UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 5, 2021
NIELSEN HOLDINGS PLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
England and Wales | 001-35042 | 98-1225347 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation) |
(Commission
File Number) |
(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
85 Broad Street
New York, New York 10004 +1 (646) 654-5000 |
Nielsen House
John Smith Drive Oxford Oxfordshire OX4 2WB United Kingdom +1 (646) 654-5000 |
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered |
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Ordinary shares, par value €0.07 per share | NLSN | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging Growth Company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 2.01 |
Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets |
On March 5, 2021, Nielsen Holdings plc (the “Company” or “Nielsen”), completed the previously announced sale of the Company’s Global Connect business (such business, “Global Connect,” and the sale of Global Connect, the “Transaction”), pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2020 (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, Indy US Bidco, LLC (“US Purchaser”) and Indy Dutch Bidco B.V. (“Dutch Purchaser”) (US Purchaser and Dutch Purchaser, collectively, “Purchaser”), affiliates of Advent International Corporation (“Advent”). Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, Purchaser acquired Global Connect by means of a sale of the equity interests of certain subsidiaries held by the Company, which operate Global Connect, for (i) $2.7 billion in cash, subject to adjustments based on closing levels of cash, indebtedness, debt-like items and working capital, and (ii) a warrant to purchase equity interests in the company that will own Global Connect.
Subsequent to the closing of the Transaction, the Company will no longer consolidate the financial results of the Global Connect segment and instead will report the financial results of the Global Connect segment as discontinued operations for all periods presented.
Item 5.02 |
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Appointment of Chief Operating Officer
Effective as of the closing of the Transaction, Karthik Rao, the Chief Operating Officer of Global Media, became the Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
Mr. Rao, age 47, has served at the Company for over twenty years in a variety of leadership roles spanning the U.S., Middle East and Asia. Mr. Rao was the Chief Operating Officer of Global Media from February 2020 to March 5, 2021, and, prior to that, he served as Chief Product & Technology Officer of Global Media where he led the International Media product and technology teams. Previously Mr. Rao was the President of Nielsen Portfolio, where he led the Nielsen Entertainment, Nielsen Gracenote, Nielsen Brandbank and Nielsen Telecom businesses across all global markets. He led Gracenote during its acquisition and integration by Nielsen. Prior to Gracenote, he served as President, Expanded Verticals, and led the teams serving the Company’s advertiser and agency clients. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rao was Executive Vice President of Digital Enablement, where he oversaw a global transformation program. He also led Nielsen’s Media Analytics business, which delivers deep analytical insights that help media companies with their ad sales and programming activities. As head of Nielsen China, Mr. Rao oversaw the Company’s initiatives towards China becoming one of the fastest growing markets for Nielsen. Mr. Rao also serves on the board of directors of Blucora. Mr. Rao began his career as an account executive at Ogilvy & Mather in India.
In connection with Mr. Rao’s promotion, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) approved the increase of Mr. Rao’s long-term incentives by $400,000 from $800,000 to $1,200,000.
Each of the equity awards granted to Mr. Rao will be subject to the terms and conditions of the 2019 Nielsen Stock Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreements and will have termination provisions that are generally consistent with the Company’s prior equity grants to executive officers.
Mr. Rao will be eligible to participate in the Company’s U.S. Severance Policy for Section 16 Officers and Senior Executives and will be subject to applicable requirements in accordance with the Company’s share ownership guidelines.
There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Rao and any other persons pursuant to which Mr. Rao was selected as Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Mr. Rao does not have any family relationship with any director or executive officer of the Company, nor does he have any direct or indirect material interests in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Departure of Chief Executive Officer, Global Connect and Director; Entry into Separation Agreement
On March 5, 2021, in connection with the closing of the Transaction, the Company accepted the resignation of David Rawlinson, the Chief Executive Officer of Global Connect, effective as of the closing of the Transaction. In connection with the Company’s Articles of Association, Mr. Rawlinson ceased to be a director of the Company once he was no longer an employee of the Company. Mr. Rawlinson’s departure from the Board was not a result of a disagreement with the Company, known to an executive officer of the Company, on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. The Company thanks Mr. Rawlinson for his contributions to the Company during his tenure as an officer and director of the Company.
In connection with Mr. Rawlinson’s resignation, the Company and AIPAVE & Cy SCSp, a Luxembourg special limited partnership and an affiliate of Advent, entered into a Separation Agreement and Release with Mr. Rawlinson, dated as of March 5, 2021 (the “Separation Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Rawlinson will separate from the Company and no longer serve as Chief Executive Officer of Global Connect, effective as of March 5, 2021. Pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, Mr. Rawlinson will be entitled to receive an aggregate amount equal to two times the sum of his annual base salary and target annual bonus (the “Cash Severance”), payable over the course of 104 weeks in accordance with Global Connect’s standard payroll practices. Mr. Rawlinson will also be receive a lump-sum payment of $263,014; which equals a pro rata portion of his target bonus for calendar year 2021 (the “2021 Pro-Rata Bonus”) and accelerated vesting of restricted stock units covering a total of 94,376 Company shares. Such payments and benefits are subject to Mr. Rawlinson’s execution of an irrevocable release of general claims against the Company. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Mr. Rawlinson is subject to non-competition and non-solicitation covenants for two years following his departure, as well as perpetual confidentiality and non-disparagement covenants. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, AIPAVE & Cy SCSp is responsible for 50% of the Cash Severance and 100% of the 2021 Pro-Rata Bonus. The foregoing description of the Separation Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Separation Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
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Item 8.01 |
Other Events |
Warrant
In accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, at the closing of the Transaction, VNU International B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Holder”), entered into a Warrant (the “Warrant”) with AI PAVE Dutchco I B.V., an affiliate of Purchaser that will own Global Connect, pursuant to which the Holder was issued a warrant to acquire shares of the Issuer. The terms of the Warrant are summarized in the Company’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 23, 2020, which description is incorporated herein by reference. The foregoing description of the Warrant does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Warrant, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
Press Release
On March 5, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Transaction. A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference herein.
Debt Repayment
The Company expects to use proceeds from the Transaction to: (i) redeem in full the $150 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.500% Senior Notes due 2021, issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2013, between The Nielsen Company (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., as issuer, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee, (ii) redeem in full the $825 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.000% Senior Notes due 2022, issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2014, between Nielsen Finance LLC and Nielsen Finance Co., as issuers, and Delaware Trust Company, as trustee, (iii) prepay in part the senior secured term loan facilities under the Sixth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 21, 2020, among Nielsen Finance LLC, TNC (US) Holdings Inc., Nielsen Holding and Finance B.V., the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A. as administrative agent (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) and (iv) prepay in part the senior secured term loan facilities under the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2020, among Nielsen Finance LLC, Nielsen Holding and Finance B.V., the guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include those set forth above relating to the sale by Nielsen of our Global Connect business, or Nielsen IQ, to affiliates of Advent International Corporation, as well as those that may
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be identified by words such as “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what presently is expected. Factors leading thereto may include, without limitation, the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and financial markets, the uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nielsen’s business, the failure of our new business strategy in accomplishing our objectives, conditions in the markets Nielsen is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting Nielsen’s business and other specific risk factors that are outlined in our disclosure filings and materials, which you can find on http://www.nielsen.com/investors, such as our 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please consult these documents for a more complete understanding of these risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Such forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this communication, and we assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by law.
Item 9.01 |
Financial Statements and Exhibits |
(b) Pro forma financial statements
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial information of Nielsen for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 as required by Item 9.01(b) are attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit
No. |
Exhibit Description |
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Exhibit 2.1 | Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Nielsen Holdings plc, Indy US Bidco, LLC and Indy Dutch Bidco B.V., dated as of October 31, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Nielsen Holdings plc with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2020). | |
Exhibit 10.1 | Separation Agreement and Release by and among David Rawlinson, Nielsen Holdings plc, AIPAVE & Cy SCSp, dated as of March 5, 2021. | |
Exhibit 10.2 | Warrant by and between VNU International B.V. and AI PAVE Dutchco I B.V., dated as of March 5, 2021. | |
Exhibit 99.1 | Press Release of Nielsen Holdings plc, dated as of March 5, 2021. | |
Exhibit 99.2 | Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
Exhibit 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: March 11, 2021
NIELSEN HOLDINGS PLC |
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By: |
/s/ Jennifer Meschewski |
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Name: |
Jennifer Meschewski |
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Title: |
Secretary |
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Exhibit 10.1
Execution Copy
SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE
THIS SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND RELEASE (the Agreement) is made by and between David Rawlinson (the Executive), Nielsen Holdings plc, a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales, having its registered office in the United Kingdom ( Nielsen Media and together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, the Nielsen Media Group), AIPAVE & Cy SCSp, a Luxembourg special limited partnership (Nielsen IQ, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, the Nielsen IQ Group, and each of the Nielsen Media Group and the Nielsen IQ Group, a Group).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the parties to this Agreement desire to enter into an agreement in order to provide certain separation benefits to the Executive as described in this Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises hereinafter provided and of the actions taken pursuant thereto, the parties agree as follows:
1. The Executives employment with the Nielsen Media Group and the Nielsen IQ Group, and the Executives membership on the Board of Directors of Nielsen Media and any committees thereof, is terminated as of the Date of Termination specified in Appendix A. The Executive hereby resigns from the Nielsen Media Board of Directors and any committees thereof effective on the Date of Termination and agrees to execute any additional documents reasonably requested to effectuate the foregoing.
2. The Executive acknowledges that he has received pay for all work he performed for the Groups through the Date of Termination, to the extent not previously paid, as well as pay, at his final base rate of pay, for any vacation days he had earned but not used as of the Date of Termination, determined in accordance with Group policy and as reflected on the books of the Nielsen Media Group and the Nielsen IQ Group. The Executive will be entitled to the benefits set forth in Appendix A, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including without limitation Executives non-revocation of the release of claims included in Sections 12 through 17 of this Agreement (the Release Conditions). The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the payments described in this Section 2 are in complete satisfaction of any and all compensation or benefits due to the Executive from the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group, whether for services provided or otherwise, and that no further compensation or benefits are owed or will be paid to the Executive (other than, in each case, for Executives service as a director of Nielsen IQ Group).
3. Through the Severance Period specified in Appendix A, the Executive will be reasonably available to consult on matters as requested by Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ and will cooperate to a reasonable extent with respect to any claims, litigations or investigations, relating to the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group. No reimbursement for expenses incurred after the Date of Termination shall be made to the Executive unless authorized in advance by Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ, as applicable.
4. All records, files, drawings, documents, models, disks, equipment and the like relating to the businesses of the Nielsen Media Group and the Nielsen IQ Group shall remain the sole property of such Group and shall not be removed from the premises of such Group. The Executive further agrees to return to the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group, as applicable, no later than the Date of Termination, any property of such Group that the Executive may have, no matter where located, and not to keep any copies or portions thereof following the Date of Termination.
5. The Executive shall not make any derogatory statements about the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group and shall not make any written or oral statement, news release or other announcement relating to the Executives employment by the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group or the termination thereof or relating to the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group, or either Groups respective customers or personnel, which is designed to embarrass or criticize any of the foregoing. Each of Nielsen Media and Nielsen IQ will instruct the members of its Board of Directors and the members of its Executive Committee (each as comprised as of the date of this Agreement) not to make any derogatory statements about Executive and not to make any written or oral statement, news release or other announcement relating to the Executives employment with Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ, which is designed to embarrass or criticize the Executive; provided, that the foregoing shall not, and shall not be construed or interpreted to, prohibit the members of the Board of Directors or the members of the Executive Committee of Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ from making public comments, such as in media interviews, which include good faith, candid discussions or acknowledgements regarding the performance or business of the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit, impede or impair the right of the Executive to engage in Protected Activity (under Section 11 below) or to impede or impair the rights of the members of the Board of Directors or the members of the Executive Committee of Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ from making truthful statements or complying with applicable law.
