was entered as the holder of the shares on the register maintained in Jersey. In the case of a grant of probate or letters of administration, stamp duty is levied according to the size of the estate (wherever situated in respect of a holder of ordinary shares domiciled in Jersey, or situated in Jersey in respect of a holder of ordinary shares domiciled outside Jersey) and is payable on a sliding scale at a rate of up to 0.75% on the value of an estate up to a maximum stamp duty charge of £100,000. The rules for joint holders through a nominee are different and advice relating to this form of holding should be obtained from a professional advisor.
Jersey does not otherwise levy taxes upon capital, inheritances, capital gains or gifts nor are there otherwise estate duties.
Goods and Services Tax
Pursuant to the Goods and Services Tax (Jersey) Law 2007 (“GST Law”), a tax rate which is currently 5% applies to the supply of goods and services, unless the supply is regarded as exempt or zero rated, or the relevant supplier or recipient of such goods and services is registered as an “international services entity.”
A company must register for GST if its turnover is greater than £300,000 in any 12 month period, and will then need to charge GST to its customers. Companies can also choose to register voluntarily.
A company may apply to be registered as an International Services Entity (“ISE”) if it mainly serves non-Jersey residents. By virtue of a company being an ISE, it will not have to register for GST, will not charge GST on its supplies, and will not be charged GST on its purchases.
The Company will be an ISE within the meaning of the GST Law, as it satisfies the requirements of the Goods and Services Tax (International Services Entities) (Jersey) Regulations 2008, as amended. As long as it continues to be such an entity, a supply of goods or of a service made by or to Clarivate shall not be a taxable supply for the purposes of the GST Law.
Substance Legislation
With effect from January 1, 2019, Jersey has implemented legislation designed to ensure that companies carrying on certain activities have adequate substance on the island. Broadly, the legislation applies to holding companies which are resident for tax purposes on the island. As discussed above at ‘Company Residence,’ it is intended that the company is tax resident in the United Kingdom and, if and for so long as this is the case, the legislation will not apply to Clarivate.
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Certain United Kingdom Tax Considerations
The following statements are of a general nature and do not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential UK tax consequences of acquiring, holding, and disposing of Clarivate’s ordinary shares. They are based on current UK tax law and on the current published practice of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) (which may not be binding on HMRC), as of the date of this prospectus, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. They are intended to address only certain United Kingdom tax consequences for holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who are tax resident in (and only in) the United Kingdom, and in the case of individuals, domiciled in (and only in) the United Kingdom (except where expressly stated otherwise) who are the absolute beneficial owners of Clarivate’s ordinary shares and any dividends paid on them and who hold Clarivate’s ordinary shares as investments (other than in an individual savings account or a self-invested personal pension). They do not address the UK tax consequences which may be relevant to certain classes of holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares such as traders, brokers, dealers, banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, investment companies, collective investment schemes, tax-exempt organizations, trustees, persons connected with the Company or any member of a group of which the Company forms part, persons holding their ordinary shares as part of hedging or conversion transactions, shareholders who have (or are deemed to have) acquired their ordinary shares by virtue of an office or employment, and shareholders who are or have been officers or employees of the Company or a company forming part of a group of which the Company forms part. The statements do not apply to any shareholder who either directly or indirectly holds or controls 10% or more of the Company’s share capital (or class thereof), voting power or profits.
The following is intended only as a general guide and is not intended to be, nor should it be considered to be, legal or tax advice to any particular prospective subscriber for, or purchaser of, Clarivate’s ordinary shares.
Accordingly, prospective subscribers for, or purchasers of, Clarivate’s ordinary shares who are in any doubt as to their tax position regarding the acquisition, ownership or disposition of Clarivate’s ordinary shares or who are subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should consult their own tax advisors.
It is the intention of the directors of Clarivate to conduct the affairs of Clarivate so that the central management and control of Clarivate is exercised in the United Kingdom for UK tax purposes. As a result, Clarivate is expected to conduct its affairs so that it is treated as resident in the United Kingdom for UK tax purposes. Accordingly, Clarivate is expected to be subject to UK tax on its worldwide income and gains, except where an exemption or relief applies.
It is not intended that Clarivate will be treated as a dual resident company for UK tax purposes, however, if it were to be so treated, Clarivate’s right to claim certain reliefs from UK tax may be restricted, and changes in law or practice in the United Kingdom could result in the imposition of further restrictions on Clarivate’s right to claim UK tax reliefs.
Taxation of dividends
Withholding tax
Clarivate will not be required to withhold UK tax at source when paying dividends. The amount of any liability to UK tax on dividends paid by Clarivate will depend on the individual circumstances of a holder of our ordinary shares.
Income tax
An individual holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who is resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom may, depending on his or her particular circumstances, be subject to UK tax on dividends received from Clarivate. An individual holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who is not resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom should not be chargeable to UK income tax on dividends received from Clarivate unless he or she carries on (whether solely or in partnership) any trade, profession, or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency to which our ordinary shares are attributable. There are certain exceptions for trading in the United Kingdom through independent agents, such as some brokers and investment managers.
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All dividends received by a UK resident individual holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares from Clarivate or from other sources will form part of that shareholder’s total income for income tax purposes and will constitute the top slice of that income. A nil rate of income tax will apply to the first £2,000 of taxable dividend income received by a holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares in a tax year. Income within the nil rate band will be taken into account in determining whether income in excess of the nil rate band falls within the basic rate, higher rate or additional rate tax bands. Where the dividend income is above the £2,000 dividend allowance, the first £2,000 of the dividend income will be charged at the nil rate and any excess amount will be taxed at 7.5%, to the extent that the excess amount falls within the basic rate tax band, 32.5%, to the extent that the excess amount falls within the higher rate tax band or 38.1%, to the extent that the excess amount falls within the additional rate tax band.
Corporation tax
Corporate holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares which are resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom, or which are not so resident in the United Kingdom but which are carrying on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in connection with which Clarivate’s ordinary shares are used or held, should not be subject to UK corporation tax on any dividend received from the Company so long as the dividends qualify for exemption (as is likely) and certain conditions are met (including anti-avoidance conditions). Corporate holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares which are not resident in the United Kingdom and which are not carrying on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment in connection with which Clarivate’s ordinary shares are used or held or acquired will not generally be subject to UK corporation tax on dividends.
A holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who is resident outside the United Kingdom may be subject to non-UK taxation on dividend income under local law.
Taxation of Capital Gains
UK resident shareholders
A disposal or deemed disposal of Clarivate’s ordinary shares by an individual or corporate holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who is tax resident in the United Kingdom may, depending on that shareholder’s circumstances and subject to any available exemptions or reliefs, give rise to a chargeable gain or allowable loss for the purposes of UK taxation of chargeable gains.
Any chargeable gain (or allowable loss) will generally be calculated by reference to the consideration received for the disposal of Clarivate’s ordinary shares less the allowable cost to the shareholder of acquiring and disposing of such ordinary shares.
The applicable tax rates for individual holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares realizing a gain on the disposal of such shares is, broadly, 10% for basic rate taxpayers and 20% for higher and additional rate taxpayers. For corporate holders, any chargeable gain on the disposal of such shares will be subject to corporation tax at a rate of 19% for the tax year starting April 1, 2020.
Non-UK shareholders
Holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who are not resident in the United Kingdom and, in the case of an individual shareholder, not temporarily non-resident, should not be liable for UK tax on capital gains realized on a sale or other disposal of Clarivate’s ordinary shares unless (i) such ordinary shares are used, held or acquired for the purposes of a trade, profession or vocation carried on in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency or, in the case of a corporate holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares used, held, or acquired for the purposes of a trade carried on in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment or (ii) where certain conditions are met, the Company derives 75% or more of its gross asset value from UK land. Holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who are not resident in the United Kingdom may be subject to non-UK taxation on any gain under local law.
Generally, an individual holder of Clarivate’s ordinary shares who has ceased to be resident in the United Kingdom for UK tax purposes for a period of five years or less and who disposes of Clarivate’s ordinary shares
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during that period may be liable on their return to the United Kingdom to UK taxation on any capital gain realized (subject to any available exemption or relief).
UK Stamp Duty (“stamp duty”) and UK Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (“SDRT”)
The statements in this section are intended as a general guide to the current position relating to stamp duty and SDRT and apply to any holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares irrespective of their place of tax residence.
No stamp duty or SDRT will be payable on the issue of Clarivate’s ordinary shares.
Stamp duty will in principle be payable on any instrument of transfer of Clarivate’s ordinary shares that is executed in the United Kingdom or that relates to any property situated, or to any matter or thing done or to be done, in the United Kingdom. An exemption from stamp duty is available on an instrument transferring Clarivate’s ordinary shares where the amount or value of the consideration is £1,000 or less and it is certified on the instrument that the transaction effected by the instrument does not form part of a larger transaction or series of transactions in respect of which the aggregate amount or value of the consideration exceeds £1,000. Holders of Clarivate’s ordinary shares should be aware that, even where an instrument of transfer is in principle subject to stamp duty, stamp duty is not required to be paid unless it is necessary to rely on the instrument for legal purposes, for example to register a change of ownership or in litigation in a UK court.
Provided that Clarivate’s ordinary shares are not registered in any register maintained in the United Kingdom by or on behalf of us, any agreement to transfer Clarivate’s ordinary shares will not be subject to SDRT. Clarivate currently does not intend that any register of its ordinary shares will be maintained in the United Kingdom.
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UNDERWRITING
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, each underwriter named below has severally agreed to purchase, and we and the selling shareholders have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the number of shares set forth opposite the underwriter’s name.
|
|
|
|
|
Number of |
Underwriter |
|
Shares |
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
|
|
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
40,000,000 |
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the shares included in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters are obligated to purchase all the shares (other than those covered by the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares described below) if they purchase any of the shares.
Shares sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus. Any shares sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price not to exceed $ per share. If all the shares are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms.
If the underwriters sell more shares than the total number set forth in the table above, certain of the selling shareholders have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 6,000,000 additional shares at the public offering price less the underwriting discount. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter must purchase a number of additional shares approximately proportionate to that underwriter’s initial purchase commitment. Any shares issued or sold under the option will be issued and sold on the same terms and conditions as the other shares that are the subject of this offering.
We, our officers and directors and the selling shareholders have agreed that, for a period of 60 days from the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, dispose of or hedge any shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our ordinary shares, subject to certain exceptions. Other than with respect to shares held by Onex or Baring, the representatives in their sole discretion may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice. The representatives may not release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements held by Onex or Baring without our prior written consent. We intend to file a “shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC shortly after completion of this offering, but this registration statement, once declared effective, would not be made available under the current terms of the lock-up agreements for the issuance or resale of any securities that are subject to these lock-up agreements while they remain in effect.
The shares are listed on NYSE under the symbol “CCC.”
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we and the selling shareholders will pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.
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We estimate that our total expenses of this offering will be approximately $1.3 million. Onex and Baring have agreed to reimburse us for a portion of these expenses. We have agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain legal fees and expenses, including expenses related to the clearing of this offering with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), in an amount not to exceed $25,000 in the aggregate.
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell shares in the open market. Purchases and sales in the open market may include short sales, purchases to cover short positions, which may include purchases pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares and stabilizing purchases.
● | Short sales involve secondary market sales by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. |
● | “Covered” short sales are sales of shares in an amount up to the number of shares represented by the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. |
● | “Naked” short sales are sales of shares in an amount in excess of the number of shares represented by the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. |
● | Covering transactions involve purchases of shares either pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares or in the open market in order to cover short positions. |
● | To close a naked short position, the underwriters must purchase shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. |
● | To close a covered short position, the underwriters must purchase shares in the open market or must exercise the option to purchase additional shares. In determining the source of shares to close the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares. |
● | Stabilizing transactions involve bids to purchase shares so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. |
Purchases to cover short positions and stabilizing purchases, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the shares. They may also cause the price of the shares to be higher than the price that would otherwise exist in the open market in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the New York Stock Exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
Conflicts of Interest
The underwriters are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The underwriters and their respective affiliates have in the past performed commercial banking, investment banking and advisory services for us from time to time for which they have received customary fees and reimbursement of expenses and may, from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (which may include bank loans and/or credit default swaps) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers and may at any time hold long and short positions in such securities and instruments. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. Affiliates of some of the underwriters (i) are lenders, and in some cases agents or managers for the lenders, under the credit facilities, (ii) acted as initial purchasers in the October 2019 offering of our secured notes due 2026, (iii) acted as underwriters in the
182
September 2019 offering of our 39,675,000 ordinary shares by Onex and Baring and certain other shareholders, the December 2019 offering of our 49,680,000 ordinary shares by Onex and Baring and the February 2020 offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares and (iv) acted as new term lender under the Incremental Facility Amendment, entered into in connection with the acquisition of DRG. For the transactions described above, the underwriters and/or their affiliates, have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. A typical such hedging strategy would include these underwriters or their affiliates hedging such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
We and the selling shareholders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make because of any of those liabilities.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom
Neither this prospectus nor any applicable free writing prospectus is a prospectus for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation (as defined below). This prospectus and any applicable free writing prospectus has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the ordinary shares in any Member State of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom (each, a “Relevant State”) will not be made to the public in that Relevant State and will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of the ordinary shares. Accordingly, any person making or intending to make an offer in that Relevant State of the ordinary shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated in this prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus may only do so in circumstances in which no obligation arises for us, the selling shareholders or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation in relation to such offer. Neither we, the selling shareholders nor the underwriters have authorized, nor do they authorize, the making of any offer of the ordinary shares in circumstances in which an obligation arises for us, the selling shareholders or the underwriters to publish a prospectus for such offer. The expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.
In relation to each Relevant State, no offer of the ordinary shares which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus to the public may be made in that Relevant State other than:
● | to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Regulation; |
● | to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant representatives nominated by us for any such offer; or |
● | in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation, provided that no such offer of the ordinary shares shall require us, the selling shareholders or any of the underwriters to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation. |
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to any ordinary shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the ordinary shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the ordinary shares.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
This prospectus has not been approved by an authorized person in the United Kingdom and is for distribution only to persons who (i) are outside the United Kingdom, (ii) have professional experience in matters relating to investments (being investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Financial Promotion Order”)), (iii) are persons
183
falling within Article 43(2) of the Financial Promotion Order, (iv) are persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) (inter alios, high net worth companies or unincorporated associations) of the Financial Promotion Order, or (v) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity within the meaning of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA”) in connection with the issue or sale of any securities may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This prospectus is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this prospectus relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. No part of this prospectus should be published, reproduced, distributed or otherwise made available in whole or in part to any other person.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
Notice to Prospective Investors in France
Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the shares described in this prospectus has been submitted to the clearance procedures of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers or of the competent authority of another member state of the European Economic Area and notified to the Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, to the public in France. Neither this prospectus nor any other offering material relating to the shares has been or will be:
● | released, issued, distributed or caused to be released, issued or distributed to the public in France; or |
● | used in connection with any offer for subscription or sale of the shares to the public in France. |
Such offers, sales and distributions will be made in France only:
● | to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés) and/or to a restricted circle of investors (cercle restreint d’investisseurs), in each case investing for their own account, all as defined in, and in accordance with articles L.411-2, D.411-1, D.411-2, D.734-1, D.744-1, D.754-1 and D.764-1 of the French Code monétaire et financier; |
● | to investment services providers authorized to engage in portfolio management on behalf of third parties; or |
● | in a transaction that, in accordance with article L.411-2-II-1°-or-2°-or 3° of the French Code monétaire et financier and article 211-2 of the General Regulations (Règlement Général) of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, does not constitute a public offer (appel public à l’épargne). |
The shares may be resold directly or indirectly, only in compliance with articles L.411-1, L.411-2, L.412-1 and L.621-8 through L.621-8-3 of the French Code monétaire et financier.
184
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The shares may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the shares may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan
The shares offered in this prospectus have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan. The shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the account of any resident of Japan (including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), except (i) pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and (ii) in compliance with any other applicable requirements of Japanese law.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore
This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the shares may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the shares be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”), (ii) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1), or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to compliance with conditions set forth in the SFA.
Where the shares are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:
● | a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or |
● | a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor, |
shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the shares pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:
● | to an institutional investor (for corporations, under Section 274 of the SFA) or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer that is made on terms that such shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or such rights and interest in that trust are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction, whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets, and further for corporations, in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA; |
● | where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer; or |
● | where the transfer is by operation of law. |
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Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to section 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA and the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018 of Singapore (the “CMP Regulations 2018”), the issuer has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A(1) of the SFA), that the ordinary shares are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the CMP Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products; and MAS notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of U.S. federal and New York State law will be passed upon for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York, and for the underwriters by Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP. The validity of the ordinary shares offered in this offering and other legal matters as to Jersey law will be passed upon for us by Ogier (Jersey) LLP, St. Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands.
EXPERTS
The financial statements as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
In addition, the financial statements of Decision Resources Group as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2019 included in this prospectus have been so included in reliance on the report of KNAV P.A., an independent auditor, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
Clarivate is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands. Some of Clarivate’s directors, executive officers and persons discharging managerial responsibilities, and certain experts named in this prospectus, reside outside the United States. A substantial portion of Clarivate’s assets and the assets of those non-resident persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon Clarivate or those persons or to enforce against Clarivate or them, either inside or outside the United States, judgments obtained in U.S. courts, or to enforce in U.S. courts, judgments obtained against them in courts in jurisdictions outside the U.S., in any action predicated upon civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. Both in original actions and in actions for the enforcement of judgments of U.S. courts, there is doubt as to whether civil liabilities predicated solely upon the U.S. federal securities laws are enforceable in Jersey. See “Description of Share Capital — Enforcement of Civil Liabilities.”
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement (including amendments and exhibits to the registration statement) on Form S-1 under the Securities Act. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement. If a document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the copy of the document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act that are applicable to foreign private issuers. Accordingly, we are required to file or furnish reports and other information with the SEC. Despite our status as a foreign private issuer, we voluntarily provide our periodic and current reports pursuant to the forms of the Exchange Act required for U.S. domestic issuers, and file or furnish annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. The SEC maintains an internet website at http://www.sec.gov, from which you can electronically access the registration statement and its materials.
We do not expect to fully transition to complying with all requirements applicable to U.S. domestic issuers until such time as we no longer qualify as a foreign private issuer. In particular, as a foreign private issuer, we are exempt under the Exchange Act from, among other things, the rules prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements, and our executive officers and directors are exempt from the reporting and short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
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Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
F-1
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders
of Clarivate Analytics Plc
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Clarivate Analytics Plc and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income (loss), of changes in equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2019 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for leases in 2019.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
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|
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
|
|
March 2, 2020
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2016.
F-2
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, |
||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
76,130 |
|
$ |
25,575 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
9 |
|
|
9 |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $16,511 and $14,076 at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively |
|
|
333,858 |
|
|
331,295 |
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
40,710 |
|
|
31,021 |
Other current assets |
|
|
11,750 |
|
|
20,712 |
Assets held for sale |
|
|
30,619 |
|
|
— |
Total current assets |
|
|
493,076 |
|
|
408,612 |
Computer hardware and other property, net |
|
|
18,042 |
|
|
20,641 |
Other intangible assets, net |
|
|
1,828,640 |
|
|
1,958,520 |
Goodwill |
|
|
1,328,045 |
|
|
1,282,919 |
Other non-current assets |
|
|
18,632 |
|
|
26,556 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
19,488 |
|
|
12,426 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
|
85,448 |
|
|
— |
Total Assets |
|
$ |
3,791,371 |
|
$ |
3,709,674 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
26,458 |
|
$ |
38,418 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
159,217 |
|
|
153,849 |
Current portion of deferred revenues |
|
|
407,325 |
|
|
391,102 |
Current portion of operating lease liability |
|
|
22,130 |
|
|
— |
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
9,000 |
|
|
60,345 |
Liabilities held for sale |
|
|
26,868 |
|
|
— |
Total current liabilities |
|
|
650,998 |
|
|
643,714 |
Long-term debt |
|
|
1,628,611 |
|
|
1,930,177 |
Non-current portion of deferred revenues |
|
|
19,723 |
|
|
17,112 |
Other non-current liabilities |
|
|
18,891 |
|
|
24,838 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
48,547 |
|
|
43,226 |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
64,189 |
|
|
— |
Total liabilities |
|
|
2,430,959 |
|
|
2,659,067 |
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Shares, no par value; unlimited shares authorized at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018; 306,874,115 and 217,526,425 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively; |
|
|
2,208,529 |
|
|
1,677,510 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
(4,879) |
|
|
5,358 |
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(843,238) |
|
|
(632,261) |
Total shareholders’ equity |
|
|
1,360,412 |
|
|
1,050,607 |
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity |
|
$ |
3,791,371 |
|
$ |
3,709,674 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
Revenues, net |
|
$ |
974,345 |
|
$ |
968,468 |
|
$ |
917,634 |
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(346,503) |
|
|
(396,499) |
|
|
(394,215) |
Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(368,675) |
|
|
(369,377) |
|
|
(343,143) |
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(51,383) |
|
|
(13,715) |
|
|
(17,663) |
Depreciation |
|
|
(9,181) |
|
|
(9,422) |
|
|
(6,997) |
Amortization |
|
|
(191,361) |
|
|
(227,803) |
|
|
(221,466) |
Impairment on assets held for sale |
|
|
(18,431) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Transaction expenses |
|
|
(46,214) |
|
|
(2,457) |
|
|
(2,245) |
Transition, integration and other related expenses |
|
|
(14,239) |
|
|
(61,282) |
|
|
(78,695) |
Restructuring |
|
|
(15,670) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Legal settlement |
|
|
39,399 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Other operating income (expense), net |
|
|
4,826 |
|
|
6,379 |
|
|
(237) |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(1,017,432) |
|
|
(1,074,176) |
|
|
(1,064,661) |
Loss from operations |
|
|
(43,087) |
|
|
(105,708) |
|
|
(147,027) |
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(157,689) |
|
|
(130,805) |
|
|
(138,196) |
Loss before income tax |
|
|
(200,776) |
|
|
(236,513) |
|
|
(285,223) |
Benefit (provision) for income taxes |
|
|
(10,201) |
|
|
(5,649) |
|
|
21,293 |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(210,977) |
|
$ |
(242,162) |
|
$ |
(263,930) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.77) |
|
$ |
(1.11) |
|
$ |
(1.22) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares used to compute earnings per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
|
273,883,342 |
|
|
217,472,870 |
|
|
216,848,866 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
Net loss |
|
$ |
(210,977) |
|
$ |
(242,162) |
|
$ |
(263,930) |
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest rate swaps, net of $0 tax in all periods |
|
|
(6,422) |
|
|
2,537 |
|
|
1,107 |
Defined benefit pension plans, net of tax (benefit) provision of $683, ($91), and $430, respectively |
|
|
(1,041) |
|
|
(17) |
|
|
881 |
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
|
(2,774) |
|
|
(11,146) |
|
|
15,466 |
Total other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
(10,237) |
|
|
(8,626) |
|
|
17,454 |
Comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
(221,214) |
|
$ |
(250,788) |
|
$ |
(246,476) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
Total |
||
|
|
Share Capital |
|
Comprehensive |
|
Accumulated |
|
Shareholders’ |
||||||
|
|
Shares |
|
Amount |
|
Income (Loss) |
|
Deficit |
|
Equity |
||||
Balance at December 31, 2016 as originally reported |
|
1,635,000 |
|
$ |
1,635,000 |
|
$ |
(3,470) |
|
$ |
(126,169) |
|
$ |
1,505,361 |
Conversion of units of share capital |
|
214,408,455 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Balance at December 31, 2016, as recasted |
|
216,043,455 |
|
|
1,635,000 |
|
|
(3,470) |
|
|
(126,169) |
|
|
1,505,361 |
Issuance of common stock, net |
|
1,284,368 |
|
|
9,558 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
9,558 |
Share-based compensation |
|
— |
|
|
17,663 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
17,663 |
Net loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(263,930) |
|
|
(263,930) |
Comprehensive income |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
17,454 |
|
|
— |
|
|
17,454 |
Balance at December 31, 2017 |
|
217,327,823 |
|
$ |
1,662,221 |
|
$ |
13,984 |
|
$ |
(390,099) |
|
$ |
1,286,106 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2017, as originally reported |
|
1,644,720 |
|
$ |
1,662,221 |
|
$ |
13,984 |
|
$ |
(390,099) |
|
$ |
1,286,106 |
Conversion of units of share capital |
|
215,683,103 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Balance at December 31, 2017, as recasted |
|
217,327,823 |
|
|
1,662,221 |
|
|
13,984 |
|
|
(390,099) |
|
|
1,286,106 |
Issuance of common stock, net |
|
198,602 |
|
|
1,574 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,574 |
Share-based compensation |
|
— |
|
|
13,715 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
13,715 |
Net loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(242,162) |
|
|
(242,162) |
Comprehensive (loss) |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(8,626) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(8,626) |
Balance at December 31, 2018 |
|
217,526,425 |
|
$ |
1,677,510 |
|
$ |
5,358 |
|
$ |
(632,261) |
|
$ |
1,050,607 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2018, as originally reported |
|
1,646,223 |
|
$ |
1,677,510 |
|
$ |
5,358 |
|
$ |
(632,261) |
|
$ |
1,050,607 |
Conversion of units of share capital |
|
215,880,202 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Balance at December 31, 2018, as recasted |
|
217,526,425 |
|
|
1,677,510 |
|
|
5,358 |
|
|
(632,261) |
|
|
1,050,607 |
Tax Receivable Agreement |
|
— |
|
|
(264,000) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(264,000) |
Settlement of Tax Receivable Agreement |
|
— |
|
|
64,000 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
64,000 |
Issuance of common stock, net |
|
1,597,691 |
|
|
1,582 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,582 |
Merger recapitalization |
|
87,749,999 |
|
|
678,054 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
678,054 |
Share-based compensation |
|
— |
|
|
51,383 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
51,383 |
Net loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(210,977) |
|
|
(210,977) |
Comprehensive (loss) |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(10,237) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(10,237) |
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
|
306,874,115 |
|
$ |
2,208,529 |
|
$ |
(4,879) |
|
$ |
(843,238) |
|
$ |
1,360,412 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
Cash Flows From Operating Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(210,977) |
|
$ |
(242,162) |
|
$ |
(263,930) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
200,542 |
|
|
237,225 |
|
|
228,463 |
Bad debt expense |
|
|
1,331 |
|
|
6,507 |
|
|
6,505 |
Deferred income tax benefit |
|
|
357 |
|
|
(14,103) |
|
|
(36,272) |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
51,383 |
|
|
13,715 |
|
|
17,663 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
|
|
50,676 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Gain on sale of line of business |
|
|
— |
|
|
(39,104) |
|
|
— |
Impairment on assets held for sale |
|
|
18,431 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Deferred finance charges |
|
|
2,496 |
|
|
9,182 |
|
|
23,510 |
Tax indemnity write-off |
|
|
— |
|
|
33,819 |
|
|
— |
Other operating activities |
|
|
(374) |
|
|
(3,979) |
|
|
2,548 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
(593) |
|
|
(50,906) |
|
|
43,109 |
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
(10,224) |
|
|
(2,936) |
|
|
(4,052) |
Other assets |
|
|
(975) |
|
|
578 |
|
|
10,799 |
Accounts payable |
|
|
(13,838) |
|
|
(18,091) |
|
|
(39,660) |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
1,095 |
|
|
9,842 |
|
|
(6,038) |
Deferred revenues |
|
|
33,480 |
|
|
33,539 |
|
|
18,751 |
Operating lease right of use assets |
|
|
11,365 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
(11,251) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Other liabilities |
|
|
(5,344) |
|
|
774 |
|
|
5,271 |
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities |
|
|
117,580 |
|
|
(26,100) |
|
|
6,667 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows From Investing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(69,836) |
|
|
(45,410) |
|
|
(37,804) |
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired |
|
|
(68,424) |
|
|
(23,539) |
|
|
(7,401) |
Acquisition of intangibles |
|
|
(2,625) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from sale of product line, net of restricted cash |
|
|
— |
|
|
80,883 |
|
|
5,000 |
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
|
|
(140,885) |
|
|
11,934 |
|
|
(40,205) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash Flows From Financing Activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from revolving credit facility |
|
|
70,000 |
|
|
45,000 |
|
|
30,000 |
Principal payments on term loan |
|
|
(641,509) |
|
|
(46,709) |
|
|
(15,423) |
Repayments of revolving credit facility |
|
|
(50,000) |
|
|
(30,000) |
|
|
— |
Payment of debt issuance costs |
|
|
(41,923) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(817) |
Contingent purchase price payment |
|
|
(2,371) |
|
|
(2,470) |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from reverse recapitalization |
|
|
682,087 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from issuance of debt |
|
|
1,600,000 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Extinguishment of debt |
|
|
(1,342,651) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Tax receivable agreement payout |
|
|
(200,000) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants and employee share options |
|
|
1,582 |
|
|
1,574 |
|
|
9,058 |
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
|
75,215 |
|
|
(32,605) |
|
|
22,818 |
Effects of exchange rates |
|
|
(971) |
|
|
(5,193) |
|
|
3,248 |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
|
50,939 |
|
|
(51,964) |
|
|
(7,472) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
25,575 |
|
|
53,186 |
|
|
77,136 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
9 |
|
|
24,362 |
|
|
7,884 |
Total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
|
25,584 |
|
|
77,548 |
|
|
85,020 |
Less: Cash included in assets held for sale, end of period |
|
|
(384) |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period |
|
|
76,139 |
|
|
25,584 |
|
|
77,548 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
End of period: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
76,130 |
|
|
25,575 |
|
|
53,186 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
9 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
24,362 |
Total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period |
|
$ |
76,139 |
|
$ |
25,584 |
|
$ |
77,548 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental Cash Flow Information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
101,164 |
|
$ |
121,916 |
|
$ |
115,236 |
Cash paid for income tax |
|
$ |
29,204 |
|
$ |
13,210 |
|
$ |
14,722 |
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable |
|
$ |
8,762 |
|
$ |
5,166 |
|
$ |
2,473 |
Assets received as reverse recapitalization capital |
|
$ |
1,877 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
Liabilities assumed as reduction of reverse recapitalization capital |
|
$ |
5,910 |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-7
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(In thousands, except share and per share data, option prices, ratios or as noted)
Note 1: Background and Nature of Operations
Clarivate Analytics Plc (“Clarivate,” “us,” “we,” “our,” or the “Company”), a public limited company organized under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands, was incorporated as a Jersey limited company on January 7, 2019. Pursuant to the definitive agreement entered into to effect a merger between Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited (“Jersey”) and Churchill Capital Corp, a Delaware corporation, (“Churchill”) (the “2019 Transaction”), the Company was formed for the purposes of completing the 2019 Transaction and related transitions and carrying on the business of Jersey, and its subsidiaries.
The Company is a provider of proprietary and comprehensive content, analytics, professional services and workflow solutions that enables users across government and academic institutions, life science companies and research and development (“R&D”) intensive corporations to discover, protect and commercialize their innovations. Our Science Product Group consists of our Web of Science and Life Science Product Lines. Both Product Lines provide curated, high-value, structured information that is delivered and embedded into the workflows of our customers, which include research intensive corporations, life science organizations and universities world-wide. Our Intellectual Property (“IP”) Product Group consists of our Derwent, CompuMark and MarkMonitor Product Lines. These Product Lines help manage customer’s end-to-end portfolio of intellectual property from patents to trademarks to corporate website domains.
In January 2019, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 26, 2019, and Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 29, 2019, collectively, the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Churchill, Jersey, CCC Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Clarivate (“Delaware Merger Sub”), Camelot Merger Sub (Jersey) Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands and wholly owned subsidiary of Clarivate (“Jersey Merger Sub”), and the Company, which, among other things, provided for (i) Jersey Merger Sub to be merged with and into Jersey with the Jersey being the surviving company in the merger (the “Jersey Merger”) and (ii) Delaware Merger Sub to be merged with and into Churchill with Churchill being the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Delaware Merger”), and together with the Jersey Merger, the “Mergers”.
On May 13, 2019, the 2019 Transaction was consummated, and Clarivate became the sole managing member of Jersey, operating and controlling all of the business and affairs of Jersey, through Jersey and its subsidiaries. Following the consummation of the 2019 Transaction on May 13, 2019, the Company’s ordinary shares and warrants began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. See Note 4 — "Business Combinations" for more information.
The 2019 Transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Under this method of accounting Churchill was treated as the "acquired" company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was primarily based on post 2019 Transaction relative voting rights, composition of the governing board, size of the two entities pre-merger, and intent of the 2019 Transaction. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the 2019 Transaction was treated as the equivalent of the Company issuing stock for the net assets of Churchill. The net assets of Churchill, were stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets resulting from the 2019 Transaction. Reported amounts from operations included herein prior to the 2019 Transaction are those of Jersey.
On September 10, 2019 and December 9, 2019 the Company issued a public offering of 39,675,000 and 49,680,000 ordinary shares, respectively, (the “Secondary Offerings”) by affiliated funds of Onex Corporation and Baring Private Equity Asia Limited (“BPEA”), together with certain other shareholders, at $16.00 and $17.25, respectively, per share. The Company did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of its ordinary shares by the selling shareholders.
F-8
Jersey was formed on August 4, 2016 as a private limited liability company organized under the laws of the Island of Jersey. Its registered office is located at 4th Floor, St Paul’s Gate, 22-24 New Street, St Helier, Jersey JE1 4TR.
On July 10, 2016, Camelot UK Bidco Limited, a private limited liability company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Camelot UK Holdco Limited, a direct wholly owned subsidiary (“UK Holdco”), collectively referred to as (“Bidco”), entered into a separation agreement to acquire (i) certain assets and liabilities related to the Intellectual Property & Science business (“IP&S”) business from our Thomson Reuters Corporation ("Former Parent") and (ii) all of the equity interests and substantially all of the assets and liabilities of certain entities engaged in the IP&S business together with their subsidiaries (“2016 Transaction”). The 2016 Transaction total consideration was $3,566,599, net of cash acquired. Jersey is owned by affiliates of Onex Corporation and private investment funds managed by BPEA and certain co-investors.
Note 2: Basis of Presentation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, were prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company include the accounts of all of its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities over which the Company has control, where control is defined as the power to govern financial and operating policies. Generally, the Company has a shareholding of more than 50% of the voting rights in its subsidiaries. The effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable are considered when assessing whether control exists. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date control is transferred to the Company, and are de-consolidated from the date control ceases. The U.S. dollar is the Company’s reporting currency. As such, the financial statements are reported on a U.S. dollar basis.
Note 3: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Business Combinations
The Company determines whether substantially all the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or group of similar identifiable assets. If this threshold is met, the set is not a business. If it is not met, the Company then evaluates whether the set meets the requirement that a business include, at a minimum, an input and as substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs.
Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method at the acquisition date, which is when control is obtained. The consideration transferred is generally measured at fair value, as are the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. During the one-year period following the acquisition date, if an adjustment is identified based on new information about facts and circumstances that existed as of the acquisition date, the Company will record measurement-period adjustments related to the acquisitions in the period in which the adjustment is identified.
Goodwill is measured at the acquisition date as the fair value of the consideration transferred (including, if applicable, the fair value of any previously held equity interest and any non-controlling interests) less the net recognized amount (which is generally the fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.
Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issuance of debt or equity securities incurred in connection with a business combination, are expensed as incurred and included in Transaction expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts and operations of the Company, and its subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
F-9
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The most important of these relate to share-based compensation expenses, revenue recognition, the allowance for doubtful accounts, internally developed computer software, valuation of goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets, determination of the projected benefit obligations of the defined benefit plans, income taxes, fair value of stock options, derivatives and financial instruments, contingent earn-out, and the tax related valuation allowances. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates these estimates, assumptions and judgments, in reference to historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents is comprised of cash on hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity at the date of purchase of three months or less.
Restricted Cash
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company held $9 of restricted cash primarily related to funds from the Company’s Publons transaction.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are presented net of the allowance for doubtful accounts and any discounts. Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Collections of accounts receivable are included in cash provided by operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts for estimated losses and assesses its adequacy each reporting period by evaluating factors such as the length of time receivables are past due, historical collection experience, and the economic and competitive environment. The expense related to doubtful accounts is included within Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Account balances are written off against the allowance when the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not have any off-balance-sheet credit exposure related to its customers.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Accounts receivable are the primary financial instrument that potentially subjects the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk. Accounts receivable represents arrangements in which services were transferred to a customer before the customer pays consideration or before payment is due. Contracts with payment in arrears are recognized as receivables after the Company considers whether a significant financing component exists. The Company does not require collateral or other securities to support customer receivables. Management performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and limits the amount of credit extended when deemed appropriate. Credit losses have been immaterial and reasonable within management’s expectations. No single customer accounted for more than 1% of revenues and our ten largest customers represented only 5% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2019.
The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalent balances with high-quality financial institutions and consequently, the Company believes that such funds are subject to minimal credit risk.
Prepaid Expenses
Prepaid expenses represent amounts that the Company has paid in advance of receiving benefits or services. Prepaid expenses include amounts for system and service contracts, sales commissions, deposits, prepaid royalties and insurance and are recognized as an expense over the general contractual period that the Company expects to benefit from the underlying asset or service.
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Computer Hardware and Other Property, net
Generally, computer hardware and other property are recorded at cost and are depreciated over the respective estimated useful lives. Upon the 2016 Transaction, computer hardware and other property were revalued and recorded at net book value, which approximated fair value at the 2016 Transaction.
Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The cost and related accumulated depreciation of sold or retired assets are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included within Loss from operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The estimated useful lives are as follows:
|
|
|
Computer hardware |
|
3 years |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment |
|
5 – 7 years |
Leasehold improvements |
|
Lesser of lease term or estimated useful life |
Computer Software
Development costs related to internally generated software are capitalized once a project has progressed beyond a conceptual, preliminary stage to that of the application development stage. Costs of significant improvements on existing software for internal use, both internally developed and purchased, are also capitalized. Costs related to the preliminary project stage, data conversion and post-implementation/operation stage of an internal use software development project are expensed as incurred.
Capitalized costs are amortized over five years, which is the estimated useful life of the related software. Purchased software is amortized over three years, which is the estimated useful life of the related software. The capitalized amounts, net of accumulated amortization, are included in Other intangible assets, net in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The cost and related accumulated amortization of sold or retired assets are removed from the accounts and any gain or loss is included within Loss from operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Computer software is evaluated for impairment whenever circumstances indicate the carrying amount may not be recoverable. The test for impairment compares the carrying amounts with the sum of undiscounted cash flows related to the asset. If the carrying value is greater than the undiscounted cash flows of the asset, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value.
Identifiable Intangible Assets, net
Upon acquisition, identifiable intangible assets are recorded at fair value and are carried at cost less accumulated amortization or accumulated impairment for indefinite-lived intangible assets. Useful lives are reviewed at the end of each reporting period and adjusted if appropriate. Fully amortized assets are retained at cost and accumulated amortization accounts until such assets are derecognized.
Customer Relationships — Customer relationships primarily consist of customer contracts and customer relationships arising from such contracts.
Databases and Content — Databases and content primarily consists of repositories of the Company’s specific financial and customer information and intellectual content.
Trade Names — Trade names consist of purchased brand names that the Company continues to use.
Where applicable, intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives as follows:
|
|
|
Customer relationships |
|
2 – 14 years |
Databases and content |
|
13 – 20 years |
Finite-lived trade names |
|
18 years |
Indefinite-lived trade names |
|
Indefinite |
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Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
Residual values and useful lives are reviewed at the end of each reporting period and adjusted if appropriate. The Company evaluates its long-lived assets, including computer hardware and other property, computer software, and finite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever circumstances indicate that their carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Recoverability of these assets is measured by comparison of the carrying amount of each asset to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate over its remaining life. An asset is assessed for impairment at the lowest level that the asset generates cash inflows that are largely independent of cash inflows from other assets. If the asset is considered to be impaired, the amount of any impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the impaired asset.
Management identified an impairment loss in connection with the divestiture of certain assets and liabilities of its MarkMonitor Product Line within its IP Group in the year ended December 31, 2019. Management determined that additional impairment did not exist for any of the periods presented.
Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
The Company evaluates its goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, annually as of October 1 or more frequently if impairment indicators arise in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC”) Topic 350. The Company identified five reporting units due to a change in the Company’s reporting structure for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and one reporting unit for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The Company evaluates the recoverability of goodwill at the reporting unit level. The Company assesses various qualitative factors to determine whether the fair value of a reporting unit may be less than its carrying amount. If a determination is made that, based on the qualitative factors, an impairment does not exist, the Company is not required to perform further testing. If the aforementioned qualitative assessment results in the Company concluding that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit may be less than its carrying amount, the fair value of the reporting unit will be determined and compared to its carrying value including goodwill.
In determining the fair value of a reporting unit, the Company estimates the fair value of a reporting unit using the fair value derived from the income approach. The market approach estimates fair value based on market multiples of revenue and earnings derived from comparable publicly traded companies with similar operating and investment characteristics as the reporting unit; whereas, the income approach uses a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) model. The DCF model determines the fair value of our reporting units based on projected future discounted cash flows, which in turn were based on our views of uncertain variables such as growth rates, anticipated future economic conditions, and the appropriate discount rates relative to risk and estimates of residual values.
If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of the net assets assigned to that unit, goodwill is not impaired, and the Company is not required to perform further testing. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, the Company will recognize the difference as an impairment charge. Management concluded that no goodwill impairment existed for any of the periods presented.
