UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE TO

Tender Offer Statement Pursuant to Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

(Name of Subject Company (issuer))

HERON SUB, INC.

(Name of Filing Persons (Offeror)) a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

(Name of filing Persons (Parent of Offeror))

 

 

Common Stock, $.01 Par Value

(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

461212102

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

 

 

Heron Sub, Inc.

Utz Quality Foods, LLC

900 High Street

Hanover, PA 17331

Attention: Dylan Lissette

(717) 637-6644

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)

 

 

With copies to:

Larry P. Laubach

Richard J. Busis

Cozen O’Connor

One Liberty Place, 1650 Market Street, Suite 2800

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 665-2000

 

 

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE

 

Transaction Valuation*   Amount of Filing Fee**

$82,091,562.50

  $10,220.40
* Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the amount of filing fee. The calculation of the transaction value is determined by adding the sum of (i) 19,827,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of Inventure Foods, Inc. (“Inventure Foods”), multiplied by the offer price of $4.00 per share, (ii) the net offer price for 224,550 shares issuable pursuant to outstanding options with an exercise price less than $4.00 per share (which is calculated by multiplying the number of shares underlying such outstanding options by an amount equal to the offer price of $4.00 per share minus the weighted average exercise price per share of $2.25), (iii) 183,021 shares subject to issuance upon settlement of outstanding performance share units multiplied by the offer price of $4.00 per share, and (iv) 414,629 shares subject to issuance upon settlement of outstanding restricted stock units multiplied by the offer price of $4.00 per share. The calculation of the filing fee is based on information provided by Inventure Foods as of October 25, 2017.
** The amount of the filing fee is calculated in accordance with Rule 0-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Fee Rate Advisory #1 for fiscal year 2018, issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 24, 2017, by multiplying the transaction valuation by 0.0001245.

 

Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

Amount Previously Paid:    None    Filing Party:    Not applicable
Form or Registration No.:    Not applicable    Date Filed:    Not applicable

 

Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.

Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:

 

  third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.
  issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.
  going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.
  amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer.  ☐

If applicable, check the appropriate box(es) below to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon:

 

  Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)
  Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third Party Tender Offer)

 

 

 


This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (together with any amendments and supplements hereto, this “Schedule TO”) relates to the offer by Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”), and Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share (the “Shares”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Inventure Foods”), at a price of $4.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Offer to Purchase”) and in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Letter of Transmittal,” and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, the “Offer”), which are annexed to and filed with this Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively. Purchaser is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. This Schedule TO is being filed on behalf of Parent and Purchaser. Unless otherwise indicated, references to sections in this Schedule TO are references to sections of the Offer to Purchase.

A copy of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2017, by and among Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser is attached as Exhibit (d)(1) hereto and incorporated herein by reference with respect to Items 4 through 9 and Item 11 of this Schedule TO. All of the information set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including Schedule I thereto, is incorporated by reference herein in response to Items 1 through 9 and Item 11 of this Schedule TO, and is supplemented by the information specifically provided in this Schedule TO.

 

Item 1. Summary Term Sheet

The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the caption “SUMMARY TERM SHEET” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2. Subject Company Information

(a) The subject company and the issuer of the securities to which this Schedule TO relates is Inventure Foods, Inc. (“Inventure Foods”). Its principal executive offices are located at 5415 East High Street, Suite 350, Phoenix, Arizona 85054, and its telephone number is (623) 932-6200.

(b) This Schedule TO relates to Purchaser’s offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of Inventure Foods (each a “Share”). According to Inventure Foods, as of October 25, 2017, there were (i) 19,827,000 Shares issued and outstanding and (ii) 224,550 Shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options granted under Inventure Foods’ stock plans with exercise prices below $4.00 per share.

(c) The information set forth in “THE OFFER – Section 6 – Price Range of Shares; Dividends” of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 3. Identity and Background of Filing Person

(a), (b) and (c) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference: “SUMMARY TERM SHEET”; “THE OFFER – Section 9 – Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent and Controlling Persons”; and “SCHEDULE I – Directors and Executive Officers of Parent, Purchaser and UQF.”

 

Item 4. Terms of the Transaction

(a)(1) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. The disclosure required by Item 1004(a)(1)(ix)-(xi) of Regulation M-A is not applicable.

 

Item 5. Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements

(a), (b) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference: “SUMMARY TERM SHEET”; “THE OFFER – Section 9 – Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent and Controlling Persons”; “THE OFFER – Section 11 – Background of the Offer; Contacts with Inventure Foods”; “THE OFFER – Section 12 – Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights”; and “THE OFFER – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents.”


Item 6. Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals

(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference: “SUMMARY TERM SHEET” and “THE OFFER – Section 12 – Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights.”

(c) (1)-(7) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference: “SUMMARY TERM SHEET”; “THE OFFER – Section 7 – Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Stock Exchange Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations”; “THE OFFER – Section 10 – Source and Amount of Funds”; “THE OFFER – Section 11 – Background of the Offer; Contacts with Inventure Foods”; “THE OFFER – Section 12 – Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights”; “THE OFFER – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents”; and “THE OFFER – Section 14 – Dividends and Distributions.”

 

Item 7. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference: “SUMMARY TERM SHEET”; “THE OFFER – Section 10 – Source and Amount of Funds”; and “THE OFFER – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents.”

The Offer is not subject to a financing condition.

 

Item 8. Interest in Securities of the Subject Company

The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the caption “THE OFFER – Section 9 – Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent and Controlling Persons” is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9. Persons/Assets Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used

The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference: “SUMMARY TERM SHEET”; “THE OFFER – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares”; and “THE OFFER – Section 17 – Fees and Expenses.”

 

Item 10. Financial Statements

Not applicable.

 

Item 11. Additional Information

(a) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference: “SUMMARY TERM SHEET”; “THE OFFER – Section 7 – Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Stock Exchange Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations”; “THE OFFER – Section 11 – Background of the Offer; Contacts with Inventure Foods”; “THE OFFER – Section 12 – Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights”; “THE OFFER – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents”; and “THE OFFER – Section 16 – Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals.”

(c) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal, to the extent not already incorporated herein by reference, is incorporated herein by reference.

 

2


Item 12. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

(a)(1)(A)*   Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017.
(a)(1)(B)*   Letter of Transmittal (including Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9).
(a)(1)(C)*   Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
(a)(1)(D)*   Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(1)(E)*   Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees.
(a)(1)(F)*   Summary Advertisement as published in  The New York Times on November 15, 2017.
(a)(5)   Press Release dated October 26, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO-C filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Parent on October 26, 2017).
(b)(1)*   Term Loan Commitment Letter dated October 25, 2017 among Bank of America, N.A., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Utz Quality Foods, LLC.
(d)(1)   Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October  25, 2017 among Utz Quality Foods, LLC, Heron Sub, Inc. and Inventure Foods, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of Inventure Foods, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2017).
(d)(2)*   Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement dated as of September 26, 2016 between Utz Quality Foods, LLC and Inventure Foods, Inc.
(d)(3)*   Exclusivity Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2017, by and between Utz Quality Foods, LLC and Inventure Foods, Inc.
(d)(4)*   Amendment to Exclusivity Agreement, dated as of October 17, 2017, by and between Utz Quality Foods, LLC and Inventure Foods, Inc.
(d)(5)*   Amendment to Exclusivity Agreement, dated as of October 19, 2017, by and between Utz Quality Foods, LLC and Inventure Foods, Inc.
(g)   None.
(h)   None.

 

* Filed herewith

 

Item 13. Information Required by Schedule 13E-3

Not applicable.

 

3


SIGNATURES

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: November 15, 2017

 

HERON SUB, INC.
By:  

    /s/ Dylan Lissette

      Name: Dylan Lissette
      Title: Chief Executive Officer
UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC
By:  

    /s/ Dylan Lissette

      Name: Dylan Lissette
      Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

4

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Exhibit (a)(1)(A)

Offer to Purchase for Cash

All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock

of

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

at

$4.00 Net Per Share

by

HERON SUB, INC.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS EXPIRE AT ONE MINUTE AFTER 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 13, 2017, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

THIS OFFER IS BEING MADE PURSUANT TO THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, THE “ MERGER AGREEMENT ”), DATED AS OF OCTOBER 25, 2017, AMONG INVENTURE FOODS, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION (“ INVENTURE FOODS ”), UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC, A DELAWARE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY (“ PARENT ”), AND HERON SUB, INC., A DELAWARE CORPORATION AND A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF PARENT (“ PURCHASER ”). PURCHASER IS OFFERING TO PURCHASE ALL OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (THE “ SHARES ”), PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE, OF INVENTURE FOODS FOR $4.00 PER SHARE NET TO THE SELLER IN CASH, WITHOUT INTEREST BUT SUBJECT TO ANY REQUIRED WITHHOLDING TAXES, UPON THE TERMS AND SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (WHICH, TOGETHER WITH ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS HERETO AND THERETO, COLLECTIVELY CONSTITUTE THE “ OFFER ”). UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL WE PAY INTEREST ON THE CONSIDERATION PAID FOR SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER, REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION OF THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENT. THE MERGER AGREEMENT PROVIDES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT, UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED BY INVENTURE FOODS AND PARENT, AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE (AND IN ANY EVENT WITHIN THREE BUSINESS DAYS) FOLLOWING THE SATISFACTION OR WAIVER OF THE APPLICABLE CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER, PURCHASER WILL BE MERGED WITH AND INTO INVENTURE FOODS (THE “ MERGER ”), WITHOUT A VOTE OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF INVENTURE FOODS IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 251(H) OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (THE “ DGCL ”).

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF INVENTURE FOODS (THE “INVENTURE FOODS BOARD”) HAS UNANIMOUSLY (I) DETERMINED THAT THE MERGER AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE OFFER AND THE MERGER, ARE FAIR TO AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF, INVENTURE FOODS AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS, (II) ADOPTED AND APPROVED THE MERGER AGREEMENT, DECLARED IT ADVISABLE TO ENTER INTO THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND APPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE MERGER AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE OFFER AND THE MERGER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DGCL, (III) APPROVED THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND PERFORMANCE BY INVENTURE FOODS OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE MERGER AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE OFFER AND THE MERGER, (IV) ELECTED THAT THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY SECTION 251(H) OF THE DGCL AND (V) RECOMMENDED THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS OF INVENTURE FOODS ACCEPT THE OFFER AND TENDER THEIR SHARES TO PURCHASER PURSUANT TO THE OFFER, ON THE TERMS AND SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT.


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THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED ON OBTAINING FINANCING OR THE FUNDING THEREOF. HOWEVER, THE OFFER IS SUBJECT TO VARIOUS OTHER CONDITIONS, INCLUDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT VALIDLY WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER A NUMBER OF SHARES (EXCLUDING ANY SHARES TENDERED PURSUANT TO GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN “RECEIVED” (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 251(H) OF THE DGCL), AS FURTHER DESCRIBED IN THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE) THAT, WHEN ADDED TO THE SHARES (IF ANY) BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY PARENT OR PURCHASER, WOULD REPRESENT AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES THEN OUTSTANDING (DETERMINED ON A FULLY-DILUTED BASIS ASSUMING THE CONVERSION OR EXERCISE OF ALL DERIVATIVE SECURITIES THAT ARE OR WILL BE VESTED AS OF THE TIME OF THE MERGER). IF THE NUMBER OF SHARES TENDERED IN THE OFFER IS INSUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE MINIMUM CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE TO BE SATISFIED UPON EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER (TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANY EXTENSIONS THEREOF), THEN (I) NEITHER THE OFFER NOR THE MERGER WILL BE CONSUMMATED AND (II) INVENTURE FOODS’ STOCKHOLDERS WILL NOT RECEIVE THE OFFER PRICE OR MERGER CONSIDERATION PURSUANT TO THE OFFER OR MERGER, AS APPLICABLE. A SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL TERMS OF THE OFFER, INCLUDING THE CONDITIONS, APPEARS ON PAGES 1 THROUGH 8.

THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, AND YOU SHOULD READ BOTH CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER YOUR SHARES.

QUESTIONS, REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE AND REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION AGENT AT THE ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER SET FORTH ON THE BACK COVER OF THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE. STOCKHOLDERS ALSO MAY CONTACT THEIR BROKERS, DEALERS, BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES OR OTHER NOMINEES FOR ASSISTANCE CONCERNING THE OFFER.

November 15, 2017

 

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IMPORTANT

If you desire to tender all or any portion of your Shares in the Offer, this is what you must do:

 

    If you are a record holder ( i.e. , a stock certificate or uncertificated stock has been issued to you), you must complete and sign the enclosed Letter of Transmittal, in accordance with the instructions provided therein, and send it with your stock certificates and any other documents required in the Letter of Transmittal to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Depositary ”), or follow the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase. These materials must reach the Depositary prior to the expiration of the Offer. Detailed instructions are contained in the Letter of Transmittal and in “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares” of this Offer to Purchase.

 

    If you are a record holder and your stock is certificated but your stock certificate is not available or you cannot deliver it to the Depositary prior to the expiration of the Offer, you may be able to tender your Shares using the enclosed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Please call D.F. King & Co., Inc. (the “ Information Agent ”), toll free, at (888) 280-6942 for assistance. See “The Offer – Section 3 –Procedures for Tendering Shares” for further details.

 

    If you hold your Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and give instructions that your Shares be tendered.

The Letter of Transmittal, the certificates for the Shares and any other required documents must reach the Depositary prior to the expiration of the Offer (currently scheduled for one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 13, 2017, unless extended or earlier terminated), unless the procedures for guaranteed delivery described in “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares” of this Offer to Purchase are followed.

Beneficial owners of Shares holding their Shares through nominees should be aware that their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee may establish its own earlier deadline for participation in the Offer. Accordingly, beneficial owners holding Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who wish to participate in the Offer should contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee as soon as possible in order to determine the times by which such owner must take action in order to participate in the Offer.

This transaction has not been approved or disapproved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) or any state securities commission, nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the fairness or merits of this transaction or upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained in this Offer to Purchase or the Letter of Transmittal. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.

* * *

Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at the address and telephone number set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other related materials may be obtained from the Information Agent or from your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee. Copies of these materials may also be found at the website maintained by the SEC at  www.sec.gov . You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance.

This Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal contain important information, and you should read both carefully and in their entirety before making any decision with respect to the Offer.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

SUMMARY TERM SHEET

     1  

INTRODUCTION

     9  

THE OFFER

     12  

1.

   Terms of the Offer      12  

2.

   Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares      13  

3.

   Procedures for Tendering Shares      14  

4.

   Withdrawal Rights      17  

5.

   Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences      18  

6.

   Price Range of Shares; Dividends      20  

7.

   Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Stock Exchange Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations      21  

8.

   Certain Information Concerning Inventure Foods      22  

9.

   Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent and Controlling Persons      23  

10.

   Source and Amount of Funds      24  

11.

   Background of the Offer; Contacts with Inventure Foods      25  

12.

   Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights      28  

13.

   The Transaction Documents      31  

14.

   Dividends and Distributions      46  

15.

   Conditions to the Offer      47  

16.

   Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals      49  

17.

   Fees and Expenses      52  

18.

   Miscellaneous      52  

SCHEDULE I: Directors and Executive Officers of Parent, Purchaser and UQF

     53  

Managers and Executive Officers of Parent

     53  

Directors and Executive Officers of Purchaser

     54  

Directors and Executive Officers of UQF Holdings, Inc.

     54  

 

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SUMMARY TERM SHEET

Heron Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, is offering to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Inventure Foods, Inc. (“ Inventure Foods ”) for $4.00 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal and pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2017, by and among Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser (as amended from time to time, the “ Merger Agreement ”). The following are some of the questions you, as an Inventure Foods stockholder, may have, and answers to those questions.

The information contained in this summary term sheet is a summary only and is not meant to be a substitute for the more detailed information contained in the remainder of this Offer to Purchase. You should carefully read this Offer to Purchase and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal in their entirety because the information in this summary term sheet is not complete and additional important information is contained in the remainder of this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal.  This summary term sheet includes cross-references to other sections of this Offer to Purchase to direct you to the sections of the Offer to Purchase containing a more complete description of the topics covered in this summary term sheet. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Purchaser. The information concerning Inventure Foods contained herein and elsewhere in the Offer to Purchase has been provided to Parent and Purchaser by Inventure Foods or has been taken from or is based upon publicly available documents or records of Inventure Foods on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) or other public sources at the time of the Offer. Parent and Purchaser have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of such information.

 

Securities Sought    All of the outstanding shares (“ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Inventure Foods.
Price Offered Per Share    $4.00 per Share (the “ Offer Price ”), net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes.
Scheduled Expiration of Offer    One minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 13, 2017, unless the Offer is extended or earlier terminated. See “The Offer –Section 1 –Terms of the Offer.”
Purchaser    Heron Sub, Inc. a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC (“ Parent ”), a Delaware limited liability company.
Inventure Foods’ Board of Directors Recommendation    The board of directors of Inventure Foods (the “ Inventure Foods Board ”) recommended that the stockholders of Inventure Foods accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

Who is offering to buy my securities?

Our name is Heron Sub, Inc. We are a Delaware corporation formed for the sole purpose of making this tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Inventure Foods and completing the process by which we will be merged with and into Inventure Foods. We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. See the “Introduction” to this Offer to Purchase and “The Offer – Section 9 – Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent and Controlling Persons.”

What securities are you offering to purchase?

We are offering to purchase all of the Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. We refer to each share of Inventure Foods common stock as a “ Share .” See the “Introduction” to this Offer to Purchase and “The Offer – Section 1 – Terms of the Offer.”

 


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Why are you making the Offer?

We are making the Offer because we want to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, Inventure Foods. If the Offer is consummated, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent intends, as soon as practicable (and in any event within three business days) after the satisfaction or waiver of the applicable conditions to the Merger, including the acceptance of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Merger, to cause Purchaser to merge with and into Inventure Foods (the “ Merger ”), with Inventure Foods continuing as the surviving corporation. Upon consummation of the Merger, Inventure Foods will cease to be a publicly traded company and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. See “The Offer – Section 12 –Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights.”

How much are you offering to pay for my securities and what is the form of payment? Will I have to pay any fees or commissions?

We are offering to pay $4.00 per Share net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes. If you are the record holder of your Shares ( i.e. , a stock certificate or uncertificated stock has been issued to you) and you directly tender your Shares to us in the Offer, you will not have to pay brokerage fees or similar expenses. If you own your Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee tenders your Shares on your behalf, they may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult with your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply. See the “Introduction” to this Offer to Purchase, “The Offer – Section 2 – Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares” and “The Offer –Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares.”

Do you have the financial resources to pay for the Shares?

Yes. We will have sufficient resources available to us to make the payment for your Shares. The aggregate purchase price of the Shares being sought in the Offer is approximately $79 million, and we estimate that the total purchase price paid by Purchaser will be approximately $165 million, consisting of the cost: (i) to purchase all outstanding Shares in the Offer; (ii) to provide funding for the consideration to be paid in the Merger; (iii) to refinance Inventure Foods’ debt; (iv) to pay related fees and expenses of Inventure Foods at the closing of the Offer and the Merger; and (v) to pay all other amounts that may become due and payable by Inventure Foods as a result of the Offer and the Merger. Parent will provide us with the necessary funds to pay for all of these amounts through cash on hand and the term loan that it has arranged, as described under “The Offer –Section 10 – Source and Amount of Funds.” Consummation of the Offer is not subject to any financing condition.

Is your financial condition relevant to my decision to tender in the Offer?

No. We do not think our financial condition is relevant to your decision whether to tender Shares and accept the Offer because:

 

    the Offer is being made for all outstanding Shares and the Offer Price is being paid solely in cash;

 

    consummation of the Offer is not subject to any financing condition;

 

    as described above, we, through Parent, will have sufficient funds to purchase all Shares validly tendered, and not validly withdrawn, in the Offer and to provide funding for the Merger, which is expected to occur as promptly as practicable (and in any event within three business days) following the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the acceptance of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer; and

 

    if we consummate the Offer, we will acquire any remaining Shares in the Merger for the same cash price as was paid in the Offer ( i.e. , the Offer Price).

See  “The Offer – Section 10 – Source and Amount of Funds.”

 

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Is there an agreement governing the Offer?

Yes. Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser entered into the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the parties have agreed on, among other things, the terms and conditions of the Offer and, following consummation of the Offer, the Merger. If the conditions to the Offer (including the Minimum Condition) are satisfied and we consummate the Offer, we intend to effect the Merger without any vote or other action by the stockholders of Inventure Foods pursuant to Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”). See the “Introduction” to this Offer to Purchase and “The Offer – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement.” See also “The Offer – Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer.”

What are the most significant conditions to the Offer?

The Offer is conditioned on the satisfaction or waiver of, among other things, the following conditions:

 

    there being validly tendered in the Offer and not validly withdrawn, prior to the expiration of the Offer (as it may be extended pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the “ Expiration Time ”), a number of Shares (excluding any Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not been “received” (as defined in Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL)) that, together with the Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Parent or Purchaser, represents at least a majority of the Shares then outstanding (determined on a fully-diluted basis assuming the conversion or exercise of all derivative securities that are or will be vested as of the time of the Merger) (the “ Merger Effective Time ” and such condition, the “ Minimum Condition ”); and

 

    since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in “The Offer – Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer”).

These conditions and the other conditions to the Offer are referred to, collectively, as the “ Offer Conditions .” The other conditions to the Offer are described in “The Offer – Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer.” See also “The Offer – Section 16 – Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals.” Consummation of the Offer is not conditioned on obtaining financing or the funding thereof.

What does Inventure Foods’ board of directors think about the Offer?

We are making the Offer pursuant to the Merger Agreement, which has been unanimously approved by the Inventure Foods Board. After careful consideration, the Inventure Foods Board has unanimously:

 

    determined that the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Inventure Foods and its stockholders;

 

    adopted and approved the Merger Agreement, declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement and approved the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL;

 

    approved the execution, delivery and performance by Inventure Foods of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger;

 

    elected that the Merger Agreement and the Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL; and

 

    recommended that the stockholders of Inventure Foods accept the Offer and tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement.

See the “Introduction” and “The Offer – Section 11 – Background of the Offer; Contacts with Inventure Foods.” We expect that a more complete description of the reasons for the Inventure Foods Board’s approval of

 

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the Offer and the Merger will be set forth in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 prepared by Inventure Foods and filed with the SEC and mailed to all Inventure Foods stockholders.

How long do I have to decide whether to tender in the Offer?

You have until the initial Expiration Time at one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 13, 2017, to decide whether to tender your Shares in the Offer, unless we extend the Offer pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement or the Offer is earlier terminated. See “The Offer – Section 1 – Terms of the Offer.” If you cannot deliver everything required to make a valid tender to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Depositary ”) prior to such time, you may be able to use a guaranteed delivery procedure, which is described in “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares.” Please be aware that if your Shares are held by a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, such institutions may establish their own earlier deadline for tendering Shares in the Offer.

Can the Offer be extended and, if so, under what circumstances?

Yes. We have agreed in the Merger Agreement that, subject to the rights of the parties to the Merger Agreement to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, if any of the Offer Conditions are not satisfied or waived at any scheduled Expiration Time, (i) Purchaser may extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days per extension, until such Offer Conditions are satisfied or waived, or (ii) upon written request of Inventure Foods, Purchaser will extend the Offer on up to two occasions for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days per extension, to permit such Offer Conditions to be satisfied. Purchaser is also required to extend the Offer for any period required by applicable law and any interpretation or position of the SEC or the staff thereof or The Nasdaq Global Select Market (“ Nasdaq ”) or the staff thereof applicable to the Offer. However, in no event will we be required to, and without Inventure Foods’ prior written consent we may not, extend the Offer beyond the “ Outside Date ,” which shall be January 15, 2018; provided, however, that if on such date all of the Offer Conditions shall have been satisfied or shall be capable of being satisfied at such time, other than Offer Condition F (see “The Offer – Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer”) or there shall be a law or governmental order in effect that prohibits, enjoins or makes illegal consummating the Offer or the Merger, the Outside Date may be extended by either Parent or Inventure Foods for a period of 90 days; and provided, further, that the Outside Date may not be so extended more than twice. Additionally, Inventure Foods may not, without the prior written consent of Parent, request that the Offer be extended beyond the Outside Date. See “The Offer – Section 1 – Terms of the Offer” for more details on our obligation and ability to extend the Offer.

How will I be notified if the Offer is extended?

If we extend the Offer, we will inform the Depositary of that fact and will make a public announcement of the extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the day on which the Offer was scheduled to expire. See “The Offer – Section 1 – Terms of the Offer.”

Will there be a Subsequent Offering Period?

We do not expect there to be a subsequent offering period after the Expiration Time; we expect that the Merger will occur as soon as practicable following the Expiration Time and the date and time at which Purchaser first accepts for payment Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.

Have any Inventure Foods stockholders already agreed to tender their Shares in the Offer?

No. Purchaser did not request that any beneficial holders of Shares enter into a tender and support agreement concurrently with entering into the Merger Agreement.

 

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How do I tender my Shares?

If you desire to tender all or any portion of your Shares in the Offer, this is what you must do:

 

    If you are a record holder ( i.e. , a stock certificate or uncertificated stock has been issued to you), you must complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal, in accordance with the instructions provided therein, and send it with your stock certificates and any other documents required in the Letter of Transmittal to the Depositary, or follow the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase. These materials must reach the Depositary prior to the expiration of the Offer. Detailed instructions are contained in the Letter of Transmittal and in “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares” of this Offer to Purchase.

 

    If you are a record holder and your stock is certificated but your stock certificate is not available or you cannot deliver it to the Depositary prior to the expiration of the Offer, you may be able to tender your Shares using the enclosed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Please call D.F. King & Co., Inc., (the “ Information Agent ”), toll free, at (888) 280-6942 for assistance.

 

    If you hold your Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and give instructions that your Shares be tendered.

See “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares” for further details.

Until what time can I withdraw tendered Shares?

You can withdraw some or all of the Shares that you previously tendered in the Offer at any time prior to the Expiration Time. Further, if we have not accepted your Shares for payment by January 14, 2018, the date which is 60 days after the date of the commencement of the Offer, pursuant to SEC regulations, you may withdraw them at any time after such date. Once we accept your tendered Shares for payment upon expiration of the Offer, however, you will no longer be able to withdraw them. See “The Offer – Section 4 – Withdrawal Rights.”

How do I withdraw tendered Shares?

To withdraw Shares, you must deliver a written notice of withdrawal, or, with respect to an Eligible Institution (as defined in “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares – Signature Guarantees”), a facsimile of one, which includes the required information, to the Depositary while you have the right to withdraw the Shares. If you tendered Shares by giving instructions to a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must instruct such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to arrange to withdraw the Shares. See “The Offer – Section 4 – Withdrawal Rights.”

When and how will I be paid for my tendered shares?

If the conditions to the Offer set forth in “The Offer – Section 15 – Conditions of the Offer” are satisfied or waived as of the Expiration Time, and we consummate the Offer, we will pay for all validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Shares as promptly as practicable after the Expiration Time.

We will pay for your validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Shares by depositing the purchase price with the Depositary, which will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving payments from us and transmitting such payments to you. In all cases, payment for tendered Shares will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of certificates for such Shares (or of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares as described in “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares”), a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, a facsimile thereof) and any other required documents for such Shares.

 

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Can holders of stock options, performance share units, restricted shares units, restricted shares and any other stock awards under any Inventure Foods employee equity incentive plans participate in the Offer?

The Offer is only for outstanding Shares, which includes any Inventure Foods restricted shares. Stock options to purchase Shares (“ Inventure Stock Options ”), performance share units (“ Inventure PSUs ”) and restricted share units (“ Inventure RSUs ”), in each case, issued under Inventure Foods’ 2005 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan or 2015 Equity Incentive Plan or otherwise are not sought in or affected by the Offer.

However, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time:

 

    Each Inventure Stock Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall be cancelled in consideration for the right to receive a cash payment, if any (without interest and less applicable withholding taxes) with respect thereto equal to the product of (i) the number of vested shares of Inventure Foods common stock (“ Common Stock ”) subject to such Inventure Stock Option as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (including those whose vesting accelerates as of the Merger Effective Time), and (ii) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise or base price per share of Common Stock subject to such Inventure Stock Option as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time.

 

    Each Inventure RSU and each Inventure PSU that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall be cancelled in consideration for the right to receive, a cash payment, if any (without interest and less applicable withholding taxes) with respect thereto equal to the product of (i) the number of vested shares of Common Stock subject to such Inventure RSU or Inventure PSU as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (including those whose vesting accelerates as of the Merger Effective Time), and (ii) the Merger Consideration (as defined below). For each Inventure PSU, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the applicable award shall be determined in accordance with each participant’s Inventure PSU and by the Compensation Committee of the Inventure Foods Board.

Will the Offer be followed by a Merger if not all of the Shares are tendered in the Offer?

If we consummate the Offer, and accordingly acquire a number of Shares that, together with the Shares then owned by Parent and Purchaser, represent the Minimum Condition, we will complete the Merger pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL without a vote of the stockholders of Inventure Foods. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, if the Minimum Condition is not satisfied, we are not required (nor are we permitted without Inventure Foods’ consent) to accept Shares for purchase in the Offer, nor will we be able to consummate the Merger.

Under the applicable provisions of the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the DGCL, stockholders of Inventure Foods will not be required to vote on the Merger and, if the Merger is consummated, will (if they do not otherwise properly demand appraisal rights under the DGCL) receive the same cash consideration, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes, for their Shares as was payable in the Offer. Inventure Foods stockholders will be entitled to seek appraisal under the DGCL in connection with the Merger with respect to any Shares not tendered in the Offer.

For further information regarding the Merger, see “The Offer – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents –The Merger Agreement – The Merger.”

If the Offer is consummated, will Inventure Foods continue as a public company?

No. Promptly following consummation of the Offer, we expect to complete the Merger pursuant to applicable provisions of the DGCL, after which the surviving corporation in the Merger will be a wholly-owned

 

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subsidiary of Parent and the Shares will no longer be publicly traded. For further information see “The Offer –Section 7 – Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Stock Exchange Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations.”

If I decide not to tender, how will the Offer affect my Shares?

If the Merger takes place, Inventure Foods stockholders not tendering their Shares in the Offer (other than Inventure Foods, any of its subsidiaries, Parent, us or any subsidiary of Parent, or any stockholders who have properly exercised their appraisal rights under the DGCL) will receive cash in an amount equal to the Offer Price, less any required withholding taxes. If we accept and purchase Shares in the Offer, we will consummate the Merger as soon as practicable without a vote of or any further action by the stockholders of Inventure Foods, pursuant to the DGCL. Therefore, if the Merger takes place and you do not validly exercise your appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL, the only difference to you between tendering your Shares and not tendering your Shares is that you will be paid earlier if you tender your Shares.

While we intend to consummate the Merger as soon as practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of the applicable conditions to the Merger, if the Merger does not take place and the Offer is consummated, there may be so few remaining stockholders and publicly traded shares that there will no longer be an active or liquid public trading market (or, possibly, any public trading market) for shares of Common Stock held by stockholders other than us. We cannot predict whether the reduction in the number of shares that might otherwise trade publicly would have an adverse or beneficial effect on the market price for, or marketability of, such shares. Also, Inventure Foods may no longer be required to make filings with the SEC or otherwise may no longer be required to comply with the SEC rules relating to publicly held companies. See “The Offer – Section 7 – Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Stock Exchange Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations” and “The Offer – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement.”

Assuming the Minimum Condition is satisfied and we purchase the tendered Shares in the Offer, no stockholder vote will be required to consummate the Merger, and we do not expect there to be a significant period of time between the consummation of the Offer and the consummation of the Merger. See “The Offer – Section 12 – Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights – No Stockholder Approval.”

Are appraisal rights available in either the Offer or the Merger?

No appraisal rights are available in connection with the Offer. However, pursuant to the DGCL, if the Merger is consummated, stockholders who do not tender their Shares in the Offer will have the right, by fully complying with the applicable provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL, to choose not to accept the consideration payable for their Shares pursuant to the Merger, and instead to demand an appraisal of their Shares by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and receive a cash payment of the “fair value” of their Shares as of the Merger Effective Time as determined by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The “fair value” of such Shares as of the Merger Effective Time may be more than, less than, or equal to the Offer Price. See “The Offer – Section 12 – Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights –Appraisal Rights.”

What is the market value of my Shares as of a recent date?

On October 25, 2017, the last full trading day before a proposal to acquire Inventure Foods was publicly announced, the reported closing sale price of a Share reported on Nasdaq was $4.46. On November 14, 2017, the last full trading day before the commencement of the Offer, the reported closing sale price of a Share reported on Nasdaq was $3.98. You should obtain current market quotations before deciding whether to tender your Shares. See “Section 6 – Price Range of Shares; Dividends.”

 

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What are the material United States federal income tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger?

If you are a U.S. Holder (as defined in “The Offer – Section 5 – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”), the receipt of cash by you in selling your Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will generally be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, if you are a U. S. Holder and you hold your Shares as a capital asset, you will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash you receive and your adjusted tax basis in your Shares sold. Such gain or loss will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your Shares for more than one year at the time of the sale. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined in “The Offer – Section 5 – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”), you generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to the sale of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger unless you have certain connections to the United States. See “The Offer – Section 5 – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” for a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences of tendering Shares pursuant to the Offer or exchanging Shares in the Merger.

You are urged to consult your own tax advisors to determine the tax consequences to you of the Offer and the Merger in light of your particular circumstances, including the application and effect of any state, local or non-United States tax laws.

With whom can I talk if I have questions about the Offer?

You can call D.F. King & Co., Inc., the Information Agent, toll-free at (888) 280-6942. See the back cover of this Offer to Purchase.

 

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To the Stockholders of Inventure Foods:

INTRODUCTION

Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser ”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Parent ”), is offering to purchase all of the outstanding shares (the “ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $.01 per share (“ Common Stock ”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Inventure Foods ”), for $4.00 per Share (the “ Offer Price ”), net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended or supplemented from time to time, together constitute the “ Offer ”). Unless the context requires otherwise, the terms “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Purchaser. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at one minute after 11:59 P.M., New York City time, on December  13, 2017, unless the Offer is extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.

We are making the Offer pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2017 (as amended from time to time, the “ Merger Agreement ”), among Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that as soon as practicable (and in any event within three business days) following the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the acceptance of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, Purchaser will merge with and into Inventure Foods (the “ Merger ”), with Inventure Foods continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. At the time of the Merger (the “ Merger Effective Time ”), all outstanding Shares (other than (i) Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Inventure Foods, any of its subsidiaries, Parent, Purchaser, or any subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, or (ii) Shares held by any stockholder that has properly exercised appraisal rights under the DGCL) will be converted in the Merger into the right to receive from the surviving corporation an amount in cash equal to the price per Share paid in the Offer (the “ Merger Consideration ”), without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes. The Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions described in “The Offer – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement – Conditions to the Merger.” “The Offer – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement” contains a more detailed description of the Merger Agreement.

