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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14D-9

(Rule 14d-101)

(Amendment No. 1)

 

 

Solicitation/Recommendation Statement

Under Section 14(d)(4) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Coty Inc.

(Name of Subject Company)

 

 

Coty Inc.

(Name of Persons Filing Statement)

 

 

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

222070203

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

 

 

Greerson G. McMullen

Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary

Coty Inc.

350 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10118

(212) 389-7300

(Name, address, and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications on behalf of the persons filing statement)

Copies to:

 

Brian J. Fahrney

Scott R. Williams

Christopher R. Hale

Sidley Austin LLP

One South Dearborn Street

Chicago, Illinois 60603

(312) 853-7000

 

John H. Butler

Sidley Austin LLP

787 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

(212) 839-5300

 

 

 

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

 

 

 


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     Page  

Purpose of the Amendment

     1  

Item 1. Subject Company Information.

     1  

Name and Address

     1  

Securities

     1  

Item 2. Identity and Background of Filing Person .

     1  

Name and Address

     1  

Tender Offer

     1  

Item 3. Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements .

     6  

Relationship with Offeror

     6  

Actual or Potential Conflicts of Interest Between the Company’s Directors and the JAB Group

     6  

Consideration Payable Pursuant to the Offer

     6  

Potential Severance and Change in Control Benefits

     7  

Directors’ Compensation

     8  

Compensation to Members of the Special Committee

     8  

Certain Transactions Between the Company and Offeror and its Affiliates

     8  

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

     10  

Item 4. The Solicitation or Recommendation.

     11  

Solicitation/Recommendation

     11  

Background of the Offer and Reasons for Recommendation

     12  

Projections Used by the Special Committee

     25  

Opinion of the Special Committee’s Financial Advisor

     27  

Intent to Tender

     35  

Item 5. Persons/Assets, Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used.

     35  

Item 6. Interest in Securities of the Subject Company .

     36  

Item 7. Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals.

     36  

Item 8. Additional Information .

     37  

Information Regarding Compensation for Termination following a Change in Control

     37  

Appraisal Rights

     37  

Regulatory Approvals

     37  

Item 9. Materials to Be Filed as Exhibits .

     42  


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Purpose of the Amendment

The purpose of this Amendment No. 1 on Schedule 14D-9 is to amend and restate the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) on February 27, 2019 (the “ Original Statement ”).

 

Item 1.

Subject Company Information.

Name and Address

The name of the subject company to which this Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (together with the exhibits hereto, this “ Statement ”) relates is Coty Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Company is 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10118. The Company’s telephone number at this address is (212) 389-7300.

Securities

The title of the class of equity securities to which this Statement relates is the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Class  A Common Stock ” or “ Shares ”), of the Company. As of March 11, 2019, there were (a) 751,388,110 Shares outstanding (including 29,722 shares of restricted stock), (b) 28,904,683 Shares subject to issuance pursuant to options granted by the Company to purchase Shares, (c) 10,651,133 Shares subject to issuance upon settlement of restricted stock units granted by the Company, (d) a maximum of 495,074 Shares subject to issuance upon the exchange by the Company of Series A Preferred Stock and (e) a maximum of 6,925,341 Shares subject to issuance upon the exchange by the Company of Series A-1 Preferred Stock, in each case subject to satisfaction of vesting or other forfeiture requirements.

 

Item 2.

Identity and Background of Filing Person.

Name and Address

The name, business address and business telephone number of the Company, which is the subject company and the person filing this Statement, are set forth in Item 1 above. The Company’s website address is www.coty.com. The information on the Company’s website should not be considered a part of this Statement or incorporated herein by reference.

Tender Offer

This Statement relates to the tender offer by Cottage Holdco B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands (“ Offeror ”), which, according to the Schedule TO (as defined below), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JAB Cosmetics B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands (“ Parent ”), to purchase up to 150,000,000 of the outstanding Shares of the Company, at a price of  $11.65 per Share (the “ Offer Price ”), net to the seller in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated February 13, 2019, as amended on February 26, 2019 (and, after giving effect to the amendment to the Schedule TO to be filed substantially concurrently with this Statement, the “ Offer to Purchase ”), and in the related Letter of Transmittal (the “ Letter of Transmittal ,” and together with the Offer to Purchase, the “ Offer ”). The Offer is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (together with the exhibits thereto, as amended on February 26, 2019 and, after giving effect to the amendment to the Schedule TO to be filed substantially concurrently with this Statement, the “ Schedule TO ”), filed jointly by the JAB Group (as defined below) with the SEC on February 13, 2019. According to the Offer to


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Purchase, the Offer will expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City Time, on March 29, 2019 (the “ Expiration Date ”), unless the Offer is extended or earlier terminated. The JAB Group consists of (i) Offeror, (ii) Parent, (iii) JAB Holdings B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands, which is the parent company of Parent (“ JAB Holdings ”), (iv) Agnaten SE, a private company incorporated under the laws of Austria, which is an indirect stockholder of JAB Holdings (“ Agnaten ”) and (v) Lucresca SE, a private company incorporated under the laws of Austria, which is an indirect stockholder of JAB Holdings (“ Lucresca ”, and together with Offeror, Parent, JAB Holdings and Agnaten, the “ JAB Group ”). The Company does not take any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information described in this Statement contained in the Offer or the Schedule TO.

According to the Schedule TO, the purpose of the Offer is for the JAB Group to increase its ownership of the Company through the acquisition of additional Shares. Also according to the Schedule TO, the JAB Group indicated that it believes in the Company’s long-term value, and the consummation of the Offer would allow the Company’s current stockholders to realize a significant premium to the stock price immediately prior to the announcement of the Offer and would prove to be an efficient way to sell their Shares without incurring broker’s fees or commissions with open market sales. According to the Schedule TO, Parent owns 300,908,041 Shares, or approximately 40% of the issued and outstanding Shares of the Company.

According to the Schedule TO, the Offer is subject to numerous conditions, which include the following, among others:

 

   

the “Minimum Tender Condition” – there being validly tendered and not withdrawn at least 75,471,655 Shares (after giving effect to the amendment to the Schedule TO to be filed substantially concurrently with this Statement); and

 

   

the “Board Support Condition” – this Statement (together with all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto) containing a recommendation by independent directors of the Company that the stockholders of the Company accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

In addition, Offeror is not required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”) (relating to Offeror’s obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares promptly after termination or expiration of the Offer), pay for any Shares, and may terminate or amend the Offer, if at any time on or after the date of the Offer to Purchase and before the time of payment for such Shares (whether or not any Shares have theretofore been accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer), any of the following conditions exist:

 

   

there shall have been instituted, pending or Offeror shall have been definitively notified of any person’s intent to commence, or in Offeror’s reasonable judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that any person intends to commence, any litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation before any supra-national, national, state, provincial, municipal or local government, governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality or commission or any court, tribunal or judicial or arbitral body (each, a “Governmental Entity”): (A) challenging or seeking to, or which, in the reasonable judgment of Offeror, is reasonably likely to, make illegal, materially delay or otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain or prohibit or, which in Offeror’s reasonable judgment is reasonably likely to, make materially more costly, or in which there are material allegations of any violation of law, rule or regulation relating to, the making of or terms of the Offer or the provisions of the Offer or, the acceptance of the Shares pursuant to the Offer by Offeror or any other subsidiary or affiliate of Offeror (including the JAB Group), or seeking to obtain material damages in connection with the Offer; (B) seeking to, or which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror is reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or materially limit the full rights of ownership or operation by the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or

 

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affiliates of all or any of the business or assets of the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates (including in respect of the capital stock or other equity of their respective subsidiaries) or to compel the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to dispose of or to hold separate all or any material portion of the business or assets of the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates; (C) seeking to, or which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror is reasonably likely to, impose or confirm any material voting, procedural, price or other requirements in addition to those required by federal securities laws (as in effect on February 13, 2019) in connection with the making of the Offer or the acceptance of some or all of the Shares by Offeror or any subsidiary or affiliate of Offeror; (D) seeking to, or which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror is reasonably likely to, require divestiture or holding separate by Offeror or any other subsidiary or affiliate of Offeror of any material portion of the businesses or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; (E) seeking, or which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror is reasonably likely to result in, any material diminution in the benefits reasonably expected to be derived by Offeror or any other subsidiary or affiliate of Offeror as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Offer; (F) relating to the Offer, which, in the reasonable judgment of Offeror, might materially adversely affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or Offeror or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the value of the Shares; or (G) which could reasonably be expected to otherwise prevent, adversely affect or materially delay consummation of the Offer;

 

   

any action is taken, or any statute, rule, regulation, interpretation, judgment, injunction, order or decree is proposed, enacted, enforced, promulgated, amended, issued or deemed applicable to the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, the Offer, the acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares, or any merger or other business combination involving the Company, by any Governmental Entity (other than the application of the waiting period provisions of any antitrust laws to the Offer or to any such merger or other business combination), that does or may, directly or indirectly, result in any of the consequences referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph that, in Offeror’s reasonable judgment, has or may have a material adverse effect with respect to either the value of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the value of the Shares to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates;

 

   

any clearance, approval, permit, authorization, waiver, determination, favorable review or consent of any governmental or regulatory authority or agency or other person required in the reasonable judgment of Offeror in connection with the Offer shall not have been obtained on terms reasonably satisfactory to Offeror and such approvals shall not be in full force and effect, or any applicable waiting periods or extension thereof imposed by any Governmental Entity for such clearances or approvals shall not have expired;

 

   

there shall have occurred (A) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market in the United States, (B) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks by Governmental Entities in the United States, (C) any limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any Governmental Entity on, or other event, fact or other circumstance which, in the reasonable judgment of Offeror, could materially adversely affect, the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions, (D) commencement of a war, armed hostilities or the occurrence of any other national or international calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States or any other jurisdiction in which the Company or its subsidiaries does business or any attack on, or outbreak or act of terrorism involving, the United States, or any other jurisdiction in which the Company or its subsidiaries does business, (E) a material change in the United States dollar or any other currency exchange rates or a suspension of, or limitation on, the markets therefor, (F) any change in the general political, market, economic

 

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or financial conditions in the United States or other jurisdictions in which the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates do business that could, in the reasonable judgment of Offeror, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities, capitalization, shareholders’ equity, licenses, franchises, operations or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, (G) any decline in either the Dow Jones Industrial Average, or the S&P Index of 500 Industrial Companies or the NASDAQ-100 Index by an amount in excess of 15% measured from the close of business at the time of the announcement of the Offer or any decline in the market price of the Shares by an amount in excess of 15% measured from the close of business at the time of the announcement of the Offer or (H) in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the time of commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or worsening thereof;

 

   

the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (A) split, combined or otherwise changed, or authorized or proposed the split, combination or other material change of, the Shares or its capitalization; (B) acquired or otherwise caused a material reduction in the number of, or authorized or proposed the acquisition or other material reduction in the number of, outstanding Shares or other securities; (C) issued, distributed or sold, or authorized or proposed the issuance, distribution or sale of, additional Shares, shares of any other class or series of capital stock, other voting securities or any securities convertible into, or options, rights or warrants, conditional or otherwise, to acquire, any of the foregoing (other than the issuance of Shares pursuant to, and in accordance with, their publicly disclosed terms in effect as of February 13, 2019, of employee stock options or other equity awards, in each case publicly disclosed by the Company as outstanding prior to February 13, 2019), or any other securities or rights in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution or exchange for any shares of its capital stock, in each case, that, in Offeror’s reasonable judgment, has or may have a material adverse effect with respect to the value of the Shares to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; (D) permitted the issuance or sale of shares of any class of capital stock or other securities of any subsidiary of the Company, in each case, that, in Offeror’s reasonable judgment, has or may have a material adverse effect with respect to the value of the Shares to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; (E) declared, paid or proposed to declare or pay any dividend or other distribution on any shares of capital stock of the Company, including, without limitation, any distribution of shares of any class or any other securities or warrants or rights other than cash dividends that have been publicly disclosed by the Company as outstanding prior to February 13, 2019 and quarterly or annual cash dividends on the Shares paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (including as to amount and timing); (F) altered or proposed to alter any material term of any outstanding security, issued or sold, or authorized or proposed the issuance or sale of, any debt securities or otherwise incurred or authorized or proposed the incurrence of any debt other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or any debt containing, in the reasonable judgment of Offeror, burdensome covenants or security provisions; (G) authorized, recommended, proposed, announced its intent to enter into or entered into an agreement with respect to or effected any merger, amalgamation, offer to exchange, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, business combination, acquisition of assets, disposition of assets or release or relinquishment of any material contract or other right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any comparable event not in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; (H) authorized, recommended, proposed, announced its intent to enter into or entered into any agreement or arrangement with any person or group that, in Offeror’s reasonable judgment, has or may have a material adverse effect with respect to either the value of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the value of the Shares to Parent or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; or (I) amended, or authorized or proposed any amendment to, its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or other similar constituent documents), or Offeror becomes aware

 

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that the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have amended, or authorized or proposed any amendment to, its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or other similar constituent documents), which has not been publicly disclosed prior to February 13, 2019;

 

   

the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have (A) granted to any person proposing a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination with or involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the purchase or exchange of securities or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries any type of option, warrant or right which, in Offeror’s reasonable judgment, constitutes a “lock-up” device (including, without limitation, a right to acquire or receive any Shares or other securities, assets or business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries) or (B) paid or agreed to pay any cash or other consideration to any party in connection with or in any way related to any such business combination, purchase or exchange; which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror in any such case, and regardless of the events, facts or other circumstances giving rise to any such condition (other than any event, fact or other circumstance giving rise to the triggering of a condition within the control of Offeror), makes it inadvisable to proceed with the Offer and/or with acceptance of the Shares;

 

   

(A) a tender or exchange offer for some or all of the Shares has been publicly proposed to be made or has been publicly made by another person (including the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates), or has been publicly disclosed, or Offeror otherwise learns that any person or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) has acquired or proposes to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 5% of any class or series of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares), through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a group or otherwise, or is granted any option, right or warrant, conditional or otherwise, to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 5% of any class or series of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares) and other than as disclosed in a Schedule 13D or 13G on file with the SEC prior to February 13, 2019, (B) any such person or group which, prior to February 13, 2019, had filed such a Schedule 13D or 13G with the SEC has acquired or proposes to acquire beneficial ownership of additional shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company, through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a group or otherwise, constituting 1% or more of any such class or series, or is granted any option, right or warrant, conditional or otherwise, to acquire beneficial ownership of additional shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company constituting 1% or more of any such class or series, (C) any person or group has entered into a definitive agreement or an agreement in principle or made a proposal with respect to a tender or exchange offer of some or all of the Shares or a merger, amalgamation, consolidation or other business combination with or involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (D) any person (other than Offeror) has filed a Notification and Report Form under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”) (or amended a prior filing to increase the applicable threshold set forth therein) or made a public announcement reflecting an intent to acquire the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of the Company’s or any its subsidiaries’ material assets; or

 

   

any event, condition, development, circumstance, change or effect shall have occurred or be threatened that, individually or in the aggregate with any other events, conditions, developments, circumstances, changes and effects occurring on or after February 13, 2019 is or may be materially adverse to the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities, capitalization, shareholders’ equity, licenses, franchises, operations or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or Offeror shall have become aware of any facts that, in its reasonable judgment, individually or in the aggregate, have or may have a material adverse effect with respect to either the value of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or the value of the Shares to Offeror or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.

 

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According to the Schedule TO, the foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Offeror and its respective affiliates (other than the Company) and may be asserted by Offeror or may be waived by Offeror, in whole or in part, in the sole discretion of Offeror, subject to applicable law.

The Schedule TO states that the principal business address of each of Offeror, Parent and JAB Holdings is Oosterdoksstraat 80, 1011 DK Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and the telephone number for each is +31 20 406 10 01. The Schedule TO states that the principal business address of Agnaten and Lucresca is Rooseveltplatz 4-5/Top 10, A-1090 Vienna, Austria and the telephone number for both is +43 1 98650 105.

 

Item 3.

Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.

Except as described in this Statement or in the excerpts from the Company’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, dated and filed with the SEC on September 20, 2018 (the “ 2018 Proxy Statement ”), which excerpts are filed as Exhibit (e)(1) to this Statement and are hereby incorporated herein by reference, to the knowledge of the Company as of the date of this Statement, there are no material agreements, arrangements or understandings, nor any actual or potential material conflicts of interest, between the Company or any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and (i) the Company or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates, or (ii) Offeror or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates, on the other hand. Exhibit (e)(1) to this Statement includes the following sections from the 2018 Proxy Statement: “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” “Executive Compensation,” which includes “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Certain Relationships and Related Persons Transactions” and “Remuneration and Nomination Committee Report.”

Any information contained in the pages from the 2018 Proxy Statement incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed modified or superseded by the information contained herein to the extent inconsistent therewith.

Relationship with Offeror

According to the Schedule TO, as of February 13, 2019, affiliates of Offeror beneficially owned 300,908,041 Shares, in the aggregate, representing approximately 40% of the issued and outstanding Shares.

Actual or Potential Conflicts of Interest Between the Company’s Directors and the JAB Group

Of the nine members of the Company’s board of directors (the “ Board ”), four members are partners or a director equivalent of JAB Holding Company S.à r.l. (“ JAB Holding Company ”), the ultimate parent of the JAB Group. According to the Schedule TO, Olivier Goudet and Peter Harf is each a managing partner of JAB Holding Company, Anna-Lena Kamenetzky is a partner of JAB Holding Company, and Joachim Faber serves as Chairman of the Shareholder Committee of JAB Holding Company, which is a position similar to a director. According to the Schedule TO, Mr. Harf is also the managing director of Lucresca and Agnaten, and previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 1993 to 2001. Other than Messrs. Goudet, Harf and Faber and Ms. Kamenetzky, the Company is not aware of any actual or potential material conflicts of interest between any of the Company’s executive officers and directors, including members of the Special Committee, and the Company.

Consideration Payable Pursuant to the Offer

If the Company’s directors and executive officers were to tender and have any Shares they own purchased pursuant to the Offer, they would receive the same cash consideration on the same terms and conditions as the Company’s other stockholders whose Shares were purchased pursuant to the Offer. As of March 11, 2019, the Company’s directors and executive officers were deemed to beneficially own an aggregate of 9,132,111 Shares. If the Company’s directors and executive officers were to tender all such Shares for purchase pursuant to the Offer and those Shares were accepted for purchase and purchased by Offeror, the Company’s directors and executive officers would receive an aggregate amount of approximately $106,389,093 in cash. To the Company’s knowledge, after making reasonable inquiry, none of the Company’s executive officers, directors (including members of the Special Committee), affiliates and subsidiaries, as of the date hereof, intends to tender pursuant to the Offer any Shares held of record or beneficially owned by such person.

 

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The Offer, if consummated, will not constitute a change in control of the Company for purposes of the Company’s Equity and Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “ ELTIP ”) or the Company’s 2007 Stock Plan for Directors (the “ Directors Plan ”), filed as Exhibits (e)(2) and (e)(3) to this Statement. Accordingly, consummation of the Offer will not result in any outstanding and unvested equity award vesting or becoming exercisable.

Potential Severance and Change in Control Benefits

The Offer, if consummated, will not constitute a change in control of the Company for purposes of the ELTIP, the Directors Plan, the Company’s annual cash bonus plan filed as Exhibit (e)(4) to this Statement or any employment agreement between the Company or an affiliate of the Company and an executive officer (an “ Employment Agreement ”).

The terms of the Employment Agreements with Messrs. Sébastien Froidefond, Edgar Huber, Pierre Laubies, Greerson McMullen, Daniel Ramos, Giovanni Pieraccioni and Ms. Sylvia Moreau filed as Exhibits (e)(5), (e)(6), (e)(7), (e)(8), (e)(9), (e)(10) and (e)(11) to this Statement, as well as the terms of the Company’s form restrictive covenant agreements for the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland filed as Exhibits (e)(12), (e)(13), (e)(14) and (e)(15), respectively, to this Statement, may provide certain severance benefits to the executive officers upon a termination of employment with the Company or its affiliates not in connection with a change in control of the Company:

 

   

In consideration for adherence to a 24-month post-termination non-competition and non-solicitation restriction, Messrs. Froidefond and Huber are entitled to monthly payments equal to two-thirds of their respective gross monthly salaries during the restricted period.

 

   

Upon Mr. Laubies’ separation from service by the Company without cause or by him for good reason, he will receive base salary continuation and continued medical coverage at no cost to him for one year. Mr. Laubies’ continued medical coverage will end if he becomes eligible to receive comparable welfare benefits from a subsequent employer. As a condition to receiving the severance benefits described in this paragraph, Mr. Laubies is required to execute a general release and adhere to a 12-month post-termination non-solicitation restriction, a 12-month post-termination non-competition restriction, and a perpetual confidentiality obligation.

 

   

Mr. McMullen is entitled to 6 months’ notice of a termination of his Employment Agreement by the Company, or payment in lieu of such notice in an amount equal to the base salary he would have been entitled to receive during the notice period. If Mr. McMullen’s employment is terminated without cause, he will be entitled to an additional 6 months’ base salary.

 

   

Ms. Moreau and Messrs. Pieraccioni and Ramos are each entitled to 12 months’ base salary upon a termination of employment by the Company or its affiliates without cause. In addition, Mr. Pieraccioni is entitled to payment in an amount equal to his bonus at target level upon a termination of employment by the Company or its affiliates without cause.

 

   

Each of the executive officers may become entitled to up to 12 months’ base salary continuation in consideration for adherence to a 12-month post-termination non-competition restriction under the Company’s forms of restrictive covenant agreement. Messrs. Pieraccioni, and Ramos and Ms. Zafar are parties to the form of restrictive covenant agreement for the United States, Messrs. McMullen and Laubies are parties to the form of restrictive covenant agreement for the United Kingdom, Messrs. Froidefond and Huber are parties to the form of restrictive covenant agreement for France, and Ms. Moreau and Mr. Volatier are parties to the form of restrictive covenant agreement for Switzerland.

 

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Directors’ Compensation

Only directors who are not employees of the Company receive compensation for their services as directors. This compensation is as follows (other than in connection with service on the Special Committee, which is addressed in the following section):

Annual Cash Compensation for Board Service. For fiscal year 2019, each non-employee director except the Chairman of the Board and the Chair of each of the Audit and Finance Committee (the “ AFC ”) and the Remuneration and Nominating Committee of the Board (Messrs. Peter Harf, Robert Singer and Erhard Schoewel, respectively) is entitled to receive a cash retainer fee of $100,000 annually, payable in November and prorated for any partial year of service. For fiscal year 2019, the Chairman is entitled to receive a cash retainer fee of $400,000, prorated for the partial year of service. Mr. Harf became the Chairman of the Board in November of 2018 and will therefore be entitled to receive pro rata compensation in respect of his time during fiscal year 2019 as Chairman in an amount equal to $289,000. The Chair of each of the listed committees is entitled to receive a cash retainer fee of $130,000 annually.

Annual RSU Grant. Each non-employee director except the Chairman is entitled to receive an annual grant of 10,000 RSUs under the Directors Plan in the form of restricted stock unit award filed as Exhibit (e)(16) to this Statement, while the Chairman is entitled to receive an annual grant of 30,000 RSUs under the Directors Plan. RSUs vest on the fifth anniversary of the grant date, subject to full acceleration upon termination of service due to death or disability or upon a change in control and upon termination of service for any other reason if such termination occurs at least one year after the grant date. If a termination of service for any other reason occurs within one year after the grant date of RSUs, the RSUs will be subject to pro rata acceleration upon such termination.

Reimbursement of Expenses. Directors are reimbursed for reasonable expenses (including costs of travel, food and lodging) incurred when attending Board, committee and stockholder meetings. Directors are also reimbursed for other reasonable expenses relating to their service on the Board, such as expenses incurred during visits to the Company’s offices and facilities.

Compensation to Members of the Special Committee

In connection with the Offer, the Board established a special committee of independent directors (the “ Special Committee ”) to evaluate and make a recommendation with respect to the Offer. The members of the Special Committee are Ms. Sabine Chalmers and Messrs. Schoewel and Singer. The Board has resolved that, for services rendered in connection with serving on the Special Committee, each member of the Special Committee will receive, in addition to his or her compensation for services as a director, a single payment of $100,000 for the duration of his or her service as a member of the Special Committee, and the Company shall reimburse each member of the Special Committee for all reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the performance of his or her duties as a member of the Special Committee.

Certain Transactions Between the Company and Offeror and its Affiliates

The Company and certain of its affiliates, directors and executive officers have engaged in certain transactions and are parties to certain arrangements with the JAB Group and certain of its affiliates that may be deemed to be material. Information regarding these transactions and arrangements, including the amounts involved, is set forth below, as well as in the “Certain Relationships and Related Persons Transactions” section of the 2018 Proxy Statement.

Consent Agreement to Tax Matters Agreement.

In connection with the acquisition of The Procter & Gamble Company’s beauty business (the “ P&G Beauty Business ”), the Company entered into a tax matters agreement, dated as of October 1, 2016, with The Procter

 

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and Gamble Company (“ P&G ”) and certain of P&G’s and the Company’s subsidiaries (the “ Tax Matters Agreement ”), which governs the parties’ respective rights, responsibilities and obligations with respect to tax liabilities and attributes, efforts to protect the intended tax-free treatment of the P&G Beauty Business transaction and certain other transactions, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits, reviews, examinations or other tax proceedings and other matters regarding taxes.

The Company is a party to a consent agreement, dated January 31, 2017, with JAB Holding Company, Parent, and P&G whereby (i) P&G provided its consent under the Tax Matters Agreement to the purchase by Parent of Class A Common Stock in certain open market transactions, which occurred later in 2017, and (ii) JAB Holding Company, Parent and the Company agreed to indemnify P&G and its affiliates for any taxes resulting from such purchases or due to breach of the consent agreement.

