Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

 

Preliminary Proxy Statement

 

Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

 

Definitive Proxy Statement

 

Definitive Additional Materials

 

Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

Envestnet, Inc.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

No fee required.

 

Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Envestnet, Inc.

1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 250

Berwyn, PA 19312

August 23, 2024

Dear Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Envestnet, Inc. (“Envestnet” or the “Company”) to be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM.

At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 11, 2024 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among BCPE Pequod Buyer, Inc. (“Parent”), BCPE Pequod Merger Sub, Inc., a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Envestnet, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into Envestnet (the “Merger”), with Envestnet surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and to approve the Merger (the “Merger Proposal”). Parent and Merger Sub are affiliates of vehicles managed or advised by Bain Capital Private Equity, LP (“Bain”), a private equity firm. You will also be asked to consider and vote on (i) a non-binding, advisory proposal to approve compensation that will or may become payable by Envestnet to its named executive officers in connection with the Merger (the “Merger-Related Compensation Proposal”) and (ii) a proposal to approve an adjournment of the Special Meeting, from time to time, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Merger Proposal or in the absence of a quorum (the “Adjournment Proposal” and, together with the Merger Proposal and the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal, the “Special Meeting Proposals”).

If the Merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement is completed, you will be entitled to receive $63.15 in cash, without interest, and subject to any applicable tax withholding or deduction, for each share of common stock of Envestnet, par value $0.005 per share (“Envestnet Common Stock”) that you own as of immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, unless you have properly and validly exercised and not withdrawn your appraisal rights with respect to such shares.

On July 11, 2024, the board of directors of Envestnet (the “Board”) reviewed and considered the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Merger, the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, any agreement, certificate, instrument and document executed and delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement (such agreement, certificate, instrument or document, an “Ancillary Agreement”) or pursuant to any other Ancillary Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Ancillary Agreements (collectively, the “Transactions”). After considering various factors, including those described in the enclosed Proxy Statement (the “Proxy Statement”), and after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel, the Board unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the Transactions, (ii) determined that the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company’s stockholders, (iii) directed that the Merger Proposal be submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders at the Special Meeting and (iv) subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, resolved to recommend that the Company’s stockholders approve the Merger Proposal on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote (i) “FOR” the Merger Proposal, (ii) “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and (iii) “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

The enclosed Proxy Statement provides detailed information about the Special Meeting, the Merger Agreement, the Transactions, the Merger Proposal, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement also describes the actions and determinations of the Board in connection with its evaluation of


Table of Contents

the Merger Agreement and the Merger. You are encouraged to read the Proxy Statement and its annexes, including the Merger Agreement, carefully and in their entirety. You may also obtain more information about Envestnet from documents we file with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) from time to time.

We appreciate you taking the time to vote promptly and encourage you to do so electronically. After reading the Proxy Statement, please vote at your earliest convenience by voting over the Internet using the Internet address on the proxy card or by voting by telephone using the toll-free number on the proxy card. If you do not have access to a touch-tone phone or the Internet, you may alternatively vote by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Only your last-dated proxy will be counted, and any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise at the Special Meeting.

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are registered directly in your name, you are considered to be the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, then the broker, bank, trust or other nominee is considered to be the stockholder of record with respect to those shares of Envestnet Common Stock. However, you are still considered to be the beneficial owner of those shares, and your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are said to be held in “street name.” Street name holders generally cannot submit a proxy or vote their shares directly and must instead instruct the broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote their shares using the methods described above. Because the Special Meeting Proposals are “non-routine matters,” your broker, bank, trust or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock on the Special Meeting Proposals. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other nominee has enclosed a voting instruction form with the Proxy Statement. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, but give no instruction as to the other Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares of Envestnet Common Stock will be deemed present at the Special Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Special Meeting, will be voted as instructed with respect to the Special Meeting Proposal as to which instructions were given and will not be voted with respect to any other Special Meeting Proposal. We encourage you to authorize your broker, bank, trust or other nominee to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock “FOR” each of the Special Meeting Proposals by following the instructions provided on the enclosed voting instruction form to provide your instructions over the Internet, by telephone or by signing, dating and returning the voting instruction form in the postage-paid envelope provided. We encourage you to vote electronically.

Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares that you own. We cannot consummate the Merger unless the Merger Proposal is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote thereon. In addition, the Merger Agreement makes the approval by the stockholders of Envestnet (Company stockholders) of the Merger Proposal a condition to the parties obligations to consummate the Merger. The failure of any stockholder of record to grant a proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone, to submit a signed proxy card or to vote by virtual ballot at the Special Meeting will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, will not have any effect on the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will cause such stockholder’s shares to not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for the transaction of business at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will be counted as votes “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will be counted as present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Because each of the Special Meeting Proposals presented to stockholders will be considered non-routine, we do not anticipate any broker non-votes at the Special Meeting. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and will not count as votes cast at the Special Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.

The Special Meeting will be held virtually, and you will be able to attend the meeting and vote via the Internet at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM by using the 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials. You will not be able to attend the Special Meeting in person.


Table of Contents

If you have any questions about the Proxy Statement, the Special Meeting, the Merger Agreement or the Merger or need assistance with voting procedures, please contact Innisfree M&A Incorporated, our proxy solicitor, by calling (877) 750-0831 (TOLL-FREE from the United States and Canada) or +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other locations).

On behalf of the Board, I thank you for your support and appreciate your consideration of these matters.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ James L. Fox
James L. Fox
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Envestnet, Inc.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved of the transactions described in this document or the Proxy Statement, including the Merger, or determined if the information contained in this document or the Proxy Statement is accurate or adequate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The Proxy Statement is dated August 23, 2024 and, together with the enclosed form of proxy card, is first being mailed to Company stockholders on or about August 23, 2024.


Table of Contents

Envestnet, Inc.

1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 250

Berwyn, PA 19312

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

PLEASE VOTE YOUR SHARES PROMPTLY.

You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of stockholders (the “Special Meeting”) of Envestnet, Inc. (“Envestnet” or the “Company”) to be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM.

The Special Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

 

1.

to consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 11, 2024 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), by and among BCPE Pequod Buyer, Inc. (“Parent”), BCPE Pequod Merger Sub, Inc., a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), and Envestnet, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to the proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) accompanying this notice, pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into Envestnet (the “Merger”), with Envestnet surviving the Merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and to approve the Merger (the “Merger Proposal”);

 

2.

to consider and vote on a non-binding, advisory proposal to approve compensation that will or may become payable by Envestnet to its named executive officers in connection with the Merger (the “Merger-Related Compensation Proposal”); and

 

3.

to consider and vote on a proposal to approve an adjournment of the Special Meeting, from time to time, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Merger Proposal or in the absence of a quorum (the “Adjournment Proposal” and, together with the Merger Proposal and the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal, the “Special Meeting Proposals”).

The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet common stock, par value $0.005 per share (“Envestnet Common Stock”) entitled to vote thereon, is required to approve the Merger Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting, or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, is required to approve, by means of a non-binding, advisory vote, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting, or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal. The failure of any stockholder of record to grant a proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone, to submit a signed proxy card or to vote by virtual ballot at the Special Meeting will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, will not have any effect on the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will cause such stockholder’s shares to not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for the transaction of business at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will be counted as votes “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will be counted as present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Because each of the Special Meeting Proposals presented to stockholders will be considered non-routine, we do not anticipate any broker non-votes at the Special Meeting. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and will not count as votes cast at the Special Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.

Only Company stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 20, 2024 are entitled to notice of the Special Meeting and to vote at the Special Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Special Meeting will be available in our principal executive offices located at 1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 250, Berwyn, PA 19312, during ordinary business hours for a period of at


Table of Contents

least 10 days prior to the Special Meeting and at the place of the Special Meeting during such meeting. Company stockholders may also access the list during the Special Meeting, by using the virtual meeting website link set forth above.

Company stockholders and beneficial owners who do not vote in favor of the Merger Proposal will have the right to seek appraisal of the fair value of their shares of Envestnet Common Stock, as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, if they deliver a written demand for appraisal to the Company before the vote is taken on the Merger Proposal and otherwise comply with, and do not validly withdraw their demands or otherwise lose their appraisal rights under, the applicable provisions of Delaware law, which are summarized in the Proxy Statement accompanying this notice in the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of the Proxy Statement. A copy of Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), which is the applicable Delaware appraisal statute, may be accessed without subscription or cost at the following publicly available website: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc09/index.html#262.

Envestnet’s board of directors (the “Board”) unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal. In considering the recommendation of the Board, Company stockholders should be aware that the Company’s executive officers and members of the Board may have agreements and arrangements in place that provide them with interests in the Merger that may be different from, or in addition to, those of the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock generally. Please see the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger” beginning on page 74 of the Proxy Statement.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you expect to attend the Special Meeting, you are urged to complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card, or to submit your vote by Internet or telephone, at your earliest convenience. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in “street name,” you should instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in accordance with the voting instruction form that you will receive from your bank, broker or other nominee. Your bank, broker or other nominee cannot vote on any of the Special Meeting Proposals, including the Merger Proposal, without your instructions. Instructions for voting your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are included on the enclosed proxy card or the voting instruction form you will receive. If you are a stockholder of record and you send in your proxy and then decide to attend the Special Meeting to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, you may still do so. You may revoke your proxy in the manner described in the Proxy Statement at any time before it has been voted at the Special Meeting.

Our Notice of Special Meeting and Proxy Statement are available at www.proxyvote.com.

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

/s/ James L. Fox

James L. Fox

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Envestnet, Inc.

August 23, 2024


Table of Contents

IMPORTANT

Your vote is extremely important. Whether or not you plan to virtually attend the Special Meeting and regardless of the number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock you own, we urge you to vote promptly “FOR” each of the Special Meeting Proposals.

If you have any questions about submitting your proxy card or otherwise require assistance, please contact:

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Stockholders May Call: (877) 750-0831 (TOLL-FREE from the United States and Canada)

or +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other locations)

Banks and Brokers May Call Collect: (212) 750-5833


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY

     1  

The Special Meeting

     1  

Parties Involved in the Merger

     3  

Effect of the Merger

     4  

Merger Consideration

     5  

Effect on Envestnet if the Merger is Not Consummated

     6  

Recommendation and Reasons for the Merger

     7  

Opinion of Morgan Stanley

     7  

Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger

     8  

Financing of the Transactions

     8  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger

     9  

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger

     10  

Legal Proceedings Regarding the Merger

     10  

No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes

     11  

Regulatory Efforts

     12  

Conditions to the Closing of the Merger

     12  

Termination of the Merger Agreement

     12  

Company Termination Fee

     13  

Parent Termination Fee

     13  

Specific Performance

     13  

Market Prices

     13  

Appraisal Rights

     13  

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

     15  

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     26  

THE SPECIAL MEETING

     27  

Date, Time and Place of the Special Meeting

     27  

Purpose of the Special Meeting

     27  

Record Date; Shares Entitled to Vote; Quorum

     27  

Vote Required; Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

     27  

Shares Held by the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers

     28  

Shares Held by the Rollover Stockholders

     28  

Voting of Proxies

     28  

How You May Revoke or Change Your Vote

     29  

Adjournments

     30  

Technical Difficulties or Trouble Accessing the Virtual Meeting Website

     30  

Tabulation of Votes

     30  

Solicitation of Proxies

     30  

Anticipated Date of Consummation of the Merger

     31  

Appraisal Rights

     31  

Attending the Special Meeting

     32  

Voting at the Special Meeting Remotely as a Stockholder of Record or as a Beneficial Owner Who Holds Shares Through a Broker, Bank, Trust or Other Nominee

     32  

Delisting and Deregistration of Envestnet Common Stock

     32  

Assistance

     32  

PROPOSAL 1: ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT

     33  

The Merger Proposal

     33  

Vote Required

     33  

Board Recommendation

     33  

 

i


Table of Contents

THE MERGER

     33  

Parties Involved in the Merger

     33  

Effect of the Merger

     34  

Effect on Envestnet if the Merger is Not Consummated

     34  

Merger Consideration

     35  

Background of the Merger

     36  

Recommendation and Reasons for the Merger

     50  

Opinion of Morgan Stanley

     56  

Projections

     66  

Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger

     74  

Company Option Awards

     75  

Company RSU Awards

     76  

Company PSU Awards

     76  

Golden Parachute Compensation

     79  

Financing of the Transactions

     80  

Closing and Effective Time

     82  

Accounting Treatment

     83  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger

     83  

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger

     86  

Legal Proceedings Regarding the Merger

     87  

TERMS OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT

     88  

Explanatory Note Regarding the Merger Agreement

     88  

Effect of the Merger

     88  

Closing and Effective Time

     88  

Directors and Officers; Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws

     89  

Merger Consideration

     89  

Exchange and Payment Procedures

     90  

Representations and Warranties

     91  

Conduct of Business Pending the Merger

     94  

Employee Matters

     97  

Convertible Notes, Revolving Credit Agreement and Capped Call Transactions

     98  

Advisory Contract Client Consents

     99  

No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes

     100  

Conditions to the Closing of the Merger

     105  

Indemnification and Insurance

     106  

Other Covenants

     107  

Termination of the Merger Agreement

     109  

Company Termination Fee

     110  

Parent Termination Fee

     111  

Specific Performance

     111  

Limitations of Liability

     111  

Fees and Expenses

     112  

Amendment

     112  

Governing Law

     112  

PROPOSAL 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON MERGER-RELATED EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

     113  

The Merger-Related Compensation Proposal

     113  

Vote Required

     113  

Board Recommendation

     114  

 

ii


Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 3: THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL

     114  

The Adjournment Proposal

     114  

Vote Required

     114  

Board Recommendation

     114  

MARKET PRICES AND DIVIDEND DATA

     114  

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     116  

APPRAISAL RIGHTS

     117  

Making a Written Demand

     119  

Notice by the Surviving Company

     120  

Filing a Petition for Appraisal

     121  

Determination of Fair Value

     121  

OTHER MATTERS

     123  

FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

     123  

HOUSEHOLDING INFORMATION

     124  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     124  

MISCELLANEOUS

     126  

 

Annex A    Agreement and Plan of Merger
Annex B    Opinion of Morgan Stanley
Annex C    Agreement with BlackRock
Annex D    Agreement with Fidelity

 

iii


Table of Contents

SUMMARY

This summary highlights selected information from this proxy statement (this “Proxy Statement”) related to the merger (the “Merger”) of BCPE Pequod Merger Sub, Inc. (“Merger Sub”) with and into Envestnet, Inc. (“Envestnet” or the “Company”) and may not contain all of the information that is important to you. To understand the Merger more fully and for a more complete description of the legal terms of the Merger, you should read carefully this entire Proxy Statement, the annexes to this Proxy Statement and the documents we refer to in this Proxy Statement, as they contain important information about, among other things, the Merger and how it affects you. You may obtain the information incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement without charge by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 124 of this Proxy Statement. The Merger Agreement (as defined below) is attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement. You are encouraged to read the Merger Agreement, which is the legal document that governs the Merger.

Except as otherwise specifically noted in this Proxy Statement, “Envestnet,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “us” and similar words in this Proxy Statement refer to Envestnet, Inc., including, in certain cases, our subsidiaries. Throughout this Proxy Statement we refer to BCPE Pequod Buyer, Inc. as “Parent” and BCPE Pequod Merger Sub, Inc. as “Merger Sub.” In addition, throughout this Proxy Statement we refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 11, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, by and among the Company, Parent and Merger Sub as the “Merger Agreement.” Unless indicated otherwise, any other capitalized term used herein but not otherwise defined herein has the meaning assigned to such term in the Merger Agreement.

The Special Meeting (page 27)

Date, Time and Place

The special meeting of the stockholders of Envestnet (“Company stockholders”) (the “Special Meeting”) will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM.

Record Date; Shares Entitled to Vote

You are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Special Meeting if you owned shares of common stock of Envestnet, par value $0.005 per share (“Envestnet Common Stock”), at the close of business on August 20, 2024, the record date for the Special Meeting (the “Record Date”). You will have one vote at the Special Meeting for each share of Envestnet Common Stock you owned at the close of business on the Record Date.

Purpose

At the Special Meeting, we will ask Company stockholders of record as of the Record Date to vote (i) to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger (the “Merger Proposal”), (ii) to approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, compensation that will or may become payable by Envestnet to its named executive officers in connection with the Merger (the “Merger-Related Compensation Proposal”) and (iii) to approve an adjournment of the Special Meeting, from time to time, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the Merger Proposal or in the absence of a quorum (the “Adjournment Proposal” and, together with the Merger Proposal and the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal, the “Special Meeting Proposals”).

Quorum

As of the Record Date, there were approximately 55,244,657 shares of Envestnet Common Stock outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Special Meeting. The presence of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting constitutes a quorum. As a result,

 

1


Table of Contents

27,622,329 shares of Envestnet Common Stock must be represented by proxy or by stockholders present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting to have a quorum. Shares of Envestnet Common Stock are counted as present if:

 

   

the holders of such shares are present in person at the virtual Special Meeting; or

 

   

a proxy card has been properly submitted by mail, by telephone or over the Internet with respect to such shares.

If you submit your proxy card, regardless of whether you abstain from voting on one or more of the Special Meeting Proposals, your shares of Envestnet Common Stock will be counted as present at the Special Meeting for the purpose of determining a quorum. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in “street name,” your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are counted as present for purposes of determining a quorum if your broker, bank, trust or other nominee submits a proxy covering your shares of Envestnet Common Stock. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock of Envestnet Common Stock in “street name” and do not give any instruction to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee as to how your shares of Envestnet Common Stock should be voted at the Special Meeting, those shares will not be voted on any Special Meeting Proposal and will not be counted for purposes of determining a quorum.

Required Vote

The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock is required to adopt the Merger Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, provided a quorum is present, is required to adopt, by means of a non-binding, advisory vote, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal. This means that the Merger Proposal will be approved if the number of shares voted “FOR” such proposal is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will be counted as present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Because each of the Special Meeting Proposals presented to Company stockholders will be considered non-routine, we do not anticipate any broker non-votes at the Special Meeting. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and will not count as votes cast at the Special Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.

Share Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet

As of the Record Date, the directors and executive officers of Envestnet beneficially owned, and were entitled to vote, in the aggregate, 4,884,322 shares of Envestnet Common Stock, representing approximately 8.8% of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock. We expect that the directors and executive officers of Envestnet will beneficially own and be entitled to vote a similar figure at the close of business on the date of the Special Meeting. The directors and executive officers of Envestnet have informed Envestnet that they currently intend to vote all of their shares of Envestnet Common Stock “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

How You Can Vote

You may cast your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in any of four ways:

 

  1.

by voting over the Internet using the website indicated on the enclosed proxy card;

 

  2.

by telephone using the toll-free number on the enclosed proxy card;

 

2


Table of Contents
  3.

by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided; or

 

  4.

by attending the Special Meeting in a virtual format and voting by virtual ballot. To vote during the Special Meeting, you must do so by logging into www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM using the 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials.

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are registered directly in your name, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares.

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in a stock brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, then the broker, bank, trust or other nominee is considered to be the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. However, you are still considered to be the beneficial owner of those shares, and your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are said to be held in “street name.” Street name holders generally cannot submit a proxy or vote their shares directly and must instead instruct the broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote their shares using the methods described above. Because the Special Meeting Proposals are “non-routine matters,” your broker, bank, trust or other nominee does not have discretionary authority to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock on the Special Meeting Proposals. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other nominee has enclosed a voting instruction form with the Proxy Statement. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, but give no instruction as to the other Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares of Envestnet Common Stock will be deemed present at the Special Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Special Meeting, will be voted as instructed with respect to the Special Meeting Proposal as to which instructions were given and will not be voted with respect to any other Special Meeting Proposal. We encourage you to authorize your broker, bank, trust or other nominee to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock “FOR” each of the Special Meeting Proposals by following the instructions provided on the enclosed voting instruction form to provide your instructions over the Internet, by telephone or by signing, dating and returning the voting instruction form in the postage-paid envelope provided. We encourage you to vote electronically.

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT. We encourage all Company stockholders to vote electronically. Please submit your proxy via the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card. If you do not have access to a touch-tone phone or the Internet, you may alternatively vote by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided – even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting. If you properly and timely submit your proxy, the individuals named as your proxy holders will vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock as you have directed.

All shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote and represented by properly submitted proxies (including those submitted via the Internet, by telephone and by mail) received at the Special Meeting, and not revoked or superseded, will be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with the instructions indicated on those proxies. If no direction is indicated on a proxy card, such shares will be voted by the proxy holders named on the enclosed proxy card according to the recommendation of the board of directors of Envestnet (the “Board”) “FOR” each of the Special Meeting Proposals.

Parties Involved in the Merger (page 33)

Envestnet, Inc.

Envestnet, through its subsidiaries, is transforming the way financial advice and insight are delivered. Our mission is to empower financial advisors and service providers with innovative technology, solutions and intelligence. Envestnet is a leader in helping transform wealth management, working towards its goal of expanding a holistic financial wellness ecosystem so that our clients can better serve their clients.

 

3


Table of Contents

Envestnet’s clients include more than 110,000 advisors, 17 of the 20 largest U.S. banks, 48 of the 50 largest wealth management and brokerage firms, over 500 of the largest RIAs and hundreds of FinTech companies, all of which leverage Envestnet technology and services that help drive better outcomes for enterprises, advisors and their clients.

Through a combination of platform enhancements, partnerships and acquisitions, Envestnet uniquely provides a financial network connecting technology, solutions and data, delivering better intelligence and enabling its customers to drive better outcomes.

Envestnet, a Delaware corporation originally founded in 1999, serves clients from its headquarters in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, as well as other locations throughout the United States, India and other international locations.

Envestnet Common Stock is currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “ENV.”

BCPE Pequod Buyer, Inc.

Parent is a Delaware corporation and was formed on July 9, 2024, solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and engaging in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the related financing transactions. Parent has not engaged in any business activities other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and arranging of the equity financing in connection with the Merger. Upon the consummation of the Merger, Envestnet will be a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

BCPE Pequod Merger Sub, Inc.

Merger Sub is a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub was formed on July 9, 2024, solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and engaging in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, and has not engaged in any business activities other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Upon the consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into Envestnet and cease to exist.

Parent and Merger Sub (collectively, the “Buyer Parties”) are each affiliated with investment funds advised by Bain Capital Private Equity, LP (“Bain”).

Effect of the Merger (page 34)

The Merger Agreement provides that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Envestnet, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will thereupon cease, and Envestnet will be the surviving corporation in the Merger under the DGCL under the name “Envestnet, Inc.” (the “Surviving Company”). As a result of the Merger, the Surviving Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Envestnet will no longer be an independent public company, the Envestnet Common Stock will be delisted on the NYSE, and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in each case, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and Envestnet will no longer file periodic reports with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on account of the Envestnet Common Stock. If the Merger is consummated, you will not own any shares of capital stock of the Surviving Company, but instead will be entitled to receive only the Merger Consideration set forth in the Merger Agreement and summarized in the following paragraph or the right to exercise appraisal rights in lieu thereof. Company stockholders and beneficial owners who properly and validly exercise and do not withdraw their demands for appraisal, or otherwise lose their appraisal rights, will receive

 

4


Table of Contents

appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL. For more information, please see the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement. The “Effective Time” will occur upon the effectiveness of the filing of the certificate of merger (the “certificate of merger”) with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (or at such later time as Envestnet and Parent may mutually agree in writing and specify in the certificate of merger).

Merger Consideration (page 35)

Envestnet Common Stock

At the Effective Time, each share of Envestnet Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, including any Envestnet Common Stock to the extent issued and converted in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, that certain indenture under which the convertible notes due 2025 had been issued and that certain indenture under which the convertible notes due 2027 had been issued (such indentures, collectively, the “Convertible Notes Indentures”) (other than (i) shares of Envestnet Common Stock that are (a) owned by the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company, (b) owned by Parent (or any of its affiliates), Merger Sub or any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Parent (or any of its affiliates) or Merger Sub, (c) Rollover Shares (as defined below) or (d) held in treasury of the Company (collectively, the “Owned Company Shares”), or (ii) Dissenting Shares (as defined below)) will be automatically cancelled and retired and converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to $63.15 per share, without interest thereon, less any amounts required to be deducted or withheld in accordance with the Merger Agreement (the “Merger Consideration”). At the Effective Time, each Owned Company Share will be automatically cancelled and retired and will cease to exist without any consideration delivered in exchange therefor.

The Rollover Shares are not entitled to receive any Merger Consideration and will, immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”), be contributed, directly or indirectly, to the indirect parent company of Parent pursuant to the terms of the applicable support and rollover agreement in exchange for non-voting ownership interest in the parent company of Parent.