6. i In consideration of Nielsen Media and Nielsen IQ entering into this Agreement with the Executive and subject to the consequences set forth in Section 9 below, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, (A) at any time during or after the Executives employment with the Nielsen Media Group or Nielsen IQ Group, disclose any Confidential Information (as defined below) except (I) as required to perform his duties to such Group, (II) as required by law or judicial process, or (III) as constitutes Protected Activity by the Executive under Section 11 below; or (B) for the duration of the Severance Period (I) associate with (whether as a proprietor, investor, director, officer, employee, independent contractor, consultant, partner or otherwise) or render services to any Competing Business (as defined below) (excluding service as director on the Nielsen IQ Board of Directors) in any geographic or market area where the Nielsen Media Group or Nielsen IQ Group conducts business or provides products or services as of the Date of Termination (or in which the Executive has knowledge that such Group plans to commence conducting business or providing products or services in within twelve (12) months following the Date of Termination); provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Executives ownership of not more than 2% of the publicly-traded securities of any Competing Business, (II) induce, influence, encourage or solicit in any manner any client, any prospective client with which the Executive had interactions in connection with his employment in the eighteen (18) months immediately preceding the Date of Termination, or any vendor or supplier of a Group to cease or reduce doing business with such Group or to do business with any business in competition with the business of such Group, (III) solicit, recruit, or seek to hire, or otherwise assist or participate in any way in the solicitation or recruitment of, any person who has been employed or engaged by a Group at any time during the six (6) months immediately preceding the Date of Termination, or induce, influence, or encourage in any manner, or otherwise assist or participate in any way in the inducement, influence or encouragement of, any such person to terminate his or her employment or engagement with such Group, or (IV) hire or otherwise assist or participate in any way in the hiring of, any person who has been employed or engaged by such Group at any time during the six (6) months immediately preceding the Date of Termination. The provisions of this Section 6 shall be in addition to and not in derogation of any other agreement covering similar matters to which the Executive and such Group are parties.
ii. For purposes of this Agreement, Competing Business means any person, principal, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity engaging in the business of:
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(A) retail measurement products and/or services that leverage retail sales data about the sale and/or marketing of goods or services;
(B) consumer purchasing measurement products and/or services that leverage consumer-specific purchase and consumption data;
(C) collection, creation, aggregation, licensing, and/or distribution of reference data relating to good or services;
(D) measurement and/or analytics in connection with categories of store products derived therefrom;
(E) audience measurement products and/or services, including products and/or services that provide clients with information regarding actual or potential audience composition in connection with engagement with or exposure to media (e.g., advertising and content);
(F) media planning products and/or services, including products and/or services that provide clients with information regarding the composition of a market or audience;
(G) metadata products and/or services, including (I) the collection, creation, aggregation, licensing, and/or distribution of metadata relating to television, movies, short-form video content, music, sports, or e-sports (e.g., video games) and related content recognition technologies, and (II) providing data, analytics, advisory services or related insights regarding sports or e-sports marketing, sponsorship, media rights, media targeting, or fans or influencers, including valuation of brand placements in sporting or e-sports stadia and/or events across any methods of consumption (e.g., broadcast, streaming, online, social, print or in person); and/or
(H) customized survey-based research products and/or services related to any of the foregoing products and/or services,
other than such activities (aggregating all such activities) that meet all of the following requirements: (x) such activities are not the primary business activities of such person, principal, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity, (y) such activities are ancillary to the primary business activities of such person, principal, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity and (z) such activities generate not more than 7.5% of the annual revenue of such person, principal, partnership, firm, corporation or other entity. In addition, and without limiting items (A) through (H) of the definition of Competing Business, each of the following companies and its subsidiaries shall be a Competing Business, whether or not such Company and/or its subsidiaries is covered by any of items (A) through (H) of the definition of Competing Business: Alphabet, Inc., SoftBank Group Corp., Oracle Corporation, Liveramp Holdings, Inc., Roku,Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Amazon.com, Inc., Rakuten, Inc., Shopify Inc., Alibaba Group Holding Limited, and JD.com, Inc.
7. If the Executive performs services for an entity other than the Nielsen Media Group or Nielsen IQ Group at any time prior to the end of the Severance Period (whether or not such entity is in competition with the Nielsen Media Group) (excluding service as director on the Nielsen IQ Board of Directors), the Executive shall notify each of Nielsen Media and Nielsen IQ on or prior to the commencement thereof. To perform services shall mean employment or services as an employee, independent contractor, consultant, owner, partner, associate, agent or otherwise on behalf of any person, principal, partnership, firm or corporation.
8. Confidential Information shall include all trade secrets and proprietary or other confidential information owned, possessed or used by Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ in any form, whether or not explicitly designated as confidential information, including, without limitation, business plans, strategies, customer lists, customer projects, cooperator lists, personnel information, financial information, pricing information, cost information, methodologies, software, data, and product research and development. Confidential Information shall not include any information that is generally known to the industry or the public other than as a result of the Executives breach of this covenant or any breach of other confidentiality obligations by the Executive, employees or third parties.
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9. If at any time a court holds that the restrictions stated in Section 6 above are unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable under circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period, scope or geographic area determined to be reasonable under such circumstances by such court will be substituted for the stated period, scope or area or, if the court does not undertake such substitution, then the remainder of Section 6 shall be given full effect without regard to the invalid portion. So that Nielsen Media and Nielsen IQ may enjoy the full benefit of the covenants contained in Section 6 above, the Executive further agrees that the restricted period therein shall be tolled, and shall not run, during the period of any breach by the Executive of such covenants. Because the Executives services are unique and because the Executive has had and will continue to have access to Confidential Information, the parties hereto agree that money damages will be an inadequate remedy for any breach of this Agreement. In the event of a breach or threatened breach of Section 3, 5, 6, 7, 12 or 13 of this Agreement, Nielsen Media or its successors or assigns, and/or Nielsen IQ or its successors or assigns, as applicable will, in addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, (i) be entitled to specific performance and/or injunctive relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions hereof (without the posting of a bond or other security) and (ii) solely in the event of an actual breach, be entitled (A) to cease all payments or other benefits required to be made to the Executive under this Agreement, and (B) require the Executive (I) to return to Nielsen Media all Nielsen ordinary shares previously issued to the Executive in settlement of any vested restricted stock units; and (II) to pay to Nielsen Media the full value of any consideration received for any Nielsen ordinary shares issued in settlement of Nielsen Media equity that were previously sold by the Executive or otherwise disposed of to a third party (or if no such consideration was received, the then fair market value of such Nielsen ordinary shares); provided, however, that prior to ceasing payments or other benefits or recouping cash or shares in respect of vested Nielsen Media equity awards, Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ, as applicable, shall provide Executive with written notice of such breach and, to the extent curable, an opportunity of five business days to cure such breach. Notwithstanding any remedy sought by the Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ, as applicable, under this Section, the release provisions of Sections 12, 13 and 14 shall remain in full force and effect.
10. The Executive acknowledges that the restrictions in Section 6 above are not greater than required to protect the legitimate business interests of the Nielsen Media Group and the Nielsen IQ Group, including, without limitation the protection of its Confidential Information and the protection of its client relationships, and are reasonably limited in time or duration, geography and scope of activity. The Executive further acknowledges that, viewed separately or together, the restrictions in Section 6 above do not unfairly or unreasonably restrict the Executives ability to obtain other comparable employment, earn a living, work in any particular area or otherwise impose an undue hardship on Executive.
11. Protected Activity. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit or impede the Executive from communicating, cooperating or filing a complaint with any U.S. federal, state or local governmental or law enforcement branch, agency or entity (collectively, a Governmental Entity) with respect to possible violations of any U.S. federal, state or local law or regulation, or otherwise making disclosures to any Governmental Entity, in each case, that are protected under the whistleblower provisions of any such law or regulation; provided, that in each case such communications and disclosures are consistent with applicable law. An individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is made (i) in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law, or (ii) in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such
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filing is made under seal. An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal, and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order. Except as otherwise provided in this Section or under applicable law, under no circumstance is the Executive authorized to disclose any information covered by the Nielsen Media Groups or the Nielsen IQ Groups attorney-client privilege or attorney work product, or the Nielsen Media Groups or Nielsen IQ Groups trade secrets, without such Groups prior written consent. The Executive does not need the prior authorization of (or to give notice to) Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ, as applicable, regarding any communication, disclosure, or activity described in this Section.
12. In exchange for the benefits set forth in Appendix A, to which the Executive would not otherwise be entitled, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Executive, for the Executive, the Executives family, heirs, beneficiaries, executors, representatives, successors and assigns, releases and forever discharges the Nielsen Media Group and the Nielsen IQ Group and their respective past, present, and future shareholders, members, general and limited partners, predecessors, successors, assigns, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, managers, employees, attorneys, agents and trustees or administrators of any Nielsen Media Group or Nielsen IQ Group plan (together, the Released Parties) from any and all claims, demands, debts, damages, injuries, actions or rights of action of any nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, whether brought by or on behalf of the Executive, which the Executive had, now has or may have against the Released Parties from the beginning of the Executives employment to and including the date of this Agreement relating to or arising out of the Executives employment with the Nielsen Media Group and the Nielsen IQ Group or the termination of such employment other than (i) a claim with respect to a vested right the Executive may have to receive benefits under any plan maintained by the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group, as applicable, (ii) any claim that cannot be waived as a matter of law or public policy of the state whose law governs the claim, (iii) any rights to indemnification (including the advancement of legal fees) or expense reimbursement under any agreement between the Executive and any member of the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group, as applicable, or any organizational document of any member of the Nielsen Media Group or Nielsen IQ Group, as applicable, or pursuant to any directors and officers liability insurance policy, or (iv) any right of the Executive in his capacity as a Nielsen Media stockholder.
13. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit the Executive from filing a charge with or participating in any investigation or proceeding conducted by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or a comparable state or local agency, provided, however, that the Executive hereby agrees to waive his right to recover monetary damages or other individual relief in any such charge, investigation or proceeding or any related complaint or lawsuit filed by the Executive or by anyone else on his behalf.
14. The Executive acknowledges that:
i. This Agreement creates legally binding obligations and the Executive is hereby advised to consult with an attorney at the Executives own expense before executing this Agreement and that the Executive has been advised by an attorney or has knowingly waived the Executives right to do so,
ii. The Executive has had a period of at least twenty-one (21) days within which to consider this Agreement,
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iii. The Executive has a period of seven (7) days from the date that the Executive signs this Agreement within which to revoke it by written notice to the Companys Human Resources Department, and that this Agreement will not become effective or enforceable until the expiration of this seven (7) day revocation period,
iv. The Executive fully understands the terms and contents of this Agreement and freely, voluntarily, knowingly and without coercion enters into this Agreement,
v. The Executive is receiving greater consideration hereunder than the Executive would receive had the Executive not signed this Agreement and that the consideration hereunder is given in exchange for all of the provisions hereof, and
vi. This Agreement includes, without limitation, the waiver or release by the Executive of rights or claims the Executive may have under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (all as amended) and/or any other local, state or federal law, order or regulation dealing with employment or the termination thereof, and such waiver or release is knowing and voluntary. The Executive understands and agrees that the Companys payment or offer of money and other benefits to the Executive and the Executives signing of this Agreement does not in any way indicate that the Executive has any viable claims against the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group, as applicable or that the Nielsen Media Group or the Nielsen IQ Group admits any liability whatsoever.
15. On the Termination Date, Nielsen Media shall pay to Nielsen IQ $2,000,000, representing Nielsen Medias contribution to the severance payments provided for on Appendix A. Nielsen IQ agrees that none of the payments set forth on Appendix A constitute Employee Change of Control Payments or Indebtedness, would be included in Adjusted Current Liabilities or would otherwise result in an adjustment to or reduction of the Purchase Price, each as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2020, by and between Nielsen Media, Indy US Bidco, LLC, and Indy Dutch Bidco B.V.
16. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties as to the Executives termination and severance benefits, and all prior negotiations or representations are merged herein and the payments and benefits provided for hereunder are in full satisfaction of any and all obligations under the Nielsen Holdings plc Severance Policy for Section 16 Officers and United States-Based Senior Executives or any other severance policy, program or agreement of Nielsen Media or Nielsen IQ. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns, heirs and legal representatives but neither this Agreement nor any rights hereunder shall be assignable by the Executive without the written consent of both Nielsen Media and Nielsen IQ. In addition, this Agreement supersedes any prior employment or compensation agreement, whether written, oral or implied in law or implied in fact between the Executive and Nielsen Media and/or Nielsen IQ, which prior agreements are hereby terminated other than any restrictive covenant agreements or other agreements by which the Executive has agreed to comply with any restrictive covenants.
17. If for any reason any one or more of the provisions of this Agreement shall be held or deemed to be inoperative, unenforceable or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such circumstances shall not have the effect of rendering such provision invalid in any other case or rendering any other provisions of this Agreement inoperative, unenforceable or invalid, except as otherwise required to carry out the intent of the parties hereunder, and only as required to bring this Agreement into compliance with the law.
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18. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York except to the extent superseded by applicable federal law.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each the Executive, Nielsen Media and Nielsen IQ, by its duly authorized agent, has hereunder executed this Agreement.
Dated: 3/5/2021
/s/ David Rawlinson | ||
David Rawlinson |
||
NIELSEN HOLDINGS PLC | ||
/s/ George Callard |
||
By: | George Callard | |
Title: Chief Legal Officer | ||
AIPAVE & Cy SCSp | ||
/s/ Michael J. Ristaino |
||
By: | Michael J. Ristaino | |
Title: Director |
[Signature Page to David Rawlinson Separation Agreement and Release]
Appendix A
Severance Benefits
1. | Termination Date: | March 5, 2021 | ||
2. | Severance Period: | 104 weeks | ||
3. | Severance Payment: | Subject to satisfaction of the Release Conditions, Nielsen IQ shall pay to Executive an amount equal to $38,461.54 per week, less applicable withholdings for 104 weeks in accordance with Nielsen IQs usual payroll practices. Such payments shall begin on the next regular Nielsen IQ payday which is at least five (5) business days following the later of the effective date of the Agreement to which this Appendix A is attached or the date it is received by Nielsen IQ (the Initial Payment Date). | ||
4. | Group Health Benefit Continuation through the Severance Period: |
Subject to satisfaction of the Release Conditions, Executive will be able to continue participation for Executive and Executives eligible family in the benefit plans outlined below at the same rate that similarly situated active employees contribute to the plan. These contributions will be withheld from Executives severance payments in accordance with the Nielsen IQs usual payroll practices.
1. Nielsen IQ Health Savings Plan
2. CIGNA Dental PPO
All family members may stay enrolled throughout the severance period, which runs concurrently with COBRA, subject to overall eligibility under the plan. If a dependent becomes ineligible during the severance period, the dependent will be eligible to enroll in COBRA for the duration of the dependents COBRA eligibility. |
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5. | 2021 Annual Bonus: | Subject to satisfaction of the Release Conditions, Nielsen IQ shall pay to Executive an amount equal to $263,014, less applicable withholdings, on the Initial Payment Date. | ||
6. | Outplacement or Executive Coaching: | Subject to satisfaction of the Release Conditions, for 1 year, Nielsen IQ shall provide the Executive with outplacement or executive coaching services, at the executive level ($100,000 maximum), as delivered by Nielsen IQs designated provider. | ||
7. | Restricted Stock Units: |
Subject to satisfaction of the Release Conditions:
21,928 performance-based RSUs immediately shall vest as of the Termination Date.
36,463 restricted stock units granted on February 3, 2020 (Replacement RSUs) immediately shall vest as of the Termination Date.
35,985 restricted stock units granted on March 18, 2020 immediately shall vest as of the Termination Date.
Effective as of the Termination Date, Executive shall forfeit all other Nielsen Media equity awards that are unvested as of the Termination Date. |
8. | Allocation of Responsibility: | For the avoidance of doubt, solely as between Nielsen IQ and Nielsen Media, Nielsen IQ shall be responsible for items 3-6 of this Appendix A and Nielsen Media shall be responsible for item 7 of this Appendix A. |
A-2
Exhibit 10.2
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
R&G Draft 3/4/2021
WARRANT
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNDER ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. SUCH SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED AT ANY TIME WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT AND LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION THEREFROM.
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER SPECIFIED HEREIN, AND THE COMPANY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REFUSE THE TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES UNTIL SUCH TRANSFER IS IN COMPLIANCE HEREWITH.
Warrant No. 1 | Issue Date: March 5, 2021 | |
(the Issue Date) |
This certifies that, for value received, VNU International B.V. (the Holder) is entitled to subscribe for up to [184,250]1 fully paid Shares (as defined below), subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3 (as adjusted pursuant to the terms hereof, the Warrant Shares) in the issued share capital of AI PAVE Dutchco I B.V., a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) organized under the laws of the Netherlands and registered with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce under number: 81838441 (the Company), at the Exercise Price and pursuant to the terms, and subject to the conditions, set forth in this warrant (this Warrant).
Prior to or on the date hereof, the sole shareholder of the Company has signed the shareholders resolution substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, inter alia, resolving to grant the Warrant to the Holder.
All capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, in this Warrant are defined in Section 12.
1. Exercisability of Warrant. This Warrant shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, during the period beginning on the Issue Date and terminating at the Expiration Time (such period, the Warrant Exercise Period). The Exercise Price shall initially be $[1,628]2 per Warrant Share and shall be subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 3. This Warrant is, and any Warrant issued in substitution for or replacement of this Warrant and
1 |
NTD: Reflects the number of Warrant Shares that, were the per share value of the Warrant Shares equal to four (4.0) times the Sponsor Per Share Price (i.e., [$2,171]), the aggregate spread under the Warrant would equal $100 million. (The Sponsor Per Share Price for Shares is [$543].) Bracketed numbers remain subject to final confirmation pending finalization of FX hedging arrangements. |
2 |
NTD: The per share exercise price for the Warrant Shares will be equal to three (3.0) times the per share price paid by the Purchaser Sponsors to acquire common shares of the Company in connection with the Closing. |
any Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant to the terms hereof shall be, upon issuance, duly authorized, validly issued and non-assessable, free from all preemptive rights of any holder of Shares, and free from all liens and charges with respect to the issue thereof. This Warrant constitutes, and any Warrant issued in substitution for or replacement of this Warrant shall constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity. This Warrant shall automatically expire and terminate at, and shall no longer be exercisable after, the Expiration Time. The Company represents and warrants to the Holder that on the date first set forth above it has issued Shares to an Affiliate of Advent at a price of [$543] per Share.
2. Method of Exercise.
(a) Exercise for Cash. This Warrant may be exercised by the Holder, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, during the Warrant Exercise Period by (i) the surrender of this Warrant, properly endorsed, at the principal office of the Company, (ii) the payment of the Exercise Price in respect of the Warrant Shares being subscribed for, and (iii) delivery to the Company of the Form of Subscription attached hereto as Exhibit B (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) completed and duly executed by the Holder. The Exercise Price shall be paid in cash, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, to an account specified in advance by the Company.
(b) Net Exercise. This Warrant may also be exercised by the Holder, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, during the Warrant Exercise Period by (i) the surrender of this Warrant, properly endorsed, at the principal office of the Company and (ii) delivery to the Company of the Form of Subscription attached hereto as Exhibit B (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) completed and duly executed by the Holder and indicating that this Warrant is being net exercised, in which case the Company shall issue to the Holder such number of Warrant Shares as is computed using the following formula:
X = |
Y * (A B) |
|||||
A |
where: | X = | the number of Warrant Shares to be issued to the Holder pursuant to this Section 2(b); | ||
Y = | the number of Warrant Shares covered by this Warrant in respect of which the net issue election is made pursuant to this Section 2(b); | |||
A = | the Fair Market Value of one Warrant Share at the time of exercise; and | |||
B = | the Exercise Price in effect under this Warrant at the time such net exercise is made pursuant to this Section 2(b). |
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In case of a net exercise pursuant to this Section 2(b), the nominal value of the Warrant Shares to be issued will be charged, to the maximum extent possible, against the Companys share premium reserve recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes. In the event the share premium recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes is insufficient, the Holder shall pay the nominal value of the Warrant Shares to the Company.
(c) Effective Time of Exercise. Each exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to have been effected, and the Person entitled to receive the Warrant Shares for which this Warrant is exercised shall be treated for all purposes as the Holder of such Warrant Shares, immediately prior to the close of business on the Business Day on which (i) this Warrant was surrendered to the Company, (ii) if such exercise is made for cash pursuant to Section 2(a), the Company receives payment of the Exercise Price in respect of the Warrant Shares being subscribed for, and (iii) the Company receives the Form of Subscription attached hereto as Exhibit B (or a reasonable facsimile thereof), all as provided in this Section 2.
(d) Issuance of Warrant Shares and Remainder of Unexercised Warrant. In the event of any exercise of this Warrant, the Company and the Holder shall, at the Companys expense, as promptly as practicable, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after this Warrant is exercised:
(i) |
deliver to the Dutch civil law notary written powers of attorney (notarized and furnished with an apostille, if required by the Dutch civil law notary) giving such civil law notary the power to execute the notarial deed required in connection with the issuance of the Warrant Shares by the Company to the Holder, substantially in the form as attached hereto as Exhibit D; and |
(ii) |
execute any deed, document and form, and to perform all other acts necessary (including the exercise of voting rights) in order to give effect to the issuance of the Warrant Shares to the Holder in accordance with this Warrant (it being agreed that notwithstanding anything set forth herein, (x) the Holder shall not be required, in connection with such issuance, to become a party to the shareholders agreement relating to the Company entered into among certain holders of the Shares on the date hereof or any other agreement between holders of the Shares, and (y) the Company shall ensure that any such requirement in the Companys Articles of Association or other organizational documents shall be waived with respect to such issuance). |
Immediately following the issuance of the Warrant Shares pursuant to Sections 2(d)(i) and 2(d)(ii) above, the Company shall make the appropriate entries in the Companys shareholders register and the appropriate registrations with the trade register of the Dutch Chamber of Commerce, reflecting the issuance of the Warrant Shares to the Holder.
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Unless this Warrant has expired, a new warrant containing identical terms and conditions as contained in this Warrant representing the number of Warrant Shares, if any, with respect to which this Warrant was not exercised shall also be issued by the Company to the Holder at such time.
(e) Fractional Shares. No fractional Warrant Shares will be issued in connection with any exercise hereunder. In case the outcome of a calculation of the Warrant Shares to be issued would require a fraction of a Warrant Share to be issued to the Holder, (i) the aggregate number of Warrant Shares to be issued to such Holder will be rounded down to the nearest whole number and (ii) the Company shall make a cash payment to the Holder in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such fractional Warrant Shares at the time of exercise.
(f) Redemption. No holder of this Warrant or the Warrant Shares may require the redemption thereof at any time. The Company shall not have the right to redeem this Warrant or the Warrant Shares at any time.
3. Structural Anti-Dilution Adjustments. The Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant may be exercised are subject to adjustment from time to time, as provided in this Section 3 (each of the events described in Sections 3(a)-(f) below, an Adjustment Event).
(a) Share Splits and Dividends. If the Company fixes a record date for the effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding Shares or the determination of Holders entitled to receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional Shares or securities or rights convertible into or exercisable for Shares (such securities or rights, the Share Equivalents) without payment of any consideration by such holder for the additional Shares or Share Equivalents (including the additional Shares issuable upon conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date of such split, subdivision, dividend or distribution if no record date is fixed), the number of Shares issuable on exercise of this Warrant shall be increased in proportion to such increase in the aggregate number of Shares outstanding and issuable with respect to such Share Equivalents, and the Exercise Price shall be proportionately decreased, such that the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the total number of Shares issuable on exercise of this Warrant is equal to the aggregate Exercise Price that would have been payable for the total number of Shares issuable on exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment.