Stockholders Agreement

On March 17, 2019, following a series of discussions and negotiations between representatives of the Special Committee and the JAB Group, and at the recommendation of the Special Committee and the approval of the Board, as described in more detail in Item 4 – The Solicitation or Recommendation Background of the Offer , the Company, JAB Holdings, Parent and Offeror (Offeror, together with JAB Holdings and Parent, the “ JAB Stockholder Parties ”) entered into a Stockholders Agreement (the “ Stockholders Agreement ”) pursuant to which, among other things, (i) during the three-year period following the consummation of the Offer, the JAB Stockholder Parties shall not, subject to certain exceptions, effect or enter into any agreement to effect any acquisition of additional Shares; provided that, in the event the Minimum Tender Condition is satisfied, the JAB Stockholder Parties may acquire Company Securities on an established securities exchange or through privately negotiated transactions that, after giving effect to such acquisition, does not result in an increase in the JAB Stockholder Parties’ and their affiliates’ collective beneficial ownership percentage of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Company Securities to an amount greater than the percentage of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Company Securities beneficially owned by the JAB Stockholder Parties, collectively, as of the consummation of the Offer, plus 9% (meaning, if the Offer is fully subscribed, a cap of approximately 69% for three years after the consummation of the Offer), (ii) during the three-year period following the consummation of the Offer, the JAB Stockholder Parties shall not, subject to certain exceptions, transfer any Shares to any other person or group (other than an affiliate of any of the JAB Stockholder Parties) that, after giving effect to such transfer, would beneficially own in excess of 20% of the voting power of the Company, (iii) for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the JAB Stockholder Parties shall not effect or seek to effect, or announce any intention to effect, any “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act unless such transaction is conditioned on both the affirmative approval of a special committee of the Board comprised solely of Independent Directors (as defined below) who are disinterested and independent under Delaware law as to the matter under consideration, duly obtained in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Company’s organizational documents, applicable law and the rules, regulations and listing standards promulgated by any securities exchange on which the Shares are traded (“ Disinterested Director Approval ”) and the affirmative vote of the stockholders of the Company representing at least a majority of the voting power of the Company beneficially owned by stockholders that are not the JAB Stockholder Parties or their affiliates, (iv) for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, material related transactions involving the JAB Group and the Company will require Disinterested Director Approval, (v) the JAB Stockholder Parties and the Company have agreed, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, to take all necessary actions within their control to maintain no fewer than four Independent Directors on the Board and to cause, no later than September 30, 2019, to be elected to the Board two new Independent Directors and (vi) the JAB Stockholder Parties shall have certain customary registration rights with respect to their Shares. The Stockholders Agreement was negotiated at the direction of the Special Committee in connection with its evaluation of the Offer and was agreed to by the JAB Stockholder Parties as a condition to the Special Committee’s willingness to render its recommendation with respect to the Offer. The Stockholders Agreement shall become effective immediately following the consummation of the Offer. The Stockholders Agreement shall terminate upon the earlier of the mutual consent of the parties to the Stockholders Agreement (including, with respect to the Company, approval of the Special Committee before the consummation of the Offer and

 

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Disinterested Director Approval following the consummation of the Offer) or such time as the JAB Stockholder Parties and their affiliates cease to beneficially own 40% of the voting power of the Company on a fully diluted basis. See Item 4 – The Solicitation or Recommendation Background of the Offer and Reasons for the Recommendation for additional information concerning the Stockholders Agreement.

A copy of the Stockholders Agreement is filed as Exhibit (e)(17) to this Statement.

Other Transactions and Arrangements

The Company’s subsidiary Beamly has also entered into service agreements with certain affiliates of Parent for the provision of digital media services on customary market terms. Aggregate fees under these arrangements totaled approximately $76,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2018, which were approved by the AFC. The Company anticipates that Beamly may enter into additional arrangements for such services from time to time, subject to pre-approval by the AFC.

The Company has engaged certain affiliates of JAB Holding Company to provide it with certain marketing technology services on customary market terms. Aggregate fees under these arrangements totaled approximately $650,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2018. The Company anticipates entering into additional arrangements for such services from time to time, subject to approval by the AFC.

In connection with his service as Chairman of the Board, Mr. Harf is entitled to receive a cash retainer fee of $400,000 for fiscal year 2019, prorated for the partial year of service.

In connection with their service as members of the Board, Messrs. Goudet and Faber and Ms. Kamenetzky are entitled to receive a cash retainer fee of  $100,000 annually from the Company.

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“ DGCL ”) grants each Delaware corporation the power to indemnify any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of serving or having served in any such capacity, if he or she acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may similarly indemnify any such person in actions by or in the right of the corporation if he or she acted in good faith in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which the action was brought determines that, despite adjudication of liability, but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or other court shall deem proper.

As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

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The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and amended and restated by-laws (the “ Bylaws ”) provide for indemnification of the Company’s directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. In addition, as permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL, the Company’s Bylaws provide that:

 

   

The Company may, in its discretion, indemnify employees and agents in those circumstances where indemnification is permitted by applicable law.

 

   

The Company is required to advance expenses, as incurred, to its directors and officers in connection with defending a proceeding, except that such director or officer shall undertake to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

   

The Company will not be obligated pursuant to the Bylaws to indemnify a person with respect to proceedings initiated by that person, except with respect to proceedings authorized by the Company’s Board or brought to enforce a right to indemnification.

 

   

The rights conferred in the Bylaws are not exclusive, and the Company is authorized to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors, officers, employees and agents and to obtain insurance to indemnify such persons.

 

   

The Company may not retroactively amend the Bylaws provisions to reduce its indemnification obligations to directors, officers, employees and agents.

In addition, the Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers pursuant to which the Company has agreed, subject to certain exceptions, to indemnify and advance expenses to such persons to the fullest extent permitted by law. The Company also maintains a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy.

 

Item 4.

The Solicitation or Recommendation.

Solicitation/Recommendation

The Special Committee, based, among other things, on its consideration and evaluation of the Offer and the proposed Stockholders Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, has unanimously determined that the making of the Offer and the execution and delivery of the Stockholders Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates). Therefore, the Special Committee recommends that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors described below under Reasons for the Recommendation , determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at this time accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer. In addition, the Special Committee recommended to the Board that the Board approve the Stockholders Agreement and make the recommendation described below.

Based upon the determination and recommendation of the Special Committee, the Board (other than the directors who recused themselves from making a decision with respect to the Offer and Stockholders Agreement) has unanimously determined that the making of the Offer and entering into the Stockholders Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates) and recommends that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors described below under Reasons for the Recommendation , determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at this time accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

A copy of the press release communicating the Special Committee’s position with respect to the Offer is filed as Exhibit (a)(2) to this Statement and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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For assistance in tendering your Shares, you can contact your broker or the Company’s information agent, Okapi Partners LLC (“ Okapi ”), at the address and phone number below.

Okapi Partners LLC

1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor

New York, New York 10036

Toll free: (877) 629-6356

Background of the Offer and Reasons for Recommendation

Background of the Offer

From time to time, the Board, in consultation with senior management of the Company and the Company’s advisors, periodically reviews the Company’s strategic alternatives, capital structure and business, including potential strategic combinations with parties operating in the Company’s same or similar industry, financing needs and the condition of its business.

On February 12, 2019, an affiliate of Offeror delivered the following letter to the Board:

February 12, 2019

Coty Inc.

350 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY

Attention: Board of Directors

Members of the Board of Directors:

On behalf of JAB Holding Company S.à r.l. (“JAB”), we are pleased to advise you that we are commencing shortly a tender offer, pursuant to which we would acquire up to 150 million shares of Class A common stock (the “Common Stock”) of Coty Inc. (the “Company”) at a price per share of $11.65 in cash (the “Offer”). The Offer represents a premium of approximately 38% to the 90-day volume-weighted average share price as of yesterday, a premium of approximately 51% to the 30-day volume-weighted average share price as of yesterday, and approximately a 21% premium to yesterday’s closing share price. If shareholders tender more than 150 million shares of Common Stock, we will purchase such shares on a pro rata basis.

We at JAB have been investors in the Company for almost three decades and expect to remain so. We believe that the Company has the potential to address its challenges and prosper over the long-term, and that the Company’s recent management changes are an important first step in addressing the Company’s recent performance.

We understand that not all investors may share our long-term approach and we expect that shareholders will value the opportunity to obtain a significant premium for their shares in the Offer, even taking into account the recent strong increase in the Company’s share price. At the same time, we appreciate that some shareholders will want to participate in the Company’s long-term potential value by retaining some or all of their shares in the Company after the Offer.

It is our expectation that the members of the Board of Directors who are determined to be independent for purposes of considering our Offer, advised by independent counsel and financial advisors of their choosing, will consider our proposal in the interests of all shareholders, determine the Company’s course of action in response and make a recommendation to the Company’s shareholders as required by applicable law. We believe that our offer is very full and compelling, but if the independent directors do not have a similar view, we will not proceed with the Offer.

 

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The Offer is subject to certain conditions, including that the independent directors of the Company approve the Offer and recommend that the Company’s shareholders accept the Offer (the “Board Approval Condition”). We, of course, would be pleased to meet with the independent directors or their advisors to provide any additional information necessary to assist the directors in their deliberations.

The Offer is also subject to other customary conditions, as well as the condition that at least 50 million shares of Common Stock are validly tendered and not withdrawn (the “Minimum Tender Condition”). The Offer is not subject to a financing condition. We have sufficient financial resources to consummate the Offer, including debt commitments from BNP Paribas, HSBC Bank plc and UniCredit Bank AG for all funds required to purchase the maximum number of shares in the Offer.

If all 150 million shares of Common Stock are purchased in the Offer, we would own, together with our current shareholdings, an aggregate of 450,908,041 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 60% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock. If 50 million shares of Common Stock are purchased in the Offer, which represents the number of shares of Common Stock necessary to satisfy the Minimum Tender Condition, we would own an aggregate of 350,908,041 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 47% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

JAB believes it is in everyone’s interest to complete the transaction expeditiously, which includes working with the Company to make the required regulatory filings with the relevant governmental authorities for the Offer. We do not anticipate any substantive competition issues.

We are pleased to provide what we believe is an attractive opportunity to our fellow shareholders and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

/s/ Peter Harf

Chairman, JAB

* * * * *

Shortly following delivery of the letter to the Board, an affiliate of Offeror issued a press release disclosing the letter sent to the Board and its intention to conduct the Offer.

Separately, Parent advised the Board that it considers itself a long-term stockholder of the Company and that it is not interested in selling any of its Shares, including in any sale, merger or similar transaction.

On February 12, 2019, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board, the Board discussed that, in light of Offeror’s and its affiliates’ significant ownership of Shares and the fact that a number of members of the Board were officers, employees or affiliates of Offeror or its affiliates, the Company should explore forming a Special Committee of independent directors. Several of the independent directors, including Sabine Chalmers, Robert Singer and Erhard Schoewel, spoke or met several times over the ensuing two days regarding the formation of the Special Committee. During that period, Ms. Chalmers and Messrs. Singer and Schoewel interviewed potential financial advisors and Ms. Chalmers and Mr. Schoewel interviewed potential legal advisors.

On February 13, 2019, Offeror commenced the Offer and filed the Schedule TO with the SEC.

Effective as of February 14, 2019, by unanimous written consent of the Board, resolutions were adopted that, among other things, formed the Special Committee, comprised of Sabine Chalmers, Erhard Schoewel and Robert Singer, appointed Mr. Schoewel as chairman of the Special Committee and delegated to the Special Committee the power and authority to (i) formulate, establish, oversee and direct a process for the evaluation and

 

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negotiation of the Offer or certain alternative transactions, (ii) evaluate and negotiate the terms of any proposed definitive agreements in respect of the Offer or such alternative transactions that the Special Committee may determine to be necessary or advisable, (iii) make recommendations to the Board in consideration of the Offer or such alternative transactions that the Special Committee deems necessary or advisable, including that the Board (A) approve or reject the Offer, (B) approve any definitive agreement or other documentation related to the Offer, (C) recommend to the stockholders of the Company that they participate or not participate in the Offer and (D) take any other actions and consider any other matters that the Special Committee deems necessary or appropriate with respect to the Offer or any other potential strategic alternative and (iv) retain and compensate its own legal counsel and retain and compensate financial and other professional advisors, as it deems appropriate, to advise in the performance of its duties and responsibilities. The Board resolutions also provided that neither the Offer nor such alternative transactions would be approved by the Board without the recommendation of the Special Committee.

Over the course of the day on February 14, 2019, the Special Committee engaged in a series of additional conversations with prospective counsel, and the Special Committee engaged Sidley Austin LLP (“ Sidley ”) as its independent legal advisor in connection with the Offer and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (“ Richards Layton ”) as its independent legal advisor to advise with respect to matters of Delaware law in connection with the Offer.

On February 15, 2019, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Board had formed the Special Committee to evaluate the Offer.

On February 15, 2019 and February 16, 2019, the Special Committee held meetings at which counsel participated during which, among other things, the Special Committee discussed organizational matters and the Special Committee received presentations and proposals from additional investment banking firms that the Special Committee had determined to consider as potential financial advisors in connection with the Offer, including Centerview Partners LLC (“ Centerview ”). In connection with its presentation, Centerview informed the Special Committee that it had not in the past three years been engaged by either the Company or the JAB Group.

On February 18, 2019, after due consideration, the Special Committee selected Centerview to act as its independent financial advisor and instructed Sidley to negotiate an appropriate engagement letter with Centerview. After being formally engaged, Centerview conducted its due diligence review of the Company over the ensuing weeks and had numerous conversations and meetings with members of the Company’s management regarding the operations, performance and future prospects of the Company.

On February 20, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with the Special Committee’s financial and legal advisors. At the meeting, among other things, representatives of Sidley discussed with the Special Committee its duties and responsibilities with respect to considering and evaluating the Offer. The Special Committee also discussed with representatives of Sidley and Centerview related process and organizational matters concerning the Offer.

On February 22, 25 and 26, 2019, the Special Committee held telephonic meetings with legal counsel and Centerview present at which, among other things, the Special Committee further discussed various process and timing matters concerning the Offer and received updates from Centerview on its due diligence process to date.

On February 26, 2019, the Special Committee executed an engagement letter with Centerview.

Also on February 26, 2019, following the closing of the trading markets, the Company filed the Original Statement, informing its stockholders that, at the time, the Special Committee was unable to take a position with respect to the Offer because it had not yet had sufficient time to complete a full and deliberate review of the material terms and provisions of the Offer, including the prospects of the Company, with the Special Committee’s financial, legal and other advisors to enable the Special Committee to take an informed position with respect to the Offer and to discharge properly its duties under applicable law.

 

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On February 27, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present at which, among other things, the Special Committee discussed the Offer, the Company and its operations, performance and prospects, and various process and timing matters concerning the Offer and also received updates from Centerview on its due diligence process to date.

On February 28, representatives of the JAB Group and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (“ Skadden ”), the JAB Group’s legal advisor, contacted Centerview and Sidley, respectively, to convey the JAB Group’s concerns regarding the potential impact of uncertainty surrounding the Offer and the nature and timing of the Special Committee’s response to the Offer and to convey the JAB Group’s request to have a conversation with the members of the Special Committee. Representatives of Skadden communicated to Sidley that the JAB Group did not intend to negotiate with the Special Committee on the Offer Price and that if the Special Committee believed that the Offer Price was inadequate, the JAB Group would withdraw the Offer. Later in the day, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with Centerview and Sidley present to discuss the nature of the conversations that had occurred with representatives of the JAB Group and Skadden earlier in the day and to consider appropriate responses. The Special Committee determined, with the advice of Centerview and Sidley, that it should not itself have direct discussions with the JAB Group at that time, but the Special Committee instructed Centerview to reach out directly to representatives of the JAB Group to assure the JAB Group that the Special Committee and its advisors were diligently evaluating the Offer. During a conversation later that day between Centerview and the JAB Group, the JAB Group presented its rationale for the Offer and expressed it had no desire to either support the sale of the Company to an unaffiliated third party or acquire all of the outstanding Shares of the Company.

On March 1, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present, at which, among other things, the Special Committee discussed the voluntary, partial nature of the Offer, the price and other terms of the Offer and the impact of the closing of the Offer on stockholders of the Company who do not tender their Shares or who tender Shares and are subject to proration. The advisors also discussed with the Special Committee the nature and range of the potential contractual minority stockholder protection provisions that the Special Committee could seek to negotiate with the JAB Group in connection with the Offer.

On March 4, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present, at which, among other things, Centerview updated the Special Committee on its due diligence process to date and reviewed for the Special Committee a preliminary and illustrative financial analysis of the Company, which was based on publicly-available analyst expectations (and not guidance from the Company’s management or the results of Centerview’s due diligence). Also at this meeting, the Special Committee had further discussions with its advisors regarding potential minority stockholder protection provisions that the Special Committee could seek to negotiate with the JAB Group in connection with the Offer.

On March 6, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present, at which, among other things, Centerview updated the Special Committee on its due diligence process to date and the Special Committee had further discussions with its advisors regarding potential minority stockholder protection provisions that the Special Committee could seek to negotiate with the JAB Group in connection with the Offer. As this meeting was concluding, a representative of Skadden called Sidley to seek to coordinate an in-person meeting between Centerview and Mr. Olivier Goudet, one of the two senior partners of the JAB Group, to discuss the Offer. The members of the Special Committee directed Centerview to meet with Mr. Goudet.

On March 7, 2019, consistent with the Special Committee’s prior direction, representatives of Centerview met in-person with Mr. Goudet. At the meeting, among other things, Mr. Goudet explained that the JAB Group intended the Offer to be a strong public expression of support for the Company and its management team, and the Centerview representatives and Mr. Goudet discussed the Company and its opportunities, challenges and prospects. Mr. Goudet also communicated the JAB Group’s concerns regarding the potential impact on the Company of uncertainty surrounding the Offer and the nature and timing of the Special Committee’s response to the Offer. The Centerview representatives described the substantial amount of work that had been performed by

 

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the Special Committee and its advisors to date and assured Mr. Goudet that the Committee was proceeding diligently, and that the Centerview representatives anticipated that the Special Committee and its advisors would be in a position to engage with the JAB Group and its advisors the following week. Mr. Goudet told the Centerview representatives that the JAB Group was willing to engage constructively with the Special Committee and its advisors but informed the Centerview representatives that the JAB Group was not willing to increase the Offer Price, acquire all of the outstanding Shares of the Company or increase the number of Shares being sought in the Offer.

On March 9, 2019, the Special Committee held an in-person and telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present. During this meeting, among other things, Centerview updated the Special Committee on the March 7 meetings with Mr. Goudet, reviewed and discussed with the Special Committee its due diligence process and findings to date, including the guidance received from management regarding the Company’s potential future financial performance and prospects, and reviewed and discussed with the Special Committee Centeriew’s preliminary valuation analysis and additional considerations relating to the Offer. In addition, representatives of Sidley reviewed and discussed Sidley’s due diligence review with the Special Committee. The members of the Special Committee and the Special Committee’s financial and legal advisors then discussed the Offer, including the impact of the Offer on stockholders whose Shares would not be purchased in the Offer, the Company and its operations, performance and prospects and the opportunities potentially available to, and challenges facing, the Company’s businesses, and discussed potential responses by the Special Committee to the JAB Group and related negotiating positions and strategies. Following further discussion, at the request of the Special Committee, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Legal Officer joined the meeting by telephone and discussed with the Special Committee and its advisors, among other things, management’s perspectives regarding the financial guidance that had been provided by management to Centerview, the Company’s operations, performance and prospects and management’s current thinking regarding key elements of the strategic plan being developed by management. Following further discussion, management was excused from the meeting and the Special Committee and its legal and financial advisors discussed the perspectives provided by management, and the Special Committee provided direction to Centerview regarding the financial projections to be used by Centerview in its financial analysis. The Special Committee and the advisors then resumed their discussion of potential responses to the JAB Group and potential negotiating positions and strategies, and following further discussion, the Special Committee directed the advisors to seek a higher offer price from the JAB Group representing the JAB Group’s highest and best price and also request that the JAB Group agree to a proposed package of minority stockholder protection provisions.

On the morning of March 10, 2019, Sidley and Centerview contacted Skadden to discuss the terms of the Offer and delivered the Special Committee’s request that the JAB Group increase the Offer Price and agree to enter into a stockholders agreement containing certain minority stockholder protection provisions. In these discussions, Centerview did not specify a minimum offer price that the Special Committee was requesting, but instead stated that the JAB Group should provide its highest and best price. Shortly after this discussion, Sidley provided Skadden with a written summary of the requested minority stockholder protection provisions and later in the day Sidley provided Skadden with a draft of the Stockholders Agreement. Over the ensuing days, in addition to the negotiations regarding the standstill provisions described below, representatives of Sidley and Skadden exchanged drafts and negotiated the other terms of the Stockholders Agreement.

Later in the day on March 10, 2019, Mr. Goudet contacted Centerview to discuss the proposals that had been conveyed by Centerview and Sidley to Skadden earlier in the day. Mr. Goudet reiterated that the $11.65 per Share Offer Price was the best and final price that the JAB Group would be willing to pay but that it would be amenable to being subject to some of the minority stockholder protection provisions that had been proposed. Skadden then separately provided to Sidley and Centerview specific comments with respect to the minority stockholder protection provisions, including limiting the standstill provision to a three-year standstill period with the ability of the JAB Group to increase its ownership by up to 20% through market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. A short while later, Sidley and Skadden had a telephone call during which they discussed those comments in detail.

 

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On March 11, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present, at which Centerview and Sidley updated the Special Committee on the status of negotiations with the JAB Group and Skadden on the Stockholders Agreement and the Offer Price, including that Mr. Goudet had communicated to Centerview that the $11.65 per Share Offer Price was its best and final offer. Following discussions with its legal and financial advisors, the Special Committee determined to request that the JAB Group agree to the Special Committee’s desired formulation of the minority stockholder protection provisions, including an extended standstill period with the ability of the JAB Group to increase its ownership by up to 5% through market purchases or privately negotiated transactions and a minimum tender condition that would prevent the JAB Group from buying a modest number of shares in the Offer and then utilizing the exception to the standstill to acquire majority control through market or privately negotiated share purchases.

Following the Special Committee meeting on March 11, 2019, at the direction of the Special Committee, a Centerview representative called Mr. Goudet and sought to extend the standstill period, to limit the JAB Group’s ability to increase its ownership to a maximum of 5% and to introduce the higher minimum tender condition, and representatives of Sidley called Skadden to convey a similar message. Later in the day, Mr. Goudet called the Centerview representative to further discuss the Special Committee’s proposed standstill terms. During this conversation, among other things, Mr. Goudet offered three alternative resolutions: a five-year standstill with the ability to increase the JAB Group’s ownership by up to 15% through market purchases or privately negotiated transactions; a four-year standstill with the ability to increase the JAB Group’s ownership by up to 12.5% through market purchases or privately negotiated transactions; and a three-year standstill with the ability to increase the JAB Group’s ownership by up to 10% through market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. Mr. Goudet proposed that these provisions would apply after the closing of the Offer whether or not the JAB Group purchased sufficient Shares in the Offer to achieve majority ownership of the Company.

In the evening on March 11, 2019, Skadden emailed to Sidley a draft of the JAB Group’s proposed registration rights provisions. Over the ensuing days, the representatives of Sidley and Skadden exchanged drafts and negotiated the terms of the registration rights provisions.

Representatives of Sidley and Skadden had two conversations during the course of the morning on March 12, 2019, during which they discussed the parties’ respective positions on the standstill provisions and other minority stockholder protection terms, and Sidley proposed several potential alternative approaches for the standstill provision. At the conclusion of these calls, the representatives of Skadden requested that Mr. Goudet’s proposal be submitted to the Special Committee for its consideration.

On March 12, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present, at which Centerview and Sidley updated the Special Committee on the status of negotiations with the JAB Group and Skadden. Following extensive discussions with its legal and financial advisors, the Special Committee determined that it would request that the JAB Group agree to a three-year standstill with the ability of the JAB Group to increase its ownership by up to 7.5% through market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. The Special Committee instructed Centerview to communicate this counter-proposal to Mr. Goudet, which Centerview proceeded to do later that day. Thereafter, Mr. Goudet responded to the Special Committee’s counter-proposal with a compromise proposal of a three-year standstill period with the ability of the JAB Group to increase its ownership by up to 9% through market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, and confirmed that the JAB Group would be amenable to addressing the Special Committee’s concerns regarding the minimum tender condition.

Later in the day March 12, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present, at which Centerview described Mr. Goudet’s compromise proposal on the standstill provision and noted that Mr. Goudet had agreed to address the Committee’s concern regarding the minimum tender condition. Following extensive discussions with its legal and financial advisors, the Special Committee directed its advisors to seek to finalize the Stockholders Agreement consistent with the terms of the JAB Group’s most recent proposal.

 

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Over the following days, the representatives of Skadden and Sidley finalized the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, including the registration rights provisions.

On March 15, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present. At the invitation of the Special Committee, Pierre Laubies and Paul Michaels were present for the initial portion of the meeting to provide them with information and background regarding the Offer and the Special Committee’s process. Among other things, Centerview reviewed and discussed with the Special Committee and the directors the Special Committee’s process and negotiations with the JAB Group and its representatives and Centerview’s valuation analysis, including a review and discussion of the specific changes from Centerview’s analysis presented to and discussed with the Special Committee at the March 9, 2019 meeting. Following discussion, Messrs. Laubies and Michaels were excused from the meeting. At the request of the Special Committee, Centerview then rendered to the Special Committee an oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated March 17, 2019, that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken by Centerview in preparing its written opinion as set forth in such opinion, the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Following further discussions and receiving advice from its financial and legal advisors, the Special Committee directed Sidley to inform Skadden that the Special Committee was prepared to make its recommendation regarding the Offer to the Board and the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates).

On March 17, 2019, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel and Centerview present, at which, among other things, the Special Committee resumed its discussion and review of the proposed terms of the Offer and the Stockholders Agreement, the Company and its operations, performance and prospects, and the Special Committee process and its negotiations with the JAB Group. Following further discussion, at the request of the Special Committee, Centerview delivered its written opinion to the effect that, based on the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken by Centerview in preparing its written opinion as set forth in such opinion, the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Legal counsel further advised the members of the Special Committee regarding their fiduciary duties under Delaware law in considering the Offer and summarized the terms and conditions of the Offer and the Stockholders Agreement (including the minority stockholder protections contained therein). Following further discussions, the Special Committee unanimously determined that the making of the Offer and the execution and delivery of the Stockholders Agreement were advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates), to recommend that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors considered by the Special Committee in its evaluation of the Offer (which are described in Item 4 – Reasons for the Recommendation ), determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at the time of the Offer accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer, and to recommend that the Board approve the Stockholders Agreement and recommend that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors considered by the Special Committee in its evaluation of the Offer (which are described in Item 4 – Reasons for the Recommendation ), determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at the time of the Offer accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

Immediately following the Special Committee meeting on March 17, 2019, the Board held a telephonic meeting with legal counsel to the Special Committee present. The representatives of the JAB Group who are members of the Board discussed with the Board their reasons for making the Offer, including their belief that the Offer represents a strong public expression of support for the Company and its management team. Following discussion, Messrs. Harf, Faber and Goudet and Ms. Kamenetzky excused themselves from the meeting. The members of the Special Committee and their legal advisors reviewed with the Board the Special Committee’s process and, following further discussion, the Special Committee delivered its recommendation to

 

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the Board that the Board approve the Stockholders Agreement and recommend that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors considered by the Special Committee in its evaluation of the Offer (which are described in Item 4 – Reasons for the Recommendation ), determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at the time of the Offer accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer. Following further discussion and deliberation, all of the members of the Board (other than the members who had excused themselves, who were not present) unanimously determined that the Offer and entering into the Stockholders Agreement were advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates) and to recommend that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors considered by the Special Committee in its evaluation of the Offer (which are described in Item 4 – Reasons for the Recommendation ), determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at the time of the Offer accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

On March 17, the Company and the JAB Stockholder Parties entered into the Stockholders Agreement.