Shares of Envestnet Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by Company stockholders or beneficial owners who (i) do not vote in favor of the Merger, (ii) are entitled to demand appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL, (iii) have properly exercised and validly perfected their respective demands for appraisal in the time and manner provided in Section 262 of the DGCL and (iv) as of the Effective Time, have neither effectively withdrawn nor lost their right to such appraisal and payment under the DGCL (referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares”), will not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration at the Effective Time, but instead be entitled only to such consideration as is determined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL. Each Dissenting Share held by Company stockholders or beneficial owners who have failed to perfect or who have effectively withdrawn or otherwise lost the right to appraisal of such shares and payment under Section 262 of the DGCL or if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, then such Dissenting Shares shall have the rights and obligations provided in Section 262 of the DGCL. For more information, please see the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement.

Treatment of Company Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs

Company Options. At the Effective Time, each option to purchase Envestnet Common Stock (each, a “Company Option”) granted under the Envestnet, Inc. 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan, Envestnet, Inc. 2019 Acquisition Equity Incentive Plan or Envestnet, Inc. 2024 Long-Term Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Company Stock Plans”), whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding and unexercised as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common

 

5


Table of Contents

Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time. Any Company Option that has an exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock that is greater than or equal to the Merger Consideration will be cancelled at the Effective Time for no consideration.

Company RSUs. At the Effective Time, each restricted share unit award subject solely to service-based vesting requirements and not performance-based vesting requirements (a “Company RSU”) granted under the Company Stock Plans that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, an amount in cash equal to (a) the Merger Consideration, multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to the unvested portion of such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “RSU Deferred Cash Award”). Each RSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder’s continued employment or service through the applicable vesting dates, vest in accordance with the same vesting schedule as the underlying Company RSU (subject to any acceleration provisions upon a qualifying termination of employment under the holder’s existing employment or severance arrangements in effect as of July 11, 2024, the Company Stock Plans and applicable award agreements in effect as of July 11, 2024 (“Acceleration Provisions”)) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company RSU for which it was exchanged.

Company PSUs. At the Effective Time, each restricted share unit award subject to performance-based vesting requirements (a “Company PSU”) granted under the Company Stock Plans that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, an amount in cash equal to (a) the Merger Consideration, multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock issuable under such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time based on the greater of (1) target performance and (2) actual performance through a truncated performance period ending immediately prior to the Effective Time (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board, which determination will be effective as of the Effective Time) (the “PSU Deferred Cash Award”). Each PSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder of such award’s continued employment or service on the last day of such performance period applicable to the Company PSU for which the Company PSU Deferred Cash Award was exchanged, vest at the same time as the underlying Company PSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company PSU for which it was exchanged.

Effect on Envestnet if the Merger is Not Consummated (page 34)

If the Merger Proposal is not approved by the requisite shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote thereon, or if the Merger is not consummated for any other reason:

 

   

the Company stockholders will not be entitled to, nor will they receive, any payment for their respective shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement;

 

   

Envestnet will remain an independent public company, the Envestnet Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE and registered under the Exchange Act, and Envestnet will continue to file periodic reports with the SEC on account of the Envestnet Common Stock;

 

   

under certain circumstances specified in the Merger Agreement, Envestnet may be required to pay Parent a termination fee in the amount of $90,650,000 (the “Company Termination Fee”) upon the termination of the Merger Agreement. For more information, please see the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Company Termination Fee” beginning on page 110 of this Proxy Statement; and

 

6


Table of Contents
   

Company stockholders will continue to own their shares of Envestnet Common Stock and will continue to be subject to the same general risks and opportunities as those to which they are currently subject with respect to ownership of Envestnet Common Stock.

If the Merger is not consummated, there is no assurance as to the effect of these risks and opportunities on the future value of shares of Envestnet Common Stock, including the risk that the market price of shares of Envestnet Common Stock may decline to the extent that the current market price of the common stock reflects a market assumption that the Merger will be consummated. If the Merger is not consummated, there is no assurance that any other transaction acceptable to the Company will be offered or that the business, operations, financial condition earnings or prospects of the Company will not be adversely impacted.

Recommendation and Reasons for the Merger (page 50)

On July 11, 2024, the Board, after considering various factors described in the section entitled “The MergerRecommendation and Reasons for the Merger” beginning on page 50 of this Proxy Statement, and after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel, unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger, the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, any agreement, certificate, instrument and document executed and delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement (such agreement, certificate, instrument or document, an “Ancillary Agreement”) or pursuant to any other Ancillary Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Ancillary Agreements (collectively, the “Transactions”), (ii) determined that the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company’s stockholders, (iii) directed that the Merger Proposal be submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders at the Special Meeting and (iv) subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, resolved to recommend that the Company’s stockholders approve the Merger Proposal on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

The Board recommends that you vote (i) “FOR” the Merger Proposal, (ii) “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and (iii) “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

Opinion of Morgan Stanley (page 56)

Envestnet engaged Morgan Stanley, LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) to act as Envestnet’s financial advisor in connection with the Merger. Morgan Stanley delivered its oral opinion to the Board on July 11, 2024, which opinion was subsequently confirmed in a written opinion dated July 11, 2024, that, as of the date of such opinion, and based upon and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the scope of the review undertaken by Morgan Stanley as set forth in its written opinion, the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock (other than the holders of Owned Company Shares or Dissenting Shares (the “Excluded Shares”) or holders who are Parent Financing Sources (as defined below) or their affiliates) pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

The full text of Morgan Stanley’s written opinion, which describes, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the scope of review undertaken, is attached as Annex B to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The summary of Morgan Stanley’s opinion contained in this Proxy Statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion. You are encouraged to read Morgan Stanley’s opinion carefully in its entirety. Morgan Stanley’s opinion was directed to the Board, in its capacity as such, and addressed only the fairness from a financial point of view to the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock (other than the holders of Excluded Shares or holders who are Parent Financing Sources or their affiliates) of the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement as of the date of such opinion. Morgan Stanley’s opinion did not address any other aspects or implications of the Merger. Morgan Stanley’s opinion did not in any manner address the relative merits of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as compared to other business

 

7


Table of Contents

or financial strategies that might be available to Envestnet, nor did it address the underlying business decision of Envestnet to enter into the Merger Agreement or proceed with any other transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Morgan Stanley expressed no opinion or recommendation to any holder of shares of Envestnet Common Stock as to how such holders should vote at the Special Meeting, or whether to take any other action with respect to the Merger.

For a further discussion of the opinion that the Board received from Morgan Stanley, see the section entitled “The MergerOpinion of Morgan Stanley” beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement and the full text of the written opinion of Morgan Stanley attached as Annex B to this Proxy Statement.

Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger (page 74)

When considering the recommendation of the Board that you vote to approve the Merger Proposal, you should be aware that the directors and executive officers of Envestnet may have interests in the Merger that are or may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a Company stockholder. The Board was aware of and considered these interests to the extent such interests existed at the time, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Merger Agreement, in approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger and in recommending that the Merger Agreement be adopted by Company stockholders. These interests include the following:

 

   

the conversion of unvested Company RSUs and Company PSUs held by the directors and executive officers of Envestnet into RSU Deferred Cash Awards and PSU Deferred Cash Awards at the Effective Time;

 

   

the acceleration and cash out of Company Options held by the directors and executive officers of Envestnet at the Effective Time;

 

   

the entitlement of each of the executive officers of Envestnet to receive severance payments and benefits under any preexisting employment agreement upon a termination of employment in certain circumstances;

 

   

the entitlement of certain executive officers of Envestnet to receive retention awards in connection with the Merger; and

 

   

the continued indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to be provided by the Surviving Company.

Please see the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger” beginning on page 74 of this Proxy Statement for a more detailed description of these interests.

If the Merger Proposal is approved by Company stockholders, the shares of Envestnet Common Stock held by the directors and executive officers of Envestnet will be treated in the same manner as outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock held by all other Company stockholders entitled to receive the Merger Consideration.

Financing of the Transactions (page 80)

Parent obtained equity and Debt Financing commitments for the Transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the aggregate proceeds of which will be sufficient for Parent to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration (including payments in respect of the Company’s outstanding equity-based awards payable in connection with the Closing pursuant to the Merger Agreement) and all related fees and expenses of Parent and Merger Sub (including in connection with the Debt Financing described below and giving effect to the “rollover” of certain stockholders’ equity as described under “Support and Rollover Agreements” below).

We anticipate that the total amount of funds necessary to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration (including payments in respect of the Company’s outstanding equity-based awards payable in connection with the Closing pursuant to the Merger Agreement) in the Merger is approximately $3.6 billion in cash.

 

8


Table of Contents

Equity Commitment Letters

Certain investment vehicles managed or advised by Bain and certain co-investors have committed, pursuant to the equity commitment letters dated July 11, 2024 and an amended and restated equity commitment letter dated July 25, 2024 (each, an “Equity Commitment Letter” and collectively, the “Equity Commitment Letters”), to capitalize Parent, at or immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, with an aggregate equity contribution in an amount of $2,500,264,000.00, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Equity Commitment Letters.

Limited Guarantees

Certain investment vehicles managed or advised by Bain and certain co-investors have each provided limited guarantees in favor of Envestnet, pursuant to such guarantor’s applicable limited guarantee dated as of July 11, 2024 (each, a “Limited Guarantee” and collectively, the “Limited Guarantees”), to guarantee, subject to certain limitations set forth in such Limited Guarantee, the payment of such guarantor’s pro rata share of the obligation of Parent to pay a reverse termination fee of $220,000,000 (the “Parent Termination Fee”), certain indemnification obligations of Parent and Merger Sub and the reasonable out-of-pocket fees, cost and expenses incurred by Envestnet in connection with any suit contemplated by, and solely to the extent reimbursable under, the Merger Agreement and such Limited Guarantee (collectively, the “Guaranteed Obligation”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Limited Guarantees. The obligations of each guarantor under its respective Limited Guarantee are subject to an aggregate cap set forth therein (each, a “Cap”).

Debt Commitment Letters

In connection with the financing of the Transactions, RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets, Barclays, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Ares Capital Management, funds managed by Blue Owl Capital and Benefit Street Partners, L.L.C. have committed to provide debt financing (the “Debt Financing”) in connection with the Merger consisting of a first lien term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1,760,000,000, a second lien term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount equal of up to $375,000,000 and a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount equal to $375,000,000, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a commitment letter, dated July 11, 2024.

Support and Rollover Agreements

Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and certain of its affiliates’ willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent, certain of its affiliates and the Company entered into support and rollover agreements with a subsidiary of BlackRock, Inc. (“BlackRock”) and with FMR LLC (“Fidelity”). Under the support and rollover agreements, the applicable stockholders have agreed to vote or execute consents with respect to the number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock beneficially owned by such stockholder set forth in such stockholder’s support and rollover agreement (such shares, the “Rollover Shares”) in favor of the Merger, subject to certain terms and conditions contained therein. In addition, the applicable stockholders have agreed to “rollover” their Rollover Shares into a nonvoting ownership interest in the indirect parent company of Parent. The Rollover Shares do not include any shares of Envestnet Common Stock held by Advisory Subsidiaries (as defined in the Schedule 13D filed by BlackRock on May 21, 2021 that relates to shares of Envestnet Common Stock) of BlackRock in their capacity as investment advisers to client accounts (including any additional shares of Envestnet Common Stock acquired by Advisory Subsidiaries after July 11, 2024).

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger (page 83)

The receipt of cash by Company stockholders in exchange for shares of Envestnet Common Stock in the Merger will be a taxable transaction to U.S. Holders (as defined under the section entitled “The Merger—

 

9


Table of Contents

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger—U.S. Holders” beginning on page 84 of this Proxy Statement) for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such receipt of cash by a Company stockholder that is a U.S. Holder generally will result in the recognition of gain or loss in an amount measured by the difference, if any, between the amount of cash that such U.S. Holder receives in the Merger and such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares of Envestnet Common Stock surrendered in the Merger. Backup withholding may also apply to the cash payments made pursuant to the Merger, unless the U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures under the backup withholding rules.

Company stockholders that are Non-U.S. Holders (as defined under the section entitled “The Merger—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger—Non-U.S. Holders” beginning on page 85 of this Proxy Statement) generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax with respect to the exchange of Envestnet Common Stock for cash in the Merger unless such Non-U.S. Holder has certain connections to the United States, but may be subject to the backup withholding rules described above unless the Non-U.S. Holder complies with certain certification procedures or otherwise establishes a valid exemption from backup withholding.

For a more complete description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” beginning on page 83 of this Proxy Statement. Company stockholders should consult their own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the Merger in light of their particular circumstances and any consequences arising under U.S. federal income tax laws or the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger (page 86)

Under the Merger Agreement, the Merger cannot be completed until the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), has expired or been terminated, and all requisite consents, directions or orders required to consummate the Merger pursuant thereto have been obtained. On August 1, 2024, the parties made the filings required under the HSR Act. The waiting period under the HSR Act will expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 3, 2024.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, Envestnet Securities, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Envestnet, and FIDx Markets LLC, an affiliate of Envestnet (the “Broker-Dealer Entities”), must file a continuing membership application under FINRA Rule 1017(a)(4) with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) for approval of the change of control of each Broker-Dealer Entity that will result from the consummation of the Transactions, and, prior to Closing, must have obtained FINRA’s affirmative approval or non-rejection of such applications (the “FINRA Approval”). In addition, the parties are required to obtain the approval of, make filings to or notify certain state regulators pursuant to state specific securities and insurance regulations.

For more information, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger” beginning on page 86 of this Proxy Statement.

Legal Proceedings Regarding the Merger (page 87)

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company has received demand letters from purported Company stockholders alleging deficiencies and/or omissions in the preliminary proxy statement the Company filed on August 12, 2024. The demand letters seek additional disclosures to remedy these purported deficiencies. The Company believes that the allegations in these demand letters are without merit.

Potential plaintiffs may file lawsuits or send additional demand letters in connection with the Merger. The outcome of any future litigation is uncertain. Such litigation, if not resolved, could prevent or delay consummation

 

10


Table of Contents

of the Merger and result in substantial costs to Envestnet, including any costs associated with the indemnification of directors and officers. One of the conditions to the consummation of the Merger is that there shall not be any order restraining, enjoining or otherwise preventing the consummation of the Merger issued by any governmental entity having jurisdiction over any of Envestnet, Parent or Merger Sub that remains in effect at the time of the Closing. Therefore, if a plaintiff were successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting the consummation of the Merger on the agreed-upon terms, then such injunction may prevent the Merger from being consummated, or from being consummated within the expected time frame.

No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes (page 100)

For purposes of this Proxy Statement, each of “Acquisition Proposal” and “Superior Proposal” is defined in the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes” beginning on page 100 of this Proxy Statement.

No Solicitation

From July 11, 2024 until the earlier to occur of the termination of the Merger Agreement and the Effective Time, the Company has agreed that it and its subsidiaries will not, and will cause its representatives not to, directly or indirectly, solicit, initiate, propose or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate alternative Acquisition Proposals from third parties, provide non-public information relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or afford access to its business, properties or assets to third parties, or participate or engage in discussions or negotiations with, third parties regarding any Acquisition Proposals (other than to inform such third parties that the terms of the Merger Agreement prohibit such discussions or to the extent necessary solely to clarify the terms of the Acquisition Proposal to in connection with determining if it constitutes a Superior Proposal). Notwithstanding these restrictions, under certain specified circumstances, the Company may, prior to the receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval (as defined below), provide non-public information relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or afford access to its business, properties or assets to a third party in accordance with an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement to a third party with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or a proposal or inquiry that is reasonably likely to lead to an Acquisition Proposal, and participate in discussions and engage in negotiations with such third parties with respect to an Acquisition Proposal if the Board determines in good faith (after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that such alternative Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal, and the failure to take such actions would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law.

Company Board Recommendation Changes

For purposes of this Proxy Statement, each of “Company Board Recommendation Change” and “Intervening Event” is defined in the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes” beginning on page 100 of this Proxy Statement.

As described above, the Board has made the recommendation that the Company stockholders vote “FOR” the Merger Proposal. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, under certain circumstances and subject to certain requirements described under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement— No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes” beginning on page 100 of this Proxy Statement, prior to the approval of the Merger Proposal by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote thereon (the “Requisite Stockholder Approval”), the Board may effect a Company Board Recommendation Change if (i) there has been an Intervening Event or (ii) in response to a bona fide Acquisition Proposal that the Board has concluded in good faith (after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel) is a Superior Proposal if, in each case, the Board determines in good faith (after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law and subject to

 

11


Table of Contents

additional requirements set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, among other things (a) notifying Parent and negotiating with Parent in good faith regarding adjustments proposed by Parent to the terms of the Merger Agreement for a period of five business days and (b) in certain circumstances, payment of the Company Termination Fee.

Regulatory Efforts (page 107)

The parties to the Merger Agreement have agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts to consummate and make effective, as promptly as reasonably practicable, the Merger.

Under the Merger Agreement, Parent is required to (and must cause its affiliates to) use reasonable best efforts to take any and all action to avoid or eliminate any impediment under every antitrust law to enable the Closing to occur no later than the Outside Date (as defined below) including (i) using reasonable best efforts to take any and all actions necessary to contest and resist any proceeding that is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging the Transactions as violative of any antitrust law and (ii) using reasonable best efforts to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the Transactions, in each case, until the issuance of a final, non-appealable order with respect thereto, including (a) proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate order, or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or disposition of any businesses, product lines or assets of the Company, Parent and their respective subsidiaries and (b) otherwise taking or committing to take actions that after the Closing would limit the Company’s, Parent’s or their respective subsidiaries’ freedom of action with respect to, or its or their ability to retain, any businesses, product lines or assets of the Company, Parent and their respective subsidiaries.

Conditions to the Closing of the Merger (page 105)

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, and as further described under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger AgreementConditions to the Closing of the Merger” beginning on page 105 of this Proxy Statement, the consummation of the Merger is subject to certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including but not limited to: (i) the receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval; (ii) the expiration, termination or receipt of any approval or clearances applicable to the consummation of the Merger under applicable antitrust laws, including the HSR Act, and the receipt of all requisite approvals and non-disapprovals required to consummate the Merger pursuant thereto; (iii) the absence of any law or order preventing, prohibiting or making illegal the consummation of the Merger; (iv) the receipt of the FINRA Approval; (v) subject to certain qualifications, the accuracy of representations and warranties of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, as applicable, under the Merger Agreement and the performance in all material respects by the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, as applicable, of their obligations under the Merger Agreement and (vi) the absence of any Company Material Adverse Effect that is continuing as of the date on which the Closing actually occurs (the “Closing Date”). The waiting period under the HSR Act will expire at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 3, 2024.

Termination of the Merger Agreement (page 109)

The Merger Agreement contains certain termination rights for the Company, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand, including but not limited to Parent and the Company each having the right to terminate the Merger Agreement at any time prior to the Effective Time (whether prior to or after the receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval) by (i) mutual written consent or (ii) if the Closing has not occurred by 5:00 p.m. on January 11, 2025 (the “Outside Date”). Additional termination rights are further described under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement” beginning on page 109 of this Proxy Statement.

 

12


Table of Contents

Company Termination Fee (page 110)

Upon termination of the Merger Agreement, and as further described under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Company Termination Fee” beginning on page 110 of this Proxy Statement, under specified circumstances, including the Company terminating the Merger Agreement to enter into a definitive written agreement providing for a Superior Proposal (as defined under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement— No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes” beginning on page 100 of this Proxy Statement) or Parent terminating the Merger Agreement due to a Company Board Recommendation Change, in each case, pursuant to, and in accordance with, the “fiduciary out” provisions of the Merger Agreement, the Company will be required to pay Parent the Company Termination Fee of $90,650,000. The Company Termination Fee will also be payable by the Company if the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances in which an Acquisition Proposal becomes publicly known, the Merger Agreement is thereafter terminated due to the Company’s failure to obtain the Requisite Stockholder Approval and the Company, within 12 months after such termination, consummates or enters into a definitive agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal for fifty percent (50%) or more of the total outstanding equity securities or assets of Envestnet.

Parent Termination Fee (page 111)

Upon termination of the Merger Agreement, and as further described under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Parent Termination Fee” beginning on page 111 of this Proxy Statement, under specified circumstances, including (i) the Company terminating the Merger Agreement because Parent or Merger Sub has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, obligations, covenants or agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, and such breach or failure cannot be cured by the Outside Date or has not been cured by the earlier of 30 days after the Company gives written notice to Parent of such breach and the Outside Date, which results in the failure to satisfy any conditions to the obligations of the Company to effect the Merger, and (ii) the Company terminating the Merger Agreement because all of the conditions to the obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger have been satisfied and, within two business days of receiving an irrevocable written notice from the Company that all conditions to the obligations of Company to effect the Merger have been satisfied or waived and the Company is prepared, willing and able to effect the Closing, Parent or Merger Sub fails to consummate the Merger, then Parent will be required to pay or cause to be paid to the Company the Parent Termination Fee.

Specific Performance (page 111)

The Buyer Parties and the Company are entitled, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable remedies to prevent breaches (or threatened breaches) of the Merger Agreement and to enforce the terms of the Merger Agreement. The Company also has the right, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, to seek an injunction, specific performance or other equitable remedies to cause Parent’s equity financing to be funded to fund the Merger and to enforce the terms of the Equity Commitment Letters.

Market Prices (page 114)

Envestnet Common Stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ENV.” The closing price of Envestnet Common Stock on July 10, 2024, the last full trading day prior to the Board’s approval of the Merger Agreement, was $61.70. On August 22, 2024, the latest practicable trading day before the date of this Proxy Statement, the closing price of Envestnet Common Stock was $62.80 per share.

Appraisal Rights (page 117)

If the Merger is consummated and certain conditions set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL are satisfied, Company stockholders and beneficial owners who (i) continuously hold their applicable shares of Envestnet Common Stock through the Effective Time, (ii) do not vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement

 

13


Table of Contents

(whether by voting against the Merger Proposal, abstaining or otherwise not voting with respect to the Merger Proposal), (iii) properly demand appraisal of their applicable shares, (iv) meet certain statutory requirements as described in this Proxy Statement and (v) do not withdraw their demands or otherwise lose their rights to seek appraisal will be entitled to seek appraisal of their shares in connection with the Merger pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL. This means that Company stockholders and beneficial owners may be entitled to have their shares of Envestnet Common Stock appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”), and to receive payment in cash of the “fair value” of their shares of common stock, exclusive of any elements of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with interest, if any, to be paid on the amount determined by the Court of Chancery to be fair value. Due to the complexity of the appraisal process, persons who wish to seek appraisal of their shares are encouraged to seek the advice of legal counsel with respect to the exercise of appraisal rights.

Stockholders and beneficial owners considering seeking appraisal should be aware that the fair value of their shares as determined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL could be more than, the same as or less than the value of the consideration that they would receive pursuant to the Merger Agreement if they did not seek appraisal of their shares of Envestnet Common Stock.

To exercise appraisal rights, Company stockholders or beneficial owners of Envestnet Common Stock must: (i) deliver a written demand for appraisal to Envestnet before the vote is taken on Merger Proposal; (ii) not submit a proxy or otherwise vote in favor of the Merger Proposal; (iii) continue to hold or beneficially own, as applicable, their applicable shares of Envestnet Common Stock through the Effective Time; (iv) comply with all other procedures for exercising, and do not otherwise lose their, appraisal rights under the DGCL; and (v) not withdraw the appraisal demand or otherwise lose their rights to appraisal. Failure to follow the procedures specified under the DGCL may result in the loss of appraisal rights. In addition, the Court of Chancery will dismiss appraisal proceedings in respect of Envestnet Common Stock unless certain stock ownership conditions are satisfied by the stockholders and beneficial owners seeking appraisal. The DGCL requirements for exercising appraisal rights are described in further detail in the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement, which is qualified in its entirety by Section 262 of the DGCL, the relevant section of the DGCL regarding appraisal rights. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL is accessible, without subscription or cost, at the following publicly available website: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/ sc09/index.html#262. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock through a bank, broker or other nominee and you wish to exercise appraisal rights, you may make a written demand for appraisal in your own name, but you must satisfy the conditions set forth above and your written demand must also reasonably identify the stockholder of record of the shares for which demand is made, be accompanied by documentary evidence of your beneficial ownership of stock (such as a brokerage or securities account statement containing such information or a letter from a broker or other stockholder of record of such shares confirming such information) and a statement that such documentary evidence is a true and correct copy of what it purports to be, and provide an address at which you consent to receive notices given by the Surviving Company under Section 262 of the DGCL and to be set forth on the verified listed required by Section 262(f) of the DGCL.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved of the transactions described in this document, including the Merger, or determined if the information contained in this document is accurate or adequate. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

14


Table of Contents

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

The following questions and answers are intended to address some commonly asked questions regarding the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the Special Meeting. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to you as a Company stockholder. You are encouraged to read carefully the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement, the annexes to this Proxy Statement and the documents we refer to in this Proxy Statement. You may obtain the information incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement without charge by following the instructions in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 124 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Q:

Why am I receiving these materials?