(b) Reverse Share Splits. If the number of Shares outstanding is decreased by a combination of the outstanding Shares, then, as of the record date of such combination (or the date of such combination if no record date is fixed), the Exercise Price shall be increased and the number of Shares issuable on exercise of this Warrant shall be decreased, in each case, in proportion to such decrease in outstanding Shares, such that the aggregate Exercise Price payable for the total number of Shares issuable on exercise of this Warrant is equal to the aggregate Exercise Price that would have been payable for the total number of Shares issuable on exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment.
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(c) Below Market Issuances. If the Company issues Shares or Share Equivalents at a price below the Fair Market Value of such Shares at the time of issuance (a Below Market Transaction), (i) the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted to an amount determined by multiplying the number of Warrant Shares issuable immediately prior to the Below Market Transaction by a fraction (the Adjustment Fraction) (a) the numerator of which shall be (x) the total number of Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to consummation of the Below Market Transaction plus (y) the total number of Shares issued or sold in the Below Market Transaction, and (b) the denominator of which shall be (x) the total number of Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to consummation of the Below Market Transaction plus (y) the number of Shares that the aggregate consideration received by the Company in the Below Market Transaction would purchase at Fair Market Value at the time of issuance of Shares in the Below Market Transaction, and (ii) the Exercise Price then in effect shall be adjusted to an amount determined by dividing the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to consummation of the Below Market Transaction by the Adjustment Fraction.
(d) Pro Rata Repurchases. If the Company effects a Pro Rata Repurchase of the Shares, then, as of the effective date of the Pro Rata Repurchase, the Exercise Price shall be reduced to the price determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the effective date of the Pro Rata Repurchase by a fraction of which the numerator shall be (i) the product of (x) the number of Shares outstanding immediately prior to such Pro Rata Repurchase and (y) the Fair Market Value per Share on the trading day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company or any of its affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase, minus (ii) the aggregate purchase price of the Pro Rata Repurchase, and of which the denominator shall be the product of (x) the number of Shares outstanding immediately prior to such Pro Rata Repurchase, minus the number of Shares so repurchased and (y) the Fair Market Value per Share on the trading day immediately preceding the first public announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata Repurchase. In such event, the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant in full shall be increased to the number obtained by dividing (i) the product of (x) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant before such adjustment, and (y) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Pro Rata Repurchase giving rise to this adjustment by (ii) the new Exercise Price determined in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence.
(e) Other Distributions. If the Company declares a distribution on the Shares payable in securities of the Company not giving rise to an adjustment elsewhere in this Section 3, securities of other Persons, evidences of indebtedness issued by the Company or other Persons, assets (including cash dividends other than Tax Distributions) or options or rights not referred to in Section 3(a), then the Holder shall be entitled to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, the number and kind of securities and assets (including cash dividends other than Tax Distributions) the Holder would have received if such Holder were the record holder of the Warrant Shares issuable under this Warrant as of the record date fixed for the determination of the Holders entitled to receive such distribution.
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(f) Recapitalizations. If there is a recapitalization of the Shares (including, without limitation, a reclassification, exchange, substitution or other event that results in a change of the Shares into other securities or property, or the consolidation or merger of the Company with or into another company, but excluding (a) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is the continuing company and which does not result in any reclassification of the outstanding Shares or the conversion of such outstanding Shares into shares of other stock or other securities or property and (b) the events described in Sections 3(a)-(e)), the Holder shall thereafter be entitled to receive, upon exercise of this Warrant, the number and kind of shares of stock or other securities or property of the Company or otherwise, that the Holder would have received as a result of such recapitalization if such Holder were the record holder of the Warrant Shares issuable under this Warrant as of the record date fixed for the determination of the holders of Shares entitled to participate in such recapitalization. In any such case, appropriate adjustment shall be made in the application of the provisions of this Section 3 with respect to the rights of the Holder after the recapitalization to the end that the provisions of this Section 3 (including adjustment of the Exercise Price then in effect and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant) shall be applicable after that event and be as nearly equivalent as practicable. Any such adjustment shall be made by and set forth in a supplemental agreement between the Holder and the Company or any successor thereto. The Company shall not effect any such recapitalization unless upon or prior to the consummation thereof the successor company, or if the Company shall be the surviving company in any such recapitalization and is not the issuer of the shares or other securities or property to be delivered to holders of Shares outstanding at the effective time thereof, then such issuer, shall assume by written instrument the obligation to deliver to the Holder such shares or cash or other securities or property as the Holder shall be entitled to purchase upon exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the foregoing provisions.
(g) Effective Time of Adjustment. An adjustment made pursuant to Section 3 shall become effective at the close of business on the record date (in the case of a dividend or distribution) or on the effective date of another action referred to in Section 3; provided that, in the event that such dividend or distribution is not made, the number of Warrant Shares or other property for which this Warrant may be exercised and the Exercise Price shall be readjusted, effective as of the date when the Board determines in Good Faith not to make such dividend or distribution, to reverse the effect of the applicable adjustment made pursuant to Sections 3(a)-(f).
(h) Rounding. All calculations under this Section 3 shall be made to the nearest cent or to the nearest 1/100th of a Share, as the case may be.
(i) No Impairment. The Company shall not, by amendment of its organizational documents, or through a reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed under this Warrant by the Company, but shall at all times in good faith assist in carrying out all of the provisions of this Warrant and take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to protect the Holders rights under this Warrant against impairment.
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4. Change of Control. In the event of any Change of Control of the Company prior to an IPO, the Holder shall at its option have the right, and at the Companys option the Holder shall be obligated, to Transfer this Warrant or the Warrant Shares to the acquirer or surviving entity (which, for the sake of clarity, may be the Company or one or more of its Affiliates) in such Change of Control (the Acquirer), and the Acquirer, as a condition to the consummation of such Change of Control, shall be obligated to purchase this Warrant and such Warrant Shares from the Holder, in each case, at an aggregate purchase price equal to (a) the product of (i) the number of Warrant Shares issued and outstanding as of immediately before such Change of Control multiplied by (ii) the price paid per Share to the holders of Shares in such Change of Control (as determined based upon the Fair Market Value, as of the date of the definitive agreement(s) providing for such Change of Control, of the consideration paid, directly or indirectly); plus (b) the product of (i) the number of Shares for which this Warrant remains exercisable immediately before such Change of Control, multiplied by (ii) the difference, if positive, between (A) the price paid per Share to the holders of Shares in such Change of Control (as determined based upon the Fair Market Value, as of the date of the definitive agreement(s) providing for such Change of Control, of the consideration paid, directly or indirectly), minus (B) the Exercise Price; provided, that it being understood that the Holder shall receive the foregoing payment in the same form of consideration (and in the same proportion, and applying the Fair Market Value, as of the date of the definitive agreement(s) providing for such Change of Control, of the consideration paid) as the consideration received by the holders of the Shares generally in such Change of Control; provided, further, that it being also understood that if the holders of the Shares have the option to receive all or any of their portion of their consideration in cash or other property, the Holder shall have the same option (including the right to elect the same kind of consideration, if applicable). In the event that, in any Change of Control, the difference between the price paid per Share in such Change of Control minus the Exercise Price is less than or equal to zero, this Warrant shall automatically expire and terminate, and shall no longer be exercisable, immediately after the consummation of such Change of Control. The Holder agrees to (x) waive any appraisal or dissenters rights in connection with a Change of Control and (y) to deliver reasonable and customary share transfer forms to effect the Transfer of the Warrant Shares upon the closing of such Change of Control.
5. Notice of Adjustments and Certain Actions. If (a) (i) the Company proposes to take any action that would require an adjustment pursuant to Section 3 to the Exercise Price or the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant may be exercised or (ii) an event has occurred that would require the Exercise Price or the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant may be exercised to be adjusted pursuant to Section 3, (b) there is a proposal for any merger, liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company or (c) the Company proposes to enter into a Change of Control, then, in any such case, the Company shall (x) reasonably promptly (and in any event in the case of clauses (a)-(b) at least ten (10) days prior to such proposed record date or date of occurrence of such event) deliver to the Holder a notice in accordance with Section 14 stating the proposed record date for, or the date of the occurrence of, such event and, in the case of clause (a), the proposed adjustment to the Exercise Price or the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant may be exercised, showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and (y) file such notice at the principal office of the Company. In addition, reasonably promptly upon request of the Holder following any adjustment pursuant to Section 3 to the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant may be exercised or the Exercise Price, the Company shall deliver to the Holder a new warrant
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evidencing such adjustments in substitution and replacement for this Warrant and otherwise containing identical terms and conditions as those contained in this Warrant. In connection with a Change of Control, the Company shall deliver a notice in accordance with Section 14 within the earlier of ten (10) days following the execution of the definitive agreement with respect to such Change of Control and ten (10) days before the proposed date upon which such Change of Control is to be consummated, indicating in such notice the date of execution of such agreement or such proposed effective date, as applicable, the amount and types of consideration to be paid for Shares in the Change of Control, any election with respect to types of consideration that a holder of Shares shall be entitled to make in connection with the Change of Control and the percentage of total Shares to be transferred to the Acquirer in the Change of Control. In addition, promptly upon request of the Holder following any Transfer or termination of this Warrant in part but not in whole pursuant to Section 6, the Company shall deliver to the Holder a new warrant evidencing the remaining portion of this Warrant that was neither Transferred nor terminated, in substitution and replacement for this Warrant and otherwise containing identical terms and conditions as those contained in this Warrant, subject to any adjustment to the provisions of this Warrant made pursuant to Section 3.
6. Transferability of Warrant.
(a) Mechanics of Transfers. The Company shall maintain a registry showing the name and address of the Holder as the registered holder of this Warrant. Subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 6, this Warrant and all rights hereunder may be transferred by the Holder, in whole or in part, on the books of the Company to be maintained for such purpose, upon (i) the surrender of this Warrant, properly endorsed, at the principal office of the Company and (ii) delivery to the Company of the Form of Assignment attached hereto as Exhibit C (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) completed and duly executed by the Holder. Upon such surrender and delivery, the Company shall promptly (i) make, execute and deliver a new warrant or warrants containing identical terms and conditions as contained in this Warrant other than the name(s) of any assignee(s) and the number of Warrant Shares represented thereby in the name(s) of the assignee(s) and in the denominations specified in such instrument of assignment, and (ii) make, execute and deliver to the Holder a new warrant representing the number of Warrant Shares that were not Transferred and otherwise containing identical terms and conditions as those contained in this Warrant. Upon such deliveries by the Company, this Warrant shall be canceled.
(b) Transfer Restrictions. Before an IPO, the Holder may not Transfer all or any part of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares, except (i) with the prior written consent of the Company (which it may give or withhold in its discretion, subject to Section 6(c)) or (ii) to Nielsen Holdings or any Person or Persons who are subsidiaries of Nielsen Holdings (each, a Permitted Affiliate); provided that, if at any time such transferee ceases to be a Permitted Affiliate of the Holder, such transferee shall immediately (and, in any event, no later than three (3) Business Days thereafter) Transfer the portion of this Warrant that it holds (in whole and not in part) to a Person that is a Permitted Affiliate of the Holder or to the Holder itself. Following an IPO, the Holder may, subject to compliance with applicable law, Transfer all or any part of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares without regard to the restrictions set forth in this Section 6(b). For the avoidance
8
of doubt, any transfer of shares or other securities of the Holder or of any of its Affiliates or Change of Control with respect to the Holder or any of its Affiliates shall not be deemed, in and of itself, to be a Transfer of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares.