Substantially concurrently with the filing of this Statement, the JAB Group will file an amendment to its Schedule TO to amend the definition of “Minimum Tender Condition” to mean that there have been validly tendered and not withdrawn at least 75,471,655 Shares in the Offer.

Reasons for the Recommendation

In reaching its conclusions and making the recommendations described above, the Special Committee considered numerous positive factors supporting its recommendations, including:

 

   

Premium for Purchased Shares . The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately 21% to the closing Share price on February 11, 2019, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the Offer. The Offer Price also represents a premium of approximately 38% to the 90-day volume-weighted average share price as of February 11, 2019, the last trading day before the announcement of the Offer, and a premium of approximately 51% to the 30-day volume-weighted average share price as of February 11, 2019, the last trading day before the announcement of the Offer.

 

   

Liquidity and Certainty . The Special Committee considered the fact that the Offer provides certainty, near-term value and liquidity to tendering stockholders whose Shares are purchased in the Offer at a time when the Company is facing significant risks and challenges and has a largely new senior management team that is currently developing a comprehensive strategic plan for the Company. The Special Committee also considered the fact that tendering stockholders would reduce their exposure to the inherent risks and uncertainties regarding management’s ability to develop and successfully execute the anticipated new strategic plan.

 

   

Optionality . The Special Committee considered that each of the Company’s stockholders will be able to make an independent judgment of whether to maintain its ownership interest in the Company or to reduce or, pending proration, eliminate its interest in the Company by participating in the Offer and that the nature of the Offer is entirely voluntary and that no stockholder will be compelled to tender its Shares in the Offer. Considerations that the Special Committee believed may be relevant to each stockholder’s individual decision whether to tender also included:

 

   

the stockholder’s determination of the adequacy of the Offer Price in light of the stockholder’s own investment objectives and analysis;

 

   

the stockholder’s views as to the Company’s prospects and outlook and whether the Stockholders Agreement will sufficiently preserve a premium to be paid for such Shares in future strategic transactions involving the Company’s common equity, if any;

 

   

the stockholder’s need for liquidity or diversification of its investment portfolio;

 

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other investment opportunities, including other types of investments, available to the stockholder;

 

   

whether the stockholder requires current income on its investment in the Company;

 

   

the stockholder’s assessment of the appropriateness for investing in equity securities generally in the current economic, business and political climate, with respect to which the stockholder may wish to consult with competent investment professionals;

 

   

in the case of stockholders who are directors, officers or employees of the Company, the obligation of such stockholder under the Company’s stock ownership guidelines to own a significant amount of the Company’s common stock during their term of service and the potential perception of investors, employees and other relevant constituencies of a sale of Shares by such director or officer;

 

   

the tax consequences to the stockholder of participating in the Offer, for which the stockholder may wish to consult with competent tax advisors; and

 

   

the factors considered by the Special Committee as described in this Statement and any other factors that the stockholder deems relevant to its investment decision.

 

   

Special Committee Process; Best and Final Offer . The Special Committee considered the fact that the Special Committee retained independent financial and legal advisors and established a process for a thorough review and analysis of the Offer and the Company’s alternatives to the Offer and that the Special Committee, through its advisors, negotiated the terms of the Offer and the Stockholders Agreement with the JAB Group and its representatives and that, based on these negotiations, the Special Committee believed that the $11.65 per Share Offer Price and the other terms of the Offer and the Stockholders Agreement represented the JAB Group’s best and final offer and that the JAB Group was not willing to increase its price or otherwise improve its terms.

 

   

Protections for Continuing Unaffiliated Stockholders . The Special Committee considered the potential impact of the consummation of the Offer on stockholders of the Company whose Shares are not purchased in the Offer (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates), including stockholders of the Company whose Shares are tendered pursuant to the Offer but not purchased in full due to proration, and negotiated the Stockholders Agreement containing provisions intended to enhance the potential for stockholders following the completion of the Offer to participate in the potential value creation that could result from management’s execution of its anticipated new strategic plan and to receive a premium for the purchase of their Shares in the event of future strategic transactions involving the Company’s common equity. More specifically, the Special Committee considered the following provisions:

 

   

Standstill . The JAB Stockholder Parties have agreed that, during the three-year period following the consummation of the Offer, they will not, subject to certain exceptions, effect or enter into any agreement to effect any acquisition of shares of capital stock of the Company (including Shares, “ Company Securities ”), except, in the event the Minimum Tender Condition is satisfied, the JAB Stockholder Parties may acquire Company Securities on an established securities exchange or through privately negotiated transactions that, after giving effect to such acquisition, does not result in an increase in the JAB Stockholder Parties’ and their affiliates’ collective beneficial ownership percentage of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Company Securities to an amount greater than the percentage of the voting power of the issued and outstanding Company Securities beneficially owned by the JAB Stockholder Parties, collectively, as of the consummation of the Offer, plus 9% (meaning, if the Offer is fully subscribed, a cap of approximately 69% for three years after the consummation of the Offer).

 

   

Restrictions on Transfer . The JAB Stockholder Parties have agreed that, during the three-year period following the consummation of the Offer, they will not, subject to certain

 

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exceptions, transfer any Company Securities to any other person or group (other than an affiliate of any of the JAB Stockholder Parties) that, after giving effect to such transfer, would beneficially own in excess of 20% of the voting power of the then issued and outstanding Company Securities unless the JAB Stockholder Parties transfer all (but not less than all) of their Company Securities to a third party pursuant to a transaction in which (i) such third party acquires all of the then issued and outstanding Company Securities and (ii) the price and other terms on which the JAB Stockholder Parties participate in such transaction are the same as the price and other terms offered and available to all other holders of Shares.

 

   

Restrictions on Going Private Transactions . The JAB Stockholder Parties have agreed that, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, they will not effect or seek to effect, or announce any intention to effect, any “Rule 13e-3 transaction” (as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act), commonly known as a ‘going private’ transaction, unless such transaction is conditioned on both (i) the approval of a committee of the Board comprised solely of Independent Directors (defined below) and (ii) the affirmative vote of the stockholders of the Company representing at least a majority of the voting power of the Shares owned by stockholders that are not the JAB Stockholder Parties or their affiliates.

 

   

Restrictions on Related Party Transaction . The JAB Stockholder Parties and the Company have agreed that, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, all material related party transactions between any JAB Stockholder Party or any of its affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other hand, including any amendment, modification, enforcement or waiver of the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under the Stockholders Agreement, will require the prior approval of a committee of the Board comprised solely of Independent Directors.

 

   

Commitment to Maintain a Minimum Number of Independent Directors . The JAB Stockholder Parties and the Company have agreed, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, to take all necessary actions within their control to maintain, at any given time, no fewer than four directors on the Board who are each (i) “independent” under the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and under the rules of the applicable securities exchange and (ii) disinterested as it relates to the JAB Stockholder Parties and their respective affiliates (any such director, an “ Independent Director ”), each of whom shall be nominated by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee of the Board (such committee or any successor committee of the Board, the “ Remuneration and Nomination Committee ”) (or, if at the time of such nomination, the Remuneration and Nomination Committee is not composed of a majority of Independent Directors, such other committee of the Board that is composed of a majority of Independent Directors) and approved by the Board. The JAB Stockholder Parties and the Company have also agreed to take all necessary actions within their control to cause, no later than September 30, 2019, to be elected to the Board two new Independent Directors, each of whom shall be nominated by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee (or, if at the time of such nomination, the Remuneration and Nomination Committee is not composed of a majority of Independent Directors, such other committee of the Board that is composed of a majority of Independent Directors) and approved by the Board.

 

   

Registration Rights . The JAB Stockholder Parties and the Company have agreed on customary registration rights to provide for a mechanism for an orderly disposition of the Shares held by the JAB Stockholder Parties in the event they wish to sell such Shares in the future.

 

   

Financial Analysis and Opinion of Centerview . The Special Committee considered its discussions with and advice received from Centerview and the written opinion of Centerview dated March 17,

 

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2019, to the effect that, as of such date, and based upon and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken in preparing its written opinion as set forth in such opinion, the Offer Price in cash per Share to be paid to the holders of the Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. The full text of Centerview’s opinion is included as Annex A to this Statement. Further discussion of the opinion of and the related presentation by Centerview to the Special Committee is set forth below in this Item 4 – Opinion of the Special Committee’s Financial Advisor .

 

   

Financial and Business Information; Projections . The Special Committee received financial, business and other information concerning the historical and current financial condition, results of operations, leverage, business and prospects of the Company, the risks involved in achieving those prospects, and national and international economic conditions and conditions in the markets and industries in which the Company operates. The Special Committee engaged in discussions with management and Centerview regarding such financial, business and other information and considered the potential impact of such financial, business and other information on the Company’s financial condition and operating performance, as well as on the market valuation of the Company and its stock price and performance. Additionally, the Special Committee considered the five-year Projections (defined below) and the potential opportunities and risks relating to management’s ability to develop and execute a new strategic plan for the Company.

 

   

Reputation of the JAB Group and Experience with the JAB Group as Long-Term Holder . The Special Committee considered that the JAB Group and its affiliates have been long-standing investors in the Company, having acquired the Company in the early 1990s and having been its majority stockholders prior to and following its initial public offering in 2013, and having owned in excess of approximately 35% of the Company’s outstanding Shares since the combination of the Company and The Procter & Gamble Company’s beauty business in 2016. In that regard, the Special Committee considered the Company’s experience with the JAB Group as a substantial investor. The Special Committee also considered its belief that the JAB Group has a reputation as a long-term-oriented investor, with a willingness to support companies during periods of substantial investment, transition and change.

 

   

Status of JAB as a Substantial Holder of Shares. The Special Committee considered that, even without the purchase of Shares in the Offer, the JAB Group is the Company’s largest stockholder and, as a result, has the ability to exercise significant influence over decisions requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors, amendments to the Company’s certificate of incorporation and approval of significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of the Company or its assets. The Special Committee also considered that there are no current contractual restrictions on acquisitions of Shares by the JAB Group.

 

   

The JAB Group’s Stated Purpose of the Offer . The Special Committee considered the fact that the JAB Group has stated in its filings with the SEC that it does not have any present plans or proposals that would result in an extraordinary corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, such as a merger, reorganization, liquidation, or any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of the Company’s assets, or any material changes in the Company’s present dividend policy, indebtedness or capitalization, composition of its management or Board or its corporate structure or business. Future dividends will be declared if, as and when determined by Board at the relevant date in the future. The Special Committee also considered that the JAB Group has informed representatives of the Special Committee that it desires to consummate the Offer, among other things, in order to show its support for the Company during a period of challenge, uncertainty and transition for the Company, that the JAB Group desires to support continued long-term improvement in the Company’s business for the benefit of all continuing stockholders, and that the increase in the JAB Group’s ownership position will further align the JAB Group’s interests with those of the Company’s other stockholders. The Special Committee

 

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further considered that the JAB Group has informed the Special Committee that, at this time, it is not willing to support the sale of the Company to an unaffiliated third party and it is not interested in acquiring all of the outstanding Shares of the Company.

 

   

Effect of Offer on Trading Price of Shares. The Special Committee considered the effect of the Offer on the trading price of the Shares, and the potential negative effect that the termination or withdrawal of the Offer by Offeror would have on the same.

In the course of its consideration and evaluation of the Offer, the Special Committee also considered, among other things, the following negative factors:

 

   

Maximum Number of Shares to be Purchased . The Special Committee considered the fact that Offeror is offering to purchase less than all of the Company’s outstanding Shares at the Offer Price, which would leave a smaller public float outstanding after the Offer and may result in a more limited trading market for the Shares following the consummation of the Offer. The Special Committee considered that the JAB Group had informed representatives of the Special Committee that the JAB Group was not willing to acquire the entire Company or increase the number of Shares being sought in the Offer. The Special Committee also considered that the Offer will not be immediately followed by a merger or other transaction, whereby the remaining stockholders would receive the same consideration to be received by stockholders whose Shares are purchased in the Offer.

 

   

Proration . The Special Committee considered that, in the event that more than 150,000,000 Shares are tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the Offer, upon acceptance, Offeror will purchase such tendered Shares on a pro rata basis from all tendering stockholders (with adjustments to avoid purchases of fractional Shares), and such proration may require such stockholders to hold, after the consummation of the Offer, Shares that they had tendered into the Offer.

 

   

Timing of the Offer . The Special Committee considered that the Offer was made following a substantial decline in the trading prices of the Company Shares, at a time when several members of the Company’s senior management, including the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer for the Company’s Consumer Beauty division and the Company’s Head of Supply Chain, had recently joined the Company, and at a time when the new senior management was in the process of developing a comprehensive new strategic plan. The Special Committee also considered that the trading price of Shares had increased by 37% from $7.06 to $9.66 per Share during the period beginning on February 7, 2019, the day prior to the Company’s second quarter earnings announcement, and February 11, 2019, the day prior to the announcement of the Offer.

 

   

Inability to Participate in Future Growth, Dividends or Alternative Strategic Transactions . The Special Committee considered that while each of the Company’s stockholders will be able to make an independent judgment of whether, to maintain its ownership interest in the Company or to reduce or, pending proration, eliminate its interest in the Company by participating in the Offer, those stockholders whose Shares are tendered and purchased in the Offer will not participate in any future benefits arising from continued ownership of those Shares, including any potential future earnings growth of the Company, future dividends, subsequent increases in the market price of the Shares and strategic transactions involving the Company, including any possible eventual sale of the Company. Although no such transaction is pending or contemplated by the Special Committee at this time and though the JAB Group has indicated to the Board that, at this time, it is not willing to support the sale of the Company to an unaffiliated third party and is not interested in acquiring all of the outstanding Shares of the Company, and disclosed in its Offer that the JAB Group does not have any present plans or proposals that would result in an extraordinary corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, such as a merger, reorganization,

 

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liquidation, or any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of the Company’s assets, the Special Committee cannot predict if or when such alternative transaction may occur in the future and, if such a transaction were to occur, whether the terms and conditions of any such transaction would be more favorable or less favorable to the Company’s stockholders than the terms and conditions, including the Offer Price, of the Offer.

 

   

Third Party Transactions . The Special Committee considered the fact, that prior to consummation of the Offer, the JAB Group has the ability to exercise significant influence over decisions requiring stockholder approval, but does not currently have a majority ownership stake, however, Offeror’s obtaining a majority ownership stake following the Offer would clearly prevent other third parties from acquiring the Company without the JAB Group’s consent, which may decrease the likelihood of a subsequent sale of the Company, or that minority stockholders receive a control premium for their Shares upon any such subsequent sale of the Company, notwithstanding the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement intended to protect minority stockholders’ ability to receive a premium for the purchase of their Shares in the event of future strategic transactions involving the Company.

 

   

Ability of the JAB Group to Acquire Additional Shares . The Special Committee considered that the standstill provisions of the Stockholders Agreement limit, but do not prohibit, the ability of the JAB Group to acquire additional shares after the consummation of the Offer during the standstill period and that the per share price paid by the JAB Group for such shares may be lower than the per share price paid in the Offer. The Special Committee also considered that the standstill provisions terminate after three years following the consummation of the Offer, and do not survive indefinitely.

 

   

Broad Conditions to Consummation . The Special Committee considered the fact that the Offer is subject to satisfaction of or, if permitted, waiver of numerous conditions, including (i) the Minimum Tender Condition and (ii) the Board Support Condition, as well as other conditions that provide Offeror with broad discretion to decide not to purchase the Shares. For example, the Offer provides that the JAB Group may terminate the Offer if at any time prior to the consummation of the Offer, there occurs any change in the general political, market, economic or financial conditions in the United States or other jurisdictions in which the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliates do business that could, in the reasonable judgment of Offeror, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities, capitalization, shareholders’ equity, licenses, franchises, operations or results of operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. In addition, the Offer provides that the JAB Group may terminate the Offer if there is any decline in either the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P Index of 500 Industrial Companies or the NASDAQ-100 Index by an amount in excess of 15% or any decline in the market price of the Shares by an amount in excess of 15%, measured from the close of business at the time of the announcement of the Offer. Further, the Offer provides that the JAB Group may terminate the Offer if there shall have been instituted, pending or Offeror shall have been definitively notified of any person’s intent to commence, or in Offeror’s reasonable judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that any person intends to commence, any litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation before any Governmental Entity seeking, or which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror is reasonably likely to result in, any material diminution in the benefits reasonably expected to be derived by Offeror or any other subsidiary or affiliate of Offeror as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Offer.

 

   

Terms of Offeror’s Financing. The Special Committee considered that Offeror has disclosed that its financing utilizes a margin-financing type structure, and that under certain circumstances, including in the event of a significant decline in the trading price of the Shares, Offeror may be required to sell Shares into the open market, or its lenders providing financing in connection with the Offer may foreclose on their security interest in such Shares and themselves sell Shares into

 

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the open market. In that regard, the Special Committee also considered that the leverage included in the margin financing structure may increase, including in connection with the acquisition of additional Shares by Offeror following the Offer. Further, the Special Committee considered that, following the consummation of the Offer, the JAB Group may utilize future declarations of dividends as a means to support its financing structure used in connection with the Offer. The Special Committee considered that, if such a foreclosure and resulting sale of Shares occurred, the trading price of the Shares may be negatively affected.

 

   

Potential or Actual Conflicts of Interest . The Special Committee considered the fact that certain of the Company’s directors and executive officers may have certain actual or potential interests with respect to the Offer in addition to their interests as stockholders of the Company generally, as described in Item 3 – Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements Actual or Potential Conflicts of Interest Between the Company’s Directors and the JAB Group and Item 3 – Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements Certain Transactions Between the Company and Offeror and its Affiliates . The Special Committee then considered the impact of its formation, as well as the recusal of the representatives of the JAB Group who are members of the Board, with respect to matters regarding the Offer as factors mitigating any such potential or actual conflicts of interest.

 

   

Tax Treatment . The Special Committee considered the fact that receipt of cash in exchange for Shares in the Offer will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Special Committee is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes the material factors considered by the Special Committee. Due to the variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the Offer, the Special Committee did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination and recommendation to the Board. In addition, the Special Committee did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any particular factor, or any aspect of any particular factor, was favorable or unfavorable to the ultimate determination of the Special Committee, but rather conducted an overall analysis of the factors described above, including by conducting discussions with and questioning of the Company’s management and the Special Committee’s advisors.

In addition to the foregoing factors, the Special Committee also considered the fact that, after making reasonable inquiry, none of the Company’s executive officers, directors, affiliates and subsidiaries, as of the date hereof, intends to tender pursuant to the Offer any Shares held of record or beneficially owned by such person.

Projections Used by the Special Committee

The Company does not, as a matter of course, publicly disclose forecasts or projections as to future performance, earnings or other results due, among other things, to the inherent unpredictability of the underlying assumptions, estimates and projections. Furthermore, at the time Offeror made the Offer, due to the recent business challenges that the Company has previously publicly disclosed, the Company’s management did not have a current strategic plan or other medium- or long-term forecasts or projections covering all three of its business segments that it believed were appropriate for use by the Special Committee in connection with evaluating the Offer. While the Company management was at that time actively working on developing a new strategic plan, management informed the Special Committee that it did not believe the work on the new strategic plan could be substantially completed before substantially into the fourth fiscal quarter, in part because several members of the Company’s senior management team who were expected to be integrally involved in those efforts had only recently joined the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer for the Company’s Consumer Beauty division and the Company’s Head of Supply Chain.

Given the absence of a current strategic plan and medium- and long-term projections and forecasts, the Special Committee requested, through Centerview, that the management of the Company consider the then-

 

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current key assumptions that were expected to underlay the Company’s new strategic plan as well as the opportunities and challenges facing the Company and the approach management would take to adjusting the Company’s prior strategic plan to reflect the potential impact of such assumptions, opportunities and challenges. This process resulted in the five year, risk-adjusted financial projections summarized in the table below (the “ Projections ”), prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company as to the matters covered thereby, based on key assumptions including a materially steady economic environment over the next five years, that the Company would not engage in material mergers, acquisitions or other similar arrangements, that there are no material and adverse changes to the Company’s material licensing arrangements, that management is able to successfully develop and complete initiatives to improve the condition of the Company’s Consumer Beauty business and that the Company will improve operating margins across its business segments.

The Projections were provided to, and considered by, the Special Committee and the members of the Board of Directors voting on the matter in connection with their evaluation of the Offer and related matters, and the Special Committee directed Centerview to use the Projections in connection with the rendering of its fairness opinion to the Special Committee and performing its related financial analysis, as described below in Item 4 – Opinion of the Special Committee’s Financial Advisor . The Projections were not provided to Offeror, its affiliates or its advisors until after the negotiation regarding the Offer was completed.

The Projections were prepared solely for the use of the Special Committee and the Board of Directors in connection with their evaluation of the Offer and related matters. The Projections were not prepared with a view toward public disclosure or to provide any guidance to stockholders concerning the anticipated future performance of the Company and, accordingly, do not necessarily comply with published guidelines of the SEC, the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for preparation and presentation of financial forecasts, or generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”). Neither the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, nor any other independent accountants, have audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the Projections or expressed any opinion or any form of assurance related thereto. The Projections are included solely to give the Company’s stockholders access to the financial projections that were made available to the Special Committee, members of the Board of Directors and Centerview and are not being included in this Statement to influence any stockholder’s decision whether to accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

The numerical specificity with which the Projections are presented is not an indication of their likely accuracy or precision, as they were necessarily based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and many of which are beyond the control of the Company’s management. Further, as the Projections cover multiple years, by their nature the Projections become subject to greater uncertainty with each successive year. The assumptions upon which the Projections were based necessarily involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive, business, financial market and regulatory conditions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. The Projections also reflect assumptions as to certain business decisions that are subject to change and are susceptible to multiple interpretations and periodic revisions based on, among other things, actual results, revised prospects for the Company’s businesses and segments and changes in market conditions. Important factors that may affect actual results and result in the Projections not being achieved include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Company’s management to develop and implement the in-process strategic plan and achieve strategic goals, objectives and targets on a timely basis, competitive trends and developments affecting one or more of the Company’s operating segments, changes in industry trends and consumer preferences, and other risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, as well as the section entitled Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in this Statement.

Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Projections will be realized, and actual results may vary materially from those shown. The inclusion of the summaries of the Projections in this Statement should not be

 

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regarded as an indication that the Company or any of its affiliates, advisors or representatives considered or consider the Projections to be predictive of actual future events, and such summaries should not be relied upon as such. None of the Company, Offeror or any of their respective affiliates, advisors, officers, directors or representatives can give any assurance that actual results will not differ materially from the Projections, and none of them undertakes any obligation to update or otherwise revise or reconcile the Projections to reflect circumstances existing after the date the Projections were generated or to reflect the occurrence of future events even in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying the Projections are shown to be in error. The Company does not intend to make publicly available any update or other revision to the Projections, except as otherwise required by law. None of the Company, Offeror or any of their respective affiliates, advisors, officers, directors or representatives has made or makes any representation to any of the Company’s stockholders or other person regarding the ultimate performance of the Company compared to the information contained in this summary or that the Projections will be achieved. The Company has made no representation to Offeror concerning the Projections.

Certain of the Projections may be considered non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP, and non-GAAP financial measures as used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts used by other companies.

In light of the foregoing factors and the uncertainties inherent in the Projections, the Company’s stockholders are cautioned not to place undue, if any, reliance on the Projections included below. The Projections are not necessarily indicative of future performance, which may be significantly more favorable or less favorable than as set forth below. The Projections should not be utilized as public guidance and will not be provided in the ordinary course of the Company’s business in the future.

Projections Used by the Special Committee

 

     Fiscal Year Ending June 30,  
     2019E     2020E     2021E     2022E     2023E     2024E  

Net Revenue

   $ 8,777     $ 8,701     $ 8,759     $ 8,910     $ 9,105     $ 9,309  

% Growth

     (6.6 %)      (0.9 %)      0.7     1.7     2.2     2.2

Adj. EBITDA (1)

   $ 1,323     $ 1,419     $ 1,518     $ 1,628     $ 1,745     $ 1,786  

% Margin

     15.1     16.3     17.3     18.3     19.2     19.2

Adj. Operating Inc. (2)

   $ 954     $ 1,029     $ 1,125     $ 1,233     $ 1,347     $ 1,386  

% Margin

     10.9     11.8     12.8     13.8     14.8     14.9

Margin Expansion

     23bps       95bps       102bps       99bps       96bps       9bps  

USD in millions.

 

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as adjusted operating income less depreciation. See footnote (2) for adjusted operating income.

(2)

Adjusted operating income excludes restructuring costs and business structure realignment programs, amortization, acquisition-related costs and acquisition accounting impacts, asset impairment charges and certain other adjustments.

Opinion of the Special Committee’s Financial Advisor

The Company retained Centerview as independent financial advisor to the Special Committee in connection with the Offer. In connection with this engagement, the Special Committee requested that Centerview evaluate the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Shares that tender their Shares, pursuant to the Offer of the Offer Price proposed to be paid to such holders pursuant to the Offer. On March 15, 2019, Centerview

 

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rendered to the Special Committee its oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated March 17, 2019 that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken by Centerview in preparing its opinion, the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

The full text of Centerview’s written opinion, dated March 17, 2019, which describes the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken by Centerview in preparing its opinion, is attached as Annex A and is incorporated herein by reference. Centerview’s financial advisory services and opinion were provided for the information and assistance of the Special Committee (in their capacity as directors and not in any other capacity) in connection with and for purposes of its consideration of the Offer and Centerview’s opinion addressed only the fairness, from a financial point of view, as of the date thereof, to the holders of Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer of the Offer Price to be paid to such holders pursuant to the Offer. Centerview’s opinion did not address any other term or aspect of the Offer and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of the Company or any other person as to whether or not such stockholder or other person should tender Shares in connection with the Offer or otherwise act with respect to the Offer or any other matter.