 

A:

On July 11, 2024, Envestnet entered into the Merger Agreement providing for the Merger of Merger Sub with and into Envestnet, with Envestnet surviving the Merger as the Surviving Company. As a result of the Merger, Envestnet will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. The Board is furnishing this Proxy Statement and form of proxy card to the Company stockholders of record as of the Record Date in connection with the solicitation of proxies in favor of the Merger Proposal and the other Special Meeting Proposals to be voted on at the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. This Proxy Statement includes information that we are required to provide to you, as a holder of Envestnet Common Stock, under the SEC rules and applicable law and is designed to assist you in voting on the matters presented at the Special Meeting. Company stockholders of record as of the Record Date may attend the Special Meeting and are entitled and requested to vote on the Special Meeting Proposals.

 

Q:

When and where is the Special Meeting?

 

A:

The Special Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time online at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM.

 

Q:

What is the proposed Merger and what effects will it have on Envestnet?

 

A:

The proposed Merger is the acquisition of Envestnet by Parent through the Merger of Merger Sub with and into Envestnet pursuant to the Merger Agreement. If the Merger Proposal is approved by the requisite number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock, and the other closing conditions under the Merger Agreement have been satisfied or waived, Merger Sub will merge with and into Envestnet, with Envestnet continuing as the Surviving Company. As a result of the Merger, the Surviving Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, Envestnet will no longer be an independent public company, the Envestnet Common Stock will be delisted on the NYSE and deregistered under the Exchange Act, in each case, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and Envestnet will no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of the Envestnet Common Stock.

 

Q:

What will I receive if the Merger is consummated?

 

A:

Upon the consummation of the Merger, you will be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration of $63.15 in cash, without interest, and subject to any applicable tax withholding or deduction, for each share of Envestnet Common Stock that you own, unless you have properly and validly exercised and perfected and not withdrawn or otherwise lost your demand for appraisal rights under the DGCL with respect to such shares. For example, if you own 100 shares of Envestnet Common Stock, you will be entitled to receive $6,315.00 in cash, without interest, and subject to any applicable tax withholdings and deductions in exchange for your 100 shares of Envestnet Common Stock. In either case, your shares of Envestnet Common Stock will be cancelled, and you will not own nor be entitled to acquire shares in the Surviving Company or Parent.

 

15


Table of Contents
Q:

Who is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting?

 

A:

Only Company stockholders of record as of the close of business on August 20, 2024, are entitled to notice of the Special Meeting and to vote at the Special Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name and you do not instruct your broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, then, because each of the Special Meeting Proposals are “non-routine matters,” your broker, bank, trust or other nominee would not have discretionary authority to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock on the Special Meeting Proposals. Instructions on how to vote shares held in street name are described under the question “How may I vote?” below.

 

Q:

How may I vote?

 

A:

For Company stockholders of record: If you are eligible to vote at the Special Meeting and are a Company stockholder of record, you may cast your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in any of four ways:

 

   

by voting over the Internet using the website indicated on the enclosed proxy card;

 

   

by telephone using the toll-free number on the enclosed proxy card;

 

   

by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided; or

 

   

by attending the Special Meeting in a virtual format and voting by virtual ballot.

A control number, located on your proxy card, is designed to verify your identity, to allow you to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, and to confirm that your voting instructions have been properly recorded when voting electronically over the Internet or by telephone (using the instructions provided in the enclosed proxy card). Please be aware that, although there is no charge for voting your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, if you vote electronically over the Internet or by telephone, you may incur costs such as Internet access and telephone charges for which you will be responsible.

For holders in street name: If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name and you do not instruct your broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, then, because each of the Special Meeting Proposals is a “non-routine matter,” your broker, bank, trust or other nominee would not have discretionary authority to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock on the Special Meeting Proposals. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other nominee has enclosed a voting instruction form with this Proxy Statement. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, but give no instruction as to the other Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares will be deemed present at the Special Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Special Meeting, will be voted as instructed with respect to the Special Meeting Proposal as to which instructions were given and will not be voted with respect to any other Special Meeting Proposal. We encourage you to authorize your broker, bank, trust or other nominee to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock “FOR” each of the Special Meeting Proposals by following the instructions provided on the voting instruction form.

If you submit your proxy by Internet, telephone or mail, and you do not subsequently revoke your proxy, your shares of Envestnet Common Stock will be voted in accordance with your instructions.

Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting and vote by virtual ballot, you are encouraged to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock by proxy. You may still vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock at the Special Meeting even if you have previously voted by proxy. If you attend the Special Meeting in a virtual format and vote by virtual ballot, your previous vote by proxy will not be counted.

 

Q:

How many votes do I have?

 

A:

Each holder of Envestnet Common Stock is entitled to cast one vote on each matter properly brought before the Special Meeting for each share of Envestnet Common Stock that such holder owned as of the Record Date.

 

16


Table of Contents
Q:

May I attend the Special Meeting and vote in person?

 

A:

Envestnet will hold the Special Meeting in a virtual meeting format only on the virtual meeting website. You will not be able to attend the Special Meeting physically in person. Once admitted to the Special Meeting, stockholders may vote their shares and view a list of stockholders by following the instructions available on the meeting website. To vote during the Special Meeting, you must do so by logging into https://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM using the 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials.

We recommend that you submit your proxy via the Internet or by telephone by following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card, or by signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided – even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting in a virtual format. We encourage all Company stockholders to vote electronically. If you properly and timely submit your proxy, the individuals named as your proxy holders will vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock as you have directed. If you attend the Special Meeting in a virtual format and vote by virtual ballot, your vote by virtual ballot will revoke any proxy previously submitted.

 

Q:

What matters will be voted on at the Special Meeting?

 

A:

You are being asked to consider and vote on the following Special Meeting Proposals:

 

   

to approve the Merger Proposal;

 

   

to approve the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal; and

 

   

to approve the Adjournment Proposal.

 

Q:

How does the Merger Consideration compare to the market price of Envestnet Common Stock prior to the announcement of the Merger?

 

A:

The closing sale price of Envestnet Common Stock on the NYSE on July 10, 2024, the trading day prior to the public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, was $61.70 per share as compared to the Merger Consideration of $63.15 per share.

 

Q:

What do I need to do now?

 

A:

Envestnet encourages you to read carefully the Proxy Statement, including all documents incorporated by reference into the Proxy Statement, the annexes to the Proxy Statement and the documents we refer to in the Proxy Statement. Then as promptly as possible, follow the instructions on the enclosed proxy card to submit your proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone, so that your shares of Envestnet Common Stock can be voted at the Special Meeting. We encourage all Company stockholders to vote electronically. Alternatively, if you do not have access to a touch-tone phone or the Internet, you may sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other nominee has enclosed a voting instruction form with this Proxy Statement. Please do not send your stock certificate(s) with your proxy card. See “How may I vote?” in this section for more information.

 

Q:

How does the Board recommend that I vote?

 

A:

On July 11, 2024, the Board, after considering various factors, including the factors described in the section entitled The Merger—Recommendation and Reasons for the Merger” beginning on page 50 of this Proxy Statement, and after consultation with the Company’s independent legal and financial advisors, unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the Transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) determined that the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions contemplated thereby

 

17


Table of Contents
  are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company’s stockholders, (iii) directed that the adoption of the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders at the Special Meeting, and (iv) subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, resolved to recommend that the Company’s stockholders approve the adoption of the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

The Board recommends that you vote (i) “FOR” the Merger Proposal, (ii) “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and (iii) “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

 

Q:

Should I send in my stock certificate(s) now?

 

A:

No. If you are a stockholder of record, after the Merger is consummated, under the terms of the Merger Agreement, you will receive a letter of transmittal instructing you to send your stock certificate(s) to the Paying Agent (as defined below) in order to receive the cash payment of the Merger Consideration for each share of Envestnet Common Stock represented by such stock certificate(s). You should use the letter of transmittal to exchange your stock certificate(s) for the Merger Consideration to which you are entitled upon the consummation of the Merger. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in “street name,” please contact your broker, bank, trust or other nominee for instructions as to how to effect the surrender of your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in exchange for the Merger Consideration in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. Please do not send in your stock certificate(s) now.

 

Q:

If I do not know where my stock certificates are, how will I get the Merger Consideration for my shares of Envestnet Common Stock?

 

A:

If the Merger is consummated, the transmittal materials you will receive after the Closing will include the procedures that you must follow if you cannot locate your stock certificate(s). This will include an affidavit that you will need to sign attesting to the loss of your stock certificate(s). You may also be required to post a bond as indemnity against any potential loss.

 

Q:

What happens if the Merger is not consummated?

 

A:

If the Merger Proposal is not approved by Company stockholders or if the Merger is not consummated for any other reason, Company stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares of Envestnet Common Stock. Instead, Envestnet will remain an independent public company, the Envestnet Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE and registered under the Exchange Act, in each case, in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and Envestnet will continue to file periodic reports with the SEC on account of the Envestnet Common Stock.

Under certain specified circumstances, Envestnet may be required to pay Parent the Company Termination Fee upon the termination of the Merger Agreement, as described in the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Company Termination Fee” beginning on page 110 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Q:

Do any of the directors or officers of Envestnet have interests in the Merger that may be in addition to, or differ from, those of Company stockholders generally?

 

A:

Yes. In considering the recommendation of the Board with respect to the Merger Proposal, you should be aware that the directors and executive officers of Envestnet may have interests in the Merger that are or may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a Company stockholder. The Board was aware of and considered these interests to the extent such interests existed at the time, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Merger Agreement, in approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger and in recommending that the Merger Agreement be adopted by Company stockholders. For a description of the interests of the directors and executive officers of Envestnet in the Merger, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger” beginning on page 74 of this Proxy Statement.

 

18


Table of Contents
Q:

Why am I being asked to consider and vote on the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal?

 

A:

Under SEC rules, we are required to seek a non-binding, advisory vote with respect to the compensation that may be paid or become payable to our named executive officers that is based on, or otherwise relates to, the Merger, referred to as “golden parachute” compensation by the applicable SEC disclosure rule. If the Merger Agreement is approved and adopted by the Company stockholders, and the Merger is completed, this compensation may be paid to the Company’s named executive officers in accordance with the terms of their compensation agreements and arrangements even if the Company stockholders fail to approve this proposal.

 

Q:

What vote is required to approve the Special Meeting Proposals submitted to a vote at the Special Meeting?

 

A:

The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock is required to approve the Merger Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting, or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, is required to approve, by means of a non-binding, advisory vote, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting, or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal. This means that the Merger Proposal will be approved if the number of shares voted “FOR” such proposal is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. The failure of any stockholder of record to grant a proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone, to submit a signed proxy card or to vote by virtual ballot at the Special Meeting will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, will not have any effect on the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will cause such stockholder’s shares to not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for the transaction of business at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will be counted as votes “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will be counted as present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Because each of the Special Meeting Proposals presented to stockholders will be considered non-routine, we do not anticipate any broker non-votes at the Special Meeting. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and will not count as votes cast at the Special Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.

As of the Record Date for determining who is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, there were approximately 55,244,657 shares of Envestnet Common Stock issued and outstanding. Each holder of Envestnet Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share of Envestnet Common Stock owned by such holder as of the Record Date.

 

Q:

How will Envestnet’s directors and executive officers and Rollover Stockholders Vote on the Merger Proposal?

 

A:

The directors and executive officers have informed Envestnet that they currently intend to vote all of their shares of Envestnet Common Stock “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal. As of the Record Date, the directors and executive officers of Envestnet beneficially owned, and were entitled to vote, in the aggregate, 4,884,322 shares of Envestnet Common Stock, representing approximately 8.8% of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock.

BlackRock and Fidelity are required under the support and rollover agreements, as described in “The MergerFinancing of the Transactions—Support and Rollover Agreements” beginning on page 82 of this Proxy Statement, to vote all of their Rollover Shares “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal. As of the Record Date, BlackRock beneficially owned approximately 2,097,339 Rollover Shares, representing approximately 3.8% of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock, and Fidelity beneficially owned approximately 1,120,400 Rollover Shares, representing approximately 2.0% of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock.

 

19


Table of Contents
Q:

What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner?

 

A:

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, you are considered, with respect to those shares, to be the “stockholder of record.” In this case, this Proxy Statement and your proxy card have been sent directly to you by Envestnet. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to vote by proxy, which involves granting your voting rights directly to Envestnet or to a third party, or to vote by ballot at the Special Meeting.

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held through a broker, bank, trust or other nominee, you are considered to be the beneficial owner of those shares. In that case, this Proxy Statement has been forwarded to you by your broker, bank, trust or other nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares, to be the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock. Without your voting instructions, because of the non-routine nature of the Special Meeting Proposals, your broker, bank, trust or other nominee may not vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock with respect to the Special Meeting Proposals. However, if you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, but give no instruction as to the other Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares will be deemed present at the Special Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Special Meeting, will be voted as instructed with respect to the Special Meeting Proposal as to which instructions were given and will not be voted with respect to any other Special Meeting Proposal.

 

Q:

What is a proxy?

 

A:

A proxy is your legal designation of another person, referred to as a “proxy,” to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock. The written document describing the matters to be considered and voted on at the Special Meeting is called a “proxy statement.” The document used to designate a proxy to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock is called a “proxy card.” The Board has designated Shelly O’Brien and James L. Fox, and each or either of them, with full power of substitution, as proxies for the Special Meeting.

 

Q:

Can I change or revoke my proxy?

 

A:

You may change or revoke your previously submitted proxy at any time before the Special Meeting or, if you attend the Special Meeting, by voting by ballot at the Special Meeting.

If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock as a stockholder of record, you may change or revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:

 

   

by re-voting at a subsequent time by Internet or by telephone following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card;

 

   

by signing a new proxy card with a date later than your previously delivered proxy and submitting it following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card;

 

   

by delivering written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary, at the Company’s mailing address on the first page of this Proxy Statement before the Special Meeting, which states that you have revoked your proxy; or

 

   

by attending the Special Meeting in a virtual format and voting by virtual ballot. Attending the Special Meeting virtually will not in and of itself revoke a previously submitted proxy. You must specifically vote by virtual ballot at the virtual Special Meeting in order for your previous proxy to be revoked.

Your latest dated proxy card, Internet or telephone vote is the one that is counted.

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name by a broker, bank, trust or other nominee, you may change your voting instructions by following the instructions of your broker, bank, trust or other nominee.

 

20


Table of Contents
Q:

If a Company stockholder gives a proxy, how will the shares be voted?

 

A:

Regardless of the method you choose to vote, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card, or your proxies, will vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in the way that you indicate. When completing the Internet or telephone process or the proxy card, you may specify whether your shares of Envestnet Common Stock should be voted for or against or to abstain from voting on all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the Special Meeting.

If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of Envestnet Common Stock should be voted on a matter, the shares represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal. However, if you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, but give no instruction as to the other Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares will be voted as instructed with respect to the Special Meeting Proposal as to which instructions were given and will not be voted with respect to any other Special Meeting Proposal.

 

Q:

I understand that a quorum is required in order to conduct business at the Special Meeting. What constitutes a quorum?

 

A:

The presence of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting constitutes a quorum. As of the close of business on the Record Date, there were 55,244,657 shares of Envestnet Common Stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. If you submit a properly executed proxy by Internet, telephone or mail, you will be considered a part of the quorum. In addition, abstentions will be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. Broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of establishing a quorum; however, if you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares will be deemed present at the Special Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Special Meeting. As a result, 27,622,329 shares of Envestnet Common Stock must be present or represented by proxy to have a quorum. If a quorum is not present, the holders of a majority in voting power of the Envestnet Common Stock, present or represented by proxy, and entitled to vote thereon, may adjourn the Special Meeting pursuant to the Company’s bylaws.

 

Q:

How can I obtain a proxy card?

 

A:

If you lose, misplace or otherwise need to obtain a proxy card, please follow the applicable procedure below.

For Company stockholders of record: Please call Innisfree M&A Incorporated (“Innisfree”) at (877) 750-0831 (TOLL-FREE from the United States and Canada) or +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other locations).

For holders in “street name”: Please contact your account representative at your broker, bank or other similar institution.

 

Q:

What happens if I sell or otherwise transfer my shares of Envestnet Common Stock after the close of business on the Record Date but before the Special Meeting?

 

A:

The Record Date is earlier than both the date of the Special Meeting and the date the Merger is expected to be consummated. If you sell or transfer your shares of Envestnet Common Stock after the close of business on the Record Date but before the Special Meeting, unless special arrangements (such as the provision of a proxy) are made between you and the person to whom you sell or otherwise transfer your shares of Envestnet Common Stock and each of you notifies Envestnet in writing of such special arrangements, you will transfer the right to receive the Merger Consideration, if the Merger is consummated, to the person to whom you sell or transfer your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, but you will retain your right to vote

 

21


Table of Contents
  these shares at the Special Meeting. You will also lose the ability to exercise appraisal rights in connection with the Merger with respect to the transferred shares of Envestnet Common Stock. Even if you sell or otherwise transfer your shares of Envestnet Common Stock after the close of business on the Record Date, you are encouraged to complete, date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card or vote via the Internet or telephone.

 

Q:

What happens if I sell my shares of Envestnet Common Stock after the Special Meeting but before the Effective Time?

 

A:

If you transfer your shares of Envestnet Common Stock after the Special Meeting but before the Effective Time, you will have transferred the right to receive the Merger Consideration to the person to whom you transfer your shares of Envestnet Common Stock. In order to receive the Merger Consideration, you must hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock through the Effective Time.

 

Q:

What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

 

A:

You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxy cards or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account in which you hold shares of Envestnet Common Stock. If you are a stockholder of record and your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please vote via the Internet or telephone (or complete, date, sign and return) with respect to each proxy card and voting instruction card that you receive.

 

Q:

Who will count the votes?

 

A:

A representative from Broadridge Investor Communications Solutions will serve as the independent inspector of elections for the Special Meeting and will tabulate votes cast by proxy or by ballot at the Special Meeting. The inspector of elections will also determine whether a quorum is present.

 

Q:

Who will solicit votes for, and bear the cost and expenses of, this proxy solicitation?

 

A:

The cost of this proxy solicitation will be borne by Envestnet. Our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile and email, or by other electronic means. We will pay these directors, officers and employees no additional compensation for these services. We will reimburse banks, brokers and other nominees for their reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in forwarding this Proxy Statement and related materials to, and obtaining instructions relating to such materials from, beneficial owners of Envestnet Common Stock. Envestnet has retained Innisfree M&A Incorporated as Envestnet’s proxy solicitor. Innisfree will solicit proxies in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile and email, or by other electronic means. Under our agreement with Innisfree, Innisfree will receive an estimated fee of $40,000 plus reimbursement of its reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses for its services plus fees for calls (if any) to or from retail Company stockholders. In addition, Innisfree and certain related persons will be indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of, or in connection with, the engagement.

 

Q:

Where can I find the voting results of the Special Meeting?

 

A:

Envestnet intends to notify Company stockholders of the results of the Special Meeting by issuing a press release, which it will also file with the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Q:

Will I be subject to U.S. federal income tax upon the exchange of shares of Envestnet Common Stock for cash pursuant to the Merger?

 

A:

The exchange of shares of Envestnet Common Stock for cash pursuant to the Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder (as defined in the section entitled “The Merger—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger—U.S. Holders

 

22


Table of Contents
  beginning on page 84 of this Proxy Statement) who exchanges shares of Envestnet Common Stock for cash in the Merger will generally recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received with respect to such shares and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined in the section entitled “The Merger—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger—Non-U.S. Holders” beginning on page 85 of this Proxy Statement), the Merger will generally not result in U.S. federal income tax to you unless you have certain connections with the United States.

The Proxy Statement contains a general discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger. Because particular circumstances may differ, we recommend that you consult your own tax advisor to determine the U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the Merger in light of your own particular circumstances and any consequences arising under U.S. federal non-income tax laws or the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction. For a more complete description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger” beginning on page 83 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Q:

What will the holders of outstanding Envestnet equity awards receive in the Merger?

 

A:

At the Effective Time, each Company Option granted under the Company Stock Plans, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding and unexercised as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time. Any Company Option that has an exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock that is greater than or equal to the Merger Consideration will be cancelled at the Effective Time for no consideration.

At the Effective Time, each Company RSU granted under the Company Stock Plans that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, an RSU Deferred Cash Award. Each RSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder’s continued employment or service through the applicable vesting dates, vest in accordance with the same vesting schedule as the underlying Company RSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company RSU for which it was exchanged.

At the Effective Time, each Company PSU granted under the Company Stock Plans that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a PSU Deferred Cash Award. Each PSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder of such award’s continued employment or service on the last day of such performance period applicable to the Company PSU for which the Company PSU Deferred Cash Award was exchanged, vest at the same time as the underlying Company PSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company PSU for which it was exchanged.

 

Q:

When do you expect the Merger to be consummated?

 

A:

Envestnet and Parent are working toward consummating the Merger as quickly as possible. Assuming the timely receipt of required regulatory clearances and satisfaction or waiver (in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement) of other closing conditions, including the Requisite Stockholder Approval of the Merger Proposal, we anticipate that the Merger will be completed by the end of the fourth calendar quarter of 2024.

 

23


Table of Contents
Q:

Are there any other risks to me from the Merger that I should consider?

 

A:

Yes. There are risks associated with all business combinations, including the Merger. Please see the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 26 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Q:

Am I entitled to appraisal rights under the DGCL?

 

A:

If the Merger is consummated and certain conditions set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL are satisfied, stockholders and beneficial owners of Envestnet Common Stock who (i) continuously hold their applicable shares of Envestnet Common Stock through the effective date of the Merger, (ii) do not vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement (whether by voting against the Merger Proposal, abstaining or otherwise not voting with respect to the Merger Proposal), (iii) properly demand appraisal of their applicable shares, (iv) meet certain statutory requirements as described in this Proxy Statement and (v) do not withdraw their demands or otherwise lose their rights to seek appraisal will be entitled to seek appraisal of their shares in connection with the Merger under Section 262 of the DGCL. This means that such Company stockholders and beneficial owners are entitled to have their shares appraised by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) and to receive payment in cash of the “fair value” of the shares of Envestnet Common Stock, exclusive of any elements of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined by the Court of Chancery to be fair value. Due to the complexity of the appraisal process, persons who wish to seek appraisal of their shares are encouraged to seek the advice of legal counsel with respect to the exercise of appraisal rights. The DGCL requirements for exercising appraisal rights are described in the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement, which is qualified in its entirety by Section 262 of the DGCL, the relevant section of the DGCL regarding appraisal rights. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL is accessible, without subscription or cost, at the following publicly available website: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/sc09 /index.html#262.

 

Q:

What is a “broker non-vote”?

 

A:

A “broker non-vote” results when banks, brokers and other nominees return a valid proxy voting upon a matter or matters for which the applicable rules provide discretionary authority but do not vote on a particular proposal because they do not have discretionary authority to vote on the matter and have not received specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares. Although the determination of whether a broker, bank or other nominee will have discretionary voting power for a particular item is typically determined only after proxy materials are filed with the SEC, because each of the Special Meeting Proposals presented to stockholders will be considered non-routine, we do not anticipate any broker non-votes at the Special Meeting. As a result, no broker would be permitted to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock at the Special Meeting without receiving instructions. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and will not count as votes cast at the Special Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular proposal.

 

Q:

What if during the check-in time or during the Special Meeting I have technical difficulties or trouble accessing the virtual meeting website?

 

A:

If Envestnet experiences technical difficulties during the Special Meeting (e.g., a temporary or prolonged power outage), it will determine whether the Special Meeting can be promptly reconvened (if the technical difficulty is temporary) or whether the Special Meeting will need to be reconvened on a later day (if the technical difficulty is more prolonged). In any such situation, Envestnet will promptly notify stockholders of the decision via the virtual meeting website.

Technical support will be ready to assist you with any individual technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual meeting website. Contact information for technical support will appear on the virtual meeting login page prior to the start of the Special Meeting.

 

24


Table of Contents
Q:

How can I obtain more information about Envestnet?

 

A:

You can find more information about Envestnet from various sources described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 124 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Q:

Who can help answer my questions?

