
P1: ABC/ABC P2:c/d QC:e/f T1:g
c02 JWBT063-Rosenbaum March 26, 2009 21:44 Printer Name: Hamilton
Precedent Transactions Analysis
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commencement. The Schedule 14D-9 contains a recommendation from the target’s
board of directors to the target’s shareholders on how to respond to the tender offer,
typically including a fairness opinion. The Schedule TO and the Schedule 14D-9
include the same type of information with respect to the terms of the transaction as
set forth in a proxy statement.
Registration Statement/Prospectus (S-4, 424B) When a public acquirer issues
shares as part of the purchase consideration for a public target, the acquirer is typi-
cally required to file a registration statement/prospectus in order for those shares
to be freely tradeable by the target’s shareholders. Similarly, if the acquirer is issu-
ing public debt securities (or debt securities intended to be registered)
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to fund the
purchase, it must also file a registration statement/prospectus. The registration state-
ment/prospectus contains the terms of the issuance, material terms of the transaction,
and purchase price detail. It may also contain acquirer and target financial informa-
tion, including on a pro forma basis to reflect the consummation of the transaction
(if applicable, depending on the materiality of the transaction).
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Schedule 13E-3 Depending on the nature of the transaction, a “going private”
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deal may require enhanced disclosure. For example, in an LBO of a public company
where an “affiliate” (such as a senior company executive or significant shareholder)
is part of the buyout group, the SEC requires broader disclosure of information used
in the decision-making process on a Schedule 13E-3. Disclosure items on Schedule
13E-3 include materials such as presentations to the target’s board of directors by
its financial advisor(s) in support of the actual fairness opinion(s).
8-K In addition to the SEC filings mentioned above, key deal information can be
obtained from the 8-K that is filed upon announcement of the transaction. Generally,
a public target is required to file an 8-K within four business days of the transaction
announcement. In the event a public company is selling a subsidiary or division that
is significant in size, the parent company typically files an 8-K upon announcement of
the transaction. Public acquirers are also required to file an 8-K upon announcement
for material transactions.
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A private acquirer does not need to file an 8-K as it is not
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Debt securities are typically sold to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) through a private
placement under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933 initially, and then registered with
the SEC within one year after issuance so that they can be traded on an open exchange. This
is done to expedite the sale of the debt securities as SEC registration, which involves review
of the registration statement by the SEC, can take several weeks or months. Once the SEC
review of the documentation is complete, the issuer conducts an exchange offer pursuant to
which investors exchange the unregistered bonds for registered bonds.
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A joint proxy/registration statement typically incorporates the acquirer’s and target’s appli-
cable 10-K and 10-Q by reference as the source for financial information.
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A company “goes private” when it engages in certain transactions that have the effect of
delisting its shares from a public stock exchange. In addition, depending on the circumstances,
a publicly held company may no longer be required to file reports with the SEC when it reduces
the number of its shareholders to fewer than 300.
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Generally, an acquisition is required to be reported in an 8-K if the assets, income, or value
of the target comprise 10% or greater of the acquirer’s. Furthermore, for larger transactions