The full text of Centerview’s written opinion should be read carefully in its entirety for a description of the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken by Centerview in preparing its opinion.

In connection with rendering the opinion described above and performing its related financial analyses, Centerview reviewed, among other things:

 

   

The Schedule TO (including the exhibits thereto) and the Offer to Purchase and Letter of Transmittal, which are together referred to in this summary of Centerview’s opinion as the “ Offer Documents ”;

 

   

Annual Reports on Form 10-K of the Company for the years ended June 30, 2018, June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016;

 

   

certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company;

 

   

certain publicly available research analyst reports for the Company;

 

   

certain other communications from the Company to its stockholders;

 

   

certain internal information relating to the business, operations, earnings, cash flow, assets, liabilities and prospects of the Company used by Centerview at the Special Committee’s direction for purposes of Centerview’s analysis, which are referred to in this summary of Centerview’s opinion as the “ Internal Data ”; and

 

   

certain financial forecasts, analyses and projections with respect to the future financial performance of the Company based on guidance and input from management of the Company and used by Centerview at the Special Committee’s direction for purposes of Centerview’s analysis, which are referred to in this summary of Centerview’s opinion as the “ Company Forecasts .”

Centerview also participated in discussions with members of the senior management and representatives of the Company regarding their assessment of the Internal Data and the Company Forecasts. In addition, Centerview reviewed publicly available financial and stock market data, including valuation multiples, for the Company and compared that data with similar data for certain other companies, the securities of which are publicly traded, in lines of business that Centerview deemed relevant. Centerview also compared certain of the

 

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proposed financial terms of the Offer with the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain other transactions that Centerview deemed relevant, and conducted such other financial studies and analyses and took into account such other information as Centerview deemed appropriate.

Centerview assumed, without independent verification or any responsibility therefor, the accuracy and completeness of the financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other information supplied to, discussed with, or reviewed by Centerview for purposes of its opinion and, with the Company’s consent, Centerview relied upon such information as being complete and accurate. In that regard, Centerview assumed, at the Company’s direction, that the Internal Data and the Company Forecasts were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company as to the matters covered thereby and Centerview relied, at the Company’s direction, on the Internal Data and the Company Forecasts for purposes of Centerview’s analysis and opinion. Centerview expressed no view or opinion as to the Internal Data, the Company Forecasts or the assumptions on which they were based. In addition, at the Company’s direction, Centerview did not make any independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the assets or liabilities (contingent, derivative, off-balance-sheet or otherwise) of the Company, nor was Centerview furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal, and was not asked to conduct, and did not conduct, a physical inspection of the properties or assets of the Company. Centerview also assumed, at the Company’s direction, that the Offer will be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the Offer Documents and in accordance with all applicable laws and other relevant documents or requirements, without delay or the waiver, modification or amendment of any term, condition or agreement, the effect of which would be material to Centerview’s analysis or Centerview’s opinion and that, in the course of obtaining the necessary governmental, regulatory and other approvals, consents, releases and waivers for the Offer, no delay, limitation, restriction, condition or other change will be imposed, the effect of which would be material to Centerview’s analysis or Centerview’s opinion. Centerview did not express any opinion as to the prices at which the Shares would trade at any time and did not evaluate and did not express any opinion as to the solvency or fair value of the Company, or the ability of the Company to pay its obligations when they come due, or as to the impact of the Offer on such matters, under any state, federal or other laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. Centerview is not a legal, regulatory, tax or accounting advisor, and Centerview expressed no opinion as to any legal, regulatory, tax or accounting matters.

Centerview’s opinion expressed no view as to, and did not address, the Special Committee’s underlying business decision to recommend the Offer, or the relative merits of the Offer as compared to any alternative business strategies or transactions that might be available to the Company or in which the Company might engage. Centerview’s opinion was limited to and addressed only the fairness, from a financial point of view, as of the date of Centerview’s written opinion, to the holders of the Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer of the Offer Price to be paid to such holders pursuant to the Offer. For purposes of its opinion, Centerview was not asked to, and Centerview did not, express any view on, and its opinion did not address, any other term or aspect of the Offer, including, without limitation, the structure or form of the Offer, or any other agreements or arrangements contemplated by the Offer or entered into in connection with or otherwise contemplated by the Offer, including, without limitation, the fairness of the Offer or any other term or aspect of the Offer to, or any consideration to be received in connection therewith by, or the impact of the Offer on, the holders of any remaining Shares or any other class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of the Company or any other party. In addition, Centerview expressed no view or opinion as to the fairness (financial or otherwise) of the amount, nature or any other aspect of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the officers, directors or employees of the Company or any party, or class of such persons in connection with the Offer, whether relative to the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of the Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. Centerview’s opinion was necessarily based on financial, economic, monetary, currency, market and other conditions and circumstances as in effect on, and the information made available to Centerview as of, the date of Centerview’s written opinion, and Centerview does not have any obligation or responsibility to update, revise or reaffirm its opinion based on circumstances, developments or events occurring after the date of Centerview’ written opinion. Centerview’s opinion does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of the Company or any other person as to whether or not such stockholder or other person should tender Shares in

 

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connection with the Offer, or otherwise act with respect to the Offer or any other matter. Centerview’s financial advisory services and its written opinion were provided for the information and assistance of the Special Committee (in their capacity as directors and not in any other capacity) in connection with and for purposes of its consideration of the Offer. The issuance of Centerview’s opinion was approved by the Centerview Partners LLC Fairness Opinion Committee.

Summary of Centerview Financial Analysis

The following is a summary of the material financial analyses prepared and reviewed with the Special Committee in connection with Centerview’s opinion, dated March 17, 2019. The summary set forth below does not purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses performed or factors considered by, and underlying the opinion of, Centerview, nor does the order of the financial analyses described represent the relative importance or weight given to those financial analyses by Centerview. Centerview may have deemed various assumptions more or less probable than other assumptions, so the reference ranges resulting from any particular portion of the analyses summarized below should not be taken to be Centerview’s view of the actual value of the Company. Some of the summaries of the financial analyses set forth below include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary, as the tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses performed by Centerview. Considering the data in the tables below without considering all financial analyses or factors or the full narrative description of such analyses or factors, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying such analyses or factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying Centerview’s financial analyses and its opinion.

In performing its analyses, Centerview made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. None of the Company, the Special Committee, the Board, Centerview or any other person assumes responsibility if future results are materially different from those discussed. Any estimates contained in these analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than as set forth below. In addition, analyses relating to the value of the Company do not purport to be appraisals or reflect the prices at which the Company may actually be sold. Accordingly, the assumptions and estimates used in, and the results derived from, the financial analyses are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty. Except as otherwise noted, the following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before March 14, 2019 and is not necessarily indicative of current market conditions.

Selected Public Company Analysis

Centerview reviewed certain financial information of the Company and compared it to corresponding financial information of the following publicly traded companies that Centerview selected based on its experience and professional judgment (referred to as the “selected companies” in this summary of Centerview’s opinion):

 

   

Avon Products, Inc.

 

   

Beiersdorf AG

 

   

e.l.f. Cosmetics, Inc.

 

   

Inter Parfums, Inc.

 

   

L’Occitane International S.A.

 

   

L’Oréal S.A.

 

   

Revlon, Inc.

 

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Shiseido Company, Ltd.

 

   

The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.

Although none of the selected companies is directly comparable to the Company, the companies listed above were chosen by Centerview, among other reasons, because they are publicly traded companies with certain operational, business and/or financial characteristics that, for purposes of Centerview’s analysis, Centerview considered similar to those of the Company. However, because none of the selected companies is exactly the same as the Company, Centerview believed that it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the selected public company analysis. Accordingly, Centerview also made qualitative judgments, based on its experience and professional judgment, concerning differences between the business, financial and operating characteristics and prospects of the Company and the selected companies that could affect the public trading values of each in order to provide a context in which to consider the results of the quantitative analysis.

Using publicly available information obtained from SEC filings and other data sources as of March 14, 2019, Centerview calculated, among other things, for each selected company set forth below, the implied enterprise value (calculated, to the extent publicly available, as the market value of common equity (determined using the treasury stock method and taking into account exercisable in the money options, other equity awards and other convertible securities, as applicable) plus the debt, preferred stock and noncontrolling interests less cash and cash equivalents (excluding cash held on trust and restricted cash, as applicable) and equity investments) as a multiple of Wall Street research analyst consensus estimated earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (which is referred to in this summary of Centerview’s opinion as “ EBITDA ”) for calendar year 2019. The results of this analysis are summarized as follows:

 

     Enterprise
Value/
CY 2019
EBITDA
 

Low

     7.7x  

Mean

     15.3x  

Median

     16.1x  

High

     19.6x  

Based on the foregoing analysis and other considerations that Centerview deemed relevant in its professional judgment and experience, Centerview selected a reference of multiples of enterprise value to estimated 2019 calendar year EBITDA of 11.0x to 14.0x. In selecting this range of multiples, Centerview made qualitative judgments based on its experience and professional judgment concerning differences between the business, financial and operating characteristics and prospects of the Company and the selected companies that could affect the public trading values in order to provide a context in which to consider the results of the quantitative analysis.

Centerview applied this range to the Company’s estimated 2019 calendar year Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $1,371 million derived from the Company Forecasts (calculated by taking the average of the Company’s estimated 2019 and 2020 fiscal year Adjusted EBITDA as set forth in Item 4 – Projections Used by the Special Committee ) to derive a range of implied enterprise values for the Company. Centerview subtracted from this range of implied enterprise values the Company’s net debt, adjusted for noncontrolling interests, as of December 31, 2018, as set forth in the Company’s Quarterly Report Form 10-Q for the period ending December 31, 2018, to derive a range of equity values for the Company. Centerview then divided these ranges of implied equity values by the number of fully-diluted outstanding Shares based on the most recently available information that is set forth in the Internal Data to derive a range of implied values per Share of approximately $9.45 to $14.90, rounded to the nearest $0.05. Centerview compared this range to the Offer Price of $11.65 per Share to be paid to the holders of such Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

 

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Selected Transactions Analysis

Centerview reviewed and compared certain information relating to the following selected transactions that Centerview, based on its experience and professional judgment, deemed relevant to consider in relation to the Company and the Offer.

 

Announcement Date

  

Target

  

Acquiror

June 2017

   The Body Shop International Limited    NaturaBrasil

June 2017

   Parfums de Coeur Ltd    CVC Capital Partners

January 2017

   Younique (60% stake)    Coty Inc.

November 2016

   Too Faced Cosmetics    The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc.

October 2016

   Good Hair Day (ghd)    Coty Inc.

July 2016

   IT Cosmetics    L’Oréal S.A.

June 2016

   Elizabeth Arden, Inc.    Revlon, Inc.

June 2016

   Vogue International LLC    Johnson & Johnson

November 2015

   Hypermarcas SA    Coty Inc.

August 2015

   Steiner Leisure Limited    L Catterton

July 2015

   43 Beauty Brands (P&G)    Coty Inc.

August 2013

   Colomer Group Spain SL    Revlon, Inc.

October 2011

   Concern Kalina, OAO (82% stake)    Unilever PLC/Unilever N.V.

March 2011

   Sanex Personal Care Brands    Colgate-Palmolive Company

September 2010

   Alberto Culver Company    Unilever PLC/Unilever N.V.

January 2010

   Bare Escentuals, Inc.    Shiseido Company, Ltd.

September 2009

   Sara Lee Body Care    Unilever PLC/Unilever N.V.

These transactions were selected, among other reasons, because their participants, size or other factors, for purposes of Centerview’s analysis, may be considered similar to the Company. Centerview used its experience, expertise and knowledge of these industries to select transactions that involved companies with certain operations, results, business mix or product profiles that, for purposes of this analysis, may be considered similar to certain operations, results, business mix or product profiles of the Company.

Centerview calculated, for each selected transaction set forth below, among other things, the enterprise value (calculated as described above) implied for the applicable target company based on the consideration payable in the applicable selected transaction as a multiple of the target company’s EBITDA for the latest twelve month period (referred to as “ LTM ”) at the time of the transaction announcement. The results of this analysis are summarized as follows:

 

     Enterprise
Value/
LTM
EBITDA
 

Low

     9.2x  

Mean

     13.8x  

Median

     12.7x  

High

     23.7x  

No company or transaction used in this analysis is identical or directly comparable to the Company or the Offer. The companies included in the selected transactions listed above were selected, among other reasons, based on Centerview’s experience and professional judgment, because they have certain characteristics that, for the purposes of this analysis, may be considered similar to certain characteristics of the Company. The reasons for and the circumstances surrounding each of the selected transactions analyzed were diverse and there are

 

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inherent differences in the business, operations, financial conditions and prospects of the Company and the companies included in the selected transactions analysis. Accordingly, Centerview believed that it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the selected transactions analysis. This analysis involves complex considerations and qualitative judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the public trading, acquisition or other values of the selected target companies and the Company.

Based on its analysis and other considerations that Centerview deemed relevant in its professional judgment and experience, Centerview selected a reference of multiples of enterprise value to LTM EBITDA of 10.0x to 15.0x. In selecting this range of multiples, Centerview made qualitative judgments based on its experience and professional judgment concerning differences between the business, financial and operating characteristics and prospects of the Company and the companies included in the selected transactions and other factors that could affect the public trading, acquisition or other values of such companies or the Company in order to provide a context in which to consider the results of the quantitative analysis. Centerview applied this range to the Company’s LTM Adjusted EBITDA of $1,297 million for the period ended December 31, 2018 to derive a range of implied enterprise values for the Company. Centerview subtracted from this range of implied enterprise values the Company’s net debt, adjusted for noncontrolling interests, as of December 31, 2018, as set forth in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending December 31, 2018, to derive a range of equity values for the Company. Centerview then divided these ranges of implied equity values by the number of fully-diluted outstanding Shares based on the most recently available information that is set forth in the Internal Data to derive a range of implied values per Share of approximately $6.65 to $15.25, rounded to the nearest $0.05. Centerview compared this range to the Offer Price of $11.65 per Share to be paid to the holders of such Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

Centerview performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the Company based on the Company Forecasts and calculations of the unlevered free cash flows derived from the Company Forecasts. A discounted cash flow analysis is a traditional valuation methodology used to derive a valuation of an asset by calculating the “present value” of estimated future cash flows of the asset. “Present value” refers to the current value of future cash flows and is obtained by discounting those future cash flows by a discount rate that takes into account macroeconomic assumptions and estimates of risk, the opportunity cost of capital, expected returns and other appropriate factors.

In performing this analysis, Centerview calculated a range of illustrative equity values for the Company by (a) discounting to present value using discount rates ranging from 8.0% to 9.0% (reflecting Centerview’s analysis of the Company’s weighted average cost of capital) and the mid-year convention: (i) the forecasted fully taxed unlevered free cash flows of the Company over the period beginning July 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2024, as set forth in the Company Forecasts and (ii) a range of illustrative terminal values of the Company, calculated by Centerview applying perpetuity growth rates ranging from 2.0% to 3.0% to the Company’s fully taxed unlevered free cash flows for the terminal year (as set forth in the Company Forecasts) and (b) subtracting from the foregoing results the Company’s estimated net debt as of June 30, 2019, adjusted for noncontrolling interests, as set forth in the Company Forecasts. Centerview divided the result of the foregoing calculations by the number of fully-diluted outstanding Shares based on the most recently available information that is set forth in the Internal Data to derive a range of implied values per Share of approximately $8.20 to $15.20 per Share rounded to the nearest $0.05. Centerview compared this range to the Offer Price of $11.65 per Share to be paid to the holders of such Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

Other Factors

Centerview noted for the Special Committee certain additional factors solely for informational purposes, including, among other things, the following:

 

   

Historical Stock Price Trading Analysis . Centerview reviewed historical share price performance of the Shares for the 52-week period ended February 11, 2019, the day prior to the public

 

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announcement of Offeror’s intention to conduct the Offer, which reflected low and high intraday prices for the Shares during this 52-week period of $5.91 and $21.68, respectively.

 

   

Analyst Price Target Analysis . Centerview reviewed stock price targets for the Shares in Wall Street research analyst reports publicly available as of February 11, 2019, the day prior to the public announcement of Offeror’s intention to conduct the Offer, noting these stock price targets ranged from $8.00 per Share to $13.00 per Share. Centerview also reviewed stock price targets for the Shares in Wall Street research analyst reports publicly available as of March 14, 2019, noting these stock price targets ranged from $8.50 per Share to $13.00 per Share.

 

   

Illustrative Sum-of-the-Parts Analysis. Centerview performed an illustrative sum-of-the-parts analysis, which provided a range of values for the Company’s equity by summing the value of its individual business segments to arrive at a total enterprise value. Centerview applied illustrative ranges of multiples to the corresponding financial data for the Company’s Luxury, Consumer Beauty and Professional Beauty businesses from the Company Forecasts and calculated an illustrative range of implied values per Share and an illustrative range of implied multiples of enterprise value to estimated 2019 calendar year EBITDA (calculated as described above). This analysis resulted in an illustrative range of implied values per Share of approximately $9.10 to $14.40 per Share, rounded to the nearest $0.05, and an illustrative range of implied enterprise value to estimated 2019 calendar year EBITDA multiples of approximately 10.8x to 13.7x.

 

   

Historical Valuation Discount vs. Peers. Centerview reviewed how the Shares of the Company have traded relative to the Beauty and Personal Care peer companies referenced above under “Selected Public Company Analysis” since 2016. Centerview observed that the Shares have traded at annual average discounts ranging from 4% to 31% relative to the Company’s peer group when comparing enterprise value to estimated next twelve month EBITDA multiples.

General

The preparation of a financial opinion is a complex analytical process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances and, therefore, a financial opinion is not readily susceptible to summary description. In arriving at its opinion, Centerview did not draw, in isolation, conclusions from or with regard to any factor or analysis that it considered. Rather, Centerview made its determination as to fairness on the basis of its experience and professional judgment after considering the results of all of the analyses.

Centerview’s financial analyses and opinion were only one of many factors taken into consideration by the Special Committee in its evaluation of the Offer. Consequently, the analyses described above should not be viewed as determinative of the views of the Special Committee, the Board of Directors or management of the Company with respect to the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of the Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer or as to whether the Special Committee would have been willing to determine that a different consideration was fair.

Centerview is a securities firm engaged directly and through affiliates and related persons in a number of investment banking, financial advisory and merchant banking activities. In the two years prior to the date of its written opinion Centerview has not been engaged to provide financial advisory or other services to the Company, Offeror or entities that Centerview identified as potential affiliates of such parties, and Centerview has not received any compensation from the Company, Offeror or entities that Centerview identified as potential affiliates of such parties. Centerview may provide financial advisory and other services to or with respect to the Company, Offeror or their respective affiliates in the future, for which Centerview may receive compensation. Certain (i) of Centerview’s and Centerview’s affiliates’ directors, officers, members and employees, or family members of such persons, (ii) of Centerview’s affiliates or related investment funds and (iii) investment funds or other persons in which any of the foregoing may have financial interests or with which they may co-invest, may

 

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at any time acquire, hold, sell or trade, in debt, equity and other securities or financial instruments (including derivatives, bank loans or other obligations) of, or investments in, the Company, Offeror or any of their respective affiliates, or any other party that may be involved in the Offer.

The Special Committee selected Centerview as its financial advisor in connection with the Offer based on Centerview’s reputation and experience. Centerview is an internationally recognized investment banking firm that has substantial experience in transactions similar to the Offer.

In connection with Centerview’s services as the financial advisor to the Special Committee, the Company has agreed to pay Centerview an aggregate fee of $10 million, $6 million of which was payable upon the filing of this Statement and $4 million of which is payable contingent upon abandonment or consummation of the Offer. Centerview is also entitled to receive a mutually agreed fee in the event the Special Committee recommends and the Company consummates certain alternative transactions, including a sale of the Company. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse certain of Centerview’s expenses arising, and to indemnify Centerview against certain liabilities that may arise, out of Centerview’s engagement.

Intent to Tender

To the Company’s knowledge, after making reasonable inquiry, none of the Company’s executive officers, directors (including members of the Special Committee), affiliates and subsidiaries, as of the date hereof, intends to tender pursuant to the Offer any Shares held of record or beneficially owned by such person.

 

Item 5.

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

The Special Committee, through the Company, has retained Centerview as its financial advisor in connection with, among other things, the Special Committee’s analysis and consideration of, and response to, the Offer. The Company has agreed to pay Centerview an aggregate fee of $10 million, $6 million of which was payable upon the filing of this Statement and $4 million of which is payable contingent upon abandonment or consummation of the Offer. Centerview is also entitled to receive a mutually agreed fee in the event the Special Committee recommends and the Company consummates certain alternative transactions, including a sale of the Company. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse Centerview for certain expenses arising out of or in connection with its engagement and to indemnify Centerview against certain liabilities relating to or arising out of the engagement.

The Company has engaged Okapi to provide advisory, consulting and solicitation services in connection with, among other things, the Offer. The Company has agreed to pay customary compensation for such services. In addition, the Company has arranged to reimburse Okapi for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and to indemnify it against certain liabilities arising from or in connection with the engagement.

Except as set forth above, neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf has or currently intends to employ, retain or compensate any person to make solicitations or recommendations to the security holders of the Company with respect to the Offer.

 

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Item 6.

Interest in Securities of the Subject Company.

Except as set forth below, during the past 60 days, no transactions with respect to Shares have been effected by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge after making reasonable inquiry, by any of its executive officers, directors, affiliates or subsidiaries.

 

Name

  Date of
Transaction
 

Nature of Transaction

  Number of
Shares
    Price Per
Share
 

Pierre Laubies

  2/4/2019   Acquisition – Series A-1 Preferred Stock (1)     6,925,341     $ 0.10  

Sebastien Froidefond

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     980,000       —    

Edgar O. Huber

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     1,520,000       —    

Anna-Lena Kamenetzky

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Restricted Stock Units     4,602       —    

Greerson G. McMullen

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     1,520,000       —    

Sylvie Moreau

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     910,000       —    

Giovanni Pieraccioni

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     541,515       —    

Giovanni Pieraccioni

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Restricted Stock Units     254,777       —    

Daniel E. Ramos

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     615,000    

Pierre-Andre Terisse

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     676,893       —    

Pierre-Andre Terisse

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Restricted Stock Units     191,082       —    

Luc Volatier

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     1,353,789       —    

Luc Volatier

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Restricted Stock Units     191,082       —    

Ayesha Zafar

  2/15/2019   Acquisition – Grant of Stock Options     200,000       —    

 

  (1)

Subject to certain vesting requirements, each share of Series A-1 Preferred Stock may be exchanged for cash or shares of Class A Common Stock, at the Company’s election, upon the occurrence of certain events. The amount of cash or number of shares of Class A Common Stock, at the Company’s election, received upon exchange will equal the difference between (i) the fair market value of the Class A Common Stock on the date that the Series A-1 Preferred Stock is exchanged less (ii) $8.75, subject to adjustment.

The acquisitions shown in the table above are grants of incentive awards from the Company that have been authorized by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee of the Board.

In addition, on January 15, 2019 and February 15, 2019, the Company redeemed an aggregate of 3,475,554 Shares of Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $0.01 per share, in connection with the departures of Camillo Pane, Patrice de Talhouet and Mario Reis.

 

Item 7.

Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals.

The Company routinely maintains contact with other participants in its industry regarding a wide range of business transactions. It has not ceased, and has no intention of ceasing, such activity as a result of the Offer. The Company’s policy has been, and continues to be, not to disclose the existence or content of any such discussions with third parties (except as may be required by law) as any such disclosure could jeopardize any future negotiations that the Company may conduct.

For the reasons discussed in Item 4 – The Solicitation or Recommendation – Reasons for the Recommendation , among others, the Special Committee has unanimously determined that the making of the Offer and the execution and delivery of the Stockholders Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates). Therefore, the Special Committee recommends that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors described in Item 4 – Reasons for the Recommendation , determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at this time accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer. In addition, the Special Committee

 

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recommended to the Board that the Board approve the Stockholders Agreement and make the recommendation described below.

Based upon the determination and recommendation of the Special Committee, the Board (other than the directors who recused themselves from making a decision with respect to the Offer and Stockholders Agreement) has unanimously determined that the making of the Offer and entering into the Stockholders Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates) and recommends that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors described in Item 4 – Reasons for the Recommendation , determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at this time accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

Except as described in this Statement or incorporated herein by reference, the Company does not have any knowledge of any negotiation being undertaken or engaged in by the Company in response to the Offer that relates to or would result in (i) a tender offer for, or other acquisition of, Shares by the JAB Group, any of their respective subsidiaries, or any other person, (ii) any extraordinary transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (iii) any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iv) any material change in the present dividend rate or policy, or indebtedness or capitalization of the Company.

Pursuant to a resolution of the Board, the Special Committee has been authorized to consider, evaluate, respond to, negotiate and make recommendations to the Board with respect to the Offer or any similar transaction involving the JAB Group or its affiliates or certain alternative transactions. The Board has also resolved that neither the Offer nor such alternative transactions shall be approved by the Board without the recommendation of the Special Committee.

Except as described above or otherwise set forth in this Statement (including in the Exhibits to this Statement) or as incorporated in this Statement by reference, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no transactions, resolutions of the Board, agreements in principle or contracts of or by the Company or any of its subsidiaries entered into in response to the Offer that relate to or would result in one or more of the matters referred to in the fourth paragraph of this Item 7.

 

Item 8.

Additional Information.

Information Regarding Compensation for Termination following a Change in Control

As noted in Item 3, because the Offer will not constitute a “change in control” under the Company’s compensation arrangements, there is no compensation that would become payable to the Company’s named executive officers as a result of the successful consummation of the Offer and, accordingly, the tabular disclosure regarding Golden Parachute Compensation has been excluded from this Statement.

Appraisal Rights

Holders of Shares will not have appraisal rights in connection with the Offer under the DGCL.

Regulatory Approvals

U.S. Antitrust Clearance . Under the HSR Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (the “ FTC ”), certain acquisition transactions may not be consummated until specified information and documentary material has been furnished for review by the FTC and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the “ Antitrust Division ”) and statutory waiting period requirements have been satisfied. These requirements apply to Parent by virtue of Offeror’s acquisition of Shares in the Offer. Offeror notified the Company that Agnaten filed a Notification and Report Form with the Antitrust Division and

 

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the FTC with respect to the Offer on February 21, 2019, and the Company filed a responsive Notification and Report Form with the Antitrust Division and the FTC with respect to the Offer on March 4, 2019. On March 5, 2019, the FTC granted early termination of the statutory waiting period under the HSR Act applicable to the Offer.