(c) Tax Matters. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, for so long as the Company is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (or until the time of an IPO, if earlier), no direct or indirect Transfer of this Warrant shall be permitted (other than Transfers to Permitted Affiliates that do not in the aggregate cause more than ten (10) separate partners to hold an interest in the Company for purposes of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h) as a result of such Transfers to Permitted Affiliates) if, after giving effect to such Transfer, the Company would have more than one hundred (100) partners (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.7704-1(h), including, without limitation, Section 1.7704-1(h)(3), but on the basis that funds affiliated with Advent and their respective affiliates and direct and indirect owners constitute one partner for these purposes and any management incentive plan aggregator entity and its direct and indirect owners constitute one partner for these purposes and provided further that the Company shall determine whether to consent to a Transfer pursuant to Section 7(b)(i) on such basis), treating (solely for this purpose) each holder of this Warrant or any new warrant(s) issued pursuant to this Warrant as a partner) (the 100 Partner Test), and any such Transfer that fails the 100 Partner Test will be void ab initio unless legal counsel to the Holder (provided such legal counsel is of national reputation and specializes in the legal matters involved in such determination, and is otherwise reasonably acceptable to the Company) renders an opinion to the Company that such Transfer will not cause the Company to be treated as a publicly traded partnership within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code. The Company shall not engage in a trade or business within the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and shall ensure that it does not have any income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes).
(d) Transfer Expenses. If the Holder proposes to Transfer all or any part of this Warrant in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof, then the Holder shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by such Holder in connection with such Transfer and the Company shall be responsible for all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with such Transfer. The Holder shall pay any documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer tax or duty due on the issue, if any, of Warrant Shares upon exercise or transfer of this Warrant.
(e) Invalid Transfers. Any purported Transfer of this Warrant other than in accordance with the terms of this Warrant shall be null and void ab initio, and the Company shall refuse to recognize any such Transfer for any purpose and shall not reflect in its records any change in record ownership pursuant to any such Transfer.
(f) Taxes. All payments made by the Company in respect of this Warrant shall be made subject to withholding taxes required under applicable tax law. To the extent that any such amounts are so deducted or withheld and timely paid over by the Company to the relevant taxing authority, such amounts will be treated for all purposes of the Warrant as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made.
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7. Registration Rights. Upon issuance of any Warrant Shares upon the exercise of this Warrant, the Holder shall have the registration rights of the Holder set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement.
8. Holder Not Deemed a Shareholder. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, this Warrant shall not entitle the Holder to any rights as a holder of Warrant Shares prior to the exercise of this Warrant. In addition, nothing contained in this Warrant shall be construed as imposing any liabilities on the Holder to purchase any securities (upon exercise of this Warrant or otherwise) or as a shareholder of the Company, whether such liabilities are asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.
9. Securities Law Compliance. The Holder of this Warrant, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges that neither this Warrant nor the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant have been registered under the Securities Act, any applicable state securities laws or other applicable securities laws (including, but not limited to, the European Prospectus Regulation (EU) 2017/1129). The Holder, by acceptance of this Warrant, represents that it is fully informed as to the applicable limitations upon any distribution or resale of any portion of this Warrant and the Warrant Shares under the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws and agrees not to distribute or resell any portion of this Warrant or any Warrant Shares if such distribution or resale would constitute a violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws or would cause the issuance of this Warrant or the Warrant Shares to be in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws. The Holder represents that this Warrant and the Warrant Shares to be issued upon exercise of this Warrant are not being acquired with the view to, or for resale in connection with, any distribution or public offering of such Warrant Shares in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws.
10. Information Rights.
(a) At all times prior to an IPO or a Change of Control, the Company shall deliver to the Holder copies of the audited annual and unaudited quarterly financial statements that are delivered to the Lenders (as defined below) pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of [ ], 2021 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the Credit Agreement), by and among, inter alios, certain of the Companys subsidiaries, the financial institutions party thereto from time to time as lenders (the Lenders) and Bank of America, N.A., as the administrative agent, substantially concurrently with the delivery of such financial statements to such Lenders. The Company shall deliver, at the Holders expense in the case of reasonable out-of-pocket costs paid to third parties, which costs would not have been incurred but for the Holders request, all information that is available to the Company and that is reasonably requested by the Holder in connection with preparing the Holders Tax returns, defending Tax audits and other Tax matters, in each case to the extent relating to the Holders interest in this Warrant or Warrant Shares, and shall, upon the Holders request and at the Holders expense in the case of reasonable out-of-pocket
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costs paid to third parties, which costs would not have been incurred but for the Holders request, use reasonable efforts to obtain or provide relevant tax forms that the Company is legally able to obtain or provide and that are required or requested for or in connection with the Holders compliance with tax laws, in each case, to the extent relating to the Holders interest in this Warrant or the Warrant Shares.
(b) Except as and to the extent as may be required by applicable law, regulation or legal process, without the prior written consent of the Company, the Holder shall not disclose or permit the disclosure of any confidential information about the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their Affiliates provided pursuant to Section 10(a) by or on behalf of the Company; provided, that the Holder may disclose confidential information (i) to its actual or prospective investors, lenders or other similar Persons (in each case, other than Disqualified Institutions (as defined in the Credit Agreement)) who are subject to obligations of confidentiality; and (ii) to the Holders and its Affiliates respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors (including, without limitation, attorneys, accountants, consultants and financial advisors) (in each case, other than Disqualified Institutions).
(c) If the Holder is required by applicable law, regulation or legal process (including the request of any regulator with jurisdiction over the Holder or pursuant to applicable securities law requirements) to disclose any confidential information about the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their Affiliates provided pursuant to Section 10(a) by or on behalf of the Company, it shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, first provide notice reasonably in advance to the Company with respect to the proposed disclosure. The Holder will use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate, at the Companys sole cost and expense, with the Company to obtain confidentiality agreements or arrangements with respect to any such required disclosure and in any event shall disclose only such confidential information as is required to be disclosed by applicable law, regulation or legal process. The Holders obligations under this Section 10(c) shall not apply to disclosures made as part of an ordinary course audit or request for information from a regulator that is not specifically targeted at the Company.
11. Amendments to the Companys Organizational Documents. The parties hereby agree that no amendment, modification, supplement or waiver to the organizational documents of the Company that adversely affects the rights or obligations of the Holder hereunder shall be made or given without the prior written consent of the Holder.
12. Definitions. The following terms shall have the meanings given to them below.
Acquirer has the meaning set forth in Section 4.
Adjustment Event has the meaning set forth in Section 3.
Adjustment Fraction has the meaning set forth in Section 3(c).
Advent means Advent International Corporation.
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Affiliates means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, that Person. For the purposes of this definition, control (including, with correlative meanings, the terms controlling, controlled by and under common control with), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of that Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.
Below Market Transaction has the meaning set forth in Section 3(c).
Board means the management board of the Company.
Business Day means any day of the year other than a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which national or state banking institutions in New York, New York are required or authorized by law to close.
Change of Control means any (i) merger, demerger, consolidation or other business combination of the Company (or any Subsidiary or Subsidiaries that alone or together represent all or substantially all of the Companys consolidated assets at that time) or any successor or other entity owning or holding substantially all the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries that results in the holders of Shares immediately before the consummation of such transaction, or a series of related transactions, holding, directly or indirectly, less than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power of the Company (or such Subsidiary or Subsidiaries) or any successor entity owning or holding substantially all the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries or the surviving entity thereof, as applicable, immediately following the consummation of such transaction or series of related transactions, (ii) Transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power of the Company (or such Subsidiary or Subsidiaries) or any successor owning or holding substantially all the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to a Person or group of related Persons (other than funds affiliated with Advent and their respective affiliates), or (iii) sale or other disposition in one or a series of related transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries. For the avoidance of doubt, an IPO shall not be deemed to be a Change of Control.
Chosen Courts has the meaning set forth in Section 15.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute.
Commission means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and any successor thereto.
Company has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Exchange Act means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
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Exercise Price has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
Expiration Time means 11:59 p.m., New York, New York time, on the twentieth (20th) anniversary of the Issue Date.
Fair Market Value means, with respect to any asset or security, the fair market value of such asset or security, as between a willing buyer and a willing seller not under a compulsion to buy or sell in an arms-length transaction occurring on the date of the valuation, as reasonably determined in Good Faith by the Board; it being understood that, (i) with respect to a security that is listed on a national securities exchange, Fair Market Value shall mean the volume weighted average of the closing prices of such security over the thirty (30) day period ending one (1) Business Day prior to the date of measurement, and (ii) with respect to a security that is traded over-the-counter, Fair Market Value shall mean the volume weighted average of the closing bid prices over the thirty (30) day trading period ending one (1) Business Day prior to the date of measurement. For the avoidance of doubt, (a) the Fair Market Value of any incentive-based equity interests granted by the Company with a liquidation value of $0, as reasonably determined in Good Faith by the Board at the time of issuance, shall be $0, and (b) no issuance of Shares within three (3) months following the date first set forth above at a price per Share of $[●] or more, in connection with the issuance of Common Units of AI PAVE & Cy S.C.Sp at a price per Common Unit of $[●] or more, shall be deemed a Below Market Transaction.
Good Faith means a Person having acted honestly and fairly and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
Holder has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
IPO means (i) the first registered, public offering of Shares for cash pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, registered on Form S-1 or Form F-1 (or any successor form) or pursuant to an effective registration statement under securities laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions on the applicable forms in which such Shares are sold to one or more underwriters on a firm-commitment basis for reoffering to the public, (ii) the closing of a direct listing of the Shares pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to an effective registration statement under securities laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions, or (iii) the closing of a transaction with a special purpose acquisition company pursuant to which the Shares are registered or exchanged for securities that are registered under the Securities Act or under securities laws in non-U.S. jurisdictions.
Issue Date means the date set forth in the Preamble.
Nielsen Holdings means Nielsen Holdings plc, a public limited company formed under the laws of England and Wales with registration number 09422989, whose registered office is at Nielsen House, John Smith Drive, Oxford, OX4 2WB.
Permitted Affiliate has the meaning set forth in Section 6(b).
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Pro Rata Repurchases means any purchase of Shares by the Company or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to (i) any tender offer or exchange offer subject to Section 13(e) or 14(e) of the Exchange Act or Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder or (ii) any other offer available to substantially all holders of Shares, in the case of both (i) or (ii), whether for cash, Shares or other securities of the Company, evidences of indebtedness of the Company or any other Person or any other property, or any combination thereof, effected while this Warrant is outstanding. The effective date of a Pro Rata Repurchase shall mean the date of acceptance of shares for purchase or exchange by the Company under any tender or exchange offer that is a Pro Rata Repurchase or the date of purchase with respect to any Pro Rata Repurchase that is not a tender or exchange offer.
Registration Rights Agreement means the Registration Rights Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit E.
Securities Act means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to time.
Shares means the class A ordinary shares in the capital of the Company (i.e., Shares A).
Share Equivalents has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
Subsidiary means any Person of which (i) a majority of the outstanding share capital, voting securities or other equity interests are owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company is entitled, directly or indirectly, to appoint a majority of the board of directors or comparable body of such Person or (iii) the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company is a general partner.
Tax Distributions means any distributions of cash made by the Company determined by reference to taxes.
Transfer means, with respect to this Warrant or any Shares, (a) when used as a verb, to sell, assign, dispose of, exchange, pledge, encumber, hypothecate or otherwise transfer such Warrant or Shares or any participation or interest therein, whether directly or indirectly, or to agree or commit to do any of the foregoing, and (b) when used as a noun, a direct or indirect sale, assignment, disposition, exchange, pledge, encumbrance, hypothecation or other transfer of such Warrant or Shares or any participation or interest therein, or any agreement or commitment to do any of the foregoing, including in each case through the Transfer of any Person directly holding such Warrant or Shares or any interest in such Person. For the avoidance of doubt, any transfer of shares or other securities of the Holder or of any of its Affiliates or Change of Control with respect to the Holder or any of its Affiliates shall not be deemed, in and of itself, to be a Transfer.