If you are the record holder of your Shares ( i.e. , a stock certificate or uncertificated stock has been issued to you), you will not be required to pay brokerage fees, commissions or, except as set forth in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes on the sale of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer. However, if you do not complete and sign the IRS Form W-9 that is included in the Letter of Transmittal or the appropriate IRS Form W-8, as applicable, you may be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 28% on the gross proceeds payable to you. See “The Offer – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares – Backup Withholding.” Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be refunded or credited against your United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. Stockholders with Shares held in street name by a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee should consult with their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust bank or other nominee to determine if they will be charged any transaction fees. We will pay all charges and expenses of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Depositary ”) and D.F. King & Co., Inc. the information agent for the Offer (the “ Information Agent ”) incurred in connection with the Offer. See “The Offer – Section 17 – Fees and Expenses.”

The Offer is being made only for issued and outstanding Shares, which includes any Inventure Foods restricted shares. Stock options to purchase Shares (“ Inventure Stock Options ”), performance share units (“ Inventure PSUs ”) and restricted share units (“ Inventure RSUs ”), in each case issued under Inventure Foods’ 2005 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan or 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (collectively, as amended, the “ Inventure Stock Plans ”) or otherwise, are not sought in or affected by the Offer. However, holders of

 

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Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs and Inventure RSUs are entitled to cash payments to the extent provided under the Merger Agreement. See “The Offer – Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement – Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs and Inventure RSUs” for a discussion of the treatment of Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs and Inventure RSUs in the Merger.

The Inventure Foods board of directors (the “Inventure Foods Board”) has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Inventure Foods and its stockholders, (ii) adopted and approved the Merger Agreement, declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement and approved the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL, (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Inventure Foods of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, (iv) elected that the Merger Agreement and the Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and (iv) recommended that the stockholders of Inventure Foods accept the Offer and tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement.

Inventure Foods will file its Tender Offer Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the “ Schedule 14D-9 ”) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) and disseminate the Schedule 14D-9 to holders of Shares. The Schedule 14D-9 will include a more complete description of the Inventure Foods Board’s reasons for authorizing and approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and, therefore, stockholders are encouraged to review the Schedule 14D-9 carefully and in its entirety.

The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The Offer is conditioned on the satisfaction or waiver of, among other things the following conditions:

 

    there being validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Offer and not validly withdrawn, prior to the expiration of the Offer, (excluding any Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not been “received” (as defined in Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL)) that number of shares, which together with the Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Parent or Purchaser represents at least a majority of the Shares then outstanding (determined on a fully-diluted basis assuming the conversion or exercise of all derivative securities that are or will be vested as of the Merger Effective Time) (the “ Minimum Condition ”); and

 

    since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect.

Other conditions to the Offer are described in “The Offer – Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer.” See also “The Offer – Section 16 – Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals.”

According to Inventure Foods, as of October 25, 2017, the most recent practicable date, there were (i) 19,827,000 Shares issued and outstanding (not including shares held in treasury), (ii) 367,957 shares of Common Stock held by Inventure Foods in its treasury, (iii) no shares of Inventure Foods’ preferred stock are issued and outstanding, (iv) Inventure PSUs with respect to an aggregate of 183,021 shares of Common Stock based on achievement of applicable performance criteria at the maximum level are issued and outstanding, (v) Inventure Stock Options with respect to an aggregate of 550,822 shares of Common Stock (including Inventure Stock Options with respect to an aggregate of 224,550 shares of Common Stock that are exercisable at a price below the Offer Price) are issued and outstanding, (vi) Inventure RSUs with respect to an aggregate of 414,629 shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding, and (vii) an aggregate of 577,675 shares of Common Stock are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to the Inventure Stock Plans (assuming maximum level achievement of outstanding Inventure PSUs).

 

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Assuming no additional Shares are issued prior to the expiration of the Offer (other than upon exercise of any currently outstanding Inventure Stock Options), we anticipate that the Minimum Condition would be satisfied if approximately 10,188,912 Shares are validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn prior to the date and time at which Purchaser first accepts for payment Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer (the “ Acceptance Time ”) (excluding any Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not been “received” (as defined in Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL)).

This Offer to Purchase does not constitute a solicitation of proxies, and Purchaser is not soliciting proxies in connection with the Offer or the Merger. If the conditions to the Offer (including the Minimum Condition) are satisfied and Purchaser consummates the Offer, Purchaser will consummate the Merger pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL without the vote of Inventure Foods’ stockholders.

Certain material United States federal income tax consequences of the sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the exchange of Shares pursuant to the Merger are described in “The Offer – Section 5 – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

No appraisal rights are available in connection with the Offer. Under the applicable provisions of the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the DGCL, stockholders of Inventure Foods will be entitled to seek appraisal under the DGCL in connection with the Merger if they do not tender Shares in the Offer, subject to and in accordance with the DGCL. Stockholders must properly perfect their right to seek appraisal under the DGCL in connection with the Merger in order to exercise appraisal rights. See “The Offer – Section 12 – Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights – Appraisal Rights.”

THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, AND YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ BOTH IN THEIR ENTIRETY BEFORE YOU MAKE A DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER.

 

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THE OFFER

 

1. Terms of the Offer

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, we will accept for payment and pay for all of the Shares that are validly tendered and not withdrawn in accordance with the procedures set forth in “– Section 3 –Procedures for Tendering Shares” at or prior to the Expiration Time. “ Expiration Time ” means one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 13, 2017, unless extended or earlier terminated, in which event “ Expiration Time ” means the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended, expires.

The Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition and the other conditions set forth in “– Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer.” Purchaser may, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, terminate the Offer without purchasing any Shares if the conditions described in “– Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer” are not satisfied or waived. See “– Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement – Termination.”

The Offer is subject to the conditions set forth in “– Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer” (the “ Offer Conditions ”), which include, among other things, the (i) satisfaction of the Minimum Condition and (ii) since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the Offer, we will accept and pay for all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer promptly after the Expiration Time.

Subject to the rights of the parties to the Merger Agreement to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, if any of the Offer Conditions are not satisfied or waived at any scheduled Expiration Time, (i) Purchaser may extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an additional period of up to ten business days per extension, until such Offer Conditions are satisfied or waived, or (ii) upon written request of Inventure Foods, Purchaser will extend the Offer on one or more occasions (not to exceed two in total) for an additional period of up to ten business days per extension, to permit such Offer Conditions to be satisfied. Purchaser is also required to extend the Offer for any period required by applicable law and any interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or Nasdaq or its staff applicable to the Offer. However, in no event will Purchaser be required to, and without Inventure Foods’ prior written consent Purchaser may not, extend the Offer beyond the “ Outside Date ,” which shall be January 15, 2018; provided, however, that if on such date all of the Offer Conditions shall have been satisfied or shall be capable of being satisfied at such time, other than Offer Condition F (see “– Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer”) or there shall be a law or governmental order in effect that prohibits, enjoins or makes illegal consummating the Offer or the Merger, the Outside Date may be extended by either Parent or Inventure Foods for a period of 90 days; and provided, further, that the Outside Date may not be so extended more than twice Additionally, Inventure Foods may not, without the prior written consent of Parent, request that the Offer be extended beyond the Outside Date.

There can be no assurance that Purchaser will exercise any right to extend the Offer or that Purchaser will be required under the Merger Agreement to extend the Offer. During any extension of the initial offering period, all Shares previously validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer and subject to withdrawal rights. See “– Section 4 – Withdrawal Rights.”

Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and the provisions of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser expressly reserves the right to increase the Offer Price, waive any Offer Condition or to make any other changes in the terms and conditions of the Offer. However, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, unless otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement or previously approved in writing by Inventure Foods, Purchaser may not (i) reduce the number of Shares subject to the Offer, (ii) reduce the Offer Price, (iii) waive or change the Minimum Condition, (iv) add to, amend or modify any Offer Condition in a manner adverse in any material respect to the holders of the Shares, (v) extend or otherwise change the expiration date of the Offer, except as otherwise described under “– Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement – Initial

 

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Expiration of the Offer; Extensions of the Offer” below, (vi) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer in any material respect, (vii) otherwise amend, modify or supplement the terms of the Offer described in “– Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer” in a manner adverse to the holders of Shares, (viii) provide any “subsequent offering period” (or extension thereof) within the meaning of Rule 14d-11 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or (ix) take any action (or fail to take any action) that breaches the Merger Agreement with the result that the Merger is not permitted to be effected pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL.

Subject to the foregoing paragraph, if we make a material change to the terms of the Offer or waive a material condition to the Offer, we will extend the Offer and disseminate additional tender offer materials, in each case, to the extent required by applicable law. The minimum period during which a tender offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the offer, other than a change in the consideration offered or a change in percentage of securities sought, depends upon the facts and circumstances, including the materiality of the changes. With respect to a change in the consideration offered or a change in the percentage of securities sought, a tender offer generally must remain open for a minimum of ten business days following such change to allow for adequate disclosure to Inventure Foods stockholders.  If, prior to the Expiration Time, Purchaser increases the consideration being paid for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer, such increased consideration will be paid to all stockholders whose Shares are purchased pursuant to the Offer, whether or not such Shares were tendered prior to the announcement of the increase in consideration .

Any extension, termination or amendment of the Offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public announcement thereof. Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make any public announcement, we will have no obligation (except as otherwise required by applicable law) to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement other than by issuing a press release to a national news service. In the case of an extension of the Offer, we will make a public announcement of such extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Time.

Purchaser expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, not to accept for payment any Shares if, at the expiration of the Offer, any of the Offer Conditions have not been satisfied or upon the occurrence of any of the events set forth in “– Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement – Termination.” Under certain circumstances, Parent and Purchaser may terminate the Merger Agreement and the Offer, but Parent and Purchaser are prohibited from terminating the Offer prior to any then-scheduled Expiration Time without the prior written consent of Inventure Foods, unless the Merger Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms.

As soon as practicable (and in any event within three business days) after the Acceptance Time, Purchaser and Parent expect to complete the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of Inventure Foods pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL.

Inventure Foods has provided us with its stockholder list, security position listings and certain other information regarding the beneficial owners of Shares for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to holders of Shares. We will send this Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other related documents to record holders of Shares and to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees whose names appear on the stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency’s security position listing for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares.

 

2. Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, we will accept for payment and pay for, promptly after the Expiration Time, all of the Shares that were validly tendered and not withdrawn at or prior to the

 

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Expiration Time. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules of the SEC, Purchaser expressly reserves the right to delay acceptance for payment of, or payment for, Shares, pending receipt of regulatory or governmental approvals specified in “– Section 16 – Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals.”

We will pay for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer by depositing the purchase price with the Depositary, which will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving payments from us and transmitting such payments to you. Upon the deposit of such funds with the Depositary, Purchaser’s obligation to make such payment will be satisfied in full, and tendering stockholders must thereafter look solely to the Depositary for payment of amounts owed to them by reason of the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer.

In all cases, payment for Shares accepted for payment will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of (i) certificates for such Shares (or of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined below)), (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, a manually signed facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees, or, in connection with a book-entry transfer of Shares held of record by a clearing corporation as nominee, an Agent’s Message (defined in “ – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares – Book-Entry Delivery”) in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal and (iii) any other required documents. For a description of the procedure for tendering Shares pursuant to the Offer, see “ – Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares.” Accordingly, payment may be made to tendering stockholders at different times if delivery of the Shares and other required documents occurs at different times.

For the purposes of the Offer, we will be deemed to have accepted for payment tendered Shares when, as and if we give oral or written notice of our acceptance to the Depositary.

Under no circumstances will we pay interest on the consideration paid for Shares pursuant to the Offer, regardless of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making such payment.

Shares tendered by Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will not be deemed validly tendered for purposes of satisfying the Minimum Condition unless and until Shares underlying such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are delivered to the Depositary or unless otherwise mutually agreed by Inventure Foods and us.

If we do not accept for payment any tendered Shares pursuant to the Offer for any reason, or if you submit certificates for more Shares than are tendered, we will return certificates (or cause to be issued new certificates) representing unpurchased or untendered Shares, without expense to you (or, in the case of Shares delivered by book-entry transfer into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility pursuant to the procedures set forth in “Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares,” the Shares will be credited to an account maintained at the Depository Trust Company or DTC (the “ Book-Entry Transfer Facility ”), promptly following the expiration, termination or withdrawal of the Offer).

We reserve the right to transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of our affiliates the right to purchase Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment will not relieve us of our obligations under the Offer or prejudice your rights to receive payment for Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment.

 

3. Procedures for Tendering Shares

Valid Tender of Shares

Except as set forth below, in order for you to tender Shares in the Offer, the Depositary must receive the Letter of Transmittal (or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, a manually signed facsimile thereof), properly completed and signed, together with any required signature guarantees or, in the case of Shares held in book-

 

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entry form by a clearing corporation as nominee, an Agent’s Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal, and any other required documents, at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase on or prior to the Expiration Time and either (i) you must deliver certificates for the Shares representing tendered Shares to the Depositary or you must cause your Shares to be tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth below and the Depositary must receive timely confirmation of the book-entry transfer of the Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility or (ii) you must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.

The method of delivery of Shares, including through the Book-Entry Transfer Facility, and all other required documents, is at your election and sole risk, and delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Depositary. If certificates for Shares are sent by mail, we recommend that you use registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, in time to be received on or prior to the Expiration Time. In all cases, you should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery.

The tender of Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described above will constitute your acceptance of the Offer, as well as your representation and warranty that (i) you own the Shares being tendered, (ii) you have the full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Shares tendered, as specified in the Letter of Transmittal, and (iii) when the Shares are accepted for payment by us, we will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of any liens, restrictions, charges or encumbrances and not be subject to any adverse claims.

Book-Entry Delivery

The Depositary has established or will establish an account with respect to the Shares for the purposes of the Offer at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility. Any financial institution that is a participant in the system of the Book-Entry Transfer Facility may deliver Shares by causing the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Shares into the Depositary’s account in accordance with the procedures of the Book-Entry Transfer Facility. However, although delivery of Shares may be effected through book-entry transfer, either the Letter of Transmittal (or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, a manually signed facsimile thereof) properly completed and duly executed together with any required signature guarantees or, in the case of Shares held of record in book-entry form by a clearing corporation as nominee, an Agent’s Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents must, in any case, be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase by the Expiration Time, or the guaranteed delivery procedure described below must be complied with.

Agent’s Message ” means a message transmitted by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to, and received by, the Depositary and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation stating that the Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility tendering the Shares that are the subject of such book-entry confirmation that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and that we may enforce that agreement against the participant. An Agent’s Message may only be used in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal for Shares held of record in book-entry form by a clearing corporation as nominee.

Required documents must be transmitted to and received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover page of this Offer to Purchase prior to the Expiration Time.  Delivery of the enclosed Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Depositary.

Signature Guarantees

All signatures on a Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a financial institution (including most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member of a recognized Medallion Program

 

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approved by The Securities Transfer Association, Inc., including the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program or any other “eligible guarantor institution” (as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act) (each, an “ Eligible Institution ”), unless the Shares tendered are tendered (i) by a registered holder of Shares who has not completed either the box labeled “Special Payment Instructions” or the box labeled “Special Delivery Instructions” on the Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instructions 1 and 5 of the Letter of Transmittal.

If the Shares are certificated and are registered in the name of a person other than the signer of the Letter of Transmittal, or if payment is to be made to, or certificates for the Shares for unpurchased Shares are to be issued or returned to, a person other than the registered holder, then the tendered certificates for the Shares must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holder or holders appear on the certificates for the Shares, with the signatures on the certificates for the Shares or stock powers guaranteed by an Eligible Institution as provided in the Letter of Transmittal. See Instructions 1 and 5 of the Letter of Transmittal.

If the Shares are certificated and the certificates representing the Shares are forwarded separately to the Depositary, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, a manually signed facsimile thereof) must accompany each delivery of certificates for the Shares.

Guaranteed Delivery

If you wish to tender Shares pursuant to the Offer and cannot deliver such Shares and all other required documents to the Depositary or cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer prior to the Expiration Time, you may nevertheless tender such Shares if all of the following conditions are met:

 

    such tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;

 

    a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery in the form provided by us with this Offer to Purchase is received by the Depositary by the Expiration Time; and

 

    the certificates for all such tendered Shares (or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary’s account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, a manually signed facsimile thereof) together with any required signature guarantee (or an Agent’s Message) and any other required documents, are received by the Depositary within two Nasdaq trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, transmitted by facsimile transmission or mailed to the Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such Notice.

Binding Agreement

Our acceptance for payment of Shares tendered by you pursuant to the Offer will constitute a binding agreement between us with respect to such Shares, upon the terms and subject to the conditions to the Offer.

Appointment of Proxy

By executing a Letter of Transmittal, you irrevocably appoint our designees as your attorneys-in-fact and proxies, with full power of substitution, in the manner set forth in the Letter of Transmittal to the full extent of your rights with respect to the Shares tendered and accepted for payment by us (and any and all other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or after the date of this Offer to Purchase). All

 

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such powers of attorney and proxies are irrevocable and coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares. Such appointment is effective only upon our acceptance for payment of such Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior powers of attorney and proxies and consents granted by you with respect to such Shares and other securities will, without further action, be revoked, and no subsequent powers of attorney or proxies may be given nor subsequent written consents executed (and, if previously given or executed, will cease to be effective). Upon such acceptance for payment, our designees will be empowered to exercise all of your voting and other rights as they, in their sole discretion, may deem proper at any annual, special or adjourned meeting of Inventure Foods’ stockholders, by written consent or otherwise. We reserve the right to require that, in order for Shares to be validly tendered, immediately upon our acceptance for payment of such Shares, we are able to exercise full voting rights with respect to such Shares and other securities (including voting at any meeting of stockholders then scheduled or acting by written consent without a meeting).

The foregoing powers of attorney and proxies are effective only upon acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Offer does not constitute a solicitation of proxies, absent a purchase of Shares, for any meeting of Inventure Foods’ stockholders.

Determination of Validity

We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions as to the form of documents and the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares (which power we may delegate in whole or in part to the Depositary), and our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any or all tenders of Shares that we determine not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in any tender of Shares whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of any other stockholder. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities with respect to such tender have been cured or waived. None of Purchaser, the Depositary, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in tenders or waive any such defect or irregularity or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. Subject to applicable law as applied by a court of competent jurisdiction, our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be final and binding.

Backup Withholding

If you are a U.S. Holder (as defined in “– Section 5 – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”), the Depositary generally will be required to withhold at the applicable backup withholding rate (currently 28%) from any payments made to you pursuant to the Offer, unless you provide the Depositary with your correct taxpayer identification number and certify that you are not subject to such backup withholding by completing the IRS Form W-9 included in the Letter of Transmittal or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding. In addition, if you do not provide the correct taxpayer identification number or fail to provide the certifications described herein, you may be subject to penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service (“ IRS ”). If you are a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined in “– Section 5 – Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences”), you generally will not be subject to backup withholding if you certify your non-U.S. status on the appropriate IRS Form W-8. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be refunded or credited against your United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

4. Withdrawal Rights

Except as described in this Section 4, tenders of Shares made in the Offer are irrevocable. You may withdraw some or all of the Shares that you have previously tendered in the Offer at any time before the Expiration Time and, if such Shares have not yet been accepted for payment as provided herein, any time after

 

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January 14, 2018, which is 60 days from the date of the commencement of the Offer, but only in accordance with the procedures described in this Section 4.

If we extend the period of time during which the Offer is open, are delayed in accepting for payment or paying for Shares or are unable to accept for payment or pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to our rights under the Offer, the Depositary may, on our behalf, retain all Shares tendered, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that you duly exercise withdrawal rights as described in this Section 4.

For your withdrawal to be effective, a written or, with respect to an Eligible Institution, facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal with respect to the Shares must be timely received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase, and the notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of the Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If the Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered to the Depositary, a signed notice of withdrawal with (except in the case of Shares tendered by an Eligible Institution) signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution must be submitted before the release of such Shares. In addition, such notice must specify, in the case of Shares tendered by delivery of certificates, the serial numbers shown on the specific certificates evidencing the Shares to be withdrawn or, in the case of Shares tendered by book-entry transfer, the name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Shares. If you tendered Shares by giving instructions to a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must instruct the broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to arrange for the proper withdrawal of those Shares.

Withdrawals may not be rescinded, and Shares withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly tendered. However, withdrawn Shares may be retendered at any time before the Expiration Time by again following any of the procedures described in “– Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares.”

We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal. None of Purchaser, the Depositary, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in any notice of withdrawal or waive any such defect or irregularity or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. Subject to applicable law as applied by a court of competent jurisdiction, our determination will be final and binding.

 

5. Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following discussion summarizes material United States federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (in each case, as defined below) who sell Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger, and is based upon present law (which may change, possibly with retroactive effect). This summary does not purport to be a comprehensive analysis or description of all potential United States federal income consequences of the Offer and the Merger that may be relevant to you in light of your particular circumstances. Due to the individual nature of tax consequences, you are urged to consult with, and rely only on, your tax advisor as to the specific tax consequences to you of the sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger, including the effects of applicable state, local, non-United States and other tax laws. The following discussion applies only if you hold your Shares as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and assumes that the Shares are not United States real property interests within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code. This discussion may not apply if you acquired your Shares pursuant to the exercise of stock options or are a person otherwise subject to special tax treatment under the Code, including but not limited to financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, dealers or traders in securities or currencies; persons that actually or constructively own 5% or more of the Shares; persons that hold Shares as part of a position in a straddle or a hedging, conversion or integrated transaction for United States federal income tax purposes; persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar; and persons that received their Shares as compensation

 

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for the performance of services. This summary does not address any aspect of the alternative minimum tax, the Medicare tax on net investment income, United States federal gift or estate tax, state, local or non-United States tax or any United States federal non-income tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger.

This summary is based on the Code, applicable regulations, administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions, each as in effect on the date hereof. All of the foregoing are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, or differing interpretations by the IRS or a court, which could affect the tax consequences described herein. You should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

U.S. Holders

Except as otherwise set forth below, the following discussion is limited to the material United States federal income tax consequences relevant to a beneficial owner of Shares that is a citizen or individual resident of the United States, a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state therein or the District of Columbia, or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source (a “ U.S. Holder ”). If a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes (a “ partnership ”) holds Shares, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Persons holding Shares through a partnership should consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of exchanging the Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger.

Your sale of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, if you sell Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash you receive and the adjusted tax basis in such Shares sold. Gain or loss will be determined separately for each block of Shares ( i.e. , Shares acquired for the same cost in a single transaction) sold pursuant to the Offer or the Merger. Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period for the Shares is more than one year as of the date of the sale of such Shares. Long-term capital gains of noncorporate taxpayers generally are subject to United States federal income tax at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Non-U.S. Holders

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences that will apply if you are a Non-U.S. Holder of Shares. The term “ Non-U.S. Holder ” means a beneficial owner of Shares that is not a U.S. Holder or a partnership.

Payments made to a Non-U.S. Holder with respect to Shares sold for cash in the Offer or the Merger generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax, unless (i) the gain, if any, on Shares is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to the Non-U.S. Holder’s permanent establishment in the United States), in which event (a) the Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to United States federal income tax as described under “U.S. Holders” (but such Non-U.S. Holder should provide an IRS Form W-8ECI instead of an IRS Form W-9) and (b) if the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, it may also be subject to branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified under an applicable income tax treaty) or (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who was present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of sale and certain other conditions are met, in which event the Non-U.S. Holder will be subject to tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be specified under an applicable income tax treaty) on the gain from the sale of the Shares, net of applicable U.S. losses from sales or exchanges of other capital assets recognized during the year.

 

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Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger generally are subject to information reporting, and may be subject to backup withholding at the applicable rate (currently 28%) if you fail to provide a valid taxpayer identification number or fail to comply with certain certification procedures or otherwise fail to establish an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax and any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be refunded or credited against your United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service. See “– Section 3 – Procedures for Tendering Shares – Backup Withholding.”

The tax discussion set forth above is included for general information only and is not tax advice. The tax consequences of the Offer and Merger to you may vary depending upon, among other things, your particular circumstances. You are urged to consult your tax advisor to determine the particular tax consequences to you of the Offer and Merger, including the applicability and effect of state, local and non-United States and other tax laws.

 

6. Price Range of Shares; Dividends

The Shares are listed and principally traded on Nasdaq under the symbol “SNAK”.

The following table sets forth for the periods indicated the high and low intraday sales prices per Share on Nasdaq for the periods indicated, as reported in published financial sources:

 

     High      Low  

Quarter Ended

     

2017

   $      $  

Fourth Quarter (through October 25, 2017)

     5.43        4.10  

Third Quarter

     4.88        2.95  

Second Quarter

     4.89        3.31  

First Quarter

     10.03        3.69  

2016

     

Fourth Quarter

     10.15        7.36  

Third Quarter

     9.75        7.11  

Second Quarter

     8.25        5.25  

First Quarter

     7.35        4.91  

2015

     

Fourth Quarter

     9.82        6.57  

Third Quarter

     11.24        7.93  

Second Quarter

     12.32        8.51  

First Quarter

     13.08        9.60  

On October 25, 2017, the last full trading day before our proposal to acquire Inventure Foods was publicly announced, the reported closing sale price of a Share reported on Nasdaq was $4.46. On November 14, 2017, the last full trading day before the date of this Offer to Purchase, the reported closing sale price of a Share reported on Nasdaq was $3.98.

Inventure Foods has never declared or paid any dividends on its common stock. Under the terms of certain debt agreements, Inventure Foods’ ability to declare and pay dividends is restricted. Further, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Inventure Foods has agreed not to declare or pay any dividends on its common stock without the prior written consent of Parent. See “– Section 14 – Dividends and Distributions.”

Before deciding whether to tender, you should obtain a current market quotation for the Shares.

 

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7. Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares; Stock Exchange Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations

Possible Effects of the Offer on the Market for the Shares

While we intend to consummate the Merger as soon as practicable after consummation of the Offer, if the Offer is consummated but the Merger does not occur, the number of stockholders, and the number of Shares that are still in the hands of the public, may be so small that there will no longer be an active or liquid public trading market (or possibly any public trading market) for Shares held by stockholders other than Purchaser. We cannot predict whether the reduction in the number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly would have an adverse or beneficial effect on the market price for, or marketability of, the Shares or whether such reduction would cause future market prices to be greater or less than the price paid in the Offer.

Stock Exchange Listing

The Shares are currently listed on Nasdaq and trade under the symbol “SNAK.” Immediately following the consummation of the Merger (which is expected to occur as soon as practicable following consummation of the Offer), the Shares will no longer meet the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq because the only stockholder will be Parent. Immediately following the consummation of the Merger, we will cause Inventure Foods to de-list the Shares from Nasdaq.

In addition, depending upon the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, the Shares may no longer meet the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq after consummation of the Offer. If, as a result of the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Shares no longer meet the criteria for continued listing on Nasdaq, the market for the Shares could be adversely affected.

If Nasdaq were to delist the Shares (which we intend to cause Inventure Foods to seek if we acquire control of Inventure Foods and the Shares no longer meet the criteria for continued listing on Nasdaq), it is possible that the Shares would trade on another securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market and that price quotations for the Shares would be reported by such exchange or through other sources. The extent of the public market for the Shares and availability of such quotations would, however, depend upon such factors as the number of holders and the aggregate market value of the publicly held Shares at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in the Shares on the part of securities firms, the possible termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act and other factors.

Registration under the Exchange Act

The Shares are currently registered under the Exchange Act. While we intend to consummate the Merger as soon as practicable after consummation of the Offer, if the Offer is consummated but the Merger does not occur, the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer may result in the Shares becoming eligible for deregistration under the Exchange Act. Registration may be terminated upon application of Inventure Foods to the SEC if the Shares are neither listed on a “national securities exchange” (such as Nasdaq) nor held by 300 or more holders of record. We intend to seek to cause Inventure Foods to apply for termination of registration of the Shares as soon as possible after consummation of the Offer if the requirements for termination of registration are met. Termination of the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by Inventure Foods to holders of Shares and to the SEC and would make certain of the provisions of the Exchange Act, such as the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) thereof, the requirement to furnish a proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) thereof in connection with a stockholders’ meeting and the related requirement to furnish an annual report to stockholders, and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 thereof with respect to “going private” transactions, no longer applicable to Inventure Foods. Furthermore, “affiliates” of Inventure Foods and persons holding “restricted securities” of Inventure Foods may be deprived of the ability to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. If registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act were terminated, the Shares would no longer be “margin securities” or eligible for stock exchange listing.

 

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Following the purchase of Shares in the Offer and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions contained in the Merger Agreement, we will consummate the Merger as soon as practicable, following which the Shares will no longer be publicly owned. We intend to take steps to cause the termination of the registration of Shares under the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after the Merger.

Margin Regulations

The Shares are currently “margin securities” under the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ Federal Reserve Board ”), which has the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of such Shares. Depending upon factors similar to those described above regarding listing and market quotations, following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Shares might no longer constitute “margin securities” for the purposes of the Federal Reserve Board’s margin regulations and, therefore, could no longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers.

 

8. Certain Information Concerning Inventure Foods

Except as specifically set forth in this Offer to Purchase, the information concerning Inventure Foods contained in this Offer to Purchase has been taken from or is based upon information furnished by Inventure Foods or its representatives or upon publicly available documents and records on file with the SEC and other public sources. The summary information below is qualified in its entirety by reference to Inventure Foods’ public filings with the SEC (which may be obtained and inspected as described below) and should be considered in conjunction with the more comprehensive financial and other information in such reports and other publicly available information. We have no knowledge that would indicate any statements contained herein based on such documents and records are untrue. However, none of Purchaser or any of its affiliates or assigns, the Information Agent or the Depositary assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information concerning Inventure Foods, whether furnished by Inventure Foods or contained in such documents and records, or for any failure by Inventure Foods to disclose events that may have occurred or that may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information that is unknown to Purchaser or any of its affiliates or assigns, the Information Agent or the Depositary, as applicable.

General.  According to Inventure Foods’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (the “ Inventure Foods 10-K ”), Inventure Foods was originally incorporated in the State of Delaware in February 1995 under the name “Poore Brothers Holdings, Inc.” and changed its name to “Poore Brothers, Inc.” in March 1995. Inventure Foods further changed its name to “The Inventure Group, Inc.” in May 2006 and changed its name to “Inventure Foods, Inc.” in May 2010. According to the Inventure Foods 10-K, the principal executive offices of Inventure Foods are located at 5415 East High Street, Suite 350, Phoenix, Arizona 85054 and its telephone number is (623) 932-6200. According to the Inventure Foods 10-K, Inventure Foods is a leading marketer and manufacturer of healthy/natural and indulgent specialty snack food brands.

Additional Information . Inventure Foods is subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and in accordance therewith is obligated to file and furnish reports and other information with the SEC relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. Certain information, as of particular dates, concerning Inventure Foods’ business, principal physical properties, capital structure, material pending litigation, operating results, financial condition, directors and officers (including their remuneration and equity awards granted to them), the principal holders of Inventure Foods’ securities, any material interests of such persons in transactions with Inventure Foods, and other matters are required to be disclosed in proxy statements and periodic reports distributed to Inventure Foods’ stockholders and filed or furnished with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Copies of such materials may also be obtained by mail, upon payment of the SEC’s customary fees, by writing to its principal office at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy statements and

 

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other information about issuers, such as Inventure Foods, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov.

 

9. Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent and Controlling Persons

We are a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Purchaser is a Delaware corporation incorporated on October 23, 2017. To date, Purchaser has engaged in no activities other than those incidental to its formation, the commencement of the Offer and the entering into of the Merger Agreement. Purchaser has no assets or liabilities other than the contractual rights and obligations related to the Merger Agreement. Upon the completion of the Merger, Purchaser’s separate corporate existence will cease and Inventure Foods will continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Until immediately prior to the time Purchaser purchases Shares pursuant to the Offer, it is not anticipated that Purchaser will have any assets or liabilities or engage in activities other than those incidental to its formation and capitalization and the transactions contemplated by the Offer and the Merger.

Parent was founded in 1921 and was incorporated as a Pennsylvania corporation in March 1947 under the name Utz Potato Chip Co., Inc. and in March 1998 Parent changed its name to Utz Quality Foods, Inc. In September 2016 Parent converted into a Delaware limited liability company and changed its name to Utz Quality Foods, LLC. Parent is the largest privately-held and family-managed branded salty snack company in the United States, producing a full line of products including potato chips, pretzels, cheese snacks, corn chips, tortillas, veggie stix/straws, popcorn, onion rings and pork skins. Its brands include Utz ® , Golden Flake ® , Zapp’s ® , “Dirty” ® Potato Chips, Good Health ® , Bachman ® , Bachman Jax ® , Wachusett ® and Snikiddy ® among others. All of the equity of Parent is owned directly or indirectly by Delaware limited liability companies controlled by UQF Holdings, Inc. (“ UQF ”), a Pennsylvania corporation. The principal business activity of UQF is to hold indirectly the equity interests of Parent.

The principal executive offices for each of Purchaser, Parent and UQF are located at 900 High Street, Hanover, PA 17331 and their telephone number is (717) 637-6644. The name, business address, current principal occupation or employment, five-year employment history and citizenship of each director, manager and executive officer of Purchaser, Parent and UQF, as applicable, and certain other information are set forth on Schedule I hereto.

Except as set forth elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase or Schedule I hereto: (i) none of Purchaser, Parent, or UQF (collectively, the “ Bidder Group ”), or, to the knowledge of the members of the Bidder Group after due inquiry, the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, beneficially owns or has a right to acquire any Shares or any other equity securities of Inventure Foods; (ii) none of the members of the Bidder Group or, to the knowledge of the members of the Bidder Group after due inquiry, the persons or entities referred to in clause (i) above has effected any transaction in the Shares or any other equity securities of Inventure Foods during the past 60 days; (iii) none of the members of the Bidder Group or, to the knowledge of the members of the Bidder Group after due inquiry, the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of Inventure Foods (including, but not limited to, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations); (iv) during the two years before the date of this Offer to Purchase, there have been no transactions between the members of the Bidder Group or, to the knowledge of the members of the Bidder Group after due inquiry, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, on the one hand, and Inventure Foods or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates, on the other hand, that would require reporting under SEC rules and regulations; (v) during the two years before the date of this Offer to Purchase, there have been no contracts, negotiations or transactions between the members of the Bidder Group or, to the knowledge of the members of the Bidder Group after due inquiry, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, on the one hand, and Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a merger, consolidation, acquisition, a tender offer or

 

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other acquisition of securities, an election of directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets of Inventure Foods; (vi) none of the members of the Bidder Group or, to the knowledge of the members of the Bidder Group after due inquiry, the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase has been convicted in a criminal proceeding during the past five years (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); and (vii) none of the members of the Bidder Group or, to the knowledge of the members of the Bidder Group after due inquiry, the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase has been a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding during the past five years (except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining that person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or a finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws.

Available Information.  Pursuant to Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange Act, we have filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (which we refer to as the “ Schedule TO ”), of which this Offer to Purchase forms a part, and exhibits to the Schedule TO. The Schedule TO and the exhibits thereto, as well as other information filed by Parent and Purchaser with the SEC, are available for inspection at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Copies of such materials may also be obtained by mail, upon payment of the SEC’s customary fees, by writing to its principal office at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. These filings are also available to the public on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov.

 

10. Source and Amount of Funds

The aggregate purchase price of the Shares being sought in the Offer is approximately $79 million, and we estimate that the total purchase price paid by Purchaser will be approximately $165 million, consisting of the cost: (i) to purchase all outstanding Shares in the Offer; (ii) to provide funding for the consideration to be paid in the Merger; (iii) to refinance Inventure Foods’ debt; (iv) to pay related fees and expenses of Inventure Foods at the closing of the Offer and the Merger; and (v) to pay all other amounts that may become due and payable by Inventure Foods as a result of the Offer and the Merger.