At any time before or after Offeror’s acquisition of the Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Antitrust Division or the FTC could take such action under the antitrust laws as either deems necessary or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer, or seeking the divestiture of the Shares acquired by Offeror or the divestiture of substantial assets of the Company or its subsidiaries or the Offeror or its subsidiaries. State attorneys general and private parties may also bring legal action under the antitrust laws. There can be no assurance that a challenge to the Offer on antitrust grounds will not be made, and, if such a challenge is made, there can be no assurance as to the result thereof.

If the FTC, the Antitrust Division, a state attorney general or a private party obtains an order enjoining the purchase of the Company voting securities, then Offeror will not be obligated to proceed with the Offer or the purchase of any of the Shares pursuant to the Offer.

Foreign Competition Law Filings . The Company and certain of its subsidiaries conduct business in a variety of countries outside of the United States. Offeror has informed the Company that merger control or competition law filings outside of the U.S. are required of Offeror or its affiliates in various jurisdictions, including Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, Turkey and Ukraine before the purchase of Shares in the Offer may be completed. Offeror has informed the Company that it or its affiliates have made filings in each of these jurisdictions, and have received regulatory clearances or approvals in Brazil, Canada, the European Union, South Africa, Turkey and Ukraine. The Company has provided, and expects to continue to provide, Offeror with information and certifications regarding its business and finances that are required for such filings.

Competition authorities in those countries may refuse to grant required approvals or clearances, bring legal action under applicable foreign antitrust laws seeking to enjoin the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer or seek the divestiture of the Shares acquired by Offeror or the divestiture of substantial assets of the Company or its subsidiaries or Offeror or its subsidiaries. There can be no assurance that Offeror will obtain all required foreign merger control or competition law approvals or clearances or that a challenge to the Offer by foreign competition authorities will not be made, or, if such a challenge is made, the result thereof.

FCA Approval . Offeror has also informed the Company that it has filed for and received clearance for the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer from the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom. The Company provided Offeror with information regarding its business and finances that was required for such filing.

Additionally, Offeror may terminate the Offer if:

 

   

there shall have been instituted, pending or Offeror shall have been definitively notified of any person’s intent to commence, or in Offeror’s reasonable judgment there is a reasonable likelihood that any person intends to commence, any litigation, suit, claim, action, proceeding or investigation before any Governmental Entity (i) challenging or seeking to, or which, in the reasonable judgment of Offeror, is reasonably likely to, make illegal, materially delay or otherwise, directly or indirectly, restrain or prohibit or, which in Offeror’s reasonable judgment is reasonably likely to, make materially more costly, or in which there are material allegations of any violation of law, rule or regulation relating to, the making of or terms of the Offer or the provisions of the Offer or, the acceptance of the Shares pursuant to the Offer by Offeror or any other subsidiary or affiliate of Offeror, or seeking to obtain material damages in connection with the Offer, (ii) seeking to, or which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror is reasonably likely to, individually or in the aggregate, prohibit or materially limit the full rights of ownership or

 

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operation by the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates of all or any of the business or assets of the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates (including in respect of the capital stock or other equity of their respective subsidiaries) or to compel the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates to dispose of or to hold separate all or any material portion of the business or assets of the Company, Offeror or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, or (iii) seeking to, or which in the reasonable judgment of Offeror is reasonably likely to, require divestiture or holding separate by Offeror or any other subsidiary or affiliate of Offeror of any material portion of the businesses or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; or

 

   

any clearance, approval, permit, authorization, waiver, determination, favorable review or consent of any governmental or regulatory authority or agency (including the matters arising under the HSR Act) or other person required in the reasonable judgment of Offeror in connection with the Offer shall not have been obtained on terms reasonably satisfactory to Offeror and such approvals shall not be in full force and effect, or any applicable waiting periods or extension thereof imposed by any Governmental Entity for such clearances or approvals shall not have expired.

See Item 2 for additional information regarding Offeror’s conditions to the Offer.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this Statement, including statements relating to the Offer, the Special Committee’s and the Board’s recommendations with respect to the Offer, the receipt of regulatory approvals and clearances in connection with the Offer, the JAB Group’s stated purpose with respect to the Offer and other activities and events with respect to the Offer, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current views with respect to, among other things, its strategic planning, future actions, including evaluations, future operations and financial performance, expected growth, future M&A or other strategic transactions, its ability to support its planned business operation on a near- and long-term basis and its outlook. These forward looking statements are generally identified by words or phrases, such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “plan”, “project”, “expect”, “believe”, “intend”, “foresee”, “forecast”, “will”, “may”, “should,” “outlook,” “continue,” “intend,” “aim” and similar words or phrases. Reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from the results predicted due to risks and uncertainties including:

 

   

the Company’s ability to develop and achieve its global business strategies and strategic plan and the Company’s ability to compete effectively in the beauty industry and achieve the benefits contemplated by its strategic initiatives within the expected time frame or at all;

 

   

the Company’s ability to anticipate, gauge and respond to market trends and consumer preferences, which may change rapidly, and the market acceptance of new products, including any launches or relaunches and their associated costs and discounting, and consumer receptiveness to the Company’s marketing and consumer engagement activities (including digital marketing and media);

 

   

the Company’s use of estimates and assumptions in preparing its financial statements and projections and estimates, including with regard to revenue recognition, income taxes, the assessment of goodwill, other intangible assets and long-lived assets for impairment, the market value of inventory, pension expense and the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities associated with acquisitions and the fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests;

 

   

the impact of any future impairments;

 

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managerial, integration, operational, regulatory, legal and financial risks, including diversion of management attention to and management of cash flows, expenses and costs associated with multiple ongoing and future strategic initiatives and internal reorganizations

 

   

the continued integration of the P&G Beauty Business and other recent acquisitions with the Company’s business, operations, systems, financial data and culture and the ability to realize synergies, avoid future supply chain and other business disruptions, reduce costs (including through the Company’s cash efficiency initiatives) and realize other potential efficiencies and benefits (including through the Company’s restructuring initiatives) at the levels and at the costs and within the time frames contemplated or at all;

 

   

increased competition, consolidation among retailers, shifts in consumers’ preferred distribution and marketing channels (including to digital and luxury channels), distribution and shelf-space resets or reductions, compression of go-to-market cycles, changes in product and marketing requirements by retailers, reductions in retailer inventory levels and order lead-times or changes in purchasing patterns, and other changes in the retail, e-commerce and wholesale environment in which the Company does business and sell its products and the Company’s ability to respond to such changes;

 

   

the Company’s and its business partners’ and licensors’ abilities to obtain, maintain and protect the intellectual property used in the Company’s and their respective businesses, protect the Company’s and such business partners’ respective reputations, public goodwill, and defend claims by third parties for infringement of intellectual property rights;

 

   

any change to the Company’s capital allocation and/or cash management priorities;

 

   

any unanticipated problems, liabilities or other challenges associated with an acquired business which could result in increased risk or new, unanticipated or unknown liabilities, including with respect to environmental, competition and other regulatory, compliance or legal matters;

 

   

the Company’s international operations and joint ventures, including enforceability and effectiveness of the Company’s joint venture agreements and reputational, compliance, regulatory, economic and foreign political risks, including difficulties and costs associated with maintaining compliance with a broad variety of complex local and international regulations;

 

   

the Company’s dependence on certain licenses and its ability to renew expiring licenses or secure any needed change-in-control consents on favorable terms or at all;

 

   

the Company’s dependence on entities performing outsourced functions, including outsourcing of distribution functions, third-party manufacturers, logistics and supply chain suppliers, and other suppliers, including third-party software providers;

 

   

administrative, product development and other difficulties in meeting the expected timing of market expansions, product launches and marketing efforts;

 

   

global political and/or economic uncertainties, disruptions or major regulatory or policy changes, and/or the enforcement thereof that affect the Company’s business, financial performance, operations or products, including the impact of Brexit, the current U.S. administration, the results of elections in European countries and in Brazil, changes in the U.S. tax code and recent changes and future changes in tariffs, retaliatory or trade protection measures, trade policies and other international trade regulations in the U.S. and in other regions where the Company operates including the European Union and China;

 

   

currency exchange rate volatility and currency devaluation;

 

   

the number, type, outcomes (by judgment, order or settlement) and costs of current or future legal, compliance, tax, regulatory or administrative proceedings, investigations and/or litigation;

 

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the Company’s ability to manage seasonal factors and other variability and to anticipate future business trends and needs;

 

   

disruptions in operations and sales, including due to disruptions in supply chain, logistics, restructurings and other business alignment activities, manufacturing or information technology systems, labor disputes, extreme weather and natural disasters, and the impact of such disruptions on the Company’s ability to generate profits, stabilize or grow revenues or cash flows, comply with its contractual obligations and accurately forecast demand and supply needs and/or future results, and on the Company’s relationships with licensors and retailers and the Company’s in-store execution and product launches and promotions;

 

   

restrictions imposed on the Company through its license agreements, credit facilities and senior unsecured bonds or other material contracts, the Company’s ability to generate cash flow to repay, refinance or recapitalize debt and otherwise comply with its debt instruments, and changes in the manner in which the Company finances its debt and future capital needs, including access to capital under current market conditions;

 

   

increasing dependency on information technology and the Company’s ability to protect against service interruptions, data corruption, cyber-based attacks or network security breaches, costs and timing of implementation and effectiveness of any upgrades or other changes to information technology systems, including the Company’s digital transformation initiatives, and the cost of compliance or the Company’s failure to comply with any privacy or data security laws (including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”)) or to protect against theft of customer, employee and corporate sensitive information;

 

   

the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel and the impact of the recent senior management transitions;

 

   

the distribution and sale by third parties of counterfeit and/or gray market versions of the Company’s products;

 

   

the results of the Company’s ongoing strategic review and the creation and revision of its strategic plan;

 

   

the receipt of regulatory approvals in connection with the Offer and the impact of certain amendments to the Schedule TO;

 

   

business disruptions, litigation, costs and future events related to the Offer; and

 

   

the impact of the Offer on the Company’s relationships with key customers and suppliers and certain material contracts.

More information about potential risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company’s business and financial results is included under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and periodic reports the Company has filed and may file with the SEC from time to time.

All forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this Statement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking or cautionary statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of events, unanticipated or otherwise, or changes in future operating results over time or otherwise.

 

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Item 9.

Materials to Be Filed as Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Document

(a)(1)   Press release issued by the Company dated February  27, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  (a)(1) to the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed on February 27, 2019).
(a)(2)   Press release issued by the Company dated March 18, 2019.
(e)(1)   Excerpts from the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule   14A relating to the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, as filed with the SEC on September  20, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) to the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule  14D-9 filed on February 27, 2019).
(e)(2)   Amended and Restated Coty Inc. Equity and Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on February   1, 2017. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May  10, 2017).
(e)(3)   Coty Inc. 2007 Stock Plan for Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.  333-182420) filed on April  24, 2013).
(e)(4)   Amended and Restated Annual Performance Plan, as of February   1, 2017 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May  10, 2017).
(e)(5)   Open-Ended Employment Agreement, dated August   24, 2015, between Coty S.A.S. and Sebastien Froidefond (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.58 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November  5, 2015).
(e)(6)   Employment Agreement, dated November   2, 2015, between Coty S.A.S. and Edgar Huber (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on February  4, 2016).
(e)(7)   Employment Agreement, dated November   12, 2018, between Coty Services UK Limited and Pierre Laubies (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November  14, 2018).
(e)(8)   Employment Agreement, dated as of October   11, 2016, between Coty Services UK Limited and Greerson McMullen (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on February  9, 2017).
(e)(9)   Offer Letter, dated as of September   4, 2017, between Daniel Ramos and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November  9, 2017).
(e)(10)   Offer Letter, dated as of January   7, 2019, between Giovanni Pieraccioni and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1) to the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed on February 27, 2019).
(e)(11)   Employment Agreement, dated October   12, 2015, between Coty Geneva SA Versoix and Sylvie Moreau (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on February  4, 2016).
(e)(12)   Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement (United States) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(12) to the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed on February 27, 2019).
(e)(13)   Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement (United Kingdom) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit  (e)(13) to the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed on February 27, 2019).

 

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Exhibit
No.

 

Document

(e)(14)   Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement (France) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(14) to the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed on February 27, 2019).
(e)(15)   Form of Restrictive Covenant Agreement (Switzerland) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (e)(15) to the Company’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed on February 27, 2019).
(e)(16)   Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award under Coty Inc. 2007 Stock Plan for Directors, as amended on April   8, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to Amendment No.  4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.   333-182420) filed on April  24, 2013).
(e)(17)   Stockholders Agreement, dated March 17, 2019, by and among JAB Holdings, Parent, Offeror and the Company.
(e)(18)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No.   5 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.  333-182420) filed on May  14, 2013) .
(e)(19)   Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Coty Inc.(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October  3, 2016).
(e)(20)   Amended and Restated By-Laws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Amendment No.   4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.  333-182420) filed on April  24, 2013).
(e)(21)   Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Company and its directors and officers (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to Amendment No.  4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1(File No.  333-182420) filed on April  24, 2013) .
(e)(22)   Specimen Class  A Common Stock Certificate of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No.   6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.  333-182420) filed on May  28, 2013) .
(e)(23)   Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock, Series A, dated April   17, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April  20, 2015).
(e)(24)   Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock, Series A-1, dated February  4, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on February  8, 2019).

 

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SIGNATURE

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.

 

  Coty Inc.
By:  

/s/ Greerson G. McMullen

  Greerson G. McMullen
  Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary

Dated: March 18, 2019

 

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Annex A

 

LOGO

Centerview Partners LLC

31 West 52nd Street

New York, NY 10019

March 17, 2019

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Coty Inc.

350 Fifth Avenue

New York, NY 10118

The Special Committee:

We understand that Cottage Holdco B.V. (“Purchaser”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of JAB Cosmetics B.V. (“JAB”), is offering to purchase up to 150,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of Coty Inc. (the “Company”), par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), at a price of $11.65 per Share, in cash (the “Offer Price” and such offer, the “Offer”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated February 13, 2019 (as contemplated to be amended in the form furnished to us, the “Offer to Purchase”) and the related Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), each attached as exhibits to the Schedule TO filed by JAB and Purchaser with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 13, 2019 (as amended on February 26, 2019, and as contemplated to be amended in the form furnished to us, the “Schedule TO”). The Offer to Purchase and Letter of Transmittal, together with any amendments or supplements thereto filed with the SEC prior to the date hereof, collectively constitute the “Offer Documents”. The terms and conditions of the Offer are more fully set forth in the Offer Documents.

You have requested our opinion as to the fairness of the Offer Price, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

We have acted as financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Special Committee”) in connection with the Offer for purposes of undertaking a fairness evaluation with respect to the Offer. We will receive a fee for our services in connection with the Offer. A portion of our fee is payable following the Company filing a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 that includes a recommendation by the Special Committee to accept or reject the Offer or an ultimate determination by the Special Committee following the conclusion of its work that it is unable to take a position on the Offer (the amount being the same in each case), and a portion of our fee is payable following the abandonment or consummation of the Offer (the amount being the same in either case). We are also entitled to receive a mutually agreed fee in the event the Special Committee recommends and the Company consummates certain alternative transactions, including a sale of the Company. In addition, the Company has agreed to reimburse certain of our expenses arising, and indemnify us against certain liabilities that may arise, out of our engagement.

We are a securities firm engaged directly and through affiliates and related persons in a number of investment banking, financial advisory and merchant banking activities. In the past two years, we have not been engaged to provide financial advisory or other services to the Company, JAB or entities that we identified as potential affiliates of such parties and we have not received any compensation from the Company, JAB or entities that we identified as potential affiliates of such parties during such period. We may provide financial advisory and other services to or with respect to the Company or JAB or their respective affiliates in the future, for which we may receive compensation. Certain (i) of our and our affiliates’ directors, officers, members and

 

31 WEST 52ND STREET, 22ND FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10019

PHONE: (212) 380-2650     FAX: (212) 380-2651     WWW.CENTERVIEWPARTNERS.COM

NEW YORK    ●     LONDON    ●     SAN FRANCISCO    ●     PALO ALTO    ●    LOS ANGELES


Table of Contents

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Coty Inc.

March 17, 2019

Page  2

 

employees, or family members of such persons, (ii) of our affiliates or related investment funds and (iii) investment funds or other persons in which any of the foregoing may have financial interests or with which they may co-invest, may at any time acquire, hold, sell or trade, in debt, equity and other securities or financial instruments (including derivatives, bank loans or other obligations) of, or investments in, the Company, JAB or any of their respective affiliates, or any other party that may be involved in the Offer.

In connection with this opinion, we have reviewed, among other things: (i) the Schedule TO (including the exhibits thereto) and the Offer Documents; (ii) Annual Reports on Form 10-K of the Company for the years ended June 30, 2018, June 30, 2017 and June 30, 2016; (iii) certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company; (iv) certain publicly available research analyst reports for the Company; (v) certain other communications from the Company to its stockholders; (vi) certain internal information relating to the business, operations, earnings, cash flow, assets, liabilities and prospects of the Company furnished to us by the Company at the Special Committee’s direction for purposes of our analysis (the “Internal Data”); and (vii) certain financial forecasts, analyses and projections with respect to the future financial performance of the Company based on guidance and input from management of the Company and used by us at the Special Committee’s direction for purposes of our analysis (the “Company Forecasts”). We have also participated in discussions with members of the senior management and representatives of the Company regarding their assessment of the Internal Data and the Company Forecasts. In addition, we reviewed publicly available financial and stock market data, including valuation multiples, for the Company and compared that data with similar data for certain other companies, the securities of which are publicly traded, in lines of business that we deemed relevant. We also compared certain of the proposed financial terms of the Offer with the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain other transactions that we deemed relevant and conducted such other financial studies and analyses and took into account such other information as we deemed appropriate.

We have assumed, without independent verification or any responsibility therefor, the accuracy and completeness of the financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other information supplied to, discussed with, or reviewed by us for purposes of this opinion and have, with your consent, relied upon such information as being complete and accurate. In that regard, we have assumed, at your direction, that the Internal Data and the Company Forecasts have been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of the Company as to the matters covered thereby and we have relied, at your direction, on the Internal Data and the Company Forecasts for purposes of our analysis and this opinion. We express no view or opinion as to the Internal Data, the Company Forecasts or the assumptions on which they are based. In addition, at your direction, we have not made any independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the assets or liabilities (contingent, derivative, off-balance-sheet or otherwise) of the Company, nor have we been furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal, and we have not been asked to conduct, and did not conduct, a physical inspection of the properties or assets of the Company. We have also assumed, at your direction, that the Offer will be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the Offer Documents and in accordance with all applicable laws and other relevant documents or requirements, without delay or the waiver, modification or amendment of any term, condition or agreement, the effect of which would be material to our analysis or this opinion and that, in the course of obtaining the necessary governmental, regulatory and other approvals, consents, releases and waivers for the Offer, no delay, limitation, restriction, condition or other change will be imposed, the effect of which would be material to our analysis or this opinion. We are not expressing any opinion as to the prices at which the Shares will trade at any time and we have not evaluated and do not express any opinion as to the solvency or fair value of the Company, or the ability of the Company to pay its obligations when they come due, or as to the impact of the Offer on such matters, under any state, federal or other laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. We are not legal, regulatory, tax or accounting advisors, and we express no opinion as to any legal, regulatory, tax or accounting matters.

We express no view as to, and our opinion does not address, the Special Committee’s underlying business decision to recommend the Offer, or the relative merits of the Offer as compared to any alternative business


Table of Contents

The Special Committee of the Board of Directors

Coty Inc.

March 17, 2019

Page  3

 

strategies or transactions that might be available to the Company or in which the Company might engage. This opinion is limited to and addresses only the fairness, from a financial point of view, as of the date hereof, to the holders of the Shares that tender their Shares, of the Offer Price to be paid to such holders pursuant to the Offer. We have not been asked to, nor do we express any view on, and our opinion does not address, any other term or aspect of the Offer, including, without limitation, the structure or form of the Offer, or any other agreements or arrangements contemplated by the Offer or entered into in connection with or otherwise contemplated by the Offer, including, without limitation, the fairness of the Offer or any other term or aspect of the Offer to, or any consideration to be received in connection therewith by, or the impact of the Offer on, the holders of any remaining Shares or other class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of the Company or any other party. In addition, we express no view or opinion as to the fairness (financial or otherwise) of the amount, nature or any other aspect of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the officers, directors or employees of the Company or any party, or class of such persons in connection with the Offer, whether relative to the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of the Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. Our opinion is necessarily based on financial, economic, monetary, currency, market and other conditions and circumstances as in effect on, and the information made available to us as of, the date hereof, and we do not have any obligation or responsibility to update, revise or reaffirm this opinion based on circumstances, developments or events occurring after the date hereof. Our opinion does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of the Company or any other person as to whether or not such stockholder or other person should tender Shares in connection with the Offer or otherwise act with respect to the Offer or any other matter.

Our financial advisory services and the opinion expressed herein are provided for the information and assistance of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (in their capacity as directors and not in any other capacity) in connection with and for purposes of its consideration of the Offer. It is understood that other members of the Board of Directors (in their capacity as directors and not in any other capacity) of the Company (other than any who recuse themselves) may rely on our advice and opinion. The issuance of this opinion was approved by the Centerview Partners LLC Fairness Opinion Committee.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, including the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, and qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion, as of the date hereof, that the Offer Price to be paid to the holders of Shares that tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Centerview Partners LLC

CENTERVIEW PARTNERS LLC

Exhibit (a)(2)

 

LOGO

Coty Inc. Announces Board Recommendation Regarding the Tender Offer by an Affiliate of JAB Holding Company S.à r.l

NEW YORK - March 18, 2019 — Coty Inc. (the “Company” or “Coty”) (NYSE: COTY) today announced that it has filed an amendment to its Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the tender offer (the “Offer”) commenced on February 13, 2019 by Cottage Holdco B.V. ( “Cottage”), an affiliate of JAB Holding Company S.à r.l. Pursuant to the Offer, Cottage would acquire up to 150 million shares of the Company’s Class A common stock (the “Shares”) at a price of $11.65 per share in cash. The Company also announced today that it has entered into a Stockholders Agreement (the “Stockholders Agreement”) with Cottage, JAB Holdings B.V. and JAB Cosmetics B.V. (the “JAB Group”) containing provisions that would become effective upon a consummation of the Offer and that are intended to enhance the potential for Coty stockholders following the consummation of the Offer to participate in the potential value creation that could result from Company management’s execution of its anticipated new strategic plan and to receive a premium for the purchase of their Shares in the event of future strategic transactions involving the Company’s common equity.

As stated in the amendment to Schedule 14D-9 being filed by the Company on March 18, 2019, which is being disseminated to its stockholders (the “Schedule 14D-9”), the previously formed special committee of disinterested, independent directors (the “Special Committee”) of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”), based, among other things, on its consideration and evaluation of the Offer and the proposed Stockholders Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions thereof, has unanimously determined that the making of the Offer and the execution and delivery of the Stockholders Agreement are advisable and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates). Therefore, the Special Committee recommends that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors set forth in the “Reasons for the Recommendation” section of the Schedule 14D-9, determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at this time accept the Offer and tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer.

As further stated in the Schedule 14D-9, the Board (other than the directors who recused themselves from making a decision with respect to the Offer and Stockholders Agreement), based upon the determination and recommendation of the Special Committee, has unanimously determined that the making of the Offer and entering into the Stockholders Agreement are advisable and in the best


interests of the stockholders of the Company (other than the JAB Group and its affiliates) and recommends that stockholders of the Company who, after having considered all of the factors set forth in the “Reasons for the Recommendation” section of the Schedule 14D-9, determine it is in their personal interest to sell all or a portion of their Shares at this time accept the Offer and tender their shares pursuant to the Offer

Centerview Partners LLC is acting as financial advisor and Sidley Austin LLP and Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. are acting as legal advisors to the Special Committee.

The Offer remains subject to various closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals and clearances, the satisfaction of the Minimum Tender Condition (as defined in Cottage’s tender offer materials) and other conditions stated in the tender offer materials.

Important Additional Information

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. The Company has filed an amendment to its Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC and is mailing such amendment to stockholders because it contains important information. BEFORE MAKING ANY INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE AMENDED SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-9 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. These materials are also available free of charge by contacting the Company’s information agent, Okapi Partners LLC, toll-free at (877) 629-6356 or by contacting the Company’s Investor Relations Department at 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10118 or calling 212-389-7300. In addition, all of these materials (and all other tender offer documents filed with the SEC) are available free of charge from the SEC through its website at www.sec.gov.

About Coty Inc.

Coty is one of the world’s largest beauty companies with over $9 billion in revenue, an iconic portfolio of brands and a purpose to celebrate and liberate the diversity of consumers’ beauty. We believe the beauty of humanity lies in the individuality of its people; beauty is at its best when authentic; and beauty should make you feel happy, never sad. As the global leader in fragrance, a strong number two in professional salon hair color & styling, and number three in color cosmetics, Coty operates three divisions: Consumer Beauty, which is focused on mass color cosmetics, mass retail hair coloring and styling products, body care and mass fragrances with brands such as COVERGIRL, Max Factor, Sally Hansen and Rimmel; Luxury, which is focused on prestige fragrances and skincare with brands such as Calvin Klein, Burberry, Marc Jacobs, Hugo Boss, Gucci and philosophy; and Professional Beauty, which is focused on servicing salon owners and professionals in both hair and nail, with brands such as Wella Professionals, Sebastian Professional, OPI and ghd. Coty has approximately 20,000 colleagues globally and its products are sold in over 150 countries. Coty and its brands are committed to a range of social causes as well as seeking to minimize its impact on the environment.

For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com .