 

A:

If you have any questions concerning the Merger, the Special Meeting or this Proxy Statement, would like additional copies of this Proxy Statement or need help voting your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, please contact the Company’s proxy solicitor:

Innisfree M&A Incorporated

501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor

New York, NY 10022

Stockholders May Call: (877) 750-0831 (TOLL-FREE from the United States and Canada)

or +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other locations)

Banks and Brokers May Call Collect: (212) 750-5833

 

25


Table of Contents

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Proxy Statement contains and the Company’s other filings and press releases may contain forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give the Company’s current expectations relating to the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business including, without limitation, statements regarding the Merger and related transactions, the expected closing of the Merger and the timing thereof, and as to the financing commitments. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company.

Because such statements are based on expectations as to future financial and operating results and are not statements of fact, actual results may differ materially from those projected and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including: (i) the risk that the Merger may not be completed on the anticipated terms in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the Company’s business and the price of the Common Shares; (ii) the failure to satisfy any of the conditions to the consummation of the Merger, including the receipt of certain regulatory approvals and the Requisite Stockholder Approval; (iii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance or condition that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, including in circumstances requiring the Company to pay a termination fee; (iv) the effect of the announcement or pendency of the Merger on the Company’s business relationships, operating results and business generally; (v) risks that the Merger disrupts the Company’s current plans and operations (including the ability of certain customers to terminate or amend contracts upon a change of control); (vi) the Company’s ability to retain, hire and integrate skilled personnel including the Company’s senior management team and maintain relationships with key business partners and customers, and others with whom it does business, in light of the Merger; (vii) risks related to diverting management’s attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations; (viii) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Merger; (ix) the ability to obtain the necessary financing arrangements set forth in the commitment letters received in connection with the Merger; (x) potential litigation relating to the Merger that could be instituted against the parties to the Merger Agreement or their respective directors, managers or officers, the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (xi) the impact of adverse general and industry-specific economic and market conditions; (xii) certain restrictions during the pendency of the Merger that may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (xiii) uncertainty as to timing of completion of the Merger; (xiv) risks that the benefits of the Merger are not realized when and as expected; (xv) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (xvi) those risk and uncertainties set forth under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports filed by the Company with the SEC from time to time, which are available via the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov; and (xvii) the risks described in the Proxy Statement.

The Company cautions you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all the factors that are important to you. There can be no assurance that the Merger will be completed, or if it is completed, that it will close within the anticipated time period. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, our actual results may vary materially from what we may have expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We caution that you should not place significant weight on any of our forward-looking statements. You should specifically consider the factors identified in this communication that could cause actual results to differ. Furthermore, new risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict those events or how they may affect the Company.

 

26


Table of Contents

THE SPECIAL MEETING

Date, Time and Place of the Special Meeting

This Proxy Statement is being furnished to Company stockholders as a part of the solicitation of proxies by the Board for use at the Special Meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. Envestnet will hold the Special Meeting in a virtual format only at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM.

Purpose of the Special Meeting

At the Special Meeting, Company stockholders will be asked to consider and vote to approve:

 

   

the Merger Proposal;

 

   

the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal; and

 

   

the Adjournment Proposal.

Record Date; Shares Entitled to Vote; Quorum

Only Company stockholders of record as of the close of business on the Record Date are entitled to notice of the Special Meeting and to vote at the Special Meeting or at any adjournment or postponement thereof. A list of stockholders entitled to vote at the Special Meeting will be available for inspection in Company’s headquarters located at 1000 Chesterbrook Boulevard, Suite 250, Berwyn, PA 19312, during ordinary business hours for a period of no less than 10 days prior to the Special Meeting and at the place of the Special Meeting during the Special Meeting. To access the list during the Special Meeting, please use the virtual meeting website link set forth above.

The inspector of elections appointed for the Special Meeting will tabulate votes cast by proxy or by ballot at the Special Meeting. The inspector of elections will also determine whether a quorum is present. The presence of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting constitutes a quorum. Shares that abstain from voting on any proposal will be treated as shares that are present and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present.

With respect to shares held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other nominee generally has the discretionary authority to vote uninstructed shares on “routine” matters but cannot vote such uninstructed shares on “non-routine” matters. Because the Special Meeting Proposals presented to Company stockholders are considered non-routine, we do not anticipate any broker non-votes at the Special Meeting. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and will not count as votes cast at the Special Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular Special Meeting Proposal.

Vote Required; Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote thereon is required to approve the Merger Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting, or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, provided a quorum is present, is required to approve, by means of a non-binding, advisory vote, the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting, or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon, is required to approve the Adjournment Proposal. This means that the Merger Proposal will be approved if the number of shares voted “FOR such proposal is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total number of outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal, Merger-Related Compensation

 

27


Table of Contents

Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal and will be counted as present for the purposes of establishing a quorum. Because each of the Special Meeting Proposals presented to Company stockholders will be considered non-routine, we do not anticipate any broker non-votes at the Special Meeting. Broker non-votes will not be considered present for the purposes of establishing a quorum and will not count as votes cast at the Special Meeting, and otherwise will have no effect on a particular Special Meeting Proposal. However, if you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, but give no instruction as to the other Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares will be deemed present at the Special Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Special Meeting, will be voted as instructed with respect to the Special Meeting Proposal as to which instructions were given and will not be voted with respect to any other Special Meeting Proposal.

Shares Held by the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers

As of the Record Date, the Company’s directors and executive officers beneficially owned, and were entitled to vote, in the aggregate, 4,884,322 shares of Envestnet Common Stock, collectively representing approximately 8.8% of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock. We expect that the Company’s directors and executive officers will beneficially own and be entitled to vote a similar figure at the close of business on the date of the Special Meeting. The directors and executive officers have informed Envestnet that they currently intend to vote all of their shares of Envestnet Common Stock “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

Shares Held by the Rollover Stockholders

As of the Record Date, BlackRock beneficially owned approximately 2,097,339 Rollover Shares, representing approximately 3.8% of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock, and Fidelity beneficially owned approximately 1,120,400 Rollover Shares, representing approximately 2.0% of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock. BlackRock and Fidelity are required to vote all of their Rollover Shares “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

Voting of Proxies

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are registered in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC, you may cause your shares of Envestnet Common Stock to be voted by submitting electronically over the Internet or by telephone a proxy authorizing the voting of your shares of Envestnet Common Stock by following the instructions on your proxy card. You must have the enclosed proxy card available, and follow the instructions on the proxy card, in order to submit a proxy electronically over the Internet or by telephone. We encourage all Company stockholders to vote electronically. Alternatively, if you do not have access to a touch-tone phone or the Internet, you may sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. Based on your proxy cards or Internet and telephone proxies, the proxy holders will vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock according to your directions.

If you plan to attend the Special Meeting and wish to vote virtually, you will need to enter the 16-digit control number found next to the label “Control Number” on your proxy card, or in the email sending you the proxy statement. If you attend the Special Meeting and vote virtually, your vote will revoke any previously submitted proxy. If your shares are registered directly in your name, you are encouraged to vote by proxy even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting virtually.

Voting instructions are included on your enclosed proxy card. All shares represented by properly executed proxies received in time for the Special Meeting will be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with the instructions of the Company stockholders. Properly executed proxies that do not contain voting instructions will be voted “FOR” the Merger Proposal, “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and “FOR” the

 

28


Table of Contents

Adjournment Proposal. No proxy that is specifically marked against adoption of the Merger Agreement will be voted in favor of the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal, unless it is specifically marked “FOR” the approval of such proposal.

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name and you do not instruct your broker, bank, trust or other nominee how to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock, then, because each of the Special Meeting Proposals is a “non-routine matter,” your broker, bank, trust or other nominee would not have discretionary authority to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock on the Special Meeting Proposals. If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name, your broker, bank, trust or other nominee has enclosed a voting instruction form with this Proxy Statement. We encourage you to authorize your broker, bank, trust or other nominee to vote your shares of Envestnet Common Stock “FOR” each of the Special Meeting Proposals by following the instructions provided on the voting instruction form. If you do not vote via the Internet or telephone through your broker, bank, trust or other nominee or do not return your bank’s, broker’s or other nominee’s voting form, or do not attend the Special Meeting and vote with a proxy from your broker, bank, trust or other nominee, it will be counted as a vote “AGAINST” the Merger Proposal and will not have any effect on the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and the Adjournment Proposal. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock in street name and give voting instructions to your broker, bank, trust or other nominee with respect to one of the Special Meeting Proposals, but give no instruction as to the other Special Meeting Proposals, then those shares will be deemed present at the Special Meeting for purposes of establishing a quorum at the Special Meeting, will be voted as instructed with respect to the Special Meeting Proposal as to which instructions were given and will not be voted with respect to any other Special Meeting Proposal.

How You May Revoke or Change Your Vote

You may change or revoke your previously submitted proxy at any time before the Special Meeting or, if you attend the Special Meeting in a virtual format, by voting by virtual ballot at the Special Meeting. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock as a stockholder of record, you may change or revoke your proxy in any one of the following ways:

 

   

by re-voting at a subsequent time by Internet or by telephone following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card;

 

   

by signing a new proxy card with a date later than your previously delivered proxy and submitting it following the instructions on the enclosed proxy card;

 

   

by delivering written notice of revocation to the Corporate Secretary, at the Company’s address on the first page of this Proxy Statement before the Special Meeting, which states that you have revoked your proxy; or

 

   

by attending the Special Meeting in a virtual format and voting by virtual ballot. Attending the Special Meeting will not in and of itself revoke a previously submitted proxy. You must specifically vote by ballot at the Special Meeting for your previous proxy to be revoked. To vote during the Special Meeting, you must do so by logging into www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM using the 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials.

Please note that to be effective, your new proxy card, Internet or telephonic voting instructions or written notice of revocation must be received by the Company’s Corporate Secretary prior to the Special Meeting.

If your shares of Envestnet Common Stock are held in street name by a broker, bank, trust or other nominee, you may change your voting instructions by following the instructions of your broker, bank, trust or other nominee. You may also vote at the Special Meeting if you register in advance to attend the Special Meeting following the procedures described below in the section entitled “The Special Meeting—Attending the Special Meeting” beginning on page 32 of this Proxy Statement.

 

29


Table of Contents

Any adjournment, recess or postponement of the Special Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow Company stockholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to their use at the Special Meeting that was adjourned, recessed or postponed.

Adjournments

Company stockholders are also being asked to approve the Adjournment Proposal, which will enable the adjournment of the Special Meeting if necessary or appropriate, including if there are insufficient votes for the approval of the Merger Proposal or if a quorum is not present.

If a quorum is not present, the holders of a majority of the total number of votes of shares of Envestnet Common Stock present at the Special Meeting, or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, may adjourn the Special Meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

If a new record date is or must be fixed under law, a notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to each Company stockholder of record as of the new record date and who is otherwise entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting.

If the Special Meeting is adjourned, Company stockholders who have already submitted their proxies will be able to revoke them at any time prior to the final vote on the Special Meeting Proposals. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the original Special Meeting, and all proxies will be voted in the same manner as the manner in which such proxies would have been voted at the original convening of the Special Meeting, except for any proxies that have been validly revoked or withdrawn prior to the subsequent meeting.

Technical Difficulties or Trouble Accessing the Virtual Meeting Website

If Envestnet experiences technical difficulties during the Special Meeting (e.g., a temporary or prolonged power outage), it will determine whether the Special Meeting can be promptly reconvened (if the technical difficulty is temporary) or whether the Special Meeting will need to be reconvened on a later day (if the technical difficulty is more prolonged). In any such situation, Envestnet will promptly notify Company stockholders of the decision via the virtual meeting website.

Technical support will be ready to assist you with any individual technical difficulties you may have accessing the virtual meeting website. Contact information for technical support will appear on the virtual meeting login page prior to the start of the Special Meeting.

Tabulation of Votes

All votes will be tabulated by the inspector of elections appointed for the Special Meeting. The inspector of elections will separately tabulate affirmative and negative votes and abstentions.

Solicitation of Proxies

The cost of this proxy solicitation will be borne by Envestnet. Our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile and email, or by other electronic means. We will pay these directors, officers and employees no additional compensation for these services. We will reimburse banks, brokers and other nominees for their reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in forwarding this Proxy Statement and related materials to, and obtaining instructions relating to such materials from, beneficial owners of Envestnet Common Stock.

Envestnet has retained Innisfree as its proxy solicitor. Innisfree will solicit proxies in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile and email, or by other electronic means. Under our agreement with Innisfree, Innisfree will

 

30


Table of Contents

receive an estimated fee of $40,000 plus reimbursement of its reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses for its services plus fees for calls (if any) to or from retail Company stockholders. In addition, Innisfree and certain related persons will be indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of, or in connection with, the engagement.

Anticipated Date of Consummation of the Merger

Assuming timely satisfaction of necessary closing conditions, including, among other things, the Requisite Stockholder Approval and receipt of required regulatory approvals, we currently anticipate that the Merger will be consummated by the end of the fourth calendar quarter of 2024.

Appraisal Rights

If the Merger is consummated and certain conditions are met, Company stockholders and beneficial owners who (i) continuously hold their applicable shares of Envestnet Common Stock through the effective date of the Merger, (ii) do not vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement (whether by voting against the Merger Proposal, abstaining or otherwise not voting with respect to the Merger Proposal), (iii) properly demand appraisal of their applicable shares, (iv) meet certain statutory requirements as described in this Proxy Statement and (v) do not withdraw their demands or otherwise lose their rights to seek appraisal will be entitled to seek appraisal of their shares in connection with the Merger under Section 262 of the DGCL. This means that Company stockholders and beneficial owners may be entitled to have their shares of Envestnet Common Stock appraised by the Court of Chancery, and to receive payment in cash of the “fair value” of their shares of common stock, exclusive of any elements of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with interest to be paid on the amount determined to be the fair value, if any, as determined by the Court of Chancery. Due to the complexity of the appraisal process, persons who wish to seek appraisal of their shares are encouraged to seek the advice of legal counsel with respect to the exercise of appraisal rights.

Stockholders and beneficial owners considering seeking appraisal should be aware that the fair value of their shares as determined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL could be more than, the same as or less than the value of the consideration that they would receive pursuant to the Merger Agreement if they did not seek appraisal of their shares of Envestnet Common Stock.

To exercise appraisal rights, Company stockholders or beneficial owners of Envestnet Common Stock must: (i) deliver a written demand for appraisal to Envestnet before the vote is taken on the Merger Proposal; (ii) not submit a proxy or otherwise vote in favor of the Merger Proposal; (iii) continue to hold or beneficially own, as applicable, their applicable shares of Envestnet Common Stock through the Effective Time; (iv) comply with all other procedures for exercising, and do not otherwise lose their, appraisal rights under the DGCL; and (v) not withdraw the appraisal demand or otherwise lose their rights to appraisal. Failure to follow the procedures specified under the DGCL may result in the loss of appraisal rights. In addition, the Court of Chancery will dismiss appraisal proceedings in respect of Envestnet Common Stock unless certain stock ownership conditions are satisfied by the stockholders and beneficial owners seeking appraisal. The DGCL requirements for exercising appraisal rights are described in further detail in the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement, which is qualified in its entirety by Section 262 of the DGCL, the relevant section of the DGCL regarding appraisal rights. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL is accessible, without subscription or cost, at the following publicly available website: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title8/c001/ sc09/index.html#262. If you hold your shares of Envestnet Common Stock through a bank, broker or other nominee and you wish to exercise appraisal rights, you may make a written demand for appraisal in your own name, but you must satisfy the conditions set forth above and your written demand must also reasonably identify the stockholder of record of the shares for which demand is made, be accompanied by documentary evidence of your beneficial ownership of stock (such as a brokerage or securities account statement containing such information or a letter from a broker or other stockholder of record of such shares confirming such information) and a statement that such documentary evidence is a true and correct copy of what it purports to be, and provide an address at which you consent to receive notices given by the Surviving Company under Section 262 of the DGCL and to be set forth on the verified list required by Section 262(f) of the DGCL.

 

31


Table of Contents

Attending the Special Meeting

Company stockholders may log into the Special Meeting using the 16-digit control number on their proxy cards. Once admitted to the Special Meeting, Company stockholders may vote their shares and view a list of stockholders by following the instructions available on the meeting website.

The virtual meeting site is supported on Internet browsers and devices (e.g., desktops, laptops, tablets and smart phones) running the most updated version of applicable software and plugins. Each participant should ensure strong Wi-Fi or other Internet connection, allow plenty of time to log in and ensure that he or she can hear streaming audio prior to the start of the Special Meeting.

Voting at the Special Meeting Remotely as a Stockholder of Record or as a Beneficial Owner Who Holds Shares Through a Broker, Bank, Trust or Other Nominee

To vote during the Special Meeting, you must do so by logging into www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/ENV2024SM using the 16-digit control number included in your proxy materials. After accessing the Special Meeting as described above, Company stockholders may vote by clicking on the “Vote Here!” button, selecting your voting choices from those shown on the screen and then clicking “Submit.” Confirmation that your vote has been received should appear once submitted. For as long as the polls remain open during the Special Meeting, you will be able to change your vote by selecting another voting choice. We encourage you to vote your proxy via the Internet, telephone or proxy card prior to the Special Meeting, even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting.

Company stockholders are reminded that they can vote their shares prior to the Special Meeting over the Internet using the website indicated on the proxy card, by telephone using the toll-free number on the proxy card or by signing, dating and returning the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope previously provided. We encourage all Company stockholders to vote electronically. If you have submitted your vote by proxy in advance of the Special Meeting, you do not need to vote by ballot, unless you wish to change your vote.

Delisting and Deregistration of Envestnet Common Stock

If the Merger is completed, Envestnet expects to delist the Envestnet Common Stock from the NYSE as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time and de-register the Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable after such delisting. Thereafter, Envestnet would no longer be a publicly traded company, and Envestnet would no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of Envestnet Common Stock.

Assistance

If you need assistance in completing your proxy card or have questions regarding the Special Meeting, please contact Innisfree, our proxy solicitor, by calling (877) 750-0831 (TOLL-FREE from the United States and Canada) or +1 (412) 232-3651 (from other locations). Brokers, banks and other nominees may call collect at (212) 750-5833.

 

32


Table of Contents

PROPOSAL 1: ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT

The Merger Proposal

Envestnet is asking you to approve the adoption of the Merger Agreement. For a summary of and detailed information regarding this proposal, please see the information about the Merger Agreement throughout this Proxy Statement, including the information set forth in the section entitled “The Merger” beginning on page 33 of this Proxy Statement and the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement” beginning on page 88 of this Proxy Statement. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement. You are urged to read the Merger Agreement carefully and in its entirety.

Vote Required

The affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock is required to approve the Merger Proposal.

Board Recommendation

THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE “FOR” THE MERGER PROPOSAL.

THE MERGER

The discussion of the Merger in this section and elsewhere in this Proxy Statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this Proxy Statement by reference. This summary does not purport to be complete and may not contain all of the information about the Merger that is important to you. You are encouraged to read the Merger Agreement carefully and in its entirety as it is the legal document that governs the Merger. The rights and obligations of the parties are governed by the express terms of the Merger Agreement and not by this summary or any other information contained in this Proxy Statement.

Additional information about Envestnet may be found elsewhere in this Proxy Statement and in our other public filings. Please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 124 of this Proxy Statement.

Parties Involved in the Merger

Envestnet, Inc.

Envestnet, through its subsidiaries, is transforming the way financial advice and insight are delivered. Our mission is to empower financial advisors and service providers with innovative technology, solutions and intelligence. Envestnet is a leader in helping transform wealth management, working towards its goal of expanding a holistic financial wellness ecosystem so that our clients can better serve their clients.

Envestnet’s clients include more than 110,000 advisors, 17 of the 20 largest U.S. banks, 48 of the 50 largest wealth management and brokerage firms, over 500 of the largest RIAs and hundreds of FinTech companies, all of which leverage Envestnet technology and services that help drive better outcomes for enterprises, advisors and their clients.

Through a combination of platform enhancements, partnerships and acquisitions, Envestnet uniquely provides a financial network connecting technology, solutions and data, delivering better intelligence and enabling its customers to drive better outcomes.

 

33


Table of Contents

Envestnet, a Delaware corporation originally founded in 1999, serves clients from its headquarters in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, as well as other locations throughout the United States, India and other international locations.

Envestnet Common Stock, par value $0.005 per share, is currently listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ENV.”

BCPE Pequod Buyer, Inc.

Parent is a Delaware corporation and was formed on July 9, 2024, solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and engaging in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the related financing transactions. Parent has not engaged in any business activities other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and arranging of the equity financing in connection with the Merger. Upon the consummation of the Merger, Envestnet will be a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.

BCPE Pequod Merger Sub, Inc.

Merger Sub is a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub was formed on July 9, 2024, solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and engaging in the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, and has not engaged in any business activities other than in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Upon the consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into Envestnet and will cease to exist.

Parent and Merger Sub are each affiliated with investment funds advised by Bain.

Parent obtained equity and Debt Financing commitments for the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the aggregate proceeds of which will be sufficient for Parent to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration (including payments in respect of the Company’s outstanding equity-based awards payable in connection with the Closing pursuant to the Merger Agreement) and all related fees and expenses of Parent and Merger Sub (including in connection with the Debt Financing and giving effect to the “rollover” of certain stockholders’ equity). For more information, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Financing of the Transactions” beginning on page 80 of this Proxy Statement.

Effect of the Merger

The Merger Agreement provides that, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Envestnet, the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will thereupon cease, and Envestnet will be the Surviving Company. As a result of the Merger, the Surviving Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and Envestnet Common Stock will no longer be publicly traded. In addition, Envestnet Common Stock will be delisted from the NYSE and deregistered under the Exchange Act, in each case, in accordance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, and Envestnet will no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of Envestnet Common Stock. If the Merger is consummated, you will not own any shares of capital stock of the Surviving Company. The Effective Time will occur upon the filing of the certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (or at such later time as Envestnet and Parent may agree and specify in the certificate of merger in accordance with the DGCL).

Effect on Envestnet if the Merger is Not Consummated

If the Merger Proposal is not approved by the requisite shares of Envestnet Common Stock entitled to vote thereon, or if the Merger is not consummated for any other reason:

 

   

the Company stockholders will not be entitled to, nor will they receive, any payment for their respective shares of Envestnet Common Stock;

 

34


Table of Contents
   

Envestnet will remain an independent public company, the Envestnet Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on the NYSE and registered under the Exchange Act, and Envestnet will continue to file periodic reports with the SEC on account of the Envestnet Common Stock;

 

   

under certain specified circumstances, Envestnet may be required to pay Parent the Company Termination Fee upon the termination of the Merger Agreement. For more information, please see the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Company Termination Fee” beginning on page 110 of this Proxy Statement;

 

   

under certain specified circumstances, Parent may be required to pay the Company the Parent Termination Fee upon the termination of the Merger Agreement. For more information, please see the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Parent Termination Fee” beginning on page 111 of this Proxy Statement; and

 

   

Company stockholders will continue to own their shares of Envestnet Common Stock and will continue to be subject to the same general risks and opportunities as those to which they are currently subject with respect to ownership of Envestnet Common Stock.

If the Merger is not consummated, there is no assurance as to the effect of these risks and opportunities on the future value of the Envestnet Common Stock, including the risk that the market price of Envestnet Common Stock may decline to the extent that the current market price of the common stock reflects a market assumption that the merger will be consummated. If the Merger is not consummated, there is no assurance that any other transaction acceptable to the Company will be offered or that the business, operations, financial condition earnings or prospects of the Company will not be adversely impacted.

Merger Consideration

Envestnet Common Stock

At the Effective Time, each share of Envestnet Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, including any Envestnet Common Stock to the extent issued and converted in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Convertible Notes Indentures (other than Owned Company Shares and Dissenting Shares) will be automatically cancelled and retired and converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, less any amounts required to be deducted or withheld in accordance with the Merger Agreement. At the Effective Time, each Owned Company Share will be automatically cancelled and retired and will cease to exist without any consideration delivered in exchange therefor.

The Rollover Shares are not entitled to receive any Merger Consideration and will, immediately prior to the Closing, be contributed, directly or indirectly, to the indirect parent company of Parent pursuant to the terms of the applicable support and rollover agreement in exchange for non-voting ownership interest in the parent company of Parent.

Dissenting Shares will not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration at the Effective Time. Such Company stockholders instead will only be entitled only to such consideration as is determined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL. Each Dissenting Share held by Company stockholders or beneficial owners who have failed to perfect or who have effectively withdrawn or otherwise lost the right to appraisal of such shares and payment under Section 262 of the DGCL or if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, then such Dissenting Shares shall have the rights and obligations provided in Section 262 of the DGCL. For more information, please see the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement.

 

35


Table of Contents

Treatment of Company Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs

Company Options. At the Effective Time, each Company Option granted under the Company Stock Plans, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding and unexercised as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time. Any Company Option that has an exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock that is greater than or equal to the Merger Consideration will be cancelled at the Effective Time for no consideration.