As provided in Parent’s credit agreement, Parent has requested a term loan of $150 million (the “ Term Loan ”) to fund purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Merger, as well as the majority of other expected costs described above. Parent will use cash on hand and borrowings under its existing line of credit to fund the remaining amount of such costs. Bank of America, N.A. has provided Parent a commitment letter to provide the entire amount of the Term Loan, which may be syndicated to other lenders.

The Term Loan will be secured by substantially all of the non-real property assets of Parent and its subsidiaries, which, after the Merger, will include Inventure Foods, as the surviving corporation in the Merger. The scheduled maturity of the Term Loan will be January 20, 2022. Amounts outstanding under the Term Loan will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at the option of Parent, (i) the highest of (a) the prime rate of Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, (b) a rate equal to the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% per annum and (c) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.0%, or (ii) the LIBOR rate for various interest periods, in each case plus a margin that fluctuates based upon the leverage ratio of Parent and its subsidiaries.

The Term Loan will contain representations and warranties customary for facilities of this nature, including as to financial condition; litigation; no conflict with material agreements; compliance with law; payment of taxes; ERISA; and solvency.

Parent is exploring the feasibility of refinancing all of its indebtedness, which, if it occurs, would include the Term Loan.

We do not believe our financial condition or the financial condition of Parent is relevant to your decision whether to tender your Shares and accept the Offer because (i) the Offer is being made for all outstanding Shares

 

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and the Offer Price is being made solely for cash, (ii) consummation of the Offer is not subject to any financing condition, (iii) as described above, we, through Parent, expect to have sufficient funds to purchase all Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, in the Offer and to provide funding for the Merger, which is expected to occur as promptly as practicable (and in any event within three business days) following the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the acceptance of Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, and (iv) if we consummate the Offer, we will acquire all remaining Shares in the Merger for the same cash price as was paid in the Offer ( i.e. , the Offer Price).

 

11. Background of the Offer; Contacts with Inventure Foods

The following is a description of significant contacts between representatives of Parent and Purchaser, on the one hand, and representatives of Inventure Foods, on the other hand, that resulted in the execution of the Merger Agreement and commencement of the Offer. The discussion below covers only the key events and does not attempt to describe every communication among the parties. For a review of Inventure Foods’ activities relating to the contacts leading to the Merger Agreement, please refer to the Schedule 14D-9, which will be filed by Inventure Foods with the SEC and is being mailed to stockholders concurrently with this Offer to Purchase. The information set forth below regarding Inventure Foods and not involving Parent or Purchaser was provided by Inventure Foods, and none of Parent, Purchaser or any of their affiliates or representatives assumes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding meetings or discussions in which none of Parent, Purchaser or any of their affiliates or representatives participated.

Background of the Offer

Parent engages in discussions with regard to potential transactions involving acquisitions of public and private snack products companies, both in response to company-initiated processes as well as independent of existing sale processes. Parent is well-known by industry leaders as a potential acquirer. Consistent with Parent’s practice, over the past several years Parent has at various times had discussions regarding a potential acquisition of Inventure Foods.

For example, on July 7, 2015, following initial conversations between senior management of Inventure Foods, on the one hand, and representatives of Parent, on the other hand, Parent and Inventure Foods executed a mutual non-disclosure agreement regarding a potential transaction between Parent and Inventure Foods. Between July 2015 and October 2015, Parent and Inventure Foods had sporadic preliminary conversations regarding a potential transaction.

In late August 2016, Rothschild Inc. (“ Rothschild ”), Inventure Foods’ financial advisor, contacted Parent to seek its interest in a potential transaction with Inventure Foods. Parent expressed interest in potentially participating in the process.

On September 26, 2016, Parent and Inventure Foods executed the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined below). After execution of the Confidentiality Agreement, Rothschild provided Parent a confidential information memorandum as well as access to a virtual data room (the “ Virtual Dataroom ”) for the first phase of Inventure Foods’ acquisition process.

On September 26, 2016, Parent submitted to Inventure Foods a first phase preliminary indication of interest to acquire the Snack Products Segment (as defined below) for $175 million to $225 million in total value.

On October 12, 2016, members of Inventure Foods’ senior management and representatives of Rothschild met at the Phoenix office of DLA Piper LLP (US) (“ DLA Piper ”), Inventure Foods’ legal counsel, with members of the senior management of Parent and Parent’s financial advisor, Stephens Inc. (“ Stephens ”). During the meeting, members of Inventure Foods’ senior management made presentations and discussed the snack products segment of Inventure Foods (the “ Snack Products Segment ”), which produces potato chips, kettle

 

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chips, potato crisps, potato skins, pellet snacks, sheeted dough products and extruded products for sale primarily to snack food distributors and retailers. The parties also discussed Inventure Foods’ frozen products segment (the “ Frozen Products Segment ”), which prior to Inventure Foods’ divestiture of this product line, produced frozen fruits, frozen vegetables, vegetable blends, beverages and frozen desserts for sale primarily to grocery stores, club stores and mass merchandisers. The Frozen Products Segment consisted of Inventure Foods’ frozen vegetable business (which was sold to The Pictsweet Company on March 23, 2017) and its frozen fruits, vegetable blends, beverages, and frozen desserts business (the “ Frozen Fruit Business ”) (which was sold to Oregon Potato Company on September 22, 2017).

During October 2016 numerous due diligence sessions were held among Inventure Foods, Parent and their respective advisors and additional documents were posted by Inventure Foods to the Virtual Dataroom in response to Parent’s due diligence requests.

During the week of November 15, 2016, representatives of Rothschild communicated to Parent the decision of the Inventure Foods Board to proceed to a second phase, asked Parent to update and clarify the terms of its offer and informed Parent that the deadline for the submission of final bids was December 1, 2016.

On December 1, 2016, Parent submitted a revised preliminary indication of interest to acquire the Snack Products Segment for $133 million in total enterprise value on a debt-free, cash-free basis.

On December 2, 2016, representatives of Rothschild called senior management of Parent and Stephens to relay the determination of the Inventure Foods Board not to proceed with Parent’s indication of interest.

On April 8 and April 11, 2017, a member of the Inventure Foods Board and representatives of Stephens discussed on a phone call the status of Inventure Foods’ strategic alternatives and Inventure Foods’ desire to reengage Parent as a potential bidder.

On April 23, 2017, representatives of Rothschild had a telephonic meeting with members of management of Parent regarding the status of Inventure Foods’ strategic alternatives. Parent’s management indicated that at the present time, Parent was focusing on operating its business.

Following a call from the Chief Executive Officer of Parent to the Chief Executive Officer of Inventure Foods, on July 18, 2017, members of Inventure Foods’ senior management met with representatives of Parent at Inventure Foods’ corporate offices in Phoenix to discuss Inventure Foods’ business performance and a potential transaction related to the Snack Products Segment.

On July 28, 2017, Parent sent Inventure Foods a non-binding indication of interest to acquire the assets of the Snack Products Segment on a debt-free, cash-free basis at an enterprise value of $150 million.

On August 1, 2017, representatives of Parent and Inventure Foods discussed by phone Parent’s proposal, and representatives of Inventure Foods requested that Parent resubmit its proposal as a stock purchase, rather than an asset purchase.

On August 2, 2017, Parent sent Inventure Foods a non-binding indication of interest to acquire Inventure Foods (after the divestiture of the Frozen Fruit Business) on a debt-free, cash-free basis at an enterprise value of $139 million for all of the equity securities of Inventure Foods and the assumption of $11 million of closing costs.

On August 10, 2017, Parent sent Inventure Foods a revised non-binding indication of interest to acquire Inventure Foods (after the divestiture of the Frozen Fruit Business) on a debt-free, cash-free basis at an enterprise value of $150 million for all of the equity securities of Inventure Foods and the assumption of $11 million of

 

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closing costs. Inventure Foods signed, and returned to Parent an executed copy of, such non-binding indication of interest on the same day. This non-binding indication of interest provided that if Parent and Inventure Foods could reach agreement on definitive terms after a management meeting, an exclusivity period would be required by Parent. On August 11, 2017, Inventure Foods sent a form of a merger agreement to Parent.

On August 15, 2017, members of Inventure Foods’ senior management flew to Hanover, Pennsylvania to meet with representatives of Parent and Stephens. At this meeting with Parent’s senior management, the parties discussed the business and financial performance of the Snack Products Segment.

On August 21, 2017, Parent sent Inventure Foods a further revised non-binding indication of interest to acquire Inventure Foods (after the divestiture of the Frozen Fruit Business) on a debt-free, cash-free basis at an enterprise value of $153 million for all of the equity securities of Inventure Foods and the assumption of $12 million of closing costs. This non-binding indication of interest stated that, given Parent’s knowledge of the snack products business generally and the significant amount of time Parent has historically invested in analyzing Inventure Foods, it could complete its due diligence expeditiously. In connection with such non-binding proposal, Parent required that the parties enter into a separate exclusivity agreement granting Parent exclusivity for a period of time.

After further negotiation of the prior indication of interest, on August 25, 2017, (i) Inventure Foods and Parent executed a non-binding indication of interest with the same valuation as the August 21, 2017 indication of interest and (ii) Inventure Foods and Parent executed the Exclusivity Agreement (as defined in “– Section 13 –The Transaction Documents – The Exclusivity Agreement”) granting Parent exclusivity until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on the later of (1) October 16, 2017 and (2) the twenty-first day after the closing of the sale of the Frozen Fruit Business.

On September 21 and September 25, 2017, representatives of Inventure Foods conducted a tour of its Bluffton, Indiana and Goodyear, Arizona plants, respectively, for representatives of Parent. Also on September 25, 2017, Inventure Foods’ senior management met with senior management of Parent to discuss diligence matters.

On October 6, 2017, representatives of Cozen O’Connor, legal counsel to Parent, sent to DLA Piper a draft of the Merger Agreement. The draft provided for the transaction to be structured as a tender offer followed by a second-step merger under
Section 251(h) of the DGCL.

On October 10, 2017, at the instruction of the Inventure Foods Board and senior management of Inventure Foods, DLA Piper sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to Cozen O’Connor.

On October 12, 2017, representatives of Cozen O’Connor and DLA Piper had a call during which they negotiated the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, including without limitation, the scope of the representations and warranties.

On October 15, 2017, representatives of Cozen O’Connor sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to DLA Piper.

At 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 16, 2017, Parent’s exclusivity period expired. During discussions with Parent’s representatives on the evening of October 16, 2017, Parent’s representatives indicated that Parent would not continue to pursue a potential transaction with Inventure Foods without an extension of its exclusivity period.

On October 16, 2017, representatives of DLA Piper sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to Cozen O’Connor.

On October 17, 2017, Inventure Foods and Parent entered into an amendment to the Exclusivity Agreement, granting Parent exclusivity until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 19, 2017.

 

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On October 18, 2017, representatives of Cozen O’Connor and DLA Piper had a call during which they negotiated the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, including without limitation, carve-outs to the definition of material adverse effect, the proposed outside termination date and the proposed amount of the termination fee.

On October 19, 2017, Inventure Foods and Parent entered into an amendment to the Exclusivity Agreement granting Parent exclusivity until 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on October 25, 2017.

On October 20, 2017, representatives of Cozen O’Connor sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to DLA Piper. Also on October 20, 2017, Stephens, at the direction of Parent, informed Rothschild that, based on the $153 million enterprise value, after Purchaser’s payment of Inventure Foods’ estimated indebtedness and closing costs as of the projected closing date, which had increased materially since such estimated indebtedness and closing costs on August 25, 2017 (the date of the non-binding indication of interest), the tender offer price would be $4.00 per Share.

On October 22, 2017, representatives of DLA Piper sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to Cozen O’Connor.

During the course of October 23 and October 24, 2017, representatives of Inventure Foods and Parent further negotiated, and reached resolution on, the remaining open points of the merger agreement, which included, among others, Inventure Foods’ ability to seek an extension of the Offer after the initial expiration time, the outside termination date, and the amount of the termination fee.

On October 24, 2017, representatives of Cozen O’Connor sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to DLA Piper, reflecting the resolutions of the open issues accepted by Inventure Foods and Parent.

On October 25, 2017, representatives of Cozen O’Connor sent a further revised draft of the Merger Agreement to DLA Piper.

Later that evening, the Merger Agreement was executed and delivered by representatives of Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser. The closing price of Inventure Foods’ common stock on October 25, 2017 was $4.46.

Shortly before the market opened on October 26, 2017, Inventure Foods and Parent issued a press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein. The joint press release is included as Exhibit (a)(5) to the Schedule TO and is incorporated herein by reference.

Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements

For more information on the Merger Agreement and the other agreements between Inventure Foods and Purchaser and their respective related parties, see “– Section 9 – Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent, and Controlling Persons,” “Section 10 – Source and Amount of Funds” and “Section 13 – The Transaction Documents.”

 

12. Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods; Stockholder Approval; Appraisal Rights

Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Inventure Foods

The Offer is being made pursuant to the Merger Agreement. The purpose of the Offer and the Merger is for Parent to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, Inventure Foods. The Offer, as the first step in the acquisition of Inventure Foods, is intended to facilitate the acquisition of all of the Shares. The purpose of the Merger is to acquire all capital stock of Inventure Foods not purchased pursuant to the Offer and to cause Inventure Foods to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

 

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If you sell your Shares in the Offer, you will cease to have any equity interest in Inventure Foods or any right to participate in its earnings and future growth. If you do not tender your Shares, but the Merger is consummated, you also will no longer have an equity interest in Inventure Foods. Similarly, after selling your Shares in the Offer or exchanging your Shares pursuant to the subsequent Merger, you will not bear the risk of any decrease in the value of Inventure Foods.

If we accept Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer, we will obtain control over the management of Inventure Foods and the Inventure Foods Board shortly thereafter. Parent and Purchaser are conducting a detailed review of Inventure Foods and its assets, corporate structure, capitalization, operations, properties, policies, management and personnel, and will consider what changes would be desirable in light of the circumstances that exist upon completion of the Offer. Parent and Purchaser will continue to evaluate the business and operations of Inventure Foods during the pendency of the Offer and after the consummation of the Offer and the Merger and will take such actions as they deem appropriate under the circumstances then existing with respect to Inventure Foods’ business. Thereafter, Parent intends to review such information as part of a comprehensive review of Inventure Foods’ business, operations, capitalization and management with a view to optimizing development of Inventure Foods’ potential in conjunction with Inventure Foods’ and Parent’s businesses. However, plans may change based on further analysis.

Except as disclosed in this Offer to Purchase, Parent and Purchaser do not have any present plan or proposal that would result in the acquisition by any person of additional securities of Inventure Foods, the disposition of securities of Inventure Foods, an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving Inventure Foods or its subsidiaries or the sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of Inventure Foods or its subsidiaries.

To the knowledge of the Bidder Group, except for certain pre-existing agreements to be described in the Schedule 14D-9, no employment, equity contribution, or other agreement, arrangement or understanding between any executive officer or director of Inventure Foods, on the one hand, and Parent, Purchaser or Inventure Foods, on the other hand, existed as of the date of the Merger Agreement, and neither the Offer nor the Merger is conditioned upon any executive officer or director of Inventure Foods entering into any such agreement, arrangement or understanding.

At the Merger Effective Time, the directors and officers of Purchaser immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time will become the directors and officers of the surviving corporation. The Merger Agreement provides that Inventure Foods will deliver to Parent at the closing of the Merger, written resignations of each director and officer of Inventure Foods and each of its subsidiaries, effective as of the Merger Effective Time.

It is expected that the employment of Steve Weinberger, the Chief Financial Officer of Inventure Foods, will terminate as of the Merger Effective Time. Parent expects that the surviving corporation will enter into a consulting agreement with Mr. Weinberger following the closing of the Merger pursuant to which Mr. Weinberger would provide transition services to the surviving corporation for a period of four to six months after the closing of the Merger. Under such arrangement, Mr. Weinberger would be paid a monthly consulting fee equal to $27,500, which is his current monthly base salary with Inventure Foods.

No Stockholder Approval

If the Offer is consummated, we will not seek the approval of Inventure Foods’ remaining public stockholders before effecting the Merger. Section 251(h) of the DGCL generally provides that if, following consummation of a tender offer for a public corporation (the shares of which are listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders), and subject to certain statutory provisions, the acquirer holds at least the amount of shares of each class of stock of the target corporation that would otherwise be required to approve a merger for the target corporation, and the other stockholders receive the same consideration for their stock in the merger as was payable in the tender offer, the acquirer can effect a merger without the vote

 

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of the other stockholders of the target corporation. Accordingly, if we consummate the Offer, we will effect the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of Inventure Foods in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.

Appraisal Rights

No appraisal rights are available in connection with the Offer. However, if the Merger is consummated, pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who do not tender their Shares in the Offer will have the right, by fully complying with the applicable provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL, to choose not to accept the consideration payable for their Shares pursuant to the Merger, and instead to demand an appraisal of their Shares by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and to receive a cash payment of the “fair value” of their Shares as of the Merger Effective Time as determined by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL, plus interest. The “fair value” of such Shares so determined may be more than, less than, or equal to the Offer Price. Moreover, Purchaser may argue in an appraisal proceeding that, for purposes of such a proceeding, the fair value of such Shares is less than the price paid in the Offer and the Merger.

Under Section 262 of the DGCL, where a merger is approved under Section 251(h), either a constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger, or the surviving corporation within ten days thereafter, will notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to seek appraisal of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent corporation, and will include in such notice a copy of Section 262 of the DGCL.  The Schedule 14D-9 provided to stockholders by Inventure Foods will constitute the formal notice of appraisal rights under Section  262 of the DGCL.

As will be described more fully in the Schedule 14D-9, in order to exercise appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL in connection with the Merger, a stockholder must do all of the following:

 

    within the later of the consummation of the Offer and 20 days after the mailing of the Schedule 14D-9, deliver to Inventure Foods a written demand for appraisal of Shares held, which demand must reasonably inform Inventure Foods of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder is demanding appraisal;

 

    not tender their Shares in the Offer;

 

    continuously hold of record the Shares from the date on which the written demand for appraisal is made through the Merger Effective Time; and

 

    strictly follow the statutory procedures for perfecting appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL.

Any holder of Shares who wishes to exercise such appraisal rights or who wishes to preserve his, her or its right to do so in connection with the Merger, should review the Schedule 14D-9 and Section 262 of the DGCL carefully because failure to timely and properly comply with the procedures specified will result in the loss of appraisal rights under the DGCL.

The foregoing summary of the rights of Inventure Foods’ stockholders to appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the Merger does not purport to be a complete statement of the procedures to be followed by the stockholders of Inventure Foods desiring to exercise appraisal rights in connection with the Merger and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Section 262 of the DGCL. The proper exercise of appraisal rights in connection with the Merger requires strict adherence to the applicable provisions of the DGCL. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL will be included as Annex B to the Schedule 14D-9.

The information provided above is for informational purposes only with respect to your alternatives if the Merger is consummated. If you tender your Shares pursuant to the Offer, you will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights with respect to your Shares but, instead, subject to the Offer Conditions, you will receive the Offer Price for your Shares.

 

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13. The Transaction Documents

The Merger Agreement

The following summary description of the Merger Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a copy of which Purchaser has included as Exhibit 2.1 to its Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on October 26, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference. The Merger Agreement may be examined and copies may be obtained at the places and in the manner set forth in “– Section 8 – Certain Information Concerning Inventure Foods.” Stockholders and other interested parties should read the Merger Agreement for a more complete description of the provisions summarized below. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined in this Offer to Purchase have the respective meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

The summary description has been included in this Offer to Purchase to provide you with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement and is not intended to modify or supplement any factual disclosures about Parent, Purchaser, Inventure Foods or their respective affiliates. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for the purposes of the Merger Agreement, were made as of specific dates, were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement and may not have been intended to be statements of fact, but rather, as a method of allocating risk and governing the contractual rights and relationships among the parties to the Merger Agreement. In addition, such representations, warranties and covenants may have been qualified by certain disclosures not reflected in the text of the Merger Agreement and may apply standards of materiality and other qualifications and limitations in a way that is different from what may be viewed as material by Inventure Foods’ stockholders. In reviewing the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement or any descriptions thereof in this summary, it is important to bear in mind that such representations, warranties, covenants or descriptions were not intended by the parties to the Merger Agreement to be characterizations of the actual state of facts or conditions of Parent, Purchaser, Inventure Foods or their respective affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations and warranties may have changed or may change after October 25, 2017, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in public disclosures. For the foregoing reasons, the representations, warranties, covenants or descriptions of those provisions should not be read alone and should instead be read in conjunction with the other information contained in the reports, statements and filings that Parent and Inventure Foods publicly file.

The Offer

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Purchaser has agreed to commence a cash tender offer as promptly as reasonably practicable after execution of the Merger Agreement for all Shares at a purchase price of $4.00 per Share net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes. Purchaser’s obligation to accept for payment and pay for Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the Offer is subject to, among other conditions, the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition (as defined in “Introduction” to this Offer to Purchase), as well as the satisfaction or waiver of the other Offer Conditions set forth in “ – Section 15 – Conditions to the Offer” (all such conditions, the “ Offer Conditions ”).

The Offer Conditions are for the sole benefit of Purchaser and Parent. Purchaser and Parent expressly reserve the right to waive any of the Offer Conditions or make any change to the terms of the Offer, except that, unless otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement, without the prior consent of Inventure Foods, Purchaser and Parent will not:

 

    reduce the number of Shares subject to the Offer;

 

    reduce the Offer Price;

 

    waive or change the Minimum Condition;

 

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    add to, amend or modify any Offer Condition in a manner adverse in any material respect to the holders of the Shares;

 

    extend or otherwise change the expiration date of the Offer (see “– Initial Expiration of the Offer; Extensions of the Offer”);

 

    change the form of consideration payable in the Offer in any material respect;

 

    otherwise amend, modify or supplement any terms of the Offer in a manner adverse to the holders of Shares;

 

    provide any “subsequent offering period” (or extension thereof) within the meaning of Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange Act; or

 

    take any action (or fail to take any action) that breaches the Merger Agreement with the result that the Merger is not permitted to be effected pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL.

Initial Expiration of the Offer; Extensions of the Offer

The initial Expiration Time of the Offer is one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on December 13, 2017, which is the date that is 20 business days after the commencement of the Offer. Subject to the rights of the parties to the Merger Agreement to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to its terms, if any of the Offer Conditions are not satisfied or waived at any scheduled Expiration Time, (i) Purchaser may extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an additional period of up to ten business days per extension, until such Offer Conditions are satisfied or waived, or (ii) upon written request of Inventure Foods, Purchaser will extend the Offer on one or more occasions (not to exceed two in total) for an additional period of up to ten business days per extension, to permit such Offer Conditions to be satisfied. Purchaser is also required to extend the Offer for any period required by applicable law and any interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or Nasdaq or its staff applicable to the Offer. However, in no event will Purchaser be required to, and without Inventure Foods’ prior written consent Purchaser may not, extend the Offer beyond the Outside Date. Additionally, Inventure Foods may not, without the prior written consent of Parent, request that the Offer be extended beyond the Outside Date, which may, under certain conditions, be extended. See “– Section 1 – Terms of the Offer.”

The Merger Agreement obligates Purchaser, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the Offer Conditions, to accept for payment and pay for any Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer promptly after the Expiration Time.

The Merger

As soon as practicable following the consummation of the Offer, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will merge with and into Inventure Foods with Inventure Foods continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. The Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL and will be effected as soon as practicable (and in any event within three business days) after the satisfaction or waiver of the last of the conditions to the Merger.

At the Merger Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Purchaser as in effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time will become the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the surviving corporation, except that (i) the name of the surviving corporation will be Inventure Foods, Inc., and (ii) the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the surviving corporation will provide rights to indemnification and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Merger Effective Time in favor of any present or former director or officer of Inventure Foods and any of its subsidiaries (in each case, when acting in such capacity) as provided in the Inventure certificate of incorporation and bylaws in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement. At the Merger Effective Time, the directors and officers of Purchaser immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time will become the directors and officers of the surviving corporation.

 

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At the Merger Effective Time, each outstanding Share (other than Shares held by Inventure Foods, any of its subsidiaries, Parent or any of its subsidiaries (including Purchaser), or any stockholders who have properly exercised their appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL) will be automatically converted into the right to receive from the surviving corporation the Offer Price (the “ Merger Consideration ”), in cash and without interest, less any required withholding taxes. Each Share owned by any wholly-owned subsidiary of either Inventure Foods or Parent outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, will be cancelled, will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in exchange therefor. Each Share of common stock of Purchaser outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time will be automatically converted into one share of common stock of the surviving corporation and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the surviving corporation.

Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs and Inventure RSUs

The Merger Agreement provides that, at the Merger Effective Time, each Inventure Stock Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, will be canceled and converted into the right to receive from the surviving corporation, as promptly as practicable (but no later than five business days) following the Merger Effective Time, a cash payment, if any (without interest and less applicable withholding taxes), equal to the product of (i) the number of vested shares of Common Stock subject to such Inventure Stock Option immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (including those whose vesting accelerates as of the Merger Effective Time) and (ii) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise or base price per share of Shares subject to such Inventure Stock Option immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time. Any Inventure Stock Option with a per Share exercise price equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration will be canceled for no consideration.

The Merger Agreement provides that, at the Merger Effective Time, each Inventure PSU and Inventure RSU that is outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, will be canceled and converted into the right to receive from the surviving corporation, as promptly as practicable (but no later than five business days) following the Merger Effective Time, a cash payment, if any (without interest and less applicable withholding taxes), equal to the product of (i) the number of vested shares of Common Stock subject to such Inventure PSU or Inventure RSU immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (including those whose vesting accelerates as of the Merger Effective Time), and (ii) the Merger Consideration. To the extent that any such Inventure PSU or Inventure RSU constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, such cash payment shall be paid in accordance with the applicable award’s terms and at the earliest time permitted under the terms of such award that will not result in the application of a tax or penalty under Section 409A of the Code. For each Inventure PSU, the number of Shares covered by the applicable award will be determined in accordance with each participant’s Inventure PSU and by the Compensation Committee of the Inventure Foods Board.

Representations and Warranties

In the Merger Agreement, Inventure Foods has made customary representations and warranties to Parent and Purchaser that are subject, in some cases, to specified exceptions and qualifications contained in the Merger Agreement or the confidential disclosure letter that Inventure Foods delivered to Parent immediately prior to the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement. These representations and warranties relate to, among other things: (i) corporate organization and qualification; (ii) capitalization of Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries; (iii) corporate authority and execution of and performance under the Merger Agreement, absence of conflicts with Inventure Foods’ charter documents and third party agreements, required filings and consents; (iv) SEC filings and financial statements; (v) internal controls and procedures; (vi) absence of undisclosed liabilities; (vii) compliance with laws and permits; (viii) food safety and recalls; (ix) investigations and litigation; (x) environmental matters; (xi) employee benefit plans and labor matters; (xii) absence of certain changes or events; (xiii) information supplied for inclusion in the Offer documents and the Schedule 14D-9; (xiv) tax matters; (xv) intellectual property; (xvi) properties; (xvii) insurance; (xviii) material contracts; (xix) opinion of

 

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Inventure Foods’ financial advisor; (xx) fees paid to finders or brokers; (xxi) state takeover statutes; (xxii) related party transactions; (xxiii) prior dispositions of assets; (xxiv) inventory; (xxv) accounts receivable; and (xxvi) closing costs.

In the Merger Agreement, Parent and Purchaser have made customary representations and warranties to Inventure Foods that are subject, in some cases, to specified exceptions and qualifications contained in the Merger Agreement. These representations and warranties relate to, among other things: (i) corporate organization; (ii) corporate authority and execution of and performance under the Merger Agreement, absence of conflicts with Parent’s and Purchaser’s constituent documents, required filings and consents; (iii) information supplied for inclusion in the Offer documents and the Schedule 14D-9; (iv) availability of funds to consummate the Offer and the Merger; (v) litigation; and (vi) no ownership of any Shares.

The representations and warranties will not survive consummation of the Merger.

Operating Covenants

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, from the date of the execution of the Merger Agreement until the Merger Effective Time, except as required by law, disclosed in the confidential disclosure letter that Inventure Foods delivered to Parent in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, or consented to by Parent, Inventure Foods has agreed to, and has agreed to cause each of its subsidiaries to, (i) conduct its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization, keep available the services of key employees and maintain satisfactory relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees and other persons having a business relationship with Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries.

In addition, from the date of the execution of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the termination of the Merger Agreement and Merger Effective Time, except as (i) required by law, (ii) disclosed in the confidential disclosure letter that Inventure Foods delivered to Parent in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, or (iii) expressly required pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Inventure Foods has agreed not to, and has agreed not to permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):

 

    amend or propose to amend its organizational documents or otherwise take any action to exempt any person from any provision of such organizational documents;

 

    (i) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or (ii) make, declare or pay any dividend (whether in cash, stock or otherwise), or make any other distribution on, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any other securities or obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events) into or exercisable or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock (except (A) dividends paid or distributions made by any wholly-owned subsidiary of Inventure Foods to Inventure Foods or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, or (B) the acceptance of Shares as payment for the exercise price of any Inventure Stock Option or the payment of withholding taxes incurred in connection with the vesting, exercise or settlement of any Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs or Inventure RSUs outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement in accordance with past practice and the terms of the applicable Inventure Stock Plan);

 

   

(i) issue, sell or grant any right to acquire or otherwise permit to become outstanding any additional shares of its capital stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into, or exercisable for, any shares of its capital stock or any options, warrants, Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs or Inventure RSUs or restricted shares of Common Stock or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of its capital stock, except pursuant to the settlement or exercise of Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs or Inventure RSUs outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement in accordance with their terms,

 

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(ii) enter into any contract or understanding with respect to the sale or voting of its capital stock or other equity or ownership interests, or (iii) adopt or implement a stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement;

 

    adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution or enter into any merger (other than the Merger), consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;

 

    (i) incur, assume, endorse, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or calls, options, warrants or other rights to acquire any indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise), except for indebtedness in the amounts and to certain persons set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by Inventure Foods to Parent in connection with the Merger Agreement and except for any indebtedness among Inventure Foods and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or among wholly-owned subsidiaries of Inventure Foods, (ii) incur any lien on any of its property or assets, except for certain permitted liens, or (iii) draw or borrow any additional amounts under existing credit facilities of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries;

 

    (i) sell, transfer, license, mortgage, assign, abandon, let lapse, fail to renew, allow to enter the public domain (except in the ordinary course), encumber or otherwise dispose of any of Inventure Foods’ intellectual property, intellectual property agreements or any other rights, properties or assets of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries to any person, other than sales of inventory or of obsolete equipment, in each case, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or (ii) cancel, release or assign any indebtedness of any person owed to it or any claims held by it against any person;

 

    (i) acquire (whether by merger or consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or by formation of a joint venture or otherwise) any other person or business or any material assets, deposits or properties of any other person, (ii) make any investment in any other person, (iii) make any loans or advances to any other person, except for loans among Inventure Foods and any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries or (iv) enter into any new line of business;

 

    make any capital expenditures other than (i) capital expenditures as and to the extent itemized in Inventure Foods’ capital expenditure budget set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by Inventure Foods to Parent in connection with the Merger Agreement or (ii) individual capital expenditures that (A) do not exceed $100,000 or (B) are incurred to replace inoperable capital assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

    terminate, extend, amend (other than automatic renewals on terms not otherwise different), or waive, release or assign any right under (or consent to the termination of) or engage in any action that would give rise to a right of termination under, any Company Material Contract (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or enter into any contract that would constitute a Company Material Contract;

 

   

except as required by the terms of any Inventure Foods employee benefit plan as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement, (i) establish, adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement (or other agreement with any labor organization, work council or trade union) or Inventure Foods employee benefit plan or any plan or contract that would be an Inventure Foods employee benefit plan if in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement, (ii) materially increase, individually or in the aggregate, the compensation or benefits of any of the current or former directors, officers, employees, consultants, independent contractors or other service providers of Inventure Foods or its subsidiaries, other than, solely with respect to employees who have an annualized base salary of $100,000 or less, annual merit-based salary increases in the ordinary course consistent with past practice in an amount not to exceed, in the aggregate, 3% of the base salaries of the individuals receiving such increases, (iii) pay or award, or commit to pay or award, any bonuses or incentive compensation, except for the payment of awards outstanding on the date of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the terms of the applicable Inventure Foods employee benefit plan in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement; (iv) accelerate any rights or benefits of any kind, (v) establish or fund any rabbi trust or other funding arrangement in respect of any Inventure Foods employee benefit plan,

 

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(vi) grant any Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs, Inventure RSUs or any restricted shares of Common Stock or other equity-based awards, or (vii) hire, promote or terminate (other than for cause) the employment or services of any officer, employee, independent contractor or consultant who has annualized base salary or compensation greater than $125,000;

 

    implement or adopt any change in its financial accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by changes in GAAP;

 

    commence, settle or compromise any litigation, claim, suit, action or proceeding, except for settlements or compromises that (i) involve solely monetary remedies with a value not in excess of $100,000 with respect to any individual litigation, claim, suit, action or proceeding, or $250,000 in the aggregate, (ii) do not impose any restriction on its business or the business of its subsidiaries, (iii) do not relate to any litigation by any of Inventure Foods’ stockholders or any other person in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Offer or the Merger, (iv) do not include an admission of liability or fault on the part of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries, and (v) do not involve a conduct remedy or injunctive or similar relief; provided, however, that for any existing litigation, claim, suit, action or proceeding as disclosed in the confidential disclosure letter that Inventure Foods delivered to Parent in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, if the Inventure Foods Board determines that a settlement or compromise of such litigation, claim, suit, action or proceeding is in the best interests of Inventure Foods and such settlement or compromise otherwise complies with items (ii) through (v) above, then upon confidential disclosure to Parent prior to effectuation of such settlement or compromise there shall be no prohibition on Inventure Foods settling such litigation, claim, suit, action or proceeding so long as the full amount of such settlement or compromise is paid by insurer(s) under Inventure Foods’ directors and officers insurance policy for the policy period ended on or prior to June 30, 2016;

 

    (i) make, change or revoke any material tax election, (ii) change any annual tax accounting period or make a change in any method of tax accounting, (iii) file any amended tax return that would result in any material tax, (iv) enter into any “closing agreement” within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or any analogous or similar provision of state, local or foreign law), (v) request any tax ruling from any governmental entity, (vi) settle or compromise any tax liability or any audit, examination or other proceeding relating to taxes or surrender any claim for a tax refund or offset or other reduction in tax liability, or (vii) except in the ordinary course of business, agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to taxes;

 

    except as expressly permitted in the Merger Agreement, take any action to exempt any person from any state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation that applies to Inventure Foods with respect to a Takeover Proposal or otherwise, including the restrictions on “business combinations” set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL, except for Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

 

    vest or agree to vest any Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs or Inventure RSUs, except as set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by Inventure Foods to Parent in connection with the Merger Agreement;

 

    permit the accounts payable of Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries that have not been paid within 60 days of invoice to exceed the amount set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by Inventure Foods to Parent in connection with the Merger Agreement;

 

    incur or agree to incur fees and expenses in excess of an aggregate specified amount for (i) legal, tax, accounting, professional and other fees and expenses in connection with the sale of certain business units and the Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (ii) certain severance and related costs and (iii) certain bonuses that have not been paid;

 

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    agree to continue or extend the term of a transition services agreement between Inventure Foods and Oregon Potato Company beyond November 30, 2017; or

 

    agree to take, or make any commitment to take any of the foregoing actions.

