UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

March 9, 2016

 

 

NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36056   94-3156479

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1 Wayside Road

Burlington, Massachusetts 01803

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (781) 565-5000

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

  ¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

  ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On March 9, 2016, Nuance Communications, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into an agreement (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”) to repurchase 26,315,790 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value of the Company (the “Common Stock”) at a price of $19.00 per share (the “Repurchase”) from Icahn Partners LP, Icahn Partners Master Fund LP and High River Limited Partnership (collectively, the “Icahn Group”). The Repurchase is expected to close on or around March 15, 2016. Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement the Company, the Stockholders and certain other parties to the Nomination and Standstill Agreement dated as of October 7, 2013 (the “Nomination Agreement”) agreed to extend Section 4 in the Nomination Agreement through March 9, 2017 and terminate Sections 2 and 3 of the Nomination Agreement. The Repurchase will be funded in part by a promissory note in the amount of approximately $125 million issued by the Company to Icahn Capital LP (the “Promissory Note”), with the balance funded by the Company’s cash on hand. The Promissory Note bears interest at a rate per annum equal to 2.63515% and has a maturity date of June 7, 2016. The foregoing description of the Stock Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Stock Purchase Agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference.

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

In connection with the execution of the Stock Purchase Agreement, David Schechter and Brett Icahn agreed to resign from the board of directors of the Company, effective as of March 9, 2016.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

On March 10, 2016 the Company issued a press release announcing the entry into the Stock Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein. A copy of the press release issued by the Company regarding these events is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information in the press release attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 9, 2016
99.1    Press release dated March 10, 2016

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Date: March 10, 2016     By:  

/s/ Kenneth M. Siegel

      Kenneth M. Siegel
      Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

10.1    Stock Purchase Agreement, dated March 9, 2016
99.1    Press release dated March 10, 2016

Exhibit 10.1

STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of March 9, 2016 (this “ Agreement ”), by and among Nuance Communications, Inc. (“ NUAN ”), and each of the entities listed on Schedule A hereto (collectively, the “ Icahn Group ”, and individually a “ member ” of the Icahn Group). The parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1. Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, NUAN irrevocably purchases from the Icahn Group and the Icahn Group irrevocably sells to NUAN (subject to receipt of the payment provided herein) 26,315,790 shares of common stock, $0.001 par value (such shares being sold hereunder, the “ Shares ”), of NUAN free and clear of all Encumbrances at $19.00 per Share for aggregate consideration of $500,000,010.00, comprised of: (x) $375,000,008 in cash; and (y) a $125,000,002 promissory note in the form attached hereto as Schedule C (the “Note”). Such Shares shall be allocated among the individual Icahn Group sellers in accordance with Schedule A. NUAN and the Icahn Group shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such transaction to settle no later than March 15, 2016, and in no event shall the transaction settle after March 22, 2016 (the “ Settlement Date ”). The Icahn Group shall deliver such Shares as directed by NUAN (via DTC book entry transfer) immediately following confirmation of receipt of a wire transfer, to the account(s) set forth on Schedule B hereto, of the aggregate cash portion of the purchase price set forth above. The cash and Note consideration will be delivered at settlement.

 

2. Each party shall execute such other documents and take such other actions as are reasonably requested by another party hereto to carry out the provisions hereof and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each party acknowledges that the other parties are obligated to disclose and file a copy of this Agreement pursuant to U.S. securities laws and agrees that nothing in this Agreement shall restrict the parties’ ability to make such disclosures or filings. All fees and expenses incurred by each party hereto in connection with the matters contemplated by this Agreement shall be borne by the party incurring such fee or expense. Each member of the Icahn Group shall provide to NUAN an appropriate and complete Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8 prior to the Settlement Date.

 

3. Each party is a sophisticated investor and has conducted its own investigation with respect to the Shares, acknowledges that the other parties may be in possession of material, nonpublic information regarding NUAN and agrees that no other party shall have any obligation to disclose such information to such party.

 

4. Representations and Warranties of the Icahn Group. Each member of the Icahn Group, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to NUAN that:

 

  (a) Each member of the Icahn Group has the full right, power and authority to enter into and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement. All action on the part of each member of the Icahn Group necessary for the execution of this Agreement and the performance of each member of the Icahn Group’s obligations hereunder has been taken or will be taken prior to the Settlement Date. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each member of the Icahn Group, enforceable against each member of the Icahn Group in accordance with its terms.