The Company also has indefinite-lived intangible assets related to trade names. Indefinite-lived intangible assets are subject to impairment testing annually or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. For purposes of impairment testing, the fair value of trade names is determined using an income approach, specifically the relief from royalties method. Management concluded that no indefinite-lived intangible impairment existed for any of the periods presented.
Other Current and Non-Current Assets and Liabilities
The Company defines current assets and liabilities as those from which it will benefit from or which it has an obligation for within one year that do not otherwise classify as assets or liabilities separately reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Other non-current assets and liabilities are expected to benefit the Company or cause its obligation beyond one year. The Company classifies the current portion of long-term assets and liabilities as current assets or liabilities.
F-12
Leases
We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in Operating lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, Current portion of operating lease liability, and Operating lease liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Our lease terms may include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted as a single lease component. Additionally, for certain equipment leases, we apply a portfolio approach to effectively account for the operating lease ROU assets and liabilities.
Accounts Payable and Accruals
Accounts payable and accruals are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business. Accounts payable and accruals are recognized initially at their settlement value, and are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less.
Debt
Debt is recognized initially at par value, net of any applicable discounts or financing costs. Debt is subsequently stated at amortized cost with any difference between the proceeds (net of transactions costs) and the redemption value recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations over the term of the debt using the effective interest method. Interest on indebtedness is expensed as incurred.
Debt is classified as a current liability when due within 12 months after the end of the reporting period.
Tax Receivable Agreement (“TRA”)
Concurrent with the completion of the 2019 Transaction, in May 2019 we became a party to a TRA with our pre-business combination equity holders. Under the TRA, we are generally required to pay to certain pre-business combination equity holders approximately 85% of the amount of calculated tax savings, if any, we are deemed to realize (using the actual applicable U.S. federal income tax rate and an assumed combined state and local income tax rate) as a result of (1) any existing tax attributes associated with Covered Tax Assets acquired in the pre-business combination organizational transactions, the benefit of which is allocable to us as a result of such transactions, (2) net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards available as a result of such transactions and (3) tax benefits related to imputed interest. Further, there may be significant changes, to the estimate of the TRA liability due to various reasons including changes in corporate tax law, changes in estimates of the amount or timing of future taxable income, and other items. Changes in those estimates are recognized as adjustments to the related TRA liability, with offsetting impacts recorded in the Consolidated Statements of Operations as Other operating income (expense), net. On August 21, 2019 the Company entered into a TRA Buyout Agreement to settle the outstanding liability. The settlement of the original TRA liability pursuant to the TRA Buyout Agreement was accounted for as an adjustment to Shareholders' equity.
Derivative Financial Instruments
Foreign Exchange Derivative Contracts
Prior to the sale of IPM, the Company used derivative financial instruments to manage foreign currency exchange rate risk in IPM. The Company’s derivative financial instruments consist of foreign currency forward contracts (“forward contracts”). Derivative financial instruments were neither held nor issued by the Company for trading purposes.
F-13
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company has interest rate swaps with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on a portion of its outstanding first lien senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $900,000 (“Term Loan Facility”). The Company applies hedge accounting and has designated these instruments as cash flow hedges of the risk associated with floating interest rates on designated future quarterly interest payments. Management assumes the hedge is highly effective and therefore changes in the value of the hedging instrument are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Any ineffectiveness is recorded in earnings. Amounts in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transactions affect earnings, or upon termination of the hedging relationship.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
In determining fair value, the use of various valuation methodologies, including market, income and cost approaches is permissible. The Company considers the principal or most advantageous market in which it would transact and considers assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability. The accounting guidance for fair value measurements establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. There are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value based on the reliability of inputs. A financial instrument’s categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company’s interest rate swap derivative instruments are classified as Level 2. Earn-out liabilities and defined benefit plan assets are classified as Level 3.
Contingent Considerations
The Company records liabilities for the estimated cost of such contingencies when expenditures are probable and reasonably estimable. A significant amount of judgment is required to estimate and quantify the potential liability in these matters. We engage outside experts as deemed necessary or appropriate to assist in the calculation of the liability, however management is responsible for evaluating the estimate. As information becomes available regarding changes in circumstances for ongoing contingent considerations, our potential liability is reassessed and adjusted as necessary. See Note 22 — “Commitments and Contingencies” for further information on contingencies.
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits
The Company may be required to sponsor pension benefit plans, for certain international markets, which are unfunded and are not material for the Company. The net periodic pension expense is actuarially determined on an annual basis by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The determination of benefit expense requires assumptions such as the discount rate, which is used to measure service cost, benefit plan obligations and the interest expense on the plan obligations. Other significant assumptions include expected mortality, the expected rate of increase with respect to future compensation and pension. Because the determination of the cost and obligations associated with employee future benefits requires the use of various assumptions, there is measurement uncertainty inherent in the actuarial valuation process. Actual results will differ from results which are estimated based on assumptions.
The liability recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period. The present value of the defined benefit obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outflows using interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid and that have terms to maturity approximating the terms of the related pension liability. The defined benefit obligation is included in Other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. All actuarial gains and losses that arise in calculating the present value of the defined benefit obligation are recognized immediately in Accumulated deficit and included in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). See Note 13 — “Pension and Other Post Retirement Benefits” for balances and further details including an estimate of the impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements from changes in the most critical assumptions.
F-14
Employer contributions to defined contribution plans are expensed as incurred, which is as the related employee service is rendered.
Taxation
The Company recognizes income taxes under the asset and liability method. Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and reserves for unrecognized tax benefits reflect our best assessment of estimated current and future taxes to be paid. Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining the consolidated Income tax expense for financial statement purposes. Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements, which will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, we consider future taxable income by tax jurisdiction and tax planning strategies. The Company records a valuation allowance to reduce our deferred tax assets to equal an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
Changes in tax laws and tax rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future. The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions across our global operations. ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, states that a benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, on the basis of the technical merits. The Company first records unrecognized tax benefits as liabilities in accordance with ASC 740 and then adjusts these liabilities when our judgment changes as a result of the evaluation of new information not previously available at the time of establishing the liability. Because of the complexity of some of these uncertainties, the ultimate resolution may result in a payment that is materially different from our current estimate of the unrecognized tax benefit liabilities. These differences will be reflected as increases or decreases to income tax expense in the period in which new information is available.
Interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits and income tax-related penalties are included in the Benefit (provision) for income taxes.
Deferred tax is provided on taxable temporary differences arising on investments in foreign subsidiaries, except where we intend, and are able, to reinvest such amounts on a permanent basis.
Revenue Recognition
The Company derives revenue by selling information on a subscription and single transaction basis as well as from performing professional services. The Company recognizes revenue when control of these services are transferred to the customer for an amount, referred to as the transaction price, that reflects the consideration to which the Company is expected to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The Company determines revenue recognition utilizing the following five steps: (1) identification of the contract with a customer, (2) identification of the performance obligations in the contract (promised goods or services that are distinct), (3) determination of the transaction price, (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations, and (5) recognition of revenue when, or as, the Company transfers control of the product or service for each performance obligation. Revenue is recognized net of discounts and rebates, as well as value added and other sales taxes. Cash received or receivable in advance of the delivery of the services or publications is included in deferred revenues. The Company disaggregates revenue based on revenue recognition pattern. Subscription based revenues recognize revenue over time whereas our transactional revenues recognize revenue at a point in time. The Company believes subscription and transaction is reflective of how the Company manages the business. The revenue recognition policies for the Company’s revenue streams are discussed below.
Subscription Revenues
Subscription-based revenues are recurring revenues that are earned under annual, evergreen or multi-year contracts pursuant to which we license the right to use our products to our customers. Revenues from the sale of subscription data and analytics solutions are typically invoiced annually in advance and recognized ratably over the year as revenues are earned. Subscription revenues are typically generated either on (i) an enterprise basis, meaning that the organization has a license for the particular product or service offering and then anyone within
F-15
the organization can use it at no additional cost, (ii) a seat basis, meaning each individual that uses the particular product or service offering has to have his or her own license, or (iii) a unit basis, meaning that incremental revenues are generated on an existing subscription each time the product is used (e.g., a trademark or brand is searched or assessed).
Transactional Revenues
Transactional revenues are revenues that are earned under contracts for specific deliverables that are typically quoted on a product, data set or project basis and often derived from repeat customers, including customers that also generate subscription-based revenues. Revenues from the sale of transactional products and services are invoiced according to the terms of the contract, typically in arrears. Transactional content sales are usually delivered to the customer instantly or in a short period of time, at which time revenues are recognized.
In the case of professional services, these contracts vary in length from several months to years for multi-year projects and customers and typically invoiced based on the achievement of milestones. Transactional revenues are typically generated on a unit basis, although for certain product and service offerings transactional revenues are generated on a seat basis. Transactional revenues may involve sales to the same customer on multiple occasions but with different products or services comprising the order.
Performance Obligations
Content Subscription: Content subscription performance obligations are most prevalent in the Web of Science, Derwent, and Life Sciences Product Lines. Content subscriptions are subscriptions that can only be accessed through the Company’s on-line platform for a specified period of time through downloads or access codes. In addition to the primary content subscription, these types of performance obligations can often include other performance obligations, such as training subscriptions, access to historical content, maintenance and other optional content. While revenue for these performance obligations are primarily recognized over the length of the contract (subscription revenue) there are instances where revenue could be recognized upon delivery (transactional revenue). Historical content and some optional content can be purchased via a perpetual license, which would be recognized upon delivery. Fees are typically paid annually at the beginning of each term.
Domain Registration Services: This performance obligation relates to the MarkMonitor Product Line. This is a service to register domain names with the applicable registries, with the Company being responsible for monitoring the domain name expiration and paying the registry before expiration. In addition, the Company has an ongoing responsibility to ensure the domain name is maintained at the registry. Customers typically sign a one to two year contract, identifying specific domain names to be registered and tracked. Revenue is recognized over the term of the contract and fees are typically invoiced annually at the beginning of each contract term.
Search Services: This performance obligation relates to the CompuMark Product Line. It is a comprehensive search report across multiple databases for a proposed trademark. The report is compiled by Clarivate’s analysts and sent to customers. Revenue is recognized upon delivery of the report. Fees are typically paid upon delivery.
Trademark Watch: This performance obligation relates to the CompuMark Product Line. Trademark watch service is an annual subscription that allows customers to protect their trademarks from infringement by providing timely notification of newly filed or published trademarks. Revenue is recognized over the term of the contract, with fees paid annually at the beginning of each contract term.
Patent Management: This performance obligation related to the IPM Product Line. The Company paid patent registration fees for customers in multiple countries to ensure their patents do not expire. Transaction fee revenue was recognized at the time payment is made on the client’s behalf to the applicable patent office. Fees were paid annually at the beginning of each term.
Variable Consideration
In some cases, contracts provide for variable consideration that is contingent upon the occurrence of uncertain future events, such as retroactive discounts provided to the customers, indexed or volume-based discounts, and revenue between contract expiration and renewal. Variable consideration is estimated at the expected value or at the most likely amount depending on the type of consideration. Estimated amounts are
F-16
included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The estimate of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of its anticipated performance and all information (historical, current, and forecasted) that is reasonably available to the Company.
Significant Judgments
Significant judgments and estimates are necessary for the allocation of the proceeds received from an arrangement to the multiple performance obligations and the appropriate timing of revenue recognition. Our contracts with customers often include promises to transfer multiple products and services to a customer. Determining whether products and services are considered distinct performance obligations that should be accounted for separately versus together may require significant judgment. Determining a standalone selling price that may not be directly observable amongst all the products and performance obligations requires judgment. Specifically, many Web of Science Product Line contracts include multiple product offerings, which may have both subscription and transactional revenues. Judgment is also required to determine whether the software license is considered distinct and accounted for separately, or not distinct and accounted for together with the subscription service and recognized over time for other products. The Company allocates value to primary content subscriptions or licenses and accompanying performance obligations, such as training subscriptions, access to historical content, maintenance and other optional content. When multiple performance obligations exist in a single contract, the transaction price is allocated to each performance obligation based on the standalone selling price of each performance obligation. The Company utilizes its standard price lists to determine the standalone selling price based on the product and country.
The Company allocates the transaction price to each performance obligation based on the best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract. The transaction price in the contract is allocated at contract inception to the distinct good or service underlying each performance obligation in proportion to the standalone selling price. The standalone selling prices are based on the Company’s normal pricing practices when sold separately with consideration of market conditions and other factors, including customer demographics and geographic location. Discounts applied to the contract will be allocated based on the same proportion of standalone selling prices.
Cost to Obtain a Contract
Commission costs represent costs to obtain a contract and are considered contract assets. The Company pays commissions to the sales managers and support teams for earning new customers and renewing contracts with existing customers. These commission costs are capitalized within Prepaid expenses and Other non-current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The costs are amortized to Selling, general and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The amortization period is between one and five years based on the estimated length of the customer relationship.
Deferred Revenues
The timing of revenue recognition may differ from the timing of invoicing to customers. We record deferred revenues when revenue is recognized subsequent to invoicing. For multi-year agreements, we generally invoice customers annually at the beginning of each annual coverage period and recognize revenue over the term of the coverage period.
Cost of Revenues, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Cost of revenues consists of costs related to the production and servicing of the Company’s offerings. These costs primarily relate to information technology, production and maintenance of content and personnel costs relating to professional services and customer service.
F-17
Selling, General and Administrative, Excluding Depreciation and Amortization
Selling, general and administrative includes compensation for support and administrative functions in addition to rent, office expenses, professional fees and other miscellaneous expenses. In addition, it includes selling and marketing costs associated with acquiring new customers or selling new products or product renewals to existing customers. Such costs primarily relate to wages and commissions for sales and marketing personnel.
Depreciation
Depreciation expense relates to the Company’s fixed assets including furniture & fixtures, hardware, and leasehold improvements. These assets are depreciated over their expected useful lives, and in the case of leasehold improvements over the shorter of their useful life or the life of the related lease.
Amortization
Amortization expense relates to the Company’s finite-lived intangible assets including databases and content, customer relationships, computer software, and trade names. These assets are being amortized over periods of two to 20 years.
Impairment on Assets Held for Sale
Impairment on assets held for sale represents an impairment charge recorded for certain assets classified as assets held for sale.
Share-based Compensation
Share-based compensation expense includes cost associated with stock options, restricted share units (“RSUs”), and 2019 Transaction related shares granted to certain members of key management.
All share-based awards are recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations based on their grant date fair values. We amortize the value of share-based awards to expense over the vesting period on a graded-scale basis. The incremental fair value of modifications to stock awards is estimated at the date of modification. We recognize any additional estimated expense in the period of modification for vested awards and over the remaining vesting period for un-vested awards. The Company elects to recognize forfeitures as they occur.
The fair value of stock options is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires management to make certain assumptions of future expectations based on historical and current data. The assumptions include the expected term of the stock option, expected volatility, dividend yield, and risk-free interest rate. The expected term represents the amount of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, based on forecasted exercise behavior. The risk-free rate is based on the rate at grant date of zero-coupon U.S. treasury notes with a term comparable to the expected term of the option. Expected volatility is estimated based on the historical volatility of comparable public entities' stock price from the same industry. The Company’s dividend yield is based on forecasted expected payments, which are expected to be zero for current plan. The Company recognizes compensation expense over the vesting period of the award on a graded-scale basis.
The share-based compensation cost of time-based RSU grants is calculate by multiplying the grant date fair market value by the number of shares granted. We recognize compensation expense over the vesting period of the award.
Transaction Expenses
Transaction expenses are incurred by the Company to assess and complete business transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, and typically include advisory, legal and other professional and consulting costs. Transaction expenses also include any earn-out related adjustments.
F-18
Transition, Integration and Other
Transition, integration and other expenses provide for the costs of transitioning certain activities performed by the Former Parent to the Company to enable operation on a stand-alone basis. Transition full time employee expense represents labor costs of full time employees who are currently working on migration projects and being expensed. Their traditional role is application development, which was capitalized.
Restructuring
Restructuring expense includes costs associated with involuntary termination benefits provided to employees under the terms of a one-time benefit arrangement, certain contract termination costs, and other costs associated with an exit or disposal activity.
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net
Other operating income (expense) consists of gains or losses related to the disposal of our assets, asset impairments or write-downs and the consolidated impact of re-measurement of the assets and liabilities of our company and our subsidiaries that are denominated in currencies other than each relevant entity’s functional currency. Other operating income (expense), net includes a tax indemnification write down related to the 2016 Transaction for the year ended December 31, 2018. See Note 22 — “Commitments and Contingencies — Tax Indemnity” for further details. The gain on sale of the divested IPM Product Line and related assets is also included in the year ended December 31, 2018. See Note 5 — “Assets Held for Sale and Divested Operations” for further details.
Interest Expense, Net
Interest expense consists of interest expense related to our borrowings under the Term Loan Facility and the Notes as well as the amortization of debt issuance costs and interest related to certain derivative instruments.
Foreign Currency Translation
The operations of each of the Company’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the subsidiary operates (“functional currency”). Nonfunctional currency monetary balances are re-measured into the functional currency of the operation with any related gain or loss recorded in Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. Assets and liabilities of operations outside the U.S., for which the functional currency is the local currency, are translated into U.S. dollars using period-end exchange rates. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate in effect during each fiscal month during the year. The effects of foreign currency translation adjustments are included as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from Net loss, transactions and other events or circumstances from non-owner sources.
Advertising and Promotion Costs
Advertising and promotion costs are expensed as of the first date that the advertisements take place. Advertising expense was approximately $9,574, $12,150 and $14,416 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
Legal Costs
Legal costs are expensed as incurred.
F-19
Debt Issuance Costs
Fees incurred to issue debt are generally deferred and amortized as a component of interest expense over the estimated term of the related debt using the effective interest rate method.
Earnings Per Share
The calculation of earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares or common stock equivalents outstanding during the applicable period. The dilutive effect of common stock equivalents is excluded from basic earnings per share and is included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share. Potentially dilutive securities include outstanding stock options. Employee equity share options and similar equity instruments granted by the Company are treated as potential common shares outstanding in computing diluted earnings per share. Diluted shares outstanding are calculated based on the average share price for each fiscal period using the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the amount the employee must pay for exercising stock options, the amount of compensation cost for future service that the Company has not yet recognized, and the amount of benefits that would be recorded in Ordinary shares when the award becomes deductible for tax purposes are assumed to be used to repurchase shares.
Newly Adopted Accounting Standards
In February 2016, the FASB issued new guidance, Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2016-02, related to leases in which lessees are required to recognize assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for leases having a term of more than 12 months. Recognition of these lease assets and lease liabilities represents a change from previous U.S. GAAP, which did not require lease assets and lease liabilities to be recognized for operating leases. Qualitative disclosures along with specific quantitative disclosures are required to provide enough information to supplement the amounts recorded in the financial statements so that users can understand more about the nature of an entity’s leasing activities. The Company adopted the standard, using a modified retrospective approach, on January 1, 2019.
The provisions of ASU 2016-02 are effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year. The Company elected the package of practical expedients included in this guidance, which allows it to not reassess whether any expired or existing contracts contain leases, the lease classification for any expired or existing leases, and the initial direct costs for existing leases. The Company does not recognize short-term leases on its Consolidated Balance Sheet, and recognizes those lease payments in Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization on the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
In January 2017, the FASB issued new guidance, ASU 2017-04, which simplifies testing goodwill for impairment by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test as described in previously issued guidance. The guidance is effective for annual or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company elected to adopt this standard on January 1, 2019. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases — Targeted Improvements, as an update to the previously issued guidance. This update added a transition option which allows for the recognition of a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption without recasting the financial statements in periods prior to adoption. The Company elected this transition option.
In March 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-01, Leases, as an update to the previously issued guidance. This update added a transition option which clarified the interim disclosure requirements as defined in ASC 250-10-50-3. The Company elected to provide the ASU 2016-02 transition disclosures as of the beginning of the period of adoption rather than the beginning of the earliest period presented. The guidance is effective for all entities during the same period that ASU 2016-02 is adopted.
The standard had a material impact on our Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, but did not have an impact on our Consolidated Statement of Operations. The most significant impact was the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for operating leases.
F-20
In June 2018, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2018-07, Compensation — Stock Compensation, which simplifies the accounting for nonemployee share-based payment transactions. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In July 2018, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2018-09, Codification Improvements, which clarifies guidance that may have been incorrectly or inconsistently applied by certain entities. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement, which modifies the disclosure requirements on fair value measurements. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2019 with early adoption permitted upon issuance of this update. The Company adopted this standard on January 1, 2019. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
In June 2016, the FASB issued new guidance, ASU 2016-13, related to measurement of credit losses on financial instruments which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. This new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2018-14, which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2018-15, which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected by the amendments in this Update. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2020. The Company does not expect the standard to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, which provides targeted improvements or clarification and correction to the ASU 2016-01 Financial Instruments Overall, ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments Credit Losses, and ASU 2017-12 Derivatives and Hedging, accounting standards updates that were previously issued. The guidance is effective upon adoption of the related standards. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-05, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses, which provides targeted transition relief to the accounting standards update previously issued as part of ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments Credit Losses. The guidance is effective for all entities during the same period that ASU 2016-13 is adopted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-10, Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842), which provides improvements or clarification and correction to the ASU 2016-02 Leases, ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments Credit Losses, and ASU 2017-12 Derivatives and Hedging, accounting standards updates that were previously issued. The guidance is effective upon adoption of the related
F-21
standards. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-11, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, Financial Instruments — Credit Losses, which provides clarification to certain aspects of the accounting standards update previously issued as part of ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments Credit Losses. The guidance is effective for all entities during the same period that ASU 2016-13 is adopted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, which enhances and simplifies various aspects of the income tax accounting guidance, including requirements such as tax basis step-up in goodwill obtained in a transaction that is not a business combination, ownership changes in investments, and interim-period accounting for enacted changes in tax law. The guidance is effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of this standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
There were no other new accounting standards that we expect to have a material impact to our financial position or results of operations upon adoption.
Note 4: Business Combinations
On May 13, 2019, the Company completed the 2019 Transaction. Jersey began operations in 2016 as a provider of proprietary and comprehensive content, analytics, professional services and workflow solutions that enables users across government and academic institutions, life science companies and R&D intensive corporations to discover, protect and commercialize their innovations. Churchill was a special purpose acquisition company whose business was to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase reorganization or similar business combination. The shares and earnings per share available to holders of the Company’s ordinary shares, prior to the 2019 Transaction, have been recasted as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the 2019 Transaction (1.0 Jersey share to 132.13667 Clarivate shares).
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the aggregate stock consideration issued by the Company in the 2019 Transaction was $3,052,500, consisting of 305,250,000 newly issued ordinary shares of the Company valued at $10.00 per share, subject to certain adjustments described below. Of the $3,052,500, the shareholders of Jersey prior to the closing of the 2019 Transaction (the “Company Owners”) received $2,175,000 in the form of 217,500,000 newly issued ordinary shares of the Company. In addition, of the $3,052,500, Churchill public shareholders received $690,000 in the form of 68,999,999 newly issued ordinary shares of the Company. In addition, Churchill Sponsor LLC (the “sponsor”) received $187,500 in the form of 17,250,000 ordinary shares of the Company issued to the sponsor, and 1,500,000 additional ordinary shares of the Company were issued to certain investors. See Note 16 — "Shareholders' Equity" for further information.
Upon consummation of the 2019 Transaction, each outstanding share of common stock of Churchill was converted into one ordinary share of the Company. At the closing of the 2019 Transaction, the Company Owners held approximately 74% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company and stockholders of Churchill held approximately 26% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company excluding the impact of (i) 52,800,000 warrants, (ii) approximately 24,806,793 compensatory options issued to the Company's management (based on number of options to purchase Jersey ordinary shares outstanding immediately prior to the 2019 Transaction, after giving effect to the exchange ratio described above) and (iii) 10,600,000 ordinary shares of Clarivate owned of record by the sponsor and available for distribution to certain individuals following the applicable lock-up and vesting restrictions.
Certain restrictions were removed following the Secondary Offering on August 14, 2019. See Note 17 — “Employment and Compensation Arrangements” for further information. After giving effect to the satisfaction of the vesting restrictions, the Company Owners held approximately 60% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company at the close of the 2019 Transaction. See Note 16 — “Shareholders’ Equity” for further information on equity instruments.
F-22
In September 2019, the Company purchased the key business assets of SequenceBase, an international patent sequence information provider. The SequenceBase acquisition was accounted for as an asset acquisition. As a result of the SequenceBase acquisition, SequenceBase’s identifiable assets were adjusted to their fair market values as of the closing date, which included customer relations intangibles of $1,000 and computer software intangibles of $2,500. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the results of the acquisition subsequent to the closing date.
On November 27, 2019, the Company closed on the acquisition of Darts-ip, (“Darts”), a provider of global IP case law data and analytics headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. The Company acquired 100% of the voting equity interest of Darts for cash considerations. The Darts acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. As a result of the Darts acquisition and the application of purchase accounting, Darts' identifiable assets and liabilities were adjusted to their fair market values as of the closing date, which included database intangible assets of $22,012, computer software intangible assets of $9,025, customer relationships intangible assets of $2,641 and finite-lived trade names intangible assets of $1,541. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the results of the acquisition subsequent to the closing date. The excess of the purchase price over the net tangible and intangible assets is recorded to goodwill and primarily reflects the assembled workforce and expected synergies. The weighted-average amortization period for total acquired finite-lived intangible assets is 11.5 years and the weighted-average amortization period by major class of intangible asset is 14.0 years for database and content, 6.0 years for computer software, 18.0 years for trade names, and 5.0 years for customer relationships.
On October 25, 2018, Clarivate closed on the acquisition of TrademarkVision USA, LLC (“TrademarkVision”), an artificial intelligence technology start-up organization headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. The total purchase price for the acquisition consisted of $20,042 in closing date net cash consideration, subject to subsequent working capital adjustments, plus potential earn-out cash payments dependent upon achievement of certain milestones and financial performance metrics. The fair market value of the liability associated with the earn-out was $4,115 on the date of acquisition. Additionally, the excess value of the total purchase price over the fair value of our identifiable assets and liabilities upon the closing of the acquisition of $19,205 was allocated to goodwill. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the results of the acquisition subsequent to the closing date. TrademarkVision and its revolutionary image recognition software search tool for trademarks joined the trademark clearance and protection partner CompuMark. The fair value of the earn-out liability was $8,000 and $4,115 at December 31, 2019 and 2018.
On March 15, 2018, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Kopernio (“Kopernio”), an artificial-intelligence technology startup, for $3,497. The Kopernio acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. As a result of the Kopernio acquisition and the application of purchase accounting, Kopernio’s identifiable assets and liabilities were adjusted to their fair market values as of the closing date, which included a finite life intangible of $1,258 relating to computer software. Additionally, the excess value of the total purchase price over the fair value of our identifiable assets and liabilities upon the closing of the acquisition of $2,322 was allocated to goodwill. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the results of the acquisition subsequent to the closing date. In conjunction with the acquisition of Kopernio, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders up to an additional $3,500 through 2021. Amounts payable are contingent upon Kopernio’s achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics and will be recognized over the concurrent service period.
On June 1, 2017, the Company acquired all assets, liabilities and equity interests of Publons Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary (“Publons”). Total net cash consideration for the acquisition was $7,401, plus potential future cash payments of up to $9,500 contingent upon Publons achieving certain milestones or financial and non-financial performance targets through 2020, including platform users and reviews. The fair market value of the liability associated with the earn-out was $5,900 on the date of acquisition. Publons is a researcher-facing peer-review data and recognition platform. The acquisition of Publons, its platform and data, is believed to increase the value of multiple existing Company products, while supporting researchers in the process. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the results of the acquisitions subsequent to the closing date. The fair value of the Publons earn-out liability was $3,100, $2,960, and $5,900 at December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
F-23
The fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed for all acquisitions at closing during 2019, 2018, and 2017 respectively, net of cash acquired, and contingent consideration liabilities incurred in relation to the acquisitions are summarized below:
(1) | Net assets acquired includes $3,500 related to the SequenceBase acquisition. |
None of the goodwill associated with any of the business combinations above will be deductible for income tax purposes. Pro forma information is not presented for these acquisitions as the aggregate operations of the acquired acquisitions were not significant to the overall operations of the Company.
Note 5: Assets Held for Sale and Divested Operations
On November 3, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with OpSec Security for the sale of certain assets and liabilities of its MarkMonitor Product Line within its IP Group. At December 31, 2019 the assets and liabilities related to the divestment met the criteria for classification as Assets Held for Sale on the Company’s balance sheet. The divestiture closed on January 1, 2020 for a total purchase price of $3,751 and an impairment charge of $18,431 was recognized in the Statement of Operations during the fourth quarter 2019 to reduce the Assets held for sale to their fair value. Of the total impairment charge, $17,967 related to the write down of intangible assets and $468 to the write down of goodwill. Accordingly, we do not expect to record a gain or loss on the divestiture in the first quarter of 2020. After impairment, Current Assets of $2,274 and Long Term Assets of $28,345 were reclassified to Current Assets Held for Sale, while Current Liabilities of $21,170 and Long Term Liabilities of $5,698 were reclassified to Current Liabilities Held For Sale.
F-24
The carrying amount of major classes of assets and liabilities that are included in Assets held for sale and Liabilities held for sale at December 31, 2019 related to the divested Brand Protection, Antipiracy and AntiFraud solutions consist of the following:
On October 1, 2018, all assets, liabilities and equity interest of the IP Management (IPM) Product Line and related assets were sold to CPA Global for a total purchase price of $100,130. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a net gain on sale of $36,072, inclusive of incurred transaction costs of $3,032 in connection with the divestiture. The gain on sale is included in Other operating income (expense), net within the Consolidated Statement of Operations. As a result of the sale, the Company wrote off Goodwill in the amount of $49,349. The Company used $31,378 of the proceeds to pay down the Term Loan Facility on October 31, 2018.
Both the divestitures of the MarkMonitor Brand Protection, Anti-Piracy and AntiFraud solutions, and IPM Product Lines do not represent a strategic shift and is not expected to have a major effect on the Company’s operations or financial results, as defined by ASC 205-20, Discontinued Operations; as a result, these divestitures do not meet the criteria to be classified as discontinued operations.
Note 6: Accounts Receivable
Our accounts receivable balance consists of the following as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Accounts receivable |
|
|
350,369 |
|
|
345,371 |
Less: Accounts receivable allowance |
|
|
(16,511) |
|
|
(14,076) |
Accounts receivable, net |
|
$ |
333,858 |
|
$ |
331,295 |
We record an accounts receivable allowance when it is probable that the accounts receivable balance will not be collected. The amounts comprising the allowance are based upon management’s estimates and historical
F-25
collection trends. The activity in our accounts receivable allowance consists of the following for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively:
Note 7: Leases
As the lessee, we currently lease real estate space, automobiles, and certain equipment under non-cancelable operating lease agreements. Some of the leases include options to extend the leases for up to an additional 10 years. We do not include any of our renewal options in our lease terms for calculating our lease liability as the renewal options allow us to maintain operational flexibility, and we are not reasonably certain we will exercise these renewal options at this time.
We determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Operating leases are included in Operating lease right-of-use assets, Current portion of operating lease liabilities, and Operating lease liabilities on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company assesses its ROU asset and other lease-related assets for impairment consistent with other long-lived assets. As of December 31, 2019, we did not record impairment related to these assets.
Operating lease ROU assets and operating lease liabilities are recognized based on the present value of the future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use our incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at commencement date in determining the present value of future payments. As such, the Company used judgment to determine an appropriate incremental borrowing rate. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any lease payments made and excludes lease incentives and initial direct costs incurred. Our variable lease payments consist of non-lease services related to the lease and lease payments that are based on annual changes to an index. Variable lease payments are excluded from the ROU assets and lease liabilities and are recognized in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
We have lease agreements with lease and non-lease components, which are accounted as a single lease component. Additionally, for certain equipment leases, we apply a portfolio approach to effectively account for the operating lease ROU assets and liabilities.
As of December 31, 2019, we have additional operating leases, primarily for real estate, that have not yet commenced of $4,158. These operating leases will commence in fiscal year 2020 with lease terms of one year to five years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2019 |
|
Lease cost |
|
|
|
Operating lease cost |
|
$ |
27,812 |
Short-term lease cost |
|
|
296 |
Variable lease cost |
|
|
1,213 |
Total lease cost |
|
$ |
29,321 |
F-26
The future aggregate minimum lease payments as of December 31, 2019 under all non-cancelable operating leases for the years noted are as follows:
In connection with certain leases, the Company guarantees the restoration of the leased property to a specified condition after completion of the lease period. As of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the liability of $3,455 and $4,100, respectively, associated with these restorations is recorded within Other non-current liabilities.
There were no material future minimum sublease payments to be received under non-cancelable subleases at December 31, 2019. There was no material sublease income for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Disclosures related to periods prior to adoption of Topic 842
As discussed above, the Company adopted Topic 842 effective January 1, 2019 using a modified retrospective approach. For comparability purposes, and as required, the following disclosure is provided for periods prior to adoption. The Company’s total future minimum annual rental payments in effect at December 31, 2018 for noncancelable operating leases, which were accounted for under the previous leasing standard, Accounting Standards Codification 840, were as follows:
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2019 |
|
$ |
22,140 |
2020 |
|
|
19,531 |
2021 |
|
|
17,240 |
2022 |
|
|
15,333 |
2023 |
|
|
14,944 |
Thereafter |
|
|
40,367 |
Total operating lease commitments |
|
$ |
129,555 |
Total rental expense under operating leases amounted to $25,527 and $17,255 for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
F-27
Note 8: Computer Hardware and Other Property, Net
Computer hardware and other property consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Computer hardware |
|
$ |
24,620 |
|
$ |
18,130 |
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
12,496 |
|
|
13,298 |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment |
|
|
4,412 |
|
|
6,816 |
Total computer hardware and other property |
|
|
41,528 |
|
|
38,244 |
Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(23,486) |
|
|
(17,603) |
Total computer hardware and other property, net |
|
$ |
18,042 |
|
$ |
20,641 |
Depreciation amounted to $9,181, $9,422, and $6,997 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
Note 9: Identifiable Intangible Assets, net
The Company’s identifiable intangible assets consist of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2019 |
|
December 31, 2018 |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
||||||
|
|
Gross |
|
Amortization |
|
Net |
|
Gross |
|
Amortization |
|
Net |
||||||
Finite-lived intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer relationships |
|
$ |
280,493 |
|
$ |
(180,571) |
|
$ |
99,922 |
|
$ |
291,503 |
|
$ |
(164,611) |
|
$ |
126,892 |
Databases and content |
|
|
1,755,323 |
|
|
(342,385) |
|
|
1,412,938 |
|
|
1,725,878 |
|
|
(233,733) |
|
|
1,492,145 |
Computer software |
|
|
285,701 |
|
|
(135,919) |
|
|
149,782 |
|
|
268,704 |
|
|
(97,570) |
|
|
171,134 |
Trade names |
|
|
1,570 |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,570 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Finite-lived intangible assets |
|
|
2,323,087 |
|
|
(658,875) |
|
|
1,664,212 |
|
|
2,286,085 |
|
|
(495,914) |
|
|
1,790,171 |
Indefinite-lived intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade names |
|
|
164,428 |
|
|
— |
|
|
164,428 |
|
|
168,349 |
|
|
— |
|
|
168,349 |
Total intangible assets |
|
$ |
2,487,515 |
|
$ |
(658,875) |
|
$ |
1,828,640 |
|
$ |
2,454,434 |
|
$ |
(495,914) |
|
$ |
1,958,520 |
The Company performed the indefinite-lived impairment test as of October 1, 2019 and 2018. Additionally, the Company reviewed goodwill for indicators of impairment at December 31, 2019 and 2018. As part of this analysis, the Company determined that its trade name, with a carrying value of $164,428, and $168,349 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, was not impaired and will continue to be reported as indefinite-lived intangible assets.
In September and November 2019, the Company purchased the key business assets of SequenceBase and Darts-ip. As a result of the purchase, customer relations balance increased $3,641, computer software increased $11,525, databases and content increased $22,012 and finite-lived trade names increased $1,541. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations” for further details.
On January 1, 2020, all assets, liabilities, and equity interest of the Brand Protection, AntiPiracy, and AntiFraud solutions of the MarkMonitor Product Line were sold to OpSec Security for a purchase price of $3,751, which was determined to be the approximation of the fair value. At December 31, 2019, the assets and liabilities related to the divestment met the criteria for classification as Assets held for sale on the Company’s balance sheet, which included $36,924 of intangible assets. In addition, the Company compared the book value of the assets and liabilities to the purchase price and recorded a total impairment charge during the year ended December 31, 2019 of $18,431, which included the write down of the $17,967 intangible assets classified as Assets held for sale. See Note 5 — “Assets Held for Sale and Divested Operations” for further details.
F-28
The weighted-average amortization period for each class of finite-lived intangible assets and for total finite-lived intangible assets, which range between two and 20 years, is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining |
|
|
Weighted-Average |
|
|
Amortization |
|
|
Period (in years) |
Customer relationships |
|
12.70 |
Databases and content |
|
13.80 |
Computer software |
|
3.89 |
Trade names |
|
18.00 |
Total |
|
13.08 |
Amortization amounted to $191,361, $227,803, and 221,466 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
Estimated amortization for each of the five succeeding years as of December 31, 2019 is as follows:
Note 10: Goodwill
The change in the carrying amount of goodwill is shown below:
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2017 |
|
$ |
1,311,253 |
Acquisition |
|
|
21,527 |
Disposal |
|
|
(49,349) |
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations and other |
|
|
(512) |
Balance as of December 31, 2018 |
|
$ |
1,282,919 |
Acquisition |
|
|
44,779 |
Transferred to Assets held for sale |
|
|
(468) |
Impact of foreign currency fluctuations and other |
|
|
815 |
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
1,328,045 |
The Company performed the goodwill impairment test as of October 1, 2019 and 2018. Additionally, the Company reviewed goodwill for indicators of impairment at December 31, 2019 and 2018. As of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the accumulated goodwill impairment was $0.
Goodwill represents the purchase price in excess of the fair value of the net assets acquired in a business combination. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the implied fair value of that reporting unit, an impairment charge to goodwill is recognized for the excess. The Company’s reporting units are one level below the operating segment, as determined in accordance with ASC 350. For the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had five reporting units.
The Company estimates the fair value of its reporting units using the income approach. Under the income approach, the fair value of a reporting unit is calculated based on the present value of estimated cash flows. No
F-29
indicators of impairment existed as a result of the Company’s assessments, except for the sale of the Brand Protection, AntiPiracy, and AntiFraud solutions of the MarkMonitor Product Line.
On January 1, 2020, all assets, liabilities, and equity interest of the Brand Protection, AntiPiracy, and AntiFraud solutions of the MarkMonitor Product Line were sold to OpSec Security for a purchase price of $3,751, which was determined to be the approximation of the fair value. At December 31, 2019, the assets and liabilities related to the divestment met the criteria for classification as Assets held for sale on the Company’s balance sheet, which included $468 of goodwill. In addition, the Company compared the book value of the assets and liabilities to the purchase price and recorded a total impairment charge during the year ended December 31, 2019 of $18,431, which included the write down of the $468 goodwill classified as Assets held for sale. See Note 5 — “Assets Held for Sale” for further details.
On November 27, 2019, the Company acquired Darts-ip, which included $44,779 of goodwill. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations” for further details.
On October 1, 2018, the Company divested the IPM Product Line, which included $49,349 of goodwill. See Note 5 — “Assets Held for Sale and Divested Operations” for further details.
On October 25, 2018, Clarivate closed on the acquisition of TrademarkVision USA, LLC (“TrademarkVision”), which included $19,205 of goodwill. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations” for further details.
On March 15, 2018, the Company acquired all of the outstanding stock of Kopernio (“Kopernio”), which included $2,322 of goodwill. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations” for further details.
Note 11: Derivative Instruments
The IPM Product Line and related assets, which were divested on October 1, 2018, had forward contracts with notional values of $0 at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. Gains or (losses) on the forward contracts amounted to $0, $240 and $(1,479) for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 respectively. These amounts were recorded in Revenues, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The cash flows from forward contracts are reported as operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The fair value of the forward contracts recorded in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities was $0 as at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
In April 2017, the Company entered into interest rate derivative arrangements with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on $300,000 of its term loan, effective April 30, 2021. Additionally, in May 2019, the Company entered into additional interest rate derivative arrangements with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on $50,000 of its Term Loan, effective March 2021 and maturing in September 2023.
The Company applies hedge accounting by designating the interest rate swaps as a hedge in applicable future quarterly interest payments. Changes in the fair value of interest rate swaps are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) and the amounts reclassified out of AOCI are recorded to Interest expense, net. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is recorded in Other non-current assets or liabilities according to the duration of related cash flows. The total fair value of the interest rate swaps was a liability of $2,778 at December 31, 2019 and an asset of $3,644 at December 31, 2018.
See Note 12 — “Fair Value Measurements” for additional information on derivative instruments.
The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI (net of tax) related to cash flow hedges for the year ended December 31, 2017:
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2016: |
|
$ |
— |
Other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
3,011 |
Amounts reclassified from AOCI to net income |
|
|
(1,904) |
Balance at December 31, 2017: |
|
$ |
1,107 |
F-30
The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI (net of tax) related to cash flow hedges for the year ended December 31, 2018:
The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI (net of tax) related to cash flow hedges for the year ended December 31, 2019:
Note 12: Fair Value Measurements
The Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value is described below. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
● | Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
● | Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices include in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. |
● | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are support by little or no market activity. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs. |
Below is a summary of the valuation techniques used in determining fair value:
Derivatives — Derivatives consist of foreign exchange contracts and interest rate swaps. The fair value of foreign exchange contracts is based on observable market inputs of spot and forward rates or using other observable inputs. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate such agreements, taking into account market interest rates and the remaining time to maturities or using market inputs with mid-market pricing as a practical expedient for bid-ask spread. See Note 11 — “Derivative Instruments” for additional information.