Access to Information.

From the date of the Merger Agreement until the Merger Effective Time (or the termination of the Merger Agreement, if earlier), during normal business hours (unless otherwise agreed to by Inventure Foods), Inventure Foods will, and will cause its subsidiaries to, afford Parent and its representatives reasonable access to its and its subsidiaries’ executive officers, outside accountants, properties, contracts, books and records and such other available information as Parent may reasonably request from time to time.

No Solicitation; Other Offers

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Inventure Foods has agreed that it will, and will cause its affiliates and its and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, financial advisors, investment bankers, tax advisors, attorneys, consultants, accountants and other representatives (“ Representatives ”):

 

    to immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all solicitation, encouragement, discussions or negotiations with any persons or group of persons (other than Parent and its affiliates) that may be ongoing with respect to a Takeover Proposal (as defined below);

 

    not to, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiries or discussions regarding, or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, a Takeover Proposal, (ii) engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish any information in connection with, or afford access to the assets, business, properties, books or records of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries, to any other person for the purpose of soliciting, initiating, knowingly encouraging or knowingly facilitating, a Takeover Proposal (other than (x) solely in response to an unsolicited inquiry, to inform the inquiring person that Inventure Foods is bound by the non-solicitation provisions set forth in Merger Agreement and to limit its communication exclusively to such response, or (y) upon receipt of a bona fide, unsolicited written Takeover Proposal from any person that did not result from a breach of the Merger Agreement, solely to the extent necessary to ascertain facts or clarify terms with respect to a Takeover Proposal for the Inventure Foods Board to be able to have sufficient information to make the determination described in Section 7.3(c) of the Merger Agreement), or (iii) approve, adopt, recommend or enter into, or propose to approve, adopt, recommend or enter into, any letter of intent, term sheet or similar document, contract or agreement in principle (whether written or oral, binding or nonbinding) with respect to a Takeover Proposal.

Inventure Foods will not, and will cause its affiliates not to, release any third party from, or waive, amend or modify any provision of, or grant permission under, or fail to enforce, any confidentiality obligations with respect to a Takeover Proposal or similar matter or any standstill provision in any agreement to which Inventure Foods or any of its affiliates is a party, in each case, unless the Inventure Foods Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would violate its fiduciary duties under applicable law.

Inventure Foods will, and will cause its affiliates to, promptly request any person that has executed a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement after January 1, 2016 in connection with any actual or potential Takeover Proposal to return or destroy all confidential information in the possession of such person or its Representatives.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, Inventure Foods or any of its Representatives receives a bona fide, unsolicited written Takeover Proposal from any person that did not result

 

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from a breach of the Merger Agreement and if the Inventure Foods Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such Takeover Proposal constitutes or would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal (as defined below), then Inventure Foods and its Representatives may (i) furnish, pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement (a copy of which will be provided to Parent within 24 hours of being executed), information with respect to Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries to the person who has made such Takeover Proposal; provided, that Inventure Foods shall concurrently with the delivery to such person provide to Parent any non-public information concerning Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries that is provided or made available to such person or its Representatives unless such non-public information has been previously provided or made available to Parent, and (ii) engage in or otherwise participate in discussions or negotiations with the person making such Takeover Proposal or its Representatives regarding such Takeover Proposal. Inventure Foods shall as promptly as practicable (and in any event within 24 hours) notify Parent in writing if the Inventure Foods Board makes a determination that a Takeover Proposal constitutes or would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal or if Inventure Foods furnishes information or enters into discussions or negotiations as provided in the Merger Agreement.

In addition, Inventure Foods shall as promptly as practicable (and in no event later than within one business day after Inventure Foods’ receipt or it has knowledge of the receipt by any of its Representatives) notify Parent in writing in the event that Inventure Foods or any of its Representatives receives a Takeover Proposal or a request for information relating to Inventure Foods or its subsidiaries that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to result in or that contemplates a Takeover Proposal, including the identity of the person making the Takeover Proposal and the material terms and conditions thereof (including an unredacted copy of such Takeover Proposal or, where such Takeover Proposal is not in writing, a description of the terms and conditions thereof). Inventure Foods shall keep Parent reasonably informed, on a reasonably current basis, as to the status of (including any developments, discussions or negotiations) such Takeover Proposal (including by as promptly as practicable (and in no event later than one business day after Inventure Foods’ receipt or it has knowledge of the receipt by any of its Representatives) providing to Parent copies of any correspondence, proposals, indications of interest or draft agreements relating to such Takeover Proposal). Inventure Foods shall provide Parent with at least one business day’s prior notice of any meeting of the Inventure Foods Board (or such lesser notice as is provided to the members of the Inventure Foods Board) at which the Inventure Foods Board is reasonably expected to consider any Takeover Proposal. Inventure Foods has agreed that it and its affiliates will not enter into any agreement with any person subsequent to the date of the Merger Agreement which prohibits Inventure Foods from providing any information to Parent in accordance with, or otherwise complying with, the Merger Agreement.

“Takeover Proposal ” means any proposal, offer, indication of interest in making a proposal or offer or term sheet from any person or “group” (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than Parent and its affiliates) with respect to, or that would reasonably be expected to lead to, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, (i) a merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, binding share exchange, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture or other similar transaction involving Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any acquisition of 15% or more of the outstanding Shares or securities of Inventure Foods representing 15% or more of the voting power of Inventure Foods, (iii) any acquisition (including the acquisition of stock in any subsidiary of Inventure Foods) of assets or businesses of Inventure Foods or its subsidiaries, including pursuant to a joint venture, representing 15% or more of the consolidated assets, revenues or net income of Inventure Foods, (iv) any tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding Shares or securities of Inventure Foods representing 15% or more of the voting power of Inventure Foods, or (v) any combination of the foregoing types of transactions if the sum of the percentage of consolidated assets, consolidated revenues or earnings and Shares (or voting power of securities of Inventure Foods other than the Shares) involved is 15% or more.

Superior Proposal ” means a bona fide, unsolicited written Takeover Proposal (i) that if consummated would result in a third party (or in the case of a direct merger between such third party and Inventure Foods, the stockholders of such third party) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding Common

 

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Stock or more than 50% of the assets of Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) that is not subject to any due diligence closing condition or financing closing condition, and to the extent consideration includes cash, includes financing commitments from reputable sources that the Inventure Foods Board reasonably determines in good faith are reasonably expected to be available and that are sufficient, together with cash on hand and availability under existing credit facilities, to fund such cash consideration and (iii) that the Inventure Foods Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, taking into account the timing and likelihood of consummation relative to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and after giving effect to any changes to the Merger Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such Takeover Proposal and all other financial, legal, regulatory, tax and other aspects of such proposal, including all conditions contained therein and the person making such Takeover Proposal, as the Inventure Foods Board deems relevant, is more favorable to the stockholders of Inventure Foods than this Offer and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

Adverse Recommendation Change

Under the Merger Agreement, the Inventure Foods Board may not:

 

    fail to include in the Schedule 14D-9 its recommendation, subject to certain terms set forth in the Merger Agreement, that the stockholders of Inventure Foods accept the Offer and tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer (the “ Inventure Foods Board Recommendation ”);

 

    change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, or authorize or publicly propose to change, qualify, withhold, withdraw or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the Inventure Foods Board Recommendation;

 

    adopt, approve or recommend to stockholders of Inventure Foods, or resolve to or publicly propose or announce its intention to adopt, approve or recommend to stockholders of Inventure Foods a Takeover Proposal (any action described in this or the preceding two bullets being referred to as an “ Adverse Recommendation Change ”); or

 

    authorize, cause or permit Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, indication of interest (countersigned by Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries) or contract (including an acquisition agreement, merger agreement, joint venture agreement or other agreement) with respect to any Takeover Proposal (other than a customary confidentiality agreement) (any of the foregoing, a “ Company Acquisition Agreement ”).

At any time prior to the Acceptance Time, the Inventure Foods Board may, with respect to a bona fide, unsolicited Takeover Proposal that did not result from a breach of the Merger Agreement, make an Adverse Recommendation Change or cause Inventure Foods to terminate the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms in order to enter into a definitive agreement relating to such Takeover Proposal if, prior to taking either such action, (i) Inventure Foods has complied with its obligations under the Merger Agreement, and (ii) the Inventure Foods Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such Takeover Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal; provided, that prior to making such Adverse Recommendation Change or effecting such termination:

 

  A. Inventure Foods has given Parent at least four business days’ prior notice of its intention to take such action, specifying the reasons therefor, including the terms and conditions of, and the identity of the person making, any such Superior Proposal and has contemporaneously provided to Parent a copy of the Superior Proposal, a copy of any proposed acquisition agreements and a copy of any financing commitments relating thereto (or, in each case, if not provided in writing to Inventure Foods, a written summary of the terms and conditions thereof);

 

  B. if requested by Parent, Inventure Foods shall have negotiated in good faith with Parent and its Representatives during such notice period to enable Parent to propose revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement such that it would cause such Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal;

 

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  C. following the end of such notice period, the Inventure Foods Board shall have considered in good faith any revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement proposed by Parent, and shall have determined, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that the Superior Proposal would nevertheless continue to constitute a Superior Proposal if the revisions proposed by Parent were to be given effect; and

 

  D. in the event of any change to any of the financial terms (including the form, amount and timing of payment of consideration) or any other material terms of such Superior Proposal, Inventure Foods shall, in each case, have delivered to Parent an additional notice consistent with that described in clause (A) above and a new notice period under clause (C) shall commence (except that the four business day notice period referred to in clause (A) above shall instead be equal to the longer of (x) three business days and (y) the period remaining under the notice period under clause (A) immediately prior to the delivery of such additional notice under this clause (D)) during which time Inventure Foods shall be required to comply with the requirements of the Merger Agreement anew with respect to such additional notice, including clauses (A) through (D).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Merger Agreement, neither Inventure Foods nor any of its subsidiaries shall enter into any acquisition agreement unless the Merger Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms.

Other than in connection with a Takeover Proposal, at any time prior to the consummation of the Offer, the Inventure Foods Board may make an Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event (as defined below) (an “ Intervening Event Recommendation Change ”) if (i) Inventure Foods has complied with its obligations under the Merger Agreement and (ii) prior to taking such action, the Inventure Foods Board has determined in good faith, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would constitute a violation of the Inventure Foods Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; provided, that prior to making such Intervening Event Recommendation Change:

 

  i. Inventure Foods has given Parent at least four business days’ prior written notice of its intention to take such action, and specifying the reasons therefor, including specifying in reasonable detail the applicable Intervening Event;

 

  ii. if requested by Parent, Inventure Foods shall have negotiated in good faith with Parent and its Representatives during such notice period to enable Parent to propose revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement; and

 

  iii. following the end of such notice period, the Inventure Foods Board shall have considered in good faith any revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement proposed in writing by Parent, and shall have determined, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that the failure to make an Intervening Event Recommendation Change would violate the Inventure Foods Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable law.

Intervening Event ” means any fact, circumstance, occurrence, event, development, change or condition or combination thereof that was not known to or reasonably foreseeable by the Inventure Foods Board as of or prior to the date of the Merger Agreement and that becomes known to the Inventure Foods Board after the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to the Acceptance Time; provided that in no event shall any of the following constitute or contribute to an Intervening Event: (i) changes after the date of the Merger Agreement in GAAP, (ii) changes after the date of the Merger Agreement in laws affecting companies in the industries in which Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries operate, (iii) changes after the date of the Merger Agreement in global or national political conditions (including the outbreak of war or acts of terrorism), in the global securities, credit or other financial markets, or in general economic, business or market conditions affecting companies in the industries in which Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries operate, (iv) any hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster after the date of the Merger Agreement, (v) actions required to be taken or omitted by Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the Merger Agreement and any action or failure to take any

 

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action that is consented to by Parent in writing, (vi) the public announcement after the date of the Merger Agreement of either the Merger Agreement or the Merger, including the announcement of the identity of Parent, (vii) a change in the trading price of the Shares or the failure, in and of itself, to meet internal or external projections or analysts’ expectations for any future period (provided, that the underlying causes of such change or failure may be taken into account in determining the existence of an Intervening Event), or (viii) the receipt, existence or terms of any Takeover Proposal or any inquiry, offer, request or proposal that would reasonably be expected to lead to transaction contemplated by any Takeover Proposal.

Nothing contained in the Merger Agreement prevents Inventure Foods or the Inventure Foods Board from (i) taking and disclosing to the stockholders of Inventure Foods a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a)(2)-(3), Rule 14d-9 or Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Takeover Proposal, (ii) making any disclosure to the stockholders of Inventure Foods if the Inventure Foods Board shall have determined, after consultation with its independent financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that failure to take such a position would violate the Inventure Foods Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable law or any disclosure requirements under applicable law or (iii) making any disclosure that constitutes a “stop, look and listen” communication to the stockholders of Inventure Foods pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act pending disclosure of its position thereunder. However, no such action or disclosure that would amount to an Adverse Recommendation Change shall be permitted, made or taken unless Inventure Foods has first complied with Section 7.3 of the Merger Agreement.

Director and Officer Indemnification and Insurance

The Merger Agreement provides for indemnification and insurance rights in favor of Inventure Foods’ and its subsidiaries’ current and former directors and officers (collectively, with such persons’ estate, executor and administrator, “ indemnitees ”). Specifically, Parent has agreed that for a period of six years after the Merger Effective Time, the surviving corporation will, and Parent will cause the surviving corporation to, indemnify and hold harmless each indemnitee in accordance with Inventure Foods’ certificate of incorporation and bylaws in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement. Effective at the consummation of the Offer, Inventure Foods shall obtain, and the surviving corporation shall maintain, a prepaid six year tail on Inventure Foods’ current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance with respect to claims arising from facts or events, or actions or omissions, which occurred or are alleged to have occurred at or before the consummation of the Offer; provided, the net premium for such tail policies will not exceed 250% of the annual premiums paid as of the date of the Merger Agreement by Inventure Foods for such insurance.

Employee Matters

Under the Merger Agreement, Parent agreed that for twelve months following the Merger Effective Time, Parent shall provide, or shall cause the surviving corporation to provide, to each employee of Inventure Foods or its subsidiaries who continues to be employed by Parent or the surviving corporation or any subsidiary thereof (the “ Continuing Employees ”), other than Continuing Employees with a written employment contract with Parent, the surviving corporation or any subsidiary thereof:

 

    base salary or wages and target bonus opportunities (but excluding any equity-based compensation) that are no less favorable than the base salary or wages and target bonus opportunities (but excluding any equity-based compensation) provided by Inventure Foods to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (excluding any equity based compensation);

 

    employee benefits (other than severance benefits) that are, in the aggregate, comparable to those provided to the Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, and

 

    severance benefits that are, in the aggregate, no less favorable than those provided by Inventure Foods to the Continuing Employees immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time.

In addition, following the Merger Effective Time, Parent shall provide, or shall cause the surviving corporation to provide, that periods of employment with Inventure Foods (including any current or former

 

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affiliate of Inventure Foods or any predecessor of Inventure Foods) shall be taken into account for purposes of eligibility, vesting (excluding equity compensation vesting) and waiting periods under all employee benefit plans maintained by Parent or an affiliate of Parent for the benefit of the Continuing Employees (other than as would result in a duplication of benefits or if such service was not recognized under the corresponding Inventure Foods employee benefit plan).

Parent shall, and shall cause the surviving corporation to, cause all medical, dental and other welfare plans in which Continuing Employees participate from and after the Merger Effective Time to (i) waive any exclusions and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to such Continuing Employees under any medical, dental or other welfare plan maintained by Parent or its affiliates to the extent such exclusions did not apply under the corresponding Inventure Foods employee benefit plan as of the Merger Effective Time, and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to honor any deductible and out-of-pocket expenses incurred by such Continuing Employees and dependents under similar employee plans for the plan year in which such participation begins.

Inventure Foods will, and will cause its subsidiaries to, take any and all actions, including the Inventure Foods Board approving such resolutions and adopting such amendments, in a form satisfactory to Parent, required to terminate all Inventure Foods employee benefit plans that include a salary reduction feature subject to Section 401(k) of the Code, with such termination to be effective prior to the consummation of the Offer.

Compensation Arrangements

Prior to the Acceptance Time, Inventure Foods shall take all such steps as may be required to cause each contract or understanding entered into by Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries on or after the date of the Merger Agreement with any of its officers, directors, managers or employees pursuant to which consideration is paid to such officer, director, manager or employee to be approved as an “employment compensation, severance or other employee benefit arrangement” within the meaning of Rule 14d-10(d)(1) under the Exchange Act and to satisfy the requirements of the non-exclusive safe harbor set forth in Rule 14d-10(d) under the Exchange Act.

Payoff of Existing Indebtedness

Indenture will, and will cause its subsidiaries to, deliver all notices and take all other actions to facilitate the termination at the Merger Effective Time of all commitments in respect of the credit agreement among Inventure Foods, its subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders party thereto and BSP Agency, LLC, as administrative agent (the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), the repayment in full on the closing date of the Merger of all obligations in respect of the indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement, and the release on such date of any liens securing such indebtedness and guarantees in connection therewith.

Cooperation with Debt Financing

Inventure Foods shall, shall cause its subsidiaries to, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its Representatives to, provide all cooperation that is reasonably necessary, customary or advisable and reasonably requested by Parent to assist with the arrangement of the debt financing provided by certain financing sources in connection with the transactions contemplated in connection with the Merger Agreement (the “ Debt Financing ”), including by (i) assisting with the preparation of schedules and exhibits to the definitive financing documentation and facilitating the pledging of collateral and obtaining of guarantees pursuant thereto, in each case, customarily required to be delivered under such definitive financing documentation, (ii) delivering to Parent all existing financial statements, business and other financial data (excluding pro forma financial information) as may be reasonably requested by Parent in connection with the Debt Financing, and (iii) providing to Parent and its financing sources all documentation and other information reasonably requested in connection with certain banking and other regulations.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing agreement to cooperate, (i) none of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries or their respective Representatives shall be required to execute or enter into any agreement or other document in connection with the Debt Financing which will be effective prior to the consummation of the Merger, (ii) none of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries or their respective Representatives shall be required to cooperate or take other actions in connection with the Debt Financing to the extent it would unreasonably materially interfere with their business or operations, and (iii) none of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries or their respective Representatives will be required to incur any liability or obligation with respect to the Debt Financing prior to the consummation of the Merger for which it has not received prior reimbursement or is not otherwise indemnified.

Moreover, nothing in the Merger Agreement shall require any such cooperation to the extent that it would (i) require Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries or their respective Representatives, as applicable, to waive or amend any terms of the Merger Agreement or agree to pay any commitment or other fees or reimburse any expenses, in each case prior to the consummation of the Offer, (ii) require Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries to take any action that will conflict with or violate any laws or the Existing Credit Agreement, (iii) require Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries to enter into or approve any financing agreement for the Debt Financing that is effective prior to the consummation of the Offer, (iv) result in Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries incurring any liability with respect to any matters relating to the Debt Financing prior to the consummation of the Offer; or (v) result in any officer or director of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries incurring personal liability with respect to any matters relating to the Debt Financing. Moreover, no action, liability or obligation (including any obligation to pay any commitment or other fees or reimburse any expenses) of Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives relating to the Debt Financing will be effective until the consummation of the Offer.

In the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated by Inventure Foods pursuant to its terms, Parent will promptly, upon request by Inventure Foods, reimburse Inventure Foods for all of its documented reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by Inventure Foods, its subsidiaries and their respective Representatives in connection with any cooperation in connection with the Debt Financing, so long as such reimbursement does not exceed $25,000 in the aggregate.

Conditions to the Merger

The respective obligations of each of Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser to effect the Merger are subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by each of Inventure Foods and Parent, to the extent not prohibited under applicable law) on or prior to the Merger Effective Time of the following conditions:

 

    no injunction or other order by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction shall have been entered and shall continue to be in effect, and no law shall have been adopted (and remain in effect) or be effective, in each case that temporarily or permanently prohibits, enjoins or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger; and

 

    Purchaser shall have previously accepted for payment all of the Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer; provided, however, that neither Purchaser nor Parent shall be entitled to assert the failure of this condition if Purchaser, in breach of the Merger Agreement, fails to purchase any Shares validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.

Termination

The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger may be abandoned at any time prior to the Merger Effective Time:

 

    by the mutual written consent of Inventure Foods and Parent;

 

   

by Parent or Inventure Foods, if the Acceptance Time has not occurred on or before the Outside Date (an “ Outside Date Termination ”), which date may, under certain conditions, be extended (see

 

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“ – Section 1 – Terms of the Offer”); provided that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to any party whose material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement of such party under the Merger Agreement caused or resulted in the Acceptance Time not occurring prior to the Outside Date;

 

    by either Inventure Foods or Parent if an injunction, order or decree by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction has been entered and continues to be in effect, or a law has been adopted or is effective, and in each case has become final and nonappealable, that (i) prohibits or makes illegal consummation of the Offer or the Merger or (ii) permanently enjoins Purchaser from consummating the Offer or Inventure Foods, Parent or Purchaser from consummating the Merger; provided that this termination right will not be available to any party if such an injunction, order or decree was caused by or the result of a material breach by such party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements in the Merger Agreement;

 

    by Inventure Foods, if prior to the Acceptance Time:

 

    provided that Inventure Foods is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in the Merger Agreement (i) Parent or Purchaser has breached any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in the Merger Agreement which breach would or would reasonably be expected to prevent, materially delay or materially impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to consummate the Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement on or before the Outside Date; and (ii) such breach, failure to perform or inaccuracy is either not curable or is not cured by the earlier of (a) the Outside Date and (b) the date that is 20 calendar days following written notice from Inventure Foods to Parent of such breach;

 

    in compliance with the non-solicitation provisions in the Merger Agreement, in order to accept a Superior Proposal, subject to the prior or concurrent payment by Inventure Foods of the Termination Fee (as defined below) to Parent pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and as a condition to the effectiveness of such termination, in accordance with the terms specified therein (a “ Superior Proposal Termination ”); or

 

    (i) Purchaser terminates or makes any material adverse change to the Offer in violation of the terms of the Merger Agreement, or (ii) (a) all the Offer Conditions shall have been and continue to be satisfied or waived as of the Expiration Time, (b) Inventure Foods has confirmed by written notice its intention to terminate the Merger Agreement if Parent and Purchaser fail to consummate the Offer when required in accordance with the Merger Agreement, (c) Purchaser has failed to consummate the Offer within three business days of the date such consummation of the Offer should have occurred in accordance with the Merger Agreement, and (d) Inventure Foods stood ready, willing and able to consummate the Merger on that date following such three business days and Inventure Foods shall have given Parent a written notice on or prior to such date confirming such fact;

 

    by Parent:

 

    provided that Parent is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in the Merger Agreement (i) if, prior to the Acceptance Time, Inventure Foods has breached any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in the Merger Agreement (other than a material breach of the covenants and agreements regarding non-solicitation set forth in the Merger Agreement), which breach would or would reasonably be expected to result in any Offer Condition not being satisfied, and (ii) such breach, failure to perform or inaccuracy is either not curable or is not cured by the earlier of (a) the Outside Date, and (b) the date that is twenty calendar days following written notice from Parent to Inventure Foods of such breach (a “ Parent General Breach Termination ”);

 

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    if, prior to the Acceptance Time (any of the following a “ Non-Solicitation Breach Termination ”):

 

    an Adverse Recommendation Change has occurred;

 

    Inventure Foods shall have entered into, or publicly announced its intention to enter into, an acquisition agreement with another person (other than a customary confidentiality agreement);

 

    Inventure Foods shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of the covenants and agreements regarding non-solicitation set forth in the Merger Agreement;

 

    the Inventure Foods Board fails to reaffirm (publicly, if so requested by Parent) the Inventure Foods Board Recommendation within ten business days after the date of any Takeover Proposal (or material modification thereto) is first publicly disclosed by Inventure Foods or the person making such Takeover Proposal;

 

    a tender offer or exchange offer relating to the Shares has been commenced by a person unaffiliated with Parent and Inventure Foods has not sent to its stockholders pursuant to Rule 14e-2 under the Exchange Act, within ten business days after such tender offer or exchange offer is first published, a statement reaffirming the Inventure Foods Board Recommendation and recommending that stockholders reject such tender or exchange offer; or

 

    Inventure Foods or the Inventure Foods Board (or any committee thereof) shall publicly announce its intentions to do any of actions specified above.

Except in the case of termination by mutual consent of Parent and Inventure Foods, in each of the aforementioned circumstances, the party seeking termination must provide written notice of the termination of the Merger Agreement to the other parties in accordance with the notice provisions of the Merger Agreement.

The parties to the Merger Agreement have agreed that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of the Merger Agreement were not performed in accordance with their terms and that the parties will be entitled to seek an injunction to prevent breaches of the Merger Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

Inventure Foods Termination Fee

Inventure Foods has agreed to pay Parent a termination fee of $5,000,000 (the “ Termination Fee ”) if the Merger Agreement is terminated under the following circumstances:

 

    If (i) Parent or Inventure Foods terminates the Merger Agreement pursuant to an Outside Date Termination or Parent terminates the Merger Agreement pursuant to a Parent General Breach Termination, (ii) after the date of the Merger Agreement, a Takeover Proposal is made, commenced, submitted or announced and not publicly withdrawn at least five business days prior to termination, and (iii) at any time on or prior to the nine-month anniversary of such termination, Inventure Foods or any of its subsidiaries enters into a definitive agreement with respect to, or consummates, any transaction included within the definition of Takeover Proposal (provided that for purposes of this clause (iii) references to “15%” in the definition of “Takeover Proposal” shall be deemed to be “50%”) with any person (a “ Company Takeover Transaction ”), whether or not such Company Takeover Transaction is the same as the original Takeover Proposal made, commenced, submitted or announced; or

 

    If Parent terminates the Merger Agreement pursuant to a Non-Solicitation Breach Termination; or

 

    If Inventure Foods terminates the Merger Agreement pursuant to a Superior Proposal Termination.

 

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Each of the parties to the Merger Agreement acknowledges that payment of the Termination Fee is not intended to be a penalty, but rather liquidated damages in a reasonable amount that will compensate Parent in the circumstances in which the Termination Fee are due and payable, and which do not involve fraud or willful breach of the Merger Agreement, for the efforts and resources expended and opportunities foregone while negotiating the Merger Agreement and in reliance on the Merger Agreement and on the expectation of the consummation of the Merger, which amount would otherwise be impossible to calculate with precision. Inventure Foods acknowledged that the agreements regarding the Termination Fee are an integral part of the Merger, and that, without such agreements, Parent and Purchaser would not have entered into the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, if Inventure Foods fails to pay in a timely manner any amount due pursuant to the termination provisions of the Merger Agreement, then (i) Inventure Foods shall reimburse Parent and its designee for all costs and expenses (including disbursements and reasonable fees of counsel) incurred in the collection of such overdue amount, including in connection with any related claims, actions, suits or proceedings commenced, and (ii) Inventure Foods shall pay to Parent or its designee interest on such amount from and including the date payment of such amount was due to but excluding the date of actual payment at the prime rate set forth in The Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made plus two percent.

The Confidentiality Agreement

Inventure Foods and Parent entered into a Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement dated September 26, 2016 (the “ Confidentiality Agreement ”) in connection with a possible negotiated transaction between the parties. Parent agreed, among other things, to keep certain information confidential and to use such information solely for the purpose of evaluating a possible negotiated transaction between the parties. Except as otherwise provided in the Confidentiality Agreement, the restrictions therein will expire upon the earlier of (i) the second anniversary of the date of the Confidentiality Agreement, and (ii) the date upon which a possible negotiated transaction is consummated. The termination of the Merger Agreement does not affect the obligations of the parties contained in the Confidentiality Agreement, all of which obligations survive the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms.

The foregoing summary description of the Confidentiality Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Confidentiality Agreement, which Purchaser has filed as Exhibit (d)(2) to the Schedule TO, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

The Exclusivity Agreement

On August 25, 2017, Inventure Foods and Parent entered into an Exclusivity Agreement (the “ Exclusivity Agreement ”) pursuant to which, among other things, Inventure Foods agreed, on behalf of itself and its subsidiaries, directors, officers and certain representatives, not to solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage any inquiries or discussion or the making of any proposals for, or enter into any agreement with respect to, or negotiate with any person or entity with respect to, any alternative acquisition transaction during a period commencing on August 25, 2017 and lasting through the later of (i) October 16, 2017, or (ii) the twenty-first day following the closing of the Company’s sale of its frozen fruit business. On October 17, 2017, the parties entered into an amendment to the Exclusivity Agreement to extend the October 16, 2017 date until October 19, 2017, and on October 19, 2017, the parties entered into a second amendment to extend such date to October 25, 2017. The foregoing summary description of the Exclusivity Agreement and its two extensions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Exclusivity Agreement and its two extensions, which Purchaser has filed as Exhibits (d)(3), (d)(4) and (d)(5) to the Schedule TO, and which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

14. Dividends and Distributions

Inventure Foods has never paid any dividends on its common stock.

 

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As discussed in “– Section 13 – The Transaction Documents – The Merger Agreement – Operating Covenants,” pursuant to the Merger Agreement, from the date of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the termination of the Merger Agreement and the Merger Effective Time, without the prior written consent of Parent, Inventure Foods has agreed not to, and has agreed not to permit any of its subsidiaries to, make, declare or pay any dividend (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise), or make any other distribution on, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any other securities or obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events) into or exercisable or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock (except (i) dividends paid or distributions made by any wholly-owned subsidiary of Inventure Foods to Inventure or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, or (ii) the acceptance of Shares as payment for the exercise price of any Inventure Stock Option or the payment of withholding taxes incurred in connection with the vesting, exercise or settlement of Inventure Stock Options, Inventure PSUs or Inventure RSUs outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement in accordance with past practice and the terms of the applicable Inventure Stock Plan).

 

15. Conditions to the Offer

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, but subject to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will not be required to, and Parent will not be required to cause Purchaser to, accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, pay for any Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer, if as of the Expiration Time, any of the following conditions have not been satisfied or, to the extent permitted under the Merger Agreement and applicable law, waived by Parent or Purchaser:

 

  A. the Minimum Condition has been satisfied (see the “Introduction”);

 

  B.

(1) the representations and warranties of Inventure Foods contained in the Merger Agreement relating to the absence of any fact, change, circumstance, event, occurrence, condition or development that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually, or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect shall have been accurate in all respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and shall be accurate in all respects at and as of the Expiration Time with the same effect as though made as of the Expiration Time, (2) the representations and warranties of Inventure Foods contained in the Merger Agreement relating to (a) its and its subsidiaries’ corporate organization, existence, standing and power; (b) capital stock and capitalization (except with respect to all securities of Inventure Foods having been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws); (c) corporate authority; execution and delivery of and performance under the Merger Agreement, (d) opinion of Inventure Foods’ financial advisor, (e) fees paid to finders and brokers, (f) prior dispositions and (g) closing costs in the Merger Agreement shall have been accurate in all respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and shall be accurate in all respects at and as of the Expiration Time with the same effect as though made as of the Expiration Time, (3) the representations and warranties of Inventure Foods contained in the Merger Agreement relating to (a) the directors, managers and officers of Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries and certain corporate minutes of Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries, (b) issuance of all securities of Inventure Foods in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, (c) certain required consents, (d) the effect of the Merger Agreement on certain of Inventure Foods’ contracts and permits, and (e) state takeover statutes shall have been accurate in all material respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and shall be accurate in all material respects at and as of the Expiration Time with the same effect as though made as of the Expiration Time, and (4) any of the other representations and warranties of Inventure Foods contained in the Merger Agreement shall have been accurate (disregarding all qualification or limitations as to “materiality,” “Company Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import set forth therein) as of the date of the Merger Agreement and shall be accurate (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to “materiality,” “Company Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import set forth therein) at and as of the Expiration Time with the same effect as though made as of the Expiration Time, except in the case of this clause (4) only, where the failure to be accurate, individually or in the aggregate, would not and would not

 

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  reasonably be expected to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect; provided that in each case, the representations and warranties made as of a specific date shall be required to be so true and correct (subject to the applicable qualifications) as of such date only;

 

  C. Inventure Foods shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all covenants and obligations that Inventure Foods is required to comply with or to perform under the Merger Agreement on or prior to the Expiration Time;

 

  D. Parent shall have received from Inventure Foods a certificate signed on behalf of Inventure Foods by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Inventure Foods to the effect that the conditions in paragraphs B and C above have been satisfied;

 

  E. since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect;

 

  F. any applicable waiting period (and any extensions thereof) under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (as amended, the “ HSR Act ”) relating to the Offer or the Merger shall have expired or been terminated, and all other clearances or approvals (other than the filing of the certificate of merger with the Delaware Secretary of State) under applicable antitrust laws shall have been obtained, free of any condition that would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;

 

  G. there shall not have been issued by any court of competent jurisdiction that remains in effect any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order preventing the consummation of the Offer or the Merger nor shall any law or order that remains in effect have been promulgated, entered, enforced, enacted, issued or deemed applicable to the Offer or the Merger by any governmental entity which directly or indirectly prohibits, or makes illegal, the acceptance for payment of or payment for shares of Common Stock or the consummation of the Offer or the Merger;

 

  H. there shall not be pending any legal proceeding by a governmental entity having authority over Parent, Purchaser or any subsidiary thereof (i) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Offer or the Merger, (ii) seeking to restrain or prohibit Parent’s or its affiliates’ ownership or operation of the business or assets of Inventure Foods or Inventure Foods’ subsidiaries or of Parent or any of its affiliates, or to compel Parent or any of its affiliates to dispose of or hold separate all or any portion of the business or assets of Inventure Foods or any of Inventure Foods’ subsidiaries or of Parent or any of its affiliates, or (iii) seeking to impose or confirm material limitations on the ability of Parent or any of its affiliates effectively to exercise full rights of ownership of the shares of Common Stock, in each case that would constitute a restraint under applicable antitrust law;

 

  I. the required approvals, consents, notices and waivers agreed to by Parent and Inventure Foods shall have been received or given and be in full force and effect, and executed counterparts thereof shall have been delivered to Parent;

 

  J. Inventure Foods shall have obtained a representation and warranty insurance policy with respect to the frozen fruit business it previously sold; or

 

  K. the Merger Agreement shall not have been terminated in accordance with its terms.

As used in the Merger Agreement, “ Company Material Adverse Effect ” means any fact, change, circumstance, event, occurrence, condition, development or combination of the foregoing (a) that is, or would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the business, results of operations, assets, liabilities or financial condition of Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (b) that prevents, materially delays or materially impairs the ability of Inventure Foods to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement on or before the Outside Date; except that, for the purposes of clause (a), a “ Company Material Adverse Effect ” shall not include the impact of:

 

  i. changes after the date of the Merger Agreement in GAAP;

 

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  ii. changes after the date of the Merger Agreement in laws affecting companies in the industries in which Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries operate;

 

  iii. changes after the date of the Merger Agreement in global or national political conditions (including the outbreak of war or acts of terrorism), in the global securities, credit or other financial markets, or in general economic, business or market conditions affecting companies in the industries in which Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries operate;

 

  iv. any hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster after the date of the Merger Agreement;

 

  v. actions required to be taken or omitted by Inventure Foods or any of Inventure Foods’ subsidiaries pursuant to the Merger Agreement and any action or failure to take any action that is consented to by Parent in writing;

 

  vi. any actions or claims made or brought by any of the current or former stockholders of Inventure Foods arising out of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby;

 

  vii. the public announcement after the date of the Merger Agreement of either the Merger Agreement or the Merger, including the announcement of the identity of Parent, or any communication by Parent or any of its affiliates regarding the plans or proposals, with respect to Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries;

 

  viii. any material breach of the Merger Agreement by Parent or Purchaser; or

 

  ix. a change in the trading price of Common Stock or the failure, in and of itself, to meet internal or external projections or analysts’ expectations for any future period (provided, that the underlying causes of such change or failure may be taken into account in determining the existence of a Company Material Adverse Effect).