Company RSUs. At the Effective Time, each Company RSU granted under the Company Stock Plans that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a RSU Deferred Cash Award. Each RSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder’s continued employment or service through the applicable vesting dates, vest in accordance with the same vesting schedule as the underlying Company RSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company RSU for which it was exchanged.

Company PSUs. At the Effective Time, each Company PSU granted under the Company Stock Plans, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a PSU Deferred Cash Award. Each PSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder of such award’s continued employment or service on the last day of such performance period applicable to the Company PSU for which the Company PSU Deferred Cash Award was exchanged, vest at the same time as the underlying Company PSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company PSU for which it was exchanged.

Background of the Merger

The Board and Company management regularly review the Company’s business and operations, competitive position, historical performance, future prospects and long-term strategic plan with the goal of maximizing stockholder value, including by pursuing strategic opportunities such as acquisitions, dispositions, commercial partnerships, joint ventures or combinations with third parties. As part of these ongoing evaluations, the Board and Company management have, from time to time and with the assistance of the Company’s financial and legal advisors, considered various strategic alternatives, including the continued execution of the Company’s strategy as a standalone public company or the possible sale of the Company to, or combination of the Company with, a third party.

In 2020, the Company undertook a strategic review which considered, among other alternatives, a potential divestiture of the Company’s data and analytics business (which we refer to as the “D&A Business”), a potential sale of the Company and a potential acquisition or combination with another operating business. The Company entered into discussions with a number of parties as part of that review during the period 2020-2021. No strategic transaction ultimately resulted from the strategic review process.

On May 27, 2020, in connection with that strategic review process, Bain submitted a non-binding indicative proposal to the Board and members of Company senior management, offering to acquire the Company for a price in the range of $57.00-$62.00 per share, in cash, contingent on a successful sale of the D&A Business at a segment enterprise value between $1.7 billion and $2.0 billion.

 

36


Table of Contents

The Company notified Bain that it was not willing to enter into discussions for a potential transaction that was contingent upon the sale of the D&A Business at that time.

Thereafter, members of Company management and representatives of Bain engaged in periodic informal discussions regarding the Company and the financial technology industry generally.

In 2022, the Company undertook another strategic review which considered, among other alternatives, a potential sale of the Company. The Company entered into discussions with a number of parties as part of that review. On January 6, 2022, the Company entered into a mutual non-disclosure agreement with Bain to facilitate due diligence by Bain and its advisors in respect of a potential strategic transaction with the Company (the “January 2022 NDA”). The January 2022 NDA included a standstill provision for the benefit of the Company for a period of one year with a customary “fallaway” provision providing that the standstill obligations would terminate in certain circumstances, including upon the Company entering into a binding agreement related to the sale or a change of control of the Company. Thereafter, Bain and its advisors conducted due diligence on the Company, including through a number of discussions with representatives of the Company and its advisors in various functions and the parties explored such a transaction until late April 2022, but no transaction ultimately resulted.

On August 30, 2022, the Company entered into an amendment to the January 2022 NDA to provide that the standstill provision in the January 2022 NDA would not preclude Bain from acquiring beneficial ownership of less than five percent (5%) of the Company’s publicly traded securities.

In January 2023, in connection with ongoing strategic review, a financial advisory firm representing the Company contacted representatives of Bain to gauge potential interest in a strategic transaction involving the sale of the Company.

On January 27, 2023, the Company entered into a second amendment to the January 2022 NDA to extend Bain’s standstill obligations until January 5, 2024. Thereafter until February 12, 2023, Bain and its advisors conducted due diligence on the Company, including through a number of discussions with representatives of the Company and its advisors in various functions, and the parties explored such a transaction. Bain explored a potential partnership with a private equity firm we refer to as “Potential Bain Partner 1” to acquire the Company. Prior to such partnership discussions, Potential Bain Partner 1 had independently explored a potential transaction to acquire the Company, and Potential Bain Partner 1 conducted due diligence on the Company. In late-January 2023, Potential Bain Partner 1 notified the Company that it was unable to be party to a proposal to acquire the Company at a price per share that would have represented a premium to the Company’s then-current trading price.

In early-February 2023, Bain explored a potential partnership with a private equity firm we refer to as “Potential Bain Partner 2,” and Potential Bain Partner 2 conducted due diligence on the Company. In early-February 2023, Potential Bain Partner 2 notified the Company that it was unable to be party to a proposal to acquire the Company at a price per share that would have represented a premium to the Company’s then-current trading price.

On February 12, 2023, representatives from Bain notified William Crager, then the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, that Bain was unable to submit a proposal for a strategic transaction with the Company at a price they expected would be acceptable.

Between March 2023 and January 2024, members of Company management and representatives of Bain engaged in multiple informal discussions regarding the Company and the financial technology industry generally.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, as part of its cost reduction initiatives and annual strategic planning review, the Board engaged a financial advisor (the “D&A Business Financial Advisor”) in connection with its consideration of a possible sale process of the D&A Business.

 

37


Table of Contents

On December 14, 2023, Bloomberg reported that the Company was exploring the sale of its D&A Business and had hired an advisor to help solicit interest from potential buyers. In the days that followed, other news outlets published similar reports, some including commentary speculating on the purchase price for the D&A Business (which at least one equity research analyst stated could be up to $600-$900 million).

On January 8, 2024, the Company reported that Mr. Crager would step down as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, effective March 31, 2024, and that Jim Fox, Chairman of the Board, would serve as the Company’s Interim Chief Executive Officer commencing on April 1, 2024.

On January 16, 2024, Mr. Fox, Mr. Crager and other representatives of the Company, met with representatives of Bain to discuss the Company and the financial technology industry generally, including recent developments in the industry.

Following that meeting through to March 23, 2024, representatives of the Company and Bain had various, high-level discussions regarding the possibility of a strategic transaction involving the Company and Bain.

In February 2024, the Board directed the D&A Business Financial Advisor to commence a sale process for the D&A Business. In connection with the D&A Business sale process, during the period from mid-February to early May 2024, the D&A Business Financial Advisor conducted broad outreach to potential strategic and financial counterparties (including to an affiliate of Bain) to gauge their potential interest in acquiring the D&A Business. During this period, the Company entered into confidentiality agreements (with customary standstill provisions for the benefit of the Company) with interested parties, and provided those counterparties with access to certain confidential information regarding the D&A Business.

On March 23, 2024, a representative from Bain called Mr. Fox and communicated to him that Bain would submit a non-binding proposal for the Company later that day.

Later that day, on March 23, 2024, Bain submitted a non-binding proposal letter to Mr. Fox to acquire the Company for a price in the range of $62.00-$64.00 per share, in cash (the “March Bain Proposal”), which proposal represented a nine percent (9%) to thirteen percent (13%) premium to the Company’s closing share price of $56.67 on March 22, 2024, the day prior to the proposal. The March Bain Proposal noted the proposed transaction would be funded with a combination of equity from funds advised by Bain and third-party co-investors, and debt financing from third-parties, stated that Bain was confident in its ability to provide financing commitments given its long-standing relationships and debt capital market expertise, identified the remaining open items required by Bain to complete its due diligence and stated that Bain could sign definitive transaction documentation in five weeks. Mr. Fox promptly shared the March Bain Proposal with the Board.

On March 27, 2024, the Board held a meeting to discuss the March Bain Proposal. At this meeting, the Board reviewed and discussed, among other things, the conversations between representatives of Bain and members of Company management preceding the March Bain Proposal, the terms of the March Bain Proposal and engaging a financial advisor to assist the Board in reviewing and responding to the March Bain Proposal. The Board determined that (i) the Board would reconvene the following week so as to allow the members of the Board time to further consider the March Bain Proposal, (ii) Mr. Fox would communicate to representatives of Bain that the Board was considering the March Bain Proposal (which he did on March 29, 2024) and (iii) before the Board met again, Mr. Fox would contact Morgan Stanley with whom the Company had a pre-existing and unrelated engagement to ask them to also advise on the March Bain Proposal and the Board’s review of other strategic alternatives (which he did on March 28, 2024), on the basis of, among other factors, Morgan Stanley’s qualifications, extensive experience in advising companies operating in the same industry as the Company in connection with potential strategic transactions, and its knowledge and understanding of the Company’s business and industry.

On April 2, 2024, Morgan Stanley delivered its initial relationship disclosure letter to the Board describing its relationships with the Company, Bain and its majority-owned affiliates.

 

38


Table of Contents

Also in early April, the Board retained Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (“Paul, Weiss”), as legal counsel, in connection with the Board’s consideration of the March Bain Proposal and of the Board’s review of other strategic alternatives. The Board chose Paul, Weiss, based on Paul, Weiss’ extensive experience in similar transactions, qualifications and reputation.

On April 3, 2024, the Board held a meeting with representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance to discuss the March Bain Proposal. Prior to the meeting, representatives of Morgan Stanley delivered an updated relationship disclosure letter to the Board describing its relationships with the Company, Bain and their majority-owned affiliates. During the meeting, representatives of Morgan Stanley presented to the Board the historical trading performance of the Company’s stock and certain preliminary financial aspects of the March Bain Proposal. Representatives of Paul Weiss reviewed with the directors their fiduciary duties, including in the context of a potential change in control transaction, in connection with the Board’s evaluation of the March Bain Proposal. After discussion with the Company’s advisors, the Board determined (i) it required further financial analysis on the Company in connection with its evaluation of the March Bain Proposal against other strategic alternatives, including the Company’s prospects as a standalone public company, and accordingly directed (a) Company management to prepare long-range financial projections for Morgan Stanley to use in its preliminary financial analyses (as the Company did not produce any such forecasts in the ordinary course) with the understanding that, due to the constraints of time, such long-range projections would be based primarily upon an extrapolation of the Company’s 2024 financial plan rather than Company management’s best then-currently available estimates and judgments as to the expected future performance of the Company on a standalone basis but which would provide the Board an initial set of projections to consider, including alongside such preliminary financial analyses and (b) Morgan Stanley to perform preliminary financial analyses based on such long-range projections (with the understanding that such long-range projections would be built from the Company’s 2024 financial plan and would require further development), and present its preliminary financial analyses at the next meeting of the Board, and (ii) to meet again to further review the March Bain Proposal, the preliminary draft long-range projections and Morgan Stanley’s preliminary financial analyses.

On April 14, 2024, with the approval of the Board, the Company entered into an engagement letter with Morgan Stanley to act as financial advisor to the Company in connection with its evaluation of the March Bain Proposal and its review of other strategic alternatives.

On April 16, 2024, an article was published on Reuters indicating that the Company was exploring strategic alternatives that could include a potential sale of the Company, after receiving interest from private equity firms, including Bain (the “April Press Report”). The price of the Company’s common stock increased by approximately twenty percent (20%) intraday, before settling on approximately a nine percent (9%) increase on that day at the close of trading.

On April 17, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. At the meeting, representatives of Company management presented preliminary draft long-range projections for the fiscal year ending 2024 through the fiscal year ending 2028 (the “Preliminary Draft Projections”), which were prepared on the basis noted at the Board’s April 3, 2024 meeting and are described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement. The Board engaged in significant discussion on the Preliminary Draft Projections, the assumptions underlying them and the changes that the directors suggested. Representatives of Morgan Stanley presented on and discussed with the Board, among other topics, the current market landscape, M&A environment, the historical trading performance of the Company’s common stock, equity analyst perspectives on the Company, and preliminary financial analyses based on the Preliminary Draft Projections, which use and reliance on the Preliminary Draft Projections by Morgan Stanley in connection with such preliminary financial analyses were approved by the Board. Representatives of Paul, Weiss reviewed with the directors their fiduciary duties in connection with the Board’s review of the March Bain Proposal and other potential strategic alternatives and preliminary process considerations (should the Board choose to engage in a process).

 

39


Table of Contents

The Board discussed various ways that the Company could respond to the March Bain Proposal, including among other things, communicating that it was rejecting the March Bain Proposal, engaging with Bain on a limited access basis, or entering into a sale process that could range from being narrow to a broad auction process and the potential universe of financial and/or strategic potential counterparties with the financial capability to acquire the Company. After discussion, the Board directed (i) Morgan Stanley and representatives of the Company to encourage Bain to increase its offer by communicating to Bain that the March Bain Proposal undervalues the Company, but that the Board would be willing to provide Bain with incremental due diligence materials and limited access to Company management in order to facilitate Bain refining its proposal and (ii) Company management to continue to develop the long-range projections.

Following the meeting on April 17, 2024, representatives of Morgan Stanley contacted representatives of Bain to inform Bain of the Board’s response.

On April 18, 2024, the Company entered into a mutual non-disclosure agreement with Bain (the “April 2024 NDA”) to facilitate due diligence by Bain, the January 2022 NDA having expired in January 2024. The April 2024 NDA included a standstill provision for the benefit of the Company for a period of one year with a customary “fallaway” provision providing that the standstill obligations would terminate in certain circumstances, including upon the Company entering into a binding agreement related to the sale or a change of control of the Company.

On April 20, 2024, the Company provided representatives of Bain access to a virtual data room containing non-public information regarding the Company (the “Virtual Data Room”). From April 20, 2024 through the signing of the Merger Agreement on July 11, 2024, Bain and its advisors conducted due diligence on the Company, including reviewing materials in the Virtual Data Room, submitting diligence requests for additional information and documents, to which representatives of the Company and its advisors provided responses, and through a number of discussions with representatives of the Company and its advisors in various functions, including in over fifteen targeted “expert” due diligence sessions with members of Company management on a range of topics in order to aid Bain’s due diligence review of the Company, including in respect of the litigation involving the D&A Business.

On April 26, 2024, a private equity firm we refer to as “Financial Sponsor A” submitted an unsolicited non-binding proposal letter to Mr. Fox to acquire the Company for a price in the range of $70.00-$75.00 per share, in cash (the “April Financial Sponsor A Proposal”). The April Financial Sponsor A Proposal represented a premium of twenty-four percent (24%) to thirty-three percent (33%) to the Company’s share price at the close of business on April 15, 2024 of $56.54 (the “Unaffected Share Price”), which was the day immediately prior to the release of the April Press Report. The April Financial Sponsor A Proposal stated that Financial Sponsor A expected that it would need to raise third-party debt financing to finance the transaction consideration. The April Financial Sponsor A Proposal stated that Financial Sponsor A was prepared to move expeditiously, but did not indicate a time frame for the completion of Financial Sponsor A’s due diligence nor did it indicate when Financial Sponsor A expected to be in a position to execute definitive transaction documentation. Mr. Fox promptly shared the April Financial Sponsor A Proposal with the Board.

On April 26, 2024, representatives of a party we refer to as “Strategic Party A” called Mr. Fox to inform Mr. Fox that it intended to submit a non-binding proposal letter for the Company. Bain, Financial Sponsor A and Strategic Party A are collectively referred to as the “Bidders.”

On April 27, 2024, Strategic Party A submitted an unsolicited non-binding proposal letter to Mr. Fox to acquire the Company for a price in the range of $67.00-$71.00 per share, in cash (the “April Strategic Party A Proposal”). The April Strategic Party A Proposal represented a premium of nineteen percent (19%) to twenty-six percent (26%) to the Company’s Unaffected Share Price. The April Strategic Party A Proposal indicated that Strategic Party A would need to finance the proposed transaction, but did not provide more detail on expected sources or nature of the financing that would be sought. The April Strategic Party A Proposal indicated that

 

40


Table of Contents

Strategic Party A expected to be able to complete due diligence alongside the negotiation of definitive transaction documentation within 30 to 45 days. Mr. Fox promptly shared the April Strategic Party A Proposal with the Board.

On April 29, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Representatives of Morgan Stanley reviewed certain terms of the two recent April proposals with the Board. The Board discussed the fact that the April proposals offered higher prices for the Company than the March Bain Proposal and also discussed that neither of the April proposals had yet identified or secured financing partners to complete a transaction. The Board and its advisors discussed whether the Bidders had the financial capability to potentially acquire the Company without committed debt or equity financing. Representatives of Morgan Stanley provided the Board with their views on the availability of financing in the current market, explained that each Bidder’s ability to secure financing would be crucial in evaluating any proposal, and led a discussion on the potential next steps in discussions with all three Bidders.

Also at this meeting, representatives of Paul, Weiss reviewed with the directors their fiduciary duties in connection with evaluating the proposals and their review of other potential strategic alternatives, including remaining a standalone public company. Representatives of Paul, Weiss noted that financing, regulatory and other closing risks should be considered, alongside the value being offered by each Bidder. Representatives of Paul, Weiss also provided their initial views on the potential regulatory risks associated with a transaction with each Bidder, noting that regulatory clearance of a transaction with Financial Sponsor A could be more likely to be delayed as compared to the other Bidders. Paul, Weiss explained this increased risk profile was due to Financial Sponsor A having already signed a transaction in which it was acquiring a company in the same industry as the Company and that in such transaction, Financial Sponsor A had agreed to a “clear skies” provision which stated that Financial Sponsor A was prohibited from taking any action or failing to take any action that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay or materially impede the ability of Financial Sponsor A to consummate that transaction. Representatives of Paul, Weiss noted that a transaction with Strategic Party A also had an elevated regulatory risk and delay given Strategic Party A’s assets and investor mix (one of its significant stockholders, who held governance rights in Strategic Party A, was a majority investor in a competitor to the Company). At the meeting, Mr. Fox noted that he served on the board of directors of a portfolio company of Financial Sponsor A, which, after discussion, the Board did not view as interfering with his ability to exercise independent judgement.

After discussion, the Board determined that (i) its advisors and members of Company management should have discussions with representatives of Financial Sponsor A and Strategic Party A to obtain further detail on their proposed funding structures, the likelihood of them obtaining funding, the risk (of not obtaining or a delay in respect of) the required regulatory approvals and (ii) that if the results of such discussions resulted in Company management believing that a transaction was potentially viable with respect to Financial Sponsor A or Strategic Party A, to (a) negotiate and execute a non-disclosure agreement, (b) provide the applicable Bidder access to diligence materials and (c) request revised proposals by May 20, 2024, with such proposals including significantly greater detail on their proposed financing structures and financing sources.

As part of ongoing discussions, representatives of Morgan Stanley subsequently notified each of Bain, Strategic Party A and Financial Sponsor A that they should submit a revised proposal by May 20, 2024.

Between April 30, 2024 and May 1, 2024, representatives of the Company and each of Strategic Party A and Financial Sponsor A met to discuss the Bidders’ respective financing plans, financing sources and potential regulatory risk associated with a potential strategic transaction with the Company. During those meetings legal counsel to Financial Sponsor A indicated that it would provide the Company with “comfort” on the “clear skies” provision as part of the bidding discussions.

In the days after these meetings, and following detailed discussions with representatives of Morgan Stanley and Paul, Weiss, Company management determined that a potential strategic transaction with each of Financial Sponsor A and Strategic Party A was potentially viable, and took the next steps with each party as directed by the Board.

 

41


Table of Contents

In April 2024, the compensation committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”) held a meeting with a representative of Paul, Weiss in attendance to discuss (i) the initial proposals that the Company should make in respect of employee compensation matters, if requested to do so by the Bidders and (ii) the discretionary cash bonus to which Mr. Fox was eligible under his employment contract. The Compensation Committee held several subsequent meetings to discuss the Company’s equity awards, director pay, employee retention, and other compensation matters.

On May 5, 2024, the Company entered into a mutual non-disclosure agreement with Financial Sponsor A, which included a standstill provision for the benefit of the Company for a period of one year with a customary “fallaway” provision providing that the standstill obligations would terminate in certain circumstances, including upon the Company entering into a binding agreement related to the sale or a change of control of the Company. On May 5, 2024, the Company provided representatives of Financial Sponsor A with access to the Virtual Data Room. From May 5, 2024 through June 25, 2024, representatives of Financial Sponsor A accessed the Virtual Data Room. During that period, Financial Sponsor A conducted due diligence on the Company, including through reviewing materials in the Virtual Data Room, submitting diligence requests for additional information and documents, to which representatives of the Company and its advisors provided responses, and through a number of discussions with representatives of the Company and its advisors in various functions, including in over ten targeted “expert” due diligence sessions with members of Company management in order to aid Financial Sponsor A’s due diligence review of the Company.

On May 8, 2024, the Company entered into a mutual non-disclosure agreement with Strategic Party A, which included a standstill provision for the benefit of the Company for a period of one year with a customary “fallaway” provision providing that the standstill obligations would terminate in certain circumstances, including upon the Company entering into a binding agreement related to the sale or a change of control of the Company. On May 8, 2024, the Company provided representatives of Strategic Party A with access to the Virtual Data Room. From May 8, 2024 through June 25, 2024, representatives of Strategic Party A accessed the Virtual Data Room. During that period, Strategic Party A conducted due diligence on the Company, including through reviewing materials in the Virtual Data Room, submitting diligence requests for additional information and documents, to which representatives of the Company and its advisors provided responses, and through a number of discussions with representatives of the Company and its advisors in various functions, including in over ten targeted “expert” due diligence sessions with members of Company management in order to aid Strategic Party A’s due diligence review of the Company.

Also on May 8, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss in attendance. Representatives of the Company’s management provided an update on the ongoing process to sell the D&A Business, explaining that the Company had invited a small number of bidders that had submitted written non-binding proposals to acquire the D&A Business into “round two” of the sale process, and that the Company had requested final proposals from such potential buyers by June 12, 2024. The representatives of Company management noted that the “round one” proposals received by such potential buyers valued the D&A Business between $250 million to $325 million. Representatives of Company management discussed with the Board their continued work to refine the long-range projections, including the sensitivity of the forecasts to assumptions on the market growth rate. After discussion, the Board authorized Company management to update the Bidders on the D&A Business sale process in a form and time that Company management believed would be most strategic).

On May 20, 2024, Financial Sponsor A submitted a revised non-binding proposal to acquire the Company for $72.50 per share, in cash (the “May Financial Sponsor A Proposal”), representing a premium of twenty-eight percent (28%) to the Company’s Unaffected Share Price. The May Financial Sponsor A Proposal noted that the proposed aggregate purchase price would be funded with third-party debt financing with the remainder (approximately $3.4 billion) being funded with equity financing from funds controlled by Financial Sponsor A and co-investors. The May Financial Sponsor A Proposal stated that Financial Sponsor A could complete its due diligence and sign definitive transaction documentation in three weeks.

 

42


Table of Contents

On May 20, 2024, Bain submitted a revised non-binding proposal to acquire the Company for $67.50 per share, in cash (the “May Bain Proposal”), representing a premium of 19.4% to the Company’s Unaffected Share Price. The May Bain Proposal noted that the proposed aggregate purchase price would be funded with a combination of third-party debt and preferred equity financing with the remainder (approximately $3.0 billion) being funded by equity commitments from funds advised by Bain and co-investors. The May Bain Proposal stated that Bain could complete its due diligence and sign definitive transaction documentation in two to three weeks.

On May 21, 2024, Strategic Party A submitted a revised non-binding proposal to acquire the Company for $71.00 per share, in cash (the “May Strategic Party A Proposal,” together with the May Financial Sponsor A Proposal and the May Bain Proposal, the “May Proposals”), representing a premium of 25.6% to the Company’s Unaffected Share Price. The May Strategic Party A Proposal noted that the proposed aggregate purchase price, which assumed a $2.1 billion refinancing of Strategic Party A’s own debt, would be funded with a combination of third-party debt and preferred equity financing. The May Strategic Party A Proposal stated that Strategic Party A could complete its due diligence and sign definitive transaction documentation in four weeks.

On May 23, 2024, Bloomberg reported that the Company was drawing interest from private equity firms and that it had been working with a financial advisor to explore strategic options (together with the April Press Reports, the “Press Reports”).

On May 23, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. The Board reviewed the May Proposals and representatives of Morgan Stanley discussed certain financial aspects of the proposals. The representatives of Morgan Stanley discussed each Bidder’s proposed financing structure and sources, and the anticipated time to signing of definitive transaction documentation, if the Board determined to proceed in discussions with the Bidders. The representatives of Morgan Stanley also noted both Strategic Party A and Financial Sponsor A were able to offer a higher price for the Company in part due to their expectations that the transaction would be able to achieve synergies.

After discussion, which included, among other things, consideration of the fact that none of the Bidders yet had fully committed financing, the Board determined to proceed in discussions with all of the Bidders. The Board directed Morgan Stanley to communicate with each Bidder and instruct each Bidder that final bids would be due by June 19, 2024, with the aim of having complete diligence and fully committed financing by that date (which Morgan Stanley did thereafter). Bidders were also instructed to provide an initial markup of a draft merger agreement to be provided by Paul, Weiss in the Virtual Data Room (the “Draft Merger Agreement”) with their bids. To facilitate the Bidders obtaining fully committed financing, the Board authorized Company management to allow Bidders to contact financing sources, provided that each such financing source was bound by an appropriate obligation of confidentiality to minimize leak risk both generally and as between the Bidders.