Contingent consideration — The Company values contingent consideration related to business combinations using a weighted probability calculation of potential payment scenarios discounted at rates reflective of the risks associated with the expected future cash flows. Key assumptions used to estimate the fair value of contingent consideration include revenue, net new business and operating forecasts and the probability of achieving the specific targets.
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other accruals readily convertible into cash approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of the instruments. The carrying value of the Company’s variable interest rate debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs and original issue discount, approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rate benchmark rates. The fair value of the fixed rate debt is estimated based on market observable data for debt with
F-31
similar prepayment features. The fair value of the Company’s debt was $1,692,750 and $1,950,318 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The fair value is considered Level 2 under the fair value hierarchy.
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The Company has determined that its foreign exchange forward contracts, included in Other current assets, along with the interest rate swaps, included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities according to the duration of related cash flows, reside within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
The earn-out liability is recorded in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy. Additionally, the earn-out relates to the TrademarkVision and the Publons acquisitions that occurred in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The amount payable is contingent upon the achievement of certain company specific milestones and performance metrics over a 1-year and 3-year period, respectively, including number of cumulative users, cumulative reviews and annual revenue. In accordance with ASC 805, we estimated the fair value of the earn-outs using a Monte Carlo simulation for the year ended December 31, 2018.
As of December 31, 2019, the amount of the earn-outs approximate fair value due to their short term nature of their remaining payments. This fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement as defined in ASC 820. As of December 31, 2019, the Company increased the earn- out liabilities related to Publons and TrademarkVision based on current period performance. Changes in the earn-out are recorded to Transaction expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between levels during the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018.
The following inputs and assumptions were used to value the earn-out liability as of December 31, 2018:
The following table presents the changes in the earn-out, the only Level 3 item, for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
(1) | See Note 22 — "Commitments and Contingencies" for further details |
F-32
The following table provides a summary of the Company’s assets and liabilities that were recognized at fair value on a recurring basis as at December 31, 2019 and 2018:
Non-Financial Assets Valued on a Non-Recurring Basis
The Company’s long-lived assets, including goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible and finite-lived intangible assets subject to amortization, are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are measured at cost but are written-down to fair value, if necessary, as a result of impairment.
Finite-lived Intangible Assets — If a triggering event occurs, the Company determines the estimated fair value of finite-lived intangible assets by determining the present value of the expected cash flows.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset — If a qualitative analysis indicates that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset, the Company determines the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset (trade name) by determining the present value of the estimated royalty payments on an after-tax basis that it would be required to pay the owner for the right to use such trade name. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.
Goodwill — Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible net assets resulting from business combinations. The Company evaluates its goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, annually as of October 1 or more frequently if impairment indicators arise in accordance with ASC Topic 350. The Company performs qualitative analysis of macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, internal cost factors, financial performance, fair value history and other company specific events. If this qualitative analysis indicates that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value is less than the book value for the respective reporting unit, the Company applies a two-step impairment test in which the Company determines whether the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is in excess of its carrying value. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, the Company performs the second step of the impairment test to determine the implied estimated fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The Company determines the implied estimated fair value of goodwill by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows for each reporting unit and comparing the reporting unit’s risk profile and growth prospects to selected, reasonably similar publicly traded companies.
F-33
Effective January 1, 2020, all assets, liabilities, and equity interest of the Brand Protection, AntiPiracy, and AntiFraud solutions of the MarkMonitor Product Line were sold to OpSec Security for a purchase price of $3,751, which approximates fair value of the assets as of December 31, 2019. To measure the amount of impairment related to the divestiture, the Company compared the fair values of assets and liabilities at the evaluation date to the carrying amounts as of December 31, 2019. The loss on impairment was $18,431 as of December 31, 2019. The sale of the Brand Protection, AntiPiracy, and AntiFraud solutions of the MarkMonitor Product Line assets and liabilities are categorized as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The key assumption included the negotiated sales price of the assets and the assumptions of the liabilities. See Note 5 — “Assets Held for Sale and Divested Operations” for additional information.
Note 13: Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits
Retirement Benefits
Defined contribution plans
Employees participate in various defined contribution savings plans that provide for Company-matching contributions. Costs for future employee benefits are accrued over the periods in which employees earn the benefits. Total expense related to defined contribution plans was $12,143, $13,170 and $12,488 for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which approximates the cash outlays related to the plans.
Defined benefit plans
A limited number of employees participate in noncontributory defined benefit pension plans that are maintained in certain international markets. The plans are managed and funded to provide pension benefits to covered employees in accordance with local regulations and practices. The Company’s obligations related to the defined benefit pension plans is in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities.
F-34
The following table presents the changes in projected benefit obligations, the plan assets, and the funded status of the defined benefit pension plans:
The following table summarizes the amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets related to the defined benefit pension plans:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Current liabilities |
|
$ |
(635) |
|
$ |
(443) |
Non-current liabilities |
|
$ |
(10,441) |
|
$ |
(8,859) |
AOCI |
|
$ |
470 |
|
$ |
(1,054) |
The following table provides information for those pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets and projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets:
F-35
The components of net periodic benefit cost changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as follows:
The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost as of:
The following table presents the weighted-average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligations as of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
Discount rate |
|
1.60 |
% |
2.26 |
% |
Rate of compensation increase |
|
3.77 |
% |
3.68 |
% |
Social Security increase rate |
|
2.50 |
% |
2.50 |
% |
Pension increase rate |
|
1.80 |
% |
1.80 |
% |
The Company determines the assumptions used to measure plan liabilities as of the December 31 measurement date.
The discount rate represents the interest rate used to determine the present value of the future cash flows currently expected to be required to settle the Company’s defined benefit pension plan obligations. The discount rates are derived using weighted average yield curves on corporate bonds. The cash flows from the Company’s expected benefit obligation payments are then matched to the yield curve to derive the discount rates. At December 31, 2019, the discount rates ranged from 0.45% to 6.45% for the Company’s pension plan and postretirement benefit plan. At December 31, 2018, the discount rates ranged from 0.40% to 7.10% for the Company’s pension plan and postretirement benefit plan.
Plan Assets
The general investment objective for our plan assets is to obtain a rate of investment return consistent with the level of risk being taken and to earn performance rates of return as required by local regulations for our defined benefit plans. For such plans, the strategy is to invest primarily 100% in insurance contracts. Plan assets held in insurance contracts do not have target asset allocation ranges. The expected long-term return on plan assets is estimated based off of historical and expected returns. As of December 31, 2019, the expected weighted-average long-term rate of return on plan assets was 3%.
F-36
The fair value of our plan assets and the respective level in the far value hierarchy by asset category is as follows:
The fair value of the insurance contracts is an estimate of the amount that would be received in an orderly sale to a market participant at the measurement date. The amount the plan would receive from the contract holder if the contracts were terminated is the primary input and is unobservable. The insurance contracts are therefore classified as Level 3 investments.
The following table provides the estimated pension benefit payments that are payable from the plans to participants as of December 31, 2019 for the following years:
|
|
|
|
2020 |
|
$ |
677 |
2021 |
|
|
550 |
2022 |
|
|
707 |
2023 |
|
|
851 |
2024 |
|
|
829 |
2025 to 2029 |
|
|
4,943 |
Total |
|
$ |
8,557 |
Based on the current status of our defined benefit obligations, we expect to make payments in the amount of $401 to fund these plans in 2020. However, this estimate may change based on future regulatory changes.
Note 14: Debt
The following is a summary of the Company’s debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2019 |
|
December 31, 2018 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
Effective |
|
|
|
|
Effective |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
Carrying |
|
Interest |
|
Carrying |
||
Type |
|
Maturity |
|
Rate |
|
Value |
|
Rate |
|
Value |
||
Senior Secured Notes (2026) |
|
2026 |
|
4.500 |
% |
$ |
700,000 |
|
— |
% |
$ |
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior Unsecured Notes (2024) |
|
2024 |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
|
7.875 |
% |
|
500,000 |
Term Loan Facility (2026) |
|
2026 |
|
5.049 |
% |
|
900,000 |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
Term Loan Facility (2023) |
|
2023 |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
|
5.729 |
% |
|
1,483,993 |
The Revolving Credit Facility |
|
2024 |
|
5.049 |
% |
|
65,000 |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
The Revolving Credit Facility |
|
2021 |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
|
5.754 |
% |
|
5,000 |
The Revolving Credit Facility |
|
2021 |
|
— |
% |
|
— |
|
5.729 |
% |
|
40,000 |
Total debt outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,665,000 |
|
|
|
|
2,028,993 |
Debt issuance costs |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(25,205) |
|
|
|
|
(34,838) |
Term Loan Facility, discount |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,184) |
|
|
|
|
(3,633) |
Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,000) |
|
|
|
|
(60,345) |
Long-term debt, net of current portion and debt issuance costs |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,628,611 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,930,177 |
The loans were priced at market terms and collectively have a weighted average interest rate and term of 4.818% and 6.259% for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
F-37
Financing Transactions
Senior Secured Notes due 2026
On October 31, 2019, we closed a private placement offering of $700,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes ("Notes") due 2026 bearing interest at 4.50% per annum, payable semi-annually to holders of record in May and November. The first interest payment will be made May 2020. The Notes due 2026 were issued by Camelot Finance S.A., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Clarivate, and are secured on a first-lien pari passu basis with borrowings under the Credit Facilities. These Notes are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain Clarivate subsidiaries. The Notes will be general senior secured obligations of the Issuer and will be secured on a first-priority basis by the collateral now owned or hereafter acquired by the Issuer and each of the Guarantors that secures the Issuer’s and such Guarantor’s obligations under the New Senior Credit Facility (subject to permitted liens and other exceptions).
We used the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes due 2026, together with proceeds from the $900,000 Term Loan Facility and a $250,000 Revolving Credit Facility with a $40,000 letter of credit sublimit, collectively the "Credit Facilities” discussed below to, among other things, redeem the 7.875% senior notes due 2024 issued by Camelot Finance S.A. ("Prior Notes") in full, refinance all amounts outstanding under the $175,000 revolving credit facility which was governed by the credit agreement dated as of October 3, 2016 ("Prior Revolving Credit Facility") and the $1,550,000 term loan facility ("Prior Term Loan Facility"), collectively the "Prior Credit Facilities", fund in full the TRA Termination Payment pursuant to the TRA Buyout Agreement and pay fees and expenses related to the foregoing. We redeemed the Prior Notes at a fixed price of 103.938%, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of the purchase. The total loss on the extinguishment of debt, including the transactions noted below, was $3,179.
The Notes are subject to redemption as a result of certain changes in tax laws or treaties of (or their interpretation by) a relevant taxing jurisdiction at 100% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, and upon certain changes in control at 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. Additionally, at the Company’s election the Notes may be redeemed (i) prior to November 1 , 2022 at a redemption price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes being redeemed plus a “make-whole” premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption or (ii) prior to November 1, 2022, the Company may use funds in an aggregate amount not exceeding the net cash proceeds of one or more specified equity offerings to redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes at a redemption price equal to 104.500% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional amounts to the date of redemption provided that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes issued on the Closing Date remains outstanding after the redemption (or all Notes are redeemed substantially concurrently) and the redemption occurs within 120 days of the date of the closing of such equity offering or (iii) on November 1, 2022 of each of the years referenced below based on the call premiums listed below, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Redemption Price |
|
Period |
|
(as a percentage of principal) |
|
2022 |
|
102.250 |
% |
2023 |
|
101.125 |
% |
2024 and thereafter |
|
100.000 |
% |
The Indenture governing the senior secured notes due 2026 contains covenants which, among other things, limit the incurrence of additional indebtedness (including acquired indebtedness), issuance of certain preferred stock, the payment of dividends, making restricted payments and investments, the purchase or acquisition or retirement for value of any equity interests, the provision of loans or advances to restricted subsidiaries, the sale or lease or transfer of any properties to any restricted subsidiaries, the transfer or sale of assets, and the creation of certain liens. As of December 31, 2019, we were in compliance with the indenture covenants.
Credit Facilities
On October 31, 2019, we entered into the Credit Facilities. The Credit Facilities consist of a $900,000 Term Loan Facility, which was fully drawn at closing, and a $250,000 Revolving Credit Facility with a $40,000 letter
F-38
of credit sublimit, which was undrawn at closing. The Revolving Credit Facility carries an interest rate at LIBOR plus 3.25% per annum or Prime plus a margin of 2.25% per annum, as applicable depending on the borrowing, and matures on October 31, 2024. The Revolving Credit Facility interest rate margins will decrease upon the achievement of certain first lien net leverage ratios (as the term is used in the Credit Agreement). The Term Loan Facility matures on October 31, 2026. Principal repayments under the Term Loan Facility are due quarterly in an amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate outstanding principal amount borrowed under the Term Loan Facility on October 31, 2019 and on the maturity date, in an amount equal to the aggregate outstanding principal amount on such date, together in each case, with accrued and unpaid interest. The Prior Credit facility and Prior Notes were replaced by the Credit Facility and Notes. $41,980 of old unamortized discount and fees were written off as part of the restructuring, and of the new costs incurred under the Credit Facility and the Notes, $17 was expensed and $25,818 was deferred.
Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a floating rate which can be, at our option, either (i) a Eurocurrency rate plus an applicable margin or (ii) an alternate base rate (equal to the highest of (i) the rate which Bank of America, N.A. announces as its prime lending rate, (ii) the Federal Funds Effective Rate plus one-half of 1.00% and (iii) the Eurocurrency rate for an interest period of one month for loans denominated in dollars plus 1.00% plus an applicable margin, in either case, subject to a Eurocurrency rate floor of 0.00%. Commencing with the last day of the first full quarter ending after the closing date of the Credit Facilities, the Term Loan Facility will amortize in equal quarterly installments in an amount equal to 1.00% per annum of the original par principal amount thereof, with the remaining balance due at final maturity.
The Credit Facilities are secured by substantially all of our assets and the assets of all of our U.S. restricted subsidiaries and certain of our non-U.S. subsidiaries, including those that are or may be borrowers or guarantors under the Credit Facilities, subject to customary exceptions. The Credit Agreement governing the Credit Facilities contains customary events of default and restrictive covenants that limit us from, among other things, incurring certain additional indebtedness, issuing preferred stock, making certain restricted payments and investments, certain transfers or sales of assets, entering into certain affiliate transactions or incurring certain liens.
The Credit Facilities provide that, upon the occurrence of certain events of default, our obligations thereunder may be accelerated and the lending commitments terminated. Such events of default include payment defaults to the lenders, material inaccuracies of representations and warranties, covenant defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness (including the senior secured notes due 2026), voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy proceedings, material money judgments, loss of perfection over a material portion of collateral, material ERISA/pension plan events, certain change of control events and other customary events of default, in each case subject to threshold, notice and grace period provisions.
The Revolving Credit Facility provides for revolving loans, same-day borrowings and letters of credit pursuant to commitments in an aggregate principal amount of $250,000 with a letter of credit sublimit of $40,000. Proceeds of loans made under the Revolving Credit Facility may be borrowed, repaid and reborrowed prior to the maturity of the Revolving Credit Facility. Our ability to draw under the Revolving Credit Facility or issue letters of credit thereunder will be conditioned upon, among other things, delivery of required notices, accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the absence of any default or event of default under the Credit Agreement.
With respect to the Credit Facilities, the Company may be subject to certain negative covenants, including either a fixed charge coverage ratio, total first lien net leverage ratio, or total net leverage ratio if certain conditions are met. These conditions were not met and the Company was not required to perform these covenants as of December 31, 2019 .
The obligations of the borrowers under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by UK Holdco and certain of its restricted subsidiaries and are collateralized by substantially all of UK Holdco’s and certain of its restricted subsidiaries’ assets (with customary exceptions described in the Credit Agreement). UK Holdco and its restricted subsidiaries are subject to certain covenants including restrictions on UK Holdco’s ability to pay dividends, incur indebtedness, grant a lien over its assets, merge or consolidate, make investments, or make payments to affiliates.
F-39
As of December 31, 2019, letters of credit totaling $3,918 were collateralized by the Revolving Credit Facility. Notwithstanding the Revolving Credit Facility, as of December 31, 2019 the Company had an unsecured corporate guarantee outstanding for $9,646 and cash collateralized letters of credit totaling $37, all of which were not collateralized by the Revolving Credit Facility. The Company borrowed $65,000 and $45,000 against the Revolving Credit Facility as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, to support current operations. The Company’s cash from operations is expected to meet repayment needs for the next twelve months.
Amounts due under all of the outstanding borrowings as of December 31, 2019 for the next five years are as follows:
Note 15: Revenue
Disaggregated Revenues
The tables below show the Company’s disaggregated revenue for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
Subscription revenues |
|
$ |
805,518 |
|
$ |
794,097 |
|
$ |
785,717 |
Transactional revenues |
|
|
169,265 |
|
|
177,523 |
|
|
181,590 |
Total revenues, gross |
|
|
974,783 |
|
|
971,620 |
|
|
967,307 |
Deferred revenues adjustment (1) |
|
|
(438) |
|
|
(3,152) |
|
|
(49,673) |
Total Revenues, net |
|
$ |
974,345 |
|
$ |
968,468 |
|
$ |
917,634 |
(1) | This accounting adjustment relates to the 2016 Transaction, which included a revaluation of deferred revenues to account for the difference in value between the customer advances retained by the Company upon the consummation of the 2016 Transaction and our outstanding performance obligations related to those advances. |
Cost to Obtain a Contract
The Company has prepaid sales commissions included in both Prepaid expenses and Other non-current assets on the balance sheets. The amount of prepaid sales commissions included in Prepaid expenses was $12,387 and $10,407 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The amount of prepaid sales commissions included in Other non-current assets was $11,620 and $9,493 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company has not recorded any impairments against these prepaid sales commissions.
F-40
Contract Balances
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion |
|
Non-current portion |
||
|
|
Accounts |
|
of deferred |
|
of deferred |
|||
|
|
receivable, net |
|
revenues |
|
revenues |
|||
Opening (1/1/2019) |
|
$ |
331,295 |
|
$ |
391,102 |
|
$ |
17,112 |
Closing (12/31/2019) |
|
|
333,858 |
|
|
407,325 |
|
|
19,723 |
(Increase)/decrease |
|
$ |
(2,563) |
|
$ |
(16,223) |
|
$ |
(2,611) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opening (1/1/2018) |
|
$ |
317,808 |
|
$ |
361,260 |
|
$ |
15,796 |
Closing (12/31/2018) |
|
|
331,295 |
|
|
391,102 |
|
|
17,112 |
(Increase)/decrease |
|
$ |
(13,487) |
|
$ |
(29,842) |
|
$ |
(1,316) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opening (1/1/2017) |
|
$ |
361,586 |
|
$ |
333,944 |
|
$ |
18,602 |
Closing (12/31/2017) |
|
|
317,808 |
|
|
361,260 |
|
|
15,796 |
(Increase)/decrease |
|
$ |
43,778 |
|
$ |
(27,316) |
|
$ |
2,806 |
The amounts of revenue recognized in the period that were included in the opening deferred revenues balances were $391,102, $361,260, and $333,944, for years ended 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. This revenue consists primarily of subscription revenue.
Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligation
As of December 31, 2019, approximately $63,100 of revenue is expected to be recognized in the future from remaining performance obligations, excluding contracts with durations of one year or less. The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately 65.8% of these performance obligations over the next 12 months. Of the remaining 34.2%, 22.1% is expected to be recognized within the following year, with the final 12.1% expected to be recognized within years three to 10.
Note 16: Shareholders’ Equity
Shareholders’ Equity
Pre-2019 Transaction
In March 2017, the Company formed the Management Incentive Plan under which certain employees of the Company may be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. In exchange for each share purchase subscription, the purchaser is entitled to a fully vested right to an ordinary share. Additionally, along with a subscription, employees receive a corresponding number of options to acquire additional ordinary shares subject to five year vesting. See Note 17 — “Employment and Compensation Arrangements” for additional detail related to the options. The Company received net subscriptions for 198,602 shares during the year ended December 31, 2018. There were no share subscriptions received prior to or following the close of the 2019 Transaction as of December 31, 2019.
Post-2019 Transaction
Immediately prior to the closing of the 2019 Transaction, there were 87,749,999 shares of Churchill common stock issued and outstanding, consisting of (i) 68,999,999 public shares (Class A) and (ii) 18,750,000 founder shares (Class B). On May 13, 2019, in connection with the 2019 Transaction, all of the Class B common stock converted into Class A common stock of the post-combination company on a one-for-one basis, and effect the reclassification and conversion of all of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock of Clarivate Analytics PLC. One stockholder elected to have one share redeemed in connection with the 2019 Transaction.
In June 2019, the Company formed the 2019 Incentive Award Plan under which employees of the Company may be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. See Note 17 — “Employment and Compensation Arrangements” for additional detail related to the 2019 Incentive Award Plan. In exchange for each share
F-41
subscription purchased, the purchaser is entitled to a fully vested right to an ordinary share. At December 31, 2019 there were unlimited shares of common stock authorized, and 306,874,115 shares issued and outstanding, with a par value of $0.00. The Company did not hold any shares as treasury shares as of December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018. The Company’s common stockholders are entitled to one vote per share.
Warrants
Upon consummation of the 2019 Transaction, the Company has warrants outstanding to purchase an aggregate of 52,800,000 ordinary shares. Each outstanding whole warrant of Churchill represents the right to purchase one ordinary share of the Company in lieu of one share of Churchill common stock upon closing of the 2019 Transaction at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing upon the later of (i) 30 days after the completion of the 2019 Transaction and (ii) September 11, 2019. The holder does not have the right to exercise the Warrants to the extent that they would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% or 9.8% (as specified by the holder) of the shares of common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise. As of December 31, 2019, 100,114 warrants had been exercised.
Merger Shares
Upon consummation of the 2019 Transaction, there were 7,000,000 ordinary shares of Clarivate that are issuable to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein, including themselves, if the last sale price of Clarivate’s ordinary shares is at least $20.00 for 40 days over a 60 consecutive trading day period on or before the sixth anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction. On January 31, 2020, our Board agreed to waive this performance vesting condition, and all such merger shares are expected to be issued to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein on or prior to December 31, 2020.
Note 17: Employment and Compensation Arrangements
Employee Incentive Plans
Prior to the 2019 Transaction, the Company operated under its 2016 Equity Incentive Plan, which provided for certain employees of the Company to be eligible to participate in equity ownership in the Company. On May 8, 2019, in anticipation of the 2019 Transaction, the Board adopted the 2019 Incentive Award Plan, which was an amendment, restatement and continuation of the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan. Upon closing of the 2019 Transaction, awards under the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan were converted using the exchange ratio established during the 2019 Transaction and assumed into the 2019 Incentive Award Plan (See Note 4 — “Business Combinations”). The 2019 Incentive Award Plan permits the granting of awards in the form of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units and other stock-based or cash based awards. Equity awards may be issued in the form of restricted shares or restricted share units with dividend rights or dividend equivalent rights subject to vesting terms and conditions specified in individual award agreements. The Company’s Management Incentive Plan provides for employees of the Company to be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. See Note 16 — “Shareholders’ Equity” for additional information.
A maximum aggregate amount of 60,000,000 ordinary shares are reserved for issuance under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan. Equity awards under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan may be issued in the form of options to purchase shares of the Company which are exercisable upon the occurrence of conditions specified within individual award agreements. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, 37,302,599 and 35,475,302, respectively, awards have not been granted.
Total share-based compensation expense included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations amounted to $51,383, $13,715, and $17,663 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The total associated tax benefits recognized amounted to $751, $2,740, and $3,192 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively.
The Company’s Management Incentive Plan provides for certain employees of the Company to be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. See Note 16 — “Shareholders’ Equity” for additional information. Along with
F-42
each subscription, employees may receive a corresponding number of options to acquire additional ordinary shares subject to five year vesting.
As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, there was $6,873 and $19,637, respectively, of total unrecognized compensation cost, related to outstanding stock options, which is expected to be recognized through 2024 with a remaining weighted-average service period of 2.6 years.
Stock Options
The Company’s stock option activity is summarized below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number |
|
Weighted |
|
Weighted Average |
|
Aggregate |
||
|
|
of |
|
Average Exercise |
|
Remaining |
|
Intrinsic |
||
|
|
Options |
|
Price per Share |
|
Contractual Life |
|
Value |
||
Outstanding as of December 31, 2018 |
|
185,601 |
|
$ |
1,587.00 |
|
8.5 |
|
$ |
13,293 |
2019 Transaction Related Modified options |
|
24,339,097 |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Balance at December 31, 2018, as modified |
|
24,524,698 |
|
|
12.44 |
|
8.5 |
|
|
13,293 |
Granted |
|
2,321,348 |
|
|
17.55 |
|
7.7 |
|
|
5,431 |
Expired |
|
(463,919) |
|
|
11.47 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Forfeited |
|
(2,840,539) |
|
|
12.97 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Modified |
|
(244,829) |
|
|
13.36 |
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised |
|
(2,416,534) |
|
|
6.63 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
Outstanding as of December 31, 2019 |
|
20,880,225 |
|
$ |
12.18 |
|
7.3 |
|
$ |
105,119 |
Vested and exercisable at December 31, 2019 |
|
16,110,638 |
|
$ |
11.12 |
|
7.0 |
|
$ |
94,181 |
As noted above, options issued and outstanding under the 2016 Equity Incentive Plan prior to the 2019 Transaction were converted to options under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan through the Exchange Ratio established in the 2019 Transaction (See Note 4 — “Business Combinations”). The 24,339,097 of options modified in the above table represent this share conversion. The Company did not recognize any additional expense for the modification of shares related to the 2019 Transaction. The terms to certain stock option awards were amended, and the Company recognized $11,640 of Share-based compensation expense related to the incremental increase in fair value of the amended awards in the year ending December 31, 2019.
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the difference between the Company’s most recent valuation and the exercise price of each in-the-money option on the last day of the period presented. As of December 31, 2019, 2,416,534 stock options were exercised. No stock options were exercised in the years ended December 31, 2018. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2019 was approximately $25,123.
The Company accounts for awards issued under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan as additional contributions to equity. Share-based compensation includes expense associated with stock option grants which is estimated based on the grant date fair value of the award issued. Share-based compensation expense related to stock options is recognized over the vesting period of the award which is generally five years, on a graded-scale basis. The weighted-average fair value of options granted per share was $2.94 and $1.87 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of options granted. The Black-Scholes model takes into account the fair value of an ordinary share and the contractual and expected term of the stock option, expected volatility, dividend yield, and risk-free interest rate. Prior to becoming a public company, the fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares were determined utilizing an external third-party pricing specialist.
The contractual term of the option ranges from the one year to 10 years. Expected volatility is the average volatility over the expected terms of comparable public entities from the same industry. The risk-free interest rate is based on a treasury rate with a remaining term similar to the contractual term of the option. The Company is recently formed and at this time does not expect to distribute any dividends. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
F-43
The assumptions used to value the Company’s options granted during the period presented and their expected lives were as follows:
Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)
RSUs typically vest from one to three years and are generally subject to either cliff vesting or graded vesting. RSUs do not have nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents. The fair value of RSUs is typically based on the fair value of our common shares on the date of grant. We amortize the value of these awards to expense over the vesting period on a graded-scale basis. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
The total fair value of RSUs that vested during the year ended December 31, 2019 was $544.
2019 Transaction Related Awards
The Sponsor Agreement provided that certain ordinary shares of Clarivate available for distribution to persons designated in the Sponsor Agreement in connection with the 2019 Transaction, and certain Clarivate warrants available for distribution to such persons, in each case, were subject to certain time and performance-based vesting provisions described below. In addition, the sponsor agreement provided that the merger shares were granted and are issuable to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein, including themselves, in accordance with the terms in the sponsor agreement. See Note 16 — “Shareholders’ Equity” for details on the respective awards.
The vesting conditions added to certain ordinary shares include the following:
5,309,713 ordinary shares of Clarivate held by persons designated in the Sponsor Agreement, will vest in three equal annual installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the closing of the 2019 Transaction, respectively, and are not contingent on continuing or future service of the respective holders to the Company.
2,654,856 ordinary shares of Clarivate held by such persons will vest at such time as the last sale price of Clarivate’s ordinary shares is at least $15.25 on or before the date that is 42 months after the closing of the 2019 Transaction; provided that none of such Clarivate ordinary shares will vest prior to the first anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction, not more than 1/3 of such Clarivate warrants will vest prior to the second anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction, and not more than 2/3 of such Clarivate warrants will vest prior to the third anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction. Further, such vesting is not contingent on continuing or future service of the respective holders to the Company.
2,654,856 ordinary shares of Clarivate held by such persons will vest at such time as the last sale price of Clarivate’s ordinary shares is at least $17.50 on or before the fifth anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction; provided that none of such Clarivate ordinary shares will vest prior to the first anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction, not more than 1/3 of such Clarivate warrants will vest prior to the second anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction, and not more than 2/3 of such Clarivate warrants will vest
F-44
prior to the third anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction. Further, such vesting is not contingent on continuing or future service of the respective holders to the Company.
The vesting conditions added to certain warrants include the following:
17,265,826 of certain warrants held by persons designated in the Sponsor Agreement, will vest at such time as the last sale price of Clarivate’s ordinary shares is at least $17.50 on or before the fifth anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction; provided that none of such Clarivate warrants will vest prior to the first anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction, not more than 1/3 of such Clarivate warrants will vest prior to the second anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction, and not more than 2/3 of such Clarivate warrants will vest prior to the third anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction. Further, such vesting is not contingent on continuing or future service of the respective holders to the Company.
In considering the terms of the transaction related awards, the Company notes that the time based vesting restrictions were not conditioned on any continuing or future service of the holders to the Company, and reflect “lock-up” periods of the issuable shares. Further, the above mentioned performance-based restrictions were considered market conditions pursuant to ASC 718, and are contemplated in the value of the awards. As such vesting restrictions were contemplated in conjunction with the granting of the merger shares (See Note 16 — “Shareholders’ Equity”), the Company considered such terms of the total basket of transaction awards in determination of the fair value of the awards. As no continued or future service was required by the holders of such awards, the Company recognized compensation expense in the second quarter based on the fair value of such awards upon closing of the 2019 Transaction. The Company recognized $25,013 expense, net in Share-based compensation expense as of the date of the 2019 Transaction in accordance with the issuance of the merger shares offset by the addition of vesting terms to certain ordinary shares and warrants, as described above. The expense included the increases in value of $48,102 for the granting of merger shares, the increase in value of $1,193 for ordinary shares with only time vesting conditions, and the increase in value of shares purchased by the Founders immediately prior to the transaction of $4,411, all offset by the reduction in value of $9,396 for ordinary shares with performance vesting condition of $15.25, the reduction in value of $13,101 for ordinary shares with performance vesting condition of $17.50 and the reduction in value of $6,297 related to warrants. Pursuant to the Sponsor Agreement, certain founders of Churchill Capital Corp purchased an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares of Class B common stock of Churchill immediately prior to the closing of the 2019 Transaction for an aggregate purchase price of $15,000.
We used a third-party specialist to fair value the awards at the 2019 Transaction close date of May 13, 2019 using the Monte Carlo simulation approach. The assumptions included in the model include, but are not limited to, risk-free interest rate, 2.20%; expected volatility of the Company’s and the peer group’s stock prices, 20.00%; and dividend yield, 0.00%. A discount for lack or marketability (“DLOM”) was applied to shares that are subject to remaining post vesting lock up restrictions. The DLOM was between 3% - 7% dependent on the length of the post vesting restriction period.
On August 14, 2019, Clarivate (on its behalf and on behalf of its subsidiaries) agreed to waive the performance and time vesting conditions, described above, subject to the consummation of the secondary offering. These shares and warrants nevertheless remain subject to a lock-up for a period ranging from two to three years following the closing of the Mergers. We used a third-party specialist to fair value the awards at the modification date using the Monte Carlo simulation approach. The assumptions included in the model include, but are not limited to, risk-free interest rate, 1.42%; expected volatility of the Company’s and the peer group’s stock prices, 20.00%; and dividend yield, 0.00%. A discount for lack or marketability (“DLOM”) was applied to shares that are subject to remaining post vesting lock up restrictions. The DLOM was between 3% - 7% dependent on the length of the post vesting restriction period. Waiving the performance and time vesting conditions resulted in an immaterial impact to the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
In accordance with the terms of the sponsor agreement and in connection with our merger with Churchill. in 2019, the merger shares are issued to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein, and such designated merger shares will be issued on or prior to December 31, 2020. The Company has evaluated and recorded additional stock compensation expense as required upon the assignment of merger shares as applicable.
F-45
Note 18: Income Taxes
Income tax (benefit)/expense on income/(loss) analyzed by jurisdiction is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
Current |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.K. |
|
$ |
677 |
|
$ |
1,014 |
|
$ |
(142) |
U.S. Federal |
|
|
6,917 |
|
|
6,395 |
|
|
5,202 |
U.S. State |
|
|
988 |
|
|
2,146 |
|
|
833 |
Other |
|
|
9,959 |
|
|
11,061 |
|
|
8,552 |
Total current |
|
|
18,541 |
|
|
20,616 |
|
|
14,445 |
Deferred |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.K. |
|
|
— |
|
|
85 |
|
|
(427) |
U.S. Federal |
|
|
(824) |
|
|
(5,465) |
|
|
(10,648) |
U.S. State |
|
|
(223) |
|
|
(227) |
|
|
(142) |
Other |
|
|
(7,293) |
|
|
(9,360) |
|
|
(24,521) |
Total deferred |
|
|
(8,340) |
|
|
(14,967) |
|
|
(35,738) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total provision (benefit) for income taxes |
|
$ |
10,201 |
|
$ |
5,649 |
|
$ |
(21,293) |
The components of pre-tax loss are as follows:
A reconciliation of the statutory U.K. income tax rate to the Company’s effective tax rate is as follows:
(1) |
The Company performs a reconciliation of the income tax provisions based on its domicile and statutory rate. Reconciliations are based on the U.K. statutory corporate tax rate. |
(2) |
Due to rate reductions in the U.S. and Belgium enacted in the 4th quarter of 2017. |
F-46
The tax effects of the significant components of temporary differences giving rise to the Company’s deferred income tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
In the Consolidated Balance Sheets, deferred tax assets and liabilities are shown net if they are in the same jurisdiction. The components of the net deferred tax liabilities as reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Deferred tax asset |
|
$ |
19,488 |
|
$ |
12,426 |
Deferred tax liability |
|
|
(48,547) |
|
|
(43,226) |
Net deferred tax liability |
|
$ |
(29,059) |
|
$ |
(30,800) |
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Act) was enacted in the US on December 22, 2017. Of most relevance to the Company, the Act reduced the US federal corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35%, established a Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (“BEAT”) regime and changed the provisions limiting current interest deductions and use of NOL carryforwards. Certain new provisions are effective for the Company beginning December 1, 2018 and did not have a material impact to the 2018 financial statements.
SAB 118 measurement period
We applied the guidance in SAB 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Act in 2017 and throughout 2018. At December 31, 2017, we had not completed our accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the Act under ASC 740, Income Taxes, for the remeasurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities and recorded a provisional tax benefit amount of $2,237 under SAB 118. At December 31, 2018, we completed our accounting for all of the enactment-date income tax effects of the Act. As further discussed above, during 2018, we did not recognize any adjustments to the provisional amounts recorded at December 31, 2017.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities
As of December 31, 2017, we remeasured certain deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they were expected to reverse in the future (which was generally 21% for the US and 25% for Belgium), by recording a tax benefit amount of $2,237 (provisional) related to the US and $14,290 related to Belgium. Upon further analysis and refinement of our calculations during the 12 months ended December 31, 2018, it was determined that no adjustment to these amounts was necessary.
F-47
The Company is required to assess the realization of its deferred tax assets and the need for a valuation allowance. The assessment requires judgment on the part of management with respect to benefits that could be realized from future taxable income. The valuation allowance is $165,157 and $133,856 at December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively against certain deferred tax assets, as it more likely than not that such amounts will not be fully realized. During the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, the valuation allowance increased by $31,301 and $40,912, respectively, primarily due to operating losses in certain jurisdictions and an increase in deferred tax assets with a full valuation allowance. The increases were partially offset by the release of valuation allowances in jurisdictions with current year operating income.
At December 31, 2019, the Company had U.K. tax loss carryforwards of $470,736, Japan tax loss carryforwards of $64,748, U.S. federal tax loss carryforwards of $127,717, tax loss carryforwards in other foreign jurisdictions of $20,840, and U.S. State tax loss carryforwards of $75,340, respectively. The majority of the unrecognized tax loss carryforwards relate to UK, US, and Japan. The carryforward period for the Japan tax losses is nine years, and the expiration period begins 2025. The carryforward period for the UK tax losses is indefinite. The carryforward period for US federal tax losses is twenty years for losses generated in tax years ended prior to December 31, 2017. The expiration period for these losses begins in 2036. For US losses generated in tax years beginning after January 1, 2018, the carryforward period is indefinite. The carryforward period for US state losses varies, and the expiration period is between 2020 and 2039.
The Company has not provided income taxes and withholding taxes on the undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries as of December 31, 2019 because the Company has determined that the amount of such taxes would not be significant. The Company is not permanently reinvesting its foreign earnings offshore.
Deferred Tax Valuation Allowance
The following table shows the change in the deferred tax valuation as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|||||||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
|
2017 |
|||
Beginning Balance, January 1 |
|
$ |
133,856 |
|
$ |
92,944 |
|
$ |
47,185 |
Change Charged to Expense/(Income) |
|
|
30,854 |
|
|
41,629 |
|
|
44,790 |
Change Charged to CTA |
|
|
447 |
|
|
381 |
|
|
713 |
Change Charged to OCI |
|
|
|
|
|
(1,098) |
|
|
256 |
Ending Balance, December 31 |
|
$ |
165,157 |
|
$ |
133,856 |
|
$ |
92,944 |
Uncertain Tax Positions
Unrecognized tax benefits represent the difference between the tax benefits that we are able to recognize for financial reporting purposes and the tax benefits that we have recognized or expect to recognize in filed tax returns. The total amount of net unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would impact the Company’s effective tax rate were $1,145 and $1,450 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as part of the tax provision. As of December 31, 2019, the interest and penalties are $354 and as of December 31, 2018, the interest and penalties are $449. It is reasonably possible that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change during the next 12 months by a range of $291 to $453.
The Company files income tax returns in the United Kingdom, the United States, and various other jurisdictions. As of December 31, 2019, the Company’s open tax years subject to examination were 2015 through 2019, which includes the Company’s major jurisdictions in the United Kingdom and the United States.
F-48
The following table summarizes the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest and penalties:
Note 19: Earnings per Share
Potential common shares of 80,873,293, 24,524,698, and 22,554,740 of Private Placement Warrants, Public Warrants, Merger Shares, and options and Restricted Stock Units related to the Incentive Award Plan were excluded from diluted EPS for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively, as the Company had net losses and their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. See Note 16 — “Shareholders” Equity” and Note 17 — "Employment and Compensation Arrangements” for a description.
The 2019 Transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with U.S. GAAP. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations”. Accordingly, weighted-average shares outstanding for purposes of the EPS calculation have been retroactively recasted as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the 2019 Transaction (1.0 Jersey share to 132.13667 Clarivate shares).
The basic and diluted EPS computations for our common stock are calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
Note 20: Tax Receivable Agreement
At the completion of the 2019 Transaction, we recorded an initial liability of $264,600 payable to the pre-business combination equity holders under the TRA, representing approximately 85% of the calculated tax savings based on the portion of the Covered Tax Assets we anticipate being able to utilize in future years. Based on current projections of taxable income, and before deduction of any specially allocated depreciation and amortization, we anticipated having enough taxable income to utilize a significant portion of these specially allocated deductions related to the original Covered Tax Assets (as defined in the TRA). Total payments related to the TRA could be up to a maximum of $507,326 if all Covered Tax Assets are utilized. TRA payments were expected to commence in 2021 (with respect to taxable periods ending in 2019) and would have been subject to deferral, at the Company’s election, for payment amounts in excess of $30,000 for payments to be made in 2021 and 2022, but would not be subject to deferral thereafter.
The projection of future taxable income involves significant judgment. Actual taxable income may differ from our estimates, which could significantly impact the liability under the TRA. We have determined it is more-likely-than-not we will be unable to utilize all of our deferred tax assets (“DTAs”) subject to the TRA; therefore, we have not recorded a liability under the TRA related to the tax savings we may realize from the utilization of NOL carryforwards and the amortization related to basis adjustments created by the Transaction. If utilization of these DTAs becomes more-likely-than-not in the future, at such time, we will record liabilities under the TRA of
F-49
up to an additional $134,377 as a result of basis adjustments under the Internal Revenue Code and up to an additional $108,350 related to the utilization of NOL and credit carryforwards, which will be recorded through charges to our statements of operations. However, if the tax attributes are not utilized in future years, it is possible no amounts would be paid under the TRA. In this scenario, the reduction of the liability under the TRA would result in a benefit to our statements of operations.
On August 21, 2019, the Company entered into a Buyout Agreement among the Company and Onex Partners IV LP (“TRA Buyout Agreement”), pursuant to which all future payment obligations of the Company under the Tax Receivable Agreement would terminate in exchange for a payment of $200,000 (the “TRA Termination Payment”), which the Company paid on November 7, 2019 with a portion of the net proceeds from the Refinancing 2019 Transaction. As a result of the payment, a gain was recorded to shareholders equity of $64,600. As of December 31, 2019, our liability under the TRA was $0.