However, the Merger Agreement provides that, for clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) described above, to the extent that the effects of such fact, change, circumstance, event, occurrence, condition, development or combination of the foregoing are disproportionately adverse to the business, properties, results of operations, assets, liabilities or financial condition of Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as compared to other companies in the industries in which Inventure Foods and its subsidiaries operate, then the impact of such matter shall be taken into account for purposes of determining whether a “Company Material Adverse Effect” has occurred.

The Offer Conditions are for the sole benefit of Parent and Purchaser and, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, may be waived by Parent or Purchaser, in whole or in part, at any time, at the sole discretion of Parent or Purchaser. The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such right will be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

 

16. Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals

Regulatory Matters

General

Except as described in this Section 16, based on our examination of publicly available information filed by Inventure Foods with the SEC and other publicly available information concerning Inventure Foods, we are not aware of any governmental license or regulatory permit that appears to be material to Inventure Foods’ business that might be adversely affected by our acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer or of any approval or other action by any government or governmental administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, that would be required for our acquisition or ownership of Shares pursuant to the Offer. Should any such approval or other action be required or desirable, we currently contemplate that, except as described below under

 

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“– State Takeover Statutes,” such approval or other action will be sought. There is no current intent to delay the purchase of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter. We are unable to predict whether we will determine that we are required to delay the acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter. There can be no assurance that any such approval or other action, if needed, would be obtained (with or without substantial conditions) or that if such approvals were not obtained or such other actions were not taken adverse consequences might not result to Inventure Foods’ business or certain parts of Inventure Foods’ business might not have to be disposed of, any of which may give us the right to terminate the Offer without the purchase of Shares thereunder. Our obligation under the Offer to accept for payment and pay for Shares is subject to the conditions set forth in “– Section 15 –Conditions to the Offer.”

State Takeover Statutes

As a Delaware corporation, Inventure Foods is subject to Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents a Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” (defined to include mergers and certain other actions) with an “interested stockholder” (including a person who owns or has the right to acquire 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock) for a period of three years following the date such person became an “interested stockholder” unless, among other things, the “business combination” is approved by the board of directors of such corporation before such person became an “interested stockholder.” Inventure Foods has represented to us in the Merger Agreement that Inventure Foods has taken all action necessary to exempt the Offer, the Merger and the Merger Agreement from Section 203 of the DGCL.

In addition to Section 203 of the DGCL, a number of other states have adopted laws which purport, to varying degrees, to apply to attempts to acquire corporations that are incorporated in, or which have substantial assets, stockholders, principal executive offices or principal places of business or whose business operations otherwise have substantial economic effects in, such states. Inventure Foods, directly or through subsidiaries, conducts business in a number of states throughout the United States, some of which may have enacted such laws. Except as described herein, we do not know whether any of these laws will, by their terms, apply to the Offer or the Merger, and we have not attempted to comply with any such laws. To the extent that certain provisions of these laws purport to apply to the Offer or the Merger, we believe that there are reasonable bases for contesting the application of such laws.

In 1982, in  Edgar v. MITE Corp. , the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated on constitutional grounds the Illinois Business Takeover Statute which, as a matter of state securities law, made takeovers of corporations meeting certain requirements more difficult. However, in 1987, in  CTS Corp. v. Dynamics Corp. of America , the Supreme Court held that the State of Indiana could, as a matter of corporate law, constitutionally disqualify a potential acquirer from voting shares of a target corporation without the prior approval of the remaining stockholders where, among other things, the corporation is incorporated, and has a substantial number of stockholders, in the state. Subsequently, in  TLX Acquisition Corp. v. Telex Corp. , a United States federal district court in Oklahoma ruled that the Oklahoma statutes were unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside Oklahoma in that they would subject such corporations to inconsistent regulations. Similarly, in  Tyson Foods, Inc. v. McReynolds , a United States federal district court in Tennessee ruled that four Tennessee takeover statutes were unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside Tennessee. This decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In December 1988, a United States federal district court in Florida held in  Grand Metropolitan PLC v. Butterworth  that the provisions of the Florida Affiliated Transactions Act and the Florida Control Share Acquisition Act were unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside of Florida.

If any government official or third party seeks to apply any state takeover law to the Offer or the Merger, we will take such action as then appears desirable, which action may include challenging the applicability or validity of such statute in appropriate court proceedings. If it is asserted that one or more state takeover statutes is applicable to the Offer or the Merger and an appropriate court does not determine that it is inapplicable or invalid

 

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as applied to the Offer or the Merger, we may be required to file certain information with, or to receive approvals from, the relevant state authorities or holders of Shares, and we may be unable to accept for payment or pay for Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, or be delayed in continuing or consummating the Offer or the Merger. In such case, we may not be obligated to accept for payment or pay for any tendered Shares. See “– Section 15 –Conditions to the Offer.”

United States Antitrust

The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the “ Antitrust Division ”) and the Federal Trade Commission (the “ FTC ”) may review the legality under the antitrust laws of the proposed acquisition of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer; however, because the size of the Offer and Merger are below the thresholds for filing a notification under the HSR Act, no filing or waiting period requirements under the HSR Act apply. Nevertheless, at any time before or after Purchaser’s acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Antitrust Division or the FTC could take such action under the antitrust laws of the United States of America as it deems necessary to protect competition in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer or seeking divestiture of the Shares so acquired or divestiture of substantial assets of Parent or Purchaser or of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates or requiring other conduct relief. U.S. state attorneys general and private persons may also bring legal action under the antitrust laws of the United States of America seeking similar relief or seeking conditions to the consummation of the Offer. Neither Purchaser nor Parent believes that the consummation of the Offer will result in a violation of any applicable antitrust laws. However, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Offer on antitrust grounds will not be made or, if such a challenge is made, what the result will be. If any such action is commenced by the FTC, the Antitrust Division or any state or any other person, Purchaser may not be obligated to consummate the Offer or the Merger.

Regulatory Undertakings

Each of the parties has agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to (i) promptly take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under the Merger Agreement and applicable laws to submit all notifications to and obtain all authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of any governmental entity that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of, and the performance of its obligations pursuant to, the Merger Agreement, (ii) cooperate fully in promptly submitting all notifications and seeking to obtain all such authorizations, consents, orders and approvals, and (iii) provide such other information to any governmental entity as such governmental entity may reasonably request in connection with any such submission.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary under the Merger Agreement, none of Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates shall be required to, and Inventure Foods may not, without the prior written consent of Parent, become subject to, consent to, or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order to: (i) sell, license, assign, transfer, divest, hold separate, or otherwise dispose of any assets, business or portion of business of Inventure Foods, the surviving corporation, Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates, (ii) conduct, restrict, operate, invest, or otherwise change the assets, business, or portion of business of Inventure Foods, the surviving corporation, Parent, Purchaser, or any of their respective affiliates in any manner, or (iii) impose any restriction, requirement or limitation on the operation of the business or portion of the business of Inventure Foods, the surviving corporation, Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates; provided, that, if requested by Parent, Inventure Foods will become subject to, consent to, or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order so long as such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order is only binding on Inventure Foods in the event the closing of the Merger occurs.

 

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Litigation Related to the Merger

Lawsuits arising out of or relating to the Offer, the Merger or any other transactions referenced herein may be filed in the future.

 

17. Fees and Expenses

Parent has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. to act as the Information Agent and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC to act as the Depositary in connection with the Offer. The Information Agent may contact holders of Shares by mail, telephone and personal interviews and may request brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees to forward materials relating to the Offer to beneficial owners. The Information Agent and the Depositary each will receive reasonable and customary compensation for their respective services, will be reimbursed for certain reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities in connection therewith, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws.

Neither Parent nor Purchaser will pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person (other than the Information Agent and the Depositary) for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees will, upon request, be reimbursed by us for reasonable and necessary costs and expenses incurred by them in forwarding materials to their customers.

 

18. Miscellaneous

The Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Shares in any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. However, Purchaser may, in its discretion, take such action as it may deem necessary to make the Offer in any such jurisdiction and to extend the Offer to holders of Shares in such jurisdiction.

No person has been authorized to give any information or make any representation on behalf of Purchaser, Parent or any of their respective affiliates, not contained in this Offer to Purchase or in the related Letter of Transmittal and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized. No broker, dealer, bank, trust company, fiduciary or other person will be deemed to be an agent of Parent, Purchaser, Depositary or the Information Agent for purposes of the Offer. Neither delivery of this Offer to Purchase nor any purchase pursuant to the Offer will, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of Parent, Purchaser, Inventure Foods or any of their respective subsidiaries since the date as of which information is furnished or the date of this Offer to Purchase.

We have filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO pursuant to Rule 14d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, together with exhibits furnishing certain additional information with respect to the Offer, and may file amendments thereto. Inventure Foods has advised us that it will file with the SEC on the date on which Parent and Purchaser file the offer documents with the SEC its Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 setting forth the recommendation of the Inventure Foods Board with respect to the Offer and the reasons for such recommendation and furnishing certain additional related information. A copy of such documents, and any amendments thereto, may, when filed, be examined at, and copies may be obtained from, the SEC in the manner set forth under the “Introduction” to this Offer to Purchase and “ – Section 9 – Certain Information Concerning Purchaser, Parent and Controlling Persons” above.

November 15, 2017

 

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SCHEDULE I: DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF PARENT, PURCHASER AND UQF

Managers and Executive Officers of Parent

The name, current principal occupation or employment and material occupations, positions, offices or employment for at least the past five years, of each manager and executive officer of Parent are set forth below. Each person listed below is a United States citizen and, unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an individual’s name refers to employment with Parent. The current business address of each manager and officer of Parent is 900 High Street, Hanover, PA 17331. The current business telephone number of each manager and officer is (717) 637-6644.

 

Name                           

  

Present Principal Occupation or Employment;
Material Positions Held During the Past Five Years

Dylan B. Lissette

   Mr. Lissette has served as a manager of Parent (or a director of its predecessor corporation) since November 1995 and was appointed Vice Chairman of Parent in January 2012. Mr. Lissette has also served as Parent’s Chief Executive Officer since January 2013. Since September 2016, Mr. Lissette has also served as a director and President of UQF. In addition, Mr. Lissette was appointed the sole director and Chief Executive Officer of Purchaser in October 2017.

Michael W. Rice

   Mr. Rice has served Parent or it predecessor in various roles since 1968 and has served as Executive Chairman and Treasurer of Parent for more than five years and served as a director of its predecessor corporation until September 2016. Mr. Rice has also served as a director, Chairman and Treasurer of UQF since September 2016.

Timothy P. Brown

   Mr. Brown has served as Secretary of Parent for more than five years and has served as a director of UQF since September 2016. For more than five years prior to the commencement of the Offer until September 2016, Mr. Brown served as a director of Parent’s predecessor corporation. Since September 2001, Mr. Brown has also served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sageworth (a trust company) located in Lancaster, PA.

Thomas J. Flocco

   Mr. Flocco was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Parent in April 2017, and was appointed President, Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of Purchaser in October 2017. From January 2009 to March 2017, Mr. Flocco served as the managing director of L&H Advisors (a privately held operating partner to private equity firms) located in Chicago, IL. Prior thereto, Mr. Flocco served as chief executive officer of Beam (now, Beam Suntory) (a spirits supplier) located in Deerfield, IL, after serving as a partner in the consumer practice division of McKinsey & Co. (a global management consulting firm) located in New York, NY. Mr. Flocco started his career in sales and brand management with The Procter & Gamble Co. (a provider of branded consumer packaged goods) located in Cincinnati, OH.

Thomas A. Lawrence

   Mr. Lawrence has served as Chief Planning and Production Officer of Parent since June 2017. Prior thereto, Mr. Lawrence served as Executive Vice President of Parent from January 2013 through May 2017 and Vice President Production and Planning of Parent from July 2012 through December 2012.

Mark Schreiber

   Mr. Schreiber has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Parent since May 2017. From January 2008 to May 2017, Mr. Schreiber served as Senior Vice President, Sales and Distribution of Pepperidge Farm, Inc. (a snacks and bakery division of Campbell Soup Company) located in Norwalk, CT.

Todd M. Staub

   Mr. Staub has served as Executive Vice President of Parent since June 2012 and has also served as Chief Administrative Officer of Parent since March 2017. From June 2004 to March 2017, Mr. Staub served as Chief Financial Officer of Parent.

 

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John W. Thompson

   Mr. Thompson was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Parent in April 2017, and was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Purchaser in October 2017. From April 2016 to April 2017, Mr. Thompson served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Armstrong Flooring Inc. (a publicly traded producer of flooring products) located in Lancaster, PA. From August 2015 to April 2016, Mr. Thompson served as a division CFO of Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (a publicly traded producer of ceiling systems and flooring products) located in Lancaster, PA. Prior thereto, Mr. Thompson served as Operations Senior Advisor of TPG Capital, LLC (a large, privately held, private equity investor) located in Fort Worth, TX, from March 2011 to July 2015.

Directors and Executive Officers of Purchaser

The name, current principal occupation or employment and material occupations, positions, offices or employment for at least the past five years, of each director and executive officer of Purchaser are set forth below. Each person listed below is a United States citizen and, unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an individual’s name refers to employment with each of Purchaser. The current business address of each director and officer is 900 High Street, Hanover, PA 17331. The current business telephone number of each director and officer is (717) 637-6644.

 

Name                         

  

Present Principal Occupation or Employment;
Material Positions Held During the Past Five Years

Dylan B. Lissette

   See information provided above.

Thomas J. Flocco

   See information provided above.

John W. Thompson

   See information provided above.

Directors and Executive Officers of UQF Holdings, Inc.

The name, current principal occupation or employment and material occupations, positions, offices or employment for at least the past five years, of each director and executive officer of UQF Holdings, Inc. are set forth below. Each person listed below is a United States citizen and, unless otherwise indicated, each occupation set forth opposite an individual’s name refers to employment with UQF Holdings, Inc. The current business address of each director and officer is 900 High Street, Hanover, PA 17331. The current business telephone number of each director and officer is (717) 637-6644.

 

Name                         

  

Present Principal Occupation or Employment;
Material Positions Held During the Past Five Years

Dylan B. Lissette

   See information provided above.

Michael W. Rice

   See information provided above.

Timothy P. Brown

   See information provided above.

Stacie R. Lissette

   Ms. Lissette has been a director of UQF since September 2016. For more than five years prior to the commencement of the Offer until September 2016, Ms. Lissette served as a director of Parent’s predecessor corporation.

Jane E. Rice

   Ms. Rice has been a director of UQF since September 2016. For more than five years prior to the commencement of the Offer until September 2016, Ms. Rice served as a director of Parent’s predecessor corporation.

Todd M. Staub

   See information provided above.

 

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The Letter of Transmittal and certificates evidencing Shares and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each stockholder or its, his or her broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth below:

The Depositary for the Offer is:

 

 

 

LOGO

 

By Mail:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
Operations Center
Attention: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042
New York, NY 10272-2042

  

By Hand or Overnight Mail:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC
Operations Center
Attention: Reorganization Department

6201 15 th  Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11219

    

By Facsimile Transmission

(for Eligible Institutions Only):

(718) 234-5001

 

To Confirm Facsimile via Phone:

(718) 921-8317

Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its telephone number and location listed below. Requests for additional copies of this Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Information Agent at its telephone number and location listed below. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

 

 

LOGO

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Banks and Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550

All Others Call: (888) 280-6942

Email: inventure@dfking.com

Exhibit (a)(1)(B)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

to Tender Shares of Common Stock

of

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

a Delaware

at $4.00 NET PER SHARE IN CASH

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017

by

HERON SUB, INC.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

 

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT ONE MINUTE AFTER 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 13, 2017, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED (SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS IT MAY BE EXTENDED, THE “EXPIRATION TIME”) OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

Method of delivery of the certificate(s) is at the option and risk of the owner thereof. See Instruction 2.

The Depositary for the Offer is:

 

LOGO

Mail or deliver this Letter of Transmittal, together with the certificate(s) representing your shares, to the Depositary at:

 

If delivering by hand, express mail, courier,

or other expedited service:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15 th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

  

If delivering by mail:

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, NY 10272-2042

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY. YOU MUST SIGN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE PROVIDED BELOW, WITH SIGNATURE GUARANTEE, IF REQUIRED, AND COMPLETE THE ENCLOSED IRS FORM W-9 OR AN APPROPRIATE IRS FORM W-8. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION ON IRS FORM W-9 OR AN APPROPRIATE IRS FORM W-8, AS APPLICABLE, MAY SUBJECT YOU TO UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING ON ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED

 

Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s)

(Please fill in, if blank, exactly as name(s) appear(s) on
share certificate(s))

(Attach additional signed list if necessary)

  Shares Tendered
  Certificated Shares     
    Certificate Number(s)*    

Total Number

of Shares

Represented

by Certificate(s)*

 

Number of

Shares
Tendered**

  Book Entry Shares Tendered
                           
                  
                             
                    
                    
    Total Shares                     

*       Need not be completed by book-entry stockholders.

**     Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares described in the chart above are being tendered. See Instruction 4.


The undersigned represents that I (we) have full authority to tender without restriction the certificate(s) listed above. You are hereby authorized and instructed to deliver to the address indicated below (unless otherwise instructed in the boxes in the following page) a check representing a cash payment for shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Inventure Foods, Inc. tendered pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal, at a price of $4.00 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time).

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR ANY OF THE OTHER OFFER DOCUMENTS, YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE INFORMATION AGENT, D.F. KING AT (888) 280-6942. BANKERS AND BROKERS MAY CALL (212) 269-5550.

Stockholders of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Inventure Foods ”), received this Letter of Transmittal in connection with the offer of Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser ”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Parent ”), to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Inventure Foods (the “ Shares ”), at a price of $4.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes, as described in the Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Offer to Purchase ” and, together with this Letter of Transmittal, as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Offer ”). In this Letter of Transmittal, stockholders who deliver certificates representing their Shares are referred to as “ Certificate Stockholders ,” and stockholders who deliver their Shares through book-entry transfer are referred to as “ Book-Entry Stockholders .”

Certificate Stockholders should use this Letter of Transmittal to deliver for tender to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Depositary “) Shares represented by stock certificates (“ Certificates ”). Book-Entry Stockholders may deliver Shares by book-entry transfer to the Depositary. However, Book-Entry Stockholders who are delivering Shares by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by the Depositary at The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”), must use an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase) and may also submit this Letter of Transmittal if desired.

Certificate Stockholders whose Certificates are not immediately available or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Time, must tender their Shares according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase in order to participate in the Offer. Shares tendered by the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as defined below) will be excluded from the calculation of the Minimum Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), unless such Shares and other required documents are received by the Depositary by the Expiration Time. See Instruction 2 below. Delivery of documents to DTC will not constitute delivery to the Depositary.

 

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If any Certificate has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen, the Certificate Stockholder should promptly notify American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, in its capacity as Inventure Foods’ stock transfer agent (the “ Transfer Agent ”), toll free at (800) 937-5449 regarding the requirements for replacement. The Transfer Agent will instruct Certificate Stockholders as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the Certificate. You may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that the Certificate(s) may be subsequently recirculated. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Certificates have been followed, so please contact the Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instructions, for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation .

 

CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED HEREWITH.

 

CHECK HERE IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR CERTIFICATE(S) AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE(S). BY CHECKING THIS BOX, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MUST CONTACT AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY LLC TO OBTAIN INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPLACING LOST CERTIFICATES. SEE INSTRUCTION 10.

 

CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO AN ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITARY WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (NOTE THAT ONLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SYSTEM OF DTC MAY DELIVER SHARES BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER):

 

Name of Tendering Institution:    

 

DTC Participant Account Number:    

 

Transaction Code Number:    

 

PLEASE NOTE—IF YOU HOLD YOUR SHARES IN BOOK-ENTRY FORM AT DTC, YOU ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO SUBMIT THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL BUT YOU MUST (1) SUBMIT AN AGENT’S MESSAGE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE) AND (2) DELIVER YOUR SHARES INTO THE DEPOSITARY’S ACCOUNT AT DTC IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SECTION 3 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE IN ORDER TO TENDER YOUR SHARES.

 

CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (PLEASE ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF SUCH NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY):

 

Name(s) of Registered Owner(s):    

 

Window Ticket Number (if any):    

 

Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:    

 

Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:    

 

NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

 

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Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser ”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Parent ”), the above-described shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Shares ”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Inventure Foods ”), pursuant to Purchaser’s offer to purchase all of the outstanding Shares at a purchase price of $4.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Offer to Purchase ”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in this Letter of Transmittal (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, this “ Letter of Transmittal ” and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the “ Offer ”). The Offer expires at one minute after 11:59 P.M., New York City time, on December 13, 2017, unless extended by Purchaser as described in the Offer to Purchase (as it may be extended, the “ Expiration Time ”). To the extent permitted under the Merger Agreement (as defined below, Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign, from time to time, in whole or in part, to one or more of its affiliates, the right to purchase the Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment will not relieve Purchaser of any of its obligations under the Offer or prejudice your rights to receive payment for Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment.

On the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment), and effective upon acceptance for payment of the Shares validly tendered herewith and not validly withdrawn prior to the Expiration Time in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, Purchaser, all right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares being tendered hereby (and any and all dividends, distributions, rights, other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect of such Shares) on or after the date hereof (collectively, “ Distributions ”) and irrevocably constitutes and appoints American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Depositary ”) the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Shares and any Distributions with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares) to the full extent of such stockholder’s rights with respect to such Shares and any Distributions (a) to deliver certificates representing Shares (the “ Certificates ”) and any Distributions, or transfer of ownership of such Shares and any Distributions on the account books maintained by DTC or otherwise held in book-entry form, together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidence of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Purchaser, (b) to present such Shares and any Distributions for transfer on the books of Inventure Foods, and (c) to receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares and any Distributions, all in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.

By executing this Letter of Transmittal (or taking action resulting in the delivery of an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase) in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal), the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints each of the designees of Purchaser the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such stockholder’s rights with respect to the Shares tendered hereby which have been accepted for payment and with respect to any Distributions. The designees of Purchaser will, with respect to the Shares and any associated Distributions for which the appointment is effective, be empowered to exercise all voting and any other rights of such stockholder, as they, in their sole discretion, may deem proper at any annual, special, adjourned or postponed meeting of Inventure Foods’ stockholders, by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise. This proxy and power of attorney shall be irrevocable and coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares. Such appointment is effective if and when, and only to the extent that, Purchaser accepts such Shares tendered with this Letter of Transmittal for payment pursuant to the Offer. Upon the effectiveness of such appointment, without further action, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents given by the undersigned with respect to such Shares and any associated Distributions will be revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations may be given (and, if given, will not be deemed effective). Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for Shares to be deemed validly tendered,

 

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immediately upon Purchaser’s acceptance for payment of such Shares, Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights, to the extent permitted under applicable law, with respect to such Shares and any associated Distributions, including voting at any meeting of stockholders or executing a written consent concerning any matter.

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Shares and any Distributions tendered hereby and, when the same are accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and the same will not be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned is the registered owner of the Shares, or the Certificate(s) have been endorsed to the undersigned in blank, or the undersigned is a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares and any Distributions tendered hereby. In addition, the undersigned shall promptly remit and transfer to the Depositary for the account of Purchaser any and all Distributions in respect of the Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer and, pending such remittance or appropriate assurance thereof, Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of any such Distributions and may withhold the entire purchase price or deduct from the purchase price the amount or value thereof, as determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion.

It is understood that the undersigned will not receive payment for the Shares unless and until the Shares are accepted for payment and until the Certificate(s) owned by the undersigned are received by the Depositary at the address set forth above, together with such additional documents as the Depositary may require, or, in the case of Shares held in book-entry form, ownership of Shares is validly transferred on the account books maintained by DTC, and until the same are processed for payment by the Depositary.

IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE SHARES, THE CERTIFICATE(S) AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH DTC) IS AT THE OPTION AND RISK OF THE UNDERSIGNED AND THAT THE RISK OF LOSS OF SUCH SHARES, CERTIFICATE(S) AND OTHER DOCUMENTS SHALL PASS ONLY AFTER THE DEPOSITARY HAS ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE SHARES OR CERTIFICATE(S) (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION (AS DEFINED BELOW)). IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS BE SENT BY PROPERLY INSURED REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

All authority conferred or agreed to be conferred pursuant to this Letter of Transmittal shall not be affected by, and shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.

The undersigned understands that the acceptance for payment by Purchaser of Shares tendered pursuant to one of the procedures described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase and in the Instructions hereto will constitute the undersigned’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. Purchaser’s acceptance of such Shares for payment will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. Without limiting the foregoing, if the price to be paid in the Offer is amended in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 25, 2017 among Parent, Purchaser and Inventure Foods (as amended from time to time, the “ Merger Agreement ”) pursuant to which the Offer is being made, the price to be paid to the undersigned will be the amended price notwithstanding the fact that a different price is stated in this Letter of Transmittal. The undersigned recognizes that under certain circumstances set forth in the Offer, Purchaser may not be required to accept for exchange any Shares tendered hereby.

 

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Unless otherwise indicated under “Special Payment Instructions,” please issue a check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return Certificates not tendered or accepted for payment in the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered.” Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under “Special Delivery Instructions,” please mail the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return any Certificates not tendered or not accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under “Description of Shares Tendered.” In the event that both the Special Delivery Instructions and the Special Payment Instructions are completed, please issue the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return any Certificates not tendered or not accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) in the name(s) of, and deliver such check and, if appropriate, return any Certificates (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person(s) so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box titled “Special Payment Instructions,” any Shares tendered hereby or by an Agent’s Message and delivered by book-entry transfer, but which are not purchased, will be credited to the account at DTC designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the “Special Payment Instructions,” to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered holder thereof if Purchaser does not accept for payment any of the Shares so tendered.

 

SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5 and 7)

 

To be completed ONLY if Certificate(s) not tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the purchase price in consideration of Shares accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.

 

Issue check and/or Certificates to:

 

Name:        
  (Please Print)
Address:    
 
 
(Include Zip Code)
 
(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

 

SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

(See Instructions 1, 4, 5 and 7)

 

To be completed ONLY if Certificate(s) not tendered or not accepted for payment and/or the check for the purchase price of Shares accepted for payment are to be sent to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown in the box titled “Description of Shares Tendered” above.

 

Deliver check(s) and/or Certificates to:

 

Name:        
  (Please Print)
Address:    
 
 

(Include Zip Code)

 

 

 

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YOU MUST SIGN IN THE BOX BELOW AND COMPLETE IRS FORM W-9 OR THE APPROPRIATE IRS FORM W-8

SIGNATURE(S) REQUIRED

Signature(s) of Registered Holder(s) or Agent

Must be signed by the registered holder(s) EXACTLY as name(s) appear(s) on Certificate(s) or in the applicable records for Shares held in book-entry form in lieu of physical Certificates or on a security position listing or by a person authorized to become registered holder of the Certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer for a corporation acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, or other person, please set forth full title.  See  Instructions 1, 2 and 5.

 

 

 

Registered Holder(s) (signature(s))

 

 

 

Registered Holder Name(s) (Please print)

 

 

 

Title, if any

 

 

 

Address, including zip code

Date:                     

 

Phone No.:                     

 

Tax Identification or Social Security Number:                     

SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED (IF REQUIRED)

Unless the Shares are tendered by the registered holder(s), or for the account of a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program (“STAMP”), Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (“SEMP”) or New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program (“MSP”) (an “ Eligible Institution ”), the signature(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.  See  Instruction  1, 2 and 5.

 

 

 

Authorized Signature

 

 

 

Name of Firm

 

 

 

Address of Firm - Please Print

Date:                      

Phone No.                     

Place medallion guarantee in space below:

 

 

 



 

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INSTRUCTIONS

Forming Part of the Terms and Conditions of the Offer

1. Guarantee of Signatures. Except as otherwise provided below, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member in good standing of a recognized Medallion Program approved by the Securities Transfer Association, Inc., including the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Program and the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program (each, an “ Eligible Institution ”). Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal need not be guaranteed (a) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) (which term, for purposes of this document, includes any participant in any of DTC’s systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of Shares tendered herewith and such registered owner has not completed the box titled “Special Payment Instructions” or the box titled “Special Delivery Instructions” on this Letter of Transmittal or (b) if such Shares are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.

2. Delivery of Letter of Transmittal and Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmations. This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by stockholders if Certificates are to be forwarded herewith. If tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for tender by book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase) may be used in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal. For any Eligible Institution, a manually executed facsimile of this document may be used in lieu of the original. Certificates representing all physically tendered Shares, or confirmation of any book-entry transfer into the Depositary’s account at DTC of Shares tendered by book-entry transfer (“ Book Entry Confirmation ”), as well as this Letter of Transmittal properly completed and duly executed with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message in the case of a book-entry transfer in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at its address set forth on the front page of this Letter of Transmittal prior to the Expiration Time. Please do not send your Certificates directly to Purchaser, Parent, or Inventure Foods.

Stockholders whose Certificates are not immediately available or who cannot deliver all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Time or who cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer prior to the Expiration Time may nevertheless tender their Shares by properly completing and duly executing a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure: (a) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution, (b) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery substantially in the form provided by Purchaser must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Time and (c) Certificates representing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer (or a Book Entry Confirmation with respect to such Shares), this Letter of Transmittal (or, for an Eligible Institution, a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal), and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, if any, must be received by the Depositary within two Nasdaq Global Select Market trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

A properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or, for an Eligible Institution, a facsimile thereof) must accompany each such delivery of Certificates to the Depositary.

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE SHARES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH DTC, IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING STOCKHOLDER. DELIVERY OF ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEEMED MADE AND RISK OF LOSS OF THE CERTIFICATES SHALL PASS ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION). IF SUCH DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SUCH DOCUMENTS BE SENT BY PROPERLY

 

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INSURED REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. All tendering stockholders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or, for an Eligible Institution, a facsimile thereof), waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares for payment.

All questions as to validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of the surrender of any Certificate hereunder, including questions as to the proper completion or execution of any Letter of Transmittal, Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or other required documents and as to the proper form for transfer of any certificate of Shares, will be determined by Purchaser in its sole and absolute discretion (which may delegate power in whole or in part to the Depositary) which determination will be final and binding. Purchaser reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may be unlawful. Purchaser also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the surrender of any Shares or Certificate(s) whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of any other stockholder. A surrender will not be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or waived. None of Parent, Purchaser, the Depositary, D.F. King & Co., Inc., the information agent for the Offer (the “ Information Agent ”), or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notice.

3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided herein is inadequate, the Certificate numbers, the number of Shares represented by such Certificate(s) and/or the number of Shares tendered should be listed on a separate schedule attached hereto and separately signed on each page thereof in the same manner as this Letter of Transmittal is signed.

4. Partial Tenders ( Applicable to Certificate Stockholders Only ) . If fewer than all the Shares represented by any Certificate delivered to the Depositary are to be tendered, fill in the number of Shares which are to be tendered in the column titled “Number of Shares Tendered.” In such cases, new certificate(s) for the remainder of the Shares that were evidenced by the old certificate(s) but not tendered will be sent to the registered owner(s), unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Offer. All Shares represented by Certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Certificate(s) without alteration, enlargement or any other change whatsoever.

If any Shares tendered hereby are held of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

If any the Shares tendered hereby are registered in different names on different Certificate(s), it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Certificate(s).

If this Letter of Transmittal or any Certificates or stock powers are signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of corporations or other legal entity or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to Depositary of the authority of such person so to act must be submitted. Proper evidence of authority includes a power of attorney, a letter of testamentary or a letter of appointment.

 

9


If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsements of Certificates or separate stock powers are required unless payment is to be made to, or Certificates representing Shares not tendered or accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered owner(s), in which case the Certificates representing the Shares tendered by this Letter of Transmittal must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered owner(s) or holder(s) appear(s) on the Certificates. Signatures on such Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Share(s) tendered hereby, the Certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Certificate(s) for such Shares. Signatures on such Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

6. Stock Transfer Taxes. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, Purchaser will pay any transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and sale of Shares to it or to its order pursuant to the Offer (for the avoidance of doubt, transfer taxes do not include United States federal income or backup withholding taxes). If, however, payment of the purchase price is to be made to, or (in the circumstances permitted hereby) if Certificates not tendered or accepted for payment are to be registered in the name of, any person other than the registered holder(s), or if tendered Certificates are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of any transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered owner(s) or such person) payable on account of the transfer to such person will be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted.

Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the Certificates listed in this Letter of Transmittal.

7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check is to be issued for the purchase price of any Shares tendered by this Letter of Transmittal in the name of, and, if appropriate, Certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued or returned to any person other than the signer(s) of this Letter of Transmittal or if a check and, if appropriate, such Certificates are to be returned to any person(s) other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown in this Letter of Transmittal, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal must be completed.

8. Questions and Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its address and telephone number set forth below or to your broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other tender offer materials may be obtained from the Information Agent as set forth below and will be furnished at Purchaser’s expense.

9. Backup Withholding. Under the United States federal income tax laws, unless certain certification requirements are met, the Depositary generally will be required to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made to a stockholder pursuant to the Offer at the applicable backup withholding rate (currently 28%). In order to avoid such backup withholding, each tendering stockholder or payee that is a United States person (for United States federal income tax purposes), must provide the Depositary with such stockholder’s or payee’s correct taxpayer identification number (“ TIN ”) and certify that such stockholder or payee is not subject to such backup withholding by completing the attached IRS Form W-9 provided herewith. In general, if a stockholder or payee is an individual, the TIN is the social security number of such individual. If the stockholder or payee does not provide the Depositary with its correct TIN, the stockholder or payee may be subject to a penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. Certain stockholders or payees (including, generally, non-United States stockholders and domestic corporations) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. In order to satisfy the Depositary that a non-United States stockholder is exempt, such stockholder must submit to the Depositary the appropriate IRS Form W-8 properly completed and signed under penalties of perjury,

 

10


attesting to that stockholder’s non-United States status. Such IRS Form W-8 may be obtained from the Depositary or downloaded from the Internal Revenue Service’s website at the following address: http://www.irs.gov. In order to satisfy the Depositary that a stockholder that is a domestic corporation is exempt, such stockholder should submit to the Depositary an enclosed IRS Form W-9 with an applicable exempt payee code. The instructions to the enclosed IRS Form W-9 contain further information concerning backup withholding and instructions for completing the IRS Form W-9 (including how to obtain a TIN if you do not have one and how to complete the IRS Form W-9 if Shares are held in more than one name).

Failure to provide a completed IRS Form W-9 or appropriate IRS Form W-8 will not, by itself, cause Shares to be deemed invalidly tendered, but may require the Depositary to withhold a portion of the amount of any payments made pursuant to the Offer. Backup withholding is not an additional United States federal income tax. Rather, the United States federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE IRS FORM W-9 OR THE APPROPRIATE IRS FORM W-8 MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF A PORTION OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER.

10. Lost, Destroyed, Mutilated or Stolen Certificates. If any Certificate has been lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen, the stockholder should promptly notify Inventure Foods’ stock transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, at (800) 937-5449. The stockholder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace such Certificate. You may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that the Certificate(s) may be subsequently recirculated. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, mutilated, destroyed or stolen Certificates have been followed. You are urged to contact the Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instruction and for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Certificates have been followed.

11. Waiver of Conditions. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the conditions of the Offer may be waived by Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion.

IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR, FOR AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION, A MANUALLY EXECUTED FACSIMILE COPY THEREOF) OR AN AGENT’S MESSAGE, TOGETHER WITH CERTIFICATE(S) OR BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION OR A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION TIME.

 

11


 

Form W-9

(Rev. December 2014)

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

  

Request for Taxpayer

Identification Number and Certification

 

Give Form to the requester. Do not
send to the IRS.

 

 

Print or type

See

Specific Instructions

on page 2.

 

     

  1 Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank.

 

               
     

  2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above

 

               
     

  3 Check appropriate box for federal tax classification; check only one of the following seven boxes:

 

       4 Exemptions (codes apply only to certain
entities, not individuals; see instructions on
page 3):
         

 

  Individual/
sole proprietor or single-
member LLC
 

 

 

 

C Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

S Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

Partnership

 

 

 

 

 

Trust/estate

 

      
         

 

 

Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C corporation, S=S corporation, P=partnership)

u                      

Note. For a single-member LLC that is disregarded, do not check LLC; check the appropriate box in the line
above for the tax classification of the single-member owner.

      

Exempt payee code (if any)                         

 

Exemption from FATCA reporting
code (if any)                                              

(Applies to accounts maintained outside the U.S.)

            Other (see instructions) u        
     

 

  5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.)

 

                     

 

    Requester’s name and address (optional)        

     

 

  6 City, state, and ZIP code

 

                    
     

 

 7 List account number(s) here (optional)

 

                        
Part I    Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the Part I instructions on page 3. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN on page 3.

 

Note. If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1 and the chart on page 4 for guidelines on whose number to enter.

   Social security number
 

 

    

                   
             

-

 

          -                
 

 

or

 

   Employer identification number  
 

 

    

                   
          -                              

 

Part II    Certification

Under penalties of perjury, I certify that:

 

1.   The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and

 

2.   I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and

 

3.   I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and

 

4.   The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct.

Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions on page 3.

 

Sign Here    Signature of
U.S. person  
u
     Date   u

General Instructions

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted.

Future developments . Information about developments affecting Form W-9 (such as legislation enacted after we release it) is at www.irs.gov/fw9 .

Purpose of Form

An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following:

● Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid)

● Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds)

● Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds)

● Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers)

● Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions)

● Form 1099-K (merchant card and third party network transactions)

●Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), 1098-T (tuition)

● Form 1099-C (canceled debt)

● Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property)

Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN.

If you do not return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding? on page 2.

By signing the filled-out form, you:

1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued),

2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or

3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners’ share of effectively connected income, and

4. Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting, is correct. See What is FATCA reporting? on page 2 for further information.

 

 

 

  Cat. No. 10231X  

Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)


Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

 

   Page 2

 

Note. If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requester’s form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9.

Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are:

● An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien;

● A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States;

● An estate (other than a foreign estate); or

● A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7).

Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding tax under section 1446 on any foreign partners’ share of effectively connected taxable income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, the rules under section 1446 require a partnership to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay the section 1446 withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid section 1446 withholding on your share of partnership income.

In the cases below, the following person must give Form W-9 to the partnership for purposes of establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States:

● In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the entity;

● In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the trust; and

● In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust.

Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Publication 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities).

Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a “saving clause.” Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes.

If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items:

1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien.

2. The treaty article addressing the income.

3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions.

4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax.

5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article.

Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption.

If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233.

Backup Withholding

What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 28% of such payments. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.

You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return.

Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:

1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester,

2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the Part II instructions on page 3 for details),

3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN,

4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or

5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only).

Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code on page 3 and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.

Also see Special rules for partnerships above.

What is FATCA reporting?

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all United States account holders that are specified United States persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code on page 3 and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information.

Updating Your Information

You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you no longer are tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account; for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies.

Penalties

Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

Specific Instructions

Line 1

You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return.

If this Form W-9 is for a joint account, list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9.

a. Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name.

Note. ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040/1040A/1040EZ you filed with your application.

b. Sole proprietor or single-member LLC. Enter your individual name as shown on your 1040/1040A/1040EZ on line 1. You may enter your business, trade, or “doing business as” (DBA) name on line 2.

c. Partnership, LLC that is not a single-member LLC, C Corporation, or S Corporation. Enter the entity’s name as shown on the entity’s tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.

d. Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2.

e. Disregarded entity. For U.S. federal tax purposes, an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is treated as a “disregarded entity.” See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2)(iii). Enter the owner’s name on line 1. The name of the entity entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owner’s name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity’s name on line 2, “Business name/disregarded entity name.” If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN.

Line 2

If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, you may enter it on line 2.

 


Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

 

   Page 3

 

Line 3

Check the appropriate box in line 3 for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box in line 3.

Limited Liability Company (LLC). If the name on line 1 is an LLC treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes, check the “Limited Liability Company” box and enter “P” in the space provided. If the LLC has filed Form 8832 or 2553 to be taxed as a corporation, check the “Limited Liability Company” box and in the space provided enter “C” for C corporation or “S” for S corporation. If it is a single-member LLC that is a disregarded entity, do not check the “Limited Liability Company” box; instead check the first box in line 3 “Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC.”

Line 4, Exemptions

If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space in line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you.

Exempt payee code.

● Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding.

● Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends.

● Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions.

● Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys’ fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC.

The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space in line 4.

1—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2)

2—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities

3—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities

4—A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities

5—A corporation

6—A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or possession

7—A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

8—A real estate investment trust

9—An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940

10—A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a)

11—A financial institution

12—A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian

13—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947

The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13.

 

IF the payment is for . . .   THEN the payment is exempt for . . .
Interest and dividend payments   All exempt payees except for 7
Broker transactions   Exempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012.
Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividends   Exempt payees 1 through 4
Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,000 1   Generally, exempt payees 1 through 5 2
Payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions   Exempt payees 1 through 4

 

1   See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions.

 

2 However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys’ fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency.

Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you

with a Form W-9 with “Not Applicable” (or any similar indication) written or printed on the line for a FATCA exemption code.

A—An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37)

B—The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities

C—A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities

D—A corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)

E—A corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i)

F—A dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state

G—A real estate investment trust

H—A regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940

I—A common trust fund as defined in section 584(a)

J—A bank as defined in section 581

K—A broker

L—A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947(a)(1)

M—A tax exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan

Note. You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed.

Line 5

Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns.

Line 6

Enter your city, state, and ZIP code.

Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below.

If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. However, the IRS prefers that you use your SSN.

If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner ( see Limited Liability Company (LLC ) on this page), enter the owner’s SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entity’s EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entity’s EIN.

Note. See the chart on page 4 for further clarification of name and TIN combinations.

How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local SSA office or get this form online at www.ssa.gov . You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/businesses and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. You can get Forms W-7 and SS-4 from the IRS by visiting IRS.gov or by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester.

Note. Entering “Applied For” means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon.

Caution: A disregarded U.S. entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8.

Part II. Certification

To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if items 1, 4, or 5 below indicate otherwise.

For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code earlier.

Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below.

1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

 


Form W-9 (Rev. 12-2014)

 

   Page 4

 

2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form.

3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification.

4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. “Other payments” include payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations).

5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

What Name and Number To Give the Requester

 

       For this type of account:   Give name and SSN of:
  1.    

Individual

  The individual
  2.     Two or more individuals (joint account)   The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account 1
  3.     Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)   The minor 2
  4.     a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee)   The grantor-trustee 1
  b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law   The actual owner 1
  5.     Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individual   The owner 3
  6.     Grantor trust filing under Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))   The grantor*
       For this type of account:   Give name and EIN of:
  7.     Disregarded entity not owned by an individual   The owner
  8.     A valid trust, estate, or pension trust   Legal entity 4
  9.     Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553   The corporation
  10.     Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organization   The organization
  11.     Partnership or multi-member LLC   The partnership
  12.     A broker or registered nominee   The broker or nominee
  13.     Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments   The public entity
  14.     Grantor trust filing under the Form 1041 Filing Method or the Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 2 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))   The trust

 

1 List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that person’s number must be furnished.

 

2   Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s SSN.

 

3 You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or DBA name on the “Business name/disregarded entity” name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN.
4 List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) Also see Special rules for partnerships on page 2.

* Note. Grantor also must provide a Form W-9 to trustee of trust.

Note. If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed.

Secure Your Tax Records from Identity Theft

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund.

To reduce your risk:

● Protect your SSN,

● Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and

● Be careful when choosing a tax preparer.

If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter.

If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 1-800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039.

For more information, see Publication 4535, Identity Theft Prevention and Victim Assistance.

Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a system problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059.

Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.

The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts.

If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov . You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at: spam@uce.gov or contact them at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

Visit IRS.gov to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk.

 

 

Privacy Act Notice

Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and possessions for use in administering their laws. The information also may be disclosed to other countries under a treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce civil and criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Under section 3406, payers must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payer. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information.


The Depositary for the Offer to Purchase is:

 

 

LOGO

 

If delivering by hand, express mail, courier,

or other expedited service:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

6201 15 th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

  

If delivering by mail:

 

American Stock Transfer & Trust Co., LLC

Operations Center

Attn: Reorganization Department

P.O. Box 2042

New York, NY 10272-2042

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY.

Any questions or requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its telephone numbers and location listed below. Requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase and this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Information Agent at its telephone numbers and location listed below. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank or trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street, 22nd Floor

New York, NY 10005

Bankers and Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550

Others Call Toll Free: (888) 280-6942

Email:  inventure@dfking.com

Exhibit (a)(1)(C)

NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

for Tender of Shares of Common Stock

of

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

at

$4.00 NET PER SHARE

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017

by

HERON SUB, INC.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

 

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT

ONE MINUTE AFTER 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 13, 2017,

UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, or one substantially in the form hereof, must be used to accept the Offer (as defined below) if a stockholder wishes to tender shares of common stock, par value $.01 (the “ Shares ”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation, pursuant to the Offer and (a) cannot deliver to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, the depositary for the Offer (the “ Depositary ”), certificates representing such Shares and all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal (as defined below), or (b) cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer prior to the expiration of the Offer. This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by mail or, with respect to Eligible Institutions (as defined below), facsimile transmission to the Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. See Section 3 (“Procedures for Tendering Shares”) of the Offer to Purchase (as defined below).

The Depositary for the Offer is:

 

 

LOGO

 

If delivering by Mail:    If delivering by Hand, Express
Mail or Courier:
   If delivering by Facsimile:
American Stock Transfer & Trust
Co., LLC
Operations Center
Attn: Reorganization Department
6201 15 th  Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11219
   American Stock Transfer & Trust
Co., LLC
Operations Center
Attn: Reorganization Department
6201 15 th  Avenue
Brooklyn, New York
  

For Eligible Institutions Only:

718-234-5001
For Telephonic Confirmation of Facsimile Receipt:
877-248-6417

DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OR FACSIMILE NUMBER, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY.

THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IS NOT TO BE USED TO GUARANTEE SIGNATURES. IF A SIGNATURE ON A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS REQUIRED TO BE GUARANTEED BY AN “ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION” UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS THERETO, SUCH SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MUST APPEAR IN THE APPLICABLE SPACE PROVIDED IN THE SIGNATURE BOX ON THE APPROPRIATE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

An Eligible Institution that completes this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must communicate the guarantee to the Depositary and must deliver a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal or an Agent’s Message (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) and certificates for Shares or book-entry Shares that are the subject of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to the Depositary within the time period shown herein.


Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned hereby tenders to Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017 (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Offer to Purchase ”), and the related Letter of Transmittal (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Letter of Transmittal ” and, together with the Offer to Purchase, the “ Offer ”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the number of shares (the “ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation, specified below, pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.

Number of Shares Tendered and Share Certificate Number(s) (if available):

 

 

 

 

Check here and complete the information below if Shares will be tendered by book entry transfer . ☐

 

Name of Tendering Institution:    

 

DTC Account or Participant Number:    

 

(if applicable)    
Transaction Code Number:    

 

(if applicable)    

 

You must complete the following, regardless of whether you are tendering Share Certificates or a Book Entry Transfer:

 

Dated:                                                      
Name(s) of Record Owner(s):    

 

 

(Please Type or Print)

Address(es):    

 

 

(Including Zip Code)

Area Code and Telephone Number:  

 

Signature(s):  

 

 

2


GUARANTEE

(Not to be used for signature guarantee)

The undersigned, a firm which is a bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity which is a member in good standing of a recognized Medallion Program approved by The Securities Transfer Association, Inc., including the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the Stock Exchanges Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Medallion Signature Program or any other “eligible guarantor institution” (as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (each, an “ Eligible Institution ”), hereby guarantees either the certificates representing the Shares tendered hereby, in proper form for transfer, or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) (pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or, with respect to Eligible Institutions, a manually executed facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase)), together with any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, will be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth above within two Nasdaq (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) trading days after the date of execution hereof.

The Eligible Institution that completes this form must communicate the guarantee to the Depositary and must deliver the Letter of Transmittal, certificates representing the Shares and/or any other required documents to the Depositary within the time period shown above. Failure to do so could result in a financial loss to such Eligible Institution.

 

Name of Firm:  

 

Address:     

 

  

(Including Zip Code)

Area Code and Telephone Number:  

 

Authorized Signature:  

 

Name:  

 

(Please Type or Print)                                                                                    

Title:  

 

Dated:  

 

NOTE: DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING TENDERED SHARES WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING TENDERED SHARES ARE TO BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

 

3

Exhibit (a)(1)(D)

Offer To Purchase For Cash

All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock

of

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

at

$4.00 NET PER SHARE

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017

by

HERON SUB, INC.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

 

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT

ONE MINUTE AFTER 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK TIME, ON DECEMBER 13, 2017,

UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

November 15, 2017

To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees:

We have been engaged by Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ( “Parent”), to act as information agent in connection with Purchaser’s offer to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase, all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Shares”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation ( “Inventure Foods”), at a price of $4.00 per Share (the “Offer Price”), net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”) and in the related letter of transmittal (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Letter of Transmittal” and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, constitutes the “Offer”) enclosed herewith. Please furnish copies of the enclosed materials to those of your clients for whom you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee.

For your information and for forwarding to your clients for whom you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, we are enclosing the following documents:

1. The Offer to Purchase;

2. The Letter of Transmittal for your use in accepting the Offer and tendering Shares and for the information of your clients, together with the included Internal Revenue Service Form W-9;

3. A Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to be used to accept the Offer (a) if certificates representing Shares are not immediately available and cannot be delivered, with all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as the depositary, prior to the expiration of the Offer or (b) if the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer cannot be completed prior to the expiration of the Offer (the “Notice of Guaranteed Delivery”);

4. A form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients’ instructions with regard to the Offer; and

5. Inventure Foods’ Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 dated November 15, 2017.


Your prompt action is requested. We urge you to contact your clients as promptly as possible. Please note that the Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York Time, on December 13, 2017, unless the Offer is extended or earlier terminated.

The Offer is being made in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2017 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser, pursuant to which, after the completion of the Offer and the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, Purchaser will be merged with and into Inventure Foods, without a vote of the Inventure Foods stockholders, in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and Inventure Foods will be the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (such merger, the “Merger”). At the effective time of the Merger, all outstanding Shares (other than (a) Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Inventure Foods, any of its subsidiaries, Parent or any of its subsidiaries (including Purchaser) and (b) Shares held by stockholders who have properly exercised their appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL) will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive the Offer Price, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes. No appraisal rights are available in connection with the Offer. However, if the Merger is consummated, pursuant to the DGCL, stockholders who do not tender their Shares in the Offer will have the right, by fully complying with the applicable provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL, to choose not to accept the consideration payable for their Shares pursuant to the Merger, and instead to demand an appraisal of their Shares by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and to receive a cash payment of the “fair value” of their Shares as of the effective time of the Merger as determined by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, plus interest. The “fair value” of such Shares may be more than, less than, or equal to the Offer Price. The Merger Agreement is more fully described in Section 13 of the Offer to Purchase and stockholders’ appraisal rights are more fully described in Section 12 of the Offer to Purchase.

The Inventure Foods board of directors (the “Inventure Foods Board”) has unanimously (a) determined that the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Inventure Foods and its stockholders, (b) adopted and approved the Merger Agreement, declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement and approved the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL, (c) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Inventure Foods of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, (d) elected that the Merger Agreement and the Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and (e) recommended that the stockholders of Inventure Foods accept the Offer and tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement.

The Offer is subject to the conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, including, among other things, (a) there being validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Offer and not validly withdrawn, prior to the expiration of the Offer, a number of Shares (excluding any Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not been “received” (as defined in Section 251(h) of the DGCL)) that, together with the Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Parent or Purchaser, represent at least a majority of the Shares then outstanding on a fully-diluted basis and (b) since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement). There is no financing condition to the Offer.

No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. For Shares to be properly tendered pursuant to the Offer, (a) the share certificates or confirmation of receipt of such Shares under the procedure for book-entry transfer, together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, including any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of book-entry transfer, either such Letter of Transmittal or an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase) in lieu of such Letter of Transmittal, and any other documents required in the Letter of Transmittal, must be timely received by the Depositary prior to the expiration of the Offer or (b) the tendering stockholder must comply with

 

2


the guaranteed delivery procedures, all in accordance with the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal. Shares tendered by the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will be excluded from the calculation of the Minimum Condition, unless such Shares and other required documents are received by the Depositary by the Expiration Time (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) .

Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person, other than to us, as the information agent, and to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as the depositary, for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. Purchaser will, however, upon request, reimburse brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees for reasonable and necessary costs and expenses incurred by them in forwarding the Offer materials to their customers. Purchaser will pay all stock transfer taxes applicable to its purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, subject to Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal.

Any inquiries you may have with respect to the Offer should be addressed to, and additional copies of the enclosed materials may be obtained from, the undersigned at the address and telephone numbers set forth below.

Very truly yours,

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

Nothing contained herein or in the enclosed documents shall render you the agent of Parent, Purchaser, the Information Agent or the Depositary or any affiliate of any of them or authorize you or any other person to use any document or make any statement on behalf of any of them in connection with the Offer other than the enclosed documents and the statements contained therein.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

 

LOGO

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Banks and Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550

All Others Call: (888) 280-6942

Email: inventure@dfking.com

 

3

Exhibit (a)(1)(E)

Offer To Purchase For Cash

All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock

of

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

at

$4.00 NET PER SHARE

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017

by

HERON SUB, INC.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT

ONE MINUTE AFTER 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK TIME, ON DECEMBER 13, 2017,

UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.

November 15, 2017

To Our Clients:

Enclosed for your consideration are the Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”) and the related letter of transmittal (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Letter of Transmittal” and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, constitutes the “Offer”) in connection with the offer by Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Parent”), to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase, all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Shares”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Inventure Foods”), at a price of $4.00 per Share (the “Offer Price”), net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes and upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. Also enclosed is Inventure Foods’ Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9.

We or our nominees are the holder of record of Shares held for your account. A tender of such Shares can be made only by us or our nominee as the holder of record and pursuant to your instructions. The enclosed Letter of Transmittal accompanying this letter is furnished to you for your information only and cannot be used by you to tender Shares held by us or our nominee for your account.

We request instructions as to whether you wish us to tender any or all of the Shares held by us or our nominees for your account, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the enclosed Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal.

Please note carefully the following:

1. The offer price for the Offer is $4.00 per Share, net to you in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes.

2. The Offer is being made for all outstanding Shares.

3. The Offer is being made in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2017 (together with any amendments or supplements thereto, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser, pursuant to which, after the completion of the Offer and the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, Purchaser will be merged with and into Inventure Foods, without a vote of the Inventure Foods stockholders, in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and Inventure


Foods will be the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (such merger, the “Merger”). At the effective time of the Merger, all outstanding Shares (other than (a) Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Inventure Foods, any of its subsidiaries, Parent or any of its subsidiaries (including Purchaser) and (b) Shares held by stockholders who have properly exercised their appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL) will be cancelled and automatically converted into the right to receive the Offer Price, without interest but subject to any required withholding of taxes.

4. The Inventure Foods board of directors (the “Inventure Foods Board”) has unanimously (a)  determined that the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Inventure Foods and its stockholders, (b)  adopted and approved the Merger Agreement, declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement and approved the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL, (c)  approved the execution, delivery and performance by Inventure Foods of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, (d)  elected that the Merger Agreement and the Merger will be governed by Section  251(h) of the DGCL, and (e)  recommended that the stockholders of Inventure Foods accept the Offer and tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement.

5. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at one minute after 11:59 p.m., New York Time, on December 13, 2017, unless the Offer is extended by Purchaser or earlier terminated.

6. The Offer is subject to the conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, including, among other things, there being validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Offer and not validly withdrawn, prior to the expiration of the Offer, a number of Shares (excluding any Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not been “received” (as defined in Section 251(h) of the DGCL)) that, together with the Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Parent or Purchaser, represent at least a majority of the Shares then outstanding on a fully-diluted basis and (b) since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement). There is no financing condition to the Offer.

7. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares will be purchased. For Shares to be properly tendered pursuant to the Offer, (a) the share certificates or confirmation of receipt of such Shares under the procedure for book-entry transfer, together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, including any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of book-entry transfer, either such Letter of Transmittal or an Agent’s Message (as defined in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase) in lieu of such Letter of Transmittal, and any other documents required in the Letter of Transmittal, must be timely received by the Depositary prior to the expiration of the Offer or (b) the tendering stockholder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures, all in accordance with the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal. Shares tendered by the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will be excluded from the calculation of the Minimum Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), unless such Shares and other required documents are received by the Depositary by the Expiration Time (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) .

8. Purchaser will pay all stock transfer taxes applicable to its purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, subject to Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal. However, federal income tax backup withholding at a rate of 28% may be required, unless the required taxpayer identification information is provided and certain certification requirements are met, or unless an exemption is established. See Instruction 9 of the Letter of Transmittal.

If you wish to have us or our nominees tender any or all of your Shares, then please so instruct us by completing, executing, detaching and returning to us the Instruction Form on the detachable part hereof. An

 

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envelope to return your instructions to us is enclosed. If you authorize tender of your Shares, then all such Shares will be tendered unless otherwise specified on the Instruction Form.

Your prompt action is requested. Your Instruction Form should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit the tender on your behalf before the Expiration Time (as defined in the Offer to Purchase).

The Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Shares in any U.S. or foreign jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. However, Purchaser may, in its discretion, take such action as it may deem necessary to make the Offer in any such jurisdiction and to extend the Offer to holders of Shares in such jurisdiction.

 

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INSTRUCTION FORM

With Respect to the Offer to Purchase for Cash

All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock

of

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

at

$4.00 NET PER SHARE

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017

by

HERON SUB, INC.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed Offer to Purchase, dated November 15, 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Offer to Purchase”) and the related letter of transmittal (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Letter of Transmittal” and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, constitutes the “Offer”), in connection with the offer by Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase, all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Shares”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation, at a price of $4.00 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer.

The undersigned hereby instruct(s) you to tender to Purchaser the number of Shares indicated below or, if no number is indicated, all Shares held by you or your nominees for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer furnished to the undersigned. The undersigned understands and acknowledges that all questions as to validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares made on my behalf will be determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion and such determination shall be final and binding.

Account Number:

NUMBER OF SHARES BEING TENDERED HEREBY:                     SHARES *

The method of delivery of this document is at the election and risk of the tendering stockholder. If delivery is by mail, then registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

 

Dated:  

 

  Signature(s)
 

 

  Please Print Name(s)
Address:  

 

  (Include Zip Code)

 

Area code and Telephone Number:  

 

Taxpayer Identification Number or Social Security Number:

  

 

 

* Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares held in the undersigned’s account are to be tendered.

 

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Exhibit (a)(1)(F)

This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell Shares (as defined below) and the provisions herein are subject in their entirety to the provisions of the Offer (as defined below). The Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017 and the related Letter of Transmittal (each as defined below) and any amendments or supplements thereto. The Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction or any administrative or judicial action pursuant thereto. Purchaser (as defined below) may, in its discretion, take such action as it deems necessary to make the Offer to holders of Shares in such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where the applicable laws require that the Offer be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction to be designated by Purchaser.

NOTICE OF OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH

All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock

of

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.

at

$4.00 NET PER SHARE

Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase Dated November 15, 2017

by

HERON SUB, INC.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

Heron Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser ”) and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Utz Quality Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Parent ”), is offering to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the “ Shares ”), of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Inventure Foods ”), at a purchase price of $4.00 per Share (the “ Offer Price ”), net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated November 15, 2017 (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Offer to Purchase ”) and in the related letter of transmittal (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Letter of Transmittal ” and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, constitutes the “ Offer ”). Tendering stockholders whose Shares are registered in their names and who tender directly to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (the “ Depositary ”) will not be charged brokerage fees or similar expenses on the sale of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer. Tendering stockholders whose Shares are registered in the name of their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee should consult such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine if any fees may apply. The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 25, 2017 (as amended from time to time, the “ Merger Agreement ”), among Inventure Foods, Parent and Purchaser. Following the consummation of the Offer, and under the terms of the Merger Agreement as described in the Offer to Purchase, Purchaser intends to effect the Merger (as defined below) as described below.

THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT ONE MINUTE AFTER 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON DECEMBER 13, 2017, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.


The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that as soon as practicable (and in any event within three business days) after the acceptance for payment of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Purchaser will merge with and into Inventure Foods (the “ Merger ”), with Inventure Foods continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. At the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding Share (other than (i) Shares owned by Inventure Foods, any of its subsidiaries, Parent or any of its subsidiaries (including Purchaser) immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, or (ii) Shares held by any stockholder who has properly exercised appraisal rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”)) will be automatically converted into the right to receive the Offer Price, net to the seller in cash, without interest but subject to any required withholding taxes. As a result of the Merger, Inventure Foods will cease to be a publicly traded company and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the purchase price for the Shares, regardless of any extension of the Offer or delay in making payment for the Shares. The Merger Agreement is more fully described in Section 13 of the Offer to Purchase.

If the Offer is consummated, Purchaser will not seek the approval of Inventure Foods’ remaining public stockholders before effecting the Merger. The parties to the Merger Agreement have agreed that, subject to the conditions specified in the Merger Agreement, the Merger will become effective as soon as practicable (and in any event within three business days) after the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to of the Offer, subject to certain other conditions, and without any vote or other action of Inventure Foods stockholders in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.

The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) there being validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Offer and not validly withdrawn, prior to the expiration of the Offer, a number of Shares (excluding any Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not been “received” (as defined in Section 251(h) of the DGCL)) that, together with the Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Parent or Purchaser, represent at least a majority of the Shares then outstanding (determined on a fully-diluted basis assuming the conversion or exercise of all derivative securities that are or will be vested at the time of the Merger) (the “ Minimum Condition ”) and (ii) since the date of the Merger Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement). There is no financing condition to the Offer.

Purchaser and Parent also reserve the right to waive any of the conditions to the Offer, other than the Minimum Condition, which may only be waived with the prior written consent of Inventure Foods; provided that, unless otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement, Inventure Foods’ consent is also required for Purchaser and Parent to (i) reduce the number of Shares subject to the Offer, (ii) reduce the Offer Price, (iii) add to, amend or modify any condition to the Offer in a manner adverse in any material respect to the holders of the Shares, (iv) extend or otherwise change the expiration date of the Offer, except as expressly permitted under the Merger Agreement, (v) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer in any material respect, (vi) otherwise amend, modify or supplement the terms of the Offer in a manner adverse to the holders of the Shares, (vii) provide any “subsequent offering period” (or extension thereof) within the meaning of Rule 14d-11 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or (viii) take any action (or fail to take any action) that breaches the Merger Agreement with the result that the Merger is not permitted to be effected pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL. We do not expect there to be a subsequent offering period after the Expiration Time (as defined below); we expect that the Merger will occur as soon as practicable after the Expiration Time and the date and time at which Purchaser first accepts for payment Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Offer.

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer, Purchaser will accept for payment all Shares that are validly tendered and not withdrawn at or prior to one minute after 11:59 P.M., New York City time, on December 13, 2017 (the “ Expiration Time ”), unless extended or earlier terminated, in which event “ Expiration Time ” means the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended, expires.

 

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Any extension, termination or amendment of the Offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by a public announcement thereof, and in the case of an extension of the Offer, we will make a public announcement of such extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Time.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, if any of the Offer Conditions are not satisfied or waived at any scheduled Expiration Time, (i) Purchaser may extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an additional period of up to ten business days per extension, until such conditions to the Offer are satisfied or waived, or (ii) upon written request of Inventure Foods, Purchaser will extend the Offer on one or more occasions (not to exceed two in total) for an additional period of up to ten business days per extension to permit such conditions to the Offer to be satisfied. Purchaser is also required to extend the Offer for any period required by applicable law and any interpretation or position of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) or its staff or The Nasdaq Global Select Market or its staff applicable to the Offer. During any extension of the initial offering period all Shares previously validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer and subject to withdrawal rights. However, except as described in the Offer to Purchase, in no event will Purchaser be required to, and without Inventure Foods’ prior written consent Purchaser may not, extend the Offer beyond January 15, 2018 (the “ Outside Date ”); provided that the Outside Date may be extended under certain circumstances for a period of 90 days, on no more than two occasions, in the event certain antitrust approvals or clearances have not been obtained or there is a prohibition on closing the Offer or the Merger related to antitrust matters. Additionally, Inventure Foods may not, without the prior written consent of Parent, request that the Offer be extended beyond the Outside Date.

After careful consideration, the Inventure Foods board of directors (the “Inventure Foods Board”) has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Inventure Foods and its stockholders, (ii) adopted and approved the Merger Agreement, declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement and approved the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, in accordance with the requirements of the DGCL, (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Inventure Foods of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer and the Merger, (iv) elected that the Merger Agreement and the Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and (iv) recommended that the stockholders of Inventure Foods accept the Offer and tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement.

In order to tender all or any portion of your Shares in the Offer, you must either (i) complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal in accordance with the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal, have your signature guaranteed (if required by Instruction 1 to the Letter of Transmittal), mail or deliver the Letter of Transmittal (or, if an Eligible Institution (as defined in the Offer to Purchase), a manually signed facsimile copy) and any other required documents to the Depositary, and either deliver the certificates for your Shares along with the Letter of Transmittal to the Depositary or tender your Shares pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase or (ii) request your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to effect the transaction for you. If your Shares are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to tender your Shares. If you desire to tender your Shares, and certificates evidencing your Shares are not immediately available or you cannot deliver such certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary or you cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer described in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase, in each case prior to the Expiration Time, you may tender your Shares by following the procedures for guaranteed delivery set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase.

For the purposes of the Offer, Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for payment tendered Shares when, as and if Purchaser gives oral or written notice of Purchaser’s acceptance to the Depositary. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. Purchaser will pay for Shares accepted for payment pursuant

 

3


to the Offer by depositing the purchase price therefor with the Depositary, which will act as agent for tendering stockholders for the purpose of receiving payments from Purchaser and transmitting such payments to tendering stockholders. If Purchaser extends the Offer, is delayed in accepting for payment or paying for Shares or is unable to accept for payment or pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to Purchaser’s rights under the Offer, the Depositary may retain on Purchaser’s behalf all Shares tendered, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that tendering stockholders duly exercise withdrawal rights as described in the Offer to Purchase. Under no circumstances will Purchaser pay interest on the consideration paid for Shares pursuant to the Offer, regardless of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making such payment.

Except as described in the Offer to Purchase, tenders of Shares made in the Offer are irrevocable. You may withdraw some or all of the Shares that you have previously tendered in the Offer at any time before the Expiration Time and, if such Shares have not yet been accepted for payment, at any time after January 14, 2018, the date that is 60 days after the date of the commencement of the Offer, but only in accordance with the procedures described in Section 4 of the Offer to Purchase. For your withdrawal to be effective, a written (or, if you are an Eligible Institution, a manually executed facsimile) notice of withdrawal with respect to the Shares must be timely received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of the Offer to Purchase, and the notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If the Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered to the Depositary, a signed notice of withdrawal with (except in the case of Shares tendered by an Eligible Institution) signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution must be submitted before the release of such Shares. In addition, such notice must specify, in the case of Shares tendered by delivery of certificates, the serial numbers shown on the specific certificates evidencing the Shares to be withdrawn or, in the case of Shares tendered by book-entry transfer, the name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) to be credited with the withdrawn Shares. None of Purchaser, the Depositary, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity in tenders or waive any such defect or irregularity or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. If you tendered Shares by giving instructions to a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must instruct the broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to arrange for the proper withdrawal of those Shares. Withdrawals may not be rescinded, and Shares withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly tendered. However, withdrawn Shares may be retendered at any time before the Expiration Time by again following any of the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase.

Subject to applicable law as applied by a court of competent jurisdiction, Purchaser will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the form of documents and the validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender or withdrawal of Shares, and its determination will be final and binding.

The sale of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes.  For a more detailed description of certain United States federal income tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger, see Section  5 of the Offer to Purchase. All stockholders should consult with their own tax advisors as to the particular tax consequences of tendering their Shares pursuant to the Offer or pursuant to the Merger .

The information required to be disclosed by paragraph (d)(1) of Rule 14d-6 under the Exchange Act is contained in the Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein by reference.

Inventure Foods has provided to Purchaser its list of stockholders and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to holders of Shares. The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other related materials will be mailed to record holders of Shares who appear on Inventure Foods’ list and will be furnished to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees whose names

 

4


appear on Inventure Foods’ stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency’s security position listing for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares.

The Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and Inventure Foods’ Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (which contains the recommendation of Inventure Foods’ Board and the reasons therefor) and other documents to which such documents refer contain important information that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer.

Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its address and telephone numbers set forth below. Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other materials related to the Offer may be directed to the Information Agent. Such copies will be furnished promptly at Purchaser’s expense. Stockholders may also contact brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees for assistance concerning the Offer. Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person (other than the Information Agent and the Depositary) for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

D.F. King & Co., Inc.

48 Wall Street

New York, NY 10005

Banks and Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550

All Others Call: (888) 280-6942

Email: inventure@dfking.com

November 15, 2017

 

5

Exhibit (b)(1)

EXECUTION VERSION

CONFIDENTIAL

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH

INCORPORATED

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

October 25, 2017

Utz Quality Foods, LLC

900 High Street

Hanover, Pennsylvania 17331

Attention:        Jay Thompson

                        Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Re:        Commitment Letter

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Utz Quality Foods, LLC (the “ Borrower ” or “ you ”) has advised Bank of America, N.A. (“ Bank of America ”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (or any of its designated affiliates, “ MLPFS ”) that it intends to acquire (the “ Acquisition ”) all of the stock of Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Target ”) pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Acquisition Agreement ”) by and among the Target, Merger Sub (as defined therein) and you. The Acquisition shall be effected through (i) the purchase of the common stock of the Target in the Offer (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement in effect on the date hereof) and (ii) immediately following the consummation of the Offer, the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Target (the “ Merger ”). After giving effect to the Acquisition, the Borrower will directly or indirectly own all of the equity interests in the Target. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Summary of Principal Terms and Conditions attached hereto as Exhibit A (the Summary of Terms ”; this commitment letter, the Summary of Terms and the Summary of Additional Conditions attached hereto as Exhibit B, collectively, the “ Commitment Letter ”).