Warrant has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
Warrant Exercise Period has the meaning set forth in Section 1.
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Warrant Shares has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
13. Amendment and Waiver. This Warrant and any provision hereof may be amended only by an instrument in writing signed by the Holder (or Nielsen Holdings in lieu of the Holder) and the Company. This Warrant and any provision hereof may only be waived by a writing signed by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. The failure of any party to enforce any of the provisions of this Warrant shall in no way be construed as a waiver of such provisions and shall not affect the right of such party thereafter to enforce each and every provision of this Warrant in accordance with its terms.
14. Notices. Any notice, request or other document required or permitted to be given or delivered to the Holder or the Company shall be given at the address or email address set forth on the signature pages to this Warrant. Each proper notice shall be effective upon any of the following: (a) personal delivery to the recipient, (b) when telecopied or emailed to the recipient if the telecopy is promptly confirmed by automated or telephone confirmation thereof or if the email is promptly confirmed by email or telephone confirmation thereof, or (c) one (1) Business Day after being sent to the recipient by reputable overnight courier service (charges prepaid).
15. Descriptive Headings; Interpretation; Governing Law; Selection of Forum; Waiver of Trial by Jury. The descriptive headings of the several paragraphs of this Warrant are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this Warrant. The word or shall not be exclusive. This Warrant shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to the conflicts of laws thereof to the extent such reference would direct a matter to another jurisdiction. Each of the Holder and the Company agrees that it shall bring any action, suit, demand or proceeding (including counterclaims) in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this Warrant, exclusively in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and (if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks or declines jurisdiction) any state or federal court within the State of Delaware (the Chosen Courts), and solely in connection with claims arising under this Warrant (a) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Chosen Courts, (b) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action, suit, demand or proceeding in the Chosen Courts, (c) waives any objection that the Chosen Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over such party and (d) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action, suit, demand or proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 14. Each of the Holder and the Company irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any action, suit, demand or proceeding (including counterclaims) arising out of or related to this Warrant.
16. Lost Warrant. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of this Warrant (which evidence may include an affidavit of loss), and (a) in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, posting of a bond in an amount reasonably satisfactory to the Company or execution and the delivery of an indemnity agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and (b) in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant, the Company will make, execute and deliver a new Warrant in lieu of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant.
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17. HSR Filings. The Company shall take all such actions as may be necessary to ensure that all such Warrant Shares are issued without violation by the Company of any applicable law or governmental regulation or any requirements of any domestic securities exchange upon which the Companys shares or other securities constituting Warrant Shares may be listed at the time of such exercise (except for official notice of issuance which shall be immediately delivered by the Company upon each such issuance). In the event that as a condition to or in connection with the exercise of this Warrant, the Company is required to make any filing pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as in effect from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or any similar law, rule or regulation, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to make such filing and obtain clearance thereunder as expeditiously as possible, including, but not limited to, filing the notification form and cooperating in responding to any questions or information requests from any governmental authority.
18. Cumulative Remedies. The rights and remedies provided in this Warrant are cumulative and are not exclusive of, and are in addition to and not in substitution for, any other rights or remedies available at law, in equity or otherwise.
19. Equitable Relief. Each of the Company and the Holder acknowledges that a breach or threatened breach by such party of any of its obligations under this Warrant would give rise to irreparable harm to the other party hereto for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy and hereby agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by such party of any such obligations, the other party hereto shall, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may be available to it in respect of such breach, be entitled to equitable relief, including a restraining order, an injunction, specific performance and any other relief that may be available from a court of competent jurisdiction, without any requirement to post any bond or security.
20. Entire Agreement. This Warrant and the forms attached hereto, together with the Registration Rights Agreement, constitutes the sole and entire agreement of the parties to this Warrant with respect to the subject matter contained herein, and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous understandings and agreements, both written and oral, with respect to such subject matter.
21. Successors and Assigns. This Warrant and the rights evidenced hereby shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and the successors of the Company and the successors and permitted assigns of the Holder. Such successors and/or permitted assigns of the Holder shall be deemed to be a Holder for all purposes hereunder.
22. Severability. If any term or provision of this Warrant is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Warrant or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction.
23. Counterparts. This Warrant may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same agreement. A signed copy of this Warrant delivered by facsimile, email or other means of electronic transmission shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as delivery of an original signed copy of this Warrant.
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[The remainder of this page is left blank intentionally.]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Warrant as of the Issue Date.
Acknowledged and agreed as of the Issue Date:
HOLDER:
VNU INTERNATIONAL B.V. | ||
By: |
/s/ Michel van den Hoven |
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Name: | Michel van den Hoven | |
Title: | Director |
EXHIBIT A
Form of Shareholders Resolution
RESOLUTIONS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS
OF AI PAVE DUTCHCO I B.V.
Dated
Resolutions of the shareholders (the Shareholders) of AI PAVE DUTCHCO I B.V., a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) under Dutch law, trade register number 81838441 (the Company).
WHEREAS:
A. |
The undersigned is the only party with meeting rights in respect of the Company. |
B. |
The Companys Articles of Association do not preclude the Shareholders from passing resolutions without holding a meeting. |
C. |
By signing this written resolution, each of the undersigned votes in favour of the resolutions set out below. |
D. |
The Companys managing directors have been afforded the opportunity to advise on these resolutions. |
E. |
On or about the date hereof, the Companys articles of association (Articles of Association) are amended as a consequence whereof the class meeting formed by the holders of ordinary class A shares in the capital of the Company (Class Meeting Shares A) has the power to decide on the issuance of shares. This written resolution also constitutes a resolution of the Class Meeting Shares A approving the same. |
F. |
On or about the date hereof, the Company intends to enter into a warrant agreement (the Warrant Agreement) by and between inter alia the Company and [●] (the Holder). Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement the Company will grant the Warrants (as defined below) to the Holder. |
RESOLUTIONS:
1. |
To approve the signing of the Warrant Agreement by the Company and any further documents and transactions set forth in and contemplated by the Warrant Agreement. |
2. |
To grant the Holder the right to subscribe for such number and class of shares in the Companys capital (such rights hereinafter referred to as the Warrants) under the terms and conditions as set forth in the Warrant Agreement as attached hereto. |
3. |
To waive and exclude any statutory and contractual pre-emption rights of any shareholder of the Company in respect of the Warrants. |
4. |
The Companys management board shall determine the exact exercise price and number of the shares to be issued upon the exercise of the Warrants, in accordance with the Warrant Agreement. |
5. |
In case of a net exercise of the Warrants (as referred to in Section 2(b) of the Warrant Agreement), the shares will be issued under the obligation for the Company to charge the Exercise Price (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) for the shares, to the maximum extent possible, against the Companys reserves. |
CONFIRMATION
1. |
The undersigned confirm the correctness and completeness of the statements in (A) up to and including (F). |
2. |
The undersigned will comply with the obligations set out in the Warrant Agreement and will do everything necessary to approve and effect any transfer of Warrants in accordance with the Warrant Agreement (including waiving pre-emption rights). |
(signature page follows)
Signature page to shareholders resolution AI PAVE Dutchco I B.V.
This written resolution may be signed in multiple counterparts and is dated as first written above.
AI Global Investments (Netherlands) PCC Limited, acting on behalf of and in the name of the PAVE
CELL,
represented by:
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Name: | L. Kruimer | Name: | L.A.P. Mulder | |||||
Title: | Managing director | Title: | Managing director |
EXHIBIT B
Form of Subscription
To the Company:
The undersigned holder of the attached Warrant (the Holder) hereby (check all that apply):
☐ |
irrevocably elects to subscribe for cash Warrant Shares for an aggregate Exercise Price of $ , the payment of which amount the Holder is concurrently making to the Company (check all that apply) in cash ☐, by wire transfer ☐, by certified check ☐ or by any combination of the foregoing ☐; or |
☐ |
irrevocably surrenders the right to subscribe Warrant Shares, and a proportionate part of the Warrant and the rights evidenced thereby, in exchange for that number of Warrant Shares computed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(b) of the Warrant; and requests that such Warrant Shares be held (and the related capital contribution be made) in the name of whose address is . |
The Holder hereby represents (i) that it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Warrant Shares; (ii) that it can bear the economic risk of its investment in the Warrant Shares and can afford to lose its entire investment in the Warrant Shares; (iii) that it has been furnished the materials relating to its investment in the Warrant Shares which it has reasonably requested in connection with its investment; (iv) that it is acquiring the Warrant Shares for investment and not with a view toward, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) or any applicable state securities laws. The Holder agrees that the Warrant Shares may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws.
If the number of Warrant Shares subscribed for is less than all of the Warrant Shares evidenced by the Warrant, then the Holder requests that a new warrant representing the remaining Warrant Shares subject to the Warrant be issued and delivered to the Holder. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to those terms in the Warrant.
Dated: |
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(Signature) |
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(Address) |
EXHIBIT C
Form of Assignment
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned holder of the attached Warrant (the Holder) hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of the rights of the Holder under that portion of the attached Warrant specified below unto the assignee(s) specified below:
Name of Assignee |
Address |
No. of Warrant Shares Underlying the Warrant Subject to Transfer |
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Dated: |
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(Signature) |
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(Address) |
EXHIBIT D
FORM DEED OF ISSUE
DEED OF ISSUE OF SHARES
AI PAVE DUTCHCO I B.V.
On this, [date], appeared before me, [name civil law notary authorized to practice in the Netherlands], civil law notary at [place]:
[name employee of notary authorized by powers of attorney], acting for the purposes of this Deed as the holder of written powers of attorney from:
1. |
[corporate details Warrant Holder] (the Subscriber); and |
2. |
AI PAVE Dutchco I B.V., a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid), having its corporate seat in Amsterdam (address: Herengracht 450, 1017CA Amsterdam, trade register number: 81838441) (the Company). |
The person appearing, acting in the above capacities, declared the following:
DEFINITIONS
Article 1
In this Deed the following definitions shall apply:
Articles of Association | the Companys articles of association. | |
Board | the management board of the Company. | |
Board Resolution | the resolution of the Board dated [date], as is evidenced by a copy of the written resolution that will be attached to this Deed as an annex.3 | |
DCC | the Dutch Civil Code (Burgerlijk Wetboek). | |
Deed | this deed of issue of shares. | |
Exercise Price | [amount] per Share. | |
General Meeting | the general meeting of the Company. | |
GM Resolution | the resolution of the General Meeting dated [date], as is evidenced by a copy of the written resolution that will be attached to this Deed as an annex. | |
Parties | the parties to this Deed. | |
Shares | [number] class A ordinary shares in the Companys capital, having a nominal value of [amount] each and numbered [number] up to and including [number]. | |
Subscription Form | the form of subscription in relation to the Warrant, pursuant to which the Subscriber has exercised its Subscription Rights with respect to the Shares, a copy of which will be attached to this Deed as an annex. |
3 |
NTD: Board to pass a resolution upon receipt of Form of Subscription, deciding / confirming the number of Shares to be issued to the Holder and confirming the Exercise Price (especially in case this has been adjusted). |
Subscription Rights | the rights to subscribe for the Shares as granted to the Subscriber under the Warrant and the GM Resolution. | |
Warrant | the warrant entered into between the Company and the Subscriber, dated [date], a copy of which will be attached to this Deed as an annex. |
RESOLUTION TO ISSUE SHARES
Article 2
2.1 |
The Company and the Subscriber entered into the Warrant, pursuant to which the Company has granted the Subscription Rights to the Subscriber and the Subscriber accepted the Subscription Rights from the Company. |
2.2 |
As is evidenced by the GM Resolution, the General Meeting has resolved to issue the Subscription Rights to the Subscriber on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Warrant. |
2.3 |
The Subscriber has exercised its Subscription Rights, as is evidenced by the Subscription Form. |
2.4 |
In accordance with the Warrant and the GM Resolution, the Board has determined the number of shares to be issued to the Subscriber as included in the Board Resolution. |
2.5 |
In giving effect to the Warrant, the Subscription Rights and the Subscription Form, the Company shall issue the Shares to the Subscriber pursuant to this Deed. No further resolution as referred to in article 2:206(2) DCC of the General Meeting or other corporate body of the Company is required in respect of the issuance of the Shares. |
PRE-EMPTION RIGHTS AND PREREQUISITE
Article 3
3.1 |
Pre-emption rights (voorkeursrechten) have been excluded by the General Meeting in relation to the issue of the Subscription Rights, as is evidenced by the GM Resolution. |
3.2 |
Article 2:206a(6) DCC provides that shareholders shall have no pre-emption right in respect of shares issued to a person who exercises a previously acquired right to subscribe for shares. Consequently, the Companys shareholders do not have any pre-emption rights in respect of the issue of the Shares pursuant to this Deed. |
ISSUE OF SHARES
Article 4
In giving effect to the Warrant, the Subscription Rights and the Subscription Form, the Company hereby issues the Shares to the Subscriber and the Subscriber hereby accepts the Shares from the Company.