Note 21: Product and Geographic Sales Information
The Company’s chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) assesses Company-wide performance and allocates resources based on consolidated financial information. As such, the company has one operating and reportable segment. The CODM evaluates performance based on profitability.
No single customer accounted for more than 1% of revenues and our ten largest customers represented only 5%, 6%, and 7% of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017 respectively. Revenues recognized in the U.S. represented 43%, 37%, and 42% of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively and no other country accounted for more than 10% of revenues.
Revenue by geography
The following table summarizes revenue from external customers by geography, which is based on the location of the customer:
Assets by geography
Assets are allocated based on operations and physical location. The following table summarizes non-current assets other than financial instruments, operating lease right-of-use assets and deferred tax assets by geography:
F-50
Revenue by product group
The following table summarizes revenue by product group (in thousands):
Note 22: Commitments and Contingencies
The Company does not have any recorded or unrecorded guarantees of the indebtedness of others.
Contingencies
Lawsuits and Legal Claims
The Company is engaged in various legal proceedings, claims, audits and investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. These matters include, but are not limited to, antitrust/competition claims, intellectual property infringement claims, employment matters and commercial matters. The outcome of all of the matters against the Company is subject to future resolution, including the uncertainties of litigation. Based on information currently known to the Company and after consultation with outside legal counsel, management believes that the ultimate resolution of any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition taken as a whole.
Contingent Liabilities
In conjunction with the acquisition of Publons, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders up to an additional $9,500 through 2020. Amounts payable are contingent upon Publons’ achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics. The Company paid $2,371 and $2,470 of the contingent purchase price in the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively, as a result of Publons achieving the first tier of milestones and performance metrics. The Company had an outstanding liability for $3,100 and $2,960 related to the estimated fair value of this contingent consideration as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The outstanding balance consisted of $3,100 and $1,600 included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities, and $0 and $1,360 included in Other non-current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 respectively.
In conjunction with the acquisition of Kopernio, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders up to an additional $3,500 through 2021. Amounts payable are contingent upon Kopernio’s achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics and will be recognized over the concurrent service period.
In conjunction with the acquisition of TrademarkVision, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders a potential earn-out dependent upon achievement of certain milestones and financial performance metrics through 2020. Amounts payable are contingent upon TrademarkVision’s achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics. As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had an outstanding liability for $8,000 and $4,115, respectively, related to the estimated fair value of this contingent consideration. The outstanding balance was included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of December 31, 2019, and in Other non-current liabilities as of December 31, 2018, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
F-51
Tax Indemnity
In connection with the 2016 Transaction, the Company recorded certain tax indemnification assets pursuant to the terms of the separation and indemnified liabilities identified therein. As a result of counterparty dispute related to certain of the indemnification claims, the Company wrote off $33,819 during the 4th quarter of 2018, which represented a portion of the amount originally recorded, plus accumulated foreign currency impacts. Management continues to interpret the contractual obligation due from Former Parent and its controlled entities ("Thomson Reuters") as due in full. The asset write down was recorded within Other operating income (expense), net within the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Legal Settlement
In September 2019, the Company settled a confidential claim that resulted in a gain. The net gain was recorded in Legal settlement within the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations during the year ended December 31, 2019.
Commitments
Unconditional purchase obligations
Purchase obligations are defined as agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased, fixed, minimum or variable pricing provisions and the approximate timing of the transactions. The Company has various purchase obligations for materials, supplies, outsourcing and other services contracted in the ordinary course of business. These items are not recognized as liabilities in our Consolidated Financial Statements but are required to be disclosed. The contractual terms of these purchase obligations extend through 2022. The Company paid $32,231 towards these purchase obligations during the year ended December 31, 2019.
The future unconditional purchase obligations as of December 31, 2019 are as follows: Year ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
Year ended December 31, |
|
|
|
2020 |
|
|
37,332 |
2021 |
|
|
10,186 |
2022 |
|
|
558 |
2023 |
|
|
— |
Total |
|
$ |
48,076 |
Note 23: Related Party and Former Parent Transactions
Onex Partners Advisor LP (“Onex”), an affiliate of the Company, is considered a related party. Concurrent with the 2016 Transaction, the Company entered into a Consulting Services Agreement with Onex, pursuant to which the Company is provided certain ongoing strategic and financing consulting services in exchange for a quarterly management fee. In connection with this agreement, the Company recognized $470, $920, and $1,230 in operating expenses related to this agreement for the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, respectively. The Company pays 0.1% interest per annum to Onex for the Credit Agreement. For the year ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, the Company recognized interest expense, for Onex related interest, of $327, $905 and $1,557, respectively. The Company had an outstanding liability of $3 and $450 to Onex as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In addition, the Company paid Onex a management fee of $5,400 in connection with the 2019 Transaction in the second quarter of 2019. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations” for additional information.
BPEA, an affiliate of the Company, is considered a related party. Concurrently with the 2016 Transaction, the Company entered into a Management Services Agreement with Baring, pursuant to which the Company is provided certain ongoing strategic and financing consulting services. In connection with this agreement, the Company recognized $246, $669, and $854 in operating expenses related to this agreement for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company had an outstanding liability of $0 and $334 to
F-52
Baring as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. In addition, the Company paid BPEA a management fee of $2,100 in connection with the 2019 Transaction in the second quarter of 2019. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations” for additional information.
In connection with the 2016 Transaction, Bidco and a subsidiary of the Former Parent entered into the Transition Service Agreement, which became effective on October 3, 2016, pursuant to which such subsidiary of the Former Parent will, or will cause its affiliates and/or third-party service providers to, provide Bidco, its affiliates and/or third-party service providers with certain technology, facilities management, human resources, sourcing, financial, accounting, data management, marketing and other services to support the operation of the IP&S business as an independent company. Such services are provided by such subsidiary of the Former Parent or its affiliates and/or third-party service providers for various time periods and at various costs based upon the terms set forth in the Transition Service Agreement.
A controlled affiliate of Baring is a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $765, $531 and $388 for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company had an outstanding liability of $160, $120 and $199 as of December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Jerre Stead, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is the Co-founder of a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $756 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and the Company had an outstanding liability of $10 as of December 31, 2019. This vendor was not a related party in 2018 and 2017.
A former member of our key management is the Co-founder of a vendor of ours.Total payments to this vendor were $278 and $865 for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The Company had an outstanding liability of $0 and $332 as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively. This vendor was not a related party in 2017.
In connection with our acquisition of Publons, we paid a $716 consulting fee to a former board member and company executive for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Note 24: Restructuring
In accordance with the applicable guidance for ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations, we accounted for termination benefits and recognized liabilities when the loss was considered probable that employees were entitled to benefits and the amounts could be reasonably estimated. We have incurred costs in connection with involuntary termination benefits associated with our corporate-related initiatives and cost-saving opportunities. These amounts are recorded within Restructuring in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The payments associated with these actions are expected to be completed within 12 months from the balance sheet date.
The following table summarizes the activity related to the restructuring reserves and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018:
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2018 |
|
$ |
— |
Expenses recorded |
|
|
15,670 |
Payments made |
|
|
(6,323) |
Foreign currency translation |
|
|
159 |
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
9,506 |
Restructuring charges incurred during 2019 included actions to reduce operational costs. Components of the pre-tax charges include $13,959 in severance costs incurred during the year ended December 31, 2019.
F-53
Note 25: Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following table summarizes the Company’s unaudited quarterly results of operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2019 |
||||||||||
|
|
First Quarter |
|
Second Quarter |
|
Third Quarter |
|
Fourth Quarter |
||||
Revenues |
|
$ |
234,025 |
|
$ |
242,309 |
|
$ |
242,998 |
|
$ |
255,013 |
Income (loss) from operations |
|
$ |
(25,919) |
|
$ |
(36,581) |
|
$ |
35,844 |
|
$ |
(16,431) |
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(59,260) |
|
$ |
(77,761) |
|
$ |
10,831 |
|
$ |
(84,787) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic |
|
$ |
(0.27) |
|
$ |
(0.29) |
|
$ |
0.04 |
|
$ |
(0.28) |
Diluted |
|
$ |
(0.27) |
|
$ |
(0.29) |
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
$ |
(0.28) |
In September 2019, the Company settled a confidential claim that resulted in a gain of $39,399. The net gain was recorded in Legal settlement within the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations during the three months ended September 30, 2019 and the year ended December 31, 2019.
Note 26: Subsequent Events
On January 1, 2020, the Company completed the sale of certain assets and liabilities of the MarkMonitor business to OpSec Security for a total purchase price of $3,751. At December 31, 2019 the assets and liabilities related to the divestment met the criteria for classification as Assets Held for Sale on the Company’s balance sheet. An impairment charge of $18,431 was recognized in the Statement of Operations during the fourth quarter to reduce the Assets Held for Sale to their fair value. Accordingly, we do not expect to record a gain or loss on the divestiture in the first quarter of 2020. Of the total impairment charge, $17,967 related to the write down of intangible assets and $468 to the write down of goodwill. After impairment, Current Assets of $2,274 and Long Term Assets of $28,345 were reclassified to Current Assets Held for Sale, while Current Liabilities of $21,170 and Long Term Liabilities of $5,698 were reclassified to Current Liabilities Held For Sale.
On January 17, 2020, the Company announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Decision Resources Group (“DRG”), a premier provider of high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, from Piramal Enterprises Limited, part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. The acquisition closed on February 28, 2020. The aggregate consideration paid in connection with the closing of the DRG acquisition was approximately $950,000, comprised of $900,000 in cash paid on the closing date and approximately $50,000 in Clarivate ordinary shares to be issued to Piramal Enterprises Limited following the one-year anniversary of closing.
In February 2020, the Company consummated a public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares at $20.25 per share. After this offering, Onex and Baring continue to beneficially own approximately 38.3% of the Company’s ordinary shares, representing approximately 59.3% of the ordinary shares beneficially owned by Onex and Baring immediately after the closing of our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019. We received $540,736 in net proceeds from the sale of ordinary shares, after deducting $18,164 underwriting discounts. We used the net proceeds to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG Acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses.
On February 12, 2020, the Company made a repayment of $65,000 on the Revolving Credit Facility. The $250,000 Revolving Credit Facility remains undrawn subsequent to the pay down.
F-54
On February 28, 2020, we incurred an incremental $360,000 of term loans under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings, together with cash on hand, to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses.
During the period January 1, 2020 through February 21, 2020, 24,132,666 of the Company’s outstanding warrants were exercised for one ordinary share per whole warrant at a price of $11.50 per share. We used a portion of the total proceeds of $277,526 from the warrant exercises to fund a portion of the cash consideration for the DRG Acquisition and intend to use the balance for general business purposes.
On February 20, 2020, we announced the redemption of all of our outstanding public warrants to purchase our ordinary shares that were issued as part of the units sold in the Churchill Capital Corp initial public offering and remain outstanding at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on March 23, 2020, for a redemption price of $0.01 per public warrant. In addition, our board of directors elected that, upon delivery of the notice of the redemption on February 20, 2020, all public warrants are to be exercised only on a “cashless basis.” Accordingly, by virtue of the cashless exercise of public warrants, exercising public warrant holders will receive 0.4626 of an ordinary share for each public warrant. Assuming all outstanding public warrants called for redemption on March 23, 2020 are exercised prior to redemption, an additional 4,749,616 ordinary shares would be issued.
F-55
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
308,021 |
|
$ |
76,130 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
2,850 |
|
|
9 |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $15,072 and $16,511 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively |
|
|
343,177 |
|
|
333,858 |
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
52,101 |
|
|
40,710 |
Other current assets |
|
|
22,099 |
|
|
11,750 |
Asset held for sale |
|
|
— |
|
|
30,619 |
Total current assets |
|
|
728,248 |
|
|
493,076 |
Computer hardware and other property, net |
|
|
22,953 |
|
|
18,042 |
Other intangible assets, net |
|
|
2,282,348 |
|
|
1,828,640 |
Goodwill |
|
|
1,823,084 |
|
|
1,328,045 |
Other non-current assets |
|
|
22,818 |
|
|
18,632 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
15,646 |
|
|
19,488 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
|
103,995 |
|
|
85,448 |
Total Assets |
|
$ |
4,999,092 |
|
$ |
3,791,371 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Shareholders’ equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable |
|
$ |
28,583 |
|
$ |
26,458 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
239,661 |
|
|
159,217 |
Current portion of deferred revenues |
|
|
472,101 |
|
|
407,325 |
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
|
|
25,375 |
|
|
22,130 |
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
12,600 |
|
|
9,000 |
Liabilities held for sale |
|
|
— |
|
|
26,868 |
Total current liabilities |
|
|
778,320 |
|
|
650,998 |
Long-term debt |
|
|
1,915,452 |
|
|
1,628,611 |
Non-current portion of deferred revenues |
|
|
18,774 |
|
|
19,723 |
Other non-current liabilities |
|
|
18,553 |
|
|
18,891 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
94,638 |
|
|
48,547 |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
80,229 |
|
|
64,189 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
2,905,966 |
|
|
2,430,959 |
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders’ equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary Shares, no par value; unlimited shares authorized at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019; 364,938,052 and 306,874,115 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively; |
|
|
3,033,033 |
|
|
2,208,529 |
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
|
(13,349) |
|
|
(4,879) |
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(926,558) |
|
|
(843,238) |
Total shareholders’ equity |
|
|
2,093,126 |
|
|
1,360,412 |
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ equity |
|
$ |
4,999,092 |
|
$ |
3,791,371 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-56
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Revenues, net |
|
$ |
240,592 |
|
$ |
234,025 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating costs and expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(82,399) |
|
|
(89,267) |
Selling, general and administrative costs, excluding depreciation and amortization |
|
|
(86,948) |
|
|
(92,296) |
Share-based compensation expense |
|
|
(17,469) |
|
|
(3,176) |
Depreciation |
|
|
(2,329) |
|
|
(2,051) |
Amortization |
|
|
(49,112) |
|
|
(56,106) |
Transaction expenses |
|
|
(26,689) |
|
|
(10,270) |
Transition, integration and other related expenses |
|
|
(2,232) |
|
|
(1,161) |
Restructuring |
|
|
(7,754) |
|
|
— |
Other operating income (expense), net |
|
|
6,032 |
|
|
(5,617) |
Total operating expenses |
|
|
(268,900) |
|
|
(259,944) |
Loss from operations |
|
|
(28,308) |
|
|
(25,919) |
Interest expense, net |
|
|
(30,940) |
|
|
(33,101) |
Loss before income tax |
|
|
(59,248) |
|
|
(59,020) |
Provision for income taxes |
|
|
(14,753) |
|
|
(240) |
Net loss |
|
$ |
(74,001) |
|
$ |
(59,260) |
Per Share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
$ |
(0.22) |
|
$ |
(0.27) |
Weighted-average shares outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic and diluted |
|
|
343,129,833 |
|
|
217,526,426 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-57
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Net loss |
|
$ |
(74,001) |
|
$ |
(59,260) |
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest rate swaps |
|
|
(2,890) |
|
|
(1,946) |
Actuarial gain (loss) |
|
|
(67) |
|
|
19 |
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
|
(5,513) |
|
|
(1,824) |
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax |
|
|
(8,470) |
|
|
(3,751) |
Comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
(82,471) |
|
$ |
(63,011) |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-58
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
Total |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive |
|
Accumulated |
|
Shareholders’ |
|||
|
|
Ordinary Shares |
|
Income (Loss) |
|
Deficit |
|
Equity |
||||||
|
|
Shares |
|
Amount |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2018, as originally reported |
|
1,646,223 |
|
$ |
1,677,510 |
|
$ |
5,358 |
|
$ |
(632,261) |
|
$ |
1,050,607 |
Conversion of units of share capital |
|
215,880,202 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Balance at December 31, 2018, as recasted |
|
217,526,425 |
|
|
1,677,510 |
|
|
5,358 |
|
|
(632,261) |
|
|
1,050,607 |
Issuance of ordinary shares, net |
|
2 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Share-based award activity |
|
— |
|
|
3,176 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3,176 |
Net Loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(59,260) |
|
|
(59,260) |
Comprehensive loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(3,751) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(3,751) |
Balance at March 31, 2019 |
|
217,526,427 |
|
$ |
1,680,686 |
|
$ |
1,607 |
|
$ |
(691,521) |
|
$ |
990,772 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
|
306,874,115 |
|
$ |
2,208,529 |
|
$ |
(4,879) |
|
$ |
(843,238) |
|
$ |
1,360,412 |
Adjustment to opening Accumulated deficit related to adoption of ASC Topic 326 |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(9,319) |
|
|
(9,319) |
Issuance of ordinary shares, net |
|
58,063,937 |
|
|
808,120 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
808,120 |
Share-based award activity |
|
— |
|
|
16,384 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
16,384 |
Net Loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(74,001) |
|
|
(74,001) |
Comprehensive loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(8,470) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(8,470) |
Balance at March 31, 2020 |
|
364,938,052 |
|
$ |
3,033,033 |
|
$ |
(13,349) |
|
$ |
(926,558) |
|
$ |
2,093,126 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-59
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(74,001) |
|
$ |
(59,260) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
51,441 |
|
|
58,157 |
Allowance for doubtful accounts and credit losses |
|
|
— |
|
|
689 |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) |
|
|
4,214 |
|
|
(3,946) |
Share-based compensation |
|
|
16,502 |
|
|
3,176 |
Deferred finance charges |
|
|
1,008 |
|
|
2,099 |
Other operating activities |
|
|
(7,015) |
|
|
5,440 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable |
|
|
29,279 |
|
|
(13,362) |
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
(7,349) |
|
|
(9,813) |
Other assets |
|
|
54,644 |
|
|
(1,507) |
Accounts payable |
|
|
758 |
|
|
4,942 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
(12,035) |
|
|
(9,049) |
Deferred revenue |
|
|
40,726 |
|
|
68,929 |
Operating lease right of use assets |
|
|
5,919 |
|
|
5,696 |
Operating lease liabilities |
|
|
(5,876) |
|
|
(5,750) |
Other liabilities |
|
|
(52,109) |
|
|
(3,988) |
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
|
46,106 |
|
|
42,453 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures |
|
|
(19,395) |
|
|
(5,957) |
Acquisition, net of cash acquired |
|
|
(885,323) |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from sale of product line, net of restricted cash |
|
|
3,751 |
|
|
— |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(900,967) |
|
|
(5,957) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of principal on long-term debt |
|
|
(3,150) |
|
|
(3,836) |
Repayment of revolving credit facility |
|
|
(65,000) |
|
|
(30,000) |
Contingent purchase price payment |
|
|
(4,115) |
|
|
— |
Payment of debt issuance costs |
|
|
(5,014) |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from issuance of debt |
|
|
360,000 |
|
|
— |
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares |
|
|
540,597 |
|
|
— |
Payments related to tax withholding for stock-based compensation |
|
|
(10,420) |
|
|
— |
Issuance of ordinary shares, net |
|
|
278,708 |
|
|
— |
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities |
|
|
1,091,606 |
|
|
(33,836) |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
|
(2,013) |
|
|
(190) |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash |
|
|
234,732 |
|
|
2,470 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beginning of period: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
76,130 |
|
|
25,575 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
9 |
|
|
9 |
Total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
|
76,139 |
|
|
25,584 |
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period |
|
|
310,871 |
|
|
28,054 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
|
308,021 |
|
|
28,045 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
2,850 |
|
|
9 |
Total cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period |
|
$ |
310,871 |
|
$ |
28,054 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest |
|
$ |
11,405 |
|
$ |
21,023 |
Cash paid for income tax |
|
$ |
4,797 |
|
$ |
7,789 |
Capital expenditures included in accounts payable |
|
$ |
9,528 |
|
$ |
6,836 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
F-60
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Note 1: Background and Nature of Operations
Clarivate Analytics Plc (“Clarivate,” “us,” “we,” “our,” or the “Company”), a public limited company organized under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands, was incorporated as a Jersey limited company on January 7, 2019. Pursuant to the definitive agreement entered into to effect a merger between Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited ("Jersey") and Churchill Capital Corp, a Delaware corporation, ("Churchill") (the “2019 Transaction”), the Company was formed for the purposes of completing the 2019 Transaction and related transitions and carrying on the business of Jersey, and its subsidiaries.
The Company is a provider of proprietary and comprehensive content, analytics, professional services and workflow solutions that enables users across government and academic institutions, life science companies and research and development (“R&D”) intensive corporations to discover, protect and commercialize their innovations. Our Science Product Group consists of our Web of Science and Life Science Product Lines. Both Product Lines provide curated, high-value, structured information that is delivered and embedded into the workflows of our customers, which include research intensive corporations, life science organizations and universities world-wide. Our Intellectual Property ("IP") Product Group consists of our Derwent, CompuMark and MarkMonitor Product Lines. These Product Lines help manage customer’s end-to-end portfolios of intellectual property from patents to trademarks to corporate website domains.
In January 2019, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 26, 2019, and Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 29, 2019, collectively, the “Merger Agreement”) by and among Churchill, Jersey, CCC Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Clarivate (“Delaware Merger Sub”), Camelot Merger Sub (Jersey) Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands and wholly owned subsidiary of Clarivate (“Jersey Merger Sub”), and the Company, which, among other things, provided for (i) Jersey Merger Sub to be merged with and into Jersey with Jersey being the surviving company in the merger (the “Jersey Merger”) and (ii) Delaware Merger Sub to be merged with and into Churchill with Churchill being the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Delaware Merger”), and together with the Jersey Merger, the “Mergers”.
On May 13, 2019, the 2019 Transaction was consummated, and Clarivate became the sole managing member of Jersey, operating and controlling all of the business and affairs of Jersey, through Jersey and its subsidiaries. Following the consummation of the 2019 Transaction on May 13, 2019, the Company’s ordinary shares and warrants began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
The 2019 Transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). Under this method of accounting Churchill was treated as the "acquired" company for financial reporting purposes. This determination was primarily based on post 2019 Transaction relative voting rights, composition of the governing board, size of the two entities pre-merger, and intent of the 2019 Transaction. Accordingly, for accounting purposes, the 2019 Transaction was treated as the equivalent of the Company issuing stock for the net assets of Churchill. The net assets of Churchill, were stated at historical cost, with no goodwill or other intangible assets resulting from the 2019 Transaction. Reported amounts from operations included herein prior to the 2019 Transaction are those of Jersey.
In February 2020, the Company consummated a public offering of 27,600,000 ordinary shares at $20.25 per share. After this offering, Onex Corporation and Baring Private Equity Asia Limited ("BPEA") continue to beneficially own approximately 38.3% of the Company’s ordinary shares, down from approximately 70.8% of the ordinary shares beneficially owned by Onex and BPEA immediately after the closing of our merger with Churchill Capital Corp in 2019.
Risks and Uncertainties
In March 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. The rapid spread of COVID-19 and the continuously evolving responses to combat it have had an increasingly negative impact on the
F-61
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
global economy. In view of the rapidly changing business environment, market volatility and heightened degree of uncertainty resulting from COVID-19, we are currently unable to fully determine its future impact on our business. However, we continue to assess the potential effect on our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. If the global pandemic continues to evolve into a prolonged crisis, the effects could have an adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Note 2: Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("U.S. GAAP"). The Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not include all of the information or notes necessary for a complete presentation in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, these Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year.
In the opinion of management, the interim financial data includes all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company include the accounts of all of its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are entities over which the Company has control, where control is defined as the power to govern financial and operating policies. Generally, the Company has a shareholding of more than 50% of the voting rights in its subsidiaries. The effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable are considered when assessing whether control exists. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date control is transferred to the Company, and are de-consolidated from the date control ceases. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The U.S. dollar is the Company’s reporting currency. As such, the financial statements are reported on a U.S. dollar basis.
Note 3: Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Our significant accounting policies are those that we believe are important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations, as well as those that involve significant judgments or estimates about matters that are inherently uncertain. There have been no material changes to the significant accounting policies discussed in “Item 8. — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on March 2, 2020 (the "Annual Report"), except as noted below.
Accounts Receivable
Through the adoption of ASU 2016-13 and the related standards, the Company revised the policy regarding the recognition of expected credit losses and for our accounts receivables portfolio as follows.
Accounts receivable are recorded at the amount invoiced to customers and do not bear interest. The Company estimates credit losses for trade receivables by aggregating similar customer types together, because they tend to share similar credit risk characteristics, taking into consideration the number of days the receivable is past due. Provision rates for the allowance for doubtful accounts are based upon the historical loss method by evaluating factors such as the length of time receivables that are past due and historical collection experience. Additionally, provision rates are based upon current and future economic and competitive environment factors that could impact the collectability of the receivable. Trade and other receivables are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Indicators that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery include past due status greater than 360 days or bankruptcy of the debtor.
F-62
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Newly Adopted Accounting Standards
FASB issued new guidance, ASU 2016-13 and various other related issuances, related to measurement of credit losses on financial instruments which requires the measurement and recognition of expected credit losses for financial assets held at amortized cost. This new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss impairment model with an expected loss methodology, which will result in more timely recognition of credit losses. The Company has determined that the impact of this new accounting guidance will primarily affect our trade receivables. The Company prospectively adopted the standard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard had an impact of $9,319 on the beginning Accumulated deficit balance in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 1, 2020.
In April 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-04, Codification Improvements to Topic 326, which provides targeted improvements or clarification and correction to the ASU 2016-01 Financial Instruments Overall, ASU 2016-13 Financial Instruments Credit Losses, and ASU 2017-12 Derivatives and Hedging accounting standards updates that were previously issued. The guidance is effective upon adoption of the related standards. The company prospective adopted the standard on January 1, 2020. This standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued guidance, ASU 2018-15, which aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal use software license). The accounting for the service element of a hosting arrangement that is a service contract is not affected by the amendments in this update. The Company prospectively adopted the standard on January 1, 2020. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. All future capitalized implementation costs incurred related to these hosting arrangements will be recorded as a prepaid asset and as a charge to operating expenses over the expected life of the contract.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
Except as noted below, there have been no material changes from the recently issued accounting standards previously disclosed in the Annual Report. Please refer to “Item 8. — Financial Statements and Supplementary Data — Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — Note 3” section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of the recently issued accounting standards that relate to the Company.
In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform, which provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The guidance is effective for all entities during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the potential impact of the adoption of this standard on its Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Note 4: Business Combinations
On May 13, 2019, the Company completed the 2019 Transaction. Jersey began operations in 2016 as a provider of proprietary and comprehensive content, analytics, professional services and workflow solutions that enables users across government and academic institutions, life science companies and R&D intensive corporations to discover, protect and commercialize their innovations. Churchill was a special purpose acquisition company whose business was to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase reorganization or similar business combination. The shares and earnings per share available to holders of the Company’s ordinary shares, prior to the 2019 Transaction, have been recasted as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the 2019 Transaction (1.0 Jersey share to 132.13667 Clarivate shares).
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the aggregate stock consideration issued by the Company in the 2019 Transaction was $3,052,500, consisting of 305,250,000 newly issued ordinary shares of the Company valued at $10.00 per share, subject to certain adjustments described below. Of the $3,052,500, the shareholders of Jersey
F-63
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
prior to the closing of the 2019 Transaction (the “Company Owners”) received $2,175,000 in the form of 217,500,000 newly issued ordinary shares of the Company. In addition, of the $3,052,500, Churchill public shareholders received $690,000 in the form of 68,999,999 newly issued ordinary shares of the Company. In addition, Churchill Sponsor LLC (the “sponsor”) received $187,500 in the form of 17,250,000 ordinary shares of the Company issued to the sponsor, and 1,500,000 additional ordinary shares of the Company were issued to certain investors. See Note 14 — "Shareholders’ Equity" for further information.
Upon consummation of the 2019 Transaction, each outstanding share of common stock of Churchill was converted into one ordinary share of the Company. At the closing of the 2019 Transaction, the Company Owners held approximately 74% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of the Company and stockholders of Churchill held approximately 26% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company excluding the impact of (i) 52,800,000 warrants, (ii) approximately 24,806,793 compensatory options issued to the Company’s management (based on number of options to purchase Jersey ordinary shares outstanding immediately prior to the 2019 Transaction, after giving effect to the exchange ratio described above) and (iii) 10,600,000 ordinary shares of Clarivate owned of record by the sponsor and available for distribution to certain individuals following the applicable lock-up and vesting restrictions.
Certain restrictions were removed following the Secondary Offering on August 14, 2019. See Note 15 — "Employment and Compensation Arrangements" for further information. After giving effect to the satisfaction of the vesting restrictions, the Company Owners held approximately 60% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company at the close of the 2019 Transaction. See Note 14 — "Shareholders’ Equity" for further information on equity instruments.
Acquisition of Decision Resources Group
On February 28, 2020, we acquired 100% of the assets, liabilities and equity interests of Decision Resources Group ("DRG"), a premier provider of high-value data, analytics and insights products and services to the healthcare industry, from Piramal Enterprises Limited ("PEL"), which is a part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. The acquisition helps us expand our core businesses and provides us with the potential to grow in the Life Sciences Product Line.
The aggregate consideration paid in connection with the closing of the DRG acquisition was $964,997, comprised of $900,000 of base cash plus $6,100 of adjusted closing cash paid on the closing date and up to 2,895,638 of the Company’s ordinary shares to be issued to PEL following the one-year anniversary of closing. The contingent stock consideration was valued at $58,897 on the closing date and will be revalued at each period end. As of March 31, 2020, the fair value of the contingent stock consideration increased by $1,187 which was recorded to Transaction expenses in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and increased the corresponding liability to $60,084 which was recorded to Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. See Note 18 — "Commitments and Contingencies” for more information. The DRG acquisition was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. The excess of the purchase price over the net tangible and intangible assets is recorded to Goodwill and primarily reflects the assembled workforce and expected synergies. Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. Total transaction costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of DRG were $19,762 for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
The amount of Revenues, net and Net loss resulting from the acquisition that are attributable to the Company’s stockholders and included in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income during the three months ended March 31, 2020 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
Revenues, net (1) |
|
$ |
17,044 |
Net loss attributable to the Company's stockholders |
|
$ |
(606) |
(1) | Includes $1,534 of a deferred revenue haircut recognized during the quarter ended March 31, 2020. |
F-64
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
The purchase price allocation for this acquisition as of the close date of February 28, 2020 is preliminary and may change upon completion of the determination of fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed. The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation for this acquisition:
(1) | Includes $3,966 of internally developed software in progress acquired. |
|
|
|
|
Purchase price, net of cash(2) |
|
|
944,220 |
Less: Fair value of acquired identifiable assets and liabilities |
|
|
445,154 |
Goodwill |
|
$ |
499,066 |
The identifiable intangible assets acquired are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of DRG’s identifiable intangible assets acquired and their remaining weighted-average amortization period (in years):
Unaudited pro forma information for the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 as if the acquisition had occurred January 1, 2019 is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
Pro forma revenues, net |
|
265,341 |
|
267,800 |
Pro forma net loss attributable to the Company's stockholders |
|
(64,438) |
|
(100,501) |
F-65
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
The unaudited pro forma financial information has been presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of results of operations that would have been achieved had the acquisition taken place on the date indicated, or the future consolidated results of operations of the Company. The pro forma financial information presented above has been derived from the historical condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company and from the historical accounting records of DRG.
The unaudited pro forma results include certain pro forma adjustments to revenue and net loss that were directly attributable to the acquisition, assuming the acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2019, including the following: (i) additional amortization expense that would have been recognized relating to the acquired intangible assets, (ii) adjustments to interest expense to reflect the removal of DRG debt and the additional Company borrowings in conjunction with the acquisition, (iii) acquisition-related transaction costs and other one-time non-recurring costs which reduced expenses by $24,926 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and increased expenses by $25,365 for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Note 5: Divested Operations
On November 3, 2019, the Company entered into an agreement with OpSec Security for the sale of certain assets and liabilities of its MarkMonitor Product Line within its IP Group. The divestiture closed on January 1, 2020 for a total purchase price of $3,751. An impairment charge of $18,431 was recognized in the Statement of Operations during the fourth quarter 2019 to write down the Assets and Liabilities of the disposal group to fair value. Of the total impairment charge, $17,967 related to the write down of intangible assets and $468 to the write down of goodwill. There was an immaterial loss on the divestiture recorded to Other income (expense), net during the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company used the proceeds for general business purposes.
The divestiture does not represent a strategic shift and did not have a major effect on the Company’s operations or financial results, as defined by ASC 205-20, Discontinued Operations; as a result, the divestitures did not meet the criteria to be classified as discontinued operations.
Note 6: Accounts Receivable
Our accounts receivable balance consists of the following as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Accounts receivable |
|
|
358,249 |
|
|
350,369 |
Less: Accounts receivable allowance |
|
|
(15,072) |
|
|
(16,511) |
Accounts receivable, net |
|
$ |
343,177 |
|
$ |
333,858 |
The Company estimates credit losses for trade receivables by aggregating similar customer types together, because they tend to share similar credit risk characteristics, taking into consideration the number of days the receivable is past due. Provision rates for the allowance for doubtful accounts are based upon the historical loss method by evaluating factors such as the length of time receivables that are past due and historical collection experience. Additionally, provision rates are based upon current and future economic and competitive environment factors that could impact the collectability of the receivable. Trade and other receivables are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Indicators that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery include past due status greater than 360 days or bankruptcy of the debtor. The activity in our accounts
F-66
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
receivable allowance consists of the following for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and the year ended 2019, respectively.
The potential for credit losses is mitigated because customer creditworthiness is evaluated before credit is extended.
The Company recorded write-offs against the reserve of $11,043 and $2,321 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and the year ended 2019, respectively.
We are monitoring the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on our customers and various counterparties. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company’s allowance for doubtful accounts and credit losses considered additional risk related to the pandemic. However, this risk to-date was not material.
Note 7: Computer Hardware and Other Property, net
Computer hardware and other property, net consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
December 31, 2019 |
||
Computer hardware |
|
$ |
26,982 |
|
$ |
24,620 |
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
15,352 |
|
|
12,496 |
Furniture, fixtures and equipment |
|
|
6,175 |
|
|
4,412 |
Total computer hardware and other property |
|
|
48,509 |
|
|
41,528 |
Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(25,556) |
|
|
(23,486) |
Total computer hardware and other property, net |
|
$ |
22,953 |
|
$ |
18,042 |
Depreciation expense amounted to $2,329 and $2,051 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
F-67
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Note 8: Other Intangible Assets, net and Goodwill
Other Intangible Assets, net
The following tables summarize the gross carrying amounts and accumulated amortization of the Company’s identifiable intangible assets by major class:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
|
December 31, 2019 |
||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
||
|
|
Gross |
|
Amortization |
|
Net |
|
|
Gross |
|
Amortization |
|
Net |
||||||
Finite-lived intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer relationships |
|
$ |
656,500 |
|
$ |
(182,765) |
|
$ |
473,735 |
|
|
$ |
280,493 |
|
$ |
(180,571) |
|
$ |
99,922 |
Databases and content |
|
|
1,802,169 |
|
|
(370,220) |
|
|
1,431,949 |
|
|
|
1,755,323 |
|
|
(342,385) |
|
|
1,412,938 |
Computer software |
|
|
330,318 |
|
|
(152,114) |
|
|
178,204 |
|
|
|
285,701 |
|
|
(135,919) |
|
|
149,782 |
Trade names |
|
|
6,770 |
|
|
— |
|
|
6,770 |
|
|
|
1,570 |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,570 |
Backlog |
|
|
27,999 |
|
|
(584) |
|
|
27,415 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Finite-lived intangible assets |
|
|
2,823,756 |
|
|
(705,683) |
|
|
2,118,073 |
|
|
|
2,323,087 |
|
|
(658,875) |
|
|
1,664,212 |
Indefinite-lived intangible assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade names |
|
|
164,275 |
|
|
— |
|
|
164,275 |
|
|
|
164,428 |
|
|
— |
|
|
164,428 |
Total intangible assets |
|
$ |
2,988,031 |
|
$ |
(705,683) |
|
$ |
2,282,348 |
|
|
$ |
2,487,515 |
|
$ |
(658,875) |
|
$ |
1,828,640 |
Amortization expense amounted to $49,112 and $56,106 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively.
Goodwill
The following table summarizes changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2020:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
1,328,045 |
Acquisitions |
|
|
499,067 |
Changes due to foreign currency fluctuations |
|
|
(4,028) |
Balance as of March 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
1,823,084 |
Note 9: Derivative Instruments
Effective March 31, 2017, the Company entered into interest rate swap arrangements with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on $300,000 of its outstanding Term Loan arrangements. Additionally, effective February 28, 2018, the Company entered into another interest rate swap relating to interest payments on $50,000 of its outstanding Term Loan arrangements. These hedging instruments mature on March 31, 2021. The Company applies hedge accounting by designating the interest rate swaps as a hedge on applicable future quarterly interest payments.
In April 2019, the Company entered into interest rate swap arrangements with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on $50,000 of its term loans, effective April 30, 2021. Additionally, in May 2019, the Company entered into additional interest rate swap arrangements with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on $100,000 of its term loan, effective March 2021. Both of these derivatives have notional amounts that amortize downward, and both have a maturity of September 2023. The Company will apply hedge accounting by designating the interest rate swaps as a hedge in applicable future quarterly interest payments. The Company will apply hedge accounting
F-68
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
by designating the interest rate swaps as a hedge in applicable future quarterly interest payments. Changes in the fair value are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI") and the amounts reclassified out of AOCI are recorded to Interest expense, net. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is recorded in Other non-current assets or liabilities according to the duration of related cash flows. The total fair value of the interest rate swaps was a liability of $8,372 at March 31, 2020 and a liability of $2,778 at December 31, 2019.
In March 2020, the Company amended all of its interest rate derivatives to reduce the 1% LIBOR floor to a 0% LIBOR floor. For the current derivatives, all other terms and conditions remain unchanged. In total, the company collected $1,737 for the amendments of these derivatives, $533 of which was collected in April 2020. For the two forward starting swaps, an adjustment was made to reduce the weighted average fixed rate from 2.183% at December 31, 2019 to 1.695% at the amendment date.
For the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company had a period of ineffectiveness related to the cash flow hedges. The ineffectiveness was due to a drop in LIBOR rates below the LIBOR floor defined per the credit facilities, which were amended as of March 31, 2020 resulting in a highly effective hedge. As a result of the ineffectiveness, the Company recognized a loss of $979 which was recorded to Interest expense, net on the Statement of Operations. As of March 31, 2020 there was no hedge ineffectiveness associated with the Company’s interest rate swaps.
See Note 10 — "Fair Value Measurements" for additional information on derivative instruments.
The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI (net of tax) related to cash flow hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2020:
The following table summarizes the changes in AOCI (net of tax) related to cash flow hedges for the three months ended March 31, 2019:
Note 10: Fair Value Measurements
The Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value is described below. This hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:
● | Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. |
● | Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices include in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data. |
F-69
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
● | Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are support by little or no market activity. This includes certain pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs. |
Below is a summary of the valuation techniques used in determining fair value:
Derivatives — Derivatives consist of interest rate swaps. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate such agreements, taking into account market interest rates and the remaining time to maturities or using market inputs with mid-market pricing as a practical expedient for bid-ask spread. See Note 9 — "Derivative Instruments" for additional information.
Contingent consideration — The Company values contingent cash consideration related to business combinations using a weighted probability calculation of potential payment scenarios discounted at rates reflective of the risks associated with the expected future cash flows. Key assumptions used to estimate the fair value of contingent consideration include revenue, net new business and operating forecasts and the probability of achieving the specific targets. The Company values contingent stock consideration related to business combinations using observable market data, adjusted for indemnity losses and claims for indemnity losses valued using other indirect market inputs observable in the marketplace.
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other accruals readily convertible into cash approximate fair value because of the short-term nature of the instruments.
Assets and Liabilities Recorded at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis
The Company has determined that its interest rate swaps, included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities according to the duration of related cash flows, reside within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.
In accordance with ASC 805, we estimated the fair value of the earn-outs using a Monte Carlo simulation for the year ended December 31, 2018. The amount of the earn-outs approximate fair value due to their short term nature of their remaining payments as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. This fair value measurement is based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement as defined in ASC 820. As of March 31, 2020, the Company increased the earn out liabilities related to Publons based on current period performance and paid the remaining earn out liabilities related to TrademarkVision. These acquisitions occurred in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The amount payable is contingent upon the achievement of certain company specific milestones and performance metrics over a 1-year and 3-year period, respectively, including number of cumulative users, cumulative reviews and annual revenue. Changes in the earn out are recorded to Transaction expenses in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between levels during the periods ended March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The earn-out liability is recorded in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities and Other non-current liabilities and is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
As of March 31, 2020, the Company maintains a contingent stock liability based on observable market data relating to the DRG acquisition that occurred on February 28, 2020. Changes in the contingent stock liability are recorded to Transaction expenses in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. There were no transfers of assets or liabilities between levels during the periods ended March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The contingent stock liability is recorded in Accrued expenses and other current liability and is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The amount is payable on the one year anniversary of the acquisition date and is contingent upon any indemnity losses or claims for indemnity losses as defined in the purchase agreement. This fair value measurement is based observable market data and other indirect observable market inputs and thus represents a Level 2 measurement as defined in ASC 820.
F-70
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
The following table presents the changes in the earn-out, the only Level 3 item, for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively:
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
11,100 |
Payment of Earn-out liability (1) |
|
|
(8,000) |
Revaluations included in earnings |
|
|
380 |
March 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
3,480 |
The following table presents the changes in the earn-out, the only Level 3 item, for the three months ended March 31, 2019:
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2018 |
|
$ |
7,075 |
Payment of Earn-out liability |
|
|
— |
Revaluations included in earnings |
|
|
— |
March 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
7,075 |
The following table provides a summary of the Company’s assets and liabilities that were recognized at fair value on a recurring basis as at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019:
Non-Financial Assets Valued on a Non-Recurring Basis
The Company’s long-lived assets, including goodwill, indefinite-lived intangibles and finite-lived intangible assets subject to amortization, are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are measured at cost but are written-down to fair value, if necessary, as a result of impairment.