On May 30, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Prior to the meeting, representatives of Morgan Stanley delivered an updated relationship disclosure letter to the Board describing its relationships with the Company, each of the three Bidders and their majority-owned affiliates. Members of Company management reviewed the May Projections (as defined and further described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement) with the Board, which reflected (i) actual results of the full first quarter of 2024, (ii) the addition of new initiatives of the Company and the revenue that would be contributed thereby which included an initial view on the probability of achieving the financial results forecasted to be generated by such new initiatives (which we refer to as the New Initiative Forecast, as discussed in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement), (iii) updated forecasts with respect to the D&A Business, (iv) a four percent (4%) market growth rate for asset-based revenue from over the forecast period, based on discussion with and feedback from the Board, (v) forecasts with respect to stock-based compensation based on business segment and (vi) the Company’s strategic minority investments carried on its balance sheet.

 

43


Table of Contents

Representatives of Paul, Weiss reviewed with the Board its fiduciary duties in connection with conducting a process for a potential transaction involving the sale of the Company. Representatives of Paul, Weiss then discussed the regulatory risk associated with each of the Bidders, reflecting further diligence and discussions with the each of the Bidders; ultimately noting that a potential strategic transaction with Financial Sponsor A could be less certain to close and could likely take longer to close than a transaction with Bain or Strategic Party A. Following discussion, the Board (i) approved the May Projections for use and reliance by Morgan Stanley and (ii) instructed Paul, Weiss to move forward with finalizing the Draft Merger Agreement to post to the Virtual Data Room (which it did on June 5, 2024).

On June 12, 2024, the Company received “round two” proposals from potential buyers to acquire the D&A Business, which proposals valued the D&A Business from $100 million to $220 million and requested further information on the public litigation involving the D&A Business.

On June 12, 2024, Financial Sponsor A submitted a letter to Mr. Fox (the “June 12 Letter”) that stated that, following internal discussions, Financial Sponsor A had decided it would not be continuing discussions with the Company with respect to a potential strategic transaction due to its inability to submit a final proposal on the timeline requested. The June 12 Letter stated (i) Financial Sponsor A believed there was strong commercial rationale for a combination of the Company with the public company in the same industry it was in the process of acquiring, and that such a combination would generate synergies, (ii) Financial Sponsor A’s non-diligence workstreams had progressed well, (iii) that it had completed substantial regulatory analysis with its advisors, which regulatory analysis was shared and discussed with Paul, Weiss, (iv) that Financial Sponsor A believed the combination of the Company with the public company in the same industry as the Company that it was acquiring would not give rise to material regulatory risk, (v) that Financial Sponsor A had arranged the equity and debt financing it needed to complete a transaction with the Company (but did not include any evidence that such equity financing had been arranged) and (vi) that Financial Sponsor A would not be able to submit a final proposal on the timeline communicated to it because Financial Sponsor A had not received sufficient information or access to Company management during diligence to be in a position to submit a final proposal on June 19, 2024. The June 12 Letter, was promptly shared with the Board, who requested to meet with Company management and its advisors.

On June 13, 2024, representatives of Morgan Stanley contacted Financial Sponsor A to discuss additional detail on what information Financial Sponsor A felt had not been provided. Later that day, representatives of Morgan Stanley sent a follow up email to Financial Sponsor A containing responses to, and next steps on, Financial Sponsor A’s due diligence. Financial Sponsor A responded four days later, on June 17, 2024, and re-affirmed that it did not wish to continue in the process, as outlined in the June 12 Letter.

On June 13, 2024, Ropes and Gray LLP (“Ropes”), legal counsel for Bain, submitted a markup of the Draft Merger Agreement to Paul, Weiss.

On June 14, 2024, legal counsel for Strategic Party A submitted a markup of the Draft Merger Agreement to Paul, Weiss.

On June 14, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Representatives from Morgan, Stanley updated the Board on developments since their last meeting, primarily the June 12 Letter and Financial Sponsor A’s stated withdrawal from the discussions with the Company. The Board reviewed with its advisors the amount of information and access to Company management that Financial Sponsor A had received during diligence and how that compared to the amount of information and access given to the other Bidders, noting that Financial Sponsor A had received substantially similar access. Representatives from Paul, Weiss further explained that due to regulatory and competitive concerns, certain information had to be shared with a limited group of representatives of the Bidders and their potential financing sources and, in some circumstances, only in limited form. The representatives of Paul, Weiss noted that was particularly the case for Financial Sponsor A due to the regulatory risks that the Board had previously considered.

 

44


Table of Contents

The Board discussed with its advisors and members of Company management whether there may have been other reasons that could have caused Financial Sponsor A’s withdrawal, including, among others, Financial Sponsor A’s pending acquisition of a public company in the same industry as the Company (including the “clear skies” provision and the potential regulatory risks that the Board had previously considered), and that Financial Sponsor A may have come to believe, based on its diligence of the D&A Business to date, that there was less value to ascribe to the D&A Business than equity research analysts had estimated. The Board considered a range of potential next steps, including further outreach to Financial Sponsor A and considered, among other things, (i) the competitive dynamics of the discussions with the Bidders to date, (ii) an extension of the deadline to provide a proposal to provide Financial Sponsor A with additional time to undertake diligence (and how other Bidders may respond thereto) and (iii) the regulatory uncertainty of a transaction with Financial Sponsor A.

The representatives of Paul, Weiss provided the Board with an update on the key differences in markups of the Draft Merger Agreement from each of Strategic Party A and Bain and discussed the key transaction terms and provisions that would impact the likelihood that such a transaction would be consummated, including, among other things, the proposed financing structure. The representatives of Paul, Weiss noted that its review of the markups was ongoing and the Board directed Paul, Weiss to meet with Company management as soon as its review was complete to discuss a complete issues list comparing the Draft Merger Agreement with the markups that were returned by each of Strategic Party A and Bain.

After discussion, the Board determined (i) to continue discussions relating to other proposals it had received on the timeline that had been previously communicated to each Bidder and (ii) to direct representatives of the Company and its advisors to continue engaging with Financial Sponsor A and encourage Financial Sponsor A to submit a final proposal on that same timeline.

On June 16, 2024 and June 17, 2024, with the authorization of the Board, representatives of the Company provided each of the active Bidders with a verbal update on the Company’s ongoing process to sell the D&A Business (the “D&A Business Process Update”). The D&A Business Process Update noted, among other things, that (i) three potential buyers had submitted “round two” proposals to acquire the D&A Business and (ii) that these proposals valued the D&A Business from $100 million to $220 million, but that the $220 million offer was subject to due diligence and valuation contingencies.

On June 18, 2024, representatives of Morgan Stanley delivered an updated relationship disclosure letter to the Board describing its relationships with the Company, each of the three Bidders and their majority-owned affiliates.

On June 18, 2024, representatives of Strategic Party A contacted Mr. Fox and stated that Strategic Party A did not have the financing necessary to submit a final proposal to acquire the Company and therefore would not be in a position to submit a final proposal by June 19, 2024. The representative of Strategic Party A indicated that it may be able to submit a revised proposal, but that Strategic Party A would require at least several additional weeks to secure the necessary financing to do so.

On June 19, 2024, Bain and its advisors submitted a “final” proposal letter to acquire the Company for (i) $62.75 per share, in cash, plus (ii) an additional amount, in cash, equal to any consideration received by the Company in respect of the sale of the D&A Business prior to the closing of a transaction with the Company and Bain provided that net proceeds from the sale of the D&A Business exceeded $50 million and that any such transaction was consummated on such terms reasonably acceptable to Bain (the “June Bain Proposal”). The June Bain Proposal was not contingent on the sale of the D&A Business and, assuming no additional consideration was paid in respect of the sale of the D&A Business, the June Bain Proposal represented a premium of eleven percent (11%) to the Company’s Unaffected Share Price. The June Bain Proposal noted that the proposed aggregate purchase price would be funded with (i) committed debt and preferred equity financing and (ii) the remainder (approximately $1.8 billion) funded by equity commitments from funds advised by Bain and third-party co-investors and additional investments from strategic partners. The June Bain Proposal noted that Bain

 

45


Table of Contents

had completed its due diligence, had received the requisite internal approvals to proceed with the June Bain Proposal, and could be in a position to sign definitive transaction documents within one week, provided that the Company agree to an exclusivity period. No other Bidder submitted a proposal by the June 19 deadline.

On June 20, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Prior to the meeting, representatives of Morgan Stanley delivered a written update to its relationship disclosure letter to the Board describing its relationships with the Company, each of the Bidders and their majority-owned affiliates. Representatives of Morgan Stanley reviewed certain financial terms of the June Bain Proposal with the Board. Representatives of the advisors and members of Company management discussed with the Board the reasons that Bain noted had caused it to lower its offer price from the March Bain Proposal, including the D&A Business Process Update and the publicly-disclosed litigation associated with the D&A Business. Representatives of Company management provided a further update on the D&A Business sale process and its expectations with respect to, among other things, the likelihood of the D&A Business sale being consummated and the associated reduction in corporate expenses following such a sale. After discussion, the Board determined (i) Company management should provide Morgan Stanley with the amount of net proceeds expected from the sale of the D&A Business based on the “round two” proposals and ongoing negotiations, (ii) Morgan Stanley should reflect the sale of the D&A Business and the associated reduction to corporate expenses based on its ongoing financial analyses and (iii) to reconvene the following day to further consider the June Bain Proposal with the benefit of Morgan Stanley’s ongoing financial analyses.

On June 21, 2024, the Board met to continue the discussion held the previous day with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Representatives of Morgan Stanley and Paul, Weiss reviewed with the Board the process that the Board had undertaken since the receipt of the unsolicited March Bain Proposal, and reviewed the key terms of the June Bain Proposal with the Board. Representatives of Company management reviewed with the Board the limited updates to the May Projections and assumptions contained therein, specifically (i) that its best then-currently available estimate was that the probability of achieving the financial results expected to be generated by new initiatives should be subject to an additional sixty-seven percent (67%) probability weighting of achieving such results and (ii) its expectations with respect to, among other things, the likelihood of the D&A Business sale being consummated and the associated reduction in corporate expenses following such a sale. Representatives of Morgan Stanley reviewed with the Board its ongoing updates to its financial analyses of the Company, including (a) discussing the key changes to such analyses since Morgan Stanley presented its preliminary financial analysis on April 17, 2024 (which analysis used the Preliminary Draft Projections), (b) comparing the price offered in each of the March Bain Proposal, May Bain Proposal and the June Bain Proposal and presented an updated financial analyses of such offers and (c) discussing certain key upsides and downsides to the Company’s standalone plan. After discussion, the Board approved Management Projections (as defined and described in the section further described in the section entitled “The MergerProjections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement) for Morgan Stanley’s use and reliance upon such forecasts in performing its financial analyses relating to the rendering of its fairness opinion to the Board as described in the section entitled “The Merger— Opinion of Morgan Stanley” beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement. Representatives of Paul, Weiss reviewed the material terms of the Draft Merger Agreement, noting that the mark-up of the Draft Merger Agreement submitted in connection with the June Bain Proposal was more favorable than the prior draft submitted on June 13, 2024 because, among other reasons, the markup limited the scope of the Company’s representations and warranties, increased the Parent Termination Fee, and increased the cap on interest payable by Parent or the Company in the event that such party failed to timely pay the Parent Termination Fee or the Company Termination fee, as applicable. After discussion, Morgan Stanley was authorized by the Board to counter Bain’s proposal with a price of $64.00 per share in cash with one week of exclusivity, subject to Bain’s confirmation that the consummation of the potential transaction would not be subject to the successful sale of the D&A Business.

On June 21, 2024, representatives of Morgan Stanley spoke with Bain and presented the counter-offer discussed at the Board’s June 21, 2024 meeting.

 

46


Table of Contents

On June 21, 2024, a representative of Strategic Party A emailed Mr. Fox to communicate that Strategic Party A would submit a non-binding proposal for the Company the following day.

Also on June 21, 2024, Mr. Fox contacted a senior representative of Financial Sponsor A who stated that Financial Sponsor A was not in a position to make a revised offer for the Company.

On June 22, 2024, a representative of Bain contacted Morgan Stanley with an offer price of $63.00 per share in cash with an exclusivity period through July 10, 2024. Bain also confirmed that the consummation of the potential transaction would not be subject to the successful sale of the D&A Business.

On June 22, 2024, Strategic Party A submitted a revised non-binding proposal to Mr. Fox to acquire the Company for $70.00 per share, in cash (the “June Strategic Party A Proposal”), representing a premium of 23.8% to the Company’s Unaffected Share Price, assuming no additional consideration was paid in respect of the sale of the D&A Business. The June Strategic Party A Proposal stated that Strategic Party A envisioned it would fund the proposed aggregate purchase price with a combination of debt financing, preferred equity financing, proceeds from a primary equity raise in Strategic Party A’s equity and strategic rollover investments. The June Strategic Party A Proposal stated that Strategic Party A anticipated being able to finalize such financing arrangements within three to four weeks and requested an exclusivity period of up to four weeks. The June Strategic Party A Proposal noted that the consummation of the potential transaction would be subject to the successful sale of the D&A Business.

On June 24, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Representatives of Morgan Stanley and Company management updated the Board on discussions with the Bidders and noted that (i) representatives of Strategic Party A had reached out to seek feedback on the June Strategic Party A Proposal and that representatives of Morgan Stanley and Company management had expressed the same concerns that Strategic Party A did not have committed financing and that the Board expects any financing to be fully committed at signing, (ii) Morgan Stanley had not heard from Financial Sponsor A but (iii) that Mr. Fox had connected with a senior representative of Financial Sponsor A who had confirmed that Financial Sponsor A would not make a revised offer for the Company. The advisors and the Board discussed the events since the receipt of the March Bain Proposal and discussed the current viability of a transaction with each of the Bidders, including with Strategic Party A and Financial Party A. The Board discussed, among other things, (i) the continued uncertainty with respect to Strategic Party A’s ability to secure committed financing for a transaction with the Company and the fact that the June Strategic Party A Proposal noted that the consummation of the potential transaction would be subject to the successful sale of the D&A Business and (ii) the likelihood that Financial Sponsor A was no longer interested or able to engage in discussions.

Representatives of Morgan Stanley stated that Morgan Stanley had discussed the D&A Business further with Bain and noted that while Bain believed the risks and contingencies associated with the D&A Business negatively affected the Company’s valuation, Bain’s offer was not contingent on a sale of the D&A Business being consummated prior to the closing of a proposed transaction with the Company (but that any sale of the D&A Business prior to closing would require Bain’s prior approval). The advisors compared the treatment of the D&A Business in June Bain Proposal (which indicated that the sale of the D&A Business would not be a closing condition) to the June Strategic Party A Proposal (which indicated that the sale of the D&A Business would be a closing condition) and the Board considered the closing risk associated with entering into a transaction contingent on the sale of the D&A Business. During the meeting, the Board also considered, among other things, (i) the potential adverse impact on the Company’s business of extending the timeline for the transaction process, particularly in light of concerns that the Press Reports could create additional uncertainty for employees, business partners and customers of the Company, (ii) the potential downsides of diverting Company management time towards pursuing a transaction with parties who had not indicated continuing interest in pursuing a transaction with the Company or had not submitted viable bids, (iii) the risk that Bain would abandon the discussions with the Company if the Board extended the process timeline, (iv) certain financial analyses of Morgan Stanley and

 

47


Table of Contents

(v) certain considerations from Company management regarding the execution risk of the Company’s standalone plan, including among other things, (a) risks related to succession planning for the Company’s chief executive officer, (b) the uncertainty of success of the Company’s new initiatives, (c) the trend of continued M&A activity from registered investment advisor aggregators affiliated with competitors and the risk to the Company’s standalone prospects associated therewith, (d) the potential disintermediation from larger ecosystem partners, including asset managers and custodians, and the risks such third-parties may become directly competitive with the Company and (e) the potential for the D&A Business to realize a lower transaction value than expected, if at all.

After discussion, the Board determined that the amount and certainty of the June Bain Proposal, on the terms included in that proposal, would provide greater value to the Company’s stockholders than the Company’s standalone plan and that it would be willing to transact at that price. Nonetheless, to ensure that it had maximized value, the Board directed Morgan Stanley to attempt to obtain an increase Bain’s offer price by $1.25 per share to the maximum of Bain’s price range in its original March Bain Proposal of $64.00 per share, in cash. The Board agreed to reconvene the following day after Morgan Stanley contacted Bain.

Later on June 24, 2024, representatives of Morgan Stanley met with representatives of Bain, in which the representatives of Morgan Stanley presented the Company’s revised proposal to Bain.

The following day, on June 25, 2024, a representative of Bain contacted Morgan Stanley and indicated Bain would increase its offer from $62.75 to $63.15 per share as its “best and final” offer, if the Company entered into an exclusive period with Bain through July 10, 2024 (the “Final Bain Proposal”). The Final Bain Proposal price represented an 11.7% premium to the Company’s Unaffected Share Price.

Also on June 25, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Representatives of Morgan Stanley updated the Board on the Final Bain Proposal.

The Board considered the strength of the Final Bain Proposal price of $63.15 per share, in cash, in the context of Bain’s entire bid package and whether a potential transaction with Bain was likely to provide greater value to the Company’s stockholders than other strategic alternatives available to the Board, including remaining a standalone public company. The Board further discussed with its advisors that the exclusivity period with Bain was a reasonable length of time, and that Strategic Party A and Financial Sponsor A could re-engage with the Company after the exclusivity period ended (including after any transaction was entered into) but noted it was possible such other Bidders may be unlikely to submit renewed indications of interest in a timely manner.

The Board also discussed whether further attempts should be made to solicit revised proposals from Financial Sponsor A or Strategic Party A. With respect to a potential transaction with Financial Sponsor A, the Board considered that its advisors and Company management had actively attempted to re-engage Financial Sponsor A without success and the various concerns that the Board had previously considered with respect to Financial Sponsor A. With respect to a potential transaction with Strategic Party A, the Board considered that Strategic Party A had indicated it does not have the financing for a transaction with the Company, that it was unlikely that Strategic Party A would be able to secure financing in a period of time that would not jeopardize a transaction with Bain, if at all and that the consummation of the potential transaction would be subject to the successful sale of the D&A Business. With respect to other potential third-party bidders, the Board considered the fact that the publication of the Press Reports had provided any interested parties significant opportunity to make a proposal for the Company (with the April Press Report being the likely impetus behind the initial unsolicited proposals by Strategic Party A and Financial Sponsor A), and none had submitted a written offer.

Following discussion, and after taking into consideration the information provided and discussed by Company management and advisors, the Board determined that it had obtained Bain’s best and final offer of

 

48


Table of Contents

$63.15 per share, in cash, and that there was substantial risk of losing this offer if the Company continued to pursue a higher price and directed Company management and Paul, Weiss to engage with Bain and Ropes (i) to prepare and negotiate an exclusivity agreement and (ii) to finalize the Merger Agreement and the other transaction documents, following which time the Board would meet again to make a decision on the potential transaction with Bain.

On June 25, 2024, representatives of Paul, Weiss and Ropes exchanged drafts of the exclusivity agreement, the final form of which was agreed to that evening.

On June 26, 2024, with the approval of the Board, the parties signed the exclusivity agreement, which provided for an exclusivity period until July 10, 2024, that would expire immediately if Bain reduced its offer price of $63.15 per share in any way.

On June 26, 2024, upon the effectiveness of the exclusivity agreement, Paul, Weiss provided Ropes with a revised Draft Merger Agreement.

From June 26, 2024 until the execution of the Merger Agreement on July 11, 2024, the parties and their respective legal advisors exchanged several drafts of, and engaged in numerous discussions and negotiations concerning the terms of, the Draft Merger Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (including the Limited Guarantees, Equity Commitment Letters, debt commitment letters, preferred equity commitment letter and the support and rollover agreements), with the agreements being finalized in the morning of July 11, 2024.

On July 9, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. Representatives of Paul, Weiss reviewed with the directors their fiduciary duties in connection with the Board’s evaluation of the Final Bain Proposal. Representatives of Morgan Stanley provided an overview of Morgan Stanley’s financial analyses. Representatives of Paul, Weiss reviewed the key terms of the Draft Merger Agreement. After discussion, the Board agreed to reconvene on July 11, 2024 to receive a further update on the proposed transaction with Bain.

On July 10, 2024, representatives of Morgan Stanley delivered an updated relationship disclosure letter to the Board describing its relationships with the Company, Bain, the other Parent Financing Sources and their majority-owned affiliates.

On July 11, 2024, the Board held a meeting with members of Company management and representatives of Paul, Weiss and Morgan Stanley in attendance. The Board reviewed Morgan Stanley’s relationship disclosure letter received on July 10, 2024 regarding Morgan Stanley’s prior relationship with the Company, Bain, and the other Parent Financing Sources and their majority-owned affiliates majority-owned affiliates, and concluded that such relationships would not interfere with Morgan Stanley’s ability to provide advisory services or render a fairness opinion to the Board. Representatives of Paul, Weiss reviewed with the Board the outcome of negotiations on the few remaining open terms in the Merger Agreement. Representatives from Morgan Stanley provided its final financial analyses of the Merger Consideration and rendered to the Board of Directors an oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed by a delivery of a written opinion dated as of July 11, 2024, to the effect that, as of such date, and based upon and subject to the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the scope of review undertaken by Morgan Stanley in preparing its opinion, the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of the Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair from a financial point of view to the holders of shares of the Common Stock (other than the holders of the Excluded Shares or holders who are Financing Sources or their affiliates). The opinion is more fully described under the section entitled “The Merger—Opinion of Morgan Stanley” beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement. The full text of Morgan Stanley’s written opinion has been included as Annex B to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

After discussion and taking into account the factors described below in greater detail in the section entitled “The Merger—Recommendation and Reasons for the Merger” beginning on page 50 of this Proxy Statement, the

 

49


Table of Contents

Board (i) unanimously approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the Transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) determined that the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions contemplated thereby are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company’s stockholders, (iii) directed that the adoption of the Merger Agreement be submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders at the Special Meeting and (iv) subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, resolved to recommend that the Company’s stockholders approve the adoption of this Agreement and approve the Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

Following the meeting of the Board, the Merger Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements were executed July 11, 2024.

Recommendation and Reasons for the Merger

On July 11, 2024, the Board, after considering various factors, including the non-exhaustive list of material factors described herein, and after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel, unanimously (i) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the Transactions, (ii) determined that the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and the Company’s stockholders, (iii) directed that the Merger Proposal be submitted to a vote of the Company’s stockholders at the Special Meeting and (iv) subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, resolved to recommend that the Company’s stockholders approve the Merger Proposal on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

The Board unanimously recommends that you vote (i) “FOR” the Merger Proposal, (ii) “FOR” the Merger-Related Compensation Proposal and (iii) “FOR” the Adjournment Proposal.

In evaluating the terms of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, the Board consulted with Company management and the Company’s legal and financial advisors. In reaching its determinations and recommendations, the Board considered a number of factors, including the following factors (not necessarily in order of relative importance), which the Board viewed as being generally positive or favorable in coming to its determination and recommendation.

 

   

Cash Consideration; Certainty of Value. The Board considered the fact that the Merger Consideration is a fixed cash amount, providing the Company’s stockholders with certainty of value and liquidity immediately upon the closing of the Merger. The Board believed this certainty of value was compelling, especially when viewed against the risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s stand-alone strategy and the potential impact of such risks and uncertainties on the trading price of shares of Envestnet Common Stock, including those described above and the other risks and uncertainties discussed in the Company’s public filings with the SEC (including the risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and current reports on Form 8-K).

 

   

Value Relative to Standalone Prospects. The Board’s belief that the Merger Consideration was more favorable to Company stockholders than the alternative of remaining an independent public company, after taking into account the risks and uncertainties associated with remaining an independent public company, including the Company’s business, competitive position and current industry and financial conditions. Among other things, the Board considered:

 

   

its assessment of the Company’s historical financial performance;

 

   

the uncertainty of success of the Company’s new initiatives;

 

   

the risks related to succession planning for the Company’s chief executive officer, as well as the risks associated with identifying or retaining potential successors for other senior management, including the risk of turnover among employees in connection with any management changes and continued business instability and uncertainty during any search processes;

 

50


Table of Contents
   

the trend of continued merger and acquisition activity from registered investment advisor aggregators affiliated with competitors and the risk to the Company’s standalone prospects associated therewith;

 

   

the potential disintermediation from larger ecosystem partners, including asset managers and custodians, and the risks such third-parties may become directly competitive with the Company;

 

   

the potential for the D&A Business to realize a lower transaction value in its sale process than expected, if it is sold at all;

 

   

the potential losses and costs associated with the pending litigation involving the D&A Business and the risk that the outcome of such litigation will have an adverse effect on the Company’s business; and

 

   

the risk that the Company may not be able to achieve projected financial performance, including the performance contemplated by the Projections, based on, among other things, the Board and its financial advisors’ assessment of the Company’s business, assets and prospects and competitive position.