You have also advised Bank of America and MLPFS that you intend to finance the Acquisition and costs and expenses related to the Transactions (as hereinafter defined) from the following sources: (a) additional term loans under the Existing Credit


Agreement (as hereinafter defined) having the terms set forth in the Summary of Terms, in an aggregate principal amount of up to $150.0 million (the “ Additional Term Facility ”) and (b) cash on hand or drawn under the Borrower’s revolving credit facility under the Existing Credit Agreement. The Acquisition, the entering into and funding of the Additional Term Facility, the Target Refinancing (as hereinafter defined), the payment of fees and expenses in connection therewith and all related transactions are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Transactions .”

1.    In connection with the Transactions, Bank of America is pleased to advise you of its commitment to provide 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the Additional Term Facility, all upon and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Commitment Letter. MLPFS is pleased to advise you of its willingness to act, and you hereby appoint MLPFS to act, as the sole lead arranger and sole bookrunner (in such capacities, the “ Lead Arranger ” and together with Bank of America, the “ Commitment Parties ”) for the Additional Term Facility, to form a syndicate of Lenders with respect to the Additional Term Facility.

2.    The Lead Arranger reserves the right, prior to or after the Closing Date (as defined below), to syndicate all or a portion of Bank of America’s commitments hereunder to a group of financial institutions and institutional lenders selected by the Lead Arranger and reasonably acceptable to you (“ Lenders ”), it being understood that the Lead Arranger will not seek to obtain or obtain commitments from (a) such Persons that have been specified in writing to the Lead Arrangers by you prior to the date hereof, (b) competitors of you and your subsidiaries that have been specified in writing to the Lead Arranger from time to time and (c) any of their affiliates (other than in the case of clause (b), affiliates that are bona fide debt funds) that are (x) identified in writing from time to time to the Lead Arranger by you or (y) clearly identifiable on the basis of such affiliates’ name; provided that no such updates to the list shall be deemed to retroactively disqualify any parties that have previously acquired an assignment or participation interest in respect of any loans or commitments (it being understood and agreed that such prohibitions with respect to Disqualified Lenders shall apply to any potential future assignments or participations to any such parties) (such persons or entities in clauses (a) through (c), collectively the “ Disqualified Institutions ”). It is understood and agreed that the syndication shall be conducted in a manner consistent with the Existing Credit Agreement.

3.    You agree that no book runners, agents, co-agents or other arrangers will be appointed and no other titles will be awarded in connection with the Additional Term Facility unless you and the Lead Arranger shall mutually agree, it being understood and agreed that you shall have the right, to appoint up to two additional arrangers, agents or co-agents or confer additional titles in respect of the Additional Term Facility in consultation with the Lead Arranger (but in any case not to exceed the economics payable to the Lead Arranger) (each such additional agent, co-agent or arranger, an “ Other Arranger ”) with such Other Arranger receiving economics to be mutually agreed between you and the Lead Arranger. In all marketing materials and any appropriate legal documentation for the Additional Term Facility, (i) MLPFS shall have the “lead left” placement and (ii) any Other Arrangers will be listed in an order determined by you.

 

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4.    MLPFS intends to commence syndication of the Additional Term Facility promptly upon your acceptance of this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letters; provided that notwithstanding the Lead Arranger’s right to syndicate the Additional Term Facility and receive commitments with respect thereto (i) Bank of America shall not be relieved, released or novated from its obligations hereunder (including, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein, its obligation to fund the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date) in connection with any syndication, assignment or participation of the Additional Term Facility, including its commitments in respect thereof, until after the Closing Date has occurred, (ii) except as set forth in paragraph 3 in respect of assignments to Other Arrangers, no assignment or novation by Bank of America shall become effective as between you and Bank of America with respect to all or any portion of such Bank of America’s commitments in respect of the Additional Term Facility until the initial funding of the Additional Term Facility and (iii) unless you otherwise agree in writing, Bank of America shall retain exclusive control over all rights and obligations with respect to its commitments in respect of the Additional Term Facility, including all rights with respect to consents, modifications, supplements, waivers and amendments, until after the Closing Date has occurred. Without limiting your obligations to assist with syndication efforts as set forth herein, it is understood that the Commitment Parties’ commitments hereunder are not conditioned upon the syndication of, or receipt of commitments in respect of, the Additional Term Facility and in no event shall the commencement or successful completion of syndication of the Additional Term Facility constitute a condition to the availability of the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date. Until later of Successful Syndication (as defined in the Joint Fee Letter) and the 45 th day after the Closing Date (such earlier date, the “ Syndication Date ”), you agree to actively assist the Lead Arranger in achieving a syndication of the Additional Term Facility that is reasonably satisfactory to the Lead Arranger and you. Such assistance shall include (a) your using commercially reasonable efforts to provide prior to the commencement of the syndication (i) customary pro forma financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries after giving effect to the Transactions (but excluding the impacts of any purchase accounting adjustments) and (ii) customary forecasts of financial statements of the Borrower for five years following the Closing Date (such forecasts, collectively, the “ Projections ”); (b) your assistance in the preparation of a confidential information memorandum (the “ Information Memorandum ”) in form and substance customary for transactions of this type and other customary marketing materials to be used in connection with the syndication of the Additional Term Facility (collectively with the Summary of Terms and any additional summary of terms prepared for distribution to Public Lenders (as hereinafter defined), the “ Information Materials ”); (c) your using commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the syndication efforts of the Lead Arranger benefit materially from your existing lending relationships and, to the extent practical and appropriate and not in contravention of the Acquisition Agreement, the existing banking relationships of the Target; (d) making your senior management and certain advisors available and, to the extent practical and appropriate and not in contravention of the Acquisition Agreement, using commercially reasonable efforts to make the senior management and certain advisors of the Target and its subsidiaries available from time to time at times mutually agreed upon to attend and make presentations regarding the business and prospects of the Borrower, the Target and their

 

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respective subsidiaries, as appropriate, at one or more meetings of prospective Lenders and (e) at any time prior to the Syndication Date, there being no competing offering, placement or arrangement of any debt securities or bank financing by or on behalf of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries (other than the bank financing arranged by MLPFS pursuant to that certain Engagement Letter dated as of the date hereof among you, MLPFS and Bank of America (the “ MLPFS Engagement Letter ”)) and your use of commercially reasonable efforts to ensure there is no competing offering, placement or arrangement of any debt securities or bank financing by the Target or any of its subsidiaries (other than any indebtedness of the Target or any of its subsidiaries permitted to be incurred pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement), in each case, without the consent of the Lead Arranger, if such offering, placement or arrangement would materially impair the primary syndication of the Additional Term Facility (it being understood and agreed that the Borrower, the Target and their respective subsidiaries’ deferred purchase price obligations, ordinary course working capital facilities and ordinary course capital lease, purchase money and equipment financings, in each case, will not be deemed to materially impair the primary syndication of the Additional Term Facility). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Commitment Letter or the Fee Letters or any other letter agreement or undertaking concerning the financing of the Transactions to the contrary, your obligations to assist in syndication efforts as provided herein (including the obtaining of the ratings referenced above and compliance with any of the provisions set forth in clauses (a) through (e) above) shall not constitute a condition to the commitments hereunder or the funding of the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date.

It is understood and agreed that the Lead Arranger will, in consultation with you, manage and control all aspects of the syndication, including decisions as to the selection of prospective Lenders (other than Disqualified Institutions) reasonably acceptable to you and any titles offered to proposed Lenders, when commitments will be accepted and the final allocations of the commitments among the Lenders (subject to your consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). It is understood that no Lender participating in any Additional Term Facility will receive compensation from you in order to obtain its commitment, except on the terms contained herein and in the Summary of Terms. It is also understood and agreed that the allocation and distribution of the fees among the Lenders will be at the sole discretion of the Lead Arranger, except as otherwise set forth herein.

You hereby represent, warrant and covenant that (with respect to Information and the Projections and other information referred to in clause (b) below relating to Target and its subsidiaries, to your knowledge) (a) all written information, other than Projections, estimates, budgets, forecasts, forward-looking information and general industry or general economic information (the “ Information ”), which has been or is hereafter made available to the Lead Arranger or the Lenders by you or any of your subsidiaries or representatives (or on your or their behalf) in connection with any aspect of the Transactions is and will be, as of the date furnished, complete and correct in all material respects and does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, taken as a whole, not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such

 

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statements contained therein are made (after giving effect to all supplements and updates thereto), and (b) the Projections and all other financial projections, forecasts and other forward looking information concerning the Borrower, the Target, and their respective subsidiaries that have been or are hereafter made available to the Lead Arranger or the Lenders by you or any of your subsidiaries or representatives (or on your or their behalf), when taken as a whole, have been or will be prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed by you to be reasonable at the time made, it being understood that such Projections are not to be viewed as facts and are not a guarantee of financial performance, that the Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond your control, that no assurance can be given that any particular Projections will be realized and that actual results may vary materially from the Projections. You agree that if at any time prior to the later of the date the Additional Term Facility is funded (which date shall be the date of consummation of the Offer and the Merger, such date the “ Closing Date ”) and the Syndication Date, any of the representations in the preceding sentence would be incorrect in any material respect if the Information and Projections were being furnished, and such representations were being made at such time, then you will (or, prior to the Closing Date, with respect to the Information and such Projections relating to Target and its subsidiaries, will use commercially reasonable efforts to) promptly supplement, or cause to be supplemented, the Information and Projections so that (with respect to Information relating to Target and its subsidiaries, to your knowledge) such representations, when taken as a whole, will be correct in all material respects at such time. In arranging and syndicating the Additional Term Facility, the Lead Arranger is and will be using and relying on the Information and the Projections without independent verification thereof.

You acknowledge that (a) the Lead Arranger on your behalf will make available Information Materials to the proposed syndicate of Lenders by posting the Information Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system and (b) certain prospective Lenders may be “public side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information (within the meaning of the United States federal securities laws, “ MNPI ”) with respect to the Borrower, the Target, their respective affiliates or any of the respective securities of any of the foregoing, and who may be engaged in investment and other market-related activities with respect to such entities’ securities) (such Lenders, “ Public Lenders ”; all other Lenders, “ Private Lenders ”). If reasonably requested, you will assist us in preparing an additional version of the Information Materials not containing MNPI with respect to the Borrower, the Target, their respective affiliates or any of the respective securities of any of the foregoing (the “ Public Information Materials ”) to be distributed to prospective Public Lenders.

Before distribution of any Information Materials (a) to prospective Private Lenders, you shall provide us with a customary letter authorizing the dissemination of the Information Materials and (b) to prospective Public Lenders, you shall provide us with a customary letter authorizing the dissemination of the Public Information Materials and confirming the absence of MNPI therefrom. In addition, at our reasonable request, you shall use commercially reasonable efforts to identify Public Information Materials by clearly and conspicuously marking the same as “PUBLIC”. We shall be entitled to treat all information that is not specifically identified as “PUBLIC” (including the Projections)

 

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as being suitable only for posting to Private Lenders. By making such materials “PUBLIC” you shall be deemed to have authorized the Lead Arranger and the potential new lenders to treat such materials as not containing MNPI (it being understood that you shall not be under any obligation to mark the Information Materials “PUBLIC”).

You agree that the Lead Arranger may distribute the following documents to all prospective Lenders on your behalf, unless you advise the Lead Arranger in writing (including by email) within a reasonable time prior to their intended distributions that such material should only be distributed to prospective Private Lenders: (a) administrative materials for prospective Lenders such as lender meeting invitations and funding and closing memoranda, (b) notifications of changes to the terms of the Additional Term Facility and (c) other materials intended for prospective Lenders after the initial distribution of the Information Materials, including drafts and final versions of the Credit Documentation. If you advise us that any of the foregoing items should be distributed only to Private Lenders, then the Lead Arranger will not distribute such materials to Public Lenders without your consent. The Borrower and MLPFS shall have the right to approve every form of written communication, including the Information Memorandum, from the Borrower or any parties acting on its behalf (including MLPFS) to any Lender or potential Lender in connection with the offer and sale of the commitments under the Additional Term Facility.

5.    You acknowledge that the Lead Arranger or any of its affiliates (including Bank of America) may be providing financing or other services to parties whose interests may conflict with yours. Each Commitment Party agrees that it will not furnish confidential information obtained from you to any of its other customers and that it will maintain the confidentiality of confidential information relating to you and your affiliates with the same degree of care as it treats its own confidential information. Each Commitment Party further advises you that it will not make available to you confidential information that it has obtained or may obtain from any other customer. In connection with the Transactions, you agree that each Commitment Party shall be permitted to access, use and share (subject to the confidential provisions hereof) with any of its bank or non-bank affiliates, agents, advisors (legal or otherwise) or representatives any information concerning you or any of your affiliates that is or may come into the possession of such Commitment Party or its affiliates or agents.

6.    As consideration for the commitment of Bank of America hereunder and for the agreement of the Lead Arranger to perform the services described herein, you agree to pay (or cause to be paid) the fees set forth in the Summary of Terms and in the Fee Letters, if and to the extent payable. Once paid, such fees shall not be refundable under any circumstances, except as otherwise contemplated by the Fee Letters. Subject to occurrence of the Closing Date, you further agree to reimburse the Commitment Parties and their affiliates for all reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket costs and expenses from time to time within thirty days of demand (including legal fees, disbursements, expenses and other charges of one counsel for the Commitment Parties and, if needed, one local counsel in each relevant jurisdiction and due diligence expenses) incurred by the Commitment Parties in connection with the Transactions (including but not limited to the syndication of the Additional Term Facility and the preparation of the

 

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Credit Documentation). You acknowledge that we may receive a benefit, including without limitation, a discount, credit or other accommodation, from any of such counsel based on the fees such counsel may receive on account of their relationship with us including, without limitation, fees paid pursuant hereto.

MLPFS reserves the right to allocate, in whole or in part, to any of its affiliates any of the fees payable to MLPFS pursuant to this Commitment Letter or the Fee Letters in such manner as MLPFS determines in its sole discretion.

7.    The commitments of Bank of America to fund the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date and the agreements of the Lead Arranger to perform the services described herein are subject solely to the conditions set forth in the section entitled “Conditions to Borrowing on Closing Date” in Exhibit A hereto and the conditions set forth in Exhibit B hereto, and upon satisfaction (or waiver by all Commitment Parties) of such conditions, the initial funding of the Additional Term Facility shall occur; it being understood and agreed that there are no other conditions (implied or otherwise) to the commitments hereunder, including compliance with the terms of this Commitment Letter, the Fee Letters or the Credit Documentation.

Notwithstanding anything in this Commitment Letter (including each of the exhibits attached hereto), the Fee Letters, the Credit Documentation or any other letter agreement or other undertaking concerning the financing of the Transactions to the contrary, (i) the only representations the accuracy of which shall be a condition to the availability and funding of the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date shall be (A) such of the representations made by the Target in the Acquisition Agreement as are material to the interests of the Lenders, but only to the extent that you have the right to terminate your obligations under the Acquisition Agreement or otherwise decline to consummate the Acquisition or Offer as a result of a breach of such representations in the Acquisition Agreement (to such extent, the “ Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations ”), and (B) the Specified Representations (as defined below) and (ii) the terms of the Credit Documentation shall be in a form such that they do not impair the availability or funding of the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date if the conditions set forth in the section entitled “Conditions to Borrowing on Closing Date” in Exhibit A hereto and the conditions set forth in Exhibit B hereto, as applicable are satisfied (it being understood that to the extent any security interest in any Collateral (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) is not or cannot be provided and/or perfected on the Closing Date (other than (x) the pledge and perfection of the security interest in the certificated equity interests of the Target and its subsidiaries to the extent required pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement and to the extent received from the Target or the Target’s existing financing sources after your use of commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such certificates and (y) other assets with respect to which a lien may be perfected by the filing of a financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code) after your use of commercially reasonable efforts to do so or without undue burden or expense, then the provision and/or perfection of a security interest in such Collateral shall not constitute a condition precedent to the availability of the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date but instead shall be required to be delivered after the Closing Date within 90 days after the Closing Date or such longer period as may be agreed by the

 

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Administrative Agent and the Borrower acting reasonably). For purposes hereof, “ Specified Representations ” means the representations and warranties of the Loan Parties set forth in the Existing Credit Agreement relating to organizational status of the Parents and the Borrower; power and authority, due authorization, execution and delivery and enforceability, in each case with respect solely to the Credit Documentation, no conflicts with or consent under charter documents, in each case, related to the entering into and the performance of the Credit Documentation and the incurrence of the extensions of credit thereunder; solvency as of the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions and with solvency being determined in a manner consistent with the solvency certificate attached as Annex B-I to Exhibit B hereto) of Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; Federal Reserve margin regulations; the use of loan proceeds not violating OFAC, FCPA and the Patriot Act; the Investment Company Act; and, subject to the parenthetical in the immediately preceding sentence, creation, validity and perfection of security interests in the Collateral (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement). This paragraph, and the provisions herein, shall be referred to as the “ Certain Funds Provisions ”.

For the avoidance of doubt, compliance by you and/or your affiliates with the terms and conditions of this Commitment Letter (other than the conditions set forth in the section entitled “Conditions to Borrowing on Closing Date” in Exhibit A hereto) is not a condition to Bank of America’s commitments to fund the Additional Term Facility hereunder on the terms set forth herein.

8.    The Borrower acknowledges that Bank of America, N.A., an affiliate of MLPFS, currently is acting as a lender under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2017 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Existing Credit Agreement ”), and the Borrower’s and its affiliates’ rights and obligations under any other agreement with MLPFS or any of its affiliates (including the Existing Credit Agreement) that currently or hereafter may exist are, and shall be, separate and distinct from the rights and obligations of the parties pursuant to this Commitment Letter, and none of such rights and obligations under such other agreements shall be affected by MLPFS’ performance or lack of performance of services hereunder. The Borrower further acknowledges that MLPFS or its affiliates may currently or in the future participate in other debt or equity transactions on behalf of or render financial advisory services to the Borrower or other companies that may be involved in a competing transaction. The Borrower hereby agrees that MLPFS may render its services under this Commitment Letter notwithstanding any actual or potential conflict of interest presented by the foregoing, and the Borrower hereby waives any conflict of interest claims relating to the relationship between MLPFS and the Borrower and its affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, on the one hand, and the exercise by MLPFS or any of its affiliates of any of their rights and duties under any credit or other agreement (including the Existing Credit Agreement), on the other hand. The terms of this paragraph shall survive the expiration or termination of this Commitment Letter for any reason whatsoever.

9.    You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Commitment Parties and each of their affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, advisors,

 

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controlling persons and other representatives and successors (each an “ Indemnified Party ”) from and against (and will reimburse each Indemnified Party within thirty (30) days after demand therefor as the same are incurred) any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and reasonable and documented or invoiced out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of one counsel for all Indemnified Parties and, if necessary, one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions)) that may be incurred by or asserted or awarded against any Indemnified Party, in each case arising out of or in connection with or by reason of (including, without limitation, in connection with any investigation, litigation or proceeding or preparation of a defense in connection therewith) (a) any aspect of the Transactions or (b) the Additional Term Facility, or any use made or proposed to be made with the proceeds thereof, except to the extent such claim, damage, loss, liability or expense (i) is found in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party or any of such Indemnified Party’s controlled affiliates or controlling persons or their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, in each case who are involved in or aware of the Transactions (each, a “ Related Indemnified Party ”) and, (ii) is found in a final, nonappealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from a material breach of this Commitment Letter or the Credit Documentation by an Indemnified Party or a Related Indemnified Party or (iii) arises from any dispute (to the extent such dispute does not arise from any act or omission of the Borrower or any of its affiliates) that is brought by an Indemnified Party against any other Indemnified Party (other than claims against the Administrative Agent or the Lead Arranger in its capacity in fulfilling its role as an administrative agent or arranger under the Additional Term Facility). In the case of an investigation, litigation or proceeding to which the indemnity in this paragraph applies, such indemnity shall be effective whether or not such investigation, litigation or proceeding is brought by you, your equity holders or creditors or an Indemnified Party, whether or not an Indemnified Party is otherwise a party thereto and whether or not any aspect of the Transactions is consummated. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Commitment Letter, (i) no Indemnified Party shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by others of information or other materials obtained through electronic telecommunications or other information transmission systems, except to the extent that such damages have resulted from the willful misconduct, bad faith or gross negligence of such Indemnified Party or any Related Indemnified Party, as determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) none of the Commitment Parties, you, any Indemnified Party or any affiliate of any of the foregoing, any officer, director, employee, agent, controlling person, advisor or other representative of the foregoing or any successor or permitted assign of any of the foregoing shall be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages (including, without limitation, any loss of profits, business or anticipated savings) in connection with this Commitment Letter, the Transactions (including the Additional Term Facility and the use of proceeds thereunder), or with respect to any activities related to the Additional Term Facility, including the preparation of this Commitment Letter and the Credit Documentation; provided that nothing contained in this paragraph shall limit your indemnity and reimbursement obligations to the extent set forth in this paragraph.

 

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If the foregoing indemnification is for any reason unavailable or insufficient to hold any Indemnified Party harmless other than by virtue of the exceptions set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the prior paragraph, the Borrower shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such loss, claim or damage in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Borrower on the one hand and each Indemnified Party on the other arising out of the matters contemplated by this Commitment Letter.

You shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding effected without your prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), but if settled with your prior written consent or if there is a final and non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in any such claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party from and against any and all losses and related expenses by reason of such settlement or judgment in accordance with the other provisions of this paragraph 9. If the indemnifying party has reimbursed any Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses in accordance with such request and there is a final and non-appealable judicial determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that the Indemnified Party was not entitled to indemnification or contribution rights with respect to such payment pursuant to this paragraph 9, then the Indemnified Party shall promptly refund such amount.

10.    In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by this Commitment Letter, you acknowledge and agree, and acknowledge your affiliates’ understanding, that: (i) the arrangement of the Additional Term Facility and any related arranging or other services described in this letter is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between you and your affiliates, on the one hand, and the Lead Arranger, on the other hand, and you are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Commitment Letter; (ii) in connection with the process leading to such transaction, each Commitment Party is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary, for you or any of your affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Commitment Party has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in your or your affiliates’ favor with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Commitment Party has advised or is currently advising you or your affiliates on other matters) and no Commitment Party has any obligation to you or your affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth in this Commitment Letter; (iv) each Commitment Party and its affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from yours and your affiliates and no Commitment Party has any obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) no Commitment Party has provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby and you have consulted your own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent you have deemed appropriate. You hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that you may have against any Commitment Party with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty arising out of this Commitment Letter and the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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11.    This Commitment Letter, the fee letter among you and the Commitment Parties of even date herewith (the “ Joint Fee Letter ”) and the fee letter among, you, Bank of America and MLPFS of even date herewith (the “ MLPFS Fee Letter ” and together with the Joint Fee Letter, the “ Fee Letters ”) and the contents hereof and thereof are confidential and may not be disclosed to any person or entity without prior written approval of the Commitment Parties (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except (a) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency in any pending legal, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law or compulsory legal process or to the extent requested or required by governmental and/or regulatory authorities, (b) to the officers, agents, legal counsel and advisors of the Borrower, its subsidiaries and parent companies and (c) after your acceptance of this Commitment Letter, in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other applicable regulatory authorities and stock exchanges (in which case you agree, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, to inform us promptly thereof prior to disclosure); provided that (i) you may disclose this Commitment Letter (but not the Fee Letters or the contents thereof) and the contents hereof to the Target (including any shareholder representatives), its subsidiaries and its officers, directors, agents, employees, attorneys, accountants, advisors, or controlling persons or equity holders, on a confidential and need-to-know basis, (ii) you may disclose the Commitment Letter and its contents (but not the Fee Letters or the contents thereof) in any syndication or other marketing materials in connection with the Additional Term Facility or in connection with any public filing relating to the Transaction, (iii) you may disclose the aggregate fee amount contained in the Fee Letters as part of Projections, pro forma information or a generic disclosure of aggregate sources and uses related to fee amounts related to the Transactions to the extent customary or required in offering and marketing materials for the Additional Term Facility or in any public filing relating to the Transaction, (iv) to the extent portions thereof have been redacted in a customary manner (including the portions thereof addressing fees payable to the Commitments Parties and/or the Lenders and economic flex terms), you may disclose the Fee Letters and the contents thereof to the Target (including any shareholder representative), its subsidiaries and its officers, directors, agents, employees, attorneys, accountants, advisors, or controlling persons or equity holders, on a confidential and need-to-know basis and (v) after the date this Commitment Letter is executed by you, the Summary of Terms, including the existence and contents thereof, and the Joint Fee Letter, may be disclosed in consultation with the Lead Arrangers to any Other Arranger to the extent in contemplation of appointing such person pursuant to the provisions of the proviso set forth in paragraph 3 of this Commitment Letter, and, in each case, their respective directors (or equivalent managers), officers, employees, affiliates, independent auditors, or other experts and advisors on a confidential basis.

12.    This Commitment Letter contains the entire understanding of the parties relating to the matters contemplated hereby, superseding all prior agreements or understandings with respect thereto. This Commitment Letter may be executed in counterparts, which, taken together, shall be an original, but all of which taken together

 

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shall constitute the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Commitment Letter by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall constitute an original for purposes hereof.

13.    THIS COMMITMENT LETTER AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE ARISING UNDER, OR RELATED TO, THIS COMMITMENT LETTER, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT (A) THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DEFINITION OF “COMPANY MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT” AND “MINIMUM CONDITION” (EACH AS DEFINED IN THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT) (AND WHETHER OR NOT A COMPANY MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT HAS OCCURRED UNDER THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT), (B) THE DETERMINATION OF THE ACCURACY OF ANY SPECIFIED ACQUISITION AGREEMENT REPRESENTATION AND WHETHER AS A RESULT OF ANY INACCURACY THEREOF YOU AND ANY OF YOUR AFFILIATES HAVE THE RIGHT TO TERMINATE YOUR AND ITS OBLIGATIONS THEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE DECLINE TO CONSUMMATE THE ACQUISITION OR OFFER AND (C) THE DETERMINATION OF WHETHER THE ACQUISITION AND OFFER HAS BEEN CONSUMMATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE ACQUISITION AGREEMENT, SHALL, IN EACH CASE, BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF DELAWARE, REGARDLESS OF THE LAWS THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE GOVERN UNDER APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF.

Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right to a trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Commitment Letter (including the Summary of Terms), the Fee Letters and the Transactions or the actions of any Commitment Party in the negotiation, performance or enforcement hereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of America sitting in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City in respect of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to the provisions of this Commitment Letter (including the Summary of Terms), the Fee Letters, the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court. Each of the parties hereto waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceedings brought in any such court, and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. This Commitment Letter is not assignable by you without our prior written consent, and is intended to be solely for the benefit of the parties hereto and the Indemnified Parties. MLPFS may, without notice to the Borrower, assign its rights and obligations under this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letters to any other registered broker-dealer wholly-owned by Bank of America Corporation to which all or substantially all of Bank of America Corporation’s or any of its subsidiaries’ investment banking, commercial lending services or related businesses may be transferred following the date of this Commitment Letter.

 

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14.    The Commitment Parties will use all confidential information provided to them by or on behalf of you hereunder solely for the purpose of providing the services which are the subject of this Commitment Letter and otherwise in connection with the Transactions and shall treat confidentially all such information; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Commitment Parties from disclosing any such information (a) pursuant to the order of any court or administrative agency or in any pending legal, judicial or administrative proceeding, or otherwise as required by applicable law or compulsory legal process (in which case the Commitment Parties agree (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by bank accountants or regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority), to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform you promptly thereof prior to disclosure), (b) upon the request or demand of any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over such Commitment Party or any of its affiliates, (c) to the extent that such information becomes publicly available other than as a result of disclosure by the Commitment Parties in violation of this paragraph 14 hereof, (d) to the extent that such information is received by such Commitment Party from a third party that is not, to the knowledge of such Commitment Party, subject to contractual or fiduciary confidentiality obligations owing to you, (e) to the extent that such information is independently developed by such Commitment Party or any of its affiliates, without the use of confidential information and without violation of this Commitment Letter, (f) to such Commitment Party’s affiliates and to its and its affiliates’ respective employees, legal counsel, independent auditors, advisors and other experts or agents who need to know such information in connection with the Transactions and who are informed of the confidential nature of such information and instructed to keep such information confidential, (g) to any rating agency when required by it (it being understood that, prior to any such disclosure, such rating agency shall undertake to preserve the confidentiality of any such information on a customary basis), or (h) to potential or prospective new Lenders, participants or assignees and to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty or potential counterparty to any swap or derivative transaction relating to the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective obligations, in each case who agree to be bound by the terms of this paragraph (or language substantially similar to this paragraph or as is otherwise reasonably acceptable to you and the Commitment Parties, including, without limitation, as agreed in any Information Materials or other marketing materials, or as set forth on the standard splash page of Syndtrak) in accordance with the standard syndication processes of the Lead Arranger or customary market standards for dissemination of such type of information. The Commitment Parties’ and their respective affiliates’, if any, obligations under this paragraph shall terminate automatically and be superseded by the confidentiality provisions contained in the Credit Documentation upon execution thereof. The provisions of this paragraph shall terminate on the earlier of the (i) effectiveness of the Additional Term Facility and (ii) second anniversary of the date hereof.

15.    The provisions of paragraphs 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 shall remain in full force and effect regardless of whether Credit Documentation shall be executed and delivered, and notwithstanding the termination of this Commitment Letter or any commitment or undertaking of Bank of America or MLPFS hereunder.

 

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16.    This Commitment Letter and all commitments and undertakings of Bank of America and MLPFS hereunder will expire at 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on October 27, 2017 unless you execute this Commitment Letter and the Fee Letters and return them to us prior to that time (which may be by facsimile transmission), whereupon this Commitment Letter (including the Summary of Terms) and the Fee Letters (each of which may be signed in one or more counterparts) shall become binding agreements. Thereafter, all commitments and undertakings of Bank of America and MLPFS hereunder will expire on the earliest of (a) February 28, 2018, unless the Closing Date occurs on or prior thereto, (b) the closing of the Acquisition with or without the use of the Additional Term Facility, (c) after execution of the Acquisition Agreement and prior to the consummation of the Transactions, the termination of the Acquisition Agreement in accordance with its terms and (d) the funding of any bank financing under the MLPFS Engagement Letter.

 

14


If this Commitment Letter reflects our agreement, please indicate your acceptance by signing in the space below.

 

Sincerely,
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
By:  

/s/ Aashish Dhakad

  Name:   Aashish Dhakad
  Title:   Director

 

[Signature Page to Utz (Incremental) – Commitment Letter]


BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
By:  

/s/ Kevin Dobosz

  Name:   Kevin Dobosz
  Title:   Senior Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Utz (Incremental) – Commitment Letter]


Acknowledged and Agreed as of the date first above written:

 

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC
By:  

/s/ Jay Thompson

  Name:   Jay Thompson
  Title:   Chief Financial Offer

 

[Signature Page to Commitment Letter]


Utz Quality Foods, LLC

$150,000,000 Additional Term Loans

Summary of Terms and Conditions

All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Commitment Letter to which this term sheet is attached.

 

Borrower :    Utz Quality Foods, LLC (the “ Borrower ”), being the borrower under the Existing Credit Agreement.
Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent :    Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company will continue to act as sole administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) under the Existing Credit Agreement for a syndicate of financial institutions arranged by the Lead Arranger (as defined below) excluding any Disqualified Institutions and including each Term Lender (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) (the “ Existing Term Lenders ”) that elects to participate in the Additional Term Loans (as defined below) and any Additional Lenders (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) (the “ Additional Lenders ”) (the Existing Term Lenders and the Additional Lenders, together the “ Lenders ”).
Lead Arranger :    Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (together with its designated affiliates, the “ Lead Arranger ”).
Additional Term Facility :    Additional Term Loans (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) incurred pursuant to Section 2.18 of the Existing Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount of $150.0 million (the “ Additional Term Facility ”).
Purpose :    The proceeds of borrowings under the Additional Term Facility will be used by the Borrower on the Closing Date to (i) pay the consideration in connection with the Acquisition, (ii) to pay the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Transactions and (iii) to pay for the Target Refinancing.
Availability :    The Additional Term Facility will be available in a single drawing on the Closing Date. Amounts borrowed under the Additional Term Facility that are repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.
Interest Rates :    The interest rates under the Additional Term Facility shall be the same as the Existing Credit Agreement, as follows: the Base Rate or Adjusted LIBOR (each as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) as applicable plus the applicable margin set forth in table below

 

A-1


Total Leverage

Ratio (as defined in

the Existing Credit

Agreement)

   Base Rate
Applicable
Margin
    Adjusted
LIBOR
Applicable
Margin
 

Greater than or equal to equal to 4.00 to 1.00

     1.000     2.500

Less than 4.00 to 1.00 and greater than or equal to 3.50 to 1.00

     0.750     2.250

Less than 3.50 to 1.00 and greater than or equal to 3.00 to 1.00

     0.500     2.000

Less than 3.00 to 1.00 and greater than or equal to 2.50 to 1.00

     0.250     1.750

Less than 2.50 to 1.00 and greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00

     0.000     1.500

Less than 2.00 to 1.00

     0.000     1.250

 

Default Rate :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Final Maturity and Amortization :   

Same as the existing term loans under the Existing Credit Agreement (the “ Existing Term Loans ”), as follows:

 

a)     the Additional Term Loans shall mature on January 20, 2022 (or such earlier date as Existing Term Loans are due and payable under the Existing Credit Agreement) (the “ Maturity Date ”); and

 

(b)     the principal of the Additional Term Loans shall be due and payable in installments in accordance with the schedule set forth in Section 2.4.2 of the Existing Credit Agreement with all unpaid principal of the Additional Term Loans (if any) due and payable on the Maturity Date.

 

A-2


Guarantees :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Security :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Mandatory Prepayments :    With respect to the Additional Term Loans, the mandatory prepayment provisions shall be the same as the mandatory prepayment provisions applicable to Existing Term Loans and shall share ratably with the Existing Term Loans.
Voluntary Prepayments :    With respect to the Additional Term Loans, the voluntary prepayment provisions of the Additional Term Facility Documentation shall be the same as the voluntary prepayment provisions applicable to Existing Term Loans.
Credit Documentation :    The Additional Term Facility will be documented under an incremental joinder agreement pursuant to Section 2.18.6 of the Existing Credit Agreement and, to the extent that any amendments to the Existing Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document is necessary, such amendments to the Existing Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower to effect the purposes of the Transaction (the “ Credit Documentation ”).
Representations and Warranties :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Conditions to Borrowing on Closing Date :    Subject in all respects to the Certain Funds Provisions, the availability and funding of the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date will be subject solely to (x) the conditions set forth in Exhibit B to the Commitment Letter, (y) the delivery of an Increase Notice (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) pursuant to Section 2.18 of the Existing Credit Agreement, which such Increase Notice shall include a certification by a responsible officer of the Borrower that as of the date of delivery of such Increase Notice, no Default or Event of Default (each as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall have then occurred and be continuing and (z) the delivery of a customary borrowing notice signed by a responsible officer of the Borrower.
Affirmative Covenants :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Negative Covenants :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.

 

A-3


Financial Maintenance Covenant :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Unrestricted Subsidiaries :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Events of Default :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Voting :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Cost and Yield Protection :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Assignments and Participations :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Expenses and Indemnification :    Same as the Existing Credit Agreement.
Governing Law and Forum :    New York.
Counsel to the Lead Arranger :    Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.

 

A-4


EXHIBIT B

Utz Quality Foods, LLC

$150,000,000 Additional Term Loans

Summary of Additional Conditions 1

The availability and initial funding on the Closing Date of the Additional Term Facility shall be subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Commitment Parties of the following conditions precedent in addition to those set forth in the section entitled “Conditions to Borrowing on Closing Date” in Exhibit A of the Commitment Letter:

1.     Acquisition . The Acquisition (including the Merger) shall have been or, substantially concurrently with the initial borrowing of Additional Term Loans shall be, consummated in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the Acquisition Agreement, without giving effect to any modifications, amendments or express waivers or consents by you thereto that are materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacities as such without the consent of the Lead Arranger (not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). For the purposes of the foregoing condition, it is hereby understood and agreed that (a) any change to the definition of Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement) shall be deemed materially adverse to the Lenders, (b) any reduction in the price per share of the common stock of the Target (except as contemplated by the Acquisition Agreement) is not materially adverse to the interests of the Lenders but shall be applied to reduce the Additional Term Loans on a dollar for dollar basis and (c) any increase in the price per share of the common stock of the Target shall be deemed materially adverse unless funded with (i) equity or (ii) solely in an amount of up to $20,000,000, with cash on hand or drawn under the Borrower’s revolving credit facility under the Existing Credit Agreement. The Specified Acquisition Agreement Representations shall be true and correct to the extent provided in the “Certain Funds Provisions” and the Specified Representations shall be true and correct in all material respects.

2.     Fees . All fees required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Fee Letters and reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Commitment Letter, to the extent invoiced at least three business days prior to the Closing Date (except as otherwise reasonably agreed by the Borrower), shall, upon the initial borrowing of Additional Term Loans, have been, or will be substantially simultaneously, paid (which amounts may, at your option, be offset against the proceeds of the Additional Term Loans).

3.     Patriot Act . The Administrative Agent, Lead Arranger and the Lenders shall have received at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, all documentation and other information about each Loan Party (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement and including for the avoidance of doubt, the Target and the subsidiaries of the Target that are required to become Guarantors under the Loan Documents (collectively, the “ Target Guarantors ”)) as shall have been reasonably requested in writing by the Administrative Agent or the Lead Arranger at least ten business days prior to the Closing Date and as required by U.S. regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act.

 

 

1   Capitalized terms used in this Exhibit B shall have the meanings set forth in the Commitment Letter to which this Exhibit B is attached (the “ Commitment Letter ”) and the other Exhibits attached to the Commitment Letter.

 

B-1


4.     Closing Certificates . The Administrative Agent shall have received a customary certificate of each Loan Party dated the Closing Date delivered by a responsible officer thereof, (i) certifying and attaching copies of the relevant charters, bylaws and incumbency certificates (or similar documents) of each Loan Party (or certifying as to no change since the Closing Date (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement)), (ii) certifying and attaching resolutions from each Loan Party authorizing (a) the execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documentation to which it is a party and (b) in the case of the Borrower, the extensions of credit contemplated hereunder, (iii) certifying and attaching good standing certificates in each jurisdiction of formation/organization, in each case with respect to each Loan Party, (b) a customary certificate of the Borrower dated the Closing Date delivered by a responsible officer thereof certifying as to (i) the matters set forth in Section 2.18.6 of the Existing Credit Agreement and (ii) the last sentence of paragraph 1 of this Exhibit B and paragraph 8 of this Exhibit B..

5.     Solvency Certificate . On the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate (substantially in the form of Annex B-I attached hereto) from the chief financial officer of the Borrower to the effect that after giving effect to the borrowing of the Additional Term Loans and the consummation of the Acquisition, the Borrower and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis are solvent.

6.     Legal Opinion . The Administrative Agent shall have received the executed legal opinions, in customary form, of (i) Kirkland & Ellis LLP, special New York counsel to the Loan Parties and (ii) special local counsel to the Loan Parties to be agreed. The Borrower hereby instructs and agrees to instruct the other Loan Parties to have such counsel deliver such legal opinions.

7.     Existing Debt at Target . Substantially simultaneously with the receipt of proceeds of the Additional Term Facility on the Closing Date, the Target’s credit agreement, dated as of November 18, 2015 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time), by and among Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as a borrower, the subsidiaries of the Inventure Foods, Inc. party thereto, the lenders party from time to time thereto and BSP Agency, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, as administrative agent will be repaid and the commitments thereunder terminated and liens granted in connection therewith released (the transactions described in this paragraph 7, the “ Target Refinancing ”).

8.     No Company Material Adverse Effect . Since the date of the Acquisition Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Acquisition Agreement).

9.     Credit Documentation . Subject in all respects to the Certain Funds Provisions, the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and any Additional Lender shall have executed and delivered the Credit Documentation, in each case consistent with the Commitment Letter.

10.     Guarantees and Collateral . Subject in all respects to the Certain Funds Provisions, (a) the Guarantees (which shall, in each case, be in accordance with the terms of the Commitment Letter and the Summary of Terms) by the Target Guarantors shall have been executed by the Target Guarantors and be in full force and effect or substantially simultaneously with the initial borrowing under the Additional Term Facility, shall be executed by the Target Guarantors and become in full force and effect, (b) all documents, instruments and actions required to be executed, delivered and/or taken to create and perfect the Administrative Agent’s security interests in the Collateral (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) shall have been

 

B-2


executed, delivered and/or taken by the Target Guarantors and, if applicable, be in proper form for filing (or reasonably satisfactory arrangements shall have been mutually agreed upon for the execution, delivery and filing of such documents and instruments substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions) and (c) a reaffirmation shall have been executed by the Loan Parties (other than the Target Guarantors).

11.     Note . The Borrower shall have delivered a Note (as defined in the Existing Credit Agreement) to any Lender requesting the same at least three business days prior to the Closing Date.

12.     Financial Statements . The Lead Arranger shall have received (a) audited consolidated balance sheets of the Target and its subsidiaries and related statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2016 and each fiscal year ended at least 90 days prior to the Closing Date, and (b) unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income, cash flows and stockholders’ equity of the Target and its subsidiaries for each of the subsequent fiscal quarters after the date of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (a) above and ended at least 45 days before the Closing Date; provided that the filing of the required financial statements on form 10-K and form 10-Q by the Target will satisfy the foregoing requirements with respect to the Target and its subsidiaries. The Lead Arranger acknowledges receipt of the financial statements referred to in clause (a) of this paragraph and the financial statements referred to in clause (b) for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 of this paragraph.

13.     Pro Forma Financials . The Lead Arranger shall have received a pro forma consolidated balance sheet and related pro forma consolidated statement of income of the Borrower as of and for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the most recently completed four-fiscal quarter period ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date (or 90 days in case such four-fiscal quarter period is the end of the Target’s fiscal year), prepared after giving effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date (in the case of such balance sheet) or at the beginning of such period (in the case of such statement of income).

14.     Marketing Period . The Lead Arranger shall have been afforded a period (the “ Marketing Period ”) of 10 consecutive business days to syndicate the Additional Term Facility commencing on the latest of (a) the receipt of the information in paragraphs 12 and 13 above and (b) the receipt by the Lead Arranger of a notice from the Borrower electing to commence syndication with respect to the financing arranged by MLPFS pursuant to the Commitment Letter (which notice shall also provide that the Lead Arranger shall not be required to commence or continue syndication with respect to any financing contemplated by the MLPFS Engagement Letter); provided that (i) such business day period shall not be required to be consecutive to the extent it would include November 24, 2017 (which date shall be excluded for purposes of, but shall not reset, the 10 consecutive business day marketing period), (ii) such 10 consecutive business day period shall have ended prior to December 15, 2017 or will restart as of January 2, 2018 and (iii) in no event shall the Marketing Period be restarted or cease to continue if additional financial statements as required pursuant to paragraphs 12 and 13 are delivered after such Marketing Period has commenced.

 

B-3


Annex B-I

Form of Solvency Certificate

Date:                     

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2017 (the “ Credit Agreement ”), among, inter alia , Utz Quality Foods, LLC (the “ Borrower ”), the lending institutions from time to time parties thereto (the “ Lenders ”), and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, as Administrative Agent.

Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement. This certificate is furnished pursuant to [●].

Solely in my capacity as a financial executive officer of the Borrower and not individually (and without personal liability), I hereby certify, that as of the date hereof, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions:

 

  1. The sum of the liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, does not exceed the present fair saleable value of the present assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis.

 

  2. The fair value of the property of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including contingent liabilities) of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis as such liabilities become absolute and mature.

 

  3. The capital of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, is not unreasonably small in relation to their business, taken as a whole, as contemplated on the date hereof.

 

  4. The Borrower and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have not incurred and do not intend to incur, or believe that they will incur, debts including current obligations beyond their ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise).

For purposes of this Certificate, the amount of any contingent liability has been computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing as of the date hereof, represents the amount that would reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Certificate this as of the date first written above.

 

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC
By:  

                                          

  Name:
  Title:

 

[Solvency Certificate]

Exhibit (d)(2)

MUTUAL NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENT

This Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement (this “Agreement” ) by and between Inventure Foods, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”), and Utz Quality Foods, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (each a “Party” and collectively, the “Parties” ), is dated as of the latest date set forth on the signature page hereto.

1.     General . In connection with the consideration of a possible negotiated transaction (a “Possible Transaction” ) between the Parties (each such Party being hereinafter referred to as a “Company” ), or between or among one or more of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates, each Company (in its capacity as a provider of information hereunder, a “Provider” ) is prepared to make available to the other Company (in its capacity as a recipient of information hereunder, a “Recipient” ) certain “Evaluation Material” (as defined in Section 2 below) in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, and to take or abstain from taking certain other actions as hereinafter set forth.

2.     Definitions .

(a)    The term “Evaluation Material” means information concerning the Provider which has been or is furnished to the Recipient or its Representatives in connection with the Recipient’s evaluation of a Possible Transaction, including its business, financial condition, operations, assets and liabilities, and includes all notes, analyses, compilations, studies, interpretations or other documents prepared by the Recipient or its Representatives which contain or are based upon, in whole or in part, the information furnished by the Provider hereunder. The term Evaluation Material does not include information which (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by the Recipient or its Representatives in breach of this Agreement, (ii) was within the Recipient’s possession, as evidenced by written records or other conclusive evidence, prior to its being furnished to the Recipient by or on behalf of the Provider, provided that the source of such information was not known by the Recipient or its Representatives after due inquiry to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to, the Provider with respect to such information, (iii) is or becomes available to the Recipient on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than the Provider or its Representatives, provided that such source was not known by the Recipient or its Representatives after due inquiry to be bound by a confidentiality agreement with, or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of confidentiality to, the Provider with respect to such information or (iv) was or is independently developed by or for the Recipient without reference to the Evaluation Material.

(b)    The term “Representatives” means, as to the Recipient or Provider, as applicable, such Person’s subsidiaries and affiliates, and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, managers, partners, advisors (including, without limitation, attorneys, accountants, consultants, bankers and financial advisors), or potential sources of financing for the Possible Transaction.


(c)    The term “Person” includes the media and any corporation, partnership, group, individual or other entity.

3.     Use of Evaluation Material . Each Recipient shall, and it shall cause its Representatives to, use the Evaluation Material solely for the purpose of evaluating, negotiating, pursuing, or facilitating a Possible Transaction, keep the Evaluation Material confidential, and, subject to Section 5, will not, and will cause its Representatives not to, disclose any of the Evaluation Material in any manner whatsoever; provided, however , that any of such information may be disclosed to the Recipient’s Representatives who need to know such information for the sole purpose of helping the Recipient evaluate, negotiate, pursue or facilitate a Possible Transaction, and who are informed by the Recipient of the confidential nature of the Evaluation Material and who agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement as if they were parties hereto or who are otherwise bound by obligations of confidentiality consistent with this Agreement. Each Recipient agrees to be responsible for any breach of this Agreement by any of such Recipient’s Representatives. This Agreement does not grant a Recipient or any of its Representatives any license to use the Provider’s Evaluation Material except as provided herein.

4.     Non-Disclosure of Discussions . Subject to Section 5, each Company agrees that, without the prior written consent of the other Company, such Company will not, and it will cause its Representatives not to, disclose to any other Person (i) that Evaluation Material has been exchanged between the Companies, (ii) that discussions or negotiations are taking place between the Companies concerning a Possible Transaction; provided, however, Seller may disclose to other parties that there are other potential acquirers, without disclosing the identity of such parties, or (iii) any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to a Possible Transaction (including the status thereof), provided, however , that nothing contained herein shall be deemed to inhibit, impair or restrict the ability of Recipient or its Representatives from having discussions or negotiations with other persons relating to potential financing in connection with the Possible Transaction so long as each of such persons agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and Seller’s prior written consent (whether by e-mail or other formal written consent) is obtained prior to such discussions or negotiations.

5.     Legally Required Disclosure . If a Recipient or its Representatives are legally obligated, pursuant to a Federal or state court order or legal proceedings or pursuant to a subpoena or requirement of any governmental or regulatory agency or body, to disclose any of the Evaluation Material or any of the facts disclosure of which is prohibited under Section 4 above, such Recipient shall provide the Provider with prompt written notice of any such request or requirement together with copies of the material proposed to be disclosed so that the Provider may seek, at the Provider’s sole cost and expense, a protective order or other appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with the provisions of this Agreement. If, in the absence of a protective order or other remedy or the receipt of a waiver by the Provider, a Recipient or its Representatives are nonetheless legally compelled to disclose Evaluation Material or any of the facts disclosure of which is prohibited under Section 4 or otherwise be liable for contempt or suffer other censure or penalty, such Recipient or its Representatives may, without liability hereunder, disclose to such requiring Person only that portion of such Evaluation Material or any such facts which the Recipient or its Representatives is legally required to disclose, provided that the Recipient and/or its Representatives provide such cooperation with the Provider, as the Provider may reasonably request, to obtain an appropriate protective order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such Evaluation Material or such facts by the Person receiving the material.

 

2


6.     Return or Destruction of Evaluation Material . If either Company decides that it does not wish to proceed with a Possible Transaction, it will promptly inform the other Company of that decision. In that case, or at any time upon the request of a Provider for any reason, a Recipient will, and will cause its Representatives to, promptly (and in any event no later than ten business days of receipt of such notice), return all Evaluation Material along with all copies made thereof and all documents or things containing any portion of any Evaluation Material or otherwise destroy such Evaluation Material with a confirmation in writing from the Recipient with respect to such destruction; provided that the Recipient shall have no obligation to return any data, notes, analyses, compilations, studies, interpretations or other documents or records prepared by it or its Representatives based upon, containing or otherwise reflecting any Evaluation Materials. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, (i) neither the Recipient nor its Representatives will be obligated to erase any Evaluation Material that is contained in a computer system backup in accordance with their respective backup, security and/or disaster recovery procedures, (ii) the Recipient and its Representatives may maintain a file copy of any report rendered by such Representatives to the Recipient, (iii) neither the Recipient nor its Representatives shall be prohibited from retaining any Evaluation Material if required by applicable law, regulation or professional standards and (iv) one copy of the Evaluation Material may be kept by legal counsel for compliance and evidentiary purposes. Notwithstanding the return or destruction of the Evaluation Material, the Recipient and its Representatives will continue to be bound by such Recipient’s obligations hereunder with respect to such Evaluation Material.

7.     No Solicitation/Employment . Neither Recipient will, within one year from date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly solicit the employment or consulting services of or employ or engage as a consultant any of the officers or employees of the Provider, so long as they are employed by the Provider at the time of such solicitation or hiring. A Recipient is not prohibited from soliciting by means of a general advertisement not directed at (i) any particular individual or (ii) the employees of the Provider generally.

8.     Standstill . Each Company agrees that, for a period of eighteen months after the latest date set forth on the signature page hereto, unless specifically invited in writing by the other Company, neither it nor any of its Representatives (acting on behalf of or in concert with such Company or its other Representatives) will in any manner, directly or indirectly:

(a)    effect, seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect, or cause or participate in, or in any way assist any other Person to effect, seek, offer or propose (whether publicly or otherwise) to effect or participate in:

 

  (i) any acquisition of any securities (or beneficial ownership thereof), assets, indebtedness of the other Company or any of its subsidiaries,

 

  (ii) any tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination involving the other Company or any of its subsidiaries,

 

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  (iii) any recapitalization, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or other extraordinary transaction with respect to the other Company or any of its subsidiaries, or

 

  (iv) any “solicitation” of “proxies” (as such terms are used in the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission) or consents to vote any voting securities of the other Company;

(b)    form, join or in any way participate in a “group” (as defined under the 1934 Act) with respect to the securities of the other Company;

(c)    make any public announcement with respect to, or submit an unsolicited proposal for or offer of (with or without condition), any extraordinary transaction involving the other Company or its securities, assets or indebtedness;

(d)    otherwise act, alone or in concert with others, to seek to control or influence the management, Board of Directors or policies of the other Company;

(e)    take any action which might force the other Company to make a public announcement regarding any of the types of matters set forth in (a) above; or

(f)    enter into any discussions or arrangements with any third party with respect to any of the foregoing.

Each Company also agrees during such period not to request the other Company (or its directors, officers, employees or agents), directly or indirectly, to amend or waive any provision of this Section 8 (including this sentence). The foregoing restrictions in this Section 8 shall not apply to any of a Company’s Representatives effecting or recommending transactions in securities (1) in the ordinary course of its business as an investment advisor, broker, dealer in securities, market maker, specialist or block positioner and (2) not at the direction or request of such Company or any of its other Representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this paragraph 8 shall not apply if (a) a third party enters into any agreement with the Company providing for the acquisition (by way of merger or otherwise) of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries representing more than 50% of the consolidated revenues or earnings power of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (b) any person commences a tender or exchange offer which, if consummated, would result in such person’s acquisition of beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company, and in connection therewith, the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Schedule 14D-9 with respect to such offer that recommends that the Company’s stockholders reject such offer; or (c) the Company’s Board of Directors (or any duly constituted committee thereof composed entirely of independent directors) shall have determined in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to waive, limit, amend or otherwise modify the Standstill, would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Company’s directors under applicable law; provided, however, that with respect to clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this sentence, you shall not have solicited, initiated, encouraged or taken any action to facilitate or assist or participate with any such other person or group in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by clauses (a), (b) and (c) of this sentence.

 

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9.     Maintaining Privileges . If any Evaluation Material includes materials or information subject to the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or any other applicable privilege concerning pending or threatened legal proceedings or governmental investigations, each Company understands and agrees that the Companies have a commonality of interest with respect to such matters and it is the desire, intention and mutual understanding of the Companies that the sharing of such material is not intended to, and shall not, waive or diminish in any way the confidentiality of such material or its continued protection under the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or other applicable privilege. All Evaluation Material provided by a Company that is entitled to protection under the attorney-client privilege, work product doctrine or other applicable privilege shall remain entitled to such protection under these privileges, this Agreement, and under the joint defense doctrine.

10.     Compliance with Securities Laws . Each Recipient agrees not to use any Evaluation Material of the Provider in violation of applicable securities laws.

11.     Not a Transaction Agreement . Except for matters specifically agreed to in this Agreement, each Company understands and agrees that no contract or agreement providing for a Possible Transaction exists between the Companies unless and until a final definitive agreement for a Possible Transaction has been executed and delivered, and each Company hereby waives any claims (including, without limitation, breach of contract) relating to the existence of a Possible Transaction except those arising as a result of, and pursuant to the terms and conditions of, a final, executed and delivered, definitive agreement. Each Company also agrees that, unless and until a final definitive agreement regarding a Possible Transaction has been executed and delivered, neither Company will be under any legal obligation of any kind whatsoever with respect to such Possible Transaction by virtue of this Agreement except for the matters specifically agreed to herein. Neither Company is under any obligation to accept any proposal regarding a Possible Transaction and either Company may terminate discussions and negotiations with the other Company at any time.

12.     No Representations or Warranties: No Obligation to Disclose . Each Recipient understands and acknowledges that neither the Provider nor its Representatives makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the Evaluation Material furnished by or on behalf of such Provider and shall have no liability to the Recipient, its Representatives or any other Person relating to or resulting from the use of the Evaluation Material furnished to such Recipient or its Representatives or any errors therein or omissions therefrom. As to the information delivered to the Recipient, each Provider will only be liable for those representations or warranties which are made in a final definitive agreement regarding a Possible Transaction, when, as and if executed, and subject to such limitations and restrictions as may be specified therein. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as obligating a Company to provide, or to continue to provide, any information to any Person.

13.     Modifications and Waiver . No provision of this Agreement can be waived or amended in favor of either Party except by written consent of the other Party, which consent shall specifically refer to such provision and explicitly make such waiver or amendment. No

 

5


failure or delay by either Party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or future exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder.

14.     Remedies . Each Company understands and agrees that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach of this Agreement by either Company or any of its Representatives and that the Company against which such breach is committed shall be entitled to equitable relief, including injunction and specific performance, as a remedy for any such breach or threat thereof. Such remedies shall not be deemed to be the exclusive remedies for a breach by either Company of this Agreement, but shall be in addition to all other remedies available at law or equity to the Company against which such breach is committed.

15.     Legal Fees . In the event of litigation relating to this Agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that either Company or its Representatives has breached this Agreement, then the Company which is, or the Company whose Representatives are, determined to have so breached shall be liable and pay to the other Company the reasonable legal fees and costs incurred by the other Company in connection with such litigation, including any appeal therefrom.

16.     Governing Law . This Agreement is for the benefit of each Company and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such State. Each Company also hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Delaware located within the County of Wilmington and of the United States of America located in the Federal District Court of that State for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement and any Possible Transaction. Each Company agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts, and further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such Company’s address set forth below shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto brought against such Company in any such court. Each Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement or the Possible Transaction in any such court, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

17.     Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants or restrictions contained in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and if a covenant or provision is determined to be unenforceable by reason of its extent, duration, scope or otherwise, then the Companies intend and hereby request that the court or other authority making that determination shall only modify such extent, duration, scope or other provision to the extent necessary to make it enforceable and enforce them in their modified form for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

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18.     Construction . The Companies have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. If an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Companies and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring either Company by virtue of the authorship at any of the provisions of this Agreement.

19.     Term . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the foregoing restrictions shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the earlier of (a) two years from the latest date set forth on the signature page hereto or (b) the date upon which a Possible Transaction is consummated.

20.     Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the Companies regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, arrangements and discussions between the Companies regarding such subject matter,

21.     Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall be deemed to constitute a single instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned entities has caused this Agreement to be signed by its duly authorized representatives as of the date indicated below.

 

INVENTURE FOODS, INC.     UTZ QUALITY FOODS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Steve Weinberger

    By:  

/s/ Dylan Lissette

       Name: Steve Weinberger            Name: Dylan Lissette
       Title:   CFO            Title:   CEO
       Date:   9/26/16            Date:   9/12/16

 

7

Exhibit (d)(3)

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

August 25, 2017

Inventure Foods, Inc.

5415 East High Street

Suite 350

Phoenix, AZ 85054

Attention: Terry McDaniel, Chief Executive Officer

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As you are aware, Utz Quality Foods, LLC (“ Buyer” ) and Inventure Foods, Inc. (the “ Company ”) have engaged in preliminary, non-binding discussions regarding the terms of a possible acquisition of the Company by Buyer or its affiliate (the “ Proposed Transaction ”). Although no definitive agreements have been entered into regarding the Proposed Transaction, Buyer and the Company have concluded that it is in their mutual best interests to continue these discussions. Accordingly, Buyer and the Company hereby agree that during the Exclusivity Period (as defined below), Buyer and the Company shall continue to discuss on an exclusive basis the Proposed Transaction, including the negotiation of the terms thereof and the definitive documentation regarding the same. The foregoing notwithstanding, Buyer shall in good faith promptly inform the Company in writing if at any time during the Exclusivity Period Buyer determines that (i) it no longer intends to pursue the Proposed Transaction or (ii) it intends to reduce the Purchase Price or the amount of the Inventure Closing Costs above which the proceeds to the Company’s security holders would be reduced as set forth in that certain non-binding indication of interest between Buyer and the Company of even date herewith, and within seven days after such written notification(s) of such intent the Company, at its option by written notice to Buyer, may terminate the Exclusivity Period.

Exclusivity Period ” shall mean the period of time beginning on the date that this letter is signed by Buyer and the Company and expiring at 5 p.m. PT on the later of (i) October 16, 2017, or (ii) the twenty-first day after the date of the Company’s closing of the sale of the frozen fruit business, or such other time as Buyer and the Company shall mutually agree in writing; provided that if the closing of the sale of the frozen fruit business does not occur by October 16, 2017, thereafter the Company shall have the option to terminate the Exclusivity Period (a “ FF Cessation Termination ”), by giving written notice to Buyer, if the Company (a) confirms in writing to Buyer in such notice that the Company and its Representatives (as defined below) have ceased all efforts with respect to the sale of the frozen fruit business pursuant to a Company board resolution, and (b) agrees to either (y) reimburse Buyer for 75% of the legal, accounting and other due diligence expenses incurred by Buyer during the Exclusivity Period, such reimbursement not to exceed $500,000 (the “ Buyer Diligence Reimbursement Expenses ”), or (z) convert the Proposed Transaction to an asset sale of the snack business. The Exclusivity Period will expire 15 days after receipt by Buyer of such termination notice in accordance with the foregoing, in order to give Buyer and the Company time to consider next steps or convert the merger agreement to an asset sale (if that option was elected by the Company). If the Company does not have sufficient funds to pay the Buyer Diligence Reimbursement Expenses upon

 

900 High Street, Hanover, PA 17331 ● (717) 637-6644


Inventure Foods, Inc.

August 25, 2017

Page 2

 

termination of the Exclusivity Period, the Company shall reimburse Buyer for the Buyer Diligence Reimbursement Expenses on or before the two year anniversary of the termination of the Exclusivity Period. If the Company or its Representatives are still actively attempting to sell the frozen fruit business (i.e. working with advisors, discussing with prospective buyers, providing due diligence, etc.), the Exclusivity Period will continue and cannot be terminated pursuant to an FF Cessation Termination.

If the Exclusivity Period is validly terminated by the Company pursuant to an FF Cessation Termination and thereafter the Company begins negotiations with a prospective buyer of the frozen fruit business in the future, the Company must first discuss with Buyer and negotiate exclusively with Buyer for the sale of the snack business. If the Company and Buyer cannot agree on timing and a price within 10 days after the first discussions between the Company and Buyer referred to in the preceding sentence, then the Company is permitted to discuss the sale of the snack business or the Company with other third parties. If the Company and Buyer do agree on timing and a price as a result of those discussions, there will be an exclusivity period of 30 days after such agreement to allow Buyer to update its prior diligence and proceed to signing a merger agreement. If the Company and the Buyer enter into such a merger agreement, upon closing of the Proposed Transaction with the Company, Buyer will reimburse the Company for any Buyer Diligence Reimbursement Expenses previously paid by the Company to Buyer.

During the Exclusivity Period, the Company must reasonably promptly provide Buyer with (i) periodic updates on the material status of the frozen fruit business sale and (ii) copies of all drafts of the definitive documents related to the frozen fruit business sale.

In consideration of the time, effort and expense to be undertaken by Buyer in connection with the pursuit of the Proposed Transaction, and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company hereby agrees that, during the Exclusivity Period, the Company shall not, and shall not authorize or permit any of its Representatives to, directly or indirectly, engage in, or continue, any of the following actions: (a) solicit, initiate, or knowingly encourage any inquiries or discussions or the making of any proposal from a person or group of persons other than Buyer and its affiliates that may constitute, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Transaction (as defined below); (b) enter into, continue or participate in any discussions or negotiations with any person or group of persons other than Buyer and its affiliates regarding an Alternative Transaction; (c) furnish any information that has not been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, assets or businesses, or afford access to the assets, business, properties, books or records of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any person or group of persons other than Buyer and its representatives, in all cases for the purpose of assisting with or facilitating an Alternative Transaction; (d) grant any waiver or release of any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any class of equity securities of the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries; or (e) enter into an Alternative Transaction or any agreement, arrangement or understanding, including, without limitation, any

 

2


Inventure Foods, Inc.

August 25, 2017

Page 3

 

letter of intent, term sheet or other similar document, relating to an Alternative Transaction, other than with Buyer and its affiliates. This paragraph shall not prohibit the Company from engaging in actions necessary solely to consummate the sale of only its frozen fruit business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, immediately upon execution of this letter, the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, terminate any and all existing discussions or negotiations with any person or group of persons other than Buyer and its affiliates regarding an Alternative Transaction.

As used herein, the term “ Representatives ” means the Company’s directors, officers, employees, agents, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, consultants, advisors and other representatives.

As used herein, the term “ Alternative Transaction ” means any transaction or series of transactions involving any (a) direct or indirect sale, lease, exchange, transfer, exclusive license, acquisition or disposition of any business or businesses or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including any equity interests of the Company’s subsidiaries), other than in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, this item (a) shall not apply to the Company’s sale of its frozen fruit business or other assets that are not used or useful in the snack food business of the Company or its subsidiaries, (b) direct or indirect acquisition of voting equity interests of the Company, (c) merger, consolidation, amalgamation, share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, tender offer, exchange offer or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (d) liquidation or dissolution (or the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution) of the Company or the declaration or payment of an extraordinary dividend (whether in cash or other property) by the Company; in all cases of clauses (a)-(c) where such transaction is to be entered into with any person or group of persons (including the Representatives of the Company) other than Buyer or its affiliates.

During the Exclusivity Period, the Company shall promptly notify Buyer in writing of the receipt by the Company or any of its Representatives of any oral or written offer, indication of interest, proposal or inquiry that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Alternative Transaction, and with respect to any oral or written offer, indication of interest or proposal, such notice to include the material terms thereof, including the identity of the person or group of persons involved. Upon such receipt, the Company shall promptly advise the person or entity delivering such offer, indication, proposal or inquiry that the Company is in good faith exclusive negotiations and cannot entertain an offer. The Company shall promptly furnish Buyer with a copy of any written offer or other information that it receives relating to an Alternative Transaction and shall keep Buyer fully informed on a current basis of the status and material terms thereof.

The parties hereto acknowledge that a breach of this letter would cause irreparable harm for which monetary damages would be an inadequate remedy. Accordingly, the Company and Buyer each hereby agree that the other party may seek equitable relief in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this letter, including injunctive relief against any breach thereof and

 

3


Inventure Foods, Inc.

August 25, 2017

Page 4

 

specific performance of any provision thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which such party may be entitled, which other remedies include, without limitation, the Company reimbursing Buyer for out-of-pocket expenses of Buyer, its affiliates and their representatives incurred in connection with its pursuing the Proposed Transaction.

The parties hereto acknowledge that the execution and delivery of this letter does not create any legally binding obligations between the parties relating to the Proposed Transaction except those specifically set forth in this letter. Each party acknowledges and agrees that this letter expresses the parties’ interests in continuing discussions regarding the Proposed Transaction and is not intended to, and does not, create any legally binding obligation on any party to consummate the Proposed Transaction. Such an obligation will arise only upon the execution and delivery of final definitive agreements relating to the Proposed Transaction.

The parties agree that the certain Mutual Nondisclosure Agreement signed by the parties in September, 2016 shall remain in full force and effect (the “ Confidentiality Agreement ”). The existence and terms of this exclusivity agreement, the existence of discussions and negotiations between the parties, and the existence and terms of any proposal regarding a Possible Transaction shall all be considered confidential information, and accordingly the rights and obligations of the parties with respect thereto shall be governed by the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement.

This letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware.

This letter may be executed and delivered by facsimile, pdf or other electronic transmission and, upon such delivery, the facsimile, pdf or other electronic transmission will be deemed to have the same effect as if the original signature had been delivered to the other party. This letter may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

4


Inventure Foods, Inc.

August 25, 2017

Page 5

 

If this letter accurately sets forth our understanding, kindly execute the enclosed copy of this letter and return it to the undersigned, whereupon this letter will become a legally binding agreement.

 

Very truly yours,
Utz Quality Foods, LLC
By:   /s/ Dylan Lissette
Name: Dylan Lissette
Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
Inventure Foods, Inc.
By:   /s/ Terry McDaniel
Name: Terry McDaniel
Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

5

Exhibit (d)(4)

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

October 17, 2017

Inventure Foods, Inc.

5415 East High Street

Suite 350

Phoenix, AZ 85054

Attention: Terry McDaniel, Chief Executive Officer

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain letter agreement regarding exclusivity (the “ EA ”), dated August 25, 2017, between Utz Quality Foods, LLC (“ Buyer ”) and Inventure Foods, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

Clause (i) of the first sentence of the second paragraph of the EA is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: “(i) October 19, 2017, or”.

Except as expressly modified hereby, the EA is and will remain unmodified and in full force and effect. Each future reference to the EA will refer to the EA as modified by this letter.

If this letter accurately sets forth our understanding, kindly execute a copy of this letter and return it to the undersigned, whereupon this letter will become a legally binding agreement. This letter may be executed and delivered by facsimile, pdf or other electronic transmission and, upon such delivery, the facsimile, pdf or other electronic transmission will be deemed to have the same effect as if the original signature had been delivered to the other party. This letter may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement.

 

Very truly yours,
Utz Quality Foods, LLC
By:   /s/ Dylan Lissette
Name: Dylan Lissette
Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
Inventure Foods, Inc.
By:   /s/ Terry McDaniel
Name: Terry McDaniel
Title: Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit (d)(5)

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, LLC

October 19, 2017

Inventure Foods, Inc.

5415 East High Street

Suite 350

Phoenix, AZ 85054

Attention: Terry McDaniel, Chief Executive Officer

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain letter agreement regarding exclusivity (the “ EA ”), dated August 25, 2017, between Utz Quality Foods, LLC (“ Buyer ”) and Inventure Foods, Inc. (the “ Company ”).

Clause (i) of the first sentence of the second paragraph of the EA is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows: “(i) October 25, 2017, or”.

Except as expressly modified hereby, the EA is and will remain unmodified and in full force and effect. Each future reference to the EA will refer to the EA as modified by this letter.

If this letter accurately sets forth our understanding, kindly execute a copy of this letter and return it to the undersigned, whereupon this letter will become a legally binding agreement. This letter may be executed and delivered by facsimile, pdf or other electronic transmission and, upon such delivery, the facsimile, pdf or other electronic transmission will be deemed to have the same effect as if the original signature had been delivered to the other party. This letter may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement.

 

Very truly yours,
Utz Quality Foods, LLC
By:   /s/ Dylan Lissette
Name: Dylan Lissette
Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
Inventure Foods, Inc.
By:   /s/ Steve Weinberger
Name: Steve Weinberger
Title: Chief Financial Officer