Finite-lived Intangible Assets — If a triggering event occurs, the Company determines the estimated fair value of finite-lived intangible assets by determining the present value of the expected cash flows.
Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset — If a qualitative analysis indicates that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value is less than the carrying value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset, the Company determines the estimated fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset (trade name) by determining the present value of the estimated royalty payments on an after-tax basis that it would be required to pay the owner for the right to use such trade name. If the carrying amount exceeds the estimated fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to the excess.
F-71
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Goodwill — Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the fair value of the identifiable tangible and intangible net assets resulting from business combinations. The Company evaluates its goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level, defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment, annually as of October 1 or more frequently if impairment indicators arise in accordance with ASC Topic 350. The Company performs qualitative analysis of macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, internal cost factors, financial performance, fair value history and other company specific events. If this qualitative analysis indicates that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value is less than the book value for the respective reporting unit, the Company applies a two-step impairment test in which the Company determines whether the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is in excess of its carrying value. If the carrying value of the net assets assigned to the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, the Company performs the second step of the impairment test to determine the implied estimated fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill. The Company determines the implied estimated fair value of goodwill by determining the present value of the estimated future cash flows for each reporting unit and comparing the reporting unit’s risk profile and growth prospects to selected, reasonably similar publicly traded companies.
Note 11: Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits
The components of net periodic benefit cost recognized in other comprehensive loss were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Service cost |
|
$ |
226 |
|
$ |
221 |
Interest cost |
|
|
79 |
|
|
78 |
Expected return on plan assets |
|
|
(40) |
|
|
(40) |
Amortization of actuarial gains |
|
|
(19) |
|
|
(18) |
Net periodic benefit cost |
|
$ |
246 |
|
$ |
241 |
Interest cost and expected return on plan assets are recorded in Interest expense, net on the accompanying Interim Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Note 12: Debt
The following is a summary of the Company’s debt:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2020 |
|
December 31, 2019 |
||||||
|
|
|
|
Interest |
|
Carrying |
|
Interest |
|
Carrying |
||
Type |
|
Maturity |
|
Rate |
|
Value |
|
Rate |
|
Value |
||
Senior secured notes |
|
2026 |
|
4.500 |
% |
|
700,000 |
|
4.500 |
% |
|
700,000 |
Term loan facility |
|
2026 |
|
4.360 |
% |
|
1,256,850 |
|
5.049 |
% |
|
900,000 |
Revolving credit facility |
|
2024 |
|
— |
% |
|
0 |
|
5.049 |
% |
|
65,000 |
Total debt outstanding |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,956,850 |
|
|
|
|
1,665,000 |
Deferred financing charges |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(26,670) |
|
|
|
|
(25,205) |
Term loan facility, discount |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,128) |
|
|
|
|
(2,184) |
Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,600) |
|
|
|
|
(9,000) |
Long-term debt, net of current portion and deferred financing charges |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,915,452 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,628,611 |
In connection with the DRG acquisition, the Company incurred an incremental $360,000 of borrowings under our term loan facility and used the net proceeds from such borrowings to fund a portion of the DRG acquisition and to pay related fees and expenses. The additional term loan borrowings are covered by the same terms and covenant requirements of the existing term loan facility as described in the annual form 10-K as of December 31, 2019.
F-72
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
In addition, the Company secured the backstop of a $950,000 fully committed bridge facility in connection with the DRG acquisition. However, the Company obtained all required financing with proceeds from the additional term loan borrowings and through a primary equity offering in February, 2020. As such, the bridge facility remained undrawn through it’s expiration on closing of the acquisition.
During the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company paid down $65,000 on the revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility has remained undrawn in the period subsequent to the pay down. The revolving credit facility is subject to a commitment fee of 0.50% per annum.
With respect to the credit facilities, the Company may be subject to certain negative covenants, including compliance with total first lien net leverage ratio, if certain conditions are met. These conditions were not met and the Company was not required to test compliance with these covenants as of March 31, 2020.
The obligations of the Borrowers under the credit facilities are guaranteed by UK Holdco and certain of its restricted subsidiaries and are secured by substantially all of UK Holdco’s and certain of its restricted subsidiaries’ assets (with customary exceptions described in the credit facilities). UK Holdco and its restricted subsidiaries are subject to certain covenants including restrictions on UK Holdco’s ability to pay dividends, incur indebtedness, grant a lien over its assets, merge or consolidate, make investments, or make payments to affiliates.
As of March 31, 2020, letters of credit totaling $4,929 were collateralized by the revolving credit facility. Notwithstanding the revolving credit facility, as of March 31, 2020, the Company had an unsecured corporate guarantee outstanding for $9,646 and cash collateralized letters of credit totaling $36, all of which were not collateralized by the revolving credit facility. The Company’s cash from operations is expected to meet repayment needs on outstanding borrowings for a period of 12 months after the financial statement issuance date.
The carrying value of the Company’s variable interest rate debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs, approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of the interest rate bench mark rates. The fair value of the fixed rate debt is estimated based on market observable data for debt with similar prepayment features. The fair value of the Company’s debt was $1,872,292 and $1,692,750 at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. The debt is considered a Level 2 liability under the fair value hierarchy.
Note 13: Revenue
The tables below show the Company’s disaggregated revenues for the periods presented:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Subscription revenues |
|
$ |
193,235 |
|
$ |
192,492 |
Transactional revenues |
|
|
49,239 |
|
|
41,697 |
Total revenues, gross |
|
|
242,474 |
|
|
234,189 |
Deferred revenues adjustment(1) |
|
|
(1,882) |
|
|
(164) |
Total revenues, net |
|
$ |
240,592 |
|
$ |
234,025 |
(1) | Reflects the deferred revenues adjustment as a result of purchase accounting. |
F-73
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Contract Balances
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current |
|
Non-current |
||
|
|
Accounts |
|
portion of |
|
portion of |
|||
|
|
receivable, |
|
deferred |
|
deferred |
|||
|
|
net |
|
revenues |
|
revenues |
|||
Opening (1/1/2020) |
|
$ |
333,858 |
|
$ |
407,325 |
|
$ |
19,723 |
Closing (3/31/2020) |
|
|
343,177 |
|
|
472,101 |
|
|
18,774 |
(Increase)/decrease |
|
$ |
(9,319) |
|
$ |
(64,776) |
|
$ |
949 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Opening (1/1/2019) |
|
$ |
331,295 |
|
$ |
391,102 |
|
$ |
17,112 |
Closing (3/31/2019) |
|
|
343,113 |
|
|
461,928 |
|
|
17,987 |
(Increase)/decrease |
|
$ |
(11,818) |
|
$ |
(70,826) |
|
$ |
(875) |
The amount of revenue recognized in the period that were included in the opening deferred revenues current and long-term balances were $105,150. This revenue consists primarily of subscription revenue.
Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligation
As of March 31, 2020, approximately $62,328 of revenue is expected to be recognized in the future from remaining performance obligations, excluding contracts with durations of one year or less. The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately 65% of these performance obligations over the next 12 months. Of the remaining 35%, 21% is expected to be recognized within the following year, with the final 14% expected to be recognized within years 3 to 10.
Note 14: Shareholders’ Equity
Pre-2019 Transaction
In March 2017, the Company formed the Management Incentive Plan under which certain employees of the Company may be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. In exchange for each share purchase subscription, the purchaser is entitled to a fully vested right to an ordinary share. Additionally, along with a subscription, employees receive a corresponding number of options to acquire additional ordinary shares subject to five year vesting. See Note 15 — “Employment and Compensation Arrangements” for additional detail related to the options. The Company received no net subscriptions for the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Post-2019 Transaction
In June 2019, the Company formed the 2019 Incentive Award Plan under which employees of the Company may be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. See Note 15 — “Employment and Compensation Arrangements” for additional detail related to the 2019 Incentive Award Plan. In exchange for each share subscription purchased, the purchaser is entitled to a fully vested right to an ordinary share. At March 31, 2020 there were unlimited ordinary shares authorized, and 364,938,052 shares issued and outstanding, with a par value of $0.00. The Company did not hold any shares as treasury shares as of March 31, 2020 or December 31, 2019. The Company’s ordinary stockholders are entitled to one vote per share.
Warrants
During the period January 1, 2020 through February 21, 2020, 24,132,666 of the Company’s outstanding public warrants were exercised for one ordinary share per whole public warrant at a price of $11.50 per share. On February 20, 2020, we announced the redemption of all of our outstanding public warrants to purchase our ordinary shares that were issued as part of the units sold in the Churchill Capital Corp initial public offering and remain outstanding at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on March 23, 2020, for a redemption price of $0.01 per public warrant. In addition, our board of directors elected that, upon delivery of the notice of the redemption on
F-74
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
February 20, 2020, all public warrants were to be exercised only on a “cashless basis.” Accordingly, by virtue of the cashless exercise of public warrants, exercising public warrant holders received 0.4626 of an ordinary share for each public warrant, and 4,747,432 ordinary shares were issued for public warrants exercised on a cashless basis and 4,649 public warrants were redeemed for $0.01 per public warrant. As of March 31, 2020 no public warrants were outstanding.
Merger Shares
On January 31, 2020, our Board agreed to waive all performance vesting conditions associated with the merger shares. All such Merger Shares are expected to be issued to persons designated by Jerre Stead and Michael Klein prior to December 31, 2020.
DRG Acquisition Shares
In connection with the DRG acquisition up to 2,895,638 ordinary shares of the Company are issuable to PEL following the one-year anniversary of closing. See Note 4 — “Business Combinations” for additional details.
Note 15: Employment and Compensation Arrangements
Employee Incentive Plans
The 2019 Incentive Award Plan permits the granting of awards in the form of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units and other stock-based or cash based awards. Equity awards may be issued in the form of restricted shares or restricted share units with dividend rights or dividend equivalent rights subject to vesting terms and conditions specified in individual award agreements. The Company’s Management Incentive Plan provides for employees of the Company to be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. See Note 14 — “Shareholders’ Equity” for additional information.
A maximum aggregate amount of 60,000,000 ordinary shares are reserved for issuance under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan. Equity awards under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan may be issued in the form of options to purchase shares of the Company which are exercisable upon the occurrence of conditions specified within individual award agreements. As of March 31, 2020 37,302,599 awards had been granted.
A summary of the Company’s share-based compensation is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
|
2020 |
|
2019 |
||
Share-based compensation expense |
|
$ |
17,469 |
|
$ |
3,176 |
Tax benefit recognized |
|
$ |
(2) |
|
$ |
78 |
In the three months ended March 31, 2020, the Company recognized additional Share-based compensation expense related to the modification of certain awards under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan. As of March 31, 2020, there was $4,909 of total unrecognized compensation cost, related to outstanding stock options, which is expected to be recognized through 2024 with a remaining weighted-average service period of 2.1 years.
F-75
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Stock Options
The Company’s stock option activity is summarized below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-Average |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted |
|
Remaining |
|
Aggregate |
||
|
|
Number of |
|
Average Exercise |
|
Contractual Life |
|
Intrinsic |
||
|
|
Options |
|
Price per Share |
|
(in years) |
|
Value |
||
Balance at December 31, 2019 |
|
20,880,225 |
|
$ |
12.18 |
|
7.3 |
|
$ |
105,119 |
Forfeited |
|
(334,295) |
|
|
13.95 |
|
0 |
|
|
— |
Exercised |
|
(3,715,455) |
|
|
9.53 |
|
0 |
|
|
— |
Outstanding as of March 31, 2020 |
|
16,830,475 |
|
$ |
12.73 |
|
6.9 |
|
$ |
137,329 |
Vested and exercisable at March 31, 2020 |
|
11,605,933 |
|
$ |
12.79 |
|
6.5 |
|
$ |
92,785 |
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the difference between the closing price of the Company’s common shares on March 31, 2020 and the exercise price of each in-the-money option. There were 3,715,455 stock options exercised in the three months ended March 31, 2020. The tax benefit from the exercised options was $1,372.
The Company accounts for awards issued under the 2019 Incentive Award Plan as additional contributions to equity. Share-based compensation includes expense associated with stock option grants which is estimated based on the grant date fair value of the award issued. Share-based compensation expense related to stock options is recognized over the vesting period of the award which is generally five years, on a graded-scale basis.
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of options granted. The Black-Scholes model takes into account the fair value of an ordinary share and the contractual and expected term of the stock option, expected volatility, dividend yield, and risk-free interest rate. Prior to becoming a public company, the fair value of the Company’s ordinary shares were determined utilizing an external third-party pricing specialist.
The contractual term of the option ranges from the one year to 10 years. Expected volatility is the average volatility over the expected terms of comparable public entities from the same industry. The risk-free interest rate is based on a treasury rate with a remaining term similar to the contractual term of the option. The Company is recently formed and at this time does not expect to distribute any dividends. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”)
RSUs typically vest from one to three years and are generally subject to either cliff vesting or graded vesting. RSUs do not have nonforfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents. The fair value of RSUs is typically based on the fair value of our common shares on the date of grant. We amortize the value of these awards to expense over the vesting period on a graded-scale basis. The Company recognizes forfeitures as they occur.
The total fair value of RSUs that vested during the three months ended March 31, 2020 was $2,863.
F-76
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
2019 Transaction Related Awards
Upon consummation of the 2019 Transaction, there were 7,000,000 ordinary shares of Clarivate that are issuable if the last sale price of Clarivate’s ordinary shares is at least $20.00 for 40 days over a 60 consecutive trading day period on or before the sixth anniversary of the closing of the 2019 Transaction. On January 31, 2020, our Board agreed to waive this performance vesting condition, and all such merger shares are expected to be issued to persons designated by Messrs. Stead and Klein on or prior to December 31, 2020. We used a third-party specialist to fair value the awards at the modification date using the Monte Carlo simulation approach. The assumptions in the model include, but are not limited to, risk-free interest rate, 1.33%; expected volatility of the Company’s and the peer group’s stock prices, 20.00%; and dividend yield, 0.00%. The Company recognized $13,720 expense in Share-based compensation expense as a result of the waived performance vesting conditions.
In accordance with the terms of the sponsor agreement and in connection with our merger with Churchill in 2019, the merger shares are issued to persons designated by Messrs Stead and Klein. The Company has evaluated and recorded additional stock compensation expense as required upon the assignment of merger shares as applicable.
Note 16: Income Taxes
During the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company recognized an income tax provision of $14,753 on loss before income tax of $59,248 and $240, on loss before income tax of $59,020, respectively. The tax provision in each period three months ended March 31, 2020, and March 31, 2019, respectively, reflects the mix of taxing jurisdictions in which pre-tax profits and losses were recognized.
Note 17: Earnings per Share
Potential common shares of 38,149,453 of Private Placement Warrants, DRG Transaction Shares, options and RSUs related to the Incentive Award Plan were excluded from diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and potential common shares of 24,323,190 of options were excluded from diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2019 as the Company had net losses in both periods and their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. See Note 14 — "Shareholders’ Equity" and Note 15 — "Employment and Compensation Arrangements” for a description.
The 2019 Transaction was accounted for as a reverse recapitalization in accordance with U.S. GAAP. See Note 1 — "Background and Nature of Operations". Accordingly, weighted-average shares outstanding for purposes of the EPS calculation have been retroactively recasted as shares reflecting the exchange ratio established in the 2019 Transaction (1.0 Jersey share to 132.13667 Clarivate shares).
The basic and diluted EPS computations for our ordinary shares are calculated as follows (in thousands, except share and per share amounts):
F-77
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Note 18: Commitments and Contingencies
The Company does not have any recorded or unrecorded guarantees of the indebtedness of others.
Lawsuits and Legal Claims
The Company is engaged in various legal proceedings, claims, audits and investigations that have arisen in the ordinary course of business. These matters include, but are not limited to, antitrust/competition claims, intellectual property infringement claims, employment matters and commercial matters. The outcome of all of the matters against the Company is subject to future resolution, including the uncertainties of litigation. Based on information currently known to the Company and after consultation with outside legal counsel, management believes that the ultimate resolution of any such matters, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition taken as a whole.
Contingent Liabilities
In conjunction with the acquisition of Publons, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders up to an additional $9,500 through 2020. Amounts payable are contingent upon Publons’ achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics. The Company paid $0 and $2,371 of the contingent purchase price in the quarter ended March 31, 2020 and year ended December 31, 2019, respectively. The Company had an outstanding liability for $3,480 and $3,100 related to the estimated fair value of this contingent consideration included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
In conjunction with the acquisition of Kopernio, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders up to an additional $3,500 through 2021. Amounts payable are contingent upon Kopernio’s achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics and will be recognized over the concurrent service period.
In conjunction with the acquisition of TrademarkVision, the Company agreed to pay former shareholders a potential earn-out dependent upon achievement of certain milestones and financial performance metrics through 2020. Amounts payable are contingent upon TrademarkVision’s achievement of certain milestones and performance metrics. During the quarter ended March 31, 2020, the Company paid $8,000 of the contingent purchase price to complete the earn-out. As of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the Company had an outstanding liability for $0 and $8,000 respectively, related to the estimated fair value of this contingent consideration. The outstanding balance was included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities as of December 31, 2019, in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
In conjunction with the acquisition of DRG, the Company agreed to pay up to 2,895,638 shares as contingent stock consideration, valued at $58,897 on the closing date of the acquisition. See Note 4: "Business Combinations" for more information on the contingent stock consideration. Amounts payable are contingent upon any indemnity losses or claims to indemnity losses occurring within that one year period. The liability increased by $1,187 since the acquisition date due to an increase in the estimated fair value of this contingent stock consideration, which resulted in a liability of $60,084 as of March 31, 2020. The outstanding balance was included in Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2020.
Note 19: Related Party and Former Parent Transactions
Onex Partners Advisor LP (“Onex”), an affiliate of the Company, is considered a related party. Concurrent with the Acquisition, the Company entered into a Consulting Services Agreement with Onex, pursuant to which the Company is provided certain ongoing strategic and financing consulting services in exchange for a quarterly management fee. In connection with this agreement, the Company recognized $0 and $231 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and 2019. The Company pays 0.1% interest per annum to Onex for the Credit Agreement. The Company recognized $0 and $215 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively, in interest expense for the Onex related interest. The Company had an outstanding liability of $20 and $3 to Onex as
F-78
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively. In addition, the Company paid Onex a management fee of $5,400 in connection with the 2019 Transaction in the second quarter of 2019. See Note 4 — "Business Combinations" for additional information.
BPEA, an affiliate of the Company, is considered a related party. Concurrently with the 2016 Transaction, the Company entered into a Management Services Agreement with Baring, pursuant to which the Company is provided certain ongoing strategic and financing consulting services. In connection with this agreement, the Company recognized $0 and $167 for the three months ended March 31, 2020, and 2019, respectively, in operating expenses related to this agreement. The Company had an outstanding liability of $0 and $0 to Baring as of March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2019, respectively. In addition, the Company paid BPEA a management fee of $2,100 in connection with the 2019 Transaction in the second quarter of 2019. See Note 4 — "Business Combinations" for additional information.
In connection with the 2016 Transaction, Bidco and a subsidiary of the Former Parent entered into the Transition Service Agreement, which became effective on October 3, 2016, pursuant to which such subsidiary of the Former Parent will, or will cause its affiliates and/or third-party service providers to, provide Bidco, its affiliates and/or third-party service providers with certain technology, facilities management, human resources, sourcing, financial, accounting, data management, marketing and other services to support the operation of the IP&S business as an independent company. Such services are provided by such subsidiary of the Former Parent or its affiliates and/or third-party service providers for various time periods and at various costs based upon the terms set forth in the Transition Service Agreement.
A controlled affiliate of Baring is a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $18 and $240 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019 respectively. The Company had an outstanding liability of $173 and $160 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively.
Jerre Stead, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, is the Co-founder of a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2020. The Company had an outstanding liability of $0 and $10 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. This vendor was not a related party during the three months ended March 31, 2020 or 2019.
A former member of our key management is the Co-founder of a vendor of ours. Total payments to this vendor were $0 and $78 for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, and the Company had no outstanding liability as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. This vendor was not a related party during the three months ended March 31, 2019.
Note 20: Restructuring
In accordance with the applicable guidance for ASC 420, Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations, we accounted for termination benefits and recognized liabilities when the loss was considered probable, employees were entitled to benefits and the amounts could be reasonably estimated. We have incurred costs in connection with involuntary termination benefits associated with our corporate-related initiatives and cost-saving opportunities. These amounts are recorded within Restructuring in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The payments associated with these actions are expected to be completed within 12 months from the balance sheet date.
The following table summarizes the activity related to the restructuring reserves and expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2020.
|
|
|
|
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |
|
$ |
9,506 |
Expenses recorded |
|
|
7,754 |
Payments made |
|
|
(6,647) |
Balance as of March 31, 2020 |
|
$ |
10,613 |
F-79
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except share and per share data, option price amounts, ratios, or as noted)
Restructuring charges incurred in the three months ended March 31, 2020 included actions to reduce operational costs. Components of the pre-tax charges include $6,574 in severance costs, $508 in exit costs, and $666 in legal and advisory costs incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2020.
Note 21: Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated the impact of events that have occurred subsequent to March 31, 2020. Based on this evaluation, other than disclosed within these Interim Condensed Consolidated Combined Financial Statements and related notes or described below, the Company has determined no other events were required to be recognized or disclosed.
F-80
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
Board of Directors,
DRG Holdco Inc. and its subsidiaries
We have audited the accompanying combined financial statements of DRG Holdco Inc. and its subsidiaries; DRG Analytics & Insights Private Limited and the following subsidiaries/branches of PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. 1) Millennium Research Group Inc.; 2) Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries; 3) DRG Singapore Pte. Ltd and 4) Japan branch (collectively referred to as the “Company”) which comprise the combined balance sheets as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and the related combined statements of comprehensive loss, combined statements of changes in stockholders’ equity, and combined statements of cash flows for each of the years then ended, and the related notes to the combined financial statements.
Management's responsibility for the financial statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these combined financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Auditor's responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these combined financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the combined financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the combined financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor's judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the combined financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the organization's preparation and fair presentation of the combined financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the organization's internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the combined financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the combined financial statements referred to above present fairly in all material respects, the combined financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and the combined results of its operations, combined statements of changes in stockholders’ equity and combined cash flows for each of the years then ended in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Emphasis of matter
The combined financial statements include DRG Holdco Inc. for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively and as discussed in Note B.2 on principles and purpose of combination, the combined financial statements are prepared disregarding the restructuring of Millennium Research Group Inc. and Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries. Our opinion is not modified with respect to these matters.
/s/ KNAV P.A.
Atlanta, Georgia
May 13, 2020
F-81
DECISION RESOURCES COMBINED
COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
(All amounts are stated in United States Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
18,139 |
|
$ |
19,161 |
Restricted cash |
|
|
619 |
|
|
619 |
Accounts receivable, net of allowances |
|
|
49,594 |
|
|
46,980 |
Unbilled receivables |
|
|
11,421 |
|
|
11,768 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
|
6,366 |
|
|
6,148 |
Total current assets |
|
|
86,139 |
|
|
84,676 |
Property and equipment, net |
|
|
5,025 |
|
|
5,962 |
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net |
|
|
629,301 |
|
|
641,804 |
Investments |
|
|
262 |
|
|
262 |
Deferred tax assets, non-current |
|
|
664 |
|
|
396 |
Other assets |
|
|
2,365 |
|
|
2,538 |
TOTAL ASSETS |
|
$ |
723,756 |
|
$ |
735,638 |
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current portion of long-term debt |
|
$ |
44,625 |
|
$ |
27,225 |
Short-term bank debt |
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
20,000 |
Accounts payable |
|
|
4,779 |
|
|
6,678 |
Due to related parties |
|
|
535 |
|
|
1,417 |
Income tax payable |
|
|
287 |
|
|
605 |
Deferred revenue |
|
|
30,558 |
|
|
29,080 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
|
32,570 |
|
|
17,792 |
Total current liabilities |
|
|
127,354 |
|
|
102,797 |
Long-term debt from related parties |
|
|
33,730 |
|
|
21,096 |
Long-term bank debt, net of current portion |
|
|
191,757 |
|
|
235,103 |
Deferred tax liability, non-current |
|
|
1,072 |
|
|
1,269 |
Long-term deferred revenue |
|
|
628 |
|
|
692 |
Other long-term liabilities |
|
|
7,124 |
|
|
2,047 |
Total liabilities |
|
|
361,665 |
|
|
363,004 |
Stockholders' equity |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock class A (refer Note R) |
|
|
71,550 |
|
|
71,550 |
Common stock class B (refer Note R) |
|
|
369,280 |
|
|
357,280 |
Additional paid in capital |
|
|
94,499 |
|
|
92,510 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
|
(7,132) |
|
|
(5,170) |
Accumulated deficit |
|
|
(166,106) |
|
|
(143,536) |
Total stockholders' equity |
|
|
362,091 |
|
|
372,634 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
$ |
723,756 |
|
$ |
735,638 |
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements)
F-82
DECISION RESOURCES COMBINED
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(All amounts are stated in United States Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating Revenues |
|
$ |
207,107 |
|
$ |
189,215 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Costs and Expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenues, exclusive of items shown separately below |
|
|
98,270 |
|
|
98,650 |
Selling and marketing expenses |
|
|
26,889 |
|
|
27,485 |
General and administrative expenses |
|
|
52,682 |
|
|
29,566 |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
30,480 |
|
|
32,680 |
Total cost and expenses |
|
|
208,321 |
|
|
188,381 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations |
|
|
(1,214) |
|
|
834 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-operating income |
|
|
1,900 |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense, net |
|
|
19,002 |
|
|
30,723 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,887 |
Merger and acquisition related expense |
|
|
69 |
|
|
796 |
Related party expenses, other than interest expense |
|
|
784 |
|
|
943 |
Impairment of intangible assets |
|
|
131 |
|
|
— |
Total other expenses, net |
|
|
19,986 |
|
|
34,349 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before taxes |
|
|
19,300 |
|
|
33,515 |
Income tax expense |
|
|
(1,173) |
|
|
(675) |
Net loss |
|
|
20,473 |
|
|
34,190 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive (loss) gain |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
|
205 |
|
|
(1,052) |
Cash flow hedge reserve, net of tax |
|
|
(2,167) |
|
|
384 |
Total comprehensive loss |
|
$ |
22,435 |
|
$ |
34,858 |
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements)
F-83
DECISION RESOURCES COMBINED
COMBINED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(All amounts are stated in United States Dollars in thousands except no. of shares and unless otherwise stated)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock |
|
Common stock |
|
|
|
|
Accumulated |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
|
class A** |
|
class B** |
|
Additional |
|
other |
|
|
|
|
Total |
|||||||||
|
|
No. of |
|
Value |
|
No. of |
|
Value |
|
paid in |
|
comprehensive |
|
Accumulated |
|
stockholders' |
||||||
Particulars |
|
Shares |
|
US$ |
|
Shares |
|
US$ |
|
capital |
|
loss |
|
deficit |
|
equity |
||||||
Balance as of December 31, 2017 |
|
71,550 |
|
$ |
71,550 |
|
— |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
88,539 |
|
$ |
(4,502) |
|
$ |
(109,346) |
|
$ |
46,241 |
Issuance of common stock class B |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
357,280 |
|
|
357,280 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
357,280 |
Net loss for the year |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(34,190) |
|
|
(34,190) |
Additional paid in capital |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3,971 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
3,971 |
Foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1,052) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(1,052) |
Cash flow hedge reserve, net of tax position of $0 included in accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
384 |
|
|
— |
|
|
384 |
Balance as of December 31, 2018 |
|
71,550 |
|
$ |
71,550 |
|
357,280 |
|
$ |
357,280 |
|
$ |
92,510 |
|
$ |
(5,170) |
|
$ |
(143,536) |
|
$ |
372,634 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at January 1, 2019, as previously reported |
|
71,550 |
|
$ |
71,550 |
|
357,280 |
|
$ |
357,280 |
|
$ |
92,510 |
|
$ |
(5,170) |
|
$ |
(143,536) |
|
$ |
372,634 |
Impact of change in accounting policy |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(2,097) |
|
|
(2,097) |
Adjusted balance as of January 1, 2019 |
|
71,550 |
|
|
71,550 |
|
357,280 |
|
|
357,280 |
|
|
92,510 |
|
|
(5,170) |
|
|
(145,633) |
|
|
370,537 |
Issuance of common stock class B |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
12,000 |
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
12,000 |
Net loss for the year |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(20,473) |
|
|
(20,473) |
Additional paid in capital |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,989 |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,989 |
Foreign currency translation |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
205 |
|
|
— |
|
|
205 |
Cash flow hedge reserve, net of tax position of $0 included in accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
(2,167) |
|
|
— |
|
|
(2,167) |
Balance as of December 31, 2019 |
|
71,550 |
|
$ |
71,550 |
|
369,280 |
|
$ |
369,280 |
|
$ |
94,499 |
|
$ |
(7,132) |
|
$ |
(166,106) |
|
$ |
362,091 |
* Additional paid in capital represents sale of remaining investment in DRG Analytics and Insights Private Limited by Sigmatic Limited to Piramal Consumer Products Private Limited The resultant difference between cash paid for the remaining investment and book value is accounted as additional paid in capital per guidance on “common control transactions” in ASC 805-50.
**For authorized share capital refer to Note R— Common stock
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements)
F-84
DECISION RESOURCES COMBINED
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(All amounts are stated in United States Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Year Ended |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss |
|
$ |
(20,473) |
|
$ |
(34,190) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Write back of provision for profit interest shares |
|
|
— |
|
|
(4,547) |
Employee stock compensation expense |
|
|
5,374 |
|
|
— |
Impairment of intangible assets |
|
|
131 |
|
|
— |
Depreciation and amortization |
|
|
30,480 |
|
|
32,680 |
Deferred income taxes |
|
|
(495) |
|
|
(647) |
Amortization of debt initiation cost |
|
|
1,593 |
|
|
2,224 |
Provision for doubtful accounts |
|
|
(1,000) |
|
|
820 |
Loss on disposal of assets |
|
|
302 |
|
|
41 |
Loss on extinguishment of debt |
|
|
— |
|
|
1,887 |
Changes in net operating assets and liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Increase) decrease in accounts and unbilled receivables |
|
|
(2,333) |
|
|
1,763 |
Prepaid and other assets |
|
|
(341) |
|
|
(13,851) |
Accounts payable |
|
|
(1,911) |
|
|
(73) |
(Decrease) increase in taxes payable |
|
|
(404) |
|
|
353 |
(Decrease) increase in deferred revenue |
|
|
(741) |
|
|
2,319 |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
|
12,746 |
|
|
8,973 |
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
|
|
22,928 |
|
|
(2,248) |
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property and equipment (net) and software |
|
|
(17,249) |
|
|
(18,681) |
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets |
|
|
288 |
|
|
— |
Net cash used in investing activities |
|
|
(16,961) |
|
|
(18,681) |
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock |
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
171,920 |
Additional paid in capital |
|
|
1,989 |
|
|
— |
Cash payment of earn out |
|
|
(184) |
|
|
(2,961) |
Loans from related party |
|
|
18,100 |
|
|
202,940 |
Loans from bank |
|
|
5,000 |
|
|
140,000 |
Repayment of related party debt |
|
|
(5,466) |
|
|
(335,693) |
Repayment of bank loans |
|
|
(38,225) |
|
|
(145,620) |
Deferred financing costs paid |
|
|
(175) |
|
|
(2,642) |
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities |
|
|
(6,961) |
|
|
27,944 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
|
(994) |
|
|
7,015 |
Foreign currency translation adjustment |
|
|
(28) |
|
|
476 |
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the beginning of the year |
|
|
19,780 |
|
|
12,289 |
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash at the end of the year |
|
$ |
18,758 |
|
$ |
19,780 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplementary cash flow information |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest paid |
|
$ |
15,328 |
|
$ |
28,026 |
Income taxes paid |
|
$ |
1,319 |
|
$ |
1,277 |
(The accompanying notes are an integral part of these combined financial statements)
F-85
DECISION RESOURCES COMBINED
NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(All amounts are stated in United States Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)
Note A — Nature of Operations
Decision Resources Combined includes the combination of DRG Holdco, Inc. and its subsidiaries/branches, DRG Analytics & Insights Private Limited and the following subsidiaries/branch of PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. 1) Millennium Research Group Inc.; 2) Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries; 3) DRG Singapore Pte. Ltd and 4) Japan branch (collectively hereinafter referred to as “the Company” or “the Group”). The financial statements are being presented combined as the companies are related through common ownership and management. The Company provides business information services and products concerning the commercial impact of technological, economic and regulatory change in the biopharma, market access, and medical device technology industries, primarily to customers in the United States of America, Europe, Canada, Singapore and Japan. The Group’s headquarters is located in Burlington, Massachusetts.
DRG Holdco Inc. (“DRG”)
DRG Holdco Inc. (“DRG”) is an international holding company and an indirect subsidiary of Piramal Enterprises Limited (“PEL”, formerly known as ‘Piramal Healthcare Limited’,) an India-public listed Indian company holding 1.62%, and parent PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. holding 98.38%.
Piramal IPP Holdings LLC (“PIHL”)
Piramal IPP Holdings LLC (“PIHL”), was hitherto a subsidiary of DRG Holdco, Inc. and previously held Decision Resources Inc. (“DRI”). As of December 31, 2019, PIHL was dissolved. PIHL issued profit interest Class B units to Class B members in which distributions other than those arising in connection with a capital transaction were made as follows: first, 8.5% of such distribution to the Class B members according to their Class B unit holdings and second, to Class A members according to their unit holdings. In 2018, the profit interest shares were canceled, and the outstanding provision was written back.
Decision Resources Inc. and its subsidiaries (“DRI”)
On June 7, 2012, DRI was acquired by Piramal Healthcare Inc., as a result of a reverse merger. The Merger Agreement signed on May 15, 2012, however, became effective as of June 7, 2012. The Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of Piramal Healthcare Inc. (“PHI” or “erstwhile Parent Company”) until December 21, 2015 when the ownership structure for DRI changed. As of that date, DRI was wholly owned by PIHL. As of December 31, 2019, upon the dissolution of PIHL, DRI is now directly held by DRG Holdco Inc.
Millennium Research Group Inc. (“MRG Inc.”)
MRG Inc. is a company organized under the laws of Ontario, Canada. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the investment in MRG Inc. was sold by DRI to PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. (“PEL-DRG Dutch”) via share purchase agreement dated December 30, 2016.
Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries (“DRG UK”)
DRG UK is incorporated in England and Wales and has its registered office in London. During the year ended December 31, 2016, the investment in DRG UK was sold by DRI to PEL-DRG Dutch via share purchase agreement dated December 30, 2016.
DRG Analytics & Insights Private Limited
In the third quarter of 2018, DRG Analytics & Insights Private Limited (“DRG India”) (“erstwhile wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Decision Resources Group UK Limited”) converted its debt outstanding to Piramal Enterprises Limited; ultimate parent company, into equity, resulting in 71.59% ownership by PEL. In the first quarter of 2019, the remaining investment in DRG India was sold to Piramal Consumer Products Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of PEL.
In the first quarter of 2019, Decision Resources Japan K.K. was incorporated and registered in Japan. Decision Resources Japan K.K. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sigmatic Limited. The employees of the Japan branch of PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. were transferred to Decision Resources Japan K.K.
Note B — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying combined financial statements is as follows:
F-86
1. |
Basis of preparation |
The accompanying combined financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (‘US GAAP’) to reflect the combined financial position and combined results of operations of the Company. The combined financial statements are for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
All amounts are stated in United States Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated. The accounting policies have been consistently applied by the Company and are consistent with those used in the previous period, except to the extent of one-time increase to net income that is required to be recorded on adoption of Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 606 — Revenue Recognition.
Certain reclassifications, regroupings and reworking have been made in the combined financial statements of prior year to conform to the classifications used in the current year. These changes had no impact on previously reported combined net loss or combined statements of stockholders’ equity, except to the effect of adopting Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 606 for the first time.
2. |
Principles and purpose of combination |
The accompanying combined financial statements include the accounts of DRG Holdco, Inc. and its subsidiaries, DRG Analytics & Insights Private Limited and the following subsidiaries/branches of PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. 1) Millennium Research Group Inc.; 2) Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries; 3) DRG Singapore Pte. Ltd and 4) Japan branch. All intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated upon combination.
The Company during the year ended December 31, 2016, for tax efficiencies, underwent a restructuring exercise, wherein DRI’s subsidiaries, Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries, Millennium Research Group, Inc. and DRG Singapore Pte. Ltd. were transferred to PEL-DRG Dutch, an entity under common control. The transaction was accounted as per guidance on “common control transactions” in ASC 805-50.
The combined financial statements are prepared disregarding the above transaction. The purpose of the combined financial statements is to show comparable year over year results as if the above transactions never happened.
DRG Analytics & Insights Private Limited, during the year 2018, converted the debt payable to PEL to equity, resulting in 71.59% ownership by PEL. The amount of loan and interest converted was presented as Additional Paid in Capital (“APIC”) in combined statements of stockholders’ equity. Post the conversion of debt into equity, Sigmatic Limited, wholly owned subsidiary of Decision Resources Group UK Limited; held 28.41% in DRG India. During March 2019, Sigmatic Limited transferred the remaining 28.41% ownership to Piramal Consumer Products Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of PEL for consideration received of $1,800. DRG India is included in the accompanying combined financial statements.
3. |
Use of estimates |
The preparation of combined financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the combined financial statements. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the useful lives of property, equipment and intangible assets, the carrying amount of property and equipment, impairment of goodwill, impairment of long lived assets and intangible assets, the reserve for doubtful receivables, the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, the valuation of derivative financial instruments, share-based compensation expenses, assets and obligations related to employee benefits, income tax uncertainties and other contingencies. Management believes that the estimates used in the preparation of the combined financial statements are reasonable. Although these estimates are based upon management’s best knowledge of current events and actions, actual results could differ from these estimates. Any changes in estimates are adjusted prospectively in the combined financial statements.
4. |
Cash and cash equivalents |
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the reported cash and cash equivalents were primarily comprised of cash on deposit at financial institutions.
Cash balances in bank accounts in United States are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to an aggregate per bank of $250. The Company believes it is not exposed to any significant risk on cash and cash equivalents.
F-87
5. |
Restricted cash |
As at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, restricted cash consists of amounts held at Silicon Valley Bank as letters of credit for leases.
6. |
Revenue recognition |
The Company’s revenue is derived from two primary sources (i) analytics and syndicated research sold by subscription or membership, or by single reports and (ii) consulting and other services. The Company recognizes revenues when control of these services are transferred to the customer for an amount, referred to as the transaction price, that reflects the consideration to which the Company is expected to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Revenues are recognized net of discounts and rebates, as well as value added and other sales taxes.
The Company provides analytics and syndicated research and syndicated databases through subscription and membership contracts and through the sale of single reports from the syndicated series. Subscription based revenues are recognized ratably over the period that the service is being provided, generally one year. The Company sells certain studies and reports on a single requisition basis to customers. Revenue from the sale of single reports is recognized at a point in time of delivery if all other revenue recognition criteria are met. Packages of select single reports are recognized pro rata as the individual reports are delivered if all other revenue recognition criteria are met based on estimated selling price.
Revenues from consulting services related to the studies and reports delivered upon specific customer requirement are recognized over time as the services are being rendered and once the obligation to perform the service has been fulfilled.
For arrangements with multiple elements, the Company allocates revenue to each component of the arrangement based on the relative list price values of all the elements of the arrangement. Revenue is recognized on each element of the multiple element arrangement in accordance with that element’s delivery, as stated above.
Effective January 1, 2019, the Company has adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of products or services promised to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for these products or services. Please refer to Note T, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" for further information on the Company's revenue recognition policies.
7. |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |
The Company follows specific identification method for recognizing allowance for doubtful accounts. Management analyzes composition of the accounts receivable aging, historical bad debts, current economic trends and customer credit worthiness of each accounts receivable when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. Bad debt expenses are included in general and administration expenses in the combined statement of comprehensive loss. The Company charges off uncollectable amounts against the reserve in the period in which it determines they are uncollectable.
8. |
Unbilled receivables |
Amounts earned on contracts in progress in excess of the billings of such contracts are classified as unbilled receivables. Unbilled receivables result from invoicing dates stipulated in the related agreement.
9. |
Property and equipment |
Property and equipment are carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. The cost of addition and betterments are capitalized and expenditures for repairs and maintenance are expensed in the period incurred.
F-88
Depreciation expense for financial reporting purposes is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. The estimated useful life used to determine depreciation is:
|
|
|
Equipment and software |
|
3 — 5 years |
Furniture and fixtures |
|
5 years |
Leasehold improvements |
|
3 — 10 years
|
When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of the asset and related depreciation are eliminated from the financial records. Any gain or loss on disposition is credited or charged to the combined statement of comprehensive loss.
The Company has considered the “push down effect” of fair value adjustments and presented the property and equipment at fair value at the date of acquisition.
10. |
Business combinations, goodwill and other intangibles |
In accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) 805, “Business Combinations”, the Company uses the purchase method of accounting for all business combinations. Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recognized and reported apart from goodwill if they meet the criteria specified in ASC 805. Any purchase price allocated to an assembled workforce is not accounted separately.
Intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives in proportion to the original estimates of the future cash flows underlying the valuation of the intangible assets. Recoverability of intangible assets and other long-lived assets is assessed only when events have occurred that may give rise to impairment. If a potential impairment has been identified, forecasted undiscounted net cash flows of the operations to which the asset relates are compared to the current carrying value of the long-lived assets present in that operation. If such cash flows are less than such carrying amounts, the long-lived assets including such intangibles, are written down to their respective fair values. The estimated useful lives of the amortizable intangible assets are as follows:
|
|
|
Internally developed software |
|
2 — 9 years |
Data assets |
|
2 — 5 years |
Customer relationship |
|
8 — 14 years |
Trade names |
|
5 — 11 years & indefinite |
Favorable lease |
|
2 — 8 years |
The Company amortizes favorable lease on a straight-line basis over the remaining term of the lease, as determined at the acquisition date.
The Company has considered the “push down effect” of fair value adjustments and presented the goodwill and intangible assets identified at acquisition.
11. |
Impairment of long-lived assets |
Long-lived assets, including certain identifiable intangible assets, to be held and used are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of such assets may not be recoverable. Such assets are considered to be impaired if the carrying amount of the assets is higher than the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated from the assets. The impairment amount to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of the assets exceeds its fair value.
12. |
Research and development costs |
Revenue expenditure on research and development is expensed as incurred. Capital expenditure incurred on equipment and facilities that are acquired or constructed for research and development activities and having alternative future uses is capitalized as assets when acquired or constructed.
13. |
Income taxes |
The Company is subject to taxation in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, India and other jurisdictions. The Company files combined or consolidated tax returns with the Parent Company when allowed by the applicable tax jurisdiction. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected
F-89
future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax basis of assets and liabilities using expected tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized.
The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions using a “more-likely-than-not” threshold for recognizing and resolving uncertain tax positions. The evaluation of uncertain tax positions is based on factors including, but not limited to, changes in tax law, the measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in tax returns, the effective settlement of matters subject to audit, new audit activity and changes in facts or circumstances related to a tax position. The Company evaluates its tax positions on an annual basis using a two- step process. The first step is a determination of whether the tax position should be recognized in the financial statements and the second step is the measurement of the tax position. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions within the provision for income taxes.
14. |
Deferred revenue |
Deferred revenue primarily consists of billings received in advance of revenue recognition. The Company primarily bills and collects payments from customers for products and subscription services in advance on an annual basis.
15. |
Functional currency |
The functional currency for the Company’s Japan branch, Japan, Singapore, and its Canadian foreign subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar.
The functional currency of two of the Company’s U.K. subsidiaries is the British Pound. All assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are translated using exchange rates in effect at the end of the year. Revenues and expenses are translated using the average exchange rate for the reporting period. The resulting cumulative translation adjustments are presented as a separate component of combined statements of stockholders’ equity as accumulated other comprehensive loss. Net foreign currency gain (loss) was $205 and ($1,052) for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018, respectively.
In April 2019, following the sale of the remaining investment in DRG India, the Company changed the functional currency of DRG India from the U.S. dollar to the Indian Rupee. The change in functional currency was accounted for in accordance with ASC 830, “Foreign currency matters”. The cumulative impact due to the change in functional currency as on April 1, 2019 on currency translation adjustment is $366.
Foreign currency transactional gains or losses are recorded directly in the combined statement of comprehensive loss except those relating to acquisition of fixed assets which are adjusted to the cost of the respective asset.
16. |
Merger and acquisition related expenses |
Acquisition related costs are costs that the Company incurs in relation to completed and potential business combinations and include finders’ fees, advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees. Such costs are recorded as non-operating expenses in the period in which the costs are incurred and services are rendered.
17. |
Fair value measurements and financial instruments |
Assets and liabilities recorded at fair value in the financial statements are categorized based upon the level of judgment associated with the inputs used to measure their fair value. Hierarchical levels which are directly related to the amount of subjectivity associated with the inputs to the valuation of these assets or liabilities are as follows:
Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access as of the measurement date.
Level 2 — inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are directly observable for the asset or liability or indirectly observable through corroboration with observable market data.
Level 3 — unobservable inputs for the asset or liability only used when there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability at the measurement date.
F-90
In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy. In such cases, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the fair value measurement in its entirety falls is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
This hierarchy requires the Company to use observable market data, when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value.
18. |
Interest rate swaps |
The Company has interest rate swaps with counterparties to reduce its exposure to variability in cash flows relating to interest payments on a secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $153,000 (“Term Loan Facility”). The Company applies hedge accounting and has designated these instruments as cash flow hedges of the risk associated with floating interest rates on designated future quarterly interest payments. Management assumes the hedge is highly effective and therefore changes in the value of the hedging instrument are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in the combined balance sheets. Any ineffectiveness is recorded in earnings. Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified into earnings in the same period during which the hedged transactions affect earnings, or upon termination of the hedging relationship.
19. |
Operating leases |
The Company leases certain facilities and equipment. Lease rent expenses on operating leases are charged to expense over the lease term. Certain of the Company’s leases contain renewal options, rent escalation clauses, and/or landlord incentives. Renewal terms generally reflect market rates at the time of renewal. Rent expense for non-cancelable operating leases with scheduled rent increases and/or landlord incentives is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including any applicable rent holidays, beginning with the lease commencement date, or the date the Company takes control of the leased space, whichever is sooner. The excess of straight-line rent expense over scheduled payment amounts and landlord incentives is recorded as a deferred rent liability.
The Company has subleased certain facilities as part of restructuring activities. In the event of a sublease associated with a restructuring plan, the Company records a liability associated with the costs to exit the facility based on the present value of the remaining lease expenses and other related costs net of sublease income in accordance with ASC 420, “Exit or disposal cost obligations.”
20. |
Commitment and contingencies |
Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred. Contingent liabilities are not recognized but are disclosed in the notes. Contingent assets are neither recognized nor disclosed in the combined financial statements.
21. |
Recent accounting pronouncements |
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, which requires lessees to recognize right-of-use assets, representing their right to use the underlying asset for the lease term, and lease liabilities on the balance sheet for all leases with terms greater than 12 months. The guidance also requires qualitative and quantitative disclosures designed to assess the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The Company has initiated its plan for the adoption and implementation of this new accounting standard, including assessing its lease arrangements, evaluating practical expedient and accounting policy elections, and implementing software to meet the reporting requirements of this standard. The Company is also in the process of identifying changes to its business processes and controls to support adoption of the new standard. The standard requires the use of a modified retrospective transition approach, which includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. As per FASB Update No. 2019, the guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. As of December 31, 2019, The Company continued the evaluation of the impact of adopting Topic 842 on its financial position, results of operations and related disclosures, but has not yet completed such assessment.
In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) — Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The new guidance applies to all entities that are required to present a
F-91
statement of cash flows under Topic 230 and addresses specific cash flow items to provide clarification and reduce the diversity in presentation of these items. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has determined that the ASU will not have a material effect on its financial statements.
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230) — Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The amendments in this update apply to all entities that have restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents and are required to present a statement of cash flows under Topic 230. The amendments in this Update require that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has adopted this standard and appropriately presented the restricted cash on its combined statements of cash flow.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, accounting guidance, which removes Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. As amended, the goodwill impairment test will consist of one step comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. Under the simplified model, a goodwill impairment is calculated as the difference between the carrying amount of the reporting unit and its fair value, but not to exceed the carrying amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is effective for public business entities for interim and annual periods beginning after its annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company has early adopted the FASB issued ASU 2017- 04 thereby eliminating the second step of goodwill impairment.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business (Topic 805), which provides guidance on evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The definition of a business affects many areas of accounting including acquisitions, disposals, goodwill, and consolidation. The new guidance amends ASC 805 to provide a more robust framework to use in determining when a set of assets and activities is a business. In addition, the amendments provide more consistency in applying the guidance, reduce the costs of application, and make the definition of a business more operable. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company has adopted the Standard.
In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01, Financial Statements — Overall (Topic 825). The amendments in this Update supersede the guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into different categories (that is, trading or available-for-sale) and require equity securities (including other ownership interests, such as partnerships, unincorporated joint ventures, and limited liability companies) to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through net income. An entity’s equity investments that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting or result in consolidation of an investee are not included within the scope of this Update. The amendments allow equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values to be remeasured at fair value either upon the occurrence of an observable price change or upon identification of an impairment. The amendments also require enhanced disclosures about those investments. The amendments improve financial reporting by providing relevant information about an entity’s equity investments and reducing the number of items that are recognized in other comprehensive income. The amendments in this Update also simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring assessment for impairment qualitatively at each reporting period. Upon determining that impairment exists, an entity should calculate the fair value of that investment and recognize as an impairment in net income any amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the investment. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company has determined that adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on its financial statements.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-03, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Financial Instruments-Overall (Topic 825). The amendments included in ASU 2018-03 are technical corrections and improvements to ASU 2016-01 The update provide more clarification for topics like Equity Securities without a Readily Determinable Fair Value- Discontinuation, Equity Securities without a Readily Determinable Fair Value- Adjustments Forward Contracts and Purchased Options and Presentation Requirements for Certain Fair Value
F-92
Option Liabilities The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company has determined that adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on its financial statements.
In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (Topic 740). The Board issued the ASU as part of its simplification initiative aimed at reducing complexity in accounting standards. Under the current guidance, ASC 810-10-45-8 and ASC 740-10-25-3(e) prohibit immediate recognition of current and deferred income tax impact for intra-entity asset transfers. The ASU eliminates this prohibition for all intra-entity asset transfers, except for inventory. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company has determined that adoption of this ASU will not have a material impact on its financial statements.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (Topic 715). The guidance requires employers to present the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost in the same income statement line item(s) as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. In addition, only the service cost component will be eligible for capitalization in assets. Employers will present the other components separately from the line item(s) that includes the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income, if one is presented. Employers will have to disclose the line(s) used to present the other components of net periodic benefit cost, if the components are not presented separately in the income statement. . The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company has adopted the amendments proposed by the ASU. Refer to Note N — Employee Benefit Plans.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Reclassification of certain tax effects caused by Tax Reform (Topic 740). Under ASC 740, the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“tax reform”) on December 22, 2017 requires an entity to remeasure all U.S. deferred income taxes using a new 21 percent rate, a significant reduction from the previous corporate income tax rate of 35 percent. The cumulative deferred income tax adjustment is recognized as a component of income tax expense from continuing operations. However, deferred income taxes originally recognized through OCI were initially measured at the previous income tax rate of 35 percent. Therefore, recognizing the cumulative tax rate adjustment through income tax expense would result in a disproportionate tax balance remaining in AOCI (i.e., “stranded tax effect”) that would be recycled to earnings in future periods. The guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019. The Company has yet to determine the impact of the adoption of this ASU on its financial statements.
Note C — Cash and Cash Equivalents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Checking accounts |
|
$ |
18,139 |
|
$ |
19,161 |
|
|
$ |
18,139 |
|
$ |
19,161 |
Cash balances on checking accounts and payroll accounts with banks in the United States are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to an aggregate of $ 250 (December 31, 2018: $ 250) per depositor per bank, and the Company’s non-interest-bearing cash balances may exceed federal insured limits.
Note D — Restricted Cash
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Restricted Cash |
|
$ |
619 |
|
$ |
619 |
|
|
$ |
619 |
|
$ |
619 |
F-93
Restricted cash amounting to $ 619 and $ 619 as at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, represents balance held at Silicon Valley Bank as letters of credit for property leases.
Note E — Accounts Receivable, Net of Allowances
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Accounts Receivable |
|
$ |
50,331 |
|
$ |
48,717 |
Less: Allowance for doubtful accounts |
|
|
(737) |
|
|
(1,737) |
Accounts receivable, net of allowances |
|
$ |
49,594 |
|
$ |
46,980 |
During the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company has provided for a decreased allowance for doubtful accounts amounting to $1,000 and during the year ended December 31, 2018 the Company provided for additional allowance for doubtful accounts amounting to $820. The net balance at December 31, 2019 is $737 (December 31, 2018: $1,737) in the allowance for doubtful accounts.
Note F — Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets comprise the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Prepaid expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- Insurance |
|
$ |
155 |
|
$ |
978 |
- Hardware and software maintenance |
|
|
244 |
|
|
213 |
- Rent |
|
|
447 |
|
|
435 |
- Subscriptions |
|
|
347 |
|
|
168 |
- Taxes |
|
|
71 |
|
|
226 |
- Marketing |
|
|
50 |
|
|
208 |
- Other |
|
|
2,525 |
|
|
1,646 |
GST receivable |
|
|
1,043 |
|
|
524 |
Income tax receivable |
|
|
416 |
|
|
321 |
VAT recoverable |
|
|
334 |
|
|
198 |
Employee receivables |
|
|
32 |
|
|
182 |
Deferred financing costs |
|
|
154 |
|
|
151 |
Derivative financial instruments |
|
|
— |
|
|
384 |
Other current assets |
|
|
548 |
|
|
514 |
|
|
$ |
6,366 |
|
$ |
6,148 |
Note G — Property and Equipment, Net
Property and equipment comprise the following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Equipment and software |
|
$ |
12,268 |
|
$ |
12,798 |
Leasehold improvements |
|
|
2,127 |
|
|
3,253 |
Furniture |
|
|
1,862 |
|
|
1,850 |
Gross assets |
|
|
16,257 |
|
|
17,901 |
Less: Accumulated depreciation |
|
|
(11,232) |
|
|
(11,939) |
Property and equipment, net |
|
$ |
5,025 |
|
$ |
5,962 |
Depreciation expense for the year ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 was $2,735 and $2,826, respectively. Assets disposed & retired totaled $4,022 for the year ended December 31, 2019 comprising of equipment disposed & retired of $1,584 alongside accumulated depreciation of $1,480 and loss of $87, leasehold
F-94
improvement disposed & retired of $1,836 alongside accumulated depreciation of $1,544 and loss of $292, and furniture disposed & retired of $602 alongside accumulated depreciation of $342 and profit of $11. The proceeds for the sale have been presented separately in the cash flow statement.
Assets disposed & retired totaled $3,746 for the year ended December 31, 2018 comprising of equipment disposed & retired of $2,748 alongside accumulated depreciation of $2,744 and loss of $4, leasehold improvement disposed & retired of $39 alongside accumulated depreciation of $25 and loss of $14, and furniture disposed & retired of $959 alongside accumulated depreciation of $936 and loss of $23.
Note H — Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Company performs its assessment of goodwill annually as of December 31 and determines the estimates of fair value using established income and market valuation approaches.
The income approach calculates the fair value of the reporting unit by estimating the after-tax cash flows attributable to the reporting unit and then discounts these after-tax cash flows. The market approach indicates the fair value of a business based on a comparison of the business to comparable firms in similar lines of business that are publicly traded, or which are part of a public or private transaction, as well as prior company transactions. In determining the fair value of the reporting unit, the Company relies on the results of the income approach and the market approach.
Effective January 1, 2017, the Company prospectively adopted the provisions of ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment” (“ASU 2017-04”). ASU 2017- 04 eliminates the second step of the goodwill impairment test. For goodwill impairment tests occurring after January 1, 2017, if the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company will measure any goodwill impairment losses as the amount by which the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.
For the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, it was determined that the estimated fair value exceeded the carrying values. The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is as follows:
Intangible assets as of December 31, 2019 consist of:
F-95
Intangible assets as of December 31, 2018 consist of:
Intangible amortization expense was $27,745 and $29,854 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
During the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company on its annual assessment of impairment on intangibles, impaired two of its trade names which the Company no longer utilizes. The Company's impairment for the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $131 and $Nil.
The Company’s estimate of annual amortization expense for the next five years and thereafter for the intangible assets is as follows:
Note I — Other Assets
Other assets comprise of following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Security deposit |
|
$ |
1,904 |
|
$ |
1,934 |
Deferred financing costs |
|
|
461 |
|
|
604 |
Total |
|
$ |
2,365 |
|
$ |
2,538 |
F-96
Note J — Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities comprise of following:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Accrued earn-out |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
237 |
Accrued payroll* |
|
|
22,250 |
|
|
9,783 |
Customer deposits and escheated checks |
|
|
388 |
|
|
678 |
VAT and sales tax payable |
|
|
896 |
|
|
459 |
Interest payable to related parties (Refer Note O) |
|
|
2,336 |
|
|
1,382 |
Accrued expenses |
|
|
4,590 |
|
|
4,685 |
Derivative financial instruments |
|
|
1,777 |
|
|
— |
Due to related party |
|
|
333 |
|
|
568 |
Total |
|
$ |
32,570 |
|
$ |
17,792 |
*Accrued payroll also includes accrual for employee bonuses, employee sales commission and severance pay
Note K — Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Secured debt from Standard Chartered Bank |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Term loan due September 2022 |
|
$ |
127,755 |
|
$ |
146,880 |
Facility A — Term loan due December 2023 |
|
|
111,900 |
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
239,655 |
|
|
266,880 |
Less: unamortized debt issuance cost |
|
|
(3,273) |
|
|
(4,552) |
|
|
|
236,382 |
|
|
262,328 |
Secured Standard Chartered Bank Revolver Loan |
|
|
14,000 |
|
|
20,000 |
Total bank debt |
|
|
250,382 |
|
|
282,328 |
Unsecured debt from related parties |
|
|
33,730 |
|
|
21,096 |
Total debt |
|
|
284,112 |
|
|
303,424 |
Less: Short term borrowing |
|
|
(14,000) |
|
|
(20,000) |
Less: Current maturities of long-term borrowing |
|
|
(44,625) |
|
|
(27,225) |
Non-current debt |
|
$ |
225,487 |
|
$ |
256,199 |
Secured debt from Standard Chartered Bank.
The Company entered into a loan agreement with Standard Chartered Bank on September 15, 2017 in amount of $ 153,000, The term of the loan is 5 years i.e. from September 15, 2017 to September 15, 2022. The loan amount as calculated on an amortized cost basis is $126,822 as on December 31, 2019 (December 31, 2018: $145,341) and interest expense is calculated on Effective Interest Rate (“EIR”) of 5.62% (December 31, 2018: Effective Interest Rate (“EIR”) of 5.31%). Interest expense during the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $7,766 and $8,373, respectively.
PEL acts as a guarantor for the loan taken from Standard Chartered Bank. Guarantee commission on this loan is calculated at 0.50% of loan outstanding. Guarantee commission payable by the Company to PEL as on December 31, 2019 is $334 (December 31, 2018: $567).
On December 21, 2018, the Company entered into a facilities agreement with Standard Chartered Bank to secure $150,000 in debt financing.
Facility A — $120,000 matures December 31, 2023 and is payable semiannually commencing June 30, 2019. As of December 31, 2019, the applicable interest rate is 5.74% and outstanding loan balance $111,900 (December 31, 2018: $120,000).
Facility B — $30,000 revolving credit facility matures December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2019, the applicable interest rate is 5.19% and outstanding loan balance $14,000 (December 31, 2018: $20,000).
F-97
Interest expense during the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $8,397 and $24, respectively.
Debt covenants and guarantees
The debt agreement contains a number of covenants that, among other things, restrict, subject to certain exceptions, Decision Resources Inc and its subsidiaries’ ability to; sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of its assets on terms whereby they are or may be leased to or re-acquired; sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of its receivables on recourse terms; enter into any amalgamation, demerger, merger or corporate reconstruction (with some exceptions); make any loan or give or issue any guarantee, indemnity, bond or letter of credit for the benefit of any person; or declare, make or pay any dividend or issue any shares.
In addition, the Company is required to maintain specific financial ratios on a semi-annual basis beginning June 30, 2019 and including (i) leverage, (ii) interest cover, and (iii) debt service cover ratios.
Deferred financing costs
Deferred financing costs of $2,840 related to the September 15, 2017 debt agreement with Standard Chartered Bank were capitalized. These costs are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt on an effective interest rate basis. The net deferred financing costs were $933 and $1,539 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Deferred financing costs of $3,840 related to the December 21, 2018 debt agreement with Standard Chartered Bank were capitalized. These costs are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt on an effective interest rate basis. The net deferred financing costs were $2,954 and $3,767 as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Deferred finance cost pertaining to Facility B — revolving credit is presented in other assets.
Debt maturities for Standard Chartered Bank
|
|
|
|
Year |
|
Debt |
|
2020 |
|
$ |
44,625 |
2021 |
|
|
54,675 |
2022 |
|
|
65,655 |
2023 |
|
|
74,700 |
2024 |
|
|
— |
Total |
|
$ |
239,655 |
Secured debt from Axis Bank Ltd.
On September 29, 2014, the Company entered into a facilities agreement with Axis Bank Ltd. to secure $150,000 in debt financing.
Facility A — $100,000 matures September 28, 2020 and is payable semiannually commencing March 31, 2015. Facility B — $50,000 matures September 28, 2020 and is payable semiannually commencing March 31, 2015.
As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding loan balances of both Facility A and Facility B have been repaid in full as part of the debt restructuring and Standard Chartered bank facilities agreement entered as on December 21, 2018.
Interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $Nil and $7,734.
Deferred financing costs on Axis Bank
Deferred financing costs of $8,082 related to the debt agreement with Axis Bank Ltd. were capitalized. In conjunction with the Axis debt repayment, the Company recorded a loss on extinguishment of $1,887 for the year ended December 31, 2018. The net deferred financing costs were $Nil and $Nil as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
F-98
Secured loan from HSBC
The Company entered into an on demand revolving note with HSBC for $15,000 on May 12, 2016. On June 19, 2017, the Libor loan was moved to a prime loan balance with interest payable monthly.
As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding HSBC loan balance has been repaid in full as part of the debt restructuring and Standard Chartered bank facilities agreement entered on December 21, 2018. Interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $Nil and $854, respectively.
Contemporaneously with the facilities agreement in 2018, the Company repaid existing outstanding debt balances consisting of Axis Bank term loans in an aggregate principal balance of $113,500 including unpaid interest of $686, and the HSBC revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal balance of $15,000 including unpaid interest of $76. In conjunction with the debt repayment, the Company recorded loss on extinguishment of $1,887 related to the Axis Bank loans. Net cash received in the debt restructuring after the issuance and repayment of debts and related costs amounted to $8,049 recorded on the Company’s balance sheet at period- end December 31, 2018. Included in the credit agreement were debt issuance costs of $3,767.
Loan from Piramal Healthcare Inc.
The related party loan with Piramal Healthcare Inc. was entered by the Company as a part of purchase consideration for Decision Resource Inc. on December 22, 2015 in the amount of $ 494,499. During the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, $5,466 and $278,743 was repaid respectively, and additional amounts received amounted to $3,100 and $ 7,150, respectively. Effective January 1, 2018, the interest rate for loan was lowered from 5.50% to 4%. Interest expense during the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $329 and $8,142, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, outstanding loan balance was $8,730 and $11,096 and interest payable was $233 and $87, respectively.
Unsecured debt from Piramal Enterprises Limited.
The Company entered into a related party loan agreement on June 1, 2017 in the amount of $3,868. The loan is unsecured and bears an interest rate of 12.00%. Accrued interest is payable on a quarterly basis based on a 365-day annual term. The loan was repayable on March 31, 2022. On July 31, 2018 the loan was converted to share capital and recorded in additional paid in capital within the equity section of the December 31, 2018 balance sheet. Interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $Nil and $331, respectively.
The Company entered into another related party loan agreement with PEL on February 26, 2016 in the amount of $ 18,500. The loan bears an interest rate of 5.10%. In 2018, the Company repaid the entire loan outstanding along with interest. Interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $Nil and $1,929, respectively.
Unsecured debt from PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V.
The Company entered into a related party loan agreement on April 20, 2017 in the amount of $10,000. The loan is unsecured and bears an interest rate of 5.50%. Accrued interest is payable on a monthly basis based on a 365- day annual term. The average interest rate and interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2019 was 5.50%. Interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $550 and $550, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, outstanding loan balance was $10,000 and $10,000 and interest payable was $1,486 and $936 respectively.
The Company re-entered into another related party loan agreement with PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. on September 12, 2019 in the amount of $15,000. The interest rate in effect as of December 31, 2019 was 6.10%. Interest expense during the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was $258 and $332, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, outstanding loan balance was $15,000 and $Nil and interest payable was $590 and $332, respectively.
F-99
Note L — Commitments and Contingencies
Operating leases
The Company occupies substantially all of its locations under long-term leases, most of which contain renewal options. The Company also leases certain equipment under operating lease arrangements.
Rental expense under all operating leases was $6,839 and $5,860 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
Estimated future minimum commitments under non-cancellable leases are as follows:
Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is engaged in certain legal matters arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the Company has adequate legal defenses with respect to these actions and believes that the ultimate outcomes will not have a material adverse effect on its financial statements.
Note M — Income Taxes
As of December 31, 2019, DRG Holdco Inc predominantly owned Piramal IPP which in turned owned 100% of Decision Resources Inc. DRG Holdco Inc (DRI) files separate entity federal return while Piramal IPP files a partnership return. However, Piramal IPP Holding LLC dissolved on December 31, 2019 and filed its last partnership return (Form 1065) with the IRS. From January 01, 2020 onwards, DRI became the direct subsidiary of DRG Holdco Inc. DRI along with its US subsidiaries file consolidated tax return. DRI and its US subsidiaries file either separate entity or combined returns in various states based on tax regulations in various states. The non-US entities of Decision Resources Group file tax returns in their respective jurisdictions.
The provision for income tax (expense)/benefit is as follows:
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A rate reconciliation of the statutory US income tax rate to the Company's effective tax rate:
The following is a summary of items giving rise to the Company's deferred income tax assets and liabilities:
* Valuation allowance has been created against net operating losses
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the management considers whether it is more likely than not, that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which the temporary differences become deductible. The management considers the projected future taxable income and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on the level of projections for future taxable income for which the deferred tax assets are deductible, the management believes there exists significant uncertainties regarding the realization of deferred tax assets in US and Singapore jurisdiction and accordingly, a valuation allowance of $24,512 and $14,180 for the US jurisdiction and $664 and $Nil for Singapore jurisdiction, has been recorded as on December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively.
The increase in deferred revenue as of January 1, 2019 resulted in additional deferred tax asset that increased the Company's net deferred tax asset position. The net deferred tax assets in the jurisdictions impacted by the
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adoption of ASC 606 were fully reserved and, accordingly, this impact was offset by a corresponding increase to the valuation allowance with no resulting net impact to net assets or accumulated deficit.
DRI and its subsidiaries
The Company has carried forward losses at federal level amounting to $103,016 on December 31, 2019 which shall begin to expire in 2021. As of December 31, 2018, out of the total available carried forward losses of $103,016, the net operating losses of $7,327 are limited by Internal Revenue Code section 382. The balance federal carry forward loss of $95,688 is available for utilization without any limitation. The Company has $181,152 in state income tax net operating losses available for carry-forward which if unutilized will begin to expire based on states statutes. These state income tax net operating losses also include net operating losses pertaining to pre-acquisition period and are subjected to limitation under state statutes corresponding to Internal Revenue Code Section 382.
The Company is subject to income taxes in the United States and also in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Japan, Canada, India and Singapore. Significant judgment is required in determining the worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of business, there are many transactions and calculations in which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain.
DRG Holdco Inc.
The Company has federal net operating losses of $9,393 and $8,848 as at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. NOLs created from 2018 onwards will be carry-forward to indefinite time period and NOLs prior to 2018 will expire beginning from 2035.
Accounting for uncertain tax position
The Company recognizes the financial statement impact of a tax position when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination. The adoption of this standard had no material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operation or cash flows. There were no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2019 or December 31, 2018.
In the US, the tax years of 2017 and 2018 remain subject to examination by the federal taxing authorities. The federal examination for tax year 2016 was concluded in 2019 without any adjustments. The statute of limitation for state tax returns varies from state to state but would generally be in the range of 3 to 5 years. The statute of limitations for various other jurisdictions is based on the various local laws but generally it is in the range of 3-5 years.
Note N — Employee Benefit Plans
(a) |
Defined contribution plan |
The Company has voluntary 401(k) retirement plans covering substantially all US employees. The Company may make annual contributions to the plans equal to a uniform percentage of participant compensation. The cost of the Company’s contributions charged to expense related to 401(k) contributions was $2,117 and $1,038 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company contributes to an employer funded pension fund in the U.K. The cost of the Company’s contributions charged to expense related to these contributions was $692 (£542) and $676 (£507) for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The Company contributes to defined benefit plan for employees in India, the cost of the Company’s contribution charged to expense related to these contributions was $446 and $377 for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The contributions are made to registered provident fund administered by the Government of India. The obligation of the Company is limited to the amount contributed and it has no further contractual nor any constructive obligation.
(b) |
Defined benefit plan |
The Company provides for gratuity for its Indian employees as per the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Employees who are in continuous service for a period of 5 years are eligible for gratuity. The amount of gratuity payable on retirement/termination is the employees last drawn basic salary per month computed proportionately
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for 15 days salary multiplied for the number of years of service. The gratuity plan is a funded plan and the Company makes contributions to a recognized fund in India.
The following tables summaries the components of net benefit expense recognized in the combined statements of comprehensive loss and the funded status and amounts recognized in the combined balance sheets for the gratuity plan:
The principal assumptions used in determining gratuity benefit obligation for the Company's plans are shown below:
Net liability is bifurcated as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As At |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Current liability |
|
$ |
146 |
|
$ |
235 |
Non-current liability |
|
|
184 |
|
|
— |
Total |
|
$ |
330 |
|
$ |
235 |
The valuation of plan assets has been carried out using the Projected Unit Credit (PUC) actuarial method to assess the Plan's liabilities, including those related to death-in-service and incapacity benefits.
Change in present value obligation is as below
Change in fair value of assets is as below:
F-103
The principal assumptions used in determining gratuity benefit obligation for the Company's plans are shown below:
The following payments are expected contributions to the defined benefit plan in future years.
Note O — Related Party Transactions
Name of related party and nature of relationship:
|
|
|
|
|
|
No. |
|
Name of the party |
|
Nature of relationship |
|
1 |
|
Piramal Enterprises Limited |
|
Ultimate parent company |
|
2 |
|
PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco BV |
|
Immediate parent company |
|
3 |
|
Piramal Healthcare Inc. ("PHI") |
|
Other related parties where common control exists |
|
4 |
|
Piramal Corporate Services Private Limited |
|
Other related parties where common control exists |
|
5 |
|
Piramal Critical Care Limited |
|
Other related parties where common control exists |
|
6 |
|
Piramal Critical Care UK Limited |
|
Other related parties where common control exists |
|
7 |
|
Piramal Pharma Inc. |
|
Other related parties where common control exists |
|
F-104
The balance of related party payable/receivable and transactions during the years are as follows:
F-105
These related party transactions are in the normal course of business operations and have been valued in these combined financial statements at the exchange amount which is the amount of consideration established and agreed to by the related parties.
Note P — Derivative Financial Instruments
The Company has taken floating rate borrowings which is linked to 3 months revolving LIBOR. For managing the interest rate risk arising from changes in LIBOR on such borrowings, the Company has entered into interest rate swap (IRS) for the loan liability amounting to $ 153,000. The Company has designated the IRS (hedging instrument) and the floating rate financial liability (hedged item) into a hedging relationship and applies hedge accounting.
Under the terms of the IRS, the Company pays interest at the fixed rate to the swap counterparty in USD and receives the floating interest payments based on LIBOR in USD. As the critical terms of the hedged item and the hedging instrument (notional, interest periods, underlying and fixed rates) are matching and the interest cashflows are off setting, an economic relationship exists between the two. This ensures that the hedging instrument and hedged item have values that generally move in the opposite direction.
Hedge effectiveness testing is assessed at designation date of the hedging relationship, and on an ongoing basis. The ongoing assessment is performed at a minimum at each reporting date or upon a significant change in circumstances affecting the hedge effectiveness requirements, whichever comes first.
F-106
The following tables summarize the gross fair values of the financial instruments as of December 31, 2019 and 2018:
Interest rate swap
As of December 31, 2018, the Company swapped $ 153,000 floating rate loans to a weighted average fixed rate of 2.518%. All swaps expire concurrent with the maturity of the related loans.
Gain (loss) recognition
There was no gain recognized with respect to fair value of derivative instruments not designated as hedges and ineffectiveness of designated derivative recognized in other income, net.
The following table summarizes the impact on accumulated other comprehensive income and earnings of derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges and the amount of gain (loss) recognised in other comprehensive income for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Interest rate swaps |
|
$ |
(1,783) |
|
$ |
384 |
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments |
|
$ |
(737) |
|
$ |
(1,737) |
Note Q — Long Term Provisions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year ended |
||||
|
|
December 31, |
|
December 31, |
||
|
|
2019 |
|
2018 |
||
Opening provision for profit interest shares |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
4,547,287 |
Add: Current year provision |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
Less: Write back of provision |
|
|
— |
|
|
(4,547,287) |
Closing provision for profit interest shares |
|
$ |
— |
|
$ |
— |
Per the Piramal IPP Holdings LLC — Limited Liability Company agreement dated November 6, 2015 the Company issued profit interest Class B units to Class B members in order to allow them to participate in a portion of the aggregate value creation with respect to Decision Resources Inc. (“DRI”) and other affiliated companies of PEL, based on a vesting criterion. 75% of the Class B units vested in November 2015 and the rest 25% vested in June 2016. No capital contribution is warranted by Class B members. The Class B units have a put option available with Class B unit holders and a call option available to the Company. All the Class B unit holders are eligible to receive a cash settlement as per the terms of the agreement. The valuation date based on which the cash settlement will be decided is December 31, 2018.
Cash-settled Stock Appreciation Rights are classified as liability awards and are re-measured at fair value each reporting period until the award is settled.
During 2018 the Company terminated the agreement mentioned above and canceled the profit interest units. The outstanding provision was written back and presented in general and administrative expenses in the combined statement of comprehensive loss. For the year ended December 31, 2019, outstanding balance on account of stock appreciation rights is zero.
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Note R — Common Stock
Common stock
The authorized share capital of class A common stock of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was 80,000 shares of $ 1,000 each.
The authorized share capital of class B non-voting stock as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 was 380,000 shares of $ 1,000 each.
Voting
Each holder of class A common stock is entitled to one vote in respect of each share held by him in the records of the Company for all matters submitted to a vote.
Class B common stock is not entitled to vote for all matters submitted to a vote.
Liquidation
In the event of liquidation of the Company, the holders of common stock shall be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Company, after distribution of all preferential amounts, if any. Such amounts will be in proportion to the number of equity shares held by the shareholders.
Class A common stock
The issued and paid up share capital as at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is 71,550 shares of $ 1,000 each, of which 64,400 shares are held by PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V., the parent company (erstwhile parent — Piramal Dutch Holding N.V) and 7,150 shares are held by Piramal Enterprises Limited.
Class B common stock
The issued and paid up share capital as at December 31, 2019 is 369,280 shares (December 31, 2018: 357,280) of $ 1,000 each, of which all the shares are held by PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V.
Note S — Fair Value Measurement
The fair value hierarchy requires the use of observable market data when available. In instances where the inputs used to measure fair value fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the fair value measurement has been determined based on the lowest level input significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular item to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, including the consideration of inputs specific to the asset or liability. The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, the Company’s financial liabilities that are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2019 and 2018, according to the valuation techniques the Company used to determine their fair values.
F-108
The following table presents liabilities as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 that are measured and recognized at fair value on a recurring basis
The fair value of the accrued earn out was determined based upon management’s estimates of the amount to be paid based on probable outcomes and expectations of financial performance of the related acquired business. The fair value of the contingent consideration is reassessed at the end of each reporting period and changes in the fair value are charged to results of operations. During the year ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the Company paid $295 and $3,081 of the earn-out, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2019 the Company added an additional accrual for Sharp Insights in the amount of $58.
The fair value of the interest rate swaps is the estimated amount that the Company would receive or pay to terminate such agreements, taking into account market interest rates and the remaining time to maturities or using market inputs with mid-market pricing as a practical expedient for bid-ask spread.
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis
Certain assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis. These assets are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments only under certain circumstances. These include long-lived assets or goodwill that are written down to fair value when they are held for sale or determined to be impaired. The Company uses combination of Level 2 and Level 3 inputs to measure the fair value of goodwill and Level 3 inputs to measure the fair value of intangible assets on their annual measurement date.
Financial instruments not measured at fair value
Some of Company’s financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis but are recorded at amounts that approximate fair value due to their liquid or short-term nature.
At December 31, 2019 and 2018, the carrying value of Company’s long-term debt approximated the fair value.
Note T — Investments
On March 5, 2015, the Company purchased 135,296 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in Procured, Inc. for
$100 in cash. On June 9, 2016, the Company purchased an additional 671,167 shares of Series A Preferred Stock in Procured, Inc. for $162. In 2018, Procured, Inc. changed its name to Lumere, Inc. The investment balance as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 is $262 and $262, respectively.
Note U — Revenue from contracts with customers
The new revenue recognition guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (full retrospective method), or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (modified retrospective method). Effective January 1, 2019, the Company adopted the new accounting ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method for contracts that were not completed as of December 31, 2018. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the new
F-109
revenue standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings, whereby the cumulative impact of all prior periods is recorded in retained earnings or other impacted balance sheet line items upon adoption. The comparative information has not been adjusted and continues to be reported under ASC 605. The impact on the Company’s consolidated income statements, balance sheets, equity or cash flows as of the adoption date for the year ended December 31, 2019 as a result of applying ASC 606 has been reflected within those respective financial statements. The Company’s accounting policy has been updated to align with ASC 606.
Under the Company’s historical accounting policies, revenue recognition for implementation services was deferred until completion, and development services revenue was recognized as delivered. Upon adoption, implementation services that do not include development are distinct promises and qualify to be recognized over time. Implementation services that include development are not distinct and are therefore bundled with the associated Software as a Service (SaaS) or analytics service. This performance obligation is recognized ratably over the subscription term. Primarily due to the deferment of these development-related revenues, The Company recognized a net decrease in accumulated deficit (retained earnings) of $2,098 as of January 1, 2019.
The details of the adjustments to retained earnings upon adoption on January 1, 2019 as well as the effects on the consolidated balance sheet as of January 1, 2019, as if ASC 606 had been adopted in our 2018 fiscal year are as follows:
The following tables reconcile the balances as presented as of and for the year ended December 31, 2019 exclusive of the cumulative effect adjustment presented above to the balances prior to the adjustments made to implement the new revenue recognition standard for the same period (in thousands):
Comparative combined income statement
Comparative combined balance sheet
The increase in deferred revenue as of January 1, 2019 resulted in additional deferred tax asset that increased the Company's net deferred tax asset position. The net deferred tax assets in the jurisdictions impacted by the
F-110
adoption of ASC 606 were fully reversed and, accordingly, this impact was offset by a corresponding increase to the valuation allowance with no resulting net impact to net assets or accumulated deficit.
Revenue recognition accounting policy
Revenue is recognized when the control of the promised goods or services are transferred to our customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve this core principle, the Company applied the five-step process:
1. | Identify the contract with a customer |
2. | Identify the performance obligations in the contract |
3. | Determine the transaction price |
4. | Allocate the transaction price to performance obligations in the contract |
5. | Recognize revenue when or as the Company satisfies a performance obligation |
The Company’s revenue is derived from two primary sources (i) analytics and syndicated research sold by subscription or membership, or by single reports and (ii) consulting and other services. Many of the Company’s contracts only contain a single performance obligation, as is often the case with consulting arrangements, research reports, and other subscriptions. Some contracts include multiple performance obligations, such as analytics services, the related distinct implementation services, and stand-ready support services.
Performance obligations are satisfied at a point in time when control transfers to the customer for certain products such as research reports sold on a single requisition basis or historical data sets. Other performance obligations are satisfied over time. Performance obligations such as research subscriptions, online training courseware subscriptions, analytics and the associated support services are recognized ratably over the accounting term of the contract. Revenue from packages of research reports are recognized using an input method based on the number of reports delivered to date. Implementation services, data updates and consulting projects are recognized based on input methods using hours incurred, number of updates provided, or milestones achieved, as appropriate. The Company does not have any obligations for returns, refunds, or warranties.
Disaggregation of revenue from contracts with customers
The following table presents revenue disaggregated by product line:
The following table presents revenue disaggregated by timing of recognition:
F-111
The following table presents revenue disaggregated by geography based on Company’s locations:
Contract Balances
The timing of revenue recognition, invoicing and cash collections results in billed receivables, contract assets and contract liabilities on the combined balance sheets. Contract assets represent sales recognized in excess of billings related to work completed but not yet delivered for which revenue is recognized over time. Contract assets are recorded as unbilled receivables. Unbilled receivables are typically generated from consulting contracts, which are billed upfront as a percentage of the total revenue, with the balance billed upon completion. Contract liabilities are customer deposits for which revenue has not been recognized. Customer deposits are recorded as accrued expenses and other current liabilities. When consideration is received from a customer prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a contract, a contract liability is recorded as deferred revenue. Contract liabilities are recognized as revenue after control of the goods and services are transferred to the customer and all revenue recognition criteria have been met.
The following table provides information about contract assets and liability balances as of December 31, 2019 (in thousands):
Contract balances
As of December 31, 2019, approximately $148,084 of revenue is expected to be recognized in the future from remaining performance obligations. The Company expects to recognize revenue on approximately 62% of these performance obligations over the next 12 months. Of the remaining 38%, 17% is expected to be recognized within the following year, with the final 21% expected to be recognized within years three to six.
Note V — Equity Incentive Plan
On October 10, 2016, the employees of the Company became eligible for the Decision Resources, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the “EIP”). The purpose of the plan was to encourage ownership of the Company’s common shares and to incentivize the Company’s employees, directors, and certain consultants. The EIP calls for the granting of Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”) which will allow the grantee to vest in common shares based upon certain time-based and performance-based vesting conditions. The EIP is for a maximum up to 1 million shares. Vested common shares will be distributed to the grantee on a predetermined settlement date.
Pursuant to the EIP, employees of the Company were granted SARs during the year ended December 31, 2016. Following are the total outstanding SARs and non-vested SARs as of December 31, 2019:
F-112
Total outstanding SARs:
Non-vested SARs:
|
|
|
|
|
Number of SARs |
Total non-vested SARs outstanding as at December 31, 2017 |
|
199,120 |
Vested |
|
(23,773) |
Forfeited |
|
(17,251) |
Total non-vested SARs outstanding as at December 31, 2018 |
|
158,096 |
Vested |
|
(589) |
Forfeited |
|
(111,204) |
Total non-vested SARs outstanding as at December 31, 2019 |
|
46,303 |
The time based SARs vest over a period of three years. The performance based SARs vest based on both, 1) time-based vesting schedule (over a period of three years) and 2) Company achieving target performance as described in the EIP. As of December 31, 2019, and December 31, 2018, no vested SARs have converted into shares of Company's affiliated stock. In the year 2019 and 2018, no compensation expense has been recorded.
Note W — Deferred Compensation Plan
On April 1, 2019, certain employees of the Company were granted units as part of Decision Resource, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTI”). The purpose of the LTI is to attract and retain employees, to induce them to work for the benefit of the Company and its affiliates and to provide additional incentive for them to promote the success of the Company and its affiliates. The LTI calls for the granting of Units which will vest based upon continuous service over time with defined vesting dates. The LTI is for a maximum up to 1 million Units. A bonus pool will be funded based on the Company value and allocated to vested Units at either a change of control or future settlement date.
Pursuant to the LTI, employees of the Company were granted Units during the year ended December 31, 2019. Following are the total outstanding Units and non-vested Units as of December 31, 2019:
Total outstanding Units:
|
|
|
|
|
Number of units |
Granted during 2019 |
|
895,000 |
Exercised |
|
(17,000) |
Cancelled |
|
(18,500) |
Forfeited |
|
(337,500) |
Total units outstanding as at December 31, 2019 |
|
522,000 |
F-113
Non-vested Units:
|
|
|
|
|
Number of units |
Granted during 2019 |
|
895,000 |
Vested |
|
(89,500) |
Cancelled |
|
(18,500) |
Forfeited |
|
(337,500) |
Total non-vested units outstanding as at December 31, 2019 |
|
449,500 |
The fair value of each of these units was determined using the weighted average of Monte Carlo simulation model and Liquidation Value method. Median of comparable companies’ volatility was considered to determine the expected volatility assumption. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. treasury yields for a time period corresponding to the expected remaining contractual life. The forfeiture rate is estimated based on actual historical forfeitures of LTI units. The value of each vested units is remeasured at fair value of each reporting period. The fair value of the LTI units is being recognized over the requisite service period of four years. The remaining contractual life for the outstanding units is 3.25 years.
The fair value of the LTI units was calculated using the following assumption:
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, |
|
|
|
2019 |
|
Risk free interest rate |
|
1.57 |
% |
Expected volatility |
|
27.16 |
% |
In the year 2019, compensation expense of $5,374 has been recorded for the LTI plan.
Note X — Other Income
Included within cost of revenues and general and administrative expenses are other income amounts of $679 and $809, respectively. The $679 in cost of revenues relates to income receive in India for the sale of Service Export from India Scheme (SEIS) scripts. The amount included in general and administrative expenses includes $731 related to the settlement of a dispute with a vendor.
The Company recorded non-operating income from a litigation settlement amounting to $1,900.
Note Y — Financial Instruments and Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to significant credit risk consist principally of cash and accounts receivable. Risks associated with cash are mitigated by banking with financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains reserves for potential credit losses. To date, such losses have been within management’s expectations. At December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, no customer represented 10% or more of accounts receivable and revenue.
Note Z — Subsequent Events
On January 13, 2020, Global Healthcare Exchange acquired Lumere, Inc., formerly Procured, Inc. As a result of this transaction, the Company will surrender the shares associated with the investment in Lumere, Inc. and expects to record a gain on the sale of the investment in the first quarter of 2020.
On January 17, 2020, Clarivate Analytics (US) Holdings Inc., Clarivate Analytics (Canada) Holdings Corp., Camelot UK Bidco Limited, Clarivate Analytics (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., and Clarivate Analytics Plc entered into a share purchase agreement to purchase all the shares of the entities included in Decision Resources Group Combined. The acquisition was completed on February 28, 2020. On the close date, the outstanding secured debt with Standard Chartered Bank and all of the related party debt were repaid.
In January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” which continues to spread throughout the world and has
F-114
adversely impacted global commercial activity and contributed to significant declines and volatility in financial markets.
Management is currently evaluating the impact of this COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that while it is reasonably possible that the virus could have a negative effect on the Company's financial position and results of its operations, the specific impact is not readily determinable as of the date of these financial statements.
Subsequent events have been evaluated through May 13, 2020 which is the date the combined financial statements were issued.
F-115
40,000,000 Ordinary Shares
PROSPECTUS
, 2020
Citigroup
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
We estimate that our expenses in connection with this offering will be as follows:
All amounts in the table are estimates except the SEC registration fee and the FINRA filing fee. We will pay all of the expenses of this offering listed above, and Baring and Onex have agreed to reimburse us for a portion of our legal and accounting fees and expenses incurred in connection with this offering.
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the articles of association provide that the directors and officers of Clarivate shall be indemnified from and against all liability which they incur in execution of their duty in their respective offices, except liability incurred by reason of such director’s or officer’s actual fraud or willful default.
II-1
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
In March 2017, the Company adopted the management incentive plan under which certain employees of the Company may be eligible to purchase shares of the Company. In exchange for each share purchase subscription, the purchaser is entitled to a fully vested right to an ordinary share. Additionally, along with a subscription, employees receive a corresponding number of options to acquire additional ordinary shares subject to five year vesting. The Company has received net subscriptions for 198,602 and 1,218,300 shares, retroactively restated for the effect of the reverse recapitalization during the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Additionally, the Company granted 66,068 ordinary shares in exchange for services provided during the year ended December 31, 2017. The Company did not receive any subscriptions during the year ended December 31, 2019. At December 31, 2019, there were 358,313 shares issued and outstanding under the management incentive plan. The Company believes that these grants, and the vesting of ordinary shares pursuant to such grants, did and do not require registration under the Securities Act because these securities were offered in transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act. None of the foregoing transactions involved any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions or any public offering.
On October 31, 2019, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Camelot Finance S.A., issued $700.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.50% senior secured notes due 2026, which are guaranteed on a joint and several basis by certain subsidiaries of the Company and are secured on a first-lien pari passu basis with borrowings under the Company’s credit facility by certain assets of certain subsidiaries of the Company. The notes were sold to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act and to investors outside the United States in compliance with Regulation S under the Securities Act. The notes were offered to investors at 100.0% of the principal amount thereof.
On January 17, 2020, the Company and certain of its affiliates entered into certain stock purchase and other agreements to acquire Decision Resources Group from Piramal Enterprises Limited, which is a part of global business conglomerate Piramal Group. In connection with the DRG acquisition, the Company agreed to issue up to 2,895,638 of its ordinary shares to Piramal Enterprises Limited in partial consideration to finance the DRG acquisition, which issuance will be deferred until the one-year anniversary of the closing date of the DRG acquisition, and which number of ordinary shares is subject to adjustment pending the resolution of certain unresolved claims of DRG, if any.
II-2
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
1.1 |
|
2.1 |
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 14, 2019, by and among Churchill Capital Corp, Clarivate Analytics Plc, Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited, CCC Merger Sub, Inc. and Camelot Merger Sub (Jersey) Limited (incorporated by reference to Annex A-1 to Amendment No. 4 to Clarivate’s Registration Statement on Form F-4, filed on April 25, 2019) |
2.2 |
Amendment No. 1 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated February 26, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Annex A-2 to Amendment No. 4 to Clarivate’s Registration Statement on Form F-4, filed on April 25, 2019) |
2.3 |
Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 29, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Annex A-3 to Amendment No. 4 to Clarivate’s Registration Statement on Form F-4, filed on April 25, 2019) |
2.4† |
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3.1 |
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4.1 |
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4.2 |
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4.3 |
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5.1 |
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10.1 |
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10.2 |
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10.3 |
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10.4 |
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10.5 |
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10.6 |
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10.7 |
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10.8 |
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10.9 |
Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement |
10.10 |
Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement |
10.11 |
Form of Tax Receivable Agreement (incorporated by reference to Attachment 1 to Annex A-3 to Amendment No. 4 to Clarivate’s Registration Statement on Form F-4, filed on April 25, 2019) |
II-3
10.12 |
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10.13 |
Form of Director Nomination Agreement (incorporated by reference to Annex C to Amendment No. 4 to Clarivate’s Registration Statement on Form F-4, filed on April 25, 2019) |
10.14+ |
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10.15 |
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10.16 |
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10.17+ |
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10.18+ |
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21.1 |
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23.1 |
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23.2 |
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23.3 |
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24.1 |
Powers of Attorney (included on signature page to this registration statement) |
101.1NS |
XBRL Instance Document |
101.SCH |
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
101.CAL |
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document |
101.DEF |
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Linkbase Document |
101.LAB |
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document |
101.PRE |
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document |
† |
Schedules and exhibits omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. Copies of any omitted schedule or exhibit will be furnished to the SEC upon request. |
+ |
Compensatory plan or arrangement. |
II-4
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
(b)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions referenced in Item 14 of this registration statement, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered hereunder, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(c)The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(1)For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(2)For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of London, United Kingdom, on June 1, 2020.
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CLARIVATE PLC |
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By: |
/s/ Jerre Stead |
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Name: |
Jerre Stead |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Jerre Stead, Richard Hanks and Stephen Hartman, and each of them, individually, as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name, place and stead in any and all capacities, in connection with this registration statement, including to sign in the name and on behalf of the undersigned, this registration statement and any and all amendments hereto, including post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on June 1, 2020. in the capacities indicated.
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Title |
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/s/ Jerre Stead |
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Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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Jerre Stead |
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/s/ Richard Hanks |
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Chief Financial Officer
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Richard Hanks |
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/s/ Christie Archbold |
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Chief Accounting Officer
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Christie Archbold |
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/s/ Sheryl von Blucher |
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Director |
Sheryl von Blucher |
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/s/ Kosty Gills |
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Director |
Kosty Gilis |
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/s/ Balakrishnan S. Iyer |
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Director |
Balakrishnan S. Iyer |
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/s/ Michael Klein |
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Director |
Michael Klein |
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/s/ Nicholas Macksey |
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Director |
Nicholas Macksey |
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/s/ Karen G. Mills |
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Director |
Karen G. Mills |
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/s/ Anthony Munk |
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Director |
Anthony Munk |
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/s/ Jane Okun Bomba |
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Director |
Jane Okun Bomba |
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/s/ Charles J. Neral |
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Director |
Charles J. Neral |
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II-6
II-7
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Clarivate Plc, has signed this registration statement in the City of New York, State of New York, on the 1st day of June, 2020.
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VISTRA USA, LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Waldo Mercado |
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Name: Waldo Mercado |
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Title: Manager, International Operations |
II-8
Exhibit 1.1
CLARIVATE PLC
(A public limited company incorporated under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands)
[] Ordinary Shares
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
June [•], 2020
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Clarivate Plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands (the “Company”), the persons listed in Schedule B hereto as Sponsor Shareholders (the “Sponsor Shareholders”), the persons listed in Schedule B hereto as Appointing Shareholders (the “Appointing Shareholders”) and the persons listed in Schedule B hereto as Merger Shareholders (the “Merger Shareholders and, together with the Sponsor Shareholders and the Appointing Shareholders, the “Selling Shareholders”) confirm their respective agreements with Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citigroup”) and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Citigroup and Goldman are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the “Representatives”), with respect to (i) the issuance and sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number of ordinary shares, no par value per share, of the Company (“Ordinary Shares”) as set forth in Schedules A and B hereto, (ii) the sale by the Selling Shareholders, acting severally and not jointly, and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number of Ordinary Shares of the Company as set forth in Schedules A and B hereto (such Ordinary Shares described above in (i) and (ii), the “Initial Securities”) and (iii) the grant by certain of the Selling Shareholders to the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of [] additional Ordinary Shares (such Ordinary Shares, the “Option Securities”). The Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Option Securities are herein called, collectively, the “Securities.”
The Securities being offered by the Merger Shareholders are Ordinary Shares that will be issued by the Company to the Merger Shareholders in a private placement immediately prior to the Closing Time (as defined herein) in accordance with the terms of one or more Subscription Agreements, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company and each of the Merger Shareholders party thereto (each, a “Subscription Agreement”). As used in this Agreement, the term “Merger Shares” refers to the Securities to be issued by the Company to the Merger Shareholders pursuant to the Subscription Agreements. In addition, certain of the Securities being offered by the Appointing Shareholders are Ordinary Shares that are issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options to purchase Ordinary Shares of the Company. As used in this Agreement, the term “Optionholder Shares” refers to the Securities to be issued by the Company to such Appointing Shareholders upon the exercise of such options.
The Company and the Selling Shareholders understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. []), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the sale of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the “1933 Act Regulations”) and Rule 424(b) (“Rule 424(b)”) of the 1933 Act Regulations. The information included in such prospectus that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b) is herein called the “Rule 430A Information.” Such registration statement, including the amendments thereto, the exhibits thereto filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein, and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including the Rule 430A Information, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement” and, after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A Information that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a “preliminary prospectus.” The final prospectus, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Securities, is herein called the “Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”).
As used in this Agreement:
“Affiliate” shall have the meaning specified in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act.
“Applicable Time” means [•] P.M., New York City time, on [•], 2020 or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Representatives.
“General Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the most recent preliminary prospectus that is distributed to investors prior to the Applicable Time and the information included on Schedule C-1 hereto, all considered together.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 405”)) relating to the Securities that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule C-2 hereto.
“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
2
“Testing the Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the 1933 Act.
Section 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, the Applicable Time, the Closing Time (as defined below) and any Date of Delivery (as defined below), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Registration Statement and Prospectuses. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the 1933 Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, offered or sold any of the Securities by means of any “prospectus” (within the meaning of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Act) or used any “prospectus” or made any offer (within the meaning of the Act and the rules and regulations promulgated under the Act) in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, in each case other than the preliminary prospectus defined herein, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time each was filed with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations. Each preliminary prospectus delivered by the Company to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission through EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Accurate Disclosure. Neither the Registration Statement nor any amendment thereto, at its effective time, at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the Applicable Time, neither (A) the General Disclosure Package nor (B) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Time or at any Date of Delivery, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the third paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” relating to concessions and the information in the ninth and tenth
3
paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting” relating to price stabilization and short positions, in each case contained in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).
(iii) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified.
(iv) Subscription Agreements. Each Subscription Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties thereto, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability.
(v) Independent Accountants. To the Company’s knowledge, each accounting firm that certified the audited financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the “1934 Act Regulations”) and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(vi) Financial Statements; Other Financial Information; Non-GAAP Financial Measures. The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statements of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods to which they relate, except as otherwise stated therein. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in all material respects in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The summary historical financial information and selected historical financial information included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included therein. Except as included therein, no historical or pro forma financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations. The pro forma condensed combined financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and present fairly, in all material respects, the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G under the 1934 Act, and Item 10 of Regulation S-K of the 1933 Act, in each case as in effect on the date hereof and to the extent applicable. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
4
(vii) No Material Adverse Change in Business; No Company Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise stated therein, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (A) there has been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the financial condition, or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into or agreed to enter into any transactions or contracts not in the ordinary course of business, which liabilities, obligations, transactions or contracts would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (C) the Company has not declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock and (D) there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.
(viii) Good Standing of the Company. The Company is duly formed and validly existing and in good standing (or equivalent concept) under the laws of its jurisdiction of formation and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as now conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing (or equivalent concept) in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ix) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the 1933 Act) (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) is duly incorporated or formed, as the case may be, and validly existing and (where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as the case may be, and has all requisite corporate, limited liability company, partnership or similar power and authority, as the case may be, to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as now conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be validly existing and (where applicable in the relevant jurisdiction) in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company, partnership or similar business entity in good standing (or equivalent concept) in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity (other than liens securing the Credit Agreement and the 2026 Notes (as each is defined in the General Disclosure Package) and other immaterial liens). None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary were issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. The only subsidiaries of the Company are (A) the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement and (B) certain other subsidiaries which, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.
(x) Capitalization; Offered Securities. The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this
5
Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus). The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Securities being sold hereunder by the Selling Shareholders (other than the Merger Shares and the Optionholder Shares)), have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. The Securities being sold hereunder by the Company have been duly authorized, and, when such Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement, such Securities will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, including the Securities (other than the Merger Shares) were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The Merger Shares, when delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreements, will have been duly authorized and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable. None of the Merger Shares will have been, when delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreements, issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company. The Optionholder Shares, when issued to the Appointing Shareholders upon the exercise of outstanding options, will have been duly authorized and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.
(xi) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(xii) Description of Securities. The Ordinary Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and such description conforms in all material respects to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. No holder of Securities will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.
(xiii) Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered for sale pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered for sale or sold by the Company under the 1933 Act, other than those rights that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(xiv) Absence of Violations, Defaults and Conflicts. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (A) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or certificate of formation or articles of association (or similar organizational document), (B) in breach or violation of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to any of them or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) in breach of or default under (nor has any event occurred that, with notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a default under) or in violation of any of the terms or provisions of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, franchise agreement, permit, certificate, contract or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or to which any of them or their respective properties or assets is subject (collectively, “Contracts”), except for any such breach, default, violation or event that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated (x) herein and (y) in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of Securities by the Company and the use of proceeds from the sale of such Securities by the Company as described therein under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute or result in a breach of or a default under or violation of any of (I) the terms or provisions of any Contract, except for any such conflict, breach,
6
violation, default or event that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the ability of the Underwriters to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (II) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or certificate of formation or articles of association (or similar organizational document) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (III) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially adversely affect the ability of the Underwriters to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(xv) Absence of Labor Dispute. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) there is (1) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements pending, or to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (2) no union representation question existing with respect to the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and, to the best knowledge of the Company, no union organizing activities taking place, (B) there has been no violation of any U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. law relating to discrimination in hiring, promotion or pay of employees or of any applicable wage or hour laws and (C) there is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work stoppage with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, threatened.
(xvi) Stock Awards. With respect to the stock awards (the “Stock Awards”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each Stock Award grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans and (ii) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company.
(xvii) ERISA. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liability for any prohibited transaction or funding deficiency or any complete or partial withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit sharing or other plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries makes or ever has made a contribution and in which any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or has ever been a participant. To the knowledge of the Company, with respect to such plans, the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable provisions of ERISA (and any other law to which such plans are subject) except for any non-compliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each Foreign Benefit Plan, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, such Foreign Benefit Plan (A) if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, meets the requirements for such treatment, and (B) if required to be funded, is funded to the extent required by applicable law. As used in this Agreement, “Foreign Benefit Plan” means any Employee Benefit Plan established, maintained or contributed to outside of the United States of America or which covers any employee working or residing outside of the United States.
(xviii) Absence of Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which the property or assets owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries are subject, before or brought by any court, arbitrator or
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governmental agency or body that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance and sale of the Securities to be sold hereunder or the consummation of the other transactions described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(xix) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so described and filed as required.
(xx) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental agency or body is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the issuance, offering or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, state securities laws, the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
(xxi) Possession of Licenses and Permits. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries possesses all such valid and current licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local, foreign and other governmental authorities, all self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, presently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as now or proposed to be conducted as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (“Permits”), except where the failure to obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Permits or the failure of such Permits to be in full force and effect would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit, except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and except where such revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxii) Title to Property. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all material real and personal property described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being owned by it and title to a leasehold estate in the material real and personal property described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as being leased by it free and clear of any security interests, liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions (other than such security interests, liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions permitted pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the 2026 Notes and other immaterial liens), except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or to the extent the failure to have such title or the existence of such security interests, liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions would not materially or adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of the property by the Company or such subsidiary, or would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All leases, contracts and agreements governing real and personal property to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound are valid and enforceable against the Company or such subsidiary, and to the knowledge of the Company and such subsidiaries, are valid and enforceable against the other party or parties thereto and are in full
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force and effect with only such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiii) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and each of its subsidiaries own, have applied for or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use, all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”) used in the conduct of the businesses now or proposed to be operated by them as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as would not, and the expected expiration of any such Intellectual Property Rights would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with (or knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights that, if such assertion of infringement or conflict were sustained, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiv) Environmental Laws. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (A) the Company and each of its subsidiaries are in compliance with and not subject to liability under Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has made all filings and provided all notices required under any Environmental Law, and is in compliance with all Permits required under any Environmental Laws and each of them is in full force and effect, (C) there is no civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter or request for information pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Law, (D) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is conducting or paying for in whole or in part any investigation, response or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any site or facility, nor is any of them subject to or a party to any order, judgment, decree, contract or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, (E) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries owns, occupies, operates or uses any real property contaminated with Hazardous Materials or is liable or allegedly liable for any Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials, including at any off-site treatment, storage or disposal site, and (F) to the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to (1) form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental authority, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws or (2) result in a violation of or liability under any Environmental Laws on the part of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including without limitation, any such liability that the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no requirements proposed for adoption or implementation under any Environmental Law that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Environmental Laws” means the common law and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws (including international treaties, conventions and protocols) or regulations, codes, legally binding guidance policies, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder by any applicable governmental authority, relating to pollution or protection of public or employee health and safety or the Environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to (x) emissions, discharges, Releases or threatened Releases of Hazardous Materials into the Environment and (y) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials. “Environment” means ambient air, indoor air, surface water, groundwater, drinking water, soil, surface and subsurface strata, and natural resources such as wetlands, flora and fauna. “Hazardous Materials” means any substance, material, pollutant, contaminant, chemical, waste, compound, or constituent, in any form, including without limitation, crude oil, petroleum and petroleum products, regulated under any Environmental Law. “Release” means any release, spill,
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emission, discharge, deposit, disposal, leaking, pumping, pouring, dumping, emptying, escaping, migration, injection or leaching into the Environment.
(xxv) Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain effective internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the 1934 Act Regulations) and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 of the 1934 Act Regulations) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
(xxvi) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith with which the Company is required to comply.
(xxvii) Payment of Taxes. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has filed all necessary U.S. federal and state and other non-U.S. tax returns or received timely extensions thereof and has paid all taxes shown as due thereon, except where the failure to so file such returns and pay such taxes would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Other than tax deficiencies that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is contesting in good faith and for which the Company or such subsidiary has provided appropriate reserves in accordance with GAAP, there is no tax deficiency that has been assessed or threatened in writing against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that has not been paid and would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxviii) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with insurers that the Company believes to be financially sound and reputable insurers, in at least such amounts (after giving effect to any self-insurance) and against at least such risks as the Company believes is reasonable and prudent in light of the size and nature of its business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (A) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its
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subsidiaries has been denied any material insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(xxix) Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of Securities by the Company as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(xxx) Absence of Manipulation. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any Affiliate of the Company has taken, nor will the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Affiliate take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed, or would reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or which constitutes, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or to result in a violation of Regulation M under the 1934 Act.
(xxxi) No Unlawful Payments. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls reasonably designed to ensure continued compliance with the Sanctions Laws, the Export Control Laws, and the applicable Anti-Corruption Laws. “Anti-Corruption Laws” means laws, rules and regulations relating to anti-bribery or anti-corruption (governmental or commercial), including, without limitation, laws, rules and regulations that prohibit the corrupt payment, offer, promise, receipt, request or authorization of the payment or transfer of anything of value (including gifts or entertainment), directly or indirectly, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (“FCPA”), the UK Bribery Act 2010, as amended any law enacted in connection with, or arising under, the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, and any other law of any foreign or domestic jurisdiction of similar effect or that relates to bribery or corruption. “Export Control Laws” means such export control laws, rules and regulations as are administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, the European Union, or other export control authority with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, the Export Administration Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, and the European Dual Use Regulation (Council Regulation EC 428/2009 (as amended)). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer nor, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any agent, employee, affiliate or representative acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or knowingly indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, rules or regulations, and the Company and each of its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws, rules or regulations.
(xxxii) Compliance With Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and each of its subsidiaries conduct business, including the rules, regulations or guidance issued, administered or enforced thereunder (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and any of its subsidiaries, threatened.
(xxxiii) No Conflicts With Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (the Company and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “Group”), nor any affiliate, director, officer or employee of the Group, nor, to the knowledge of the Group, any agent or representative of the Group, is a Sanctioned Person, nor is the Group located, organized
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or resident in a country or territory in violation of Sanctions Laws. For purposes of this Agreement: (A) “Sanctioned Person” means (1) any person listed in any Sanctions Laws-related list of designated persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (including the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom or any other European Union member state, (2) any person that is otherwise the subject or target of Sanctions or (3) any person majority-owned by any such person or persons described in the foregoing clauses (1) and (2); and (B) “Sanctions Laws” means the laws and regulations administered or enforced by the U.S. Government (including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the U.S. Department of State), the United Nations Security Council, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom and any other relevant sanctions authority.
(xxxiv) Privacy. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear, to the knowledge of the Company, of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to maintain and protect their confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with their businesses. To the knowledge of the Company, there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to such Personal Data, except as has not resulted in, and is not reasonably likely to result in, material liability to the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps to be in compliance with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (to the extent applicable to a subsidiary).
(xxxv) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate in all material respects.
(xxxvi) Rated Securities. The Company does not have any debt securities or preferred stock rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.
(xxxvii) Emerging Growth Company. From the time of the initial confidential submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the 1933 Act.
(xxxviii) Testing the Waters Materials. The Company has not engaged in any Testing the Waters Communications.
(xxxix) Stamp Taxes. No non-refundable stamp duties or other issuance or transfer taxes or withholding or other similar taxes are payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters under U.S. federal or state law, or any political subdivision thereof, or under Jersey law or the laws of any other jurisdiction in which the Company is resident for tax purposes solely in connection with the
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issuance and delivery of the Securities in the manner contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus.
(xl) Passive Foreign Investment Company. To the Company’s knowledge, the Company was not a “passive foreign investment company” (as defined in Section 1297 of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder) (“PFIC”) for its taxable year ended December 31, 2019 and does not expect to be a PFIC for the taxable year ending December 31, 2020 or the foreseeable future.
(xli) Dividends and Distributions. (A) All dividends and other distributions declared and payable on the share capital of the Company, now or in the future, may, under the current laws and regulations of Jersey, be paid in United States Dollars that (subject to any applicable Sanctions Laws) may be freely transferred out of Jersey; (B) all such dividends and other distributions are not or will not be, as the case may be, subject to withholding or other taxes under the current laws and regulations of Jersey; and (C) all such dividends and other distributions under such current laws and regulations are or will be otherwise free and clear of any other tax (save for any income tax that may be payable by the recipient of a distribution who is resident in Jersey), withholding or deduction in Jersey and (subject to any applicable Sanctions Laws) without the necessity of obtaining any consent, approval, authorization or order in Jersey.
(xlii) Legal Process. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of Jersey to enforce this Agreement in respect of itself or its property.
(xliii) Listing. The Company has not received any notice from the New York Stock Exchange regarding the delisting of the Ordinary Shares from the New York Stock Exchange.
(xliv) Foreign Private Issuer. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the 1933 Act.
(xlv) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has or will have the power to submit, and pursuant to this Agreement and has submitted legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably, to the jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or New York State court in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York and the State of New York; and each of the Company and its subsidiaries has or will have, as applicable, the power to designate, appoint and empower, and pursuant to this Agreement and has designated, appointed and empowered, validly, effectively and irrevocably, an agent for service of process in any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement in any U.S. Federal or New York State court in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, as provided herein.
(xlvi) Choice of Law. The choice of law of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement is a valid choice of law under Jersey laws and any political subdivision thereof, and courts of Jersey should honor this choice of law, subject to mandatory choice of law rules and constitutional limitations.
(b) Representations and Warranties by the Selling Shareholders. Each Selling Shareholder severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, as of the Closing Time and, if the Selling Shareholder is selling Option Securities on a Date of Delivery, as of each such Date of Delivery, and severally agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Accurate Disclosure. Neither the General Disclosure Package nor the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
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circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided that such representations and warranties set forth in this subsection 1(b)(i) apply only to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to such Selling Shareholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (the “Selling Shareholder Information”); it being understood that the Selling Shareholder Information shall be limited to the legal name and address of, and the number of shares beneficially owned and offered by, such Selling Shareholder, and the other information with respect to such Selling Shareholder that appears under the caption “Principal and Selling Shareholders” in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and any Selling Shareholder Information contained in any other Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; such Selling Shareholder is not prompted to sell the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder by any material information concerning the Company or any subsidiary of the Company which is not set forth in the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
(ii) Power of Attorney; Custody Agreement. Each Appointing Shareholder and each Merger Shareholder has duly authorized (if such Appointing Shareholder or Merger Shareholder is not a natural person), executed and delivered a Power of Attorney (a “Power of Attorney” and, with respect to such Appointing Shareholder or Merger Shareholder, “its Power of Attorney”) appointing each of Richard Hanks and Stephen Hartman as such Selling Shareholder’s attorney-in-fact (with respect to such Selling Shareholder, collectively, the “Attorneys-in-Fact” and, individually, an “Attorney-in-Fact”), and a Custody Agreement (a “Custody Agreement” and, with respect to such Appointing Shareholder or Merger Shareholder, “its Custody Agreement”) with Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York corporation, as custodian (the “Custodian”); each of its Power of Attorney and its Custody Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws relating to creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles; such Selling Shareholder has placed in custody, pursuant to such Custody Agreement, for delivery under this Agreement, security entitlements representing the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder; each such Power of Attorney grants the Attorneys-in-Fact full power of substitution, and full authority (exercisable by any one or more of them) to execute and deliver this Agreement and to take such other action as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the provisions hereof on behalf of such Selling Shareholder.
(iii) Authorization of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized (if such Selling Shareholder is not a natural person), executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder.
(iv) Noncontravention. The execution and delivery of this Agreement (and, with respect to Appointing Shareholders and Merger Shareholders only, its Power of Attorney and its Custody Agreement) and the sale and delivery of the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and compliance by such Selling Shareholder with its obligations hereunder (and, with respect to Appointing Shareholders and Merger Shareholders only, thereunder) do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, (A) conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any tax, lien, charge or encumbrance upon the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder or any property or assets of such Selling Shareholder pursuant to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, license, lease or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Shareholder is a party or by which such Selling Shareholder may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of such Selling Shareholder is subject, (B) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or other organizational instrument of such Selling Shareholder, if applicable, or (C) result in any violation of any applicable treaty, law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order,
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writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder or any of its properties, except, in the case of clauses (A) and (C), as would not reasonably be expected to materially impact such Selling Shareholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(v) Valid Title. Such Selling Shareholder has (other than with respect to any Merger Shares or Optionholder Shares, in which case, such Merger Shareholder or Appointing Shareholder, as the case may be, will have upon issuance of the Merger Shares or Optionholder Shares, respectively), and at the Closing Time and, if such Selling Shareholder is selling Option Securities on a Date of Delivery, at each such Date of Delivery, will have, valid title to the Securities (or to a security entitlement in respect thereof) to be sold by such Selling Shareholder free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances and the legal right and power, and all authorization and approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement and to sell, transfer and deliver the Securities (or a security entitlement in respect thereof) to be sold by such Selling Shareholder.
(vi) Delivery of Securities. Upon payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement (whether paid directly to such Selling Shareholder or to any other Selling Shareholder as directed by such Selling Shareholder), delivery of such Securities, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be designated by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) (unless delivery of such Securities is unnecessary because such Securities are already in possession of Cede or such nominee), registration of such Securities in the name of Cede or such other nominee (unless registration of such Securities is unnecessary because such Securities are already registered in the name of Cede or such nominee), and the crediting of such Securities on the books of DTC to securities accounts (within the meaning of Section 8-501(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code then in effect in the State of New York (“UCC”)) of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any “adverse claim,” within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC, to such Securities), (A) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid “security entitlement” in respect of such Securities and (B) no action (whether framed in conversion, replevin, constructive trust, equitable lien, or other theory) based on any “adverse claim,” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to such Securities may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement; for purposes of this representation, such Selling Shareholder may assume that when such payment, delivery (if necessary) and crediting occur, (1) such Securities will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Company’s share registry in accordance with its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (2) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation,” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, (3) appropriate entries to the accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC, (4) to the extent DTC, or any other securities intermediary which acts as “clearing corporation” with respect to the Securities, maintains any “financial asset” (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC in a clearing corporation pursuant to Section 8-111 of the UCC, the rules of such clearing corporation may affect the rights of DTC or such securities intermediaries and the ownership interest of the Underwriters, (5) claims of creditors of DTC or any other securities intermediary or clearing corporation may be given priority to the extent set forth in Section 8-511(b) and 8-511(c) of the UCC and (6) if at any time DTC or other securities intermediary does not have sufficient Securities to satisfy claims of all of its entitlement holders with respect thereto then all holders will share pro rata in the Securities then held by DTC or such securities intermediary.
(vii) Absence of Manipulation. Such Selling Shareholder has not taken, and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or would reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
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(viii) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, qualification or decree of any arbitrator, court, governmental body, regulatory body, administrative agency or other authority, body or agency, domestic or foreign, is necessary or required for the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations hereunder (or, with respect to Appointing Shareholders and Merger Shareholders only, under its Power of Attorney or Custody Agreement), or in connection with the sale and delivery of the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except (A) such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange, state securities laws or the rules of FINRA, (B) such as have been obtained under the laws and regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the Securities were offered and (C) where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, qualification or decree would not reasonably be expected to materially impact such Selling Shareholder’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(ix) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling Shareholder does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, other than those rights that have been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(x) No Free Writing Prospectuses. Such Selling Shareholder has not prepared or had prepared on its behalf or used or referred to, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405), and has not distributed any written materials in connection with the offer or sale of the Securities.
(xi) No Association with FINRA. There are no affiliations or associations between any member of FINRA “participating in the offering” and such Selling Shareholder, and none of the proceeds received by such Selling Shareholder from the sale of the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder will be paid to a member of FINRA “participating in the offering” or any affiliate of (or person “associated with,” as such terms are used in the rules of FINRA) such member.
(xii) ERISA. Such Selling Shareholder is not (A) an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, (B) a plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or (C) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” of any such plan or account under Section 3(42) of ERISA, 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-101, or otherwise.
(c) Representations and Warranties by the Merger Shareholders. In addition to the representations and warranties in Section 1(b) hereof, each Merger Shareholder severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time, and as of the Closing Time and severally agrees with each Underwriter that the Subscription Agreement to which such Merger Shareholder is party has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Merger Shareholder, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company, is a valid and binding agreement of such Merger Shareholder, enforceable against such Merger Shareholder in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability.
(d) Officer’s Certificates and Selling Shareholder’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby; and any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholders as such and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of this Agreement
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shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Selling Shareholder to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
Section 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company and each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to sell to each Underwriter and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company and each Selling Shareholder, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, that proportion of the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule B opposite the name of the Company or such Selling Shareholder, which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof, bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.
(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Sponsor Shareholders and Jay Nadler, acting severally and not jointly, hereby grant an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [] Ordinary Shares, as set forth in Schedule B, at the price per share set forth in Schedule A, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities. The option hereby granted may be exercised for 30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company, the Sponsor Shareholders and Jay Nadler setting forth the number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (a “Date of Delivery”) shall be determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Time. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial Securities, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares. In the event and to the extent that the Underwriters exercise the option to purchase Option Securities, the number of Option Securities to be so purchased from each applicable Selling Shareholder on the applicable Date of Delivery shall bear the same proportion to the maximum number of Option Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder as the maximum number of Option Securities set forth in Schedule B hereto opposite the name of such Selling Shareholder bears to the total number of Option Securities that may be purchased hereunder (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine).
(c) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the New York City offices of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the second (third, if the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (New York City time) on any given day) business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than the fifth business day after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives, the Company and the Selling Shareholders (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Time”).
In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates or security entitlements for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives, the Company and the applicable Selling Shareholders, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Shareholders.
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Payment shall be made to the Company and the Selling Shareholders by wire transfer of immediately available funds to bank accounts designated by the Company or each Selling Shareholder, as applicable (whether to the account of such Selling Shareholder or to the account of the Company or any other Selling Shareholder as directed by such Selling Shareholder) against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates or security entitlements for the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. Citigroup and Goldman, individually and not as representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(d) Denominations; Registration. The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, shall be delivered by the Company and by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholders to the Representatives through the facilities of DTC, for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company or such Selling Shareholder, as applicable, to the Representatives at least one full business day in advance.
Section 3. Covenants of the Company and the Selling Shareholders.
(a) The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(i) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A, and will notify the Representatives promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, including, but not limited to, any request for information concerning any Testing the Waters Communication, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will effect all filings required under Rule 424(b), in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(ii) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 172”), would be) required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities (such
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time, the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Company, to (A) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (C) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (1) give the Representatives notice of such event, (2) prepare any amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or use, furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (D) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to make any filing pursuant to the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object.
(iii) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission through EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(iv) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission through EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(v) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
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(vi) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriters the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(vii) Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Merger Shares and maintain the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
(viii) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 60 days from the date of the Prospectus (the “Restricted Period”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (A) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale or lend, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for or repayable with Ordinary Shares or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (B) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Ordinary Shares, whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by delivery of Ordinary Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (1) any Ordinary Shares issued by the Company upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (2) any Ordinary Shares issued or options to purchase Ordinary Shares granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (3) the Merger shares or any other Ordinary Shares to be issued by the Company prior to the Closing Time and described to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (4) any Ordinary Shares issued pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan or dividend reinvestment plan referred to in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (5) the filing by the Company of a registration statement on Form S-3 (including any amendments thereto) to register the issuance of Ordinary Shares (and resale of Ordinary Shares held by certain shareholders of the Company); provided that the Company does not issue any Ordinary Shares thereunder during the Restricted Period or (6) the entry into an agreement providing for the issuance of Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Ordinary Shares, and the issuance of any such securities pursuant to such an agreement, in connection with the acquisition by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of the securities, business, property or other assets of another person or entity, including pursuant to an employee benefit plan assumed by the Company in connection with such acquisition; provided that the aggregate number of shares issued or issuable pursuant to this clause (6) does not exceed 5% of the number of Ordinary Shares outstanding immediately after the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement and, prior to such issuance, each recipient of any such securities shall execute and deliver to the Representatives and the Company a “lock-up” agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
(ix) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.
(x) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule C-2 hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives. The Company represents that
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it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(xi) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Securities sold by the Company hereunder in the manner specified in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.” The Company and its subsidiaries will not, and each will procure that the Group does not, directly or indirectly, use the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such net proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture, partner or other Person, (i) to fund any activities of or business with any Sanctioned Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is itself the subject of Sanctions Laws, or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any Person (including any Person participating in the transaction, whether as initial purchaser, underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions Laws or (ii) to make any payments in violation of any applicable Anti-Corruption Laws.
(b) Each Selling Shareholder covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(i) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Selling Shareholder agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided that the Representatives will be deemed to have consented to the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses listed on Schedule C-2 hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representatives. Each Selling Shareholder represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Representatives as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus by a Selling Shareholder there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Selling Shareholders will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses of the Company. The Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and each
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amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any taxes or duties payable upon the sale of the Securities by the Underwriters), (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a)(v) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of any blue sky survey requested by the Underwriters and any supplement thereto, up to $10,000, (vi) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and 50% of the cost of aircraft and other transportation chartered in connection with the road show, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, provided that such fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters pursuant to this clause (viii) do not exceed $25,000 in the aggregate, and (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
(b) Expenses of the Selling Shareholders. The Selling Shareholders, jointly and severally, will pay all expenses incident to the performance of their respective obligations under, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, including the fees and disbursements of their respective counsel and other advisors.
(c) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9(a)(i) or (iii) hereof, the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
(d) Allocation of Expenses. Nothing in this Section 4 shall affect any agreement that the Company and the Selling Shareholders (or any of them) may make for the sharing of any costs and expenses related to the matters covered by this Section 4.
Section 5. Conditions of Underwriters’ and Selling Shareholders’ Obligations. The obligations of: (i) the several Underwriters are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Shareholders contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by each of the Company and the Selling Shareholders of its respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, (ii) the Selling Shareholders are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and (iii) the several Underwriters and the Selling Shareholders are subject to the following further conditions (except to the extent such condition is within the control of the Selling Shareholders):
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Rule 430A Information. The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become effective and at the Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the 1933 Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes
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have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated; and the Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A.
(b) Opinion of Counsel for the Company and Certain of the Selling Shareholders. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received (i) the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Company and certain of the Selling Shareholders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters and (ii) the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Ogier, Jersey counsel for the Company, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters, in each case together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Certain of the Selling Shareholders. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received (i) the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters, (ii) the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters, (iii) the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Walkers, Cayman Islands counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters, (iii) the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Walkers, British Virgin Islands counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters and (iv) the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Canada counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters, in each case together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received the opinion, dated the Closing Time, of (i) Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Underwriters, and (ii) Maples and Calder (Jersey) LLP, Jersey counsel for the Underwriters, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Underwriters, in each case together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters. In giving its opinion, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the federal securities laws of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers and other representatives of the Company and its subsidiaries, certificates of the Selling Shareholders and certificates of public officials.
(e) Officers’ Certificate. At the Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change, or development including a prospective material adverse change, in the financial condition, or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate, executed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer or other officer, director or authorized signatory of the Company reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Time and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement under the 1933 Act has been issued, no order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued
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and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to their knowledge, contemplated.
(f) Certificate of Selling Shareholders. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received a certificate of each Selling Shareholder, dated the Closing Time, to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of such Selling Shareholder in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Time and (ii) such Selling Shareholder has complied with all agreements and all conditions on its part to be performed under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Time.
(g) Issuance of Merger Shares; Subscription Agreements. At the Closing Time, the Merger Shares shall (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued by the Company to the Merger Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Agreements as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) be non-assessable and owned by the Selling Shareholders. As of the Closing Time, to the Company’s knowledge, there shall not have been any breach of the representations and warranties or covenants contained in the Subscription Agreements.
(h) Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from each of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and KNAV P.A. a letter, dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(i) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At the Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from each of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and KNAV P.A. a letter, dated as of the Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in their letter furnished pursuant to subsection (h) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days prior to the Closing Time.
(j) Approval of Listing. At the Closing Time, the Securities (including the Merger Shares) shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
(k) No Objection. FINRA shall have confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements relating to the offering of the Securities.
(l) Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the Representatives and the Company shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto signed by the persons listed in Schedule D hereto.
(m) Chief Financial Officer Certificate. At the date of this Agreement and at the Closing Time, the Underwriters shall have received a certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the Company, in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
(n) Conditions to Purchase of Option Securities. In the event that the Underwriters exercise their option provided in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company and the applicable Selling Shareholders contained herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company, any of its subsidiaries and the applicable Selling Shareholders hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Representatives shall have received:
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(i) Officers’ Certificate. A certificate, executed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Treasurer or other officer, director or authorized signatory of the Company reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, dated such Date of Delivery, confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(ii) Certificate of Selling Shareholders. A certificate, dated the Date of Delivery, of each Selling Shareholder confirming that the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(iii) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. The opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Company and Ogier, Jersey counsel for the Company, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof (but only with respect to the Company).
(iv) Opinion of Counsel for Certain of the Selling Shareholders. The opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, Ropes & Gray LLP, counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, Walkers, Cayman Islands counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, Walkers, British Virgin Islands counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders, Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP, Canada counsel for certain of the Selling Shareholders and Shearman & Sterling LLP, counsel for Jay Nadler, in each case in form and substance reasonably acceptable to counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof.
(v) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, and Maples and Calder (Jersey) LLP, Jersey counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.
(vi) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from each of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and KNAV P.A. in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Representatives pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof, except that the “specified date” in the letter furnished pursuant to this paragraph shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such Date of Delivery.
(vii) Chief Financial Officer Certificate. A certificate signed by the chief financial officer of the Company, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the certificate required by Section 5(m) hereof.
(o) Additional Documents. At the Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery (if any) counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company and the Selling Shareholders in connection with the sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
(p) Consent of the Jersey Financial Services Commission. The written consent of the Jersey Financial Services Commission to circulation of the Prospectus pursuant to the Jersey Companies (General
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Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2002 shall have been obtained and shall be subsisting, and the written consent of the Jersey Financial Services Commission to the issue or transfer (as applicable) of the Securities pursuant to the Jersey Control Of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958 shall have been obtained and shall be subsisting.
(q) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholders at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and selling agents, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in (A) any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or (B) in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of Securities (the “Marketing Materials”), including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 6(e)) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company;
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
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(b) Indemnification of Underwriters by Selling Shareholders. Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and selling agents, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act to the extent and in the manner set forth in clauses 6(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above; provided that each Selling Shareholder shall be liable only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Shareholder Information; provided, further, that the liability under this subsection of each Selling Shareholder shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate gross proceeds after underwriting commissions and discounts, but before expenses, to such Selling Shareholder from the sale of Securities sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder.
(c) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers and Selling Shareholders. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and each Selling Shareholder and each person, if any, who controls any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Marketing Materials in reliance upon and in conformity with the Underwriter Information.
(d) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) and 6(b), counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representatives, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(c), counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company and the Selling Shareholders. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
Section 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the
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offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, on the other hand, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.
The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Selling Shareholders or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Selling Shareholder shall be required to contribute (i) any amount in excess of the aggregate gross proceeds after underwriting commissions and discounts, but before expenses, to such Selling Shareholder from the sale of Securities sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder or (ii) with respect to any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses for which such Selling Shareholder would not have been liable under Section 6(b) if such Section 6(b) were applied in accordance with its terms. The Selling Shareholders’ obligations in this Section 7 to contribute are several in proportion to their respective aggregate gross proceeds received after underwriting discounts and commissions, but before expenses, from the sale of the Securities sold by the Selling Shareholders hereunder and not joint.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s directors, officers, employees, Affiliates and selling agents shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to
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contribution as the Company or such Selling Shareholder, as the case may be. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
Section 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or the Selling Shareholders submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors, any person controlling the Company or any person controlling any Selling Shareholder and (ii) delivery of and payment for the Securities.
Section 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time (i) if there has been, in the judgment of the Representatives, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, any material adverse change, or development including a prospective change, in the financial condition, or otherwise, or in the earnings or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the completion of the offering or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, or (iv) if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq Global Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (v) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
(i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
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(ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase, and the applicable Selling Shareholders to sell, the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of Delivery, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the applicable Selling Shareholders to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, either the (i) Representatives or (ii) the Company and any Selling Shareholder shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
Section 11. Default by one or more of the Selling Shareholders. If a Selling Shareholder shall fail at the Closing Time or a Date of Delivery, as the case may be, to sell and deliver the number of Securities which such Selling Shareholder or Selling Shareholders are obligated to sell hereunder, and the remaining Selling Shareholders do not exercise the right hereby granted to increase, pro rata or otherwise, the number of Securities to be sold by them hereunder to the total number to be sold by all Selling Shareholders as set forth in Schedule B hereto, then the Underwriters may, at option of the Representatives, by notice from the Representatives to the Company and the non-defaulting Selling Shareholders, either (i) terminate this Agreement without any liability on the fault of any non-defaulting party except that the provisions of Sections 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 16 and 17 shall remain in full force and effect or (ii) elect to purchase the Securities which the non-defaulting Selling Shareholders have agreed to sell hereunder. No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve any Selling Shareholder so defaulting from liability, if any, in respect of such default.
In the event of a default by any Selling Shareholder as referred to in this Section 11, each of the Representatives, the Company and the non-defaulting Selling Shareholders shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time or any Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required change in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements.
Section 12. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013 (fax: 646-291-1469), Attention: General Counsel, and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Registration Department, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, One New York Plaza, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Daniel J. Bursky, Esq.; notices to the Company shall be directed to it at Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8EZ, UK, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017 Attention: Joseph A. Hall, Esq.; and notices to the Selling Shareholders shall be directed to the address of such shareholder on file with the Company, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice), in the case of the Sponsor Shareholder affiliated with Baring Private Equity Asia Limited, to (i) Ropes & Gray LLP, 191 North Wacker Drive, 32nd Floor, Chicago, IL 60606, Attention: Neill P. Jakobe, Esq. and (ii) Ropes & Gray LLP, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199, Attention Zachary Blume, Esq. and, with a copy (which shall not constitute notice), in the case of the Sponsor Shareholders affiliated with Onex Corporation, to Latham & Watkins LLP, 555
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Eleventh Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004 Attention: Rachel W. Sheridan, Esq. and Shagufa R. Hossain, Esq.
Section 13. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company and each Selling Shareholder acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering of the Securities and the process leading thereto, each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any of the Selling Shareholders or any of their respective shareholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or any Selling Shareholder with respect to the offering of the Securities or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any Selling Shareholder on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company or any Selling Shareholder with respect to the offering of the Securities except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and each Selling Shareholder, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Securities and the Company and each Selling Shareholder has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
Section 14. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and each Selling Shareholder and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Company, the Selling Shareholders and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, the Selling Shareholders and their respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 15. Trial by Jury. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and Affiliates), each of the Selling Shareholders and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 16. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF, THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CHOICE OF LAW PROVISIONS.
Section 17. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunity. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) shall be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan, unless any such Federal court determines that it lacks jurisdiction over a Related Proceeding in which case such Related Proceeding shall be instituted in the courts of the State of New York, in each case located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court
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(a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company irrevocably appoints Camelot U.S. Acquisition 1 Co. as its agent to receive service of process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and County of New York. With respect to any Related Proceeding, each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction, service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to which it might otherwise be entitled in the Specified Courts, and with respect to any Related Judgment, each party waives any such immunity in the Specified Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such Related Proceeding or Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity pursuant to the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended.
Section 18. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime.
As used in this Section 18:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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Section 19. Time. TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
Section 20. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
Section 21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed signature page bearing a manual, facsimile or other electronic signature to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g., by .PDF or .TIF file) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.
Section 22. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 23. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 24. Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
[Signature Pages Follow]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Shareholders in accordance with its terms.
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Very truly yours, |
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CLARIVATE PLC |
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[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
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ELGIN INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV LP |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER LP, its agent |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER GP ULC, its general partner |
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[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
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ONEX PARTNERS IV PV LP |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER LP, its agent |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER GP ULC, its general partner |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV SELECT LP |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS IV GP LLC, its general partner |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER LP, its agent |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
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[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
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ONEX PARTNERS IV GP LP |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER LP, its agent |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER GP ULC, its general partner |
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ONEX US PRINCIPALS LP |
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By: Onex American Holdings GP LLC, its general partners |
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ONEX CAMELOT CO-INVEST LP |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER LP, its agent |
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By: ONEX PARTNERS MANAGER GP ULC, its general partner |
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ONEX PARTNERS HOLDINGS LLC |
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[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
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New PCO II INVESTMENTS LTD. |
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[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
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APPOINTING SHAREHOLDERS |
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As Attorney-in-Fact acting on behalf of each of the Appointing Shareholders listed in Schedule B hereto |
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MERGER SHAREHOLDERS |
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As Attorney-in-Fact acting on behalf of each of the Merger Shareholders listed in Schedule B hereto |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.
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Title:
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GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC
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For themselves and as Representatives of the other
Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE A
The public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $[•].
The purchase price per share for the Securities to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $[•], being an amount equal to the public offering price set forth above less $[•] per share, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 2(b) for dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Initial Securities but not payable on the Option Securities.
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Name of Underwriter |
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Number of Initial Securities |
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
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[•] |
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
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[•] |
Total |
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[•] |
A-1
SCHEDULE B
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Number of
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Maximum Number of Option Securities
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Clarivate Plc |
[•] |
— |
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Sponsor Shareholders |
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Elgin Investment Holdings Limited |
[•] |
[•] |
Onex Partners IV LP |
[•] |
[•] |
Onex Partners IV PV LP |
[•] |
[•] |
Onex Partners IV Select LP |
[•] |
[•] |
Onex Partners IV GP LP |
[•] |
[•] |
Onex US Principals LP |
[•] |
[•] |
Onex Camelot Co-Invest LP |
[•] |
[•] |
Onex Partners Holdings LLC |
[•] |
[•] |
New PCO II Investments Ltd. |
[•] |
[•] |
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Appointing Shareholders |
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Andrea Degutis |
[•] |
— |
Armughan Rafat |
[•] |
— |
Christine Archbold |
[•] |
— |
David Brown |
[•] |
— |
David Lee Kochalko |
[•] |
— |
Janice Read |
[•] |
— |
Jay Nadler |
[•] |
[•] |
Jeff Roy |
[•] |
— |
Jeffrey Mastendino |
[•] |
— |
Julia Mair |
[•] |
— |
Kathleen Sullivan |
[•] |
— |
Mike Morhdardt |
[•] |
— |
Mukhtar Ahmed |
[•] |
— |
Richard Hanks |
[•] |
— |
Stephen Hartman |
[•] |
— |
Todd Fegan |
[•] |
— |
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Merger Shareholders |
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Merger Shareholder #1 |
[•] |
— |
Merger Shareholder #2 |
[•] |
— |
Merger Shareholder #3 |
[•] |
— |
Merger Shareholder #4 |
[•] |
— |
Merger Shareholder #5 |
[•] |
— |
Merger Shareholder #6 |
[•] |
— |
Merger Shareholder #7 |
[•] |
— |
Merger Shareholder #8 |
[•] |
— |
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Total |
[•] |
[•] |
B-1
SCHEDULE C-1
Pricing Terms
1. The Company is selling an aggregate of [] Ordinary Shares.
2. The Selling Shareholders are selling an aggregate of [] Ordinary Shares.
3. Certain of the Selling Shareholders have granted an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional [] Ordinary Shares.
4. The public offering price per share for the Securities shall be $[].
C-1-1
SCHEDULE C-2
Free Writing Prospectuses
None.
C-2-1
SCHEDULE D
List of Persons and Entities Subject to Lock-up
Onex Partners IV LP Onex Partners IV PV LP Onex Partners IV Select LP Onex Partners IV GP LP Onex US Principals LP Onex Camelot Co-Invest LP Onex Partners Holdings LLC New PCO II Investments Ltd. Elgin Investment Holdings Limited Jeff Roy Mukhtar Ahmed Jerre Stead Richard Hanks
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Stephen Hartman Anthony Munk Balakrishnan S. Iyer Charles J. Neral Karen G. Mills Kosty Gilis Michael Klein Nicholas Macksey Sheryl von Blucher Jane Okun Bomba Richard Roedel
Each of the Appointing Shareholders and Merger
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D-1
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
[•], 2020
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013
c/o Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, New York 10282
[Clarivate Plc
Friars House, 160 Blackfriars Road
London, SE1 8EZ, United Kingdom]1
Re: Proposed Public Offering by Clarivate Plc
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, a [shareholder] [and] [an officer] [and/or] [director] of Clarivate Plc, a public limited company formed under the laws of Jersey, Channel Islands (the “Company”), understands that Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (collectively, the “Representatives”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with the Company and the selling shareholders to be named therein (the “Selling Shareholders”) providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of ordinary shares of the Company, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In recognition of the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a [shareholder] [and] [an officer] [and/or] [director] of the Company, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the Underwriting Agreement [and the Company]2 that, during the period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the date that is 60 days from the date of the Underwriting Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any Ordinary Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Ordinary Shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up Securities”), or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any of the Lock-Up Securities, or file or cause to be filed any registration statement in connection therewith, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of Ordinary Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer the Lock-Up Securities without the prior written consent of the Representatives [or the Company]3; provided that with respect to transfers set forth in clauses (i) through (vi) below: (1) the Representatives
1 Bracketed address to be included only in Sponsor Shareholders lock-up agreements.
2 Bracketed address to be included only in Sponsor Shareholders lock-up agreements.
3 Bracketed address to be included only in Sponsor Shareholders lock-up agreements.
Exh. A-1
[and the Company]4 receive a signed lock-up agreement having the same restrictions as the foregoing restrictions for the balance of the Lock-Up Period from each donee, trustee, distributee, or transferee, as the case may be; (2) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value [(other than, with respect to each of (iii) and (iv) below, dispositions for value in connection with transfers for the purpose of tax-efficient structuring)]5; and (3) the undersigned does not voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers:
(i) (A) by way of testate or intestate succession or by operation of law or (B) pursuant to an order of a court or regulatory agency; or
(ii) as a bona fide gift or gifts; or
(iii) if the Lock-Up Securities are held by a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, to any of its subsidiaries, shareholders, partners, members or affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act); or
(iv) to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by, or under common control or management with, the undersigned; or
(v) to any members of the immediate family of the undersigned or to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); or
(vi) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to which a transfer would be permissible under clauses (ii) through (v) above;
(vii) any transfer pursuant to a bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction made to all holders of Ordinary Shares involving a change of control (as defined below) of the Company that occurs after the consummation of the Public Offering (provided that, in the event that such tender offer, merger, consolidation or other such transaction is not completed, the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall remain subject to the restrictions contained in this agreement); [or]
[(viii) from an executive officer to the Company or its parent entities upon death, disability or termination of employment, in each case, of such executive officer; or]6
[(viii)]-[(ix)] the sale of Ordinary Shares by the undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
Furthermore, the undersigned may sell Ordinary Shares of the Company purchased by the undersigned on the open market following the Public Offering if and only if (i) such sales are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise and (ii) the undersigned does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such sales.
For purposes of clause (vii) above, “change of control” shall mean the consummation of any bona fide third party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction the result of which is that any “person” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), or group of persons, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of a majority of total voting power of the voting stock of the Company.
4 Bracketed address to be included only in Sponsor Shareholders lock-up agreements.
5 Bracketed language to be included only in Sponsor Shareholders lock-up agreement.
6 Bracketed language to be included only in lock-up agreements for natural persons.
Exh. A-2
The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (i) the registration of any Lock-Up Securities on a registration statement of the Company on a Form S-3 (a “Shelf Registration Statement”); provided that no sales of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall be made pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, or (ii) the establishment after the date hereof of any contract, instruction or plan (a “Plan”) that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1) under the Exchange Act; provided that no sales of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities shall be made pursuant to such a Plan prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, and such a Plan may only be established if no public announcement of the establishment or existence thereof and no public filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other regulatory authority in respect thereof or transactions thereunder or contemplated thereby, by the undersigned or the Company, shall be required, and no such announcement or filing is made voluntarily, by the undersigned or the Company, prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the foregoing restrictions shall also not apply to dispositions of Ordinary Shares to the Company (i) to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the exercise of options to purchase Ordinary Shares or (ii) to effect the “cashless exercise” or “net exercise” of options to purchase Ordinary Shares, provided that, in the case of either (i) or (ii), no public filing or disclosure of such receipt or transfer by or on behalf of the undersigned shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-Up Period.
The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
This Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
This agreement shall lapse and become null and void if (i) prior to entering the Underwriting Agreement, the Company and/or the Selling Shareholders notify the Representatives in writing that they do not intend to proceed with the Public Offering, (ii) the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Representatives have not entered into the Underwriting Agreement on or before June 15, 2020 (iii) for any reason the Underwriting Agreement is terminated (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) prior to the Closing Time (as defined therein) or (iv) the Registration Statement related to the Public Offering is withdrawn.
[Signature page follows]
Exh. A-3
Very truly yours, |
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[Exact Name of Shareholder / Director / Officer] |
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By: |
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Authorized Signature |
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Title: |
Exh. A-4
EXHIBIT B
Form of Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate
[•], 2020
I, Richard Hanks, Chief Financial Officer of Clarivate Plc (the “Company”), hereby certify on behalf of the Company (and not in my personal capacity) that:
1. I am providing this certificate in connection with the offering by the Company and the Selling Shareholders of [•] ordinary shares (the “Shares”) pursuant to (a) the Registration Statement, (b) the preliminary prospectus, dated [•], 2020 (the “Preliminary Prospectus”), and the information contained in Schedule C-1 to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) (together with the Preliminary Prospectus, the “General Disclosure Package”) and (c) the underwriting agreement, dated [•], 2020 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among the Company, certain shareholders of the Company (the “Selling Shareholders”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, as representatives for the several underwriters listed on Schedule A thereto (the “Underwriters”).
2. I am familiar with the accounting, operations and record systems of the Company. I have (i) reviewed the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and General Disclosure Package and (ii) supervised the compilation of and reviewed the circled items contained in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and General Disclosure Package attached as Annex A hereto.
3. In connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and General Disclosure Package, I have reviewed the circled items contained in the Preliminary Prospectus and General Disclosure Package attached as Annex A and compared such information to the relevant accounting books and records of the Company and found such items to be in agreement.
4. The statements with respect to expected cost synergies in connection with the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding equity interests of Decision Resources Inc. and its subsidiaries, Millennium Research Group Inc., Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries and its associates, DRG Singapore Pte. Ltd, Japan branch of PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V., DRG Holdco Inc. and Piramal IPP Holdings LLC, included in the Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been made on a reasonable basis and in good faith.
Capitalized terms used herein and not herein defined have the meaning given thereto in the Underwriting Agreement. This certificate is being delivered pursuant to Section 5(m) of the Underwriting Agreement to assist the Underwriters and their advisers in conducting and documenting their investigation in connection with the offering of the Shares.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
Ex B-1
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed and delivered this certificate on behalf of the Company, and not in his personal capacity, as of the date first written above.
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By: |
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Name: Richard Hanks |
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Title: Chief Financial Officer |
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Ex B-2
Exhibits 5.1 and 23.2
Clarivate Plc 4th Floor, St Paul's Gate 22-24 New Street St Helier Jersey JE1 4TR |
D: +44 1534 514071 |
E: richard.daggett@ogier.com |
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Ref: RJD/APS/178835.00002 |
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1 June 2020 |
Dear Sirs
Clarivate Plc (the Company) — Registration under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act)
1 Background
1.1 In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333- ) (as amended, the Registration Statement) filed by the Company today with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act), you have asked us to furnish our opinion as to the legality of the securities being registered under the Registration Statement.
1.2 The Registration Statement relates to the registration by the Company under the Securities Act of a public offering by:
(a) the Company of 14,000,000 ordinary shares of no par value in the Company (the New Shares); and
(b) the selling shareholders identified therein of ordinary shares of no par value in the Company, including shares which may be offered and sold upon the exercise of the option to purchase additional shares granted to the underwriters by certain of the selling shareholders (the Selling Shareholders' Shares and, together with the New Shares, the Shares).
1.3 In this opinion, "non-assessable" means, in relation to a Share, that the consideration for which the Company agreed to issue that Share (as applicable) has been paid in full to the Company, so that no further sum is payable to the Company by any holder of that Share in respect of the purchase price of that Share.
2 Documents examined
2.1 For the purposes of giving this opinion, we have examined and relied upon such documents as we deem appropriate, including the following documents:
(a) the Registration Statement;
(b) a letter referred to as the sponsor agreement dated 14 January 2019 between, amongst others, Churchill Sponsor LLC, Churchill Capital Corp, Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited and the Company (the Sponsor Agreement);
(c) an amendment to the Sponsor Agreement dated 1 June 2020 between the Company and Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited;
(d) the Company’s memorandum and articles of association in force as at the date hereof (the M&A);
(e) a true copy of minutes of two board meetings of the directors of the Company held on 9 January 2019, written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 26 February 2019 and 13 May 2019 and an extract of minutes of a further board meeting held on 29 May 2020 at which the directors (among other things) approved the allotment of the Shares;
(f) the Company’s certificate of incorporation and certificate of incorporation on change of name;
(g) a consent to issue shares dated 7 January 2019 issued to the Company by the Jersey Financial Services Commission (the Commission) under the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958, as amended (the COBO Consent);
(h) a certificate signed by a director of the Company dated on or around the date of this opinion; and
(i) a true copy of the branch register of members maintained by Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
2.2 For the purposes of this opinion, we have, with the Company's consent, relied upon certificates and other assurances of directors and other officers of the Company as to matters of fact, without having independently verified such factual matters.
3 Assumptions
3.1 For the purposes of this opinion, we have assumed:
(a) the authenticity, accuracy, completeness and conformity to original documents of all copy documents and certificates of officers of the Company examined by us;
(b) that the signatures on all documents examined by us are the genuine signatures of persons authorised to execute or certify such documents;
(c) the accuracy and completeness in every respect of all certificates of directors or other officers of the Company given to us for the purposes of giving this Opinion and that (where relevant) such certificates would be accurate if they have been given as of the date hereof;
(d) that the Company will receive in full the consideration for which the Company agreed to issue the New Shares;
(e) that the Company has received in full the consideration for which the Company agreed to issue the Selling Shareholders' Shares;
(f) that words and phrases used in the Registration Statement have the same meaning and effect as they would if the Registration Statement were governed by Jersey law;
(g) that no other event occurs after the date hereof which would affect the opinions herein stated;
(h) that there is no provision of the law or regulation of any jurisdiction other than Jersey which would have any adverse implication in relation to the opinion expressed hereunder; and
(i) that there has been no amendment to the COBO Consent.
4 Opinions
4.1 As a matter of Jersey law, and on the basis of and subject to the foregoing and the qualifications below, we are of the following opinions:
(a) the New Shares have been duly authorised and, when issued as contemplated in the Registration Statement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(b) the Selling Shareholders' Shares have been duly authorised and, other than the Sweetener Shares (as defined in the Sponsor Agreement), are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and
(c) the Sweetener Shares, when issued as contemplated in the Sponsor Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
5 Qualifications
5.1 This Opinion is subject to the following qualification:
(a) the obligations of the Company under, or in respect of, the Shares will be subject to any law from time to time in force relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation or administration or any other law or legal procedure affecting generally the enforcement of creditors' rights.
6 Governing Law, Limitations, Benefit and Disclosure
6.1 This Opinion shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Jersey and is limited to the matters expressly stated herein.
6.2 This Opinion is limited to matters of Jersey law and practice as at the date hereof and we have made no investigation and express no opinion with respect to the law or practice of any other jurisdiction.
6.3 We assume no obligation to advise you (to any other person who may rely on this Opinion in accordance with this paragraph), or undertake any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising after the date of the Opinion that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
6.4 We consent to the filing of a copy of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to reference to us being made in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Ogier (Jersey) LLP |
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Ogier (Jersey) LLP |
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Exhibit 10.5
CLARIVATE PLC
Friars House
160 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8EZ United Kingdom
June 1, 2020
Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited
Friars House
160 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8EZ United Kingdom
Re: Amendment to Sponsor Agreement (this “Agreement”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Sponsor Agreement, dated January 14, 2019 (as amended, the “Sponsor Agreement”) by and among Churchill Capital Corp, a Delaware corporation (“Churchill”), Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of the Island of Jersey (the “Company”), Clarivate Plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of the Island of Jersey (“Holdings”), Churchill Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Sponsor”), Garden State Capital Partners LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the Founders (as defined therein). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in the Sponsor Agreement.
WHEREAS, paragraph 5(b) of the Sponsor Agreement provides terms with respect to the allotment and issuance by Holdings of 7,000,000 newly-issued ordinary shares of Holdings (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, called sweetener shares in the Sponsor Agreement but henceforth shall be called the “Merger Shares”);
WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company has determined to waive the stock price level performance condition described in Section 5(b) of the Sponsor Agreement with respect to the Merger Shares and that the Merger Shares shall be issued on or prior to December 31, 2020 (but not during the continuance of any ordinary share lock-up imposed by underwriters in connection with a Holdings offering applicable to recipients of Merger Shares (as defined below), unless such a lock-up is in existence on December 31, 2020); and
WHEREAS, Holdings may, subject to the terms of that certain Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement dated May 13, 2019, file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time one or more registration statements to register the offer and sale of ordinary shares of Holdings on its own behalf and/or on behalf of certain selling shareholders (any such offering, a “Registered Offering”).
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed that:
Section 1. Amendments. Effective as of the date hereof, the Sponsor Agreement is amended pursuant to Paragraph 12 thereof as follows:
a. Paragraph 5(b) of the Sponsor Agreement is hereby amended by amending and restating Paragraph 5(b) to read in its entirety as follows:
“(b) On or prior to December 31, 2020 (but not during the continuance of any ordinary share lock-up imposed by underwriters in connection with a Holdings offering applicable to recipients of Merger Shares (as defined below), unless such a lock-up is in existence on December 31, 2020), Holdings shall allot and issue to such Persons as are designated pursuant to this paragraph 5(b) 7,000,000 newly-issued ordinary shares of Holdings (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like, the “Merger Shares”), which Merger Shares shall be issued for no additional consideration and in accordance with all applicable Laws, and such Merger Shares shall be issued, credited as fully paid-up. The Merger Shares shall be issued to Persons and in amounts designated in a written notice to Holdings given after the date hereof by Jerre Stead and Michael Klein (or, in the event of the death or incapacity of either, by his respective successor to such designation right, the identity of whom shall have been notified to Holdings in writing by the other). For avoidance of doubt, the Merger Shares are not Locked-up Holdings Securities and are not subject to the Founder Shares Lock-up Period.”
b. All references to “Sweetener Shares” in the Sponsor Agreement shall be replaced with “Merger Shares”.
c. The Sponsor Agreement shall hereby be deemed amended in all other respects necessary to permit the resale of Merger Shares by the holders thereof, including, but not limited to, the offer and sale of such Merger Shares in any Registered Offering, subject to the terms and conditions of the Registration Rights Agreement, to the extent applicable.
Section 2. Interpretation. Except as explicitly amended on March 29, 2019, September 3, 2019 and hereby, the Sponsor Agreement shall continue, without amendment, in full force and effect from and after the date hereof. On and after the date hereof, whenever the Sponsor Agreement is referred to in any agreements, documents, or instruments, such reference shall be deemed to be to the Sponsor Agreement as amended on March 29, 2019 and September 3, 2019 and as further amended by this Agreement.
Section 3. Representations and Warranties. Each of the Company and Holdings represents and warrants, as of the date hereof:
a. it is validly existing and (if applicable) in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and this Agreement is a legal, valid, and binding obligation of such party, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be
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limited by applicable laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability;
b. the entry into of, and the performance by it of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement do not, and will not, conflict in any material respect with any law or regulation applicable to it or with any of its articles of association, memorandum of association or other constitutional documents; and
c. except as expressly provided in this Agreement, it has all requisite corporate or other power and authority to enter into, execute, and deliver this Agreement and to perform its respective obligations under this Agreement.
Section 4. Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached, and that money damages or legal remedies would not be an adequate remedy for any such damages. Therefore, it is accordingly agreed that each party shall be entitled to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, or to enforce compliance with, the covenants and obligations of the other party, in any court of competent jurisdiction. Any person seeking an injunction, a decree or order of specific performance shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection therewith and any such remedy shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for, any other remedy to which such party is entitled at law or in equity.
Section 5. Miscellaneous. Sections 12 (Entire Agreement; Amendments), 13 (Assignment), 15 (Counterparts), 16 (Severability), 17 (Governing Law; Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial), and 18 (Notices) of the Sponsor Agreement are hereby incorporated into this Agreement by reference as if set forth in full herein, mutatis mutandis, and shall apply in all respects to this Agreement.
[Signature page follows.]
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Please signify your agreement with the foregoing Agreement by signing where indicated below.
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Sincerely, |
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CLARIVATE PLC |
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By: |
/s/ Jerre L. Stead |
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Name: |
Jerre L. Stead |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
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ACCEPTED AND AGREED |
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as of the date first written above: |
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CAMELOT HOLDINGS (JERSEY) LIMITED |
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By: |
/s/ Stephen Hartman |
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Name: |
Stephen Hartman |
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Title: |
Director |
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[Signature Page to Amendment to Sponsor Agreement]
Exhibit 10.9
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
Friars House
160 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8EZ
January 18, 2020
To the Investor Shareholders
Under the Below-Referenced Registration Rights Agreement
Re:Waiver and First Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement
Dear Sirs:
We refer to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2019, by and among Clarivate Analytics Plc, a public limited company organized under the laws of the Island of Jersey (the “Company”), Churchill Capital Corp, a Delaware corporation, Churchill Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the other Holders identified on the signature pages thereto (the “Registration Rights Agreement”); capitalized terms being used herein as therein defined.
On January 17, 2020, the Company announced that it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Decision Resources Group for $950 million, $900 million of which is payable in cash (together with any additional cash used by the Company to pay expenses incidental to such acquisition, the “DRG Cash Consideration”). The Company intends to conduct one or more registered offerings of Company Shares (each, a “DRG Primary Equity Offering”) in order to: (i) finance all or a portion of the DRG Cash Consideration or (ii) repay any indebtedness that may be incurred by the Company in order to finance all or a portion of the DRG Cash Consideration. The Company has requested, and you have agreed, to waive any and all notice, registration, piggy-back and other rights of Holders under the Registration Rights Agreement solely in connection with any DRG Primary Equity Offering that is completed on or prior to May 16, 2020.
In addition, in connection with any other future filing by the Company of a Registration Statement under the Securities Act, or any other Public Offering, for which advance written notice to Holders of Registrable Securities is required to be given under Section 2.2.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has requested, and you have agreed, that Section 2.2.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement is hereby amended to reduce the timeframe for the Company to provide such notice to Holders from “no less than ten (10) days” to “no less than five (5) days;” and the Company shall include in any such Registration Statement or Public Offering all such Registrable Securities which are requested to be included therein within five (5) days after the Company has given such notice, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement (except as amended pursuant to this sentence).
Kindly confirm your agreement to the foregoing by signing in the space provided below, whereupon the Registration Rights Agreement shall be deemed amended (and the waiver thereunder granted) pursuant to Sections 7.2 and 8.5 thereof on the terms specified above as of the date first above written. Except as amended hereby, the Registration Rights Agreement shall continue, without amendment, in full force and effect from and after the date first above written.
This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, as applied to contracts made and performed within the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.
Very truly yours,
CLARIVATE ANALYTICS PLC
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By: |
/s/ Jerre L. Stead |
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Name: |
Jerre L. Stead |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Confirmed and agreed.
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ONEX SHAREHOLDERS: |
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NEW PCO II INVESTMENTS LTD |
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By: |
/s/ Christopher A. Govan |
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Name: Christopher A. Govan |
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Title: Vice President |
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By: |
/s/ Michelle Iskander |
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Name: Michelle Iskander |
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Title: Secretary |
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ONEX PARTNERS HOLDINGS LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV PV LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LLC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV SELECT LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LLC, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV GP LP |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX US PRINCIPALS LP |
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By: Onex US Principals GP LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Director |
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ONEX CAMELOT CO-INVEST LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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BARING SHAREHOLDER |
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ELGIN INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED |
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By: |
For and on behalf of VSG Corporate Limited |
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/s/ Siddharth Swarup |
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Name: VSG Corporate Limited |
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Title: Director |
The undersigned hereby consents to the amendments to (and the waiver granted under) the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to Sections 7.2 and 8.5 thereof on the terms described above on behalf of each Sponsor Holder.
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SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVE |
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JERRE L. STEAD |
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solely in his capacity as Sponsor Representative |
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By: |
/s/ Jerre L. Stead |
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Name: Jerre L. Stead |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 10.10
CLARIVATE PLC
Friars House
160 Blackfriars Road
London SE1 8EZ
June 1, 2020
To the Investor Shareholders and the Sponsor Holders
Under the Below-Referenced Registration Rights Agreement
Re:Waiver and Second Amendment to Registration Rights Agreement
Dear Sirs:
We refer to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2019, by and among Clarivate Plc (f/k/a/ Clarivate Analytics Plc), a public limited company organized under the laws of the Island of Jersey (the “Company”), Churchill Capital Corp, a Delaware corporation, Churchill Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and the other Holders identified on the signature pages thereto (as amended through the date hereof, the “Registration Rights Agreement”); capitalized terms being used herein as therein defined. We also refer to the Sponsor Agreement dated January 14, 2019, as amended, by and among Churchill Capital Corp., Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited, a private limited company organized under the laws of the Island of Jersey, the Company and other parties thereto (the “Sponsor Agreement”).
The Onex Shareholders have made a written request on May 28, 2020 pursuant to Section 2.1.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement to the Company for the Registration of certain Registrable Securities held by the Onex Shareholders (the “Onex Demand Registration”).
The Company has requested, and you have agreed, to waive any and all notice, registration, piggy-back and other rights of Holders (other than the rights of the Investor Shareholders) under the Registration Rights Agreement solely in connection with the sale of certain Registrable Securities held by the Investor Shareholders pursuant to the Onex Demand Registration (the “Secondary Offering”). Such waiver as contemplated herein will expire and have no continuing force and effect if the sale of all Registrable Securities requested by the Investor Shareholders to be included in the Secondary Offering is not consummated by June 30, 2020. The parties hereto acknowledge that such waiver is without prejudice to the Company’s ability (i) to offer and sell up to 14,000,000 newly issued ordinary shares on its own behalf in connection with the Secondary Offering or (ii) to offer to include in the Demand Registration Statement for the Secondary Offering up to 9,752,991 Registrable Securities held by such Holders (other than the Investor Shareholders) as the Company may determine and designate in its sole discretion (provided that the inclusion of such Registrable Securities in such Demand Registration Statement does not reduce the number of Registrable Securities requested and permitted to be sold by the Investor Shareholders in the Secondary Offering).
In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company at its meeting held on January 31, 2020, approved an amendment to the Sponsor Agreement, which amendment was entered into on the date hereof, to, among other things, waive the stock price level performance condition described in Section 5(b) of the Sponsor Agreement with respect to the Merger Shares (as defined in the Sponsor Agreement). The Company has requested, and you have agreed, that Section 2.3 of the Registration Rights Agreement be hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no Registration Statement shall become effective, (a) with respect to any Registrable Securities held by any Sponsor Holder (other than the Merger Shares, as such term is defined
in the Sponsor Agreement), until after the expiration of the Founder Shares Lock-up Period, and (b) with respect to any Registrable Securities held by any Investor Shareholder, until after the expiration of the Investor Shareholder Lock-up Period.”
Kindly confirm your agreement to the foregoing by signing in the space provided below, whereupon the Registration Rights Agreement shall be deemed amended (and the waiver thereunder granted) pursuant to Sections 7.2 and 8.5 thereof on the terms specified above as of the date first above written. Except as amended hereby, the Registration Rights Agreement shall continue, without amendment, in full force and effect from and after the date first above written.
This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, as applied to contracts made and performed within the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law.
Very truly yours,
CLARIVATE PLC
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By: |
/s/ Jerre L. Stead |
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Name: |
Jerre L. Stead |
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Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
Confirmed and agreed.
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ONEX SHAREHOLDERS: |
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NEW PCO II INVESTMENTS LTD |
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By: |
/s/ Michelle Iskander |
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Name: Michelle Iskander |
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Title: Secretary |
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ONEX PARTNERS HOLDINGS LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV PV LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LLC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV SELECT LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LLC, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX PARTNERS IV GP LP |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX US PRINCIPALS LP |
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By: Onex US Principals GP LLC |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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ONEX CAMELOT CO-INVEST LP |
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By: Onex Partners IV GP LP, its general partner |
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By: Onex Partners Manager LP, its agent |
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By: Onex Partners Manager GP ULC, its general partner |
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By: |
/s/ Joshua Hausman |
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Name: Joshua Hausman |
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Title: Managing Director |
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By: |
/s/ Matthew Ross |
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Name: Matthew Ross |
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Title: Managing Director |
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BARING SHAREHOLDER |
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ELGIN INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED |
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For and on behalf of VSG Corporate Limited |
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By: |
/s/ Siddharth Swarup |
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Name: VSG Corporate Limited |
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Title: Director |
The undersigned hereby consents to the amendments to (and the waiver granted under) the Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to Sections 7.2 and 8.5 thereof on the terms described above on behalf of each Sponsor Holder.
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SPONSOR REPRESENTATIVE |
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JERRE L. STEAD |
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solely in his capacity as Sponsor Representative |
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By: |
/s/ Jerre L. Stead |
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Name: Jerre L. Stead |
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Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit 21.1
LIST OF SUBSIDIARIES
AS OF JUNE 1, 2020
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Entity Name |
Jurisdiction of
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BlackB Sprl |
Belgium |
Camelot Finance S.A. |
Luxembourg |
Camelot Holdings (Jersey) Limited |
Jersey |
Camelot UK Bidco Limited |
United Kingdom |
Camelot UK Holdco Limited |
United Kingdom |
Camelot UK Top Holdco Limited |
United Kingdom |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 1 Co. |
Delaware |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 2 Co. |
Delaware |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 4 Co. |
Delaware |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 5 Co. |
Delaware |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 6 Co. |
Delaware |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition 7 Co. |
Delaware |
Camelot U.S. Acquisition LLC |
Delaware |
Centre for Medicines Research International Limited |
United Kingdom |
Clarivate Analytics (Belgium) N.V. |
Belgium |
Clarivate Analytics (Compumark) Inc. |
Delaware |
Clarivate Analytics (Deutschland) GmbH |
Germany |
Clarivate Analytics (Japan) Co., Ltd |
Japan |
Clarivate Analytics (UK) Limited |
United Kingdom |
Clarivate Analytics (US) LLC |
Delaware |
Clarivate Analytics Scientific Information Services (Beijing) Company Ltd. |
China |
Crossbow IP Services LLC |
Delaware |
Darts-ip Case Law Sprl |
Belgium |
Darts-ip Sprl |
Belgium |
Decision Resources Group Asia Ltd |
Hong Kong |
Decision Resources Group UK Limited |
United Kingdom |
Decision Resources, Inc. |
Delaware |
Decision Resources International, Inc. |
Massachusetts |
Decision Resources Japan K.K. |
Japan |
DR / Decision Resources, LLC |
Delaware |
DRG Analytics and Insights Pvt. Ltd |
India |
DRG Holdco Inc. |
Delaware |
DRG Singapore Pte Limited |
Singapore |
Longbow Legal Limited |
Hong Kong |
Longbow Legal Services Inc. |
Delaware |
Longbow Legal Services Private Limited |
India |
MarkMonitor Inc. |
Delaware |
Millennium Research Group |
Canada |
Sharp Insight Limited |
United Kingdom |
Sigmatic Limited |
United Kingdom |
TRCPL Projects Private Limited |
India |
Zarabatana Soluceos e Informatica Ltda. |
Brazil |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Clarivate Plc (formerly known as Clarivate Analytics Plc) of our report dated March 2, 2020 relating to the financial statements of Clarivate Analytics Plc, which appears in this Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 1, 2020
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the inclusion in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Clarivate Plc of our report dated May 13, 2020, with respect to the combined financial statements of DRG Holdco Inc and its subsidiaries DRG Analytics & Insights Private Limited and the following subsidiaries/branches of PEL-DRG Dutch Holdco B.V. 1) Millennium Research Group Inc.; 2) Decision Resources Group UK Limited and its subsidiaries; 3) DRG Singapore Pte. Ltd and 4) Japan branch, which comprise the combined balance sheets as at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 and the related combined statements of comprehensive loss, combined statement of changes in the stockholder’s equity and combined statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and the related notes to the combined financial statements, in each case included in this Registration Statement, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
/s/ KNAV P.A.
KNAV P.A.
Atlanta, Georgia
June 1, 2020