 

   

Premium to Market Price. The Board considered the current and historical market prices, volatility and trading information with respect to shares of Envestnet Common Stock, including the fact the Merger Consideration of $63.15 for each share of Envestnet Common Stock represented a premium of approximately 11.7% relative to the unaffected closing price of shares of Envestnet Common Stock on April 15, 2024 (the last trading day before the publication of the April Press Report).

 

   

Transaction Process. The Board considered that it had conducted a robust process with the assistance of its advisors. Specifically, among other things, the Board considered:

 

   

the fact that only three potential acquirors submitted an indication of interest with regard to an acquisition of the Company (and that the publication of the Press Reports had provided any interested parties significant opportunity to make a proposal for the Company), and that only Bain submitted a final definitive proposal, including after various attempts were made to cause Strategic Party A and Financial Sponsor A to provide further indications of interest for the Company;

 

   

the current level of M&A activity in the Company’s industry, and considered its assessment, with its legal and financial advisors, that the number of potential strategic or financial counterparties to an alternative transaction involving an acquisition of the Company at the price and on the terms provided by Bain was likely low (especially considering there were no further inbound proposals subsequent to the Press Reports (other than from Strategic Party A and Financial Sponsor A) regarding a possible sale of the Company in the months prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement);

 

   

that the Company had been involved in discussions over a number of years with various parties and none had resulted in an executable transaction;

 

   

the risks involved in soliciting alternative acquisition proposals prior to signing, including the inherent risk of sharing confidential information of the Company and the risk that deferring the execution of a transaction may have on the likelihood of Bain entering into a Merger Agreement;

 

   

that should any such potential counterparty be interested in pursuing a transaction on terms more favorable to the Company and its stockholders than the Merger, such counterparty would be able to pursue such an offer under the terms of the Merger Agreement, and the Board would be able to respond to and accept such an offer if the offer was a Superior Proposal;

 

   

the fact that the Merger Consideration was the result of arm’s-length negotiations and Bain’s indication to the Board that the Merger Consideration of $63.15 per share was its best and final offer, and that such offer had been increased from the June Bain Proposal, and past the midpoint

 

51


Table of Contents
 

of the March Bain Proposal, as a result of the negotiating efforts of the Board and the Company’s advisors, and the Board’s belief, after discussion with its advisors and based on the course of negotiations with Bain, that $63.15 per share was the maximum price that Bain would offer (as further described in the section entitled The Merger—Background of the Merger” beginning on page 36 of this Proxy Statement). The Board also considered that these negotiations resulted, in its view, in Bain’s best and final offer and the highest per share consideration reasonably obtainable; and

 

   

the possibility that, if the Board declined to approve the Merger Agreement, there may not be another opportunity for the Company stockholders to receive a comparably priced offer with a comparable level of closing certainty.

 

   

Strategic Alternatives. The Board considered, after discussions with representatives of Company management and Morgan Stanley, possible alternatives to the Merger, in addition to the Projections as a standalone entity (as described in further detail in the section entitled The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement), and the risks associated with these alternatives, each of which the Board determined not to pursue in light of its belief that the Merger is more favorable to the Company’s stockholders than such alternatives. The Board also considered its belief that the value offered to holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock in the Merger was more favorable to holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock than the current risk-adjusted value of remaining an independent public company.

 

   

Opinion of Morgan Stanley. The financial analysis reviewed and discussed with the Board by representatives of Morgan Stanley, and the oral opinion of Morgan Stanley, subsequently confirmed in writing, dated July 11, 2024, to the Board to the effect that, as of that date and based upon and subject to the limitations, qualifications and assumptions described in Morgan Stanley’s written opinion, the Merger Consideration of $63.15 per to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock (other than the holders of Excluded Shares or holders who are Parent Financing Sources or their affiliates) pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, as more fully described in the section entitled “The Merger—Opinion of Morgan Stanley” beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement and which full text of the written opinion is attached hereto as Annex B and is incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement in its entirety.

 

   

Terms of the Merger Agreement. The Board considered the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, which were reviewed by the Board with its financial and legal advisors, and the fact that such terms were the result of robust arm’s-length negotiations between the parties and included enhancements that the Company and its advisors were able to obtain as a result of these negotiations and the competitive process that it had conducted (including the Company Termination Fee of approximately 2.5% of the Company’s implied equity value payable by the Company under specified circumstances, including the Company terminating the Merger Agreement to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal). Specifically, among other things, the Board considered (not necessarily in order of importance):

 

   

the likelihood and anticipated timing of obtaining all required regulatory clearances in connection with the Merger;

 

   

Parent’s obligation under the Merger Agreement to use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to obtain the proceeds of the Financing in an amount sufficient to fund the Required Funding Amount on terms (subject to certain exceptions) and conditions described in the applicable Commitment Letters;

 

   

Parent’s obligation under the Merger Agreement to, or cause its subsidiaries and affiliates to, use reasonable best efforts to consummate and make effective, as promptly as practicable, the Merger, including contesting and resisting any lawsuits or other legal proceedings challenging the

 

52


Table of Contents
 

transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including the consummation of the Merger), and to commit or effect any divestitures with respect to the businesses of the Company, Parent and their respective subsidiaries, and to commit to any go-forward restrictions or obligations on the Company, Parent and their respective subsidiaries after Closing, in each case as necessary to obtain the requisite regulatory approvals and to permit Closing by the Outside Date;

 

   

the fact that the Merger is not subject to a financing condition and that Parent has obtained committed debt financing from reputable financial institutions and committed equity financing in an aggregate amount sufficient to fund the required funding amount under the Merger Agreement;

 

   

the Company’s right under the Merger Agreement, under specified circumstances in response to certain alternative acquisition proposals, to furnish information to and conduct discussions and negotiations with third parties prior to the receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval (as discussed in the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes” beginning on page 100 of this Proxy Statement), providing an opportunity to determine if a third party is willing to pay a higher value per share to acquire the Company than Parent;

 

   

the fact that the Company Termination Fee of $90,650,000 (representing approximately 2.5% of the Company’s implied equity value) payable by the Company in certain circumstances was viewed by the Board, after consultation with its financial and legal advisors, as reasonable under the circumstances, comparable to termination fees of similar transactions and not likely to preclude or deter any other party from making a Superior Proposal;

 

   

the fact that the Merger Agreement provides that, in the event of a failure of the Merger to be consummated under certain circumstances, Parent will pay the Company a Parent Termination Fee of $220,000,000 (representing approximately 6.1% of the Company’s implied equity value), which payment is guaranteed by the guarantors;

 

   

the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances pursuant to the Merger Agreement and the Equity Commitment Letters, to seek specific performance of Parent’s obligation to cause the equity commitments to Parent to be funded pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letters;

 

   

the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances pursuant to the Merger Agreement, to seek specific performance to prevent breaches of the Merger Agreement and enforce specifically the terms of the Merger Agreement; and

 

   

the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances, to terminate the Merger Agreement in order to enter into Alternative Acquisition Agreement providing for a Superior Proposal, provided that Envestnet complies with its obligations relating to Superior Proposals under the Merger Agreement and concurrently pays to Parent the Company Termination Fee of $90,650,000, as described in the sections entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement” beginning on page 109 of this Proxy Statement and “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Company Termination Fee” beginning on page 110 of this Proxy Statement.

 

   

Likelihood of Completion: The Board considered the likelihood that the Merger would be completed based on, among other things, Bain’s proven ability to complete large acquisition transactions, the certainty of financing that Bain had demonstrated at signing and the absence of a financing condition, the business reputation and global capabilities of Bain, and the Board’s perception that Bain is willing to devote the resources necessary to close the Merger in an expeditious manner; the limited number and nature of conditions to complete the Merger and the likelihood of obtaining required regulatory approvals on a timely basis; and the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances pursuant to the Merger Agreement, to seek specific performance to prevent breaches of the Merger Agreement by the Buyer Parties and to enforce specifically the terms of the Merger Agreement.

 

   

Timing of Completion: The Board considered the anticipated timing of the consummation of the Merger and the Board’s conclusion that the Merger could be completed in a reasonable timeframe and

 

53


Table of Contents
 

in an orderly manner, reducing the period during which the Company would be subject to the potential uncertainty of Closing.

In the course of its deliberations, the Board also considered a number of uncertainties, risks and other countervailing factors relating to entering into the Merger Agreement, including (not necessarily in order of relative importance):

 

   

Closing Certainty. The fact that completion of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, depends on certain factors outside of the Company’s control, including regulatory clearances and the Requisite Stockholder Approval, and the risk that the Merger might not be completed in a timely manner or at all.

 

   

No Stockholder Participation in Future Growth. The fact that, following the Merger, the Company stockholders would no longer participate in the Company’s future earnings or growth, or benefit from any future appreciation in value of the shares of Envestnet Common Stock. While the Board was optimistic about the Company’s prospects on a standalone basis, it concluded that the value reflected in the Merger Consideration was fair compensation for the potential loss of future stockholder benefit that could reasonably be expected to be realized by the Company.

 

   

Impact of Merger Announcement on Envestnet. The risk that disruptions from the Merger may harm (i) the Company’s business, including current plans and operations and relationships with the Company’s customers, suppliers, business partners and other third parties, including during the pendency of the Merger, and (ii) the ability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel. The Board also considered the potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the Merger and that potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, could affect the Company’s operating results and financial performance.

 

   

Loss of Opportunity with Other Potential Counterparties. The fact that there is no “go-shop” in the Merger Agreement. However, the Board considered that it had conducted a robust process, that it negotiated for a low termination fee payable by the Company if it determined to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal and the fact that the Merger Agreement adequately allows for consideration of Superior Proposals under appropriate circumstances.

 

   

Tax Treatment. The fact that the receipt of the Merger Consideration, which is all cash, in exchange for shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement would be taxable to the Company stockholders that are U.S. holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

   

Restrictions on Solicitation. The restrictions imposed by the Merger Agreement on the Company’s solicitation of alternative acquisition proposals from third parties (although the Company is, under specified circumstances in response to certain alternative acquisition proposals, able to furnish information to and conduct discussions and negotiations with third parties prior to the receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval, as described above) and that prospective bidders may perceive Bain’s right under the Merger Agreement to negotiate with the Company to match the terms of any Superior Proposal prior to the Company being able to terminate the Merger Agreement and accept a Superior Proposal to be a deterrent to making alternative acquisition proposals.

 

   

Termination Fee. The possibility that the Company Termination Fee, which is $90,650,000, would be payable by Envestnet under certain circumstances, including if the Company terminates the Merger Agreement to accept a Superior Proposal and enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with any third-party, could discourage other potential acquirors from making a competing proposal to acquire the Company or could negatively impact the structure, pricing and terms of any such proposal.

 

   

Possibility of More Attractive Alternative Proposals. The Board considered that the Merger Consideration of $63.15 per share, in cash, was not the highest price offered during the transaction

 

54


Table of Contents
 

process and because the Company does not have the right to undertake a “go-shop” it is possible that other parties could have become interested in a potential transaction with the Company on more attractive terms than the Merger (although the Board considered the various factors described above and concluded that the Merger Agreement adequately allows for consideration of Superior Proposals under appropriate circumstances), and considered that the Company would be able to consider certain unsolicited written acquisition proposals from third parties pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

 

   

Pre-Closing Covenants. The restrictions placed on the conduct of the Company’s business prior to the completion of the Merger pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, which could delay or prevent Envestnet from undertaking business opportunities that may arise or any other action it would otherwise take with respect to the operations of Envestnet absent the pending completion of the Merger. The Company’s management’s focus and resources may become diverted from other important business opportunities and operational matters while working to implement the Merger.

 

   

Potential Litigation. The potential for litigation by stockholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, which, even where lacking in merit, could nonetheless result in distraction and expense.

 

   

Transaction Costs. The costs involved in connection with entering into the Merger Agreement and completing the Merger and the substantial time and effort of management required to consummate the Merger and related disruptions to the operation of the Company’s business.

 

   

Limitation of Available Remedies. The fact that (i) the Company’s remedies in the event that the Merger Agreement is terminated may be limited to the Parent Termination Fee of $220,000,000, payable by Parent under certain circumstances, and certain other damages, associated enforcement costs and other indemnification and reimbursement obligations, which may be inadequate to compensate the Company and the Company’s stockholders for any damage caused, and that the Parent Termination Fee may not be payable in all instances where the Merger is not consummated and, even if payable, rights and remedies may be expensive and difficult to enforce, and the success of any such action may be uncertain; and (ii) Parent and Merger Sub are newly formed entities with essentially no assets and the Limited Guarantees, provided by the guarantors, guarantee Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement only with respect to payment of the Parent Termination Fee of $220,000,000, certain other damages, associated enforcement costs and other indemnification and reimbursement obligations.

 

   

Risks associated with a failure to complete the Merger. While the Merger is expected to be completed, there are no assurances that all conditions to the parties’ obligations to complete the Merger will be satisfied or waived, and as a result, it is possible that the Merger may not be completed, as described under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Closing of the Merger” beginning on page 105 of this Proxy Statement. The Board noted the fact that, if the Merger is not completed, (i) the market price of shares of Envestnet Common Stock could decline, to the extent the current market price reflects a market assumption that the Merger will be completed, (ii) the Company will have incurred significant risk, transaction expenses and opportunity costs, including the possibility of disruption to its operations and conduct of business, diversion of management and employee attention, an inability to pursue alternative business opportunities or make changes to the business, an inability to attract and retain key personnel and recruit prospective employees and a potentially negative effect on its customer, supplier, business partner and employee relationships and (iii) the market’s perception of the Company’s prospects could be adversely affected.

The Board unanimously concluded that the uncertainties, risks and potentially negative factors relevant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, were outweighed by the potential benefits.

In addition, the Board was aware of and considered the fact that some of the Company’s directors and executive officers have interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the Company

 

55


Table of Contents

stockholders generally, including those interests that are a result of employment and compensation arrangements with Envestnet. For more information, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger” beginning on page 74 of this Proxy Statement.

The foregoing discussion of material factors considered by the Board in reaching its conclusions and recommendation includes the principal factors considered by the Board, but is not intended to be exhaustive and may not include all of the factors considered by the Board. In light of the variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, the Board did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise assign relative or specific weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determinations and recommendations. Rather, the Board based its decisions on the totality of the factors and information it considered, including discussions with, and questioning of, the Company’s management and its independent financial and legal advisors. Moreover, each member of the Board applied his or her own personal business judgment to the process and may have given different weight to different factors.

This explanation of the Board’s reasons for its recommendations and other information presented in this section includes statements that are forward-looking in nature and, therefore, should be read in light of the factors described in the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 26.

Opinion of Morgan Stanley

Envestnet retained Morgan Stanley to provide it with financial advisory services in connection with the Merger and to provide a financial opinion to the Board. Envestnet selected Morgan Stanley to act as its financial advisor based on Morgan Stanley’s qualifications, expertise, and reputation and its knowledge of the business and affairs of Envestnet. On July 11, 2024, at a meeting of the Board, Morgan Stanley rendered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion, dated July 11, 2024, that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the scope of review undertaken by Morgan Stanley as set forth in the written opinion, the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock (other than the holders of Excluded Shares or holders who are Parent Financing Sources or their affiliates) pursuant to the Merger Agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

The full text of the written opinion of Morgan Stanley delivered to the Board, dated as of July 11, 2024, is attached as Annex B to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. You should read Morgan Stanley’s opinion carefully and in its entirety for a discussion of the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and qualifications and limitations on the scope of the review undertaken by Morgan Stanley in rendering its opinion. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such opinion. Morgan Stanley’s opinion was directed to the Board, in its capacity as such, and addressed only the fairness from a financial point of view to the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock (other than the holders of Excluded Shares or holders who are Parent Financing Sources or their affiliates) of the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement as of the date of such opinion. Morgan Stanley’s opinion did not address any other aspects or implications of the Merger. Morgan Stanley’s opinion did not in any manner address the relative merits of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as compared to other business or financial strategies that might be available to Envestnet, nor did it address the underlying business decision of Envestnet to enter into the Merger Agreement or proceed with any other transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Morgan Stanley expressed no opinion or recommendation to any holder of shares of Envestnet Common Stock as to how such holders should vote at the Special Meeting, or whether to take any other action with respect to the Merger.

 

56


Table of Contents

For purposes of rendering its opinion, Morgan Stanley, among other things:

 

   

reviewed certain publicly available financial statements and other business and financial information of Envestnet;

 

   

reviewed certain internal financial statements and other financial and operating data concerning Envestnet;

 

   

reviewed certain financial projections prepared by the management of Envestnet (which we refer to as the “Management Projections”), which include the May Projections, the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment and the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, in each case as defined and described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement;

 

   

reviewed certain financial projections with respect to Envestnet that were derived from a consensus of selected Wall Street equity research financial forecasts (which we refer to as the “Street Projections”);

 

   

discussed the past and current operations and financial condition and the prospects of Envestnet with senior executives of Envestnet;

 

   

reviewed the reported prices and trading activity of shares of Envestnet Common Stock;

 

   

compared the financial performance of Envestnet and the prices and trading activity of shares of Envestnet Common Stock with that of certain other publicly-traded companies comparable with Envestnet and its securities;

 

   

reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain comparable acquisition transactions;

 

   

participated in certain discussions and negotiations among representatives of Envestnet and the Parent and its financial advisor;

 

   

reviewed the Merger Agreement;

 

   

reviewed the draft equity commitment letter from the equity financing sources to the Parent, substantially in the form of the draft dated July 11, 2024, the draft commitment letter from certain lenders substantially in the form of the draft dated July 11, 2024, and the draft preferred equity commitment letters from the preferred equity financing sources to the Parent substantially in the form of the drafts dated July 11, 2024 (collectively, the “Commitment Letters”); and

 

   

performed such other analyses and reviewed such other information and considered such other factors as Morgan Stanley deemed appropriate.

Morgan Stanley assumed and relied upon, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of the information that was publicly available or supplied or otherwise made available to Morgan Stanley by Envestnet, and formed a substantial basis for its opinion. With respect to the Management Projections, Morgan Stanley assumed that each had been reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of Envestnet of the future financial performance of Envestnet and are a reasonable basis upon which to evaluate the business and financial prospects of Envestnet. With respect to the Street Projections, at the direction of the Board, Morgan Stanley assumed that they were reasonable bases upon which to evaluate the business and financial prospects of Envestnet. Morgan Stanley expressed no view as to the Management Projections or the Street Projections or the assumptions on which they were based. In addition, Morgan Stanley assumed that the Merger will be consummated in accordance with the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement without any waiver, amendment or delay of any terms or conditions, including, among other things, that the Parent will obtain financing in accordance with the terms set forth in the Commitment Letters and such financing is sufficient to consummate the Merger on the terms contemplated in the Merger Agreement, and that the definitive Merger Agreement and the Commitment Letters would not differ in any material respect from the drafts thereof furnished to Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley assumed that in connection with the receipt of all

 

57


Table of Contents

the necessary governmental, regulatory or other approvals and consents required for the proposed Merger, no delays, limitations, divestitures, conditions or restrictions would be imposed that would have a material adverse effect on the contemplated benefits expected to be derived in the proposed merger. Morgan Stanley is not a legal, tax or regulatory advisor. Morgan Stanley is a financial advisor only and relied upon, without independent verification, the assessment of Envestnet and its legal, tax or regulatory advisors with respect to legal, tax or regulatory matters. Morgan Stanley did not make any assessment of the status of any outstanding litigation involving Envestnet and excluded the effects of any such litigation in its analysis, and its analysis did not include any liability associated therewith. Morgan Stanley expressed no opinion with respect to the fairness of the amount or nature of the compensation to any of Envestnet’s officers, directors or employees, or any class of such persons, relative to the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock in the transaction. Morgan Stanley did not express any view on, and its opinion did not address, any other term or aspect of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby or any term or aspect of any other agreement or instrument contemplated by the Merger Agreement or entered into or amended in connection therewith. Morgan Stanley did not make any independent valuation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities of Envestnet, nor was Morgan Stanley furnished with any such valuations or appraisals. Morgan Stanley’s opinion did not address the relative merits of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement as compared to other business or financial strategies that might be available to Envestnet, nor did it address the underlying business decision of Envestnet to enter into the Merger Agreement or proceed with any other transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Morgan Stanley’s opinion was necessarily based on financial, economic, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to Morgan Stanley as of, July 11, 2024. Events occurring after July 11, 2024 may affect Morgan Stanley’s opinion and the assumptions used in preparing it, and Morgan Stanley did not assume any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its opinion.

Summary of Financial Analyses of Morgan Stanley

The following is a summary of the material financial analyses performed by Morgan Stanley in connection with its oral opinion and the preparation of its written opinion to the Board, both provided as of July 11, 2024. The following summary is not a complete description of the financial analyses performed and factors considered by Morgan Stanley in connection with its opinion, nor does the order of analyses described represent the relative importance or weight given to those analyses. Except as otherwise noted, the following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before July 9, 2024, the second to last trading day prior to the date of Morgan Stanley’s opinion. Some of these summaries of financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses used by Morgan Stanley, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. The analyses listed in the tables and described below must be considered as a whole. Assessing any portion of such analyses and of the factors reviewed, without considering all analyses and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying Morgan Stanley’s opinion. Furthermore, mathematical analysis is not in itself a meaningful method of using the data referred to below.

In performing the financial analyses summarized below and in arriving at its opinion, at the direction of the Board, Morgan Stanley utilized and relied upon the Management Projections and the Street Projections, each of which were approved by management of Envestnet and the Board for Morgan Stanley’s use in connection with its financial analyses and which are described below. In addition, Morgan Stanley utilized and relied upon the number of issued and outstanding shares of Envestnet provided by management of Envestnet. For further information regarding the Management Projections, see the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement.

As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

 

   

“Adj. EBITDA” refers to net income (loss) before net interest expense, income tax provisions, depreciation and amortization, non-cash compensation expense and certain other expenses.

 

58


Table of Contents
   

“AV” refers to aggregate enterprise value, calculated as fully diluted market capitalization plus the principal value of total debt, plus the value of minority investments (using the equity method or the cost method), less cash and cash equivalents.

Public Trading Comparables Analysis

In order to assess how the public market values shares of similar publicly traded companies, Morgan Stanley reviewed and compared specific financial and operating data relating to Envestnet with selected companies that, in Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment, share certain similar business characteristics with and have certain comparable operating characteristics, to those of Envestnet for purposes of this analysis (these companies are referred to as the “comparable companies”).

For the purposes of this public trading comparables analysis, Morgan Stanley calculated and analyzed, among other things, the following financial metrics of each of the comparable companies as of July 9, 2024:

 

   

the ratio of AV to 2024 estimated Adj. EBITDA based on publicly available market data as of July 9, 2024; and

 

   

the ratio of AV to 2025 estimated Adj. EBITDA based on publicly available market data as of July 9, 2024.

The metrics for each of the comparable companies of Envestnet are summarized as follows:

 

Comparable Companies of Envestnet

   AV / 2024E
Adj. EBITDA
     AV / 2025E
Adj. EBITDA
 

Fidelity National Information Services

     12.0x        11.3x  

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

     15.8x        14.9x  

LPL Financial Holdings Inc.

     10.9x        9.5x  

SS&C Technologies Holdings Inc.

     9.8x        9.2x  

SEI Investments Company

     12.0x        11.3x  

Mean

     12.1x        11.2x  

Median

     12.0x        11.3x  

Based on the analysis of the relevant metrics for each of the comparable companies, and the application of its professional judgment and experience, Morgan Stanley selected a reference range of financial multiples of the comparable companies and applied this range of multiples to the relevant Envestnet financial statistics (based on estimates for Envestnet’s 2024 Adj. EBITDA and 2025 Adj. EBITDA from the each of the May Projections and the Street Projections).

Based on the estimated number of fully diluted shares of Envestnet, as of July 8, 2024, as provided by Envestnet management and calculated using the treasury stock method, Morgan Stanley calculated the following ranges of the implied per share values of Envestnet Common Stock, each rounded to the nearest $0.25:

 

Public Trading Comparables of Envestnet

   Envestnet
Metric
     Reference
Range
     Implied Value
Per Share Range
for Envestnet
 

May Projections

        

AV to Estimated 2024 Adj. EBITDA

     $311 million        11.0x - 13.0x        $47.75 - $58.50  

AV to Estimated 2025 Adj. EBITDA

     $355 million        10.5x - 12.5x        $53.00 - $65.50  

Street Projections

        

AV to Estimated 2024 Adj. EBITDA

     $307 million        11.0x - 13.0x        $46.75 - $57.50  

AV to Estimated 2025 Adj. EBITDA

     $343 million        10.5x - 12.5x        $51.00 - $62.75  

Morgan Stanley noted that the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is $63.15 per share of Envestnet Common Stock.