For more information:

Investor Relations

Christina Frank , +1 212 389-6802

christina_frank@cotyinc.com

Olga Levinzon , +1 212 389-7733

olga_levinzon@cotyinc.com

Media

Jennifer Friedman, +1 917 754-8399

jennifer_friedman@cotyinc.com

Lisa Kessler , +1 917 348 3373

lisa_kessler@cotyinc.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release, including statements relating to the Offer, the Special Committee’s or the Board’s recommendations with respect to the Offer, future value creation, the closing of the Offer and other activities with respect to the Offer, are forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements are generally identified by words or phrases, such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “plan”, “project”, “expect”, “believe”, “intend”, “foresee”, “forecast”, “will”, “may”, “should,” “outlook,” “continue,” “intend,” “aim” and similar words or phrases. Reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from the results predicted due to risks and uncertainties including:

 

   

the Company’s ability to develop and achieve its global business strategies and strategic plan and the Company’s ability to compete effectively in the beauty industry and achieve the benefits contemplated by its strategic initiatives within the expected time frame or at all;

 

   

the Company’s ability to anticipate, gauge and respond to market trends and consumer preferences, which may change rapidly, and the market acceptance of new products, including any launches or relaunches and their associated costs and discounting, and consumer receptiveness to the Company’s marketing and consumer engagement activities (including digital marketing and media);

 

   

the Company’s use of estimates and assumptions in preparing its financial statements and projections and estimates, including with regard to revenue recognition, income taxes, the assessment of goodwill, other intangible assets and long-lived assets for impairment, the market value of inventory, pension expense and the fair value of acquired assets and liabilities associated with acquisitions and the fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests;

 

   

the impact of any future impairments;


   

managerial, integration, operational, regulatory, legal and financial risks, including diversion of management attention to and management of cash flows, expenses and costs associated with multiple ongoing and future strategic initiatives and internal reorganizations

 

   

the continued integration of the P&G Beauty Business and other recent acquisitions with the Company’s business, operations, systems, financial data and culture and the ability to realize synergies, avoid future supply chain and other business disruptions, reduce costs (including through the Company’s cash efficiency initiatives) and realize other potential efficiencies and benefits (including through the Company’s restructuring initiatives) at the levels and at the costs and within the time frames contemplated or at all;

 

   

increased competition, consolidation among retailers, shifts in consumers’ preferred distribution and marketing channels (including to digital and luxury channels), distribution and shelf-space resets or reductions, compression of go-to-market cycles, changes in product and marketing requirements by retailers, reductions in retailer inventory levels and order lead-times or changes in purchasing patterns, and other changes in the retail, e-commerce and wholesale environment in which the Company does business and sell its products and the Company’s ability to respond to such changes;

 

   

the Company’s and its business partners’ and licensors’ abilities to obtain, maintain and protect the intellectual property used in the Company’s and their respective businesses, protect the Company’s and such business partners’ respective reputations, public goodwill, and defend claims by third parties for infringement of intellectual property rights;

 

   

any change to the Company’s capital allocation and/or cash management priorities;

 

   

any unanticipated problems, liabilities or other challenges associated with an acquired business which could result in increased risk or new, unanticipated or unknown liabilities, including with respect to environmental, competition and other regulatory, compliance or legal matters;

 

   

the Company’s international operations and joint ventures, including enforceability and effectiveness of the Company’s joint venture agreements and reputational, compliance, regulatory, economic and foreign political risks, including difficulties and costs associated with maintaining compliance with a broad variety of complex local and international regulations;

 

   

the Company’s dependence on certain licenses and its ability to renew expiring licenses or secure any needed change-in-control consents on favorable terms or at all;

 

   

the Company’s dependence on entities performing outsourced functions, including outsourcing of distribution functions, third-party manufacturers, logistics and supply chain suppliers, and other suppliers, including third-party software providers;


   

administrative, product development and other difficulties in meeting the expected timing of market expansions, product launches and marketing efforts;

 

   

global political and/or economic uncertainties, disruptions or major regulatory or policy changes, and/or the enforcement thereof that affect the Company’s business, financial performance, operations or products, including the impact of Brexit, the current U.S. administration, the results of elections in European countries and in Brazil, changes in the U.S. tax code and recent changes and future changes in tariffs, retaliatory or trade protection measures, trade policies and other international trade regulations in the U.S. and in other regions where the Company operates including the European Union and China;

 

   

currency exchange rate volatility and currency devaluation;

 

   

the number, type, outcomes (by judgment, order or settlement) and costs of current or future legal, compliance, tax, regulatory or administrative proceedings, investigations and/or litigation;

 

   

the Company’s ability to manage seasonal factors and other variability and to anticipate future business trends and needs;

 

   

disruptions in operations and sales, including due to disruptions in supply chain, logistics, restructurings and other business alignment activities, manufacturing or information technology systems, labor disputes, extreme weather and natural disasters, and the impact of such disruptions on the Company’s ability to generate profits, stabilize or grow revenues or cash flows, comply with its contractual obligations and accurately forecast demand and supply needs and/or future results, and on the Company’s relationships with licensors and retailers and the Company’s in-store execution and product launches and promotions;

 

   

restrictions imposed on the Company through its license agreements, credit facilities and senior unsecured bonds or other material contracts, the Company’s ability to generate cash flow to repay, refinance or recapitalize debt and otherwise comply with its debt instruments, and changes in the manner in which the Company finances its debt and future capital needs, including access to capital under current market conditions;

 

   

increasing dependency on information technology and the Company’s ability to protect against service interruptions, data corruption, cyber-based attacks or network security breaches, costs and timing of implementation and effectiveness of any upgrades or other changes to information technology systems, including the Company’s digital transformation initiatives, and the cost of compliance or the Company’s failure to comply with any privacy or data security laws (including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”)) or to protect against theft of customer, employee and corporate sensitive information;


   

the Company’s ability to attract and retain key personnel and the impact of the recent senior management transitions;

 

   

the distribution and sale by third parties of counterfeit and/or gray market versions of the Company’s products;

 

   

the results of the Company’s ongoing strategic review and the creation and revision of its strategic plan;

 

   

the receipt of regulatory approvals in connection with the Offer and the impact of certain amendments to the Offer;

 

   

business disruptions, litigation, costs and future events related to the Offer; and

 

   

the impact of the Offer on the Company’s relationships with key customers and suppliers and certain material contracts.

More information about potential risks and uncertainties that could affect the Company’s business and financial results is included under the heading “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and periodic reports the Company has filed and may file with the SEC from time to time.

All forward-looking statements made in this report are qualified by these cautionary statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which are made only as of the date of this Statement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking or cautionary statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of events, unanticipated or otherwise, or changes in future operating results over time or otherwise.

Exhibit (e)(17)

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

COTY INC.,

JAB HOLDINGS B.V.,

JAB COSMETICS B.V.,

AND

COTTAGE HOLDCO B.V.

 

 

Dated as of March 17, 2019


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       P AGE  
  ARTICLE 1   
  D EFINITIONS   
Section 1.01.   Certain Defined Terms      1  
Section 1.02.   Construction      4  
  ARTICLE 2   
  T RANSFER   
Section 2.01.   Restrictions on Transfer      4  
Section 2.02.   Legend      5  
  ARTICLE 3   
  C ERTAIN C OVENANTS A ND A GREEMENTS   
Section 3.01.   Board Composition      6  
Section 3.02.   Related Party Transactions      6  
Section 3.03.   Standstill      6  
  ARTICLE 4   
  M ISCELLANEOUS   
Section 4.01.   Effectiveness      8  
Section 4.02.   Headings      8  
Section 4.03.   Entire Agreement      8  
Section 4.04.   Further Actions; Cooperation      8  
Section 4.05.   Notices      8  
Section 4.06.   Applicable Law      9  
Section 4.07.   Severability      9  
Section 4.08.   Successors and Assigns      9  
Section 4.09.   Amendments      10  
Section 4.10.   Waiver      10  
Section 4.11.   Counterparts      10  
Section 4.12.   Submission to Jurisdiction      10  
Section 4.13.   Remedies      11  
Section 4.14.   Recapitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Company Securities      11  
Section 4.15.   Expenses      11  
Section 4.16.   Termination      11  

 

i


STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

THIS STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT (as may be amended from time to time, this “ Agreement ”) is made as of March 17, 2019 and shall be effective in accordance with Section 4.01 , by and among JAB Holdings B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands (the “ JAB Holding Company ”), JAB Cosmetics B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands and indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of JAB Holding Company (“ Parent ”), Cottage Holdco B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands and direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (“ Offer Purchaser ” and, together with JAB Holding Company, Parent and any Affiliate Transferee who becomes a party to or bound by the provisions of this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof, the “ Stockholders ” and each a “ Stockholder ”), and Coty Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”).

WHEREAS, Offer Purchaser has commenced a tender offer (as it may be amended, modified or extended, the “ Offer ”) to purchase up to 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock, which, when added to the shares of Common Stock already owned by Parent, will represent, immediately following the closing of the Offer (the “ Closing ”) and assuming all 150,000,000 shares of Common Stock are purchased in the Offer, approximately 60% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock;

WHEREAS, as promptly as practicable following the date hereof, the Offer Purchaser shall amend the Minimum Tender Condition (as defined in the Offer) such that the Minimum Tender Condition shall mean that there have been validly tendered and not withdrawn at least 75,471,655 shares of Common Stock in the Offer, which amount, when taken together with the number of shares of Common Stock Beneficially owned by the Stockholders, constitutes 50.1% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock; and

WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholders desire to enter into this Agreement (which shall only become effective in accordance with Section 4.01 ).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby irrevocably acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1

D EFINITIONS

Section 1.01. Certain Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided that no individual shall be an Affiliate of a Stockholder solely by virtue of being a director, officer or employee of such Stockholder or one of its non-individual Affiliates, so long as such individual is not acting in concert with such Stockholder; provided , further that the Stockholders shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Company or any of its

 

1


Subsidiaries as such term is used in this Agreement and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Stockholders as such term is used in this Agreement.

Affiliate Transferee ” shall mean, with respect to a Stockholder, such Stockholder’s Affiliates that have executed a joinder providing that such Affiliate shall be bound by and shall fully comply with the terms of this Agreement.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the preamble.

Applicable Governance Rules ” shall mean the rules, regulations and listing standards promulgated by any securities exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are traded.

A Person shall be deemed to “ Beneficially Own ” securities if such Person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement; provided that a Person shall be deemed to have beneficial ownership of any securities that it has a right to acquire whether or not such right is at such time currently exercisable or is subject to any contingencies.

Board ” shall mean the board of directors of the Company.

Business Day ” shall mean any day except a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York are authorized by law to close.

Closing ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the recitals.

Closing Voting Power Percentage ” shall have the meaning assigned to in Section 3.03(a) .

Commission ” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.

Common Stock ” shall mean the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and any and all securities of any kind whatsoever of the Company which may be issued and outstanding on or after the date hereof in respect of, in exchange for, or upon conversion of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a merger, consolidation, stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization of the Company or otherwise.

Company ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the preamble.

Company Securities ” shall mean (i) any Common Stock, (ii) any securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company and (iii) any securities of the Company that are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any securities of the Company described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii).

Disinterested Director Approval ” shall mean the affirmative approval of a special committee of the Board comprised solely of Independent Directors who are disinterested and independent under Delaware law as to the matter under consideration, duly obtained in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Company’s organizational documents, applicable law and Applicable Governance Rules.

 

2


Exchange Act ” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Independent Director ” shall mean a director on the Board that qualifies as “independent” under the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act and Applicable Governance Rules.

JAB Holding Company ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the preamble.

Minimum Amount ” shall mean a number of shares of Common Stock equal to 40% of the Voting Power of the Company on a fully diluted basis.

Minority Stockholder Approval ” shall mean the affirmative vote of stockholders of the Company representing at least a majority of the Voting Power of the Company Beneficially Owned by stockholders of the Company that are not Stockholders or Affiliates thereof.

Offer ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the recitals.

Offer Purchaser ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the preamble.

Parent ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the preamble.

Person ” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.

Remuneration and Nomination Committee ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.01(a) .

Securities Act ” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Special Committee ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 4.09 .

Stockholder Credit Facility ” shall mean the definitive documentation, as in effect as of the Closing, contemplated by that certain Amended and Restated Commitment Letter dated as of March 11, 2019, by BNP Paribas, HSBC Bank plc, UniCredit Bank AG, Banco Santander S.A., Paris Branch, ING Bank, a branch of ING-DiBa AG, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ) Frankfurt Branch and Credit Agricole Commercial and Investment Bank, a true and complete copy of which has been delivered to the Company at or prior to the date hereof or has otherwise been made publicly available.

Stockholders ” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the preamble.

 

3


Subsidiary ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, a corporation or other entity of which fifty percent (50%) or more of the voting power of the equity interests is Beneficially Owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

Transfer ” shall mean, with respect to any Company Securities, (i) when used as a verb, to sell, assign, convey, dispose of, exchange, pledge or otherwise transfer such Company Securities or any economic participation or interest therein, whether directly or indirectly (including pursuant to a derivative transaction, merger, consolidation, reorganization or recapitalization), or agree or commit to do any of the foregoing, and (ii) when used as a noun, a direct or indirect sale, conveyance, assignment, disposition, exchange, pledge or other transfer of such Company Securities or any participation or interest therein or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing.

Voting Power of the Company ” shall mean the voting power of the then issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company.

Section 1.02. Construction . For the purposes of this Agreement, (i) words (including capitalized terms defined herein) in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words (including capitalized terms defined herein) of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires, (ii) the terms “hereof,” “herein” and “herewith” and words of similar import shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Article and Section references are to Articles and Sections of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified, (iii) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean “including, without limitation,” (iv) all references to any period of days shall be deemed to be the relevant number of calendar days unless otherwise specified, (v) all references herein to “$” or dollars shall refer to United States dollars, unless otherwise specified and (vi) this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 2

T RANSFER

Section 2.01. Restrictions on Transfer .

(a) Each Stockholder agrees that until the third anniversary of the Closing, it shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly as part of a “group” (as such term is applied under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), alone or in concert with any other Person, Transfer any Company Securities, to a Person or “group” (as such term is applied under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) if such Person or group would Beneficially Own in excess of 20% of the Voting Power of the Company following such Transfer;  provided  that (i) the foregoing restrictions set forth in this Section 2.01(a) shall not apply with respect to Transfers to Affiliate Transferees ( provided that, in the case of this clause (i), any such Affiliate Transferee must, upon the consummation of such Transfer, execute and deliver to the Company a joinder providing that such Affiliate Transferee shall be bound by and shall fully comply with the terms

 

4


of this Agreement), (ii) the foregoing restrictions set forth in this Section 2.01(a) shall not apply with respect to any transaction that is settled on an established securities exchange (other than a transaction that was entered into with the intention of circumventing the restrictions in this Section 2.01(a) ), (iii) the foregoing restrictions set forth in this Section 2.01(a) shall not apply with respect to any Transfers consummated pursuant to the express requirements of the terms of the Stockholder Credit Facility (including, without limitation, any Transfers consummated pursuant thereto to the extent the Stockholders apply the proceeds of such Transfers to make a mandatory prepayment after the occurrence of an LTV Event (as defined in the Stockholder Credit Facility) and any foreclosure action taken by the agent under the Stockholder Credit Facility) ( provided that, in the case of this clause (iii), the Stockholders shall provide the Company with as much advance notice of such Transfer as practicable under the circumstances and will, at the request of the Company, use commercially reasonable efforts (which shall in no event require the Stockholders to incur any cost or expense or accept less favorable terms in connection with such Transfer) to cooperate with the Company in order to minimize the impact of any such Transfer on the trading market for the Company Securities) and (iv) the Stockholders shall be permitted to Transfer all (but not less than all) of their Company Securities to a third party (other than any Affiliate of any Stockholder) pursuant to a transaction in which such third party purchases all of the outstanding Company Securities ( provided  that, in the case of this clause (iv), the price, form of consideration and other terms and conditions of the Transfer offered to the Stockholders and on which the Stockholders participate are the same as the price, form of consideration and other terms and conditions offered and available to all other holders of Common Stock). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company hereby acknowledges that all of the Common Stock Beneficially Owned by the Stockholders will be at the Closing pledged under the Stockholder Credit Facility in accordance with the terms thereof.

(b) Any Transfers or purported Transfers of Company Securities by a Stockholder other than in accordance with Section 2.01(a) shall be null and void ab initio .

Section 2.02. Legend . Any certificate representing Company Securities issued to a Stockholder after the Closing shall be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend in substantially the following form:

“The shares represented by this certificate are subject to the provisions contained in the Stockholders Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2019, by and among the stockholders of Coty Inc. party thereto and Coty Inc., as may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.”

The Company shall include the foregoing legend in any notice delivered to a holder of Company Securities issued in uncertificated form pursuant to Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and shall otherwise make customary arrangements to cause any Company Securities issued in uncertificated form to be identified on the books of the Company in a substantially similar manner.

 

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ARTICLE 3

C ERTAIN C OVENANTS AND A GREEMENTS

Section 3.01. Board Composition .

(a) For so long as this Agreement is in effect, the Company and each Stockholder shall take all necessary actions within their control (including voting or causing to be present at meetings of stockholders of the Company and voted all of the Company Securities held of record by such Stockholder or Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder by virtue of having voting power over such Company Securities) so as to cause to be elected to the Board, and to cause to continue in office, at any given time, no fewer than four (4) Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates, each of whom shall be nominated by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee of the Board (or any successor committee of the Board) (the “ Remuneration and Nomination Committee ”) (or, if at the time of such nomination, the Remuneration and Nomination Committee is not composed of a majority of Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates, such other committee of the Board that is composed of a majority of Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates) and approved by the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, as of the date hereof, each of Sabine Chalmers, Erhard Schoewel, Robert Singer and Paul S. Michaels are Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates.

(b) The Company and each Stockholder shall take all necessary actions within their control (including voting or causing to be present at meetings of stockholders of the Company and voted all of the Company Securities held of record by such Stockholder or Beneficially Owned by such Stockholder by virtue of having voting power over such Company Securities) so as to cause, no later than September 30, 2019, to be elected to the Board two (2) new Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates who are nominated by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee (or, if at the time of such nomination, the Remuneration and Nomination Committee is not composed of a majority of Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates, such other committee of the Board that is composed of a majority of Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates) and approved by the Board.

Section 3.02. Related Party Transactions. For so long as this Agreement is in effect, the following actions shall be null and void ab initio unless Disinterested Director Approval has been obtained: (a) entry into, amendment to, modification to, termination of or approval of any transaction or series of transactions involving any Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, (b) any amendment, modification, termination, enforcement or waiver of the rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any agreement involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand, or (c) settlement or compromise of any claim or dispute involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Stockholder or any of its Affiliates, on the other hand.

Section 3.03. Standstill .

(a) Each Stockholder agrees that, prior to the third anniversary of the Closing, without Disinterested Director Approval, it shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly as part of a “group” (as such term is applied under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), alone or in concert with any other Person, effect or enter into any agreement to effect, any

 

6


acquisition of (or obtaining any right to direct the voting or disposition of) any Company Securities, or rights or options to acquire (or obtain any right to direct the voting or disposition of) any Company Securities, in each case, whether or not any of the foregoing may be acquired or obtained immediately or only after the passage of time or upon the satisfaction of one or more conditions pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or otherwise; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 3.03(a) shall restrict, prevent or otherwise limit (A) any acquisition of any Company Securities as contemplated by Section 3.03(b) , (B) any issuance of options or other equity awards granted to officers or directors of the Company that is authorized and approved by the Remuneration and Nomination Committee of the Board, (C) the participation by the Stockholders and their Affiliates in any issuance of Company Securities by the Company that is made pro rata to all stockholders of the Company (including, in the case of any rights offering made by the Company, the exercise of any oversubscription privilege made available to all holders of Common Stock on the same terms); (D) any acquisition of Company Securities that does not result in the percentage of the Voting Power of the Company Beneficially Owned by the Stockholders and their Affiliates immediately after such acquisition being higher than the percentage of the Voting Power of the Company Beneficially Owned by the Stockholders and their Affiliates as of the Closing (the “ Closing Voting Power Percentage ”) or (E) if the Stockholders acquire pursuant to the Offer Beneficial Ownership of at least 75,471,655 shares of Common Stock, any acquisition of Company Securities which is settled on an established securities exchange or through privately negotiated transactions, so long as such acquisition does not cause the percentage of the Voting Power of the Company Beneficially Owned by the Stockholders and their Affiliates immediately following such acquisition to exceed an amount equal to the Closing Voting Power Percentage plus 9%. For the avoidance of doubt, prior to the third anniversary of the Closing any acquisition of Company Securities through a tender or exchange offer may only be effected with Disinterested Director Approval.

(b) Each Stockholder agrees that, for so long as this Agreement is in effect, it shall not, and shall cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly as part of a “group” (as such term is applied under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), alone or in concert with any other Person, effect or seek, offer, propose (whether publicly or otherwise) or enter into any agreement to effect, or announce any intention to effect or otherwise participate in, any “Rule 13e-3 transaction” as defined in Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act unless such transaction is conditioned on both Disinterested Director Approval and Minority Stockholder Approval.

Section 3.04. Registration Rights . Each Stockholder shall have the registration and other rights on the terms set forth in Exhibit A.

Section 3.05. Amendment to Offer . As promptly as practicable following the date hereof, the Offer Purchaser shall amend the Offer such that the Minimum Tender Condition (as defined in the Offer) shall mean that there have been validly tendered and not withdrawn at least 75,471,655 shares of Common Stock in the Offer.

 

7


ARTICLE 4

M ISCELLANEOUS

Section 4.01. Effectiveness . Unless terminated earlier in accordance with Section 4.16 , and other than Section 3.05 (which shall be effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement), this Agreement shall automatically and immediately become effective (and shall only become effective), without any further action by any Person, upon the Closing.

Section 4.02. Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not control or effect the meaning or construction of any provisions hereof.

Section 4.03. Entire Agreement . This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein, and there are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants, conditions or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Section 4.04. Further Actions; Cooperation . Each of the Stockholders and the Company agrees to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.05. Notices . All notices, requests, consents and other communications hereunder to any party hereto shall be deemed to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument delivered in person or sent by email, nationally recognized overnight courier or first class registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to such party at the address set forth below or such other address as may hereafter be designated on the signature pages of this Agreement or in writing by such party to the other parties:

If to the JAB Holding Company, Parent or Offer Purchaser, to:

Cottage Holdco B.V.

Oosterdoksstraat 80

1011 DK Amsterdam

The Netherlands

Email:   Joachim.Creus@jabse.eu
Attn:   Joachim Creus

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Four Times Square

New York, NY 10036

Email:   paul.schnell@skadden.com
  sean.doyle@skadden.com

 

8


  maxim.mayercesiano@skadden.com
Attn:   Paul T. Schnell
 

Sean C. Doyle

Maxim O. Mayer-Cesiano

If to the Company, to:

Coty Inc.

350 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10118

Email:   Greer_McMullen@cotyinc.com
Attn:   General Counsel

If to a Stockholder that is not JAB Holding Company, Parent or Offer Purchaser, then to the address set forth in the written agreement of such Stockholder provided for in Section 2.01(a)(i) .

All such notices, requests, consents and other communications shall be deemed to have been given or made if and when received (including by overnight courier) by the parties hereto at the above addresses or sent by email, with confirmation received, to the email addresses specified above (or at such other email address for a party as shall be specified by like notice). Any notice delivered by any party hereto to any other party hereto shall also be delivered to each other party hereto simultaneously with delivery to the first party receiving such notice.

Section 4.06. Applicable Law . The substantive laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the interpretation, validity and performance of the terms of this Agreement, without regard to conflicts of law doctrines that would require the application of the law of another jurisdiction.

Section 4.07. Severability . The provisions of this Agreement are independent of and separable from each other. The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of one or more of the provisions of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement, including any such provisions, in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. The parties hereto shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, as applicable.

Section 4.08. Successors and Assigns . Except as otherwise provided herein, all the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the respective successors and permitted assigns of the parties hereto. Except as otherwise provided herein, no Stockholder may assign any of its rights or delegate any of its responsibilities hereunder to any other Person without the prior written consent of each other party hereto.

 

9


Section 4.09. Amendments . This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented unless such amendment, modification or supplement is in writing and signed by each of the Stockholders and the Company; provided  that any amendment, modification or supplement that is effected before the Closing shall also require the approval of the Special Committee of the Board comprised of Erhard Schoewel, Sabine Chalmers and Robert Singer (the “ Special Committee ”) or that is effected after the Closing shall also require Disinterested Director Approval in accordance with Section 3.02 .

Section 4.10. Waiver . The failure of a party hereto at any time or times to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no manner affect its right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by a party of any condition or of any breach of any term, covenant, representation or warranty contained in this Agreement shall be effective unless in a writing signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective, and no waiver in any one or more instances shall be deemed to be a further or continuing waiver of any such condition or breach in other instances or a waiver of any other condition or breach of any other term, covenant, representation or warranty. Any waiver by or on behalf of the Company that is effected (a) before the Closing shall require approval of the Special Committee or (b) after the Closing shall require Disinterested Director Approval in accordance with Section 3.02 .

Section 4.11. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

Section 4.12. Submission to Jurisdiction . ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY ACTION FOR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT IN RESPECT THEREOF SHALL BE BROUGHT EXCLUSIVELY IN THE DELAWARE COURT OF CHANCERY, NEW CASTLE COUNTY OR, SOLELY IF THAT COURT DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION, ANOTHER DELAWARE STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SITTING IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY ACCEPTS FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS AND THE APPELLATE COURTS THEREOF. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH HEREIN. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED TO ABOVE AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. THE PARTIES HERETO WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO DISPUTES HEREUNDER.

 

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Section 4.13. Remedies .

(a) Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that a violation of any of the terms of this Agreement will cause the other parties irreparable injury for which an adequate remedy at law is not available. Therefore, the Stockholders agree that each party hereto shall be entitled to, in addition to all other rights and remedies granted by law or in equity, an injunction, restraining order, specific performance or other equitable relief from any court of competent jurisdiction, restraining any party from committing any violations of the provisions of this Agreement, without the need to post a bond or prove the inadequacy of monetary damages.

(b) Each party hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Independent Directors who are disinterested as it relates to the Stockholders and their respective Affiliates shall have the authority to authorize and direct the Company to enforce its rights under this Agreement against the Stockholders and shall, if necessary, be composed as a special committee of the Board for such purpose.

Section 4.14. Recapitalizations, Exchanges, Etc. Affecting Company Securities . The provisions of this Agreement (including Exhibit A hereto) shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein, with respect to Company Securities and to any and all equity or debt securities of the Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether by merger, consolidation, sale of assets, or otherwise) which may be issued in respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of, such Company Securities and shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividends, splits, reverse splits, combinations, reclassifications, recapitalizations, reorganizations and the like occurring after the date hereof.

Section 4.15. Expenses . Except as otherwise provided in Exhibit A hereto each of the parties shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 4.16. Termination . Upon the mutual consent of all of the parties hereto (including, with respect to the Company before the Closing, approval of the Special Committee, or after the Closing, Disinterested Director Approval) or, with respect to each Stockholder, at such earlier time as such Stockholder and its Affiliates ceases to Beneficially Own a Minimum Amount, this Agreement shall terminate; provided that the obligations of the parties hereto pursuant to the registration and other rights granted pursuant to Section 3.04 and set forth in Exhibit A hereto shall survive such termination pursuant to this Section 4.16 and shall only terminate pursuant to Section 16(c) of Exhibit A.