  (b) Each member of the Icahn Group has good, valid and marketable title to all of the Shares listed opposite its name on Schedule A, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances. The Icahn Group has the sole right to dispose or direct the disposition of the Shares. “Encumbrance” shall mean any security interest, claim, pledge, lien, charge, voting agreement, proxy, mortgage, conditional sale agreement, title retention agreement, option, adverse claim of ownership or use, any restriction on ownership, use, voting or transfer, or any other encumbrance of any kind, character or description whatsoever.

 

  (c) No member of the Icahn Group is, as of the date hereof, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding which could result in NUAN having any obligation or liability for any brokerage fees, commissions, underwriting discounts or other similar fees or expenses relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No payment made by NUAN to the Icahn Group pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to income tax withholding under the U.S. federal income tax laws.

 

  (d) No member of the Icahn Group has voted, agreed to vote or granted any proxy or entered into any other arrangement with respect to the Shares.

 

5. Representations and Warranties of NUAN. NUAN hereby represents and warrants to the Icahn Group as follows:

 

  (a) NUAN has the full right, power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. All action on the part of NUAN necessary for the execution of this Agreement and the performance of its obligations hereunder has been taken or will be taken prior to the Settlement Date. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of NUAN, enforceable against NUAN in accordance with its terms.

 

  (b) NUAN is not as of the date hereof, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding which could result in the Icahn Group having any obligation or liability for any brokerage fees, commissions, underwriting discounts or other similar fees or expenses relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

2

6. No member of the Icahn Group shall vote or grant any proxy or enter into any other arrangement with respect to, the Shares after the date hereof.

 

7. David Schechter and Brett Icahn shall, and hereby do, resign as directors of NUAN, effective as of the date hereof, and Sections 2 and 3 of the Nomination and Standstill Agreement among the parties dated as of October 7, 2013 (the “Nomination Agreement”) shall, effective as of the date hereof, terminate and have no further force or effect. Notwithstanding such resignations and the terminations of Section 2 and 3, the parties agree that Section 4.1 and the other provisions of the Nomination Agreement shall continue in effect until March 9, 2017, at which time the Nomination Agreement shall terminate and have no further force or effect.

 

8. Each party agrees that any press release or SEC filings to be made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the review and approval of the other parties hereto, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

9. The parties hereto shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement exclusively in the federal or state courts of the State of Delaware, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. Furthermore, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction of the federal or state courts of the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement or the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that it shall not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court, (c) agrees that it shall not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than the federal or state courts of the State of Delaware, and each or the parties irrevocably waives the right to trial by jury, (d) agrees to waive any bonding requirement under any applicable law, in the case any other party seeks to enforce the terms by way of equitable relief, and (e) irrevocably consents to service of process by a reputable overnight mail delivery service, signature requested, to the address of such parties’ principal place of business or as otherwise provided by applicable law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects, including without limitation validity, interpretation and effect, by the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts executed and to be performed wholly within such state without giving effect to the choice of law principles of such state.

[ Signature Pages Follow ]

 

3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first written above.

 

NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Daniel Tempesta

  Name:   Daniel Tempesta
  Title:   Chief Financial Officer

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO NUAN S TOCK P URCHASE A GREEMENT ]

ICAHN PARTNERS MASTER FUND LP
ICAHN PARTNERS LP
  By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

    Name:   Keith Cozza
    Title:   Chief Operating Officer
HIGH RIVER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
  By:   Hopper Investments LLC, general partner
  By:   Barberry Corp., its sole member
  By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

    Name:   Keith Cozza
    Title:   Secretary; Treasurer

Acknowledged and agreed as to Section 7:

 

/s/ David Schechter

DAVID SCHECHTER

/s/ Brett Icahn

BRETT ICAHN

 

HIGH RIVER LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

 

By: Hopper Investments LLC, general partner

By: Barberry Corp., its sole member

 

By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name: Keith Cozza
  Title:   Secretary; Treasurer

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO NUAN S TOCK P URCHASE A GREEMENT ]

HOPPER INVESTMENTS LLC
By:   Barberry Corp., its sole member
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Secretary; Treasurer
BARBERRY CORP.
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Secretary; Treasurer
ICAHN PARTNERS LP
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer
ICAHN PARTNERS MASTER FUND LP
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer
ICAHN ENTERPRISES G.P. INC.
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
ICAHN ENTERPRISES HOLDINGS L.P.
By: Icahn Enterprises G.P. Inc., its general partner
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer
IPH GP LLC
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO NUAN S TOCK P URCHASE A GREEMENT ]

ICAHN CAPITAL LP
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer
ICAHN ONSHORE LP
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer
ICAHN OFFSHORE LP
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Chief Operating Officer
BECKTON CORP
By:  

/s/ Keith Cozza

  Name:   Keith Cozza
  Title:   Secretary

 

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO NUAN S TOCK P URCHASE A GREEMENT ]

SCHEDULE A

 

Icahn Group Member

   Shares  

Icahn Partners LP

     12,743,517   

Icahn Partners Master Fund LP

     8,309,115   

High River Limited Partnership

     5,263,158   

SCHEDULE B

5,263,158 Shares ($100,000,002, less applicable portion attributable to the Note)

Bank of America

Account Name: High River Limited Partnership

12,743,517 Shares ($242,126,823, less applicable portion attributable to the Note)

Bank of America

Account Name: Icahn Partners LP

8,309,115 Shares ($157,873,185, less applicable portion attributable to the Note)

Bank of America

Account Name: Icahn Partners Master Fund LP

SCHEDULE C

Form of Note

 

$125,000,002    Burlington, MA            
  

 

            , 2016            

Nuance Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Maker ”) hereby promises to pay to the order of Icahn Capital LP (as agent for Icahn Partners LP, Icahn Partners Master Fund LP and High River Limited Partnership) (“ Icahn ”), its successors and assigns, in lawful money of the United States of America, the lesser of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE MILLION TWO DOLLARS ($125,000,002.00) or the principal balance outstanding under this Promissory Note, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, at the rate or rates set forth below on             , 2016 (the “ Maturity Date ”).

The unpaid principal amount of this Promissory Note shall bear interest at a rate per annum equal to 2.63515% from and after the date hereof through the Maturity Date, calculated on the basis of a 365 day year and the actual number of days elapsed. If any interest is determined to be in excess of the then legal maximum rate, then that portion of each interest payment representing an amount in excess of the then legal maximum rate shall be deemed a payment of principal and applied against the principal of the obligations evidenced by this Promissory Note. If the date fixed for payment of this Promissory Note is a day that is not a business day, then such payment shall be made on the next succeeding business day with the same force and effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and interest shall not accrue for the period after the date originally fixed for payment.

This Promissory Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time, without premium or penalty, upon one (1) business days’ notice to Icahn and interest shall cease to accrue on any amounts repaid on the date of such repayment.

Maker hereby waives presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, notice of protest and all other demands, protests and notices in connection with the execution, delivery, performance, collection and enforcement of this Promissory Note.

This Promissory Note is being delivered in, is intended to be performed in, shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with, and be governed by the internal laws of, the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

This Promissory Note may only be amended, modified or terminated by an agreement in writing signed by the party to be charged.

(signature page follows)

NUANCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
  By:  

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

 

March 10, 2016

Press Release

Nuance to Repurchase $500 Million, or 26.32 Million Shares,

of Common Stock from Icahn Group

BURLINGTON, Mass., March   10, 2016 – Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) today announced that it has agreed to repurchase $500 million, or approximately 26.32 million shares, of Nuance common stock from Carl C. Icahn and certain of his affiliates. Nuance will repurchase the stock at a price of $19.00 per share, a discount of 6% to the stock’s closing price of $20.21 on March 9, 2016.

This transaction is expected to reduce Nuance’s projected fiscal 2016 weighted average shares outstanding by approximately 14.3 million shares, and is separate from the Company’s previously authorized share repurchase program, the continued execution of which will be limited for the foreseeable future.

Nuance will fund the transaction through a combination of $375 million cash on hand and a 90-day promissory note with a face amount of $125 million. Nuance expects to close the transaction on or around March 15, 2016.

Evercore and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati served as advisors to Nuance.

About Nuance Communications, Inc.

Nuance Communications, Inc. is a leading provider of voice and language solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. Its technologies, applications and services make the user experience more compelling by transforming the way people interact with devices and systems. Every day, millions of users and thousands of businesses experience Nuance’s proven applications. For more information, please visit www.nuance.com .

Nuance and the Nuance logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Nuance Communications, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States of America and/or other countries. All other company names or product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Contact Information

 

For Press and Investors

Richard Mack

Nuance Communications, Inc.

Tel: 781-565-5000

Email: richard.mack@nuance.com

 

LOGO    © 2016 Nuance Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.