 

59


Table of Contents

No company utilized in the public trading comparables analysis is identical to Envestnet. In evaluating the comparable companies, Morgan Stanley made judgments and assumptions with regard to industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions, and other matters, which are beyond the control of Envestnet. These include, among other things, the impact of competition on the business of Envestnet and the industry generally, industry growth, and the absence of any adverse material change in the financial condition and prospects of Envestnet or the industry, or in the financial markets in general.

Precedent Transactions Analysis

Morgan Stanley performed a precedent transactions analysis, which is designed to imply a value of a company based on publicly available financial terms for selected transactions based on Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and experience.

In connection with its analysis, Morgan Stanley compared publicly available statistics for 11 transactions involving target companies in the financial technology and services sector announced between February 2015 and April 2024 with an AV of at least $500 million. Morgan Stanley deemed these transactions to be comparable based on target industry, transaction size and transaction structure.

For purposes of the analysis of the precedent transactions, Morgan Stanley calculated and analyzed, among other things, the ratio of AV to the last 12 months’ (referred to as “LTM”) Adj. EBITDA of the target company.

The metrics for each of the precedent transactions are summarized as follows:

 

Date Announced    Target    Acquiror    AV
($ million)
     AV / LTM
Adj. EBITDA
 

4/25/2024

   AssetMark
Financial Holdings, Inc.
   GTCR LLC    $ 2,520        9.8x  

2/13/2024

   Atria Wealth Solutions, Inc.    LPL Financial Holdings Inc.    $ 805        7.9x  

9/11/2023

   Avantax, Inc.    Cetera Financial Group    $ 1,190        11.8x  

10/5/2020

   Avaloq Group AG    NEC Corporation    $ 2,240        23.7x  

11/11/2019

   Ladenburg Thalmann
Financial Services Inc.
   Advisor Group, Inc.    $ 1,300        12.1x  

3/14/2019

   PIEtech, Inc.    Envestnet    $ 500        24.7x  

7/31/2018

   Eze Software    SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.    $ 1,450        13.8x  

7/20/2018

   Charles River Systems, Inc.    State Street Corporation    $ 2,600        14.4x  

4/11/2016

   AssetMark, Inc    Huatai Securities Co. Ltd.    $ 780        19.6x  

8/12/2015

   SunGard    Fidelity National Information Services    $ 9,100        11.2x  

2/2/2015

   Advent Software, Inc.    SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.    $ 2,700        19.4x  

Based on the analysis of the relevant metrics for each of the precedent transactions, and upon the application of its professional judgment and experience, Morgan Stanley selected a representative range of financial multiples of the precedent transactions and applied this range of multiples to the pro forma Adj. EBITDA for the 12 months ended June 30, 2024 of Envestnet under the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, which included pro forma adjustments to reflect the potential sale of the D&A Business and associated reduction in corporate expenses following such disposition as provided by Company management, as described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement. Morgan Stanley, as directed by Envestnet management, assumed that the estimated net proceeds from the potential sale of the D&A Business as provided by Envestnet management is added to Envestnet’s cash balance for the calculation of equity value.

 

60


Table of Contents

Based on the estimated number of fully diluted shares of Envestnet, as of July 8, 2024, as provided by Envestnet management and calculated using the treasury stock method, Morgan Stanley calculated the following ranges of the implied per share value of Envestnet Common Stock, rounded to the nearest $0.25:

 

Precedent Transactions    Envestnet Pro
Forma Adj.
EBITDA
     Reference
Range
     Implied Value Per
Share Range for
Envestnet
Common Stock
 

AV to LTM Adj. EBITDA

   $ 259 million        15.0x - 17.0x      $ 57.75 - $66.75  

Morgan Stanley noted that the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is $63.15 per share of Envestnet Common Stock.

No company or transaction utilized in the precedent transaction analysis is identical to Envestnet or the Merger. In evaluating the precedent transactions, Morgan Stanley made judgments and assumptions with regard to general business, market and financial conditions, and other matters, which are beyond the control of Envestnet. These include, among other things, the impact of competition on the business of Envestnet or the industry generally, industry growth and the absence of any adverse material change in the financial condition of Envestnet, the industry, or in the financial markets in general, which could affect the public trading value of the companies and the aggregate value and equity value of the transactions to which they are being compared.

Discounted Equity Value Analysis

Morgan Stanley performed a discounted equity value analysis, which is designed to provide insight into the potential future equity value of a company as a function of the company’s estimated future earnings. The resulting equity value is subsequently discounted to arrive at an estimate of the implied present value of such company’s potential future equity value. In connection with this analysis, Morgan Stanley calculated a range of implied present equity values per share of Envestnet Common Stock on a standalone basis based on the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment as described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement.

To calculate these discounted fully diluted equity values, Morgan Stanley utilized estimated pro forma Adj. EBITDA of Envestnet for 2026 under the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, which included the pro forma adjustments to reflect the potential sale of the D&A Business and associated reduction in corporate expenses following such disposition as directed by Envestnet management, as described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement. Based upon the application of its professional judgment and experience, Morgan Stanley applied a range of AV to next 12 months’ (referred to as “NTM”) Adj. EBITDA (based on such multiples for the comparable companies in the public trading comparables analysis discussed above) to Envestnet’s estimated pro forma Adj. EBITDA for 2026 of $377 million in order to reach a future-implied fully diluted AV of Envestnet as of December 31, 2025. Morgan Stanley applied an AV to NTM Adj. EBITDA multiple range of 11.0x to 13.0x, to generate the undiscounted implied future fully diluted AV as of December 31, 2025. Morgan Stanley then calculated the undiscounted implied future fully diluted equity value as of December 31, 2025. In doing so, Morgan Stanley deducted estimated net debt (which took into account the estimated net proceeds from the potential sale of the D&A Business and minority investments (using the equity method or the cost method), in each case as provided by Envestnet management). Based on the estimated number of fully diluted shares of Envestnet, as of July 8, 2024, as provided by Envestnet management and calculated using the treasury stock method, Morgan Stanley calculated the undiscounted implied future fully diluted equity value per share as of December 31, 2025.

Morgan Stanley then discounted the resulting implied future fully diluted equity value per share to June 30, 2024, at a discount rate of 12.6%, which rate was selected by Morgan Stanley based on Envestnet’s estimated cost of equity, estimated using the capital asset pricing model method and utilizing a six percent (6%) market risk premium, a risk-free rate of 4.3% based on the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield as of July 9, 2024, and a 1.38

 

61


Table of Contents

predicted beta based on the U.S. long-term predicted beta as of April 15, 2024 (which was the day immediately prior to the release of the April Press Report). The results of this analysis are listed below, each rounded to the nearest $0.25:

 

Discounted Equity Value

   Selected AV /
NTM
Adj. EBITDA
Range
     Implied Equity
Value Per Share
of Envestnet
Common Stock
 

NTM Estimated Pro Forma Adj. EBITDA as of 12/31/2025

     11.0x - 13.0x      $ 56.00 - $66.75  

Morgan Stanley noted that the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is $63.15 per share of Envestnet Common Stock.

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

Morgan Stanley performed a discounted cash flow analysis, which is designed to provide an implied value of a company by calculating the present value of the estimated future unlevered free cash flows and terminal value of such company. Morgan Stanley calculated a range of implied equity values per share of Envestnet Common Stock as of June 30, 2024, based on estimates of future unlevered free cash flows for the third and fourth quarters of 2024 and fiscal years 2025 through 2028 contained in the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment, as described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement. For the purposes of this analysis, unlevered free cash flow was calculated as pro forma Adj. EBITDA, which included the pro forma adjustments to reflect the potential sale of the D&A Business and associated reduction in corporate expenses following such disposition as directed by Envestnet management, less share-based compensation (which was treated as a cash expense for this purpose), less other cash -based expenses, less unlevered cash tax expense, less capital expenditure, plus or less change in net working capital.

The estimated unlevered free cash flows and the range of terminal values were then discounted to present value as of June 30, 2024 using mid-year discounting convention by applying a discount rate range of 10.3% to 11.9%, which was selected based on Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and experience, to reflect Envestnet’s estimated weighted average cost of capital. Morgan Stanley calculated a range of terminal values for Envestnet based on a LTM Adj. EBITDA exit multiple range of 12.0x to 14.0x indicating an implied PGR of 6.2% to 7.1%, which was selected based on Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and experience.

To calculate the implied equity value from the discounted cash flow analysis, Morgan Stanley then adjusted the discounted value of unlevered free cash flows and terminal value by subtracting gross debt of Envestnet as of June 30, 2024 of $893 million, adding estimated cash as of June 30, 2024 of $99 million, adding the value of minority investments (using the equity method or the cost method) as of June 30, 2024 of $108 million, as provided by Envestnet management, and adding the estimated net proceeds from the potential sale of the D&A Business as provided by Envestnet management. For purposes of the estimated cash balance as of June 30, 2024, Morgan Stanley, as directed by Envestnet management, used a preliminary cash balance as of June 30, 2024 of $99 million provided by Envestnet management, which reflected a downward adjustment to an estimated cash balance of $122 million as of June 30, 2024 by approximately $23 million to account for a temporary increase in cash due to timing of working capital changes. The implied equity values per share is based on the estimated number of fully diluted shares of Envestnet Common Stock, as of July 8, 2024, as provided by Envestnet’s management and calculated using the treasury stock method.

This analysis indicated a range of implied equity values per share of Envestnet Common Stock of $62.75 to $78.50, each rounded to the nearest $0.25. Morgan Stanley noted that the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is $63.15 per share of Envestnet Common Stock.

 

62


Table of Contents

Other Information

Morgan Stanley observed additional factors that were not considered part of Morgan Stanley’s financial analysis with respect to its opinion but were noted as reference data for the Board.

Illustrative Leveraged Buyout Analysis

For reference purposes only, Morgan Stanley performed an illustrative leveraged buyout analysis to determine the prices at which a financial sponsor might effect a leveraged buyout of Envestnet. Morgan Stanley assumed a transaction date of December 31, 2024 and a ratio of total debt to LTM Adj. EBITDA at the transaction date of 5.5x, which multiple was selected based on Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and taking into consideration, among other things, Envestnet’s potential debt capacity and the corresponding leverage ratio implied in the Merger. In order to approximate a three- to five-year investment period commonly expected by a financial sponsor, Morgan Stanley assumed a subsequent exit transaction by the financial sponsor on December 31, 2028 with a valuation of the Company realized by the financial sponsor in such subsequent exit transaction based on a LTM Adj. EBITDA exit multiple range of 12.0x to 14.0x, which was selected based on Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and experience. In preparing its analysis, Morgan Stanley relied upon the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, which included pro forma adjustments for the potential sale of the D&A Business and associated reduction in corporate expenses following such disposition as provided by Envestnet management, as described in the section entitled “The Merger—Projections” beginning on page 66 of this Proxy Statement. The implied acquisition price per share paid by the financial sponsor was based on a target range of internal rates of return for the financial sponsor of 17.5% to 22.5%, which range was selected based on Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and taking into consideration, among other things, Morgan Stanley’s general knowledge as to targeted internal rates of return for financial sponsors in transactions similar to the Merger (without reference to specific precedent transactions). The approximate per share equity value range of Envestnet Common Stock implied by the illustrative leveraged buyout analysis based on the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment is $50.00 to $65.75, rounded to the nearest $0.25.

Morgan Stanley noted that the illustrative leveraged buyout prices were presented for reference purposes only and were not relied upon for valuation purposes.

Historical Trading Prices

For reference purposes only, Morgan Stanley reviewed the historical trading ranges of shares of Envestnet Common Stock over the 52-week period ended on April 15, 2024 (which was the day immediately prior to the release of the April Press Report). Morgan Stanley noted that, for the 52-week period ended on April 15, 2024, the low and high close trading prices for shares of Envestnet Common Stock were as follows:

 

     Low      High  

Envestnet

   $ 33.55      $ 66.31  

Morgan Stanley noted that the historical trading prices were presented for reference purposes only and were not relied upon for valuation purposes.

Equity Research Analysts’ Price Targets

For reference purposes only, Morgan Stanley reviewed the price targets for shares of Envestnet Common Stock prepared and published by seven equity research analysts as of July 9, 2024 and noted the range, each rounded to the nearest $0.25, was $56.00 per share to $78.00 per share. These forward price targets generally reflected each analyst’s estimate of the 12-month future public market trading price of shares of Envestnet Common Stock. Morgan Stanley then discounted such price targets to present value, for a one-year discount

 

63


Table of Contents

period, using a discount rate of 12.6% for Envestnet, to arrive at a range of $49.75 per share to $69.25 per share. The 12.6% discount rate was selected by Morgan Stanley based on Envestnet’s estimated cost of equity, estimated using the capital asset pricing model method and utilizing a six percent (6%) market risk premium, a risk-free rate of 4.3% based on the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield as of July 9, 2024, and a 1.38 predicted beta based on the U.S. long-term predicted beta as of April 15, 2024 (which was the day immediately prior to the release of the April Press Report).

The price targets published by equity research analysts do not necessarily reflect current market trading prices for shares of Envestnet Common Stock and these estimates are subject to uncertainties, including the future financial performance of Envestnet and future financial market conditions.

Morgan Stanley noted that the equity research analysts’ price targets were presented for reference purposes only and were not relied upon for valuation purposes.

General

In connection with the review of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby by the Board, Morgan Stanley performed a variety of financial and comparative analyses for purposes of rendering its opinion. The preparation of a financial opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to a partial analysis or summary description. In arriving at its opinion, Morgan Stanley considered the results of all of its analyses as a whole and did not attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor that it considered. Morgan Stanley believes that selecting any portion of its analyses, without considering all of the analyses as a whole, would create an incomplete view of the process underlying its analyses and opinion. In addition, Morgan Stanley may have given various analyses and factors more or less weight than other analyses and factors and may have deemed various assumptions more or less probable than other assumptions. As a result, the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis described above should not be taken to be Morgan Stanley’s view of the actual value of Envestnet. In performing its analyses, Morgan Stanley made numerous judgments and assumptions with regard to industry performance, general business, regulatory, economic, market and financial conditions, and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Envestnet. These include, among other things, the impact of competition on the business of Envestnet and the industry generally, industry growth and the absence of any material adverse change in the financial condition and prospects of Envestnet or the industry, or in the financial markets in general. Any estimates contained in Morgan Stanley’s analyses are not necessarily indicative of future results or actual values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by such estimates.

Morgan Stanley conducted the analyses described above solely as part of its analysis of the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of the shares of Envestnet Common Stock (other than the holders of Excluded Shares or holders who are Parent Financing Sources or their affiliates) of the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement and in connection with the rendering of its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion, dated July 11, 2024, to the Board. These analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which shares of Envestnet Common Stock might actually trade following the consummation of the Merger or at any time.

The Merger Consideration to be received by holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement was determined by Envestnet and Parent through arm’s-length negotiations between Envestnet and Parent and was approved by the Board. Morgan Stanley provided advice to Envestnet during these negotiations. Morgan Stanley did not, however, recommend any specific merger consideration to Envestnet or the Board or opine that any specific merger consideration constituted the only appropriate merger consideration for the Merger. Morgan Stanley’s opinion did not address the relative merits of the Merger as compared to any other alternative business transaction, or other alternatives, or whether or not such alternatives could be achieved or are available. In addition, Morgan Stanley expressed no opinion or recommendation to any holder of shares of Envestnet Common Stock as to how such holder should vote at the Special Meeting, or whether to take any other action with respect to the Merger.

 

64


Table of Contents

Morgan Stanley’s opinion and its presentation to the Board was one of many factors taken into consideration by the Board in deciding to consider, approve and declare the advisability of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and to recommend the approval of the Merger by holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock. Consequently, the analyses described above should not be viewed as determinative of the opinion of the Board with respect to the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger Agreement or of whether the Board would have been willing to agree to different merger consideration.

Morgan Stanley’s opinion was approved by a committee of Morgan Stanley investment banking and other professionals in accordance with Morgan Stanley’s customary practice.

Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm engaged in the securities, investment management and individual wealth management businesses. Its securities business is engaged in securities underwriting, trading and brokerage activities, foreign exchange, commodities and derivatives trading, prime brokerage, as well as providing investment banking, financing and financial advisory services. Morgan Stanley, its affiliates, directors and officers may at any time invest on a principal basis or manage funds that invest, hold long or short positions, finance positions, and may trade or otherwise structure and effect transactions, for their own account or the accounts of its customers, in debt or equity securities or loans of the Parent, Envestnet, Bain Capital, LP and certain of its majority-owned affiliates (collectively, the “Bain Related Entities”), BlackRock, Inc. and certain of its majority-owned affiliates (collectively, the “BlackRock Related Entities”), FMR LLC, Franklin Resources Inc., Ares Capital Management LLC and certain of its majority-owned affiliates (collectively the “Ares Related Entities”), State Street Corporation, Norwest Venture Partners and certain of its majority-owned affiliates (collectively the “Norwest Related Entities”) and Reverence Capital Partners and certain of its majority-owned affiliates (collectively the “Reverence Related Entities”) (the foregoing entities (other than the Parent and Envestnet) collectively are referred to as the “Parent Financing Sources”) or their respective affiliates or any other company, or any currency or commodity, that may be involved in the Merger, or any related derivative instrument. In addition, Morgan Stanley, its affiliates, directors or officers, including individuals working with Envestnet in connection with the Merger, may have committed and may commit in the future to invest in private equity funds managed by the Bain Related Entities, the other Parent Financing Sources or their respective affiliates, or in affiliates of Morgan Stanley that may hold direct equity and/or partnership interests in private equity funds managed by the Bain Related Entities, the other Parent Financing Sources or their respective affiliates.

Under the terms of its engagement letter, Morgan Stanley provided the Board with financial advisory services and a financial opinion described in this section and attached as Annex B to this Proxy Statement in connection with the Merger. Envestnet has agreed to pay Morgan Stanley for its services in connection with the Merger an aggregate fee, a significant portion of which is contingent upon the closing of the Merger, which is estimated, as of the date of this Proxy Statement, to be approximately $50 million (which we refer to as the “Morgan Stanley Transaction Fee”), $3 million of which was payable upon the rendering of a financial opinion to the Board, which will be credited against the Morgan Stanley Transaction Fee payable if the Merger is consummated. Envestnet has also agreed to reimburse Morgan Stanley for its reasonable expenses, including fees of outside counsel and other professional advisors, incurred in connection with its engagement. In addition, Envestnet has agreed to indemnify Morgan Stanley and its affiliates, their respective officers, directors, employees, advisors and agents and each other person, if any, controlling Morgan Stanley or any of its affiliates against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities relating to or arising out of or in connection with Morgan Stanley’s engagement.

In the two years prior to the date of Morgan Stanley’s opinion, Morgan Stanley and its affiliates provided financial advisory and financing services to Envestnet and received aggregate fees of approximately between $5 million and $6 million for such services. In the two years prior to the date of Morgan Stanley’s opinion, Morgan Stanley and its affiliates (i) provided financial advisory and financing services for the Bain Related Entities and received aggregate fees of approximately between $30 million and $50 million for such services, (ii) provided financial advisory and financing services for BlackRock Related Entities and received aggregate

 

65


Table of Contents

fees of approximately between $5 million and $15 million for such services, (iii) provided financial advisory and financing services for FMR LLC and received aggregate fees of approximately between $2 million and $5 million for such services, (iv) provided financial advisory and financing services for Franklin Resources Inc. and received aggregate fees of approximately between $2 million and $5 million for such services, (v) provided financing services for Ares Related Entities and received aggregate fees of approximately between $10 million and $20 million for such services, (vi) provided financing services for State Street and received aggregate fees of approximately between $2 million and $5 million for such services, (vii) provided financing services for Norwest Related Entities and received aggregate fees of less than $2 million for such services, and (viii) provided financing services for Reverence Related Entities and received aggregate fees of less than $2 million for such services. As of the date of Morgan Stanley’s opinion, Morgan Stanley has been engaged for certain financial advisory services for Bain Related Entities and for a financing assignment for Ares Related Entities, in each case unrelated to the Merger, for which Morgan Stanley expects to receive customary fees if such transactions are completed. Morgan Stanley expects that such fees from the Bain Related Entities would be significantly more, in the aggregate, than the fees Morgan Stanley would receive from Envestnet in the Merger. Morgan Stanley expects that such fees from Ares Related Entities would be significantly less than the fees Morgan Stanley would receive from Envestnet in the Merger. Morgan Stanley may also seek to provide financial advisory and financing services to the Parent, Envestnet, the Bain Related Entities, the other Parent Financing Sources and their respective affiliates in the future and would expect to receive fees for the rendering of these services.

As of the date of Morgan Stanley’s opinion, Morgan Stanley held an aggregate interest of between five percent (5%) and six percent (6%) in shares of Envestnet Common Stock, between zero percent (0%) and three percent (3%) in the common stock of certain Bain Related Entities, between ten percent (10%) and fifteen percent (15%) in the common stock of Canada Goose Holdings Inc., a publicly traded Bain Related Entity, between one percent (1%) and three percent (3%) in the common stock of certain Blackrock Related Entities, between one percent (1%) and two percent (2%) in the common stock of Ares Related Entities, between one percent (1%) and two percent (2%) in the common stock of State Street, less than one percent (1%) in the common stock of Franklin Resources Inc., and less than one percent (1%) in the common stock of certain Norwest Related Entities, which interests were held in connection with Morgan Stanley’s (i) investment management business, (ii) wealth management business, including client discretionary accounts or (iii) ordinary course trading activities, including hedging activities.

In addition, Morgan Stanley is a counterparty to Envestnet with respect to a capped call transaction entered into by Envestnet in connection with Envestnet’s issuance of its convertible notes due in 2027. The consummation of the Merger may result in the unwind of such derivative transaction and Envestnet or Morgan Stanley may be entitled to receive a net payment, in an amount to be calculated at the time of closing of the Merger.

Projections

Other than providing near term guidance in connection with its ordinary course earnings announcements, the Company does not, as a matter of course, make public projections as to future performance, earnings or other results due to, among other reasons, the inherent unpredictability of projections and their underlying assumptions and estimates, especially over longer periods of time. Although Company management periodically prepares, and the Board periodically evaluates, prospective financial information concerning its future performance as part of its annual financial planning process, Company management does not produce long-range financial projections in the ordinary course. Despite this general practice, in connection with the Board’s evaluation of strategic alternatives, including the continued execution of the Company’s strategy as a stand-alone public company or the possible sale of the Company to a third party, including pursuant to the Merger, Company management prepared certain non-public, unaudited prospective financial information with respect to fiscal years 2024 through 2028 (which we refer to generally as “long-range projections”) at the request of the Board.

 

66


Table of Contents

Preliminary Draft Projections

As further described in the section entitled “The MergerBackground of the Merger” beginning on page 36 of this Proxy Statement, Company management did not produce long-range financial projections in the ordinary course and, at the time the Board received the March Bain Proposal, the Company did not have any such long-range projections to provide to Morgan Stanley on which Morgan Stanley could perform preliminary financial analyses. As such, at the Board’s April 3, 2024 meeting, the Board directed Company management to prepare such long-range projections.

Company management prepared and reviewed with the Board initial preliminary draft long-range projections at the Board’s April 17, 2024 meeting (the “Preliminary Draft Projections”) which, due to the limited time available, were prepared by taking the 2024 annual budget that was approved by the Board as part of the Company’s annual planning cycle and updating the asset-based revenue for market values as of the end of the first quarter of 2024, then using a range of organic growth rate and profit margin assumptions for the forecast period, as well as other assumptions.

The Preliminary Draft Projections were not approved by the Board for use and reliance by Morgan Stanley in performing its financial analyses relating to the rendering of its fairness opinion, and the Management Projections (as defined below) were the only financial projections with respect to the Company used by Morgan Stanley in performing such financial analyses. However, the Preliminary Draft Projections were approved for use and reliance by Morgan Stanley in connection with certain ongoing preliminary financial analyses as described in the section entitled “The Merger—Background of the Merger” on page 36 of this Proxy Statement.

Management Projections

Based on feedback provided by the Board at the Board’s April 17, 2024 meeting and at subsequent meetings of the Board and in other discussions, Company management developed long-range projections for the Company, which were further revised to reflect developments in the Company’s business and the on-going process to divest the D&A Business.

A version of the long-range projections was discussed in detail at the Board’s May 30, 2024 meeting, as described in the section entitled “The MergerBackground of the Merger” beginning on page 36 of this Proxy Statement, (the “May Projections”). The May Projections reflected the following changes, among others, from the Preliminary Draft Projections: (i) actual results of the full first quarter of 2024, (ii) the inclusion of new initiatives of the Company and the revenue that would be contributