Exhibit 2.01

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

10 August 2021

RECOMMENDED MERGER

of

AVAST PLC

with

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.

to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

Summary

in respect of their entire holding of Avast Shares (the “Majority Cash Option”). Based on NortonLifeLock’s closing share price of USD 27.20 on 13 July 2021 (being the last Business Day on which NortonLifeLock Shares traded on NASDAQ before the commencement of the Offer Period in relation to the Merger) and the Announcement Exchange Rate, the Majority Cash Option values each Avast Share at 608.4 pence per share (USD 8.43 per share).

in respect of their entire holding of Avast Shares (the “Majority Stock Option”). Based on NortonLifeLock’s closing share price of USD 27.20 on 13 July 2021 (being the last Business Day on which NortonLifeLock Shares traded on NASDAQ before the commencement of the Offer Period in relation to the Merger) and the Announcement Exchange Rate, the Majority Stock Option values each Avast Share at 551.1 pence per share (USD 7.64 per share).

Agreed Avast Dividends

Summary Strategic and Financial Rationale for the Merger

The Combined Company

Recommendation and irrevocable undertakings

Timetable and Conditions

Commenting on the Merger, Vincent Pilette, Chief Executive Officer of NortonLifeLock, said:

“This transaction is a huge step forward for consumer Cyber Safety and will ultimately enable us to achieve our vision to protect and empower people to live their digital lives safely. With this combination, we can strengthen our Cyber Safety platform and make it available to more than 500 million users. We will also have the ability to further accelerate innovation to transform Cyber Safety.”

Commenting on the Merger, Ondrej Vlcek, Chief Executive Officer of Avast, said:

“The Avast Board believes the proposed merger of Avast and NortonLifeLock creates a united Cyber Safety business of compelling strategic scale, unlocking value for shareholders today with considerable potential upside. With NortonLifeLock, Avast will be even better positioned to pursue its ambitions and evolve its product portfolio to meet the demand of today’s consumers. It is clear that both NortonLifeLock and Avast have a shared vision of protecting the consumer’s digital life and together will be better able to deliver value for all stakeholders.

Avast’s long-standing mission has been to enable a digital world that provides safety and privacy for all. Our proposed merger with NortonLifeLock is a major step forward along this path, creating a world-leading consumer Cyber Safety business which combines Avast’s strength in privacy and NortonLifeLock’s strength in identity protection. United, our highly complementary product portfolios will have far-reaching benefits, significantly enhancing our ability to drive innovation through R&D, and accelerating the transformation of our Cyber Safety platform for our more than half a billion combined users.

At a time when global cyber threats are growing, yet cyber safety penetration remains very low, together with NortonLifeLock, we will be able to accelerate our shared vision of providing holistic cyber protection for consumers around the globe. Our talented teams will have better opportunities to innovate and develop enhanced solutions and services, with improved capabilities from access to superior data insights. Through our well-established brands, greater geographic diversification and access to a larger global user base, the combined businesses will be poised to access the significant growth opportunity that exists worldwide.”

This summary should be read in conjunction with, and is subject to, the full text of this Announcement, including its Appendices. The Merger will be subject to the Conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement, and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix 2 to this Announcement contains the bases and sources of certain information used in the summary and in the full text of this Announcement. Appendix 3 to this Announcement contains details of the irrevocable undertakings received in relation to the Merger that are referred to in this Announcement. Appendix 4 to this Announcement contains details and bases of belief of the anticipated quantified financial benefits of the Merger and copies of the related reports from NortonLifeLock’s reporting accountants, Deloitte, and its financial adviser, Evercore. Appendix 5 to this Announcement contains the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast, and the assumptions, basis of preparation and the NortonLifeLock Directors’ confirmation relating thereto. Appendix 6 to this Announcement contains the Avast Profit Forecast, and the assumptions, basis of preparation and the Avast Directors’ confirmation relating thereto. Appendix 7 to this Announcement contains definitions of certain terms used in this Announcement. For the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code, the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement contained in this Announcement is the responsibility of NortonLifeLock and the NortonLifeLock Directors. Each of Deloitte and Evercore has given and not withdrawn its consent to the publication of its respective report in this Announcement in the form and context in which it is included.

Investor Call

A joint investor conference call regarding the Merger will take place on 10 August 2021 at 2 p.m. PT time / 5 p.m. ET time.

Live webcasts of the conference call, including the presentations, will be published on the investor relations sections of NortonLifeLock’s and Avast’s respective websites.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Macfarlanes LLP are retained as (respectively) US and UK legal advisers to NortonLifeLock. White & Case LLP is retained as legal adviser to Avast.

Important notices relating to financial advisors

Evercore Partners International LLP (“Evercore”), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to NortonLifeLock and Bidco and no one else in connection with the Merger and will not be responsible to anyone other than NortonLifeLock or Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Evercore nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Evercore nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Evercore in connection with any matter referred to herein or otherwise. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Evercore by FSMA, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Evercore nor any of its affiliates accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the contents of this Announcement, and no representation, express or implied, is made by it, or purported to be made on its behalf, in relation to any matter referred to herein, including its accuracy, completeness or verification, or any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with NortonLifeLock, Bidco or the matters described in this Announcement. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Evercore and its affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which it or they might otherwise have in respect of this Announcement or any statement contained herein.

UBS AG London Branch (“UBS”) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. It is authorised by the PRA and subject to regulation by the FCA and limited regulation by the PRA in the United Kingdom. UBS provided financial and corporate broking advice to Avast and no one else in connection with the process or contents of this Announcement. In connection with such matters, UBS will not regard any other person as its client, nor will it be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the process, contents of this Announcement or any other matter referred to herein.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove, (“J.P. Morgan Cazenove”) and which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the PRA and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Avast and no one else in connection with the Merger and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Merger and shall not be responsible to anyone other than Avast for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, nor for providing advice in connection with the Merger or any matter or arrangement referred to herein.

No offer or solicitation

This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any part of, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Merger or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law or regulation. In particular, this announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. Any securities issued as part of the Merger are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act.

The Merger will be implemented solely in accordance with the Scheme Document (or, in the event that the Merger is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the offer document), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Merger, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any voting decision or response in relation to the Merger should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document, the Forms of Proxy, the Form of Election and the NortonLifeLock Prospectus.

This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus exempted document.

This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions other than England and Wales.

Important additional information will be filed with the SEC

This Announcement may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the Merger, including the issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares. In connection with the proposed issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares, NortonLifeLock is expected to file the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement with the SEC. To the extent NortonLifeLock effects the Merger as a Scheme under English law, the issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares would not be expected to require registration under the U.S. Securities Act pursuant to an exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act. If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, it will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that will contain a prospectus with respect to the issuance of New NortonLifeLock Shares. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, NORTONLIFELOCK’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT (IF ANY) CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER. NortonLifeLock’s shareholders and investors will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement (or, if applicable, the registration statement on Form S-4), including the Scheme Document (or, if applicable the offer document), and other relevant documents filed with the SEC (when available) from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. NortonLifeLock’s shareholders and investors will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement, including the Scheme Document (or, if applicable the offer document), and other relevant documents (when available) by directing a written request to NortonLifeLock (Attention: Investor Relations), or from NortonLifeLock’s website at https://investor.nortonlifelock.com/.

Participants in the solicitation

NortonLifeLock, Bidco and certain of their directors and executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of NortonLifeLock in respect of the Merger, including the proposed issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of NortonLifeLock in connection with the Merger, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set out in the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding NortonLifeLock’s directors and executive officers is contained in NortonLifeLock’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2 April 2021 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated 28 July 2021, which are filed with the SEC.

Overseas shareholders

The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom (including Restricted Jurisdictions) should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of another jurisdiction to vote their Avast Shares in respect of the Scheme at the Meetings, or to execute and deliver the Forms of Proxy (appointing another to vote at the Meetings on their behalf) or the Form of Election, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or to which they are subject. Any failure to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements of any jurisdiction may constitute a violation of securities laws in that jurisdiction.

Copies of this Announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Merger are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction, including any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of acceptance of the Merger.

If the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Merger will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.

Further details in relation to Avast Shareholders in overseas jurisdictions will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Notice to U.S. investors in Avast

The Merger relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. A scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the U.S. Exchange Act and other requirements of U.S. law. Accordingly, the Merger is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable to a scheme of arrangement involving a target company in England listed on the London Stock Exchange, which differ from the disclosure requirements of U.S. tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the Takeover Offer into the U.S., the Merger will be made in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations.

The New NortonLifeLock Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The New NortonLifeLock Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger will be issued pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(10) under the U.S. Securities Act. If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, it will file a registration statement with the SEC that will contain a prospectus with respect to the issuance of New NortonLifeLock Shares. In this event, Avast Shareholders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information, and such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to NortonLifeLock’s Investor Relations team identified above.

New NortonLifeLock Shares issued to persons other than "affiliates" of NortonLifeLock (defined as certain control persons, within the meaning of Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act) will be freely transferable under US law after the Merger. Persons (whether or not US persons) who are or will be "affiliates" of NortonLifeLock within 90 days prior to, or of the Combined Company after, the Effective Date will be subject to certain transfer restrictions relating to the New NortonLifeLock Shares under US law.

Neither the SEC nor any U.S. state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the New NortonLifeLock Shares to be issued in connection with the Merger, or determined if this Announcement is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

Financial information relating to Avast included in this Announcement and to be included in the Scheme Document has been or will have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and may not be comparable to financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. U.S. GAAP differs in certain significant respects from accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom.

Avast is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. In addition, some of its officers and directors reside outside the United States, and some or all of its assets are or may be located in jurisdictions outside the United States. Therefore, investors may have difficulty effecting service of process within the United States upon those persons or recovering against Avast or its officers or directors on judgments of United States federal, state or district courts, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. It may not be possible to sue Avast or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities laws.

Forward-looking statements

This Announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the NortonLifeLock Group and the Avast Group. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “anticipate”, “target”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “goal”, “believe”, “aim”, “will”, “may”, “would”, “could” or “should” or other words of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, economic performance, financial conditions, dividend policy, losses and future prospects, (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of the operations of the NortonLifeLock Group or the Avast Group, and (iii) the effects of government regulation on the business of the NortonLifeLock Group or the Avast Group. There are many factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such factors include the possibility that the Merger will not be completed on a timely basis or at all, whether due to the failure to satisfy the conditions of the Merger (including approvals or clearances from regulatory and other agencies and bodies) or otherwise, general business and economic conditions globally, industry trends, competition, changes in government and other regulation, changes in political and economic stability, disruptions in business operations due to reorganisation activities, interest rate and currency fluctuations, the inability of the Combined Company to realise successfully any anticipated synergy benefits when (and if) the Merger is implemented, the inability of the Combined Company to integrate successfully the operations of the NortonLifeLock Group and the Avast Group when (and if) the Merger is implemented and the Combined Company incurring and/or experiencing unanticipated costs and/or delays or difficulties relating to the Merger when (and if) it is implemented. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Risk Factors sections of NortonLifeLock’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, the contents of which are not incorporated by reference into, nor do they form part of, this Announcement.

These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of such persons and the environment in which each will operate in the future. By their nature, these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, as well as uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this Announcement may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of any such person, or industry results and developments, to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading this Announcement are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this Announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to the NortonLifeLock Group or the Avast Group or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. None of NortonLifeLock, Bidco or Avast undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rules.

No profit forecasts or estimates

The NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast is a profit forecast for the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code. The NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast, the assumptions and basis of preparation on which the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast is based and the NortonLifeLock Directors’ confirmation, as required by Rule 28.1 of the Code, are set out in Appendix 5 to this Announcement.

The Avast Profit Forecast is a profit forecast for the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code. The Avast Profit Forecast, the assumptions and basis of preparation on which the Avast Profit Forecast is based and the Avast Directors’ confirmation, as required by Rule 28.1 of the Code, are set out in Appendix 6 to this Announcement.

Other than in respect of the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast and the Avast Profit Forecast, no statement in this Announcement is intended as, or is to be construed as, a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per ordinary share, for NortonLifeLock or Avast, respectively for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per ordinary share for NortonLifeLock or Avast, respectively.

For the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code: (i) the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast contained in this Announcement is the responsibility of NortonLifeLock and the NortonLifeLock Directors; and (ii) the Avast Profit Forecast contained in this Announcement is the responsibility of Avast and the Avast Directors.

Use of Non-GAAP financial information

NortonLifeLock uses the non-GAAP measures of operating margin, which are adjusted from results based on U.S. GAAP and exclude certain expenses, gains and losses. NortonLifeLock also provides the non-GAAP metric of free cash flow, which is defined as cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user’s understanding of NortonLifeLock’s past financial performance and its prospects for the future. NortonLifeLock’s management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing NortonLifeLock’s performance, as well as in planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures are not computed according to U.S. GAAP and the methods used by NortonLifeLock to compute them may differ from the methods used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental, should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with NortonLifeLock’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

NortonLifeLock is unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures because certain information is dependent on future events, some of which are outside the control of NortonLifeLock. Moreover, estimating such U.S. GAAP financial measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort.

Quantified Financial Benefits Statement

Statements of estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, the cost savings and synergies referred to in the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. No statement in the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, or this Announcement generally, should be construed as a profit forecast (other than the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast and the Avast Profit Forecast) or interpreted to mean that the Combined Company’s earnings in the first full year following the Effective Date of the Scheme, or in any subsequent period, would necessarily match or be greater than or be less than those of Avast and/or NortonLifeLock for the relevant preceding financial period or any other period.

For the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code, the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement contained in this Announcement is the responsibility of NortonLifeLock and the NortonLifeLock Directors.

Publication on website

A copy of this Announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26.1 and Rule 26.2 of the Code will be made available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions) on NortonLifeLock’s website (at https://investor.nortonlifelock.com/) and on Avast’s website (at https://investors.avast.com/) by no later than 12 noon London time on the business day following the date of this Announcement. Neither the contents of these websites nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such websites is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.

Requesting hard copy documents

In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, a person so entitled may request a copy of this Announcement (and any information incorporated into it by reference to another source) in hard copy form free of charge. A person may also request that all future documents, announcements and information sent to that person in relation to the Merger should be in hard copy form. For persons who have received a copy of this Announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this Announcement will not be sent unless so requested from either Avast by contacting Avast’s registrars, Equiniti, at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Worthing, Lancing BN99 6DA or, between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except UK public holidays), on 0371 384 2030 from within the UK or +44 121 415 7047 if calling from outside the UK (calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider; calls from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate), or NortonLifeLock by contacting Investor Relations at IR@NortonLifeLock.com, as appropriate.

Information relating to Avast Shareholders

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Avast Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Avast may be provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.

Dealing and opening position disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in one per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th Business Day (as defined in the Code) following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th Business Day (as defined in the Code) following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in one per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day (as defined in the Code) following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Rounding

Certain figures included in this Announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION

10 August 2021

RECOMMENDED MERGER

of

AVAST PLC

with

NORTONLIFELOCK INC.

to be effected by means of a Scheme of Arrangement
under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006

Further to the announcements made by NortonLifeLock Inc. (“NortonLifeLock”) and Avast plc (“Avast” or the “Company”) on 14 July 2021, the boards of NortonLifeLock and Avast are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended merger of Avast with NortonLifeLock, in the form of a recommended offer by Nitro Bidco Limited (“Bidco”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of NortonLifeLock, for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the Company (the “Merger”). It is intended that the Merger will be effected by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act (the “Scheme”).

Merger consideration – Majority Cash Option

Under the terms of the Merger, Avast Shareholders will be entitled to receive:

in respect of their entire holding of Avast Shares (the “Majority Cash Option”). Based on NortonLifeLock’s closing share price of USD 27.20 on 13 July 2021 (being the last Business Day on which NortonLifeLock Shares traded on NASDAQ before the commencement of the Offer Period in relation to the Merger) and the Announcement Exchange Rate, the Majority Cash Option values each Avast Share at 608.4 pence per share (USD 8.43 per share). The Majority Cash Option comprises approximately 90% by value in cash and approximately 10% by value in New NortonLifeLock Shares and delivers significant cash proceeds to Avast Shareholders who desire immediate liquidity.

The Majority Cash Option represents a premium of approximately:

As an alternative to the Majority Cash Option, Avast Shareholders may elect to receive the Majority Stock Option in respect of their entire holding of Avast Shares, as described below.

Alternative Merger consideration – Majority Stock Option

As an alternative to the Majority Cash Option, Bidco will make available to Avast Shareholders the option to elect for a different mix of cash and share consideration, pursuant to which Avast Shareholders (other than those resident in a Restricted Jurisdiction) may elect to receive:

in respect of their entire holding of Avast Shares (the “Majority Stock Option”). Based on NortonLifeLock’s closing share price of USD 27.20 on 13 July 2021 (being the last Business Day on which NortonLifeLock Shares traded on NASDAQ before the commencement of the Offer Period in relation to the Merger) and the Announcement Exchange Rate, the Majority Stock Option values each Avast Share at 551.1 pence per share (USD 7.64 per share).

The Majority Stock Option comprises approximately 31% by value in cash and approximately 69% by value in New NortonLifeLock Shares. The Majority Stock Option enables Avast Shareholders to participate more fully in the upside and long-term value creation opportunity resulting from the Merger. See paragraph 14 (Electing to receive the Majority Stock Option) for further information.

In addition to the consideration payable in connection with the Merger, Avast Shareholders will be entitled to receive certain agreed ordinary course Avast dividends prior to the completion of the Merger, on the basis set out below.

Avast Shareholders who do not positively elect to receive the Majority Stock Option will receive the Majority Cash Option.

As explained in paragraphs 4 (Recommendation) and 6 (Irrevocable undertakings) below, each of the Avast Directors who holds Avast Shares has irrevocably undertaken to elect for the Majority Stock Option, as well as to vote or procure votes in favour of the Scheme (or, in the event that the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer), in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Avast Shares, on the terms summarised in Appendix 3 to this Announcement.

Aggregate transaction value

The aggregate transaction value and the percentage of the Combined Company held by Avast Shareholders immediately following completion of the Merger depend on the elections made by Avast Shareholders for the Majority Stock Option, with the range of possible outcomes being bound by the two following bookends:

GBP currency facility

Prior to completion of the Merger, Bidco will procure that a facility will be made available under which Avast Shareholders will be able to elect (subject to the terms and conditions of the facility) to receive cash consideration in GBP rather than USD (after deduction of any transaction or dealing costs associated with the conversion) under the Majority Cash Option or the Majority Stock Option (as applicable) at the prevailing market exchange rate (which may be determined over a period of more than one day) on the latest practicable date for fixing such rate prior to the relevant payment date. Further details of this facility will be set out in the Scheme Document.

Agreed Avast Dividends

In addition to the consideration payable in connection with the Merger, the Avast Board will be entitled to declare and pay an interim dividend in respect of the six month period ended 30 June 2021 of 4.8 cents per Avast Share (the “Interim Avast Dividend”). It is expected that the Interim Avast Dividend will be announced by Avast in August 2021 and paid in October 2021.

In addition to the consideration payable in connection with the Merger and the Interim Avast Dividend, if the Merger has not become Effective before 1 March 2022, the Avast Board reserves the right to declare and pay either a further interim dividend or recommend and pay a final dividend in respect of the year ending 31 December 2021 of 11.2 cents per Avast Share (the “Second Avast Dividend”).

In addition to the consideration payable in connection with the Merger and the Interim Avast Dividend and the Second Avast Dividend, if the Merger has not become Effective before 11 August 2022, the Avast Board reserves the right to declare and pay an interim dividend in respect of the six month period ended 30 June 2022 of 4.8 cents per Avast Share (the “Third Avast Dividend”).

Bidco has agreed that Avast Shareholders will be entitled to receive the Interim Avast Dividend, the Second Avast Dividend and the Third Avast Dividend (together, the “Agreed Avast Dividends”), if and to the extent declared and paid in accordance with the terms set out in this Announcement, in each case without any reduction to the consideration payable by Bidco under the terms of the Merger.

Avast Shareholders on the register of members as at close of business on the relevant record date will be entitled to receive the relevant Agreed Avast Dividend(s). Avast Shareholders may also elect to receive the Agreed Avast Dividends in Pounds Sterling in accordance with Avast’s dividend currency election facility.

If any dividend and/or other distribution and/or other return of capital or value (a “Return of Value”) is announced, declared, made, payable or paid in respect of the Avast Shares on or after the date of this Announcement and prior to the Effective Date, other than, or in excess of, the Agreed Avast Dividends, Bidco reserves the right to reduce the aggregate consideration payable in respect of the Avast Shares by the aggregate amount of such Return of Value.

Agreed NortonLifeLock Dividends

NortonLifeLock intends to continue to declare and pay quarterly dividends of 12.5 cents per NortonLifeLock Share to NortonLifeLock Shareholders in the period up to the Effective Date (the “Agreed NortonLifeLock Dividends”).

If any Return of Value is announced, declared, made, payable or paid in respect of the NortonLifeLock Shares on or after the date of this Announcement and prior to the Effective Date and which has a record date prior to the Effective Date, other than, or in excess of, the Agreed NortonLifeLock Dividends (an “Excess NortonLifeLock Dividend”), Bidco will be required to revise the terms of the consideration payable under the terms of the Merger to put Avast Shareholders in the same economic position as they would have been if any such Excess NortonLifeLock Dividend had not been paid. This will be achieved by increasing the cash consideration per Avast Share payable under each of the Majority Cash Option and the Majority Stock Option by an amount equal to (i) the amount of the relevant Excess NortonLifeLock Dividend (expressed on a per NortonLifeLock Share basis) multiplied by (ii) in the case of the Majority Cash Option, 0.0302, and, in the case of the Majority Stock Option, 0.1937.

Implementation of the Merger

The Merger will be put to Avast Shareholders at the Court Meeting and at the General Meeting. In order to become Effective, the Scheme must be approved by a majority in number of the Scheme Shareholders present and voting at the Court Meeting, either in person or by proxy, representing at least 75% in value of the Scheme Shares voted. In addition, a special resolution implementing the Scheme must be passed by Avast Shareholders representing at least 75% of votes cast at the General Meeting.

The Merger is subject to the Conditions and certain further terms set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement, and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document.

Further details of the Merger will be contained in the Scheme Document, which is intended to be posted to Avast Shareholders (other than those resident in Restricted Jurisdictions), along with the Forms of Proxy and the Form of Election, in late Q3 or early Q4 of 2021. For the purposes of paragraph 3(a) of Appendix 7 of the Code, the Panel has consented to this arrangement. It is also expected that, at or around the same time as the Scheme Document is posted to Avast Shareholders (other than those resident in Restricted Jurisdictions), the NortonLifeLock Prospectus will be published and the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement will be mailed.

Subject to the satisfaction or waiver (as applicable) of all relevant conditions, including the Conditions, and certain terms set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document, the Scheme is expected to become Effective in mid-2022. An expected timetable of principal events will be included in the Scheme Document.

The Avast Shares will be acquired by Bidco (and/or its nominee) with full title guarantee, fully paid and free from all liens, equitable interests, charges, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and any other third party rights or interests whatsoever and together with all rights existing at the date of this Announcement or thereafter attaching thereto, including the right to receive and retain, in full, all dividends and other distributions (if any), declared, made or paid or any other return of capital (whether by way of reduction of share capital or share premium account or otherwise) made on or after the date of this Announcement in respect of the Avast Shares, other than the Agreed Avast Dividends.

The New NortonLifeLock Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing NortonLifeLock Shares, save that they will not participate in any dividend payable by NortonLifeLock with reference to a record date prior to the Effective Date.

On 10 May 2021, NortonLifeLock presented its “transforming for growth” strategy to enable NortonLifeLock to achieve its long-term vision through improved customer experience, enhancing the scale of its Cyber Safety platform and accelerating innovation of trust-based solutions. NortonLifeLock’s strategy is underpinned by the following ambitions: (i) make customers happy and double its net promoter score to over 70; (ii) popularise Cyber Safety by doubling the number of customers to approximately 100 million; and (iii) expand NortonLifeLock’s trust-based digital solutions to drive double digit revenue growth and double non-GAAP EPS to approximately USD 3.00 within three to five years, with business growth and productivity, reinvestment strategies, its share buyback programme, as well as mergers and acquisitions, as levers and accelerators.

The boards of NortonLifeLock and Avast recognise the unique opportunity for the businesses to combine their complementary strengths and accelerate such strategy by creating a new, global player able to lead the transformation of consumer Cyber Safety by leveraging the established brands, go-to-market reach, technical expertise and innovation of NortonLifeLock and Avast.

The Merger will combine NortonLifeLock’s vision to protect and empower people to live their digital lives safely with Avast’s vision to empower digital citizens to have safer online experiences, creating a common determination to empower digital freedom for everyone.

The global Cyber Safety segment was estimated at USD 13 billion in 2020 – however, the NortonLifeLock Board believes that the market is still significantly under-penetrated, with less than 5% penetration of an estimated 5 billion internet users globally, as the segment has expanded from securing personal devices to protecting consumers to enable them to live their digital lives safely. The NortonLifeLock Board believes that this presents a large and growing TAM opportunity with the core addressable space (security, identity and privacy) expected to grow at a 5% to 10% CAGR in the coming years to reach more than USD 16 billion by 2023, with an additional USD 10 billion in trust-based adjacent segments (equivalent to a 10% to 15% CAGR between 2020 and 2023).

A key problem to address is cyber criminality, which currently encompasses a broader variety of activities and an expanded reach supported by a dark economy re-sell market. Threats continue to increase every day and attacks have become extremely sophisticated, more broadly targeted, more complex and faster, with identity records and confidential personal information being sold in underground markets. People’s dependence on technology has continuously increased, fuelled by an increasingly digital and connected world, making cyber criminality today a USD 6 trillion problem which touches our modern society in many ways.

The Merger will create a comprehensive suite of complementary consumer Cyber Safety solutions, delivering giga-scale endpoint visibility, next-generation insights, autonomous defence and personalised protection.

The boards of NortonLifeLock and Avast believe that the Merger has a compelling strategic and financial rationale, with the potential to deliver substantial benefits to consumers, shareholders and other stakeholders.

Accelerate the transformation of consumer Cyber Safety, with the Combined Company having over 500 million users

The Merger will create a leading global consumer Cyber Safety business with combined revenues of approximately USD 3.5 billion (based on the latest reported full year results for each of NortonLifeLock and Avast), an enlarged base of over 500 million users and approximately 40 million direct customers, and a common vision to empower digital freedom for everyone. The Combined Company will benefit from: (i) enhanced scale; (ii) a broadened suite of established consumer Cyber Safety brands; (iii) leading Cyber Safety solutions; (iv) global consumer reach; and (v) expansion, through both free and paid solutions, to new customer audiences, regions and products.

In addition to a broader range of consumer Cyber Safety solutions, the Combined Company will benefit from a more diverse channel mix, including consumer direct, indirect, and partners.

The Combined Company will be well positioned to capitalise on the continued growth and to lead digital disruption in the Cyber Safety segment, combining two businesses with complementary technology-oriented cultures and a shared, consumer-centric, long-term vision. The Combined Company will benefit from NortonLifeLock’s and Avast’s history of customer-centric innovation and will continue to focus on, and invest in, R&D to create industry leading Cyber Safety products to protect consumers and benefit all stakeholders.

The Combined Company will extend and expand Cyber Safety available to everyone through freemium offerings. Positive experiences with these products will expand the Combined Company’s user base and increase opportunities for paid product sales.

Furthermore, the Combined Company will benefit from a diverse and talented workforce, facilitating the delivery of innovative Cyber Safety solutions on a global scale.

Combine Avast’s strength in privacy and NortonLifeLock’s strength in identity, to create a broad and complementary product portfolio beyond core security and towards adjacent trust-based solutions

The Combined Company will benefit from the complementary nature of NortonLifeLock’s and Avast’s solutions, in particular NortonLifeLock’s strength in identity and Avast’s strength in privacy. This will unlock opportunities to cross-sell a richer Cyber Safety offering to the Combined Company’s users and direct customers while continuing to maintain core Cyber Safety functionality to free users.

The Combined Company will bring a differentiated approach to the Cyber Safety segment supported by greater scale in threat visibility, a geographically distributed cloud data platform and advanced AI-based automation. The Combined Company will be able to deliver: (i) giga-scale endpoint visibility, by gaining enhanced visibility on threat and behavioural trajectories across more than 500 million endpoints and networks; (ii) next-generation insight, supported by AI-based enrichment and best-in-class analytics of multi-factor, large-scale behaviour data in real time; (iii) autonomous defence, with automation of the detection pipeline by leveraging modern, featureless and explainable AI; and (iv) personalised protection, with AI-powered creation of a safe environment that matches the security, privacy and identity needs of individual users.

The Combined Company will be able to offer a market-leading suite of consumer Cyber Safety solutions to millions of individuals and families globally across identity, security and privacy, including restoration and insurance, identity protection, performance and utility, device security, connected home, family safety and privacy and access, complemented by adjacent trust-based solutions.

NortonLifeLock’s and Avast’s positions have been built over many years, resulting in brand recognition across large user bases in their respective existing segments. This presents an attractive opportunity to continue to innovate and offer new and enhanced solutions and services, with improved capabilities from access to superior data insights, in turn driving growth across new growth segments.

Provide greater geographic diversification and access to a larger global user base, as well as facilitating expansion into the SOHO and VSB segments, and the building of stronger B2B2C and OEM partnerships

NortonLifeLock and Avast currently operate in highly complementary end markets and geographic regions. The Combined Company will benefit from enhanced revenue and geographic diversification combining NortonLifeLock’s and Avast’s complementary positions in their consumer Cyber Safety segments. Based on the latest reported full year results for each of NortonLifeLock and Avast, on an aggregated basis, approximately 65% of the Combined Company’s revenue was derived from the US, approximately 24% from Europe, Middle East and Africa and approximately 11% from the rest of the world.

Following completion of the Merger, the Combined Company will have dual headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, and Tempe, Arizona, USA, reflecting its global strength.

The Combined Company will have the ability to leverage the combined regional expertise of both businesses and flexibility to reinvest in product and marketing to target new growth segments and regions, including expansion into the SOHO and VSB segments, OEM PC manufacturing channels and B2B2C partnerships.

There is further potential to accelerate international growth through investment in Avast’s freemium business model and cross-selling of complementary NortonLifeLock identity products, which are currently sold primarily in the US, to Avast’s international user and direct customer base and cross-selling Avast’s privacy offerings to NortonLifeLock’s full customer base.

Unlock significant value creation through approximately USD 280 million of annual gross cost synergies, providing additional upside potential from new reinvestment capacity for innovation and growth

Given the complementary nature of both NortonLifeLock and Avast, the NortonLifeLock Directors believe that the Merger will generate synergies that could not be achieved independently of the Merger and will lead to significant long-term value creation for all shareholders.

Significant recurring cost synergies opportunity

NortonLifeLock anticipates that the Merger will result in recurring annual pre-tax gross cost synergies for the Combined Company to reach a run-rate of approximately USD 280 million, representing between approximately 15% and 20% of combined adjusted cost of sales and operating spend, based on the latest full year reported results for each of NortonLifeLock and Avast. The synergies are expected to be fully realised by the end of the second year following completion of the Merger.

NortonLifeLock intends to approach integration with the aim of retaining and motivating the best talent and structure across the Combined Company to create a best-in-class organisation. The expected sources of the identified cost synergies are as follows:

NortonLifeLock expects to realise approximately 60% of the run-rate cost savings by the end of the first full year following completion of the Merger and 100% by the end of the second full year following completion of the Merger, excluding any potential synergy reinvestment and associated benefits. On a reported basis, the synergies assume the Combined Company expects to benefit from approximately USD 75 million of cost savings in the first full year following completion of the Merger, approximately USD 245 million of cost savings in the second full year following completion of the Merger, and the full USD 280 million of the cost savings in the third full year following completion of the Merger, excluding any potential synergy reinvestment and associated benefits.

One-off costs

In order to realise these synergies, NortonLifeLock is expected to incur one-off restructuring and integration costs of approximately one year’s run-rate pre-tax cost savings, or USD 280 million, with approximately USD 180 million estimated to be incurred in the first full year following completion of the Merger and approximately USD 100 million estimated to be incurred in the second full year following completion of the Merger. Aside from integration costs, no material dis-benefits are expected to arise in connection with the Merger. The expected synergies will accrue as a direct result of the Merger and would not be achieved on a standalone basis.

The paragraphs above relating to expected cost synergies constitute a “Quantified Financial Benefits Statement” for the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code.

Given the strong strategic, cultural and operational fit of the two companies, NortonLifeLock believes that the quantified cost synergies are readily achievable.

NortonLifeLock expects to achieve the quantified cost synergies while maintaining appropriate investment levels in sales and technology to meet the Combined Company’s growth targets and other objectives.

The estimated cost synergies referred to above reflect both the beneficial elements and the relevant costs.

Revenue opportunities

In addition to the quantified cost synergies set out in this paragraph 3, NortonLifeLock believes that there will be significant revenue opportunities that the Combined Company could pursue, which have not yet been quantified, but which solidify the foundation for driving double digit revenue growth in the long-term.

Following the completion of the Merger, the Combined Company intends to bring additional value propositions to a larger user base by leveraging its broader global reach and cross-selling enhanced products and solutions across core security and privacy and identity. This proposition will be supported by targeted sales and marketing investment in the geographies where its industry-leading brands, Norton, Avira, LifeLock and Avast, are most established to deliver localised experiences, promote customer service differentiation and drive enhanced customer experience and retention.

By leveraging the sales and marketing expertise of both organisations, the Combined Company will operate new and diversified sales channels through the scaling of its freemium offering, SOHO and VSB targeting and expanded B2B2C partnerships. The Combined Company will also benefit from a strong balance sheet and reinvestment capacity to drive innovation and expand into adjacent trust-based solutions.

Reinvestment of synergies

NortonLifeLock and Avast have closely aligned cultures of innovation, having each invested significantly over the years in technology and R&D. The talent and expertise of the Combined Company’s team will further support investment in developing and optimising a global Cyber Safety technology platform for the benefit of all consumers and other stakeholders. The Combined Company will have the scale, resources and expertise to innovate beyond the current Cyber Safety platform.

The Combined Company expects the anticipated synergies from the Merger to provide new reinvestment capacity that it intends to deploy into innovation, partnerships and marketing initiatives to develop the breadth, capability and accessibility of Cyber Safety products and solutions, thereby accelerating long-term sustainable revenue growth for the Combined Company. The Combined Company will, in particular, evaluate investments (including product innovation in Cyber Safety and adjacent trust-based services) and geographic expansion opportunities, further developing channels to market (including distribution partnerships with PC manufacturers and additional B2B2C partnerships), and ensuring consumers are well informed of Cyber Safety and the solutions that the Combined Company offers for their protection.

NortonLifeLock and Avast have complementary technologies and human capital that will strengthen the Combined Company’s capabilities in core technology and identity and privacy, which will facilitate improved product development to address the evolving threat of cybercrime and enhance the development of innovative tools to help empower consumers in their digital lives.

NortonLifeLock and Avast have an established history of in-house development and innovation. The Combined Company will benefit from resource, knowledge transfer, technical expertise and proprietary intellectual property to support its commitment to innovation, create new improved and comprehensive solutions (free and paid) and safeguard data privacy and transparency for the ultimate benefit of customers.

Appendix 4 sets out further details on the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, including the bases of belief and principal assumptions, and the reports required under the Code by Deloitte, NortonLifeLock’s reporting accountants, and by Evercore, acting as financial adviser to NortonLifeLock. References in this Announcement to the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement should be read in conjunction with Appendix 4.

There are various alternative means by which NortonLifeLock could achieve these quantified synergies and no decisions have yet been taken as to how NortonLifeLock will implement any synergy plans. Initial synergy planning has begun in relation to the Merger, but more detailed analysis will need to be undertaken. Any such synergy plans are subject to engagement with all appropriate stakeholders in due course.

The Merger is expected to be double-digit accretive to NortonLifeLock’s non-GAAP EPS within the first full year following completion of the Merger

The Combined Company will benefit from a more attractive financial profile with increased scale, enhanced long-term growth potential and strong free cash flow generation supported by a robust balance sheet position.

The Combined Company will benefit from a highly scalable, well-diversified and recurring subscription-based revenue model with aggregated revenues of approximately USD 3.5 billion, based on the latest reported full year results for each of NortonLifeLock and Avast, delivering high single digit growth and with the potential to deliver long-term growth in the double digits, supported by strong operating levers, reinvestment potential and cash flow generation.

On an aggregated basis, based on the latest reported full year results for each of NortonLifeLock and Avast, excluding stranded costs, the Combined Company’s adjusted operating profit (pre-synergies) stands at approximately USD 1.8 billion, with implied operating margins (pre-synergies) at approximately 52%. Additional margin capacity from expected gross cost synergies of USD 280 million provides the Combined Company with scope for reinvestment to support long-term growth whilst maintaining attractive margin levels and enabling operating leverage.

The Merger is expected to be double-digit accretive to NortonLifeLock’s non-GAAP EPS from the first full year following completion of the Merger, taking into account expected cost synergies and the Post-Merger Buyback, if implemented, but excluding one-time restructuring and integration costs.

The Combined Company generates approximately USD 1.5 billion in annual free cash flow (pre-synergies), on an aggregated basis, based on the latest reported full year results for each of NortonLifeLock and Avast (excluding stranded costs), which is expected to grow in line with the business.

Post-integration, the Combined Company is expected to operate with fewer than 4,000 employees.

The Merger is expected to be financed with cash and USD 5.35 billion of new permanent debt facilities, comprised of a combination of Term Loan A and Term Loan B at a blended interest rate of approximately 2%, with other existing indebtedness of NortonLifeLock with upcoming maturities anticipated to be refinanced prior to completion. As part of the transaction, NortonLifelock’s revolving credit facility is also expected to be upsized to USD 1.5 billion and to be undrawn at completion of the Merger.

The Combined Company is targeting a net leverage ratio of approximately 3.5x following completion of the Merger (taking into account the potential expanded share buyback referred to below). The Combined Company expects strong free cash flow generation to support rapid deleveraging to reach net leverage of approximately 2.0x to 3.0x, supporting NortonLifeLock’s long-term capital allocation strategy, while maintaining flexibility to deploy capital into R&D, tuck-in acquisitions, as well as dividends and share buybacks to support growth and maximise value for shareholders. In this context, the Combined Company anticipates:

Possible NortonLifeLock share buyback programme

To the extent that Avast Shareholders elect for the Majority Stock Option, NortonLifeLock intends, subject to market conditions and other capital requirements, to implement the Post-Merger Buyback over time following completion of the Merger, with a view to optimising its capital structure and establishing a net leverage ratio for the Combined Company in the region of 3.5x net debt to its pro forma EBITDA.

If all Avast Shareholders elect for the Majority Stock Option, NortonLifeLock expects that the amount of the Post-Merger Buyback, if implemented, would be up to approximately USD 3 billion. However, this amount would be reduced by the amount of any incremental cash consideration payable to Avast Shareholders who receive the Majority Cash Option. There can be no certainty that the Post-Merger Buyback will be implemented or as to its timing.

Brings together two strong and highly experienced consumer-focused management teams with a common culture of excellence and innovation

The Combined Company will be led by a highly experienced management team with significant experience in delivering consumer Cyber Safety solutions. The team has a track record of developing solutions through innovation and by delivering growth in large, global markets with a common commitment to corporate responsibility. Furthermore, the team has successfully executed value-enhancing mergers and acquisitions and overseen subsequent integration programmes.

Both NortonLifeLock and Avast share a history in innovation and product development with strong corporate ethos encompassing social, environmental and governance responsibility. This important legacy will be continued through the Combined Company’s shared vision of empowering digital freedom for everyone through novel solutions. The Combined Company will draw on the broad expertise and harness the talent in both businesses, by offering professional and personal growth opportunities, to promote a values and innovation-driven team and optimise consumer-centric Cyber Safety solutions for the benefit of end consumers and other stakeholders.

The Avast Directors, who have been so advised by UBS and J.P. Morgan Cazenove as to the financial terms of the Majority Cash Option and the Majority Stock Option, unanimously consider the terms of the Majority Cash Option and the Majority Stock Option to be fair and reasonable. In providing their financial advice to the Avast Directors, UBS and J.P. Morgan Cazenove have taken into account the commercial assessments of the Avast Directors. UBS is providing independent financial advice to the Avast Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.

Accordingly, the Avast Directors intend to recommend unanimously that Avast Shareholders vote or procure votes in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings, as each of the Avast Directors who owns Avast Shares has irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Avast Shares. In addition, the Vlček Family Foundation has irrevocably undertaken to vote in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings in respect of its entire beneficial holding of Avast Shares.

The Avast Directors’ (and the Vlček Family Foundation’s) irrevocable commitments are in respect of, in aggregate, 381,057,227 Avast Shares, representing approximately 36.93% of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Avast on the Latest Practicable Date.

In addition, each of the Avast Directors who holds Avast Shares has irrevocably undertaken to elect for the Majority Stock Option in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Avast Shares, on the terms summarised in Appendix 3 to this Announcement.

Since its foundation in 1991, Avast has grown into a leading global consumer cyber security company. Through its freemium distribution model and acquisitions, including AVG and Piriform, Avast has amassed a sizeable user base, with over 435 million users. Approximately 85% of revenues are derived from the Avast Group’s Consumer Direct segment and the business has driven direct monetisation through up-selling and cross-selling to this user base and by using third-party relationships to drive additional revenues. The business derives the remainder of its revenues through its Consumer Indirect segment, which includes Avast Secure Browser and partner channels, as well as its small and medium-sized business (SMB) segment.

The cybersecurity landscape is competitive and is evolving at pace, along with the technology industry as a whole. Consumers increasingly expect brands to provide a seamless online experience – for Avast, this means protecting its customers from all online risks. This is accelerating the shift towards a user-centric model in which consumers’ entire digital lives and digital experiences are protected, and new trust-based services can be built.

At the same time, many of the world’s largest technology providers have increasingly advanced into security, privacy and identity. The Avast Directors see increased competition from major technology players and other incumbents, each of whom are scaling up and evolving their offerings into integrated solutions. Addressing this increasing competition and new types of digital threats will require Avast to accelerate the evolution of its portfolio, supported by higher levels of margin investment in R&D, innovation, marketing and other top of the funnel initiatives over the medium term as well as targeted mergers and acquisitions to sustain customer engagement, acquisition and retention.

The Avast Directors believe that the Merger would offer compelling strategic and operational benefits to all stakeholders including:

The Avast Directors also took account of the agreement that the Combined Company will be dual headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, and Tempe, Arizona, USA, will have a continued significant presence in the Czech Republic, and its board of directors will include two Avast representatives, including Avast co-founder Pavel Baudiš.

Moreover, the Avast Directors believe that the Merger represents compelling financial value for Avast Shareholders. The Merger consideration comprises a mix of cash and NortonLifeLock Shares and is structured such that Avast Shareholders (other than those in a Restricted Jurisdiction) have the choice to elect between two distinct alternatives: the Majority Cash Option or the Majority Stock Option.

Any Avast Shareholder who elects for the:

Majority Cash Option would receive, for each Avast Share held: USD 7.61 in cash plus 0.0302 of a New NortonLifeLock Share

Majority Stock Option would receive, for each Avast Share held: USD 2.37 in cash plus 0.1937 of a New NortonLifeLock Share

Following consideration of the above factors, the Avast Directors, who have been so advised by UBS and J.P. Morgan Cazenove as to the financial terms of the Majority Cash Option and the Majority Stock Option, unanimously consider the terms of the Majority Cash Option and the Majority Stock Option to be fair and reasonable. In providing their financial advice to the Avast Directors, UBS and J.P. Morgan Cazenove have taken into account the commercial assessments of the Avast Directors. UBS is providing independent financial advice to the Avast Directors for the purposes of Rule 3 of the Code.

Accordingly, the Avast Directors intend to recommend unanimously that Avast Shareholders vote or procure votes in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings, as each of the Avast Directors who own Avast Shares has irrevocably undertaken to do in respect of their entire beneficial holdings of Avast Shares. Further details of those irrevocable undertakings are set out below and in Appendix 3 to this Announcement.

As set out in paragraph 4 (Recommendation), NortonLifeLock and Bidco have received irrevocable commitments to vote or procure votes in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings (or, in the event that the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, to accept or procure acceptance of the Takeover Offer) from each of the Avast Directors who own Avast Shares (in relation to their beneficial holdings of such Avast Shares), and from the Vlček Family Foundation, in each case in respect of their entire holding of Avast Shares. These irrevocable commitments are in respect of, in aggregate, 381,057,227 Avast Shares, representing approximately 36.93% of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Avast on the Latest Practicable Date.

Further details of these irrevocable undertakings are set out in Appendix 3 to this Announcement.

NortonLifeLock

NortonLifeLock is a leading provider of consumer Cyber Safety solutions built around protecting and empowering people to live their digital lives safely. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, NortonLifeLock serves over 80 million users in more than 150 countries, including 23 million direct customers.

NortonLifeLock’s service offering is positioned across three key cyber safety pillars: Security, providing protection for PCs, Macs and mobile devices against malware, viruses, adware, ransomware and other online threats; Identity Protection, which includes monitoring, alerts and restoration services to protect the safety of customers; and Online Privacy, which provides enhanced security and online privacy through an encrypted data tunnel and other privacy monitoring services.

NortonLifeLock’s subscription-based Cyber Safety solutions are primarily sold direct-to-consumer through its NortonLifeLock and Avira websites, and indirectly through partner relationships with retailers, telecom service providers, hardware original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and employee benefit providers. The acquisition of Avira in 2020 expanded NortonLifeLock’s go-to-market into the freemium channel.

NortonLifeLock is listed on NASDAQ, with a market capitalisation of USD 15.8 billion based on its closing share price of USD 27.20 on 13 July 2021 (being the last Business Day on which NortonLifeLock Shares traded on NASDAQ before the commencement of the Offer Period in relation to the Merger). For the year ended 2 April 2021, NortonLifeLock reported non-GAAP revenues of USD 2.6 billion, non-GAAP operating income of USD 1.3 billion, and non-GAAP EPS of USD 1.44. For the year ended 2 April 2021, revenue from the Americas contributed 74% of the total, with Europe, the Middle East and Africa contributing 15%, and Asia Pacific and Japan contributing 11%.

For the fiscal quarter ended 2 July 2021, NortonLifeLock reported non-GAAP revenues of USD 691 million, non-GAAP operating income of USD 354 million, and non-GAAP EPS of USD 0.42.

For the fiscal quarter ending 1 October 2021, non-GAAP revenue is expected to be in the range of USD 690 million to USD 700 million, translating to 10% to 12% year-on-year growth. Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of USD 0.41 to USD 0.43.

For the current financial year ending 1 April 2022, NortonLifeLock anticipates non-GAAP revenue growth to be in the range of 8% to 10%+ and non-GAAP EPS to be in the range of USD 1.65 to USD 1.75.

NortonLifeLock is dedicated to its people, customers and business and to society, and to work each day to create a safe and sustainable future. NortonLifeLock brings together its people, passions and powerful technology to support social and environmental priorities and to seek to make the world a better, safer place. NortonLifeLock’s strong corporate responsibility ethos encompasses: (i) social responsibility, with USD 13 million in charitable giving, a robust employee engagement programme with more than 18,000 hours logged and more than 14,000 hours in global product donations to non-profitable organisations; (ii) environmental responsibility, by disclosing Scope 1, 2 and 3 Emissions and committing to minimise greenhouse gases, by achieving 24% of renewable energy consumption and by delivering 90% of its products digitally; and (iii) governance responsibility, with a commitment to gender and ethnic diversity at all levels and extensive board level oversight, with quarterly updates on key ESG metrics.

Bidco

Bidco is a newly incorporated private limited company, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of NortonLifeLock. Bidco has been formed at the direction of NortonLifeLock for the purposes of implementing the Merger. Bidco has not traded since its date of incorporation, nor has it entered into any obligations other than in connection with the Merger.

Avast is a leading global cybersecurity provider that is dedicated to keeping people safe and private online. Avast safeguards more than 435 million users worldwide, protecting their digital data, identity and privacy, with 1.5 billion attacks and over 200 million new files blocked each month on average in 2020. Avast offers security software under the Avast and AVG brands, in the form of both free and paid-for products. Avast has customers in the vast majority of countries in the world.

The majority of Avast’s revenues are derived from the Avast Group’s consumer direct operations, which primarily involves up-selling paid antivirus software with advanced features to users of its free antivirus software, and cross-selling adjacent, non-antivirus paid products such as privacy enhancement and PC optimisation tools.

Avast Shares are admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange. Avast is also a member of the FTSE 100 index. As of the close of trading on the Unaffected Date, Avast had a market capitalisation of approximately £5.2 billion.

As a leading global cybersecurity provider, Avast stands for a safe, open, and fair digital world for everyone, with a commitment to lead from the front to build a more diverse and inclusive technology sector. Through a number of initiatives and projects, Avast commits to being: (i) socially responsible, by aiming to maintain its annual commitment to social impact initiatives based on the 1% of profit model and by extraordinary donations such as a USD 25 million donation for COVID relief, and by continuously encouraging employee volunteering in local communities; (ii) environmentally responsible, by disclosing Scope 1 and 2 Emissions, and by committing to a small environmental footprint and to being carbon neutral and Gold Standard (carbon offset); and (iii) responsible from a governance perspective, with a structured ESG reporting system and a focus on increased female representation on its board of directors.

For the first half of the 2021 financial year, the Avast Group’s revenue of USD 471.3 million was up 10.4% on an organic basis⁽¹⁾ and 8.8% at actual rates. Adjusted EBITDA increased 11.9% to USD 270.2 million, resulting in an Adjusted EBITDA margin percentage⁽²⁾ of 57.3%.

Billings of USD 482.7 million for the six months ended 30 June 2021 were up 0.9% on an organic basis, and 2.9% at actual rates, consistent with Avast’s expectation that performance would be significantly weighted towards the second half. The first half of the 2021 financial year lapped a period of strong comparatives from the effect of the pandemic lockdown in 2020. As anticipated, there was also downward pressure on billings from the strategic transition from multi to single year subscriptions.

In the second half of the 2021 financial year, comparator period trends start to normalise and the impact of the transition to single year subscriptions ends. Avast anticipates high single digit growth in the Avast Group’s billings in the second half of the 2021 financial year. Avast’s organic group revenue guidance for the full 2021 financial year is maintained at the upper end of 6% to 8% growth.

For the first half of the 2021 financial year, the Avast Group’s Adjusted EBITDA margin percentage was 57.3%. The Avast Group’s Adjusted EBITDA margin percentage for the 2021 financial year is expected to remain broadly flat versus the financial year ended 31 December 2020, in line with previous guidance and reflecting increased user and customer acquisition costs as well as materially higher marketing spend around the flagship Avast One product, which remains on track for launch later this year. As Avast has previously indicated, in future periods, it expects higher levels of margin investment in R&D, innovation, marketing and other top of the funnel initiatives over the medium term to sustain customer engagement, acquisition and retention activities.

As at 30 June 2021, net debt / LTM (“last twelve months”) Adjusted EBITDA per the banking covenant was 1.0x, in line with Avast’s expectations.

Notes:

To the extent that Avast Shareholders elect for the Majority Stock Option, NortonLifeLock intends, subject to market conditions and other capital requirements, to implement the Post-Merger Buyback (utilising capacity under its existing share buyback authorisation and, if required, incremental capacity under a new share buyback authorisation) over time following completion of the Merger with a view to establishing a net leverage ratio for the Combined Company of approximately 3.5x net debt to its pro forma EBITDA.

If all Avast Shareholders elect for the Majority Stock Option, NortonLifeLock expects that the amount of the Post-Merger Buyback, if implemented, would be up to approximately USD 3 billion. However, this amount would be reduced by the amount of any incremental cash consideration payable to Avast Shareholders who receive the Majority Cash Option.

NortonLifeLock intends to confirm the proposed quantum of the Post-Merger Buyback, if any, following completion of the Merger and once the elections of the Avast Shareholders for the Majority Stock Option (and, accordingly, the quantum of cash consideration payable in connection with the Merger) and the capital requirements of the Combined Company are known.

As noted above, the implementation of the Post-Merger Buyback will be subject to market conditions and other capital requirements, and there can be no certainty that the Post-Merger Buyback will be implemented or as to its timing.

The Merger will affect participants in the Avast Share Schemes. In summary, NortonLifeLock and Avast have agreed that NortonLifeLock will make appropriate proposals to the holders of options and awards under the Avast Share Schemes in accordance with Rule 15 of the Code. Further details of these arrangements will be communicated to participants in the Avast Share Schemes in due course. Awards and options which vest and are exercised prior to the Scheme Record Time will be satisfied by the allotment, issue or transfer of Avast Shares prior to the Scheme Record Time and those Avast Shares will be subject to the Scheme.

The cash consideration payable to Avast Shareholders under the terms of the Merger will be financed by debt to be provided under the Interim Facilities Agreement underwritten by Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A (with Bank of America, N.A. as lead underwriter), if, and to the extent, not satisfied through cash on hand available to Bidco (as part of the NortonLifeLock Group).

Further information on the financing of the Merger will be set out in the Scheme Document.

In accordance with Rule 2.7(d) of the Code, Evercore, in its capacity as financial adviser to NortonLifeLock and Bidco, is satisfied that sufficient resources are available to Bidco to enable it to satisfy in full the cash consideration payable to Avast Shareholders under the terms of the Merger.

NortonLifeLock’s strategic plans for Avast

NortonLifeLock believes that the Merger has a compelling strategic and financial rationale, would create long-term value for both NortonLifeLock and Avast and would be consistent with NortonLifeLock’s long-term growth strategy, the objective of which is to protect and empower people to live their digital lives safely.

Avast would benefit from NortonLifeLock’s scale, strength in identity and broad-based adoption of its Norton 360 platform. NortonLifeLock would benefit from Avast’s strong freemium user base, international customer base and innovative offerings in privacy. The Combined Company would be able to capitalise on the full range of opportunities available to both NortonLifeLock and Avast.

Existing employment rights

NortonLifeLock attaches great importance to the skill and experience of Avast’s management and employees and recognises their important contribution to the success that has been achieved by Avast. As such, NortonLifeLock expects Avast’s employees to continue to contribute to the success of the Combined Company following completion of the Merger. NortonLifeLock intends to look at ways to optimise the structure of the Combined Company in order to achieve the anticipated benefits of the Merger.

NortonLifeLock’s preliminary evaluation work to identify potential synergies arising from the Merger suggests that there will be some duplication between the two businesses’ management, shared services, product, commercial and other functions. NortonLifeLock has not yet received sufficiently detailed information to formulate comprehensive plans or intentions regarding the impact of the Merger on the Avast Group, its various business units or its employees, and intends to take a ‘best of both’ approach to integration. NortonLifeLock’s preliminary evaluation suggests that the Combined Company is expected to fully realise pre-tax gross cost synergies of approximately USD 280 million by the end of the second full year following completion of the Merger, a substantial portion of which would come from headcount reductions, in addition to other initiatives in systems & infrastructure and contracts & shared services. Based on NortonLifeLock’s preliminary evaluation, the synergy plan suggests a potential headcount reduction of approximately 25% of the total Combined Company workforce, across all geographies, and from a broad range of job categories, including management, shared services, product and commercial functions, but before any of the Combined Company’s expected re-investment into innovation, partnerships and marketing.

The finalisation and implementation of any workforce reductions will be subject to comprehensive planning and appropriate engagement with stakeholders, including affected employees and any appropriate employee representative bodies. It is anticipated that efforts will be made to mitigate headcount reductions through redundancies, via natural attrition, the elimination of vacant roles and alternative job opportunities. Any affected individuals will be treated in a manner consistent with NortonLifeLock’s high standards, culture and practices. NortonLifeLock intends to approach employee and management integration with the aim of retaining and motivating the best talent across the Combined Company to create a best-in-class organisation.

NortonLifeLock confirms that it has given assurances to the Avast Directors that, upon and following completion of the Merger, it intends to fully observe the existing contractual and statutory employment rights of all Avast management and employees and does not intend to make any material changes to the conditions of employment of the employees or management of the Avast Group. Subject to the potential headcount reductions described above, NortonLifeLock also does not intend to make any material changes to the balance of skills and the functions of the employees or management of the Avast Group.

NortonLifeLock acknowledges the importance and value of Avast’s employee share-based incentive arrangements. In due course, and in accordance with Rule 15 of the Code, proposals will be sent to existing option holders and award holders, which will include proposals as to how any unvested options and awards will be treated in connection with the Merger. In addition, NortonLifeLock confirms that it intends, following completion of the Merger, to extend NortonLifeLock’s share-based arrangements to Avast’s employees on a basis consistent with arrangements for equivalent employees of NortonLifeLock and taking into account their expected roles within the Combined Company.

Composition of the board of the Combined Company following completion of the Merger

Following completion of the Merger, it is intended that Avast’s CEO, Ondrej Vlcek, will join NortonLifeLock as President and become a member of the NortonLifeLock Board. In addition, Pavel Baudiš, a co-founder of Avast, is expected to join the NortonLifeLock Board as an independent director.

It is intended that, upon completion of the Merger, each of the non-executive members of the Avast Board will resign as directors of Avast.

Following completion of the Merger, it is intended that Vincent Pilette, CEO of NortonLifeLock, will be CEO of the Combined Company, and Natalie Derse, CFO of NortonLifeLock, will be CFO of the Combined Company.

Pension schemes

Avast does not operate or contribute to any defined benefit pension schemes in respect of its employees. It does, however, operate certain defined contribution pension plans. NortonLifeLock does not intend to make any changes to the eligibility rules or contribution rates that currently apply under Avast’s defined contribution pension plans. NortonLifeLock intends to comply with all applicable law in connection with the provision of retirement benefits.

Management incentivisation arrangements

NortonLifeLock has not entered into, and has not had any discussions about proposals to enter into, any form of incentivisation arrangements with members of management of Avast. Nor has NortonLifeLock agreed or entered into any arrangements with any of Avast’s executive directors who are expected to join the NortonLifeLock Board and/or management team following completion of the Merger with regard to any changes to their existing terms of employment. NortonLifeLock does not intend to put in place any such arrangements before completion of the Merger.

Locations of business, fixed assets and headquarters

Following completion of the Merger, Avast’s existing headquarters premises will continue to be utilised, and the Combined Company will have dual headquarters located in Prague, Czech Republic, and Tempe, Arizona, USA.

The Combined Company expects to maintain a significant presence in the Czech Republic, including across R&D, commercial and general and administrative functions, the level of which will be reviewed in the first year following completion of the Merger, taking into account Avast’s current management plans. As part of such review, NortonLifeLock intends to evaluate the locations of business and fixed assets of Avast in order to optimise local operations for the Combined Company, taking into consideration any existing changes planned by the current management of Avast, which is expected to lead to rationalisation in certain sites currently operated by NortonLifeLock and/or Avast.

NortonLifeLock intends to undertake a review process, in collaboration with Avast’s CEO, to determine the post-Merger name of the Combined Company to ensure that it best reflects its strategic vision of expanding its Cyber Safety platform with trust-based solutions and its broad global prospects.

Research and development

NortonLifeLock values the investment that Avast has made in its technology and the infrastructure and expertise in place within the Avast Group to create, maintain and enhance existing product offerings and intends to retain Avast’s R&D capabilities in the Czech Republic. While NortonLifeLock expects efficiencies to arise from duplication of R&D functions across the Combined Company, NortonLifeLock’s commitment to innovation is integral to its strategy and NortonLifeLock currently intends to reinvest part of the anticipated run-rate cost synergies into innovation, partnerships and marketing initiatives to support and accelerate long-term sustainable growth. NortonLifeLock believes that it is important for the long-term success of the Combined Company and for customer satisfaction to maintain a leading product offering and intends to invest in this area following completion of the Merger in conjunction with the existing Avast infrastructure.

Trading Facilities

Avast is currently listed on the Official List and, as explained in paragraph 21 (De-listing, cancellation of trading and re-registration) below, a request will be made to the London Stock Exchange to cancel trading in Avast Shares on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, and to the FCA to cancel the listing of the Avast Shares on the Official List, in each case with effect from or shortly following the Effective Date. Avast will be re-registered as a private company following the Effective Date.

Avast is also currently listed on two MTFs in the Czech Republic. As explained in paragraph 21 (De-listing, cancellation of trading and re-registration) below, requests will be made to the PSE and RMS to cancel trading in Avast Shares on these MTFs, in each case with effect from or shortly following the Effective Date.

It is anticipated that the unsponsored ADR programme for the Avast Shares will be terminated on or shortly after the Effective Date.

The Combined Company will be listed on NASDAQ.

None of the statements in this paragraph 13 are “post-offer undertakings” for the purposes of Rule 19.5 of the Code.

Views of the Avast Board

In considering the intention to recommend the Merger to Avast Shareholders, the Avast Board has given due consideration to the assurances that NortonLifeLock has given in relation to management and employees within the Combined Company.

The Avast Board notes that NortonLifeLock has stated that the Combined Company is expected to fully realise pre-tax gross cost synergies of approximately USD 280 million by the end of the second full year following completion of the Merger, a substantial portion of which could come from headcount reductions, in addition to other initiatives. Based on this preliminary evaluation, NortonLifeLock expects a potential headcount reduction of approximately 25% of the total Combined Company workforce across all geographies, and from a broad range of job categories, including management, shared services, product and commercial functions, but before any of the Combined Company’s expected re-investment into innovation, partnerships and marketing. The Avast Board is of the view that, in order for NortonLifeLock to achieve the stated synergy benefits, it will be necessary for headcount reductions to take place.

The Avast Board believes that, in implementing the Merger, it is important that NortonLifeLock takes into account the skills and experience of the existing management and employees of Avast and welcomes NortonLifeLock’s intention to provide opportunities for Avast employees as well as NortonLifeLock employees.

The Avast Board notes NortonLifeLock’s statement that, other than as a result of anticipated headcount reductions, NortonLifeLock has no intention to make any material changes to the conditions of employment of the employees or management of the Avast Group and that the existing employment rights, including pension rights, of existing management and employees of the Avast Group will be observed. The Avast Board considers it important that Avast employees who remain with the Combined Company are given certainty as to the continuing terms of their employment.

The Avast Board notes NortonLifeLock’s statement that the Combined Company expects to maintain a significant presence in the Czech Republic, including across R&D, commercial and general and administrative functions, the level of which will be reviewed, taking into account Avast’s current management plans. Given the history and heritage of Avast, the Avast Board considers it important that a significant presence in the Czech Republic is maintained, and welcomes NortonLifeLock’s statement that the Combined Company will maintain R&D, commercial and general and administrative functions in the Czech Republic.

Given that detailed information to formulate comprehensive plans or intentions regarding the impact of the Merger on the Avast Group is not yet available, the Avast Board is unable to express a more detailed opinion on the impact of the Merger on Avast management, employees and offices.

Avast Shareholders (other than those resident in a Restricted Jurisdiction) will be entitled to elect to receive, in respect of their entire holdings of Avast Shares, the Majority Stock Option instead of the Majority Cash Option.

Avast Shareholders will not be permitted to elect to receive the Majority Stock Option in respect of only part of their holding of Avast Shares, so will be entitled only to receive either the Majority Cash Option (if no election is made) or the Majority Stock Option (if they elect to do so). If an Avast Shareholder (i) does not make an election to receive the Majority Stock Option or (ii) is resident in a Restricted Jurisdiction, they will receive the Majority Cash Option in respect of their entire holding of Avast Shares.

Elections for the Majority Stock Option, and entitlements to receive the Majority Cash Option or the Majority Stock Option, will not be subject to scale-back or pro rating by reference to the elections of other Avast Shareholders, and all elections for the Majority Stock Option will (subject, among other things, to the satisfaction of the Conditions and to the Merger becoming Effective) be satisfied in full.

Further details in relation to making an election for the Majority Stock Option (including the action to take in order to make a valid election and the deadline for making elections) will be contained in the Scheme Document and the Form of Election.

The Merger will be effected by Bidco (and/or its nominee) acquiring all of the issued and to be issued ordinary shares in the share capital of Avast. NortonLifeLock will remain U.S. domiciled for tax purposes. U.S. and U.K. tax consequences of the Merger for Avast Shareholders will be described in the Scheme Document.

Confidentiality Agreement

NortonLifeLock and Avast have entered into the Confidentiality Agreement, pursuant to which each of NortonLifeLock and Avast has undertaken to keep certain information relating directly or indirectly to the Merger and to the other party confidential and not to disclose such information to third parties, except to certain permitted disclosees for the purposes of evaluating the Merger or if required by applicable laws or regulations. The confidentiality obligations of each party under the Confidentiality Agreement continue for two years after the date of the Confidentiality Agreement. The agreement also contains provisions pursuant to which each party has agreed not to solicit certain employees of the other party for a period of 12 months from the date of the Confidentiality Agreement, subject to customary carve-outs.

Co-operation Agreement

NortonLifeLock, Bidco and Avast have entered into a Co-operation Agreement dated on the date of this Announcement, pursuant to which NortonLifeLock and Bidco have agreed to use all reasonable endeavours (which shall include taking all steps necessary and accepting relevant remedies, except where to do so would be of material significance to NortonLifeLock and Bidco in the context of the Merger) to implement the Merger and to secure the regulatory clearances and authorisations necessary to satisfy the Regulatory Conditions (provided that Avast’s obligations in connection with such matters are limited to actions permitted under Rule 21.2(b)(iii) of the Code). The parties have also agreed to certain undertakings to co-operate and provide one another with reasonable information, assistance and access in relation to the filings, submissions and notifications to be made in relation to any such regulatory clearances and authorisations. Taking due account of its legal obligations with respect to the regulatory clearances and authorisations, as well as the views and comments of Avast, NortonLifeLock will have the right to determine the strategy for obtaining the regulatory clearances and authorisations, and for satisfying the Regulatory Conditions.

NortonLifeLock has also agreed to certain procedural and other commitments with respect to the preparation of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement (including undertaking to use its best endeavours to obtain the clearance of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement from the SEC), the convening of the NortonLifeLock Shareholders’ Meeting, the preparation of the NortonLifeLock Prospectus, and assisting with the provision of information for any documents relating to the Merger to be prepared by Avast after the date of this Announcement, including the Scheme Document. Avast has agreed to certain procedural and other commitments with respect to the preparation of the Scheme Document (and associated documents) and assisting with the provision of information for documents relating to the Merger to be prepared by NortonLifeLock after the date of this Announcement, including the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement.

NortonLifeLock has also committed to certain restrictions between the date of this Announcement and the Effective Date, completion of a Takeover Offer or other earlier termination of the Co-operation Agreement, including a commitment not to solicit or engage in any discussions of alternative proposals to the Merger (subject to certain limited exceptions) and certain commitments regarding corporate and other actions which NortonLifeLock has agreed not to undertake while the Co-operation Agreement remains in force.

The parties have also agreed certain provisions that will apply if NortonLifeLock and/or Bidco elects to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer rather than the Scheme, which it may (under the terms of the Co-operation Agreement) do in specified circumstances, including where Avast has provided its prior consent (in which case certain additional provisions apply, including as to the required level of the acceptance condition for such Takeover Offer), where the Avast Board has amended, qualified or withdrawn its recommendation of the Merger, in the circumstances set out in Note 2 on Section 8 of Appendix 7 to the Code, and where a third party has announced a firm intention to make an offer for the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Avast.

The Co-operation Agreement contains provisions which will apply in respect of the Avast Share Schemes, details of which will be set out in the Scheme Document, and provisions which apply with respect to the provision of insurance to cover liabilities of Avast directors, officers and other executives. In addition, NortonLifeLock has provided a parent company guarantee in respect of Bidco’s obligations under the Co-operation Agreement.

The Co-operation Agreement will terminate in certain circumstances, including: (i) where it is agreed in writing between NortonLifeLock, Bidco and Avast at any time prior to the Effective Date; (ii) upon service of written notice by NortonLifeLock to Avast, or Avast to NortonLifeLock and Bidco, if (a) the Avast Board has adversely modified or qualified, or withdrawn, its recommendation of the Merger, (b) if a break fee payment event (as described below) occurs, (c) if Bidco and/or NortonLifeLock invokes (and is permitted by the Panel to invoke) a Condition (other than under specified circumstances) so as to cause the Merger to lapse, to be withdrawn or not to proceed, (d) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, if the Effective Date has not occurred on or prior to the Long Stop Date; (iii) if, prior to the Long Stop Date, a third party announces a firm intention to make an offer or revised offer for Avast which completes, becomes effective or is declared unconditional in all respects; (iv) if the NortonLifeLock Shareholders do not approve the Merger at the NortonLifeLock Shareholders’ Meeting, (v) if the Scheme Shareholders do not approve the Scheme at the Court Meeting and/or the relevant resolutions relating to the Scheme are not approved by the requisite majority of Scheme Shareholders at the General Meeting, other than in circumstances where NortonLifeLock has elected, with Avast’s prior consent, to implement the Merger by means of a Takeover Offer; (vi) if the Scheme is not sanctioned at the Court Hearing, (vii) upon service of written notice by Avast to NortonLifeLock if NortonLifeLock makes an announcement before the publication of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement that it will not convene the NortonLifeLock Shareholders’ Meeting, or that it does not intend to post the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement or to convene the NortonLifeLock Shareholders’ Meeting, (viii) on the earliest to occur of (a) the Scheme lapsing, terminating or being withdrawn (unless NortonLifeLock has elected, with Avast’s prior consent, to implement the Merger by means of a Takeover Offer before such lapse, termination or withdrawal) and (b) the Effective Date; and (ix) in the event that NortonLifeLock elects, with Avast’s prior consent, to implement the Merger by means of a Takeover Offer, the earliest to occur of (a) the date on which that Takeover Offer lapses, terminates or is withdrawn and (b) the Effective Date.

NortonLifeLock has undertaken that if, on or prior to the Long Stop Date, any of the following matters occurs, subject to certain qualifications, it will pay a break fee to Avast (as described below), in each case other than in certain specified circumstances:

The amount of the break fee payable by NortonLifeLock in the event of the foregoing would (subject to the conditions below) be USD 300 million following a NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation Change Event or in circumstances where the NortonLifeLock Shareholders’ Meeting has not occurred prior to the Long Stop Date in breach of NortonLifeLock’s obligations under the Co-operation Agreement, USD 200 million following a Regulatory Condition Satisfaction Failure Event or USD 100 million following a NortonLifeLock Shareholder Approval Failure Event.

No break fee would be payable by NortonLifeLock if, at the time the relevant break fee payment event occurs: (i) the Avast Board has adversely modified or qualified, or withdrawn, its recommendation of the Merger; (ii) at the time the relevant break fee payment event occurs, the Co-operation Agreement has been terminated (or a right to terminate has arisen at the Long Stop Date) under certain of the other termination events described above; or (iii) with respect to a Regulatory Condition Satisfaction Failure Event, that event occurred in circumstances where Avast has materially obstructed NortonLifeLock and Bidco from being able to obtain a regulatory clearance or authorisation (and such action(s) or non-action(s) are a material and contributory cause of such failure to obtain such clearance or authorisation), or Avast has undertaken, agreed to or announced an acquisition, licensing arrangement or other arrangement or collaboration with a third party and such action was a material contributory cause of the Regulatory Condition Satisfaction Failure Event.

Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement

NortonLifeLock, Avast, and certain of their respective external regulatory counsel, entered into the Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement to ensure that the exchange and/or disclosure of certain materials relating to the parties only takes place between their respective external regulatory counsel and external experts, and does not diminish in any way the confidentiality of such materials and does not result in a waiver of privilege, right or immunity that might otherwise be available.

The Merger and, accordingly, the Scheme will be subject to a number of conditions, which will be set out in the Scheme Document, and which are set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement, including the following antitrust and regulatory clearances:

In addition, the Merger and, accordingly, the Scheme will be subject to (amongst others) the following customary conditions:

As summarised in paragraph 16 (Merger-related arrangements), NortonLifeLock and Avast have agreed, pursuant to the Co-operation Agreement, certain mutual obligations and restrictions with respect to seeking to facilitate the satisfaction of certain of the Conditions.

It is intended that the Merger will be implemented by means of a Court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. The Scheme is an arrangement between Avast and the Scheme Shareholders and is subject to the approval of the Court. The procedure involves, among other things, an application by Avast to the Court to sanction the Scheme, in consideration for which Scheme Shareholders will receive cash and New NortonLifeLock Shares on the basis described in this Announcement, in particular paragraphs 2 (The Merger) and 14 (Electing to receive the Majority Stock Option).

The purpose of the Scheme is to provide for Bidco (and/or its nominee) to become the owner of the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Avast.

Upon the Scheme becoming Effective: (i) it will be binding on all Avast Shareholders, irrespective of whether or not they attended or voted at the Court Meeting and the General Meeting (and, if they attended and voted, whether or not they voted in favour); and (ii) share certificates in respect of Avast Shares will cease to be of value and should be destroyed and entitlements to Avast Shares held within the CREST system will be cancelled.

Bidco will despatch, or arrange for the despatch of, the consideration payable under the Scheme to Scheme Shareholders by no later than 14 days after the Effective Date.

Any Avast Shares issued before the Scheme Record Time will be subject to the terms of the Scheme. The Special Resolution to be proposed at the General Meeting will, amongst other matters, provide that the Articles be amended to incorporate provisions requiring any Avast Shares issued after the Scheme Record Time (other than to Bidco and/or its nominee) to be automatically transferred to Bidco (and/or its nominee) on the same terms as the Merger (other than terms as to timings and formalities). The provisions of the Articles (as amended) will avoid any person (other than Bidco and/or its nominee) holding ordinary shares in the capital of Avast after the Effective Date.

Subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in a Restricted Jurisdiction, it is expected that the Scheme Document, containing further information about the Merger and notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting, together with the Forms of Proxy and the Form of Election, will be posted to Avast Shareholders and (for information only) to participants in the Avast Share Schemes in late Q3 or early Q4 of 2021. For the purposes of paragraph 3(a) of Appendix 7 of the Code, the Panel has consented to this arrangement. It is also expected that, at or around the same time as the Scheme Document is posted to Avast Shareholders (other than those resident in Restricted Jurisdictions), the NortonLifeLock Prospectus will be published and the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement will be mailed.

NortonLifeLock, Bidco and Avast urge Avast Shareholders to read the Scheme Document (or, if applicable, the offer document), the Forms of Proxy, the Form of Election and the NortonLifeLock Prospectus when such documents become available because they will contain important information relating to the Merger, NortonLifeLock and Bidco. Any vote in respect of the Scheme or related matters at the Meetings should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document, the Forms of Proxy, the Form of Election and the NortonLifeLock Prospectus.

Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all relevant conditions, including the Conditions, and certain further terms set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document, and subject to the approval and availability of the Court (which is subject to change), it is expected that the Scheme will become Effective in mid-2022.

A full anticipated timetable for the Merger will be set out in the Scheme Document which will be posted as soon as practicable and at or around the same time as the publication of the NortonLifeLock Prospectus and the mailing of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement. Subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, the Scheme Document, the NortonLifeLock Prospectus and the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement will also be made available on NortonLifeLock’s website (at https://investor.nortonlifelock.com/) and Avast’s website (at https://investors.avast.com/).

Subject to the satisfaction or waiver (as applicable) of all relevant conditions, including the Conditions, and certain terms set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document, the Scheme is expected to become Effective in mid-2022.

Subject to obtaining the consent of the Panel, Bidco reserves the right to elect to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme.

Any such Takeover Offer will be implemented on substantially the same terms and conditions, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change in method of effecting the Merger. Further, if sufficient acceptances of the Takeover Offer are received and/or sufficient Avast Shares are otherwise acquired, it is the intention of Bidco to apply the provisions of the Companies Act to compulsorily acquire any outstanding Avast Shares to which such Takeover Offer relates.

It is intended that dealings in Avast Shares will be suspended on or shortly before the Effective Date at a time to be set out in the Scheme Document. It is further intended that applications will be made to the London Stock Exchange to cancel trading in Avast Shares on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, and to the FCA to cancel the listing of the Avast Shares on the Official List, in each case with effect from or shortly following the Effective Date.

It is also intended that applications will be made to the PSE and RMS to suspend dealings in Avast Shares on MTFs operated by the PSE and RMS on or shortly before the Effective Date. It is further intended that applications will be made to the PSE and RMS to remove Avast Shares from trading on MTFs operated by the PSE and RMS, in each case with effect from or shortly following the Effective Date.

On or shortly after the Effective Date, entitlements to Avast Shares held within the CREST system will be cancelled, and share certificates in respect of Avast Shares will cease to be valid.

It is anticipated that the unsponsored ADR programme for the Avast Shares will be terminated on or shortly after the Effective Date.

As soon as possible after the Effective Date, it is intended that Avast will be re-registered as a private limited company.

The New NortonLifeLock Shares will be listed on NASDAQ.

Avast does not hold any Avast Shares in treasury.

As at the Latest Practicable Date, save for the disclosures in this paragraph 22 and the irrevocable undertakings referred to in paragraphs 4 (Recommendation) and 6 (Irrevocable undertakings), none of NortonLifeLock, Bidco or any of their directors or any person acting, or deemed to be acting, in concert with NortonLifeLock or Bidco:

For these purposes, an “arrangement” includes any indemnity or option arrangement, any agreement or any understanding, formal or informal, of whatever nature, relating to Avast Shares or relevant securities of Avast which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing in such securities.

The availability of the Merger and the distribution of this Announcement to persons resident in, or citizens of, or otherwise subject to, jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions. Such persons should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements of their jurisdiction. Avast Shareholders who are in any doubt regarding such matters should consult an appropriate independent professional adviser in the relevant jurisdiction without delay.

This Announcement is not intended and does not constitute or form part of any offer to sell or to subscribe for, or any invitation to purchase or subscribe for, or the solicitation of any offer to purchase or otherwise subscribe for, any securities. Avast Shareholders are advised to read carefully the Scheme Document, the Forms of Proxy, the Form of Election and the NortonLifeLock Prospectus once these have been despatched or made available (as applicable).

Fractions of New NortonLifeLock Shares will not be allotted to Avast Shareholders. Instead, Avast Shareholders shall receive, in lieu of such fractional entitlements, cash in an amount in USD (rounded down to the nearest cent) (unless an Avast Shareholder has elected to receive cash consideration in GBP rather than USD, in which case such Avast Shareholder shall receive, in lieu of fractional entitlements, cash in an amount in GBP (rounded down to the nearest penny)) equal to such fractional amount multiplied by the last reported sale price of NortonLifeLock Shares on NASDAQ (as reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported therein, in another authoritative source selected by Bidco) on the last Business Day prior to the Effective Date.

The Merger will be subject to the Conditions set out in Appendix 1 to this Announcement, and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document. Appendix 2 to this Announcement contains the bases and sources of certain information used in the summary and in the full text of this Announcement. Appendix 3 to this Announcement contains details of the irrevocable undertakings received in relation to the Merger that are referred to in this Announcement. Appendix 4 to this Announcement contains details and bases of belief of the anticipated quantified financial benefits of the Merger and copies of the related reports from NortonLifeLock’s reporting accountants, Deloitte, and its financial adviser, Evercore. Appendix 5 to this Announcement contains the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast, and the assumptions, basis of preparation and the NortonLifeLock Directors’ confirmation relating thereto. Appendix 6 to this Announcement contains the Avast Profit Forecast, and the assumptions, basis of preparation and the Avast Directors’ confirmation relating thereto. Appendix 7 to this Announcement contains definitions of certain terms used in this Announcement.

Subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in a Restricted Jurisdiction, it is expected that the Scheme Document, containing further information about the Merger and notices of the Court Meeting and General Meeting, together with the Forms of Proxy and the Form of Election, will be posted to Avast Shareholders and (for information only) to participants in the Avast Share Schemes in late Q3 or early Q4 of 2021. It is also expected that, at or around the same time as the Scheme Document is posted to Avast Shareholders (other than those resident in Restricted Jurisdictions), the NortonLifeLock Prospectus will be published and the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement will be mailed.

In deciding whether or not to vote or procure votes in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings in respect of their Avast Shares, Avast Shareholders should rely on the information contained, and (where applicable) follow the procedures described, in the Scheme Document, the Forms of Proxy, the Form of Election and the NortonLifeLock Prospectus.

The Scheme Document and the NortonLifeLock Prospectus will not be reviewed by any federal state securities commission or regulatory authority in the U.S., nor will any commission or authority pass upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Scheme Document or the NortonLifeLock Prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful and may be a criminal offence.

Each of Evercore, UBS, J.P. Morgan Cazenove and Deloitte has given and not withdrawn its consent to the publication of this Announcement with the inclusion herein of the references to its name in the form and context in which it appears.

This Announcement does not constitute an offer or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities.

Subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, copies of the following documents will, by no later than 12 noon (London time) on the Business Day following the date of this Announcement, be made available on NortonLifeLock’s website at https://investor.nortonlifelock.com/ and on Avast’s website at https://investors.avast.com/ until the end of the Offer Period:

Neither the contents of Avast’s website nor the contents of NortonLifeLock’s website, nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on either such website, is incorporated into or forms part of, this Announcement.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Macfarlanes LLP are retained as (respectively) US and UK legal advisers to NortonLifeLock. White & Case LLP is retained as legal adviser to Avast.

Important notices relating to financial advisors

Evercore Partners International LLP (“Evercore”), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the United Kingdom, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to NortonLifeLock and Bidco and no one else in connection with the Merger and will not be responsible to anyone other than NortonLifeLock or Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Evercore nor for providing advice in connection with the matters referred to herein. Neither Evercore nor any of its subsidiaries, branches or affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Evercore in connection with any matter referred to herein or otherwise. Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Evercore by FSMA, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, neither Evercore nor any of its affiliates accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the contents of this Announcement, and no representation, express or implied, is made by it, or purported to be made on its behalf, in relation to any matter referred to herein, including its accuracy, completeness or verification, or any other statement made or purported to be made by it, or on its behalf, in connection with NortonLifeLock, Bidco or the matters described in this Announcement. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Evercore and its affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which it or they might otherwise have in respect of this Announcement or any statement contained herein.

UBS AG London Branch (“UBS”) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Market Supervisory Authority in Switzerland. It is authorised by the PRA and subject to regulation by the FCA and limited regulation by the PRA in the United Kingdom. UBS provided financial and corporate broking advice to Avast and no one else in connection with the process or contents of this Announcement. In connection with such matters, UBS will not regard any other person as its client, nor will it be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the process, contents of this Announcement or any other matter referred to herein.

J.P. Morgan Securities plc, which conducts its UK investment banking business as J.P. Morgan Cazenove, (“J.P. Morgan Cazenove”) and which is authorised in the United Kingdom by the PRA and regulated in the United Kingdom by the PRA and the FCA, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to Avast and no one else in connection with the Merger and will not regard any other person as its client in relation to the Merger and shall not be responsible to anyone other than Avast for providing the protections afforded to clients of J.P. Morgan Cazenove or its affiliates, nor for providing advice in connection with the Merger or any matter or arrangement referred to herein.

No offer or solicitation

This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any part of, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Merger or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law or regulation. In particular, this announcement is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. Any securities issued as part of the Merger are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act.

The Merger will be implemented solely in accordance with the Scheme Document (or, in the event that the Merger is to be implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, the offer document), which will contain the full terms and conditions of the Merger, including details of how to vote in respect of the Scheme. Any voting decision or response in relation to the Merger should be made solely on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document, the Forms of Proxy, the Form of Election and the NortonLifeLock Prospectus.

This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus or a prospectus exempted document.

This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with English law and the Code and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions other than England and Wales.

Important additional information will be filed with the SEC

This Announcement may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the Merger, including the issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares. In connection with the proposed issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares, NortonLifeLock is expected to file the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement with the SEC. To the extent NortonLifeLock effects the Merger as a Scheme under English law, the issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares would not be expected to require registration under the U.S. Securities Act pursuant to an exemption provided by Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act. If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, it will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that will contain a prospectus with respect to the issuance of New NortonLifeLock Shares. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, NORTONLIFELOCK’S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THESE MATERIALS (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE MERGER OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT (IF ANY) CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER AND THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER. NortonLifeLock’s shareholders and investors will be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement (or, if applicable, the registration statement on Form S-4), including the Scheme Document (or, if applicable the offer document), and other relevant documents filed with the SEC (when available) from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. NortonLifeLock’s shareholders and investors will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement, including the Scheme Document (or, if applicable the offer document), and other relevant documents (when available) by directing a written request to NortonLifeLock (Attention: Investor Relations), or from NortonLifeLock’s website at https://investor.nortonlifelock.com/.

Participants in the solicitation

NortonLifeLock, Bidco and certain of their directors and executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of NortonLifeLock in respect of the Merger, including the proposed issuance of NortonLifeLock Shares. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of NortonLifeLock in connection with the Merger, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set out in the NortonLifeLock Proxy Statement when it is filed with the SEC. Information regarding NortonLifeLock’s directors and executive officers is contained in NortonLifeLock’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended 2 April 2021 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated 28 July 2021, which are filed with the SEC.

Overseas shareholders

The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may be restricted by law and therefore any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom (including Restricted Jurisdictions) should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. In particular, the ability of persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom or who are subject to the laws of another jurisdiction to vote their Avast Shares in respect of the Scheme at the Meetings, or to execute and deliver the Forms of Proxy (appointing another to vote at the Meetings on their behalf) or the Form of Election, may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions in which they are located or to which they are subject. Any failure to comply with applicable legal or regulatory requirements of any jurisdiction may constitute a violation of securities laws in that jurisdiction.

Copies of this Announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Merger are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction, including any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, and persons receiving such documents (including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in or into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of acceptance of the Merger.

If the Merger is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into or by use of the mails or any other means or instrumentality (including facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Merger will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities or from within any Restricted Jurisdiction.

Further details in relation to Avast Shareholders in overseas jurisdictions will be contained in the Scheme Document.

Notice to U.S. investors in Avast

The Merger relates to the shares of an English company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act. A scheme of arrangement is not subject to the tender offer rules or the proxy solicitation rules under the U.S. Exchange Act and other requirements of U.S. law. Accordingly, the Merger is subject to the disclosure requirements and practices applicable to a scheme of arrangement involving a target company in England listed on the London Stock Exchange, which differ from the disclosure requirements of U.S. tender offer and proxy solicitation rules. If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer and determines to extend the Takeover Offer into the U.S., the Merger will be made in compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations.

The New NortonLifeLock Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. The New NortonLifeLock Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger will be issued pursuant to the exemption from registration provided by Section 3(a)(10) under the U.S. Securities Act. If, in the future, Bidco exercises its right to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer or otherwise in a manner that is not exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act, it will file a registration statement with the SEC that will contain a prospectus with respect to the issuance of New NortonLifeLock Shares. In this event, Avast Shareholders are urged to read these documents and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they will contain important information, and such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to NortonLifeLock’s Investor Relations team identified above.

New NortonLifeLock Shares issued to persons other than “affiliates” of NortonLifeLock (defined as certain control persons, within the meaning of Rule 144 under the U.S. Securities Act) will be freely transferable under US law after the Merger. Persons (whether or not US persons) who are or will be “affiliates” of NortonLifeLock within 90 days prior to, or of the Combined Company after, the Effective Date will be subject to certain transfer restrictions relating to the New NortonLifeLock Shares under US law.

Neither the SEC nor any U.S. state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the New NortonLifeLock Shares to be issued in connection with the Merger, or determined if this Announcement is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.

Financial information relating to Avast included in this Announcement and to be included in the Scheme Document has been or will have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom and may not be comparable to financial information of U.S. companies or companies whose financial statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. U.S. GAAP differs in certain significant respects from accounting standards applicable in the United Kingdom.

Avast is incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. In addition, some of its officers and directors reside outside the United States, and some or all of its assets are or may be located in jurisdictions outside the United States. Therefore, investors may have difficulty effecting service of process within the United States upon those persons or recovering against Avast or its officers or directors on judgments of United States federal, state or district courts, including judgments based upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. It may not be possible to sue Avast or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities laws.

Forward-looking statements

This Announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the NortonLifeLock Group and the Avast Group. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “anticipate”, “target”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “plan”, “goal”, “believe”, “aim”, “will”, “may”, “would”, “could” or “should” or other words of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements include statements relating to the following: (i) future capital expenditures, expenses, revenues, economic performance, financial conditions, dividend policy, losses and future prospects, (ii) business and management strategies and the expansion and growth of the operations of the NortonLifeLock Group or the Avast Group, and (iii) the effects of government regulation on the business of the NortonLifeLock Group or the Avast Group. There are many factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such factors include the possibility that the Merger will not be completed on a timely basis or at all, whether due to the failure to satisfy the conditions of the Merger (including approvals or clearances from regulatory and other agencies and bodies) or otherwise, general business and economic conditions globally, industry trends, competition, changes in government and other regulation, changes in political and economic stability, disruptions in business operations due to reorganisation activities, interest rate and currency fluctuations, the inability of the Combined Company to realise successfully any anticipated synergy benefits when (and if) the Merger is implemented, the inability of the Combined Company to integrate successfully the operations of the NortonLifeLock Group and the Avast Group when (and if) the Merger is implemented and the Combined Company incurring and/or experiencing unanticipated costs and/or delays or difficulties relating to the Merger when (and if) it is implemented. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Risk Factors sections of NortonLifeLock’s most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, the contents of which are not incorporated by reference into, nor do they form part of, this Announcement.

These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding the present and future business strategies of such persons and the environment in which each will operate in the future. By their nature, these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, as well as uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this Announcement may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of any such person, or industry results and developments, to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading this Announcement are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this Announcement. All subsequent oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to the NortonLifeLock Group or the Avast Group or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement above. None of NortonLifeLock, Bidco or Avast undertake any obligation to update publicly or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rules.

No profit forecasts or estimates

The NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast is a profit forecast for the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code. The NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast, the assumptions and basis of preparation on which the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast is based and the NortonLifeLock Directors’ confirmation, as required by Rule 28.1 of the Code, are set out in Appendix 5 to this Announcement.

The Avast Profit Forecast is a profit forecast for the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code. The Avast Profit Forecast, the assumptions and basis of preparation on which the Avast Profit Forecast is based and the Avast Directors’ confirmation, as required by Rule 28.1 of the Code, are set out in Appendix 6 to this Announcement.

Other than in respect of the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast and the Avast Profit Forecast, no statement in this Announcement is intended as, or is to be construed as, a profit forecast or estimate for any period and no statement in this Announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per ordinary share, for NortonLifeLock or Avast, respectively for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per ordinary share for NortonLifeLock or Avast, respectively.

For the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code: (i) the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast contained in this Announcement is the responsibility of NortonLifeLock and the NortonLifeLock Directors; and (ii) the Avast Profit Forecast contained in this Announcement is the responsibility of Avast and the Avast Directors.

Use of Non-GAAP financial information

NortonLifeLock uses the non-GAAP measures of operating margin, which are adjusted from results based on U.S. GAAP and exclude certain expenses, gains and losses. NortonLifeLock also provides the non-GAAP metric of free cash flow, which is defined as cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user’s understanding of NortonLifeLock’s past financial performance and its prospects for the future. NortonLifeLock’s management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing NortonLifeLock’s performance, as well as in planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures are not computed according to U.S. GAAP and the methods used by NortonLifeLock to compute them may differ from the methods used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental, should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with NortonLifeLock’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

NortonLifeLock is unable to provide a reconciliation of these forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures because certain information is dependent on future events, some of which are outside the control of NortonLifeLock. Moreover, estimating such U.S. GAAP financial measures with the required precision necessary to provide a meaningful reconciliation is extremely difficult and could not be accomplished without unreasonable effort.

Quantified Financial Benefits Statement

Statements of estimated cost savings and synergies relate to future actions and circumstances which, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies. As a result, the cost savings and synergies referred to in the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement may not be achieved, may be achieved later or sooner than estimated, or those achieved could be materially different from those estimated. No statement in the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, or this Announcement generally, should be construed as a profit forecast (other than the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast and the Avast Profit Forecast) or interpreted to mean that the Combined Company’s earnings in the first full year following the Effective Date of the Scheme, or in any subsequent period, would necessarily match or be greater than or be less than those of Avast and/or NortonLifeLock for the relevant preceding financial period or any other period.

For the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code, the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement contained in this Announcement is the responsibility of NortonLifeLock and the NortonLifeLock Directors.

Publication on website

A copy of this Announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26.1 and Rule 26.2 of the Code will be made available (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions) on NortonLifeLock’s website (at https://investor.nortonlifelock.com/) and on Avast’s website (at https://investors.avast.com/) by no later than 12 noon London time on the business day following the date of this Announcement. Neither the contents of these websites nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such websites is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.

Requesting hard copy documents

In accordance with Rule 30.3 of the Code, a person so entitled may request a copy of this Announcement (and any information incorporated into it by reference to another source) in hard copy form free of charge. A person may also request that all future documents, announcements and information sent to that person in relation to the Merger should be in hard copy form. For persons who have received a copy of this Announcement in electronic form or via a website notification, a hard copy of this Announcement will not be sent unless so requested from either Avast by contacting Avast’s registrars, Equiniti, at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Worthing, Lancing BN99 6DA or, between 8.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. Monday to Friday (except UK public holidays), on 0371 384 2030 from within the UK or +44 121 415 7047 if calling from outside the UK (calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will vary by provider; calls from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate), or NortonLifeLock by contacting Investor Relations at IR@NortonLifeLock.com, as appropriate.

Information relating to Avast Shareholders

Please be aware that addresses, electronic addresses and certain other information provided by Avast Shareholders, persons with information rights and other relevant persons for the receipt of communications from Avast may be provided to Bidco during the Offer Period as required under Section 4 of Appendix 4 of the Code to comply with Rule 2.11(c) of the Code.

Dealing and opening position disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in one per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th Business Day (as defined in the Code) following the commencement of the Offer Period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the 10^th Business Day (as defined in the Code) following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in one per cent or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s), save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 p.m. (London time) on the Business Day (as defined in the Code) following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the Offer Period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

Rounding

Certain figures included in this Announcement have been subjected to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown for the same category presented in different tables may vary slightly and figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.

APPENDIX 1

CONDITIONS AND FURTHER TERMS OF THE MERGER

Part A

Conditions to the Merger

Scheme approval

General Conditions

NortonLifeLock Shareholder approval

Listing on NASDAQ, effectiveness of registration

NortonLifeLock Prospectus

Antitrust approvals

United States

United Kingdom

Germany

Spain

European Union

Australia

New Zealand

Regulatory approvals

Other authorisations, regulatory clearances and third party clearances

Certain matters arising as a result of any arrangement, agreement etc.

and no event having occurred which, under any provision of any agreement, arrangement, licence, permit or other instrument to which any member of the Wider Avast Group is a party or by or to which any such member or any of its assets may be bound, entitled or subject, would or might reasonably be expected to result in any of the events or circumstances as are referred to in sub-paragraphs 3.17.1 to 3.17.8 of this Condition;

Certain events occurring since Last Accounts Date

in each case, to the extent which is material in the context of the Wider Avast Group taken as a whole;

No adverse change, litigation or regulatory enquiry

No discovery of certain matters

Anti-corruption, economic sanctions, criminal property and money laundering

Part B

Waiver and Invocation of the Conditions

The Merger will be subject to the Conditions in Part A above, and to certain further terms set out in Part D below, and to the full terms and conditions which will be set out in the Scheme Document.

The Scheme will not become Effective unless the Conditions (other than Condition 2.6 of Part A of this Appendix 1) have been fulfilled or (if capable of waiver) waived or, where appropriate, have been determined by Bidco to be or remain satisfied by no later than 11.59 p.m. on the date before the Court Hearing.

Subject to the requirements of the Panel and in accordance with the Code, Bidco reserves the right to waive:

If Bidco is required by the Panel to make an offer or offers for any Avast Shares under the provisions of Rule 9 of the Code, Bidco may make such alterations to the Conditions as are necessary to comply with the provisions of that Rule.

Each of the Conditions will be regarded as a separate Condition and will not be limited by reference to any other Condition.

Under Rule 13.5(a) of the Code, Bidco may not invoke a Condition so as to cause the Scheme not to proceed, to lapse or to be withdrawn unless the circumstances which give rise to the right to invoke the condition are of material significance to Bidco in the context of the offer.

Bidco may only invoke a Condition that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code with the consent of the Panel and any Condition that is subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code may be waived by Bidco.

Conditions 1, 2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 in Part A of this Appendix 1 are not subject to Rule 13.5(a) of the Code.

Bidco shall not be under any obligation to waive (if capable of waiver), to determine to be or remain satisfied or to treat, as fulfilled any of Conditions 1 to 3.22 (inclusive) of Part A of this Appendix 1 (to the extent capable of waiver) by a date earlier than the latest date for the fulfilment of that Condition, notwithstanding that the other Conditions may at such earlier date have been waived or fulfilled and that there are at such earlier date no circumstances indicating that any of such Conditions may not be capable of fulfilment.

Part C

Implementation by way of Takeover Offer

Subject to obtaining the consent of the Panel, Bidco reserves the right to elect to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer as an alternative to the Scheme.

Any such Takeover Offer will be implemented on substantially the same terms and conditions, so far as applicable, as those which would apply to the Scheme subject to appropriate amendments to reflect the change in method of effecting the Merger. Further, if sufficient acceptances of the Takeover Offer are received and/or sufficient Avast Shares are otherwise acquired, it is the intention of Bidco to apply the provisions of the Companies Act to compulsorily acquire any outstanding Avast Shares to which such Takeover Offer relates.

Part D

Certain further terms of the Merger

The availability of the Merger to persons not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable requirements. Avast Shareholders who are in any doubt about such matters should consult an appropriate independent professional adviser in the relevant jurisdiction without delay and observe any applicable requirements.

The Merger will be governed by English law and be subject to the jurisdiction of the English courts and to the conditions to be set out in the formal Scheme Document, and such further terms as may be required to comply with the Listing Rules and the provisions of the Code and any requirement of the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the FCA and the Registrar.

Each of the Conditions shall be regarded as a separate Condition and shall not be limited by reference to any other Condition.

Fractions of New NortonLifeLock Shares will not be allotted to Avast Shareholders. Instead, Avast Shareholders shall receive, in lieu of such fractional entitlements, cash in an amount in USD (rounded down to the nearest cent) (unless an Avast Shareholder has elected to receive cash consideration in Pounds Sterling rather than USD, in which case such Avast Shareholder shall receive, in lieu of fractional entitlements, cash in an amount in Pounds Sterling (rounded down to the nearest penny)) equal to such fractional amount multiplied by the last reported sale price of NortonLifeLock Shares on NASDAQ (as reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported therein, in another authoritative source selected by Bidco) on the last Business Day prior to the Effective Date.

The Avast Shares will be acquired by Bidco (and/or its nominee) with full title guarantee, fully paid and free from all liens, equitable interests, charges, encumbrances, rights of pre-emption and any other third party rights or interests whatsoever and together with all rights existing at the date of this Announcement or thereafter attaching thereto, including the right to receive and retain, in full, all dividends and other distributions (if any) declared, made or paid or any other return of capital (whether by way of reduction of share capital or share premium account or otherwise) made on or after the date of this Announcement in respect of the Avast Shares, other than the Agreed Avast Dividends.

If, on or after the date of this Announcement and before the Effective Date, any Return of Value is authorised, declared, made or paid or becomes payable in respect of the Avast Shares, other than the Agreed Avast Dividends, or in excess of the Agreed Avast Dividends, Bidco reserves the right (without prejudice to any right of Bidco, with the consent of the Panel, to invoke Condition 3.18.3 in Part A of this Appendix 1), to reduce the aggregate consideration payable under the terms of the Merger for the Avast Shares by an amount up to the amount of such Return of Value, or by the excess above the Agreed Avast Dividends, in which case any reference in this Announcement or in the Scheme Document to the consideration payable under the terms of the Merger will be deemed to be a reference to the consideration as so reduced. To the extent that any such Return of Value is authorised, declared, made or paid or is payable before the Scheme becomes Effective in accordance with its terms, other than the Agreed Avast Dividends, or in excess of the Agreed Avast Dividends, and it is: (i) transferred pursuant to the Merger on a basis which entitles Bidco (and/or its nominee) to receive the Return of Value and to retain it; or (ii) cancelled, the consideration payable under the terms of the Merger will not be subject to change in accordance with this paragraph. Any exercise by Bidco of its rights referred to in this paragraph will be the subject of an announcement and will not be regarded as constituting any revision to or variation of the Merger.

The New NortonLifeLock Shares will be fully paid and non-assessable and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing NortonLifeLock Shares, save that they will not participate in any dividend payable by NortonLifeLock with reference to a record date prior to the Effective Date.

The availability of the Merger and the Majority Stock Option to persons not resident in the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdiction. Any persons who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom should inform themselves about and observe any applicable requirements.

The Merger (including the Majority Stock Option) is not being made, directly or indirectly, in, into or from, or by use of the mails of, or by any means of instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of, any jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws of that jurisdiction and will not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facility or from within any such jurisdiction.

Bidco reserves the right to implement the Merger directly or with or through any direct or indirect subsidiary undertaking of NortonLifeLock or Bidco, from time to time.

APPENDIX 2

SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND BASES OF CALCULATION

In this Announcement:

APPENDIX 3

IRREVOCABLE UNDERTAKINGS

The Avast Directors’ (and the Vlček Family Foundation’s) irrevocable commitments, further details of which are set out in Part A and Part B below, are in respect of, in aggregate, 381,057,227 Avast Shares, representing approximately 36.93% of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Avast on the Latest Practicable Date.

Part A – Avast Directors

NortonLifeLock and Bidco have received irrevocable commitments from the Avast Directors listed below in respect of their own legal and/or beneficial holdings of Avast Shares, representing in aggregate approximately 35.96% of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Avast on the Latest Practicable Date.

These irrevocable commitments have been given by all of the Avast Directors who hold Avast Shares, being all of the Avast Directors apart from John Schwarz, Maggie Chan Jones, Tamara Minick-Scokalo and Belinda Richards.

The irrevocable commitments require each Avast Director who holds a legal and/or beneficial interest in Avast Shares (or whose family member or other connected person holds such an interest) to: (i) vote or procure that the registered holder votes in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings (or, if the Merger is implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, to accept, or procure acceptance of, the Takeover Offer); and (ii) elect for the Majority Stock Option, and not to revoke any such election once made.

These irrevocable commitments will continue to be binding in the event that a higher competing offer is made for Avast.

These irrevocable commitments will only cease to be binding if:

The irrevocable commitments of Pavel Baudiš and Eduard Kučera are also terminable upon written notice from them in circumstances where Bidco announces that it intends to increase the consideration payable in respect of the Majority Cash Option, but does not announce a proportionate increase in the consideration payable in respect of the Majority Stock Option (with agreed metrics for determining proportionate increases and non-proportionate increases). The irrevocable commitments of Ondrej Vlcek, Philip Marshall and Warren Finegold are not terminable in such circumstances, though they may (on written notice) revoke any prior election for the Majority Stock Option, and their obligation to elect for the Majority Stock Option shall cease to apply.

In addition, if Bidco announces that it intends to implement the Merger by way of a Takeover Offer rather than by way of the Scheme, and either in the announcement of such intention or in a subsequent announcement sets the acceptance condition for such Takeover Offer at less than 75%, the obligation of the Avast Directors (and their obligations with respect to their connected persons and/or related trusts) to elect for, and not to revoke any prior election for, the Majority Stock Option, shall cease to apply. Accordingly, in those circumstances, the Avast Directors (and their relevant connected persons and/or related trusts) would be entitled to revoke any previous election for the Majority Stock Option, and to receive the Majority Cash Option.

Part B – Vlček Family Foundation

In addition, NortonLifeLock and Bidco have received an irrevocable commitment from the Vlček Family Foundation in respect of its entire legal and/or beneficial holding of 10,000,000 Avast Shares, representing approximately 0.97% of the existing issued ordinary share capital of Avast on the Latest Practicable Date.

This irrevocable commitment requires the Vlček Family Foundation to vote, or procure that the registered holder of the relevant Avast Shares votes, in favour of the resolutions relating to the Scheme at the Meetings (or, if the Merger is implemented by means of a Takeover Offer, to accept, or procure acceptance of, the Takeover Offer). The Vlček Family Foundation is not required to elect for the Majority Stock Option.

This irrevocable commitment will continue to be binding in the same circumstances as the irrevocable commitments given by the Avast Directors, set out in Part A of this Appendix 3.

APPENDIX 4

QUANTIFIED FINANCIAL BENEFITS STATEMENT

Part A

Paragraph 3 (Background to and reasons for the Merger) of this Announcement contains statements of estimated cost savings and synergies arising from the Merger (together, the “Quantified Financial Benefits Statement”).

A copy of the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement is set out below:

“Given the complementary nature of both NortonLifeLock and Avast, the NortonLifeLock Directors believe that the Merger will generate synergies that could not be achieved independently of the Merger and will lead to significant long-term value creation for all shareholders.

Significant recurring cost synergies opportunity

NortonLifeLock anticipates that the Merger will result in recurring annual pre-tax gross cost synergies for the Combined Company to reach a run-rate of approximately USD 280 million, representing between approximately 15% and 20% of combined adjusted cost of sales and operating spend, based on the latest full year reported results for each of NortonLifeLock and Avast. The synergies are expected to be fully realised by the end of the second year following completion of the Merger.

NortonLifeLock intends to approach integration with the aim of retaining and motivating the best talent and structure across the Combined Company to create a best-in-class organisation. The expected sources of the identified cost synergies are as follows:

NortonLifeLock expects to realise approximately 60% of the run-rate cost savings by the end of the first full year following completion of the Merger and 100% by the end of the second full year following completion of the Merger, excluding any potential synergy reinvestment and associated benefits. On a reported basis, the synergies assume the Combined Company expects to benefit from approximately USD 75 million of cost savings in the first full year following completion of the Merger, approximately USD 245 million of cost savings in the second full year following completion of the Merger, and the full USD 280 million of the cost savings in the third full year following completion of the Merger, excluding any potential synergy reinvestment and associated benefits.

One-off costs

In order to realise these synergies, NortonLifeLock is expected to incur one-off restructuring and integration costs of approximately one year’s run-rate pre-tax cost savings, or USD 280 million, with approximately USD 180 million estimated to be incurred in the first full year following completion of the Merger and approximately USD 100 million estimated to be incurred in the second full year following completion of the Merger. Aside from integration costs, no material dis-benefits are expected to arise in connection with the Merger. The expected synergies will accrue as a direct result of the Merger and would not be achieved on a standalone basis.

The paragraphs above relating to expected cost synergies constitute a “Quantified Financial Benefits Statement” for the purposes of Rule 28 of the Code.

Given the strong strategic, cultural and operational fit of the two companies, NortonLifeLock believes that the quantified cost synergies are readily achievable.

NortonLifeLock expects to achieve the quantified cost synergies while maintaining appropriate investment levels in sales and technology to meet the Combined Company’s growth targets and other objectives.

The estimated cost synergies referred to above reflect both the beneficial elements and the relevant costs.”

Further information on the bases of belief supporting the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, including the principal assumptions and sources of information, is set out below.

Bases of belief and principal assumptions

In preparing the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, a synergy working group comprising senior strategy, operations, technical, sales and financial personnel from NortonLifeLock (the “Working Group”) was established to identify, challenge and quantify the potential synergies available from the integration of the NortonLifeLock and Avast businesses, and to undertake an initial planning exercise.

In preparing the detailed synergy plan, both NortonLifeLock and Avast have shared certain operating and financial information to support the evaluation of the potential synergies available from the Merger and have conducted a series of virtual meetings with the key management personnel of both NortonLifeLock and Avast. This has included input from both the NortonLifeLock and Avast executive leadership teams.

Based on the information shared and interactions with Avast, the Working Group has performed a bottom-up analysis of costs included in the NortonLifeLock and Avast financial information and has sought to include in the synergy analysis those costs which the Working Group believe will be either optimized or reduced as a result of the Merger. In circumstances where the information provided by Avast has been limited for commercial or other reasons, the Working Group has made estimates and assumptions to aid its development of individual synergy initiatives. The assessment and quantification of the potential synergies have in turn been informed by NortonLifeLock management’s industry experience as well as their experience of executing and integrating acquisitions in the past.

The baseline used as the basis for the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement is NortonLifeLock’s adjusted cost base for the financial year ended 2 April 2021, supported where relevant by certain information from NortonLifeLock’s budgeted cost base for the financial year ending 1 April 2022, and Avast’s adjusted cost base for the financial year ended 31 December 2020, supported where relevant by certain information from Avast’s budgeted cost base for the financial year ending 31 December 2021.

The quantified synergies are incremental to NortonLifeLock’s and, to the best of NortonLifeLock’s knowledge, Avast’s existing plans.

In general, the synergy assumptions have in turn been risk adjusted, exercising a degree of prudence in the calculation of the estimated synergy benefit set out above.

In arriving at the estimate of synergies set out in the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, the NortonLifeLock management has made the following assumptions:

Reports

As required by Rule 28.1(a) of the Code, Deloitte, as reporting accountants to NortonLifeLock, and Evercore, as financial adviser to NortonLifeLock, have provided the reports required under that Rule.

Copies of these reports are included in Part B and Part C of this Appendix 4. Each of Deloitte and Evercore has given and not withdrawn its consent to the publication of its report in this Announcement in the form and context in which it is included.

Notes

Part B

REPORT FROM DELOITTE LLP

NortonLifeLock Inc.

60 E. Rio Salado Parkway

Suite 1000, Tempe, AZ 85281

USA

Evercore Partners International LLP

15 Stanhope Gate

London

W1K 1LN

UK

10 August 2021

Dear Sirs/Mesdames

RECOMMENDED MERGER OF AVAST PLC (the “Target”) WITH NORTONLIFELOCK INC. (the “Offeror”)

We report on the quantified financial benefits statement made by the directors of the Offeror (the “Directors”) set out in Part A of Appendix 4 to the announcement (the “Announcement”) issued by the Offeror (the “Quantified Financial Benefits Statement” or the “Statement”).

Opinion

In our opinion, the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement has been properly compiled on the basis stated.

The Statement has been made in the context of the disclosures within Part A of Appendix 4 to the Announcement setting out, inter alia, the basis of the Directors’ belief (identifying the principal assumptions and sources of information) supporting the Statement and their analysis, explanation and quantification of the constituent elements.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Directors to prepare the Statement in accordance with Rule 28 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Takeover Code”).

It is our responsibility to form our opinion, as required by Rule 28.1(a) of the Takeover Code, as to whether the Statement has been properly compiled on the basis stated and to report that opinion to you.

This report is given solely for the purposes of complying with Rule 28.1(a)(i) of the Takeover Code and for no other purpose.

Therefore, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not assume any other responsibility to any person for any loss suffered by any such person as a result of, arising out of, or in connection with, this report or our statement, required by and given solely for the purposes of complying with Rule 23.2 of the Takeover Code, consenting to its inclusion in the Announcement.

Basis of preparation of the Statement

The Statement has been prepared on the basis stated in Part A of Appendix 4 to the Announcement.

Basis of opinion

We conducted our work in accordance with the Standards for Investment Reporting issued by the Financial Reporting Council in the United Kingdom (“FRC”).

We are independent of the Offeror in accordance with the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to Investment Circular Reporting Engagements, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

We have discussed the Statement, together with the underlying plans (relevant bases of belief/including sources of information and assumptions), with the Directors and Evercore Partners International LLP. Our work did not involve any independent examination of any of the financial or other information underlying the Statement.

We planned and performed our work so as to obtain the information and explanations we considered necessary in order to provide us with reasonable assurance that the Statement has been properly compiled on the basis stated.

Our work has not been carried out in accordance with auditing or other standards and practices generally accepted in jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom, including the United States of America, and accordingly should not be relied upon as if it had been carried out in accordance with those standards and practices. We have not consented to the inclusion of this report and our opinion in any registration statement filed with the SEC under the US Securities Act of 1933 (either directly or by incorporation by reference) or in any offering document enabling an offering of securities in the United States (whether under Rule 144A or otherwise). We therefore accept no responsibility to, and deny any liability to, any person using this report and opinion in connection with any offering of securities inside the United States of America or who makes a claim on the basis they had acted in reliance on the protections afforded by United States of America law and regulation.

We do not express any opinion as to the achievability of the benefits identified by the Directors in the Statement.

Since the Statement and the assumptions on which it is based relate to the future and may therefore be affected by unforeseen events, we express no opinion as to whether the actual benefits achieved will correspond to those anticipated in the Statement and the differences may be material.

Yours faithfully

Deloitte LLP

Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom. Deloitte LLP is the United Kingdom affiliate of Deloitte NSE LLP, a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”). DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL and Deloitte NSE LLP do not provide services to clients.

Part C

REPORT FROM EVERCORE PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL LLP

The Directors

NortonLifeLock Inc.

60 E. Rio Salado Parkway

Suite 1000, Tempe, AZ 85281

United States of America

10 August 2021

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen

Recommended merger of Avast plc (“Avast”) with NortonLifeLock Inc. (“NortonLifeLock”) – Report on Quantified Financial Benefits Statement of NortonLifeLock

We refer to the Quantified Financial Benefits Statement, the bases of belief thereof and the notes thereto (together, the “Statement”) made by NortonLifeLock, as set out in Part A of Appendix 4 to the announcement dated 10 August 2021 of which this report forms part (the “Announcement”), for which the directors of NortonLifeLock (the “Directors”) are solely responsible under Rule 28.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the “Code”).

We have discussed the Statement (including the bases of belief, assumptions and sources of information referred to therein) with the Directors and those officers and employees of NortonLifeLock who developed the underlying plans, as well as with Deloitte LLP. The Statement is subject to uncertainty as described in the Announcement and our work did not involve an independent examination or verification of any of the financial or other information underlying the Statement.

We have relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all the financial and other information provided to us by or on behalf of NortonLifeLock, or otherwise discussed with or reviewed by us, and we have assumed such accuracy and completeness for the purposes of providing this report.

We have also reviewed the work carried out by Deloitte LLP and have discussed with them their opinion set out in Part B of Appendix 4 to the Announcement addressed to you and us on this matter and the accounting policies and bases of calculation for the Statement.

We do not express any view or opinion as to the achievability of the quantified financial benefits, whether on the basis identified by the Directors in the Statement or otherwise.

This report is provided to you solely in connection with Rule 28.1(a)(ii) of the Code and for no other purpose. We accept no responsibility to NortonLifeLock or its shareholders or any person (including, without limitation, the board of directors and shareholders of Avast) other than the Directors in respect of the contents of this report. We are acting exclusively as financial adviser to NortonLifeLock and Nitro Bidco Limited (“Bidco”) and no one else in connection with the merger of Avast with NortonLifeLock referred to in the Announcement and it is for the purpose of complying with Rule 28.1(a)(ii) of the Code that NortonLifeLock has requested Evercore Partners International LLP to prepare this report relating to the Statement. No person other than the Directors can rely on the contents of this report, or on the work undertaken in connection with this report, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we expressly exclude all liability (whether in contract, tort or otherwise) to any other person, in respect of this report, its contents, its results, or the work undertaken in connection with this report or any of the results or conclusions that may be derived from this report or any written or oral information provided in connection with this report, and any such liability is expressly disclaimed except to the extent that such liability cannot be excluded by law.

On the basis of the foregoing, we consider that the Statement, for which you as the Directors are solely responsible, for the purposes of the Code, has been prepared with due care and consideration.

Yours faithfully,

Evercore Partners International LLP

APPENDIX 5

NORTONLIFELOCK PROFIT FORECAST

On 27 July 2021, NortonLifeLock released its results for its first fiscal quarter ended 2 July 2021 which, in the earnings presentation slides (the “Q1 Results Slides”) and in the press release covering the results (the “Q1 Release”), were supplemented by the following statements relating to NortonLifeLock’s anticipated EPS:

In the Q1 Results Slides:

“Q2 FY22 Non-GAAP Guidance – EPS $0.41 - $0.43”

“Reaffirm FY22 Non-GAAP Guidance – EPS $1.65-1.75”

In the Q1 Release:

“Fiscal 2022 Q2 Guidance – Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.41 to $0.43”

“Reiterating Full Year Fiscal 2022 Guidance – Non-GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $1.65 to $1.75”

Each of the above statements (together, the “NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast”) constitutes an ordinary course profit forecast for the purposes of Rule 28.1(a) and Note 2(b) on Rule 28.1 of the Code.

Notes

The Q1 Release contains the statements set out below, and the Q1 Results Slides (which refer to the equivalent Q1 Release wording) contain similar statements. References to “GAAP” in the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast are to U.S. GAAP, being the accounting policies applied in the preparation of the NortonLifeLock Group’s annual results for the year ended 2 April 2021.

“[NortonLifeLock uses] non-GAAP measures of operating margin, net income and earnings per share, which are adjusted from results based on GAAP and exclude certain expenses, gains and losses. We also provide the non-GAAP metrics of Consumer revenues, constant currency revenues and Consumer reported billings, which exclude revenues from our divested ID Analytics solutions, and free cash flow, which is defined as cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided to enhance the user’s understanding of our past financial performance and our prospects for the future. Our management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing NortonLifeLock’s performance, as well as in planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures are not computed according to GAAP and the methods we use to compute them may differ from the methods used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental, should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.”

Basis of preparation

The NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast has been prepared on a basis consistent with the NortonLifeLock Group’s accounting policies, as set out in the notes above.

The NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast excludes any transaction costs applicable to the Merger or any other associated accounting impacts as a direct result of the Merger.

Assumptions

The NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast is based on the assumptions listed below.

Factors outside the influence or control of the NortonLifeLock Directors

Factors within the influence and control of the NortonLifeLock Directors

NortonLifeLock Directors’ confirmation

With the consent of Avast, the Panel has granted a dispensation from the Code requirement for NortonLifeLock’s reporting accountants and financial advisers to prepare reports in respect of the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast.

The NortonLifeLock Directors have considered the NortonLifeLock Profit Forecast and confirm that it remains valid as at the date of this Announcement, and has been properly compiled on the basis of the assumptions set out in this Appendix 5 and that the basis of the accounting used is consistent with NortonLifeLock’s accounting policies.

APPENDIX 6

AVAST PROFIT FORECAST

The following statement included in paragraph 9 (Avast current trading) of this Announcement constitutes an ordinary course profit forecast for the purposes of Rule 28.1(a) and Note 2(b) on Rule 28.1 of the Code (together, the “Avast Profit Forecast”):

Set out below is the basis of preparation in respect of the Avast Profit Forecast, together with the assumptions on which it is based.

“Avast’s organic group revenue guidance for the full 2021 financial year is maintained at the upper end of 6% to 8% growth.

…

The Avast Group’s Adjusted EBITDA margin percentage for the 2021 financial year is expected to remain broadly flat versus the financial year ended 31 December 2020, in line with previous guidance and reflecting increased user and customer acquisition costs as well as materially higher marketing spend around the flagship Avast One product, which remains on track for launch later this year.”

Basis of preparation

The Avast Profit Forecast has been prepared on a basis consistent with the Avast Group’s accounting policies which are in accordance with IFRS. These policies are consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Avast Group’s annual results for the year ended 31 December 2020.

The Avast Profit Forecast excludes any transaction costs applicable to the Merger or any other associated accounting impacts as a direct result of the Merger.

Assumptions

The Avast Profit Forecast is based on the assumptions listed below.

Factors outside the influence or control of the Avast Directors

Factors within the influence and control of the Avast Directors

Avast Directors’ confirmation

With the consent of NortonLifeLock, the Panel has granted a dispensation from the Code requirement for Avast’s reporting accountants and financial advisers to prepare reports in respect of the Avast Profit Forecast.

The Avast Directors have considered the Avast Profit Forecast and confirm that it remains valid as at the date of this Announcement, and has been properly compiled on the basis of the assumptions set out in this Appendix 6 and that the basis of the accounting used is consistent with Avast’s accounting policies.

All references in this Announcement to GBP, £, pence and Pounds Sterling are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom. All references in this Announcement to USD, $, U.S. and United States dollars and cents are to the lawful currency of the U.S.

All references to statutory provision or law or to any order or regulation shall be construed as a reference to that provision, law, order or regulation as extended, modified, amended, replaced or re-enacted from time to time and all statutory instruments, regulations and orders from time to time made thereunder or deriving validity therefrom.

References in this Announcement to “parent undertaking”, “subsidiary”, “subsidiary undertaking”, “undertaking” and “associated bodies corporate” have the meanings given to such terms by the Companies Act.

References in this Announcement to a “Part” of an Appendix to this Announcement are to the applicable part of such Appendix.

A reference in this Announcement to “includes” shall mean “includes without limitation”, and references to “including” and any other similar term shall be interpreted accordingly.

Words in this Announcement importing the singular shall include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires or admits.

All the times referred to in this Announcement are London times unless otherwise stated.

Exhibit 2.02 

Execution Version

Dated 10 August 2021

Co-operation Agreement

between

NortonLifeLock Inc.

and

Nitro Bidco Limited

and

Avast plc

This Agreement is made on 10 August 2021

Between:

together referred to as the “parties” and each as a “party” to this agreement (the “Agreement”).

Whereas:

It is agreed:

“Acceptance Condition” has the meaning given to it in Clause 9.2(a);

“Acceptance Condition Invocation Notice” means a notice in which NortonLifeLock and/or Bidco gives notice of its intention to invoke the Acceptance Condition so as to cause the Offer to lapse in accordance with Rule 31.6 of the Takeover Code;

“Affiliate” means in relation to a party, any person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the party, and for these purposes a party shall be deemed to control a person if such party possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;

“Agreed Switch” has the meaning given to it in Clause 9.1(a);

“Announcement” means the announcement pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code in relation to the Transaction, in the form appended to this Agreement at Schedule 1 (Announcement);

“Avast Board” means the board of directors of Avast from time to time;

“Avast Board Recommendation” means the unanimous recommendation of the Avast Board to the Avast Shareholders to vote in favour of the Resolutions (or, following an Agreed Switch, accept the Offer);

“Avast Board Recommendation Change” means: (i) if Avast makes any announcement prior to the publication of the Scheme Document that: (a) the Avast Directors no longer intend to make the Avast Board Recommendation or intend to adversely modify or qualify such recommendation; (b) it shall not convene the Court Meeting or the Avast General Meeting (or shall convene such meetings and adjourn them without specifying a date for re-convening); or (c) it intends not to publish the Scheme Document; (ii) any failure to include the Avast Board Recommendation in the Scheme Document; (iii) any withdrawal of the Avast Board Recommendation; (iv) any adverse modification or qualification of the Avast Board Recommendation; (v) if, after the Scheme has been approved by Avast Shareholders at the Court Meeting and/or the Avast General Meeting, the Avast Directors announce that they shall not implement the Scheme (other than in connection with an announcement of an Offer by NortonLifeLock and/or Bidco where the Avast Board Recommendation continues to apply to such Offer); and/or (vi) any third party announces a firm intention under the Takeover Code to make an offer or revised offer for Avast (whether or not subject to the satisfaction or waiver of any pre-conditions or conditions) which is recommended by all or a majority of the Avast Directors;

“Avast Directors” means the directors of Avast from time to time;

“Avast General Meeting” means the general meeting of Avast (including any adjournment thereof) to be convened and held in connection with the Transaction, notice of which will be set out in the Scheme Document, to consider, and if thought fit, approve the Resolutions;

“Avast Group” means Avast and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time and, “member of the Avast Group” will be construed accordingly;

“Avast Remuneration Committee” means the remuneration committee of the Avast Board as constituted from time to time prior to the Effective Date;

“Avast Share Plans” means the LTIP, the SMP and the Share Option Plan;

“Avast Shareholder” means a registered holder of an Avast Share from time to time;

“Avast Shares” means the ordinary shares of £0.10 each in the capital of Avast from time to time;

“Bidco Directors” means the directors of Bidco from time to time;

“Break Payment Events” means each of (i) a NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation Change; (ii) the NortonLifeLock Stockholders Meeting having not occurred prior to the Long Stop Date in breach of NortonLifeLock’s obligations under this Agreement; (iii) a Regulatory Condition Satisfaction Failure Event; and (iv) a NortonLifeLock Stockholder Approval Failure Event;

“Break Payments” means, collectively, (i) the NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation Change Break Payment; (ii) the Regulatory Condition Break Payment; and (iii) the NortonLifeLock Stockholder Approval Failure Break Payment;

“Business Day” means a day, other than a Saturday, Sunday or public or bank holiday, on which banks in London and New York City are open for ordinary banking business;

“Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement” means the clean team and joint defence agreement between NortonLifeLock and Avast dated 24 June 2021 entered into in connection with the Transaction, including any subsequent agreement in writing to be bound by the terms of the Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement executed by Additional Counsel (as defined in the Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement);

“Combined Company” has the meaning given to it in the Announcement;

“Companies Act” means the Companies Act 2006, as amended from time to time;

“Conditions” means the conditions to the implementation of the Transaction which are set out in Part A of Appendix 1 to the Announcement and to be set out in the Scheme Document;

“Confidentiality Agreement” means the confidentiality agreement entered into between NortonLifeLock and Avast in connection with the Transaction on 23 June 2021;

“Court” means the High Court of Justice in England and Wales;

“Court Meeting” means the meeting of the holders of Avast Shares to be convened by order of the Court pursuant to section 896 of the Companies Act, notice of which will be set out in the Scheme Document, for the purpose of considering, and if thought fit, approving (with or without modification) the Scheme, including any adjournment thereof;

“Court Order” means the order of the Court sanctioning the Scheme under section 899 of the Companies Act;

“Court Sanction Hearing” means the hearing of the Court to sanction the Scheme, including any adjournment thereof;

“Effective Date” means the date on which either: (i) the Scheme becomes effective pursuant to its terms; or (ii) if NortonLifeLock and/or Bidco elects, with the consent of the Panel (and subject to the terms of this Agreement), to implement the Transaction by means of an Offer, the Offer becomes or is declared unconditional in all respects in accordance with the requirements of the Takeover Code;

“Excess NortonLifeLock Dividend” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.2;

“Excess NortonLifeLock Dividend Notice” has the meaning given to it in Clause 8.2;

“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

“FCA” means the Financial Conduct Authority;

“FCA Handbook” means the FCA’s Handbook of rules and guidance as amended from time to time;

“Guarantee” has the meaning given to it in Clause 13.1;

“Indemnified Executives” means such executives of Avast who, as at the date of this Agreement, have a right to be indemnified or are insured in a substantially equivalent manner to the directors and officers of any member of the Avast Group;

“Law” means any applicable statues, common law, rules, ordinances, regulations, codes, orders, judgments, injunctions, writs, decrees, directives, governmental guidelines or interpretation having force of law or bylaws, in each case, of a Regulatory Authority;

“Long Stop Date” means 11.59 p.m. on 31 December 2022 (or such later time and/or date as may be agreed in writing between the parties (with the Panel’s consent and as the Court may approve (if such consent or approval is required));

“LTIP” means the Avast 2018 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time;

“Match Period” has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.7(a);

“material official authorisation or regulatory clearance” means an official authorisation or regulatory clearance where the Panel is satisfied that the failure to obtain the authorisation or clearance could give rise to circumstances which are of material significance to NortonLifeLock and/or Bidco in the context of the Offer;

“Maximum Premium” has the meaning given to it in Clause 11.3(b);

“NASDAQ” means the NASDAQ Stock Market;

“New NortonLifeLock Shares” means the NortonLifeLock Shares proposed to be issued to Avast Shareholders in accordance with the terms of the Transaction;

“NortonLifeLock Alternative Proposal” shall mean any proposal or offer from any person or group relating to any: (i) direct or indirect acquisition, purchase, lease, exchange, transfer or licence, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, including by means of the acquisition of capital stock of any member of the NortonLifeLock Group, of assets or properties that constitute 20 per cent. or more of the assets and properties (based on fair market value) of the NortonLifeLock Group, taken as a whole; (ii) direct or indirect acquisition or purchase, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of beneficial ownership, or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20 per cent. or more of the voting power of all outstanding equity securities of NortonLifeLock; or (iii) issuance or sale or other disposition (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, reorganisation, recapitalisation or other similar transaction) in a single transaction or a series of related transactions of 20 per cent. or more of the voting power of all outstanding equity securities of NortonLifeLock, in each case, other than the Transaction;

“NortonLifeLock Board” means the board of directors of NortonLifeLock from time to time;

“NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation” means a unanimous recommendation by the NortonLifeLock Board to NortonLifeLock Stockholders to vote in favour of the NortonLifeLock Stockholder Matters;

“NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation Change” means if NortonLifeLock: (i) withdraws, withholds or qualifies (or amends or modifies in any manner adverse to Avast), or proposes publicly to withdraw, withhold or qualify (or amend or modify in any manner adverse to Avast), the NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation; (ii) approves, recommends, adopts or proposes publicly to approve, recommend or adopt, any NortonLifeLock Alternative Proposal or any NortonLifeLock Takeover Proposal; or (iii) fails to include the NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation in the definitive Proxy Statement;

“NortonLifeLock Board Recommendation Change Break Payment” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.1(a);

“NortonLifeLock Convertible Notes” means NortonLifeLock’s 2.00% Convertible Senior Notes Due 2022 issued under an indenture dated 4 February 2020 entered into between NortonLifeLock and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association;

“NortonLifeLock Directors” means the directors of NortonLifeLock from time to time;

“NortonLifeLock Documents” has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.3(b);

“NortonLifeLock Group” means NortonLifeLock and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings from time to time and “member of the NortonLifeLock Group” will be construed accordingly;

“NortonLifeLock Intervening Event” means any effect, change, event, fact, condition, development or occurrence that is material to the NortonLifeLock Group, taken as a whole, that: (i) first becomes known after the date of this Agreement and prior to receipt of the NortonLifeLock Stockholder Approval; and (ii) was not known by or reasonably foreseeable to the NortonLifeLock Board as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that in no event shall any of the following effects, changes, events, facts, conditions, developments or occurrences be taken into account in determining whether a NortonLifeLock Intervening Event has occurred: (A) the receipt, existence or terms of a NortonLifeLock Alternative Proposal, or an inquiry, proposal or offer that could reasonably be expected to lead to a NortonLifeLock Alternative Proposal, or any matter relating thereto or direct or indirect consequence thereof; or (B) the fact that, in and of itself, any member of the NortonLifeLock Group exceeds any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions in respect of revenues, earnings or other financial or operating metrics, or changes or prospective changes in the market price or trading volume of the NortonLifeLock Shares (it being understood that the underlying facts giving rise or contributing to such events may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a NortonLifeLock Intervening Event if such facts are not otherwise excluded under this definition);

“NortonLifeLock Prospectus” means the prospectus required to be published by NortonLifeLock in respect of the New NortonLifeLock Shares, including any supplementary prospectus;

“NortonLifeLock Shares” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of NortonLifeLock;

“NortonLifeLock Stockholder Approval” means the approval of the NortonLifeLock Stockholder Matters by the requisite vote of NortonLifeLock Stockholders;

“NortonLifeLock Stockholder Approval Failure Break Payment” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.1(c);

“NortonLifeLock Stockholder Approval Failure Event” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.1(c);

“NortonLifeLock Stockholder Matters” means the proposals to be voted on by NortonLifeLock Stockholders at the NortonLifeLock Stockholders Meeting to approve the issuance of the New NortonLifeLock Shares and such other matters (if any) that are required to be approved by NortonLifeLock’s Stockholders to consummate the Transaction;

“NortonLifeLock Stockholders” means the holders of NortonLifeLock Shares from time to time;

“NortonLifeLock Stockholders Meeting” means the meeting of NortonLifeLock Stockholders (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) to be convened and held to consider, and if thought fit, approve the NortonLifeLock Stockholder Matters;

“NortonLifeLock Takeover Proposal” means any bona fide written proposal made by a person or group after the date hereof to enter into a NortonLifeLock Alternative Proposal, with all references to 20 per cent. in the definition of NortonLifeLock Alternative Proposal being treated as references to 50 per cent. for these purposes, that: (i) did not result from a breach of Clause 5.1; (ii) is on terms that the NortonLifeLock Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside financial advisors and outside legal counsel) to be more favourable from a financial point of view to the NortonLifeLock Stockholders than the Transaction, taking into account all relevant factors; and (iii) is reasonably likely to be capable of being completed in accordance with its terms, taking into account all financial, regulatory, legal and other aspects of such proposal;

“Offer” has the meaning given to it in Recital (B) and reference to “Offer” also includes any increased, renewed or revised offer;

“Offer Document” means, if NortonLifeLock and/or Bidco elects to implement the Transaction by means of an Offer, the document setting out (amongst other things) details of the Transaction and the full terms and conditions of the Offer, to be sent to (among others) the Avast Shareholders, including any revised or supplementary offer document;

“Panel” means the UK Panel on Takeovers and Mergers;

“Proceedings” means any proceedings, suit or action arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, whether contractual or non-contractual;

“Proxy Approval” means the first Business Day after NortonLifeLock receives written confirmation from the SEC that it has no further comments on the Proxy Statement or, if the SEC has not informed NortonLifeLock that it will review the Proxy Statement, the first Business Day after the tenth day after the Proxy Statement is filed;

“Proxy Statement” means, collectively, the preliminary proxy statement and the definitive proxy statement of NortonLifeLock to be filed with the SEC and mailed to the NortonLifeLock Stockholders in connection with the NortonLifeLock Stockholders Meeting (including any amendments or supplements thereto);

“Qualifying NortonLifeLock Takeover Proposal” has the meaning given to it in Clause 5.2;

“Recoverable VAT Amount” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.6;

“Regulatory Approvals” means all consents, authorisations, approvals, clearances, permissions, waivers and/or filings that are required in order to satisfy any of the Regulatory Conditions and also the expiry of all waiting periods that may need to have expired, from or under any of the laws, regulations or practices applied by any Regulatory Authority in respect of the Transaction, to satisfy any of the Regulatory Conditions and any reference to Regulatory Approvals having been “satisfied” or “obtained” shall be construed as meaning that the foregoing have been obtained or deemed to have been obtained or, in the case of waiting periods, expired in accordance with the Regulatory Condition;

“Regulatory Authority” means, any central bank, ministry, governmental, supranational (including the European Union), statutory, regulatory (including the SEC and NASDAQ) or investigative body, authority or tribunal (including any national or supranational antirust, competition or merger control authority, any sectoral ministry or regulator and foreign investment or national security review body), national, state, municipal or local government (including any subdivision, court, tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other authority thereof), including the Panel;

“Regulatory Conditions” means the Conditions set out in Conditions 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13.1, 3.13.2, 3.13.3, 3.13.4 and 3.13.5 (inclusive) of Part A of Appendix 1 to the Announcement;

“Regulatory Condition Break Payment” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.1(b);

“Regulatory Condition Satisfaction Failure Event” has the meaning given to it in Clause 12.1(b);

“Regulatory Newswire” means, with respect to any announcement referred to in this Agreement: (i) a “regulatory information service”, as defined in the FCA Handbook, if the announcement is to be published between 7.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. (UK) time on any day on which the London Stock Exchange plc is open for the transaction of business; or (ii) if the announcement is to be published other than during the times described in (i), two newswire services operating in the UK, provided that an announcement published pursuant to (ii) shall be submitted for publication in the UK as soon as the regulatory information service described in (i) re-opens (in each case (a) as required by Rule 30.1(b) of the Takeover Code and (b) except where the consent of the Panel is provided with respect to an alternative means of publication);

“Relevant Third Parties” has the meaning given to it in Clause 17.7(a);

“Resolutions” means such resolutions to be proposed at the Avast General Meeting and the Court Meeting as are necessary to approve, implement and effect the Scheme and Transaction and changes to Avast’s articles of association;

“Rule 15 Letter” means the communication to be prepared by Avast and NortonLifeLock to each of the participants in the Avast Share Plans in satisfaction of NortonLifeLock’s and Bidco’s obligations under Rule 15 of the Takeover Code;

“Scheme” has the meaning given to it in Recital (B), and reference to Scheme also includes any modified, renewed or revised scheme;

“Scheme Conditions” means the Conditions relating to the Scheme becoming effective in accordance with its terms, set out in Conditions 2.1 to 2.6 (inclusive) of Part A of Appendix 1 to the Announcement;

“Scheme Document” means the circular to be sent to (amongst others) Avast Shareholders setting out (amongst other things) the details of the Transaction, the full terms and conditions of the Scheme and the explanatory statement required pursuant to Part 26 of the Companies Act and incorporating the notices convening the Court Meeting and the Avast General Meeting, including any revised or supplementary circular;

“SEC” means the US Securities and Exchange Commission;

“Securities Act” means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

“Sensitive Information” has the meaning given to it in Clause 3.10;

“Share Option Plan” means the Avast employee share option plan (formerly known as the Avast Holding 2014 Share Option Plan), as amended from time to time;

“Shareholder Approval Conditions” means Conditions 2.1, 2.3 and 3.1 of Part A of Appendix 1 to the Announcement or, following an Agreed Switch, any equivalent condition;

“SMP” means the Avast Share Matching Plan, as amended from time to time;

“Takeover Code” means the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers issued from time to time by or on behalf of the Panel;

“Tax” or “Taxation” means and includes all forms of taxation and statutory and governmental, state, provincial, local governmental or municipal charges, duties, contributions and levies, withholdings and deductions wherever and whenever imposed and all related penalties and interest;

“Tax Authority” means any governmental or other authority competent to impose Taxation including any person, authority or body responsible for collection of Tax; and

“Transaction” means the proposed combination of the NortonLifeLock Group with the Avast Group, which is proposed to be effected by Bidco (or another member of the NortonLifeLock Group) acquiring the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Avast.

(together “Sensitive Information”), the disclosing party will, to the extent permitted by Law, disclose the relevant information to the other party on an outside counsel or retained expert only basis pursuant to the Clean Team and Joint Defence Agreement.