PAYMENT AND DISCHARGE
Article 5
5.1 |
[Option 1: Exercise for Cash: |
The Company has received and accepted the aggregate Exercise Price for the Warrant from the Subscriber.]
[Option 2: Net Exercise:
The aggregate nominal value of the Warrant Shares has been satisfied by charging the aggregate nominal value of the Warrant Shares against the Companys share premium as recognized for Dutch dividend withholding tax purposes, which has been approved by the Board as is evidenced by the Board Resolution.]
5.2 |
The Company hereby grants the Subscriber a discharge in respect of payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares. |
5.3 |
The Shares have been paid up in full. |
REGISTER
Article 6
The Company will immediately enter the issue of the Shares in its register.
CHOICE OF LAW AND JURISDICTION
Article 7
This Deed shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Netherlands. Any dispute arising in connection with this Deed shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent court in Amsterdam.
[CIVIL LAW NOTARY
Article 8
8.1 |
The Parties are aware that the undersigned civil law notary works with [name Dutch law firm], the firm that has advised [party] in this transaction. |
8.2 |
With reference to the Code of Conduct (Verordening beroeps- en gedragsregels) laid down by the Royal Notarial Professional Organisation (Koninklijke Notariële Beroepsorganisatie), the Parties hereby explicitly consent to: |
a. |
the undersigned civil law notary executing this Deed; and |
b. |
[party] being assisted and represented by [name Dutch law firm] in relation to this Deed and any agreements that may be concluded, or disputes that may arise, in connection therewith.]4 |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Article 9
The person appearing has been authorised to act under two (2) powers of attorney in the form of private instruments, which will be attached to this Deed.
FINAL STATEMENTS
The person appearing is known to me, civil law notary.
This Deed was executed in Amsterdam on the date mentioned in its heading.
After I, civil law notary, had conveyed and explained the contents of the Deed in substance to the person appearing, the person appearing declared to have taken note of the contents of the Deed, was in agreement with the contents and did not wish them to be read out in full. Following a partial reading, the Deed was signed by the person appearing and by me, civil law notary.
4 |
NTD: Only to be included to the extent that the notary that executes this Deed is affiliated to a law firm which has advised one of the parties to this Deed (as a result of which such notary cannot act as independent advisor of all parties to this Deed). |
EXHIBIT E
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
[To be attached]
Exhibit 99.1
NIELSEN ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF SALE OF
GLOBAL CONNECT BUSINESS TO ADVENT INTERNATIONAL
Investor Relations: Sara Gubins, +1 646 654 8153
Media Relations: Stacy Perrus, +1 443 627 0563
NEW YORK, [TK] Nielsen Holdings plc (Nielsen) (NYSE: NLSN) announced today that it has completed the previously announced sale of NielsenIQ to affiliates of Advent International, in partnership with James Jim Peck. NielsenIQ is Nielsens former Global Connect business.
David Kenny, Nielsen Chief Executive Officer said, We thank the entire NielsenIQ team for their invaluable commitment and contributions over the years. We look forward to continuing a strong working relationship with them.
This is a transformative time for Nielsen. We have redesigned our products, our business platform, and our operating model, positioning Nielsen to better deliver the solutions our clients need in the rapidly changing global media ecosystem. We are now fully aligned around three essential solutionsAudience Measurement, Audience Outcomes and Gracenote Content Servicesthat are designed to drive growth by leveraging a single media platform across a global digital-first footprint.
J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Guggenheim Securities, LLC acted as financial advisors to Nielsen, and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Clifford Chance LLP, DLA Piper, and Baker McKenzie acted as legal advisors to Nielsen.
ABOUT NIELSEN
Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a leading global data and analytics company that provides a holistic and objective understanding of the media industry. With offerings spanning audience measurement, audience outcomes and content, Nielsen offers its clients and partners simple solutions to complex questions and optimizes the value of their investments and growth strategies. It is the only company that can offer de-duplicated cross-media audience measurement. Audience is EverythingTM to Nielsen and its clients, and Nielsen is committed to ensuring that every voice counts.
An S&P 500 company, Nielsen offers measurement and analytics service in nearly 60 countries. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.
From time to time, Nielsen may use its website and social media outlets as channels of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the company is routinely posted and accessible on our website at http://www.nielsen.com/investors, and our social media accounts: Twitter at http://twitter.com/Nielsen, LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/nielsen/, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Nielsen/ and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lifeatnielsen/.
ABOUT ADVENT INTERNATIONAL
Founded in 1984, Advent International is one of the largest and most experienced global private equity investors. The firm has invested in over 350 private equity transactions in 41 countries, and as of September 30, 2020, had $66.2 billion in assets under management. With 15 offices in 12 countries, Advent has established a globally integrated team of over 200 investment professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The firm focuses on investments in five core sectors, including business and financial services; health care; industrial; retail, consumer and leisure; and technology. After 35 years dedicated to international investing, Advent remains committed to partnering with management teams to deliver sustained revenue and earnings growth for its portfolio companies.
For more information, visit: www.adventinternational.com or www.linkedin.com/company/advent-international.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include those set forth above relating to the sale by Nielsen of NielsenIQ, our former Global Connect business, to affiliates of Advent International Corporation, as well as those that may be identified by words such as will, intend, expect, anticipate, should, could and similar expressions. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what presently is expected. Factors leading thereto may include, without limitation, the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and financial markets, the uncertainties relating to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Nielsens business, the failure of our new business strategy in accomplishing our objectives, conditions in the markets Nielsen is engaged in, behavior of customers, suppliers and competitors, technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules affecting Nielsens business and other specific risk factors that are outlined in our disclosure filings and materials, which you can find on http://www.nielsen.com/investors, such as our 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K reports that have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Please consult these documents for a more complete understanding of these risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Such forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of this communication, and we assume no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf as a result of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by law.
Exhibit 99.2
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
On March 5, 2021 (the Closing), Nielsen Holdings plc (the Company or Nielsen) completed the previously announced sale of the Companys Global Connect business (such business, Global Connect, and the sale of Global Connect, the Transaction), pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of October 31, 2020 (the Stock Purchase Agreement), by and among the Company, Indy US Bidco, LLC (US Purchaser) and Indy Dutch Bidco B.V. (Dutch Purchaser) (US Purchaser and Dutch Purchaser, collectively, Purchaser), affiliates of Advent International Corporation (Advent). Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, Purchaser acquired Global Connect by means of a sale of the equity interests of certain subsidiaries held by the Company which operate Global Connect, for (i) $2,700 million in cash, subject to adjustments based on closing levels of cash, indebtedness, debt-like items and working capital, and (ii) a warrant to purchase equity interests in the company that will own Global Connect (the Warrant).
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements presented below have been derived from Nielsens historical consolidated financial statements. While the historical consolidated financial statements reflect the past financial results of the Nielsen business, this pro forma information gives effect to the Transaction and presents Global Connect on a discontinued operations basis in accordance with ASC 205, Presentation of Financial Statements (ASC 205).
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X Article 11, Pro Forma Financial Information. Regulation S-X Article 11 requires that pro forma financial information include the following pro forma adjustments to the historical financial information of the registrant:
|
Transaction Accounting Adjustments Adjustments that reflect only the application of required accounting to the acquisition, disposition, or other transaction. |
|
Autonomous Entity Adjustments Adjustments that are necessary to reflect the operations and financial position of the registrant as an autonomous entity when the registrant was previously part of another entity. |
The transaction accounting adjustments to reflect the Transaction include but are not limited to:
|
the separation of the operations, assets (including the equity interests of certain subsidiaries) and liabilities related to Global Connect from Nielsen and the transfer of those assets (including the equity interests of certain subsidiaries) and liabilities to Purchaser; |
|
the impact of, and transactions contemplated by, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the other Transaction documents such as the Master Services Agreement (MSA), Transition Services Agreement (TSA), and Warrant Agreement; and |
|
the effect of Nielsens anticipated capital structure after the Closing, including the retirement of approximately $2,280 million of debt with the proceeds from the Transaction. |
The transaction accounting adjustments are based on available information and assumptions that Nielsens management believes are reasonable. However, such adjustments are estimates and actual experience may differ from expectations. There are no autonomous entity adjustments included in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements. Additionally, Regulation S-X Article 11 permits registrants to reflect in the notes to the pro forma financial information forward-looking information that depicts the synergies and dis-synergies identified by management in determining to consummate or integrate the transaction for which pro forma effect is being given. Such adjustments have not been reflected in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements because Nielsens management does not believe these adjustments would enhance an understanding of the pro forma effects of the Transaction.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 have been prepared as though the Closing occurred on January 1, 2018. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020 has been prepared as though the Closing occurred on December 31, 2020. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements are for illustrative purposes only, do not reflect what Nielsens financial position and results of operations would have been had the Closing occurred on the dates indicated, are not necessarily indicative of Nielsens future financial position and future results of operations and do not reflect all actions that may be taken by Nielsen after the Closing. For example, the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations do not reflect incremental costs Nielsen expects to incur to reposition its business following the Closing. These incremental costs primarily relate to dis-synergies from losing certain benefits of scale as a result of the separation of Global Connect from Nielsen in the form of vendor discounts, international finance operations and other functions.
The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with Nielsens historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on February 25, 2021. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated financial statements constitute forward-looking information, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes thereto.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2020
Transaction Accounting Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
Historical |
Discontinued
Operations of Global Connect (A) |
Pro Forma
Adjustments |
Notes |
Pro Forma
Nielsen |
|||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 6,290 | $ | (2,929 | ) | $ | 1 | (B) | $ | 3,362 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below |
2,760 | (1,525 | ) | 15 | (B) | 1,250 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below |
1,872 | (1,156 | ) | 6 |
(C)
(D) |
722 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
864 | (316 | ) | | 548 | |||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets |
184 | (38 | ) | | 146 | |||||||||||||
Restructuring charges |
144 | (107 | ) | | 37 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) |
466 | 213 | (20 | ) | 659 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Interest income |
2 | | | 2 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(371 | ) | 40 | 52 | (E) | (279 | ) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net |
(9 | ) | 26 | | 17 | |||||||||||||
Other income/(expense), net |
(14 | ) | (6 | ) | | (20 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
74 | 273 | 32 | 379 | ||||||||||||||
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes |
(67 | ) | (77 | ) | (7 | ) | (F) | (151 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations |
7 | 196 | 25 | 228 | ||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests |
13 | (1 | ) | | 12 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (6 | ) | $ | 197 | $ | 25 | $ | 216 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income/(loss) per ordinary share, basic |
||||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.61 | |||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) per share ordinary share, diluted |
||||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (0.02 | ) | $ | 0.60 | |||||||||||||
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, basic |
356,860,635 | 356,860,635 | ||||||||||||||||
Dilutive ordinary shares |
| 1,404,459 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, diluted |
356,860,635 | 358,265,094 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Refer to accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2019
Transaction Accounting Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
Historical |
Discontinued
Operations of Global Connect (A) |
Pro Forma
Adjustments |
Notes |
Pro Forma
Nielsen |
|||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 6,498 | $ | (3,057 | ) | $ | 1 | (B) | $ | 3,442 | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below |
2,822 | (1,631 | ) | 15 | (B) | 1,206 | ||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below |
1,929 | (1,044 | ) | 6 |
|
(C)
(D) |
|
891 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
756 | (293 | ) | | 463 | |||||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets |
1,004 | (1,004 | ) | | | |||||||||||||||
Restructuring charges |
80 | (50 | ) | | 30 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) |
(93 | ) | 965 | (20 | ) | 852 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Interest income |
6 | | | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(397 | ) | 49 | 54 | (E) | (294 | ) | |||||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net |
(10 | ) | (3 | ) | | (13 | ) | |||||||||||||
Other income/(expense), net |
(169 | ) | 92 | | (77 | ) | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
(663 | ) | 1,103 | 34 | 474 | |||||||||||||||
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes |
260 | (130 | ) | (7 | ) | (F) | 123 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations |
(403 | ) | 973 | 27 | 597 | |||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests |
12 | | | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (415 | ) | $ | 973 | $ | 27 | $ | 585 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) per ordinary share, basic |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (1.17 | ) | $ | 1.64 | |||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) per share ordinary share, diluted |
||||||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (1.17 | ) | $ | 1.64 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, basic |
355,731,862 | 355,731,862 | ||||||||||||||||||
Dilutive ordinary shares |
| 1,099,853 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, diluted |
355,731,862 | 356,831,715 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Refer to accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended December 31, 2018
Transaction Accounting Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share amounts) |
Historical |
Discontinued
Operations of Global Connect (A) |
Pro Forma
Adjustments |
Notes |
Pro Forma
Nielsen |
|||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 6,515 | $ | (3,138 | ) | $ | 1 | (B) | $ | 3,378 | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Cost of revenues, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below |
2,805 | (1,576 | ) | 15 | (B) | 1,244 | ||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below |
1,958 | (1,171 | ) | 6 |
(C)
(D) |
793 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
675 | (245 | ) | | 430 | |||||||||||||
Impairment of goodwill and other long-lived assets |
1,413 | (1,412 | ) | | 1 | |||||||||||||
Restructuring charges |
139 | (100 | ) | | 39 | |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Operating income/(loss) |
(475 | ) | 1,366 | (20 | ) | 871 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Interest income |
8 | | | 8 | ||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(394 | ) | 47 | 54 | (E) | (293 | ) | |||||||||||
Foreign currency exchange transaction gains/(losses), net |
(16 | ) | (7 | ) | | (23 | ) | |||||||||||
Other income/(expense), net |
(5 | ) | (5 | ) | | (10 | ) | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes |
(882 | ) | 1,401 | 34 | 553 | |||||||||||||
Benefit/(provision) for income taxes |
182 | | (7 | ) | (F) | 175 | ||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations |
(700 | ) | 1,401 | 27 | 728 | |||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests |
12 | | | 12 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income/(loss) from continuing operations attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (712 | ) | $ | 1,401 | $ | 27 | $ | 716 | |||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||
Net income/(loss) per ordinary share, basic |
||||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (2.00 | ) | $ | 2.01 | |||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) per share ordinary share, diluted |
||||||||||||||||||
Net income/(loss) attributable to Nielsen shareholders |
$ | (2.00 | ) | $ | 2.01 | |||||||||||||
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, basic |
355,601,564 | 355,601,564 | ||||||||||||||||
Dilutive ordinary shares |
| 788,622 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Weighted-average ordinary shares outstanding, diluted |
355,601,564 | 356,390,186 | ||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
Refer to accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2020
Transaction Accounting Adjustments | ||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions) |
Historical |
Discontinued
Operations of Global Connect (A) |
Pro Forma
Adjustments |
Notes |
Pro Forma
Nielsen |
|||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 610 | $ | (107 | ) | $ | 75 | (E) | $ | 578 | ||||||||||
Trade and other receivables, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns |
1,154 | (689 | ) | | 465 | |||||||||||||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
460 | (265 | ) | 63 | (G) | 258 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current assets |
2,224 | (1,061 | ) | 138 | 1,301 | |||||||||||||||
Non-current assets |
||||||||||||||||||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
447 | (177 | ) | | 270 | |||||||||||||||
Operating lease right-of-use asset |
378 | (217 | ) | | 161 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill |
6,040 | (360 | ) | | 5,680 | |||||||||||||||
Other intangible assets, net |
4,470 | (816 | ) | | 3,654 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred tax assets |
281 | (228 | ) | | 53 | |||||||||||||||
Other non-current assets |
295 | (136 | ) | 5 | (H) | 164 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 14,135 | $ | (2,995 | ) | $ | 143 | $ | 11,283 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Liabilities and equity: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Accounts payable and other current liabilities |
$ | 1,209 | $ | (696 | ) | $ | 52 |
|
(G)
(J)(2) |
|
$ | 565 | ||||||||
Deferred revenues |
370 | (235 | ) | | 135 | |||||||||||||||
Income tax liabilities |
42 | (21 | ) | | 21 | |||||||||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt, finance lease obligations and short-term borrowings |
293 | (17 | ) | | 276 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total current liabilities |
1,914 | (969 | ) | 52 | 997 | |||||||||||||||
Non-current liabilities |
||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations |
8,014 | (1,330 | ) | (975 | ) | (E) | 5,709 | |||||||||||||
Deferred tax liabilities |
953 | (65 | ) | | 888 | |||||||||||||||
Operating lease liabilities |
358 | (218 | ) | | 140 | |||||||||||||||
Other non-current liabilities |
653 | (225 | ) | 26 | (G) | 454 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities |
11,892 | (2,807 | ) | (897 | ) | 8,188 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Equity: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Nielsen shareholders equity |
2,051 | (183 | ) | 1,032 |
|
(E)
(G) (H) (I) (J) |
|
2,900 | ||||||||||||
Noncontrolling interests |
192 | (5 | ) | 8 | (I) | 195 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total equity |
2,243 | (188 | ) | 1,040 | 3,095 | |||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
Total liabilities and equity |
$ | 14,135 | $ | (2,995 | ) | $ | 143 | $ | 11,283 | |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Refer to accompanying Notes to the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(A) |
Reflects the disposition of the operations, assets, liabilities and equity of the Global Connect business in accordance with ASC 205. |
(B) |
Reflects the revenue to be earned and expenses to be incurred by Nielsen for the data to be provided to Purchaser and the data and services to be obtained from Purchaser, respectively, under the MSA, pursuant to which each party will grant the other reciprocal licenses to certain data used by Global Connect and Nielsen, respectively, as well as certain corresponding services related to such data at agreed rates for up to five years following the Closing. The MSA is intended to enable the parties and their respective subsidiaries to continue using certain data and services in the operation of their businesses. The agreed-upon fees for the licensed data and the related services are generally intended to (i) allow the providing party to recover all costs and expenses of providing such services or licensing such data plus a mark-up over those costs and expenses or (ii) compensate the providing party for providing such services or licensing such data through an agreed-upon fixed-fee arrangement, in both cases so that the data and services will be provided on an arms-length basis. The pro forma adjustments for the revenue to be earned and expenses to be incurred by Nielsen are based on historical experience with the relevant data to be licensed and services to be provided, along with the retrospective application of agreed-upon pricing models as described above. |
(C) |
Reflects the net of the income to be earned and expenses to be incurred by Nielsen for the subleased properties to be provided to and by Purchaser, respectively. The pro forma adjustment is based on historical costs incurred at each relevant property and charges the prospective sublessee according to its pro rata utilization of the space. The net incremental expense to Nielsen amounted to $3 million for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. |
(D) |
Reflects the income to be earned and expenses to be incurred by Nielsen under the TSA, pursuant to which Nielsen and Purchaser will provide certain services to the other. The services provided under the TSA will run for the periods of time set forth in the schedules to the TSA, up to two years following the Closing. The services to be provided under the TSA relate primarily to technology functions such as infrastructure and cybersecurity. The agreed-upon charges for such services are generally intended to allow the service provider to recover all costs and expenses of providing such services. Each of Nielsen and Purchaser may extend the term of services which they receive pursuant to the TSA by six months per service. The net incremental expense to Nielsen amounted to $3 million for each of the three years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively. |
(E) |
Historical Nielsen debt in the amount of $1,305 million is required to be repaid pursuant to debt covenants which will be triggered as a result of the Transaction. This debt amount and current interest payable of $2 million have been included in discontinued operations along with the associated interest expense and foreign exchange gains/(losses). In addition to the repayment required per the debt covenants, Nielsen intends to utilize $975 million of cash proceeds transferred from the sale of Global Connect to repay additional Nielsen debt. Accordingly, an adjustment is included for $52 million, $54 million and $54 million for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, for interest expense related to these debt instruments. The remaining net cash proceeds are to be held as cash. |
(F) |
Reflects the tax effects of the pro forma adjustments to pre-tax book income at the applicable statutory income tax rates in the respective jurisdictions except in jurisdictions for which there was a valuation allowance in the historical period. In these instances, a zero rate was utilized. Income tax related adjustments represent current estimates on a discontinued operations basis which could materially change as Nielsen finalizes its discontinued operations accounting to be reported in Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports on Form 10-K to be filed following the Closing. |
(G) |
Reflects Nielsens estimated receivables from and payables to Purchaser under tax indemnification arrangements for certain liabilities to taxing authorities, including those arising from uncertain tax positions, that will be settled following the Closing. |
(H) |
Reflects the estimated fair value of Nielsens Warrant per the Stock Purchase Agreement to purchase equity interests in the company that will own Global Connect for up to 20 years following the Closing. The fair value was determined using an option pricing model, which considers factors such as the expected term of the Warrant and the expected volatility of the equity interests. |
(I) |
Reflects the change in Nielsens ownership percentage in a limited partnership as a result of the Transaction. Nielsen will continue to consolidate this entity following the Closing. |
(J) |
A pro forma GAAP gain on disposal is calculated as outlined in the table below. The pro forma gain on disposal is based on Global Connects historical balance sheet information as of December 31, 2020. The actual gain on disposal will be based on Global Connects historical balance sheet information as of the Closing and may differ significantly. The pro forma gain on disposal has not been reflected in the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations as this amount pertains to discontinued operations and does not reflect the impact on income from continuing operations. |
(in millions) | ||||
Estimated net cash proceeds (1) |
$ | 2,355 | ||
Estimated fair value of Warrant |
5 | |||
|
|
|||
Net consideration received |
2,360 | |||
Estimated transaction closing costs (2) |
(25 | ) | ||
Global Connect net assets |
(1,495 | ) | ||
Global Connect accumulated other comprehensive loss |
(392 | ) | ||
Other adjustments (3) |
16 | |||
|
|
|||
Pro forma pre-tax gain on disposal |
464 | |||
Estimated income taxes (4) |
(116 | ) | ||
|
|
|||
Pro forma gain on disposal |
$ | 348 | ||
|
|
(1) |
Estimated net cash proceeds have been adjusted for closing levels of cash, indebtedness, debt-like items and working capital. |
(2) |
Estimated transaction closing costs include incremental costs that are directly attributable to the sale but not reflected in the accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statements of operations. These costs are comprised primarily of professional fees (e.g., legal, banking and accounting) that are directly related to the sale of Global Connect. |
(3) |
Other adjustments include Global Connect noncontrolling interests, estimated acceleration and forfeiture of share-based compensation triggered by the Transaction, and tax-related items. |
(4) |
Estimated income taxes have been calculated using an assumed blended tax rate of 25 percent. For income tax purposes, it is anticipated that the gain will be partially offset with tax attributes (such as net operating losses), the quantification of which will not be finalized until later in 2021. |