[ Remainder of page left blank intentionally ]

 

11


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered by their respective officers thereunto duly as of the date first above written.

 

COTY INC.
By:  

/s/ Greerson G. McMullen

Name:   Greerson G. McMullen
Title:   Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Secretary

[ Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement ]


JAB HOLDINGS B.V.,
JAB COSMETICS B.V.,
COTTAGE HOLDCO B.V.
By:  

/s/ Joachim Crues

Name:   Joachim Creus
Title:   Authorized Representative
By:  

/s/ Markus Hopmann

Name:   Markus Hopmann
Title:   Authorized Representative

[ Signature Page to Stockholders Agreement ]


EXHIBIT A

REGISTRATION RIGHTS

Section 1. Certain Definitions .

(a) As used in herein, the following terms have the following meanings. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the definitions ascribed to them in the Stockholders Agreement.

Adverse Disclosure ” means public disclosure of material non-public information that, in the Board’s good faith judgment, after consultation with outside counsel to the Company, (i) would be required to be made in any Registration Statement filed with the Commission by the Company so that such Registration Statement would not be materially misleading; (ii) would not be required to be made at such time but for the filing of such Registration Statement and (iii) the Company has a bona fide business purpose for not disclosing publicly.

Company Shares ” means the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and “ Controls ” and “ Controlled ” each has a correlative meaning.

FINRA ” means the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., and any successor regulator performing comparable functions.

Governmental Entity ” means any foreign, United States federal or state, regional or local legislative, executive or judicial body or agency, any court of competent jurisdiction, any department, commission, political subdivision or other governmental entity or instrumentality, or any arbitral authority, in each case, whether domestic or foreign.

Holder ” means each Stockholder and any Affiliate Transferee who becomes a party to or bound by the provisions of the Stockholders Agreement pursuant to the terms thereof.

JAB Entities ” means JAB Holding Company, Parent and Offer Purchaser.

Judgments ” means any judgments, injunctions, orders, stays, decrees, writs, rulings, or awards of any court or other judicial authority or any other Governmental Entity.

Law ” means all laws (including common law), statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders, decrees or legally-binding guidance of any Governmental Entity, or Judgments.

Material Adverse Change ” means (i) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market in the United States (other than ordinary course limitations on hours or number of days of trading); (ii) a material outbreak or escalation of armed hostilities or other international or


national calamity involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or a material adverse change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions; or (iii) any event, change, circumstance or effect that is or is reasonably likely to be materially adverse to the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire ” means a written notice, agreement and questionnaire substantially in the form of Annex A hereto.

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

Participating Shareholder ” means, with respect to any registration, any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by the applicable Registration Statement.

Public Offering ” means any public offering and sale of equity securities of the Company or its successor for cash pursuant to an effective registration statement (other than on Form S-4, S-8 or a comparable form) under the Securities Act.

Qualified Shareholder ” means any Holder that, together with its Affiliates, beneficially owns at least 3% of the Company Shares.

Registrable Securities ” means, at any time, any Company Shares and any securities issued or issuable in respect of such Company Shares or by way of conversion, amalgamation, exchange, share dividend, split or combination, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, other reorganization or otherwise until the earliest to occur of (i) a Registration Statement covering such Company Shares has been declared effective by the Commission and such Shares have been sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to such effective Registration Statement, (ii) such Company Shares are otherwise transferred (other than by a Qualified Shareholder to an Affiliate thereof), the Company has delivered a new certificate or other evidence of ownership for such Company Shares not bearing any restrictive legend and such Company Shares may be resold without subsequent registration under the Securities Act, (iii) such Company Shares are repurchased by the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company or cease to be outstanding or (iv) such Company Shares may be resold pursuant to Rule 144, without regard to volume or manner of sale limitations, whether or not any such sale has occurred.

Registration Expenses ” means any and all expenses incident to the performance of or compliance with any registration or marketing of securities, including all (i) registration and filing fees, and all other fees and expenses payable in connection with the listing of securities on any securities exchange or automated interdealer quotation system, (ii) fees and expenses of compliance with any securities or “blue sky” Laws (including fees and disbursements of counsel in connection with “blue sky” qualifications of the securities registered), (iii) expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, mailing and delivery of any Registration Statements, prospectuses and other documents in connection therewith and any amendments or supplements thereto, (iv) security engraving and printing expenses, (v) internal expenses of the Company (including all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), (vi) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and customary fees and


expenses for independent certified public accountants retained by the Company (including the expenses relating to any required audits of the financial statements of the Company or any comfort letters or costs associated with the delivery by independent certified public accountants of any comfort letters requested pursuant to Section 6(l) ), (vii) fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection with such registration, (viii) reasonable fees and expenses of one (1) counsel for all Holders participating in the offering, selected by the Holders holding the majority of the Registrable Securities to be sold for the account of all Holders in the offering and reasonable fees and expenses of each additional counsel retained by any Holder for the purpose of rendering a legal opinion on behalf of such Holder in connection with any underwritten Public Offering, (ix) fees and expenses in connection with any review by FINRA of the underwriting arrangements or other terms of the offering, and all fees and expenses of any “qualified independent underwriter,” including the fees and expenses of any counsel thereto, but excluding any underwriting fees, discounts and commissions attributable to the sale of Registrable Securities, (x) transfer agents’ and registrars’ fees and expenses and the fees and expenses of any other agent or trustee appointed in connection with such offering, (xi) expenses relating to any analyst or investor presentations or any “road shows” undertaken in connection with the registration, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities, provided that the Company shall not be responsible for any plane chartering fees, (xii) fees and expenses payable in connection with any ratings of the Registrable Securities, including expenses relating to any presentations to rating agencies and (xiii) all out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the Company or its appropriate officers in connection with their compliance with Section 6(r) . For the avoidance of doubt, “Registration Expenses” shall include expenses of the type described in clauses (i) - (xiii) to the extent incurred in connection with the “take down” of Company Shares pursuant to a Registration Statement previously declared effective. Except as set forth in clause (viii) above, Registration Expenses shall not include any out-of-pocket expenses of any Holders (or the agents who manage their accounts) or any Selling Expenses.

Registration Statement ” means any registration statement of the Company that covers Registrable Securities pursuant hereto filed with, or to be filed with, the Commission under the rules and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act, including the related prospectus, pre- and post-effective amendments and supplements to such registration statement and all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 (or any successor provisions) under the Securities Act.

Rule 144A ” means Rule 144A (or any successor provisions) under the Securities Act.

Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 (or any successor provisions) under the Securities Act.

Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting fees, discounts, selling commissions and stock or share transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities, and fees and disbursements of counsel for any holder of Registrable Securities, except for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders of Registrable Securities set forth in clause (viii) of the definition of Registration Expenses.

Shelf Registration Statement ” means a Registration Statement of the Company filed with the Commission on Form S-3 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the


Securities Act) or a prospectus supplement to an existing Form S-3, in each case for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 covering all of the Registrable Securities, as applicable, and which may also cover any other securities of the Company.

Stockholders Agreement ” means that certain Stockholders Agreement to which this Exhibit is attached, dated as of March 17, 2019, by and among JAB Holdings B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands, JAB Cosmetics B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands and indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of JAB Holdings B.V., Cottage Holdco B.V., a private limited liability company ( besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ) organized under the laws of the Netherlands and direct wholly-owned Subsidiary of JAB Cosmetics B.V., and Coty Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Underwritten Offering ” means a registration in which Company Shares are sold to an underwriter or underwriters on a firm commitment basis.

(b) Other Definitions . In addition to the defined terms set forth in Section 1(a) , as used in this Exhibit, each of the following capitalized terms has the meaning specified in the Section set forth opposite such term below.

 

Term

  

Section

Damages

   7(a)

Demand Notice

   2(a)(i)

Demand Period

   2(e)

Demand Registration

   2(a)(i)

Demand Suspension

   2(h)

Holder Information

   15(b)

Indemnified Party

   9

Indemnifying Party

   9

Inspectors

   6(k)

Long-Form Registration

   2(a)(i)

Maximum Offering Size

   2(g)

Records

   6(k)

Requesting Shareholder

   2(a)(i)

Shelf Offering Request

   3(a)

Shelf Period

   3(b)

Shelf Suspension

   3(d)

Short-Form Registration

   2(a)(i)

Underwritten Shelf Takedown

   3(e)(i)

Underwritten Shelf Takedown Notice

   3(e)(i)

Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request

   3(e)(i)


Section 2. Demand Registration .

(a) Demand by Holders .

(i) If, at any time the Company does not otherwise have an effective registration statement covering offerings of a Holder’s Registrable Securities to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to pursuant to Rule 415 on file with the Commission, and the Company shall have received a request, subject to Section 15 , from any Qualified Shareholder (the “ Requesting Shareholder ”) that the Company effect the registration under the Securities Act of all or any portion of such Requesting Shareholder’s Registrable Securities (x) on Form S-1 or any similar long-form Registration Statement (a “ Long-Form Registration ”) or (y) on Form S-3 or any similar short-form Registration Statement, which shall include a prospectus supplement to an existing Form S-3 (a “ Short-Form Registration ”) if the Company qualifies to use such short-form Registration Statement (any such requested Long-Form Registration or Short-Form Registration, a “ Demand Registration ”), and specifying the kind and aggregate amount of Registrable Securities to be registered and the intended method of disposition thereof, then the Company shall promptly, but in no event later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement relating to such Demand Registration, give notice of such request (a “ Demand Notice ”) to the other Holders, specifying the number of Registrable Securities for which the Requesting Shareholder has requested registration under this Section 2(a) . During the ten (10) Business Days after receipt of a Demand Notice, all Holders (other than the Requesting Shareholder) may provide a written request to the Company, specifying the aggregate amount of Registrable Securities held by such Holders requested to be registered as part of such Demand Registration and the intended method of distribution thereof; provided that, if, on the date of any request by a Qualified Shareholder, the Company qualifies as a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) eligible to file an automatic Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 pursuant to Section 3 of this Exhibit, the provisions of this Section 2 shall not apply, and the provisions of Section 3 shall apply instead.

(ii) The Company shall file such Registration Statement with the Commission within ninety (90) days of such request, in the case of a Long-Form Registration, and thirty (30) days of such request, in the case of a Short-Form Registration, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act and the “blue sky” Laws of such jurisdictions as any Participating Shareholder or any underwriter, if any, reasonably requests, as expeditiously as possible, all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition (in accordance with the intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities so to be registered.

(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2(a) , (A) the Company shall not be obligated to effect more than two (2) Long-Form Registrations over any three (3) year period at the request of the Holders, (B) from and


after the time the Company becomes eligible for a Short-Form Registration, the Holders shall be entitled to effect three (3) Short-Form Registrations per calendar year in the aggregate in addition to the Long-Form Registrations to which they are entitled (which Long-Form Registrations, at the election of the Requesting Shareholder, may be effected as Short-Form Registrations, in which case they will count as Long-Form Registrations for purposes of the preceding clause (A)) and (C) the Company shall not be obligated to effect a Demand Registration unless the aggregate proceeds expected to be received from the sale of the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration (after giving effect to any withdrawals pursuant to Section 2(b) ) equals or exceeds five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) if pursuant to a Long-Form Registration, or three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000) if pursuant to a Short-Form Registration.

(b) Demand Withdrawal . A Participating Shareholder may withdraw its Registrable Securities from a Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement. Upon receipt of a notice from all of the Participating Shareholders to such effect, the Company shall cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement, and such registration shall nonetheless be deemed a Demand Registration for purposes of Section 2(a) unless (i) the withdrawing Participating Shareholders shall have paid or reimbursed the Company for their pro rata share of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the registration of the withdrawing Participating Shareholders’ withdrawn Registrable Securities (based on the number of Registrable Securities such withdrawing Participating Shareholders sought to register, as compared to the total number of Company Securities included on such Registration Statement), (ii) the withdrawal is made following the occurrence of a Material Adverse Change, because the registration would require the Company to make an Adverse Disclosure or because the Company otherwise requests withdrawal or (iii) the withdrawal arose out of a breach by the Company of this Exhibit (in each such case the Company shall be obligated to pay all Registration Expenses in connection with such revoked request except to the extent otherwise paid pursuant to clause (i)).

(c) Company Notifications . Within ten (10) Business Days after the receipt by the Participating Shareholders of the Demand Notice, the Company will notify all Participating Shareholders of the identities of the other Participating Shareholders and the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included therein.

(d) Registration Expenses . The Company shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Demand Registration, regardless of whether such registration is effected, subject to reimbursement pursuant to Section 2(b)(i) , if applicable.

(e) Effective Registration . A Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred if the Registration Statement relating thereto (i) has become effective under the Securities Act and (ii) has remained effective for a period of at least 180 calendar days (or such shorter period in which all Registrable Securities of the Participating Shareholders included in such registration have actually been sold thereunder or withdrawn) or, if such Registration Statement relates to an Underwritten Offering, such longer period as, in the opinion of counsel for the underwriter or underwriters, a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered


in connection with sales of Registrable Securities by an underwriter or dealer (the applicable period, the “ Demand Period ”); provided , that a Demand Registration shall not be deemed to have occurred if, (A) during the Demand Period, such Registration Statement is interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of the Commission or other Governmental Entity or court, (B) the conditions to closing specified in the underwriting agreement, if any, entered into in connection with such registration are not satisfied other than by reason of a wrongful act, misrepresentation or breach of such applicable underwriting agreement by any Participating Shareholder or (C) the Maximum Offering Size (as defined below) is reduced in accordance with Section 2(g) such that less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the Registrable Securities that the Requesting Shareholder sought to be included in such registration are included.

(f) Underwritten Offerings . If any Participating Shareholder that is a Qualified Shareholder so requests, an offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Demand Registration shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering.

(g) Priority of Securities Registered Pursuant to Demand Registrations . If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a proposed Underwritten Offering advise the Board (or, in the case of a Demand Registration not being underwritten, the Board determines in its reasonable discretion) that, in its view, the number of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration (including any securities that the Company proposes to be included that are not Registrable Securities) exceeds the largest number of shares that can be sold without being likely to have an adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the shares offered in such offering (the “ Maximum Offering Size ”), the Company shall include in such registration, in the priority listed below, or as nearly as practicable to the priority listed below to the extent such priority is inconsistent with rights granted by the Company to other Persons as in effect on the date of the Stockholders Agreement, up to the Maximum Offering Size:

(i) if the Requesting Shareholder is a JAB Entity, (A)  first , all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by such JAB Entity, (B)  second , and only if all the securities referred to in clause (A) have been included, all Registrable Securities requested to be registered by the other Participating Shareholders (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such Participating Shareholders on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities owned by the Participating Shareholders; provided , that any securities thereby allocated to a Participating Shareholder that exceed such Participating Shareholder’s request shall be reallocated among the remaining Participating Shareholders in like manner), and (C)  thereafter , and only if all the securities referred to in clause (A) and (B) have been included, any securities proposed to be registered by the Company or any securities proposed to be registered for the account of any other Persons (including the Company), with such priorities among them as the Company shall determine; and

(ii) if the Requesting Shareholder is not a JAB Entity, (A)  first , all Registrable Securities requested to be registered by the Participating Shareholders (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro


rata among such Participating Shareholders on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities owned by the Participating Shareholders; provided , that any securities thereby allocated to a Participating Shareholder that exceed such Participating Shareholder’s request shall be reallocated among the remaining Participating Shareholders in like manner), and (B)  thereafter , and only if all the securities referred to in clause (A) have been included, any securities proposed to be registered by the Company or any securities proposed to be registered for the account of any other Persons (including the Company), with such priorities among them as the Company shall determine.

(h) Delay in Filing; Suspension of Registration . If, upon Disinterested Director Approval, the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of a Registration Statement in respect of a Demand Registration at any time would require the Company to (A) make an Adverse Disclosure or (B) prepare or obtain financial statements or pro forma financial information related to a material corporate transaction that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement filed with the Commission by Regulation S-X that are then unavailable, the Company may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Participating Shareholders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, such Registration Statement (a “ Demand Suspension ”); provided , that (x) the Company shall not be permitted to exercise a Demand Suspension (i) more than three (3) times during any 12-month period or (ii) for more than one hundred (100) days in aggregate during any 12-month period and (y) such Demand Suspension shall terminate at such time as (A) the Company would no longer be required to make any Adverse Disclosure or (B) the required financial statements or pro forma financial information are then available; and provided , further , that in the event of a Demand Suspension, if a Participating Shareholder has not sold any Company Shares under such Registration Statement, it shall be entitled to withdraw Registrable Securities from such Demand Registration and, if all Participating Shareholders so withdraw, such Demand Registration shall not be counted for purposes of the limit on Demand Registrations requested by such Participating Shareholders in Section 2(a) . In the case of a Demand Suspension, the Participating Shareholders agree to suspend use of the applicable prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectuses in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon receipt of the notice referred to above. The Company shall promptly notify the Participating Shareholders upon the termination of any Demand Suspension, amend or supplement the prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and furnish to the Participating Shareholders such numbers of copies of the prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Participating Shareholders may reasonably request. The Company agrees, if necessary, to supplement or make amendments to the applicable Registration Statement if required by the registration form used by the Company for the applicable Demand Registration or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, or as may reasonably be requested by the Participating Shareholder. Notwithstanding anything in this Exhibit to the contrary, the Company shall not be permitted to file a registration statement to register for sale, or to conduct any registered securities offerings (including any “take-downs” off of an effective shelf registration statement) of any of its securities either for its own account or the account of any security holder or holders during any Demand Suspension.


Section 3. Shelf Registration .

(a) Filing . If at any time the Company shall have received a request, subject to Section 15 , by a Qualified Shareholder (a “ Shelf Offering Request ”), for the filing of a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to this Section 3 , and at such time the Company is eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, the Company shall, within sixty (60) days of such Shelf Offering Request, file with the Commission a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of all Registrable Securities by the Holders from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and, as promptly as practicable thereafter, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act (or if the Company qualifies to do so, it shall file an automatic Shelf Registration Statement in response to any such request). If, on the date of any such Shelf Offering Request or on any date thereafter until the related Shelf Registration Statement is filed, the Company does not qualify to file a Shelf Registration Statement under the Securities Act, the provisions of this Section 3 shall not apply, and the provisions of Section 2 shall apply instead.

(b) Continued Effectiveness . The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act (including, if necessary, by renewing or refiling a Shelf Registration Statement prior to expiration of the existing Shelf Registration Statement or by filing with the Commission a post-effective amendment or a supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or any document incorporated therein by reference or by filing any other required document or otherwise supplementing or amending the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, any state securities or “blue sky” Laws, or any rules and regulations thereunder) in order to permit the prospectus forming a part thereof to be usable by Holders until the earlier of (i) the date as of which all Registrable Securities have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or another Registration Statement filed under the Securities Act (but in no event prior to the applicable period referred to in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder) and (ii) the date as of which each of the Holders is permitted to sell its Registrable Securities without Registration pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act without volume limitation or other restrictions on transfer thereunder or such Registrable Securities otherwise cease to be deemed Registrable Securities (such period of effectiveness, the “ Shelf Period ”).

(c) Shelf Notice . Promptly upon receipt of any request to file a Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 3(a) (but in no event more than five (5) Business Days thereafter), the Company shall deliver a written notice of any such request to all other Holders.

(d) Suspension of Registration . If, upon Disinterested Director Approval, the filing, initial effectiveness or continued use of such Shelf Registration Statement at any time would require the Company to (A) make an Adverse Disclosure or (B) prepare or obtain financial statements or pro forma financial information related to a material corporate transaction that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in any Registration Statement filed with the Commission by Regulation S-X that are then unavailable, the Company


may, upon giving prompt written notice of such action to the Holders, delay the filing or initial effectiveness of, or suspend use of, the Shelf Registration Statement (a “ Shelf Suspension ”); provided , that (x) the Company shall not be permitted to exercise a Shelf Suspension (i) more than three (3) times during any 12-month period, or (ii) for more than one hundred (100) days in aggregate during any 12-month period and (y) such Shelf Suspension shall terminate at such time as (A) the Company would no longer be required to make any Adverse Disclosure or (B) the required financial statements or pro forma financial information are then available. In the case of a Shelf Suspension, the Holders agree to suspend use of the applicable prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus in connection with any sale or purchase of, or offer to sell or purchase, Registrable Securities, upon receipt of the notice referred to above. The Company shall promptly notify the Holders upon the termination of any Shelf Suspension, amend or supplement the prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus, if necessary, so it does not contain any untrue statement or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and furnish to the Holders such numbers of copies of the prospectus and any issuer free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented as the Holders may reasonably request. The Company agrees, if necessary, to supplement or make amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the registration form used by the Company for the Shelf Registration Statement or by the instructions applicable to such registration form or by the Securities Act or the rules or regulations promulgated thereunder or as may reasonably be requested by the Holders. Notwithstanding anything in this Exhibit to the contrary, the Company shall not be permitted to file a registration statement to register for sale, or to conduct any registered securities offerings (including any “take-downs” off of an effective shelf registration statement) of any of its securities either for its own account or the account of any security holder or holders during any Shelf Suspension.

(e) Underwritten Shelf Takedown .

(i) For any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement for which the value of Registrable Securities proposed to be offered is at least three hundred million dollars ($300,000,000), if any Participating Shareholder that is a Qualified Shareholder so elects, such offering shall be in the form of an Underwritten Offering, and the Company shall amend or supplement the Shelf Registration Statement for such purpose. Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, if at any time during which the Shelf Registration Statement is in effect a Participating Shareholder elects to offer Registrable Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement in the form of an Underwritten Offering, then such Participating Shareholder shall give written notice (which notice may be given by email) to the Company of such intention at least five (5) Business Days (or, in the event of any block trade, bought deal or similar transaction, two (2) Business Days) prior to the date on which such Underwritten Offering is anticipated to launch, specifying the number of Registrable Securities for which the Participating Shareholder is requesting registration under this Section 3(e) and the other material terms of such Underwritten Offering to the extent known (such request, an “ Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request ,” and any Underwritten Offering conducted pursuant thereto, an “ Underwritten Shelf Takedown ”), and the Company shall promptly, but in no event later than the Business Day following the receipt of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request, give written notice of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request (such notice, an “ Underwritten


Shelf Takedown Notice ”) to the other Holders and such Underwritten Shelf Takedown Notice shall offer the other Holders the opportunity to offer as part of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown such number of Registrable Securities as each such other Holder may request in writing within twenty-four (24) hours after the receipt by such other Holders of any such notice (which request may be made by email to the Company). Subject to Section 3(e)(ii) and Section 3(e)(iii) , the Company and the Participating Shareholder(s) making the Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request shall cause the underwriter(s) to include as part of the Underwritten Shelf Takedown all Registrable Securities that are requested to be included therein by any of the other Holders, all to the extent necessary to permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities to be so sold; provided , that all such other Holders requesting to participate in the Underwritten Shelf Takedown must sell their Registrable Securities to the underwriters selected on the same terms and conditions as apply to the Participating Shareholder(s) requesting the Underwritten Shelf Takedown; provided , further , that, if at any time after making an Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request and prior to the launch of the Underwritten Shelf Takedown, the Participating Shareholder(s) requesting the Underwritten Shelf Takedown shall determine for any reason not to proceed with or to delay such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, the Participating Shareholder(s) shall give written notice to the Company of such determination and the Company shall give written notice of the same to each other Holder and, thereupon, (A) in the case of a determination not to proceed, the Company and such Participating Shareholder(s) shall be relieved of their respective obligations to cause the underwriter(s) to include any Registrable Securities of the other Holders as part of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown (but the Company shall not be relieved from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith), without prejudice, however, to the other registration rights contained herein, and (B) in the case of a determination to delay such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, the Company and such Participating Shareholder(s) shall be relieved of their respective obligations to cause the underwriter(s) to include any Registrable Securities of the other Holders as part of such Underwritten Shelf Takedown for the same period as the Participating Shareholder(s) determine(s) to delay such Underwritten Shelf Takedown.

(ii) If the managing underwriter of an Underwritten Shelf Takedown advises the Company or the Participating Shareholder(s) requesting the Underwritten Shelf Takedown that, in its view, the number of Company Shares that the Participating Shareholder(s) and such other Holders intend to include in such registration exceeds the Maximum Offering Size, the Company and the Participating Shareholder(s) making the Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request shall cause the underwriter(s) to include in such Underwritten Shelf Takedown, in the following priority, or as nearly as practicable to the following priority to the extent such priority is inconsistent with rights granted by the Company to other Persons as in effect on the date of the Stockholders Agreement, up to the Maximum Offering Size:

(A) if the Participating Shareholder requesting the Underwritten Shelf Takedown is a JAB Entity, (x)  first , all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by such JAB Entity, (y) second, and only if all of the securities referred to in clause (x) have been included, all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration


by any other Holders pursuant to Section 3(e)(i) (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such Holders on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided , that any securities thereby allocated to a Holder that exceed such Holder’s request shall be reallocated among the remaining Holders in like manner), and (z)  thereafter , and only if all of the securities referred to in clause (x) and (y) have been included, any securities proposed to be registered by the Company or for the account of any other Persons with such priorities among them as the Company shall determine; and

(B) if the Participating Shareholder requesting the Underwritten Shelf Takedown is not a JAB Entity, (x)  first , all Registrable Securities requested to be included in such registration by any Holders pursuant to Section 3(e)(i) (allocated, if necessary for the offering not to exceed the Maximum Offering Size, pro rata among such Holders on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities owned by such Holders; provided , that any securities thereby allocated to a Holder that exceed such Holder’s request shall be reallocated among the remaining Holders in like manner), and (y) thereafter, and only if all of the securities referred to in clause (x) have been included, any securities proposed to be registered by the Company or for the account of any other Persons with such priorities among them as the Company shall determine.

(iii) Each Holder shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of its Registrable Securities from an Underwritten Shelf Takedown at any time prior to 7:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which the Underwritten Shelf Takedown is anticipated to launch.

(f) Payment of Expenses for Shelf Registrations . The Company shall be liable for and pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any Shelf Registration, regardless of whether such registration is effected.

Section 4. Lock-up Agreements .

(a) Lock-up Agreements.

(i) To the extent requested by the lead underwriter in connection with each Underwritten Offering, the Company and each Participating Holder shall agree not to effect any public sale or distribution of any Company Securities or other security of the Company (except as part of such Underwritten Offering) during the period beginning on the date that is estimated by the Company, in good faith and provided in writing to such Holder, to be the seventh (7th) calendar day prior to the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement (or the anticipated launch date in the case of a “take-down” off of an already effective Shelf Registration Statement) until the earlier of (i) such time as the Company and the lead managing underwriter shall agree and (ii) sixty (60) calendar days after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement (or the pricing date in the case of a “take-down” off of an already effective Shelf Registration Statement); provided , that the Company shall cause all directors and


executive officers of the Company to enter into agreements similar to those contained in this Section 4(a)(i) (without regard to this proviso), subject to exceptions for gifts, sales pursuant to pre-existing 10b5-1 plans and other customary exclusions agreed to by such managing underwriter; provided further , that the lead managing underwriter may extend such period as necessary to comply with applicable FINRA rules.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may effect a public sale or distribution of securities of the type described above and during the periods described above if such sale or distribution is made pursuant to registrations on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or any successor form to such forms or as part of any registration of securities for offering and sale to employees or directors of the Company pursuant to any employee share plan or other employee benefit plan arrangement.

(iii) To the extent requested by the lead underwriter in connection with each Underwritten Offering, the Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from each Person that beneficially owns 5% or more of the Common Shares, an agreement not to effect any public sale or distribution of such securities during any such period referred to in this Section 4 , except as part of any such registration, if permitted.

Section 5. Other Registration Rights . From and after the date of the Stockholders Agreement, the Company shall not grant to any Person the right, other than as set forth herein, and except to employees of the Company with respect to registrations on Form S-8, to request the Company to register any Company Securities except such rights as are not more favorable than or inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders and that do not violate the rights or adversely affect the priorities of the Holders set forth herein.

Section 6. Registration Procedures . In connection with any registration pursuant to Section 2 or Section 3 , subject to the provisions of such Sections:

(a) Prior to filing a Registration Statement or prospectus covering Registrable Securities or any amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall furnish to each Participating Shareholder and each underwriter, if any, of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement copies of such Registration Statement as proposed to be filed, and thereafter the Company shall furnish to such Participating Shareholder and underwriter, if any, without charge such number of copies of such Registration Statement, each amendment and supplement thereto (in each case including all exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein), the prospectus included in such Registration Statement (including each preliminary prospectus and any summary prospectus) and any other prospectus filed under Rule 424 or Rule 430A under the Securities Act and such other documents as such Participating Shareholder or underwriter may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Shareholder. Each Participating Shareholder shall have the right to request that the Company modify any information contained in such Registration Statement, amendment and supplement thereto pertaining to such Participating Shareholder and the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to comply with such request; provided , that the Company shall not have any obligation to so modify any information if the Company reasonably expects that so doing would cause the prospectus to contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.


(b) In connection with any filing of any Registration Statement or prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, the Company shall cause such document (i) to comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) with respect to information supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement, to not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

(c) The Company shall promptly notify each Holder of such Registrable Securities and the underwriter(s) and, if requested by such Holder or the underwriter(s), confirm in writing, when a Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendments and supplements thereto become effective.

(d) The Company shall furnish counsel for each underwriter, if any, and for the Holders of such Registrable Securities with copies of any written comments from the Commission or any state securities authority or any written request by the Commission or any state securities authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or prospectus relating to Registrable Securities or for additional information generally related to any registration of such Registrable Securities (and, for this purpose, the term Registration Statement shall not include any report not relating to any offer of Registrable Securities filed pursuant to the Company’s reporting obligations under the Exchange Act).

(e) After the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company shall (i) cause the related prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, (ii) comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Participating Shareholders set forth in such Registration Statement or supplement to such prospectus and (iii) promptly notify each Participating Shareholder holding Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement of any stop order issued or threatened by the Commission or any state securities commission and use commercially reasonable best efforts to prevent the entry of such stop order or to remove it if entered.

(f) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to (i) register or qualify the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement under such securities or “blue sky” Laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as any Participating Shareholder holding such Registrable Securities reasonably (in light of such Participating Shareholder’s intended plan of distribution) requests and (ii) cause such Registrable Securities to be registered with or approved by such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary by virtue of the business and operations of the Company and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such Participating Shareholder to consummate the disposition of the Registrable Securities owned by such Participating Shareholder, provided , that the Company shall not be required to (A) qualify generally to do


business in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 6(f) , (B) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction or (C) consent to general service of process in any such jurisdiction.

(g) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to list such Registrable Securities on the principal securities exchange or quotation system on which the Company’s common stock is then listed or quoted and provide a transfer agent, registrar and CUSIP number for all such Registrable Securities not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.

(h) The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each Holder and the underwriter or managing underwriter, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the governing documents thereof) and registered in such names as each Holder or the underwriter or managing underwriter, if any, may reasonably request at least two (2) Business Days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities.

(i) The Company shall immediately notify each Participating Shareholder holding such Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of the occurrence of an event requiring the preparation of a supplement or amendment to such prospectus so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and promptly prepare and make available to each such Participating Shareholder and file with the Commission any such supplement or amendment subject to any suspension rights contained herein.

(j) (1) The requesting Holder(s) shall have the right to select an underwriter or underwriters in connection with any underwritten Public Offering resulting from the exercise of a Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Takedown upon consultation with the Company and (2) the Company shall have the right to select an underwriter or underwriters in connection with any other underwritten Public Offering. In connection with any Public Offering, the Company shall enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all other actions as are reasonably required and customary in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities in any such Public Offering, including the engagement of a “qualified independent underwriter” in connection with the qualification of the underwriting arrangements with FINRA.

(k) Upon execution of confidentiality agreements in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the Company shall make available during regular business hours for inspection by any Participating Shareholder and any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a Registration Statement being filed by the Company pursuant to this Section 6 and any attorney, accountant or other professional retained by any such Participating Shareholder or underwriter (collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the


Records ”) as shall be reasonably necessary or desirable to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any Inspectors in connection with such Registration Statement (including by participation in a reasonable number of diligence calls). Records that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and that it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) such disclosure is to such Inspector’s auditors, financial advisors and other professional advisors who agree to hold such Records confidential substantially in accordance with the confidentiality agreement between such Inspector and the Company or (ii) the release of such Records is required pursuant to applicable Law or regulation or judicial process. Each Participating Shareholder agrees that information obtained by it as a result of such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it or its Affiliates as the basis for any market transactions in the Company Shares unless and until such information is made generally available to the public. Each Participating Shareholder further agrees that, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall give notice to the Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential.

(l) The Company shall furnish to each financial institution facilitating any sale of Registrable Securities, if any, a signed counterpart, addressed to such financial institution, of (i) an opinion or opinions of counsel to the Company and (ii) a comfort letter or comfort letters from the Company’s independent certified public accountants, each in customary form and covering such matters of the kind customarily covered by opinions or comfort letters, as the case may be, in similar offerings.

(m) The Company shall take all commercially reasonable actions to ensure that any free-writing prospectus utilized in connection with any Demand Registration, Underwritten Shelf Takedown or other offering off of a Shelf Registration Statement hereunder complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, is filed in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby, is retained in accordance with the Securities Act to the extent required thereby and, when taken together with the related prospectus, shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(n) The Company shall otherwise use all commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement or such other document that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

(o) The Company may require each such Participating Shareholder promptly to furnish in writing to the Company the Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire and such other information regarding the distribution of the Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request and such other information as may be legally required or the Company may deem reasonably advisable in connection with such registration and shall not have any obligation to include a Participating Shareholder on any Registration Statement if the Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire or such other information is not promptly provided;


provided , that, prior to excluding such Participating Shareholder on the basis of its failure to provide the Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire or such other information, the Company must furnish in writing a reminder to such Participating Shareholder requesting the Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire and such other information at least three (3) days prior to filing the applicable Registration Statement or prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

(p) The Company shall have appropriate officers of the Company (i) prepare and make presentations at any “road shows” and before analysts and rating agencies, as the case may be, (ii) otherwise use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate as reasonably requested by the underwriters in the offering, marketing or selling of the Registrable Securities, including, by executing customary underwriting agreements and (iii) otherwise use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate as reasonably requested by the Holders in the marketing of the Registrable Securities.

Section 7. Indemnification by the Company .

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Participating Shareholder holding Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, each member, trustee, limited or general partner thereof, each member, trustee, limited or general partner of each such member, limited or general partner, each of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, stockholders, shareholders and employees, and each Person, if any, who controls such Person within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) (“ Damages ”) caused by or relating to (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (A) any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), any preliminary prospectus or any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Securities Act) or (B) any application or other document or communication executed by or on behalf of the Company or based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any securities covered by such registration under the securities Laws thereof, (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (iii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act or any other similar federal or state securities Laws or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance, except in all cases insofar as such Damages are caused by or related to any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission so made based upon or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Participating Shareholder expressly for use therein or by such Participating Shareholder’s failure to deliver a copy of the prospectus, the issuer free writing prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto after the Company has furnished such Participating Shareholder with a sufficient number of copies of the same.

(b) The Company also agrees to indemnify any underwriters of the Registrable Securities, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the


Exchange Act on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Participating Shareholders provided in Section 7(a)(i)(A) and Section 7(a)(ii) or otherwise on commercially reasonable terms negotiated on an aim’s length basis with such underwriters.

Section 8. Indemnification by Participating Shareholders . Each Participating Shareholder holding Registrable Securities included in any Registration Statement agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its officers, directors and agents and each Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity from the Company contained in Section 7(a)(i) and Section 7(a)(ii) to such Participating Shareholder, but only with respect to information furnished in writing by such Participating Shareholder or on such Participating Shareholder’s behalf expressly for use in any Registration Statement or prospectus relating to the Registrable Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, any preliminary prospectus or any “issuer free writing prospectus.” Each such Participating Shareholder also agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any underwriters of the Registrable Securities, their officers and directors and each Person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Company provided in this Section 8 . As a condition to including Registrable Securities in any Registration Statement filed in accordance herewith, the Company may require that it shall have received an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from any underwriter to indemnify and hold it harmless to the extent customarily provided by underwriters with respect to similar securities. No Participating Shareholder shall be liable under this Section 8 for any Damages in excess of the net proceeds realized by such Participating Shareholder in the sale of Registrable Securities of such Participating Shareholder to which such Damages relate.

Section 9. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . If any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7 or Section 8 , such Person (an “ Indemnified Party ”) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) in writing and the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party, and shall assume the payment of all fees and expenses; provided , that the failure of any Indemnified Party to so notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder except to the extent and only to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure to notify. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party shall have mutually agreed in writing to the retention of such counsel, (ii) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim or to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, or (iii) in the reasonable judgment of such Indemnified Party representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) at any time for all such Indemnified Parties, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for


the Indemnified Parties, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify and hold harmless such Indemnified Parties from and against any loss or liability (to the extent stated above) by reason of such settlement or judgment. Without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), no Indemnifying Party shall effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such proceeding.

Section 10. Survival . Subject to a Holder delivering a properly completed (as solely determined by the Company), executed and acknowledged Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire to the Company, Section 8 , Section 8 , Section 9 and Section 10 hereto will remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Indemnified Party or any officer, director or controlling Person of such Indemnified Party and will survive the transfer of securities.

Section 11. Contribution .

(a) If the indemnification provided for herein is unavailable to the Indemnified Parties in respect of any Damages, then each such Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Damages (i) as between the Company and the Participating Shareholders holding Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement on the one hand and the underwriters on the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and such Participating Shareholders on the one hand and the underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Registrable Securities, or if such allocation is not permitted by applicable Law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and such Participating Shareholders on the one hand and of such underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Damages, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations, and (ii) as between the Company on the one hand and each Participating Shareholder on the other, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Company and of each Participating Shareholder in connection with such statements or omissions, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and Participating Shareholders on the one hand and such underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received by the Company and Participating Shareholders bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the applicable prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and Participating Shareholders on the one hand and of such underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and Participating Shareholders or by such underwriters. The relative fault of the Company on the one


hand and of each Participating Shareholder on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by such party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(b) The Company and the Participating Shareholders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 11 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the Damages referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11 , no Participating Shareholder shall be required to contribute any amount for Damages in excess of the net proceeds realized by Participating Shareholder in the sale of Registrable Securities of Participating Shareholder to which such Damages relate. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Each Participating Shareholder’s obligation to contribute pursuant to this Section 11 is several in the proportion that the net proceeds of the offering received by Participating Shareholder bears to the total net proceeds of the offering received by all such Participating Shareholders and not joint.

Section 12. Participation in Public Offering .

(a) No Person may participate in any Public Offering hereunder unless such Person (i) agrees to sell such Person’s securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements ( provided , that no Holder of Registrable Securities will be required to sell more than the number of Registrable Securities that such Holder has requested the Company include in any Registration Statement) and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements and the provisions set forth herein in respect of registration rights.

 

  (b)

Each Person that is participating in any registration hereunder agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 6(i) above, such Person shall immediately discontinue the disposition of its Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement until such Person’s receipt of the copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus as contemplated by Section 6(i) , and, if so directed by the Company, such Person shall deliver to the Company all copies, other than any permanent file copies then in such Person’s possession, of the most recent prospectus covering such Registrable Securities at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company has given any such notice, the applicable time period during which a Registration Statement is to remain effective shall be extended ( provided , that the


  Company shall not cause any Registration Statement to remain effective beyond the latest date allowed by applicable Law) by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to this paragraph to and including the date when each Holder of Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section 6(i) .

Section 13. Compliance with Rule 144 and Rule 144A . At the request of any Holder who proposes to sell securities in compliance with Rule 144, the Company shall (i) cooperate, to the extent commercially reasonable, with such Holder, (ii) forthwith furnish to such Holder a written statement of compliance with the filing requirements of the Commission as set forth in Rule 144, as such rule may be amended from time to time, (iii) make available to the public and such Holders such information, and take such action as is reasonably necessary, to enable the Holders of Registrable Securities to make sales pursuant to Rule 144, and (iv) use its reasonable best efforts to list such Holder’s Company Shares on the NYSE. Unless the Company is subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will provide to the holder of Registrable Securities and to any prospective purchaser of Registrable Securities under Rule 144A, the information described in Rule 144A(d)(4).

Section 14. Selling Expenses . All Selling Expenses relating to the offer and sale of Registrable Securities registered under the Securities Act pursuant to this Exhibit shall be borne and paid by the Holders of such Registrable Securities, in proportion to the number of Registrable Securities included in such registration for each such Holder.

Section 15. Prohibition on Requests; Holders’ Obligations .

(a) No Holder shall, without the Company’s consent, be entitled to deliver a request for a Demand Registration or a Shelf Offering Request or Underwritten Shelf Takedown Request if less than 60 calendar days have elapsed since (A) the effective date of a prior Registration Statement in connection with a Demand Registration or Shelf Registration, (B) the date of withdrawal by the Participating Shareholders of a Demand Registration or Underwritten Shelf Takedown or (C) the pricing date of any Underwritten Offering effected by the Company; provided , in each case, that such Holder has been provided with an opportunity to participate in the prior offering and either (i) has refused or not promptly accepted such opportunity or (ii) has not been cut back to less than 50% of the Registrable Securities requested to be included by such Holder; provided, further , that the Company shall not be required to comply with any request that would conflict with any lock-up agreement entered into pursuant to Section 4(a) .

(b) No Holder of Registrable Securities shall be entitled to sell any of such Registrable Securities pursuant to this Exhibit, unless such Holder has timely furnished the Company with all information required to be disclosed in order to make the information previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not misleading and any other information regarding such Holder and the distribution of such Registrable Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request pursuant to Section 6(o) . Any sale of any Registrable Securities by any Holder shall constitute a representation and warranty by such Holder that the information of such Holder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Holder, including in


such Holder’s Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire (all such information, “ Holder Information ”), to the Company does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements in such Holder Information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Furthermore, if the Company is required to file a subsequent Registration Statement upon expiration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement naming a Holder, the Company shall be under no obligation to include such Holder as a selling securityholder if such Holder does not timely deliver an updated properly completed (as solely determined by the Company), executed and acknowledged Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire and other information upon request by the Company therefore pursuant to Section 6(o) .

Section 16. Miscellaneous .

(a) Incorporation of Stockholders Agreement . For the avoidance of doubt, Article 4 of the Stockholders Agreement shall apply to the rights and obligations of the Company and the Stockholders under this Exhibit.

(b) Majority of Registrable Securities . For purposes of determining what constitutes Holders of a majority of Registrable Securities, as referred to in this Exhibit, a majority shall constitute a majority of the shares of Common Stock that constitute Registrable Securities.

(c) Termination . The obligations of the parties to the Stockholders Agreement under this Exhibit shall terminate upon such time as there are no Registrable Securities, except for the provisions of Sections 2(d) , 3(f) , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 and 14 , which shall survive such termination.

*             *              *


ANNEX A

FORM OF

SELLING SECURITYHOLDER NOTICE, AGREEMENT AND QUESTIONNAIRE

The undersigned (the “ Selling Securityholder ”) beneficial owner of common stock, par value $0.01 (the “ Common Stock ”), of Coty Inc. (the “ Company ”) understands that the Company intends to file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency (the “ Commission ”) a registration statement or a prospectus supplement to an existing registration statement (as applicable, the “ Registration Statement ”) for the registration and resale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), of certain Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of the Stockholders Agreement (including Exhibit A thereto), dated on or about March 17, 2019 (the “ Stockholders Agreement ”), by and among the Company and the Stockholders party thereto. Each capitalized term not otherwise defined herein has the meaning given to it in the Stockholders Agreement.

In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder must be named as a selling securityholder in the related prospectus and deliver a prospectus to the purchasers of Registrable Securities. To facilitate naming of the Selling Securityholder as a selling securityholder in the Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder must complete, execute, acknowledge and deliver this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire prior to filing of the Registration Statement.

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as Selling Securityholders in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus. Accordingly, the Selling Securityholder is advised to consult its own legal counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not being named as a Selling Securityholder in the Registration Statement and the related prospectus.

(a)    The Selling Securityholder hereby gives notice to the Company of its intention to sell or otherwise dispose of Registrable Securities beneficially owned by it and listed below in Item 3(b) pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Selling Securityholder, by signing and returning this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire, understands that it shall be bound by the terms and conditions of this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire.

(b)    The Selling Securityholder hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:

Questionnaire

 

1.    (a)    Full Legal Name of Selling Securityholder:
     

 

     

 

   (b)    Full Legal Name of Registered Holder (if not the same as (a) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) below are held:
     

 

     

 


   (c)    Full Legal Name of DTC Participant (if applicable and if not the same as (b) above) through which Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) below are held:
     

 

     

 

2.    Address for Notices to Selling Securityholder:                                                                                                                              
  

 

  

 

   Telephone:                                                                                                                                                                                           
   Fax:                                                                                                                                                                                                     
   Email address:                                                                                                                                                                                    
   Contact Person:                                                                                                                                                                                   
3.    Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities:
   This Item (3) covers beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities. Please consult Appendix A to this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire for information as to the meaning of “beneficial ownership.” Except as set forth below in this Item (3), the Selling Securityholder does not beneficially own any Registrable Securities.
   (a)    Number of shares of Registrable Securities beneficially owned:
   (b)    Number of shares of the Registrable Securities which the Selling Securityholder wishes to be included in the Registration Statement:
4.    Beneficial Ownership of other securities of the Company owned by the Selling Securityholder.
   Except as set forth below in this Item (4), the Selling Securityholder is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3).
   (a)    Type and amount of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholder:
     

 

     

 

   (b)    CUSIP No(s). of other securities beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholder:
     

 

     

 

5.    Relationship with the Company:
   (a)    Have you or any of your affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% or more of the equity securities of the Selling Securityholder) held any position or office or have you had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) within the past three years?


      Yes
      No
   (b)    If so, please state the nature and duration of your relationship with the Company:
     

 

     

 

6.    Broker-Dealer Status:
   (a)    Is the Selling Securityholder a broker-dealer registered pursuant to Section 15 of the Exchange Act?
      Yes
      No
   Note that the Company shall be required to identify any registered broker-dealer as an underwriter in the prospectus.
      If so, please answer the remaining questions in this section.
      If the Selling Securityholder is a registered broker-dealer, please indicate whether the Selling Securityholder acquired its Registrable Securities for investment or acquired them as transaction-based compensation for investment banking or similar services.
     

 

     

 

      If the Selling Securityholder is a registered broker-dealer and received its Registrable Securities other than as transaction-based compensation, the Company is required to identify you as an underwriter in the Registration Statement and related prospectus.
   (b)    Affiliation with Broker-Dealers:
      Is the Selling Securityholder an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer? For purposes of this Item 6(b), an “ affiliate ” of a specified person or entity means a person or entity that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control with, the person or entity specified.
      Yes
      No
   If so, please answer the remaining questions in this section:


      (i)    Please describe the affiliation between the Selling Securityholder and any registered broker-dealers:
        

 

        

 

      (ii)    If the Selling Securityholder, at the time of its acquisition of the Registrable Securities, had any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities, please describe such agreements or understandings:
        

 

        

 

         Note that if the Selling Securityholder is an affiliate of a broker-dealer and at the time of the acquisition of the Registrable Securities had any agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, to distribute the securities, the Company must identify the Selling Securityholder as an underwriter in the prospectus.
7.    Nature of Beneficial Holding. The purpose of this question is to identify the ultimate natural person(s) or publicly held entity that exercise(s) sole or shared voting or dispositive power over the Registrable Securities.
   (a)    Is the Selling Securityholder required to file, or is it a wholly-owned subsidiary of a company that is required to file, periodic and other reports (for example, Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K) with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act?
         Yes
         No
   (b)    State whether the Selling Securityholder is an investment company, or a subsidiary of an investment company, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended:
         Yes
         No
   (c)    If a subsidiary, please identify the publicly held parent entity:
   If you answered “ No ” to questions (a) and (b) above, please identify the controlling person(s) of the Selling Securityholder (the “ Controlling Entity ”). If the Controlling Entity is not a natural person or a publicly held entity, please identify each controlling person(s) of such Controlling Entity. This process should be repeated until you reach natural persons or a publicly held entity that exercise sole or shared voting or dispositive power over the Registrable Securities:


  ***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE COMMISSION REQUIRES THAT THESE NATURAL PERSONS BE NAMED IN THE PROSPECTUS***
  If you need more space for this response, please attach additional sheets of paper. Please be sure to indicate your name and the number of the item being responded to on each such additional sheet of paper, and to sign each such additional sheet of paper before attaching it to this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire. Please note that you may be asked to answer additional questions depending on your responses to the above questions.
8.   Plan of Distribution:
  Except as set forth below, the Selling Securityholder (including its donees or pledgees) intends to distribute the Registrable Securities listed above in Item (3) pursuant to the Registration Statement only as follows (if at all): such Registrable Securities may be sold from time to time directly by the Selling Securityholder or alternatively through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the Registrable Securities are sold through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, the Selling Securityholder shall be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. Such Registrable Securities may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. Such sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the Registrable Securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii) in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market or (iv) through the writing of options. The Selling Securityholder may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the Registrable Securities owned by it and, if it defaults in the performance of its secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the Registrable Securities from time to time pursuant to the prospectus. The Selling Securityholder also may transfer and donate shares in other circumstances in which certain cases the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest shall be the selling Securityholder for purposes of the prospectus.
  State any exceptions here:
    

 

    

 

Note : In no event may such method(s) of distribution take the form of an underwritten offering of the Registrable Securities without the prior agreement of the Company.

(i)    The Selling Securityholder acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder relating to stock manipulation, particularly Regulation M thereunder (or any successor rules or regulations), in


connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement. The Selling Securityholder agrees that neither it nor any person acting on its behalf shall engage in any transaction in violation of such provisions.

(j)     In accordance with the Selling Securityholder’s obligation under the Stockholders Agreement to provide such information as may be required by law for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Selling Securityholder agrees to provide any additional information the Company may reasonably request and to promptly notify the Company of any inaccuracies or changes in the information provided that may occur at any time while the Registration Statement remains effective. All notices hereunder and pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery as follows:

To the Company :

Coty Inc.

350 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10118

Attn:     General Counsel

(k)     In the event any Selling Securityholder transfers all or any portion of the Registrable Securities listed in Item (3) above after the date on which such information is provided to the Company, the Selling Securityholder shall notify the transferee(s) at the time of transfer of its rights and obligations under this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire and the Stockholders Agreement.

(l)     By signing this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire, the Selling Securityholder consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (8) above and the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement, the related prospectus and any state securities or Blue Sky applications. The Selling Securityholder understands that such information shall be relied upon by the Company without independent investigation or inquiry in connection with the preparation or amendment of the Registration Statement, the related prospectus and any state securities or Blue Sky applications.

(m)    Once this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire is executed by the Selling Securityholder and received and acknowledged by the Company, the terms of this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire and the representations, warranties and indemnification contained herein shall be binding on, shall inure to the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the Company and the Selling Securityholder with respect to the Registrable Securities beneficially owned by such Selling Securityholder and listed in Item (3) above. This Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflicts-of-laws provisions thereof.

[S IGNATURE P AGE F OLLOWS ]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its authorized agent.

Dated:

 

Selling Securityholder:
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

Please return the completed and executed Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire to:

Coty Inc.

350 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York 10118

Attn: General Counsel

The Company hereby acknowledges that it has received and read and understands this Notice, Agreement and Questionnaire and agrees to be bound by the obligations and terms contained herein.

 

Coty Inc.:
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

[S IGNATURE P AGE TO S ELLING S ECURITYHOLDER N OTICE , A GREEMENT AND Q UESTIONNAIRE ]


Appendix A

DEFINITION OF “BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP”

 

1.

A “Beneficial Owner” of a security includes any person who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares:

 

  (a)

Voting power which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of, such security; and/or

 

  (b)

Investment power which includes the power to dispose, or direct the disposition of, such security.

Please note that either voting power or investment power, or both, is sufficient for you to be considered the beneficial owner of shares.

 

2.

Any person who, directly or indirectly, creates or uses a trust, proxy, power of attorney, pooling arrangement or any other contract, arrangement or device with the purpose or effect of divesting such person of beneficial ownership of a security or preventing the vesting of such beneficial ownership as part of a plan or scheme to evade the reporting requirements of the federal securities acts shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of such security.

 

3.

Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a person is deemed to be the “beneficial owner” of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days, including but not limited to any right to acquire: (a) through the exercise of any option, warrant or right; (b) through the conversion of a security; (c) pursuant to the power to revoke a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement; or (d) pursuant to the automatic termination of a trust, discretionary account or similar arrangement; provided , however , any person who acquires a security or power specified in (a), (b) or (c) above, with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer, or in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect, immediately upon such acquisition shall be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the securities which may be acquired through the exercise or conversion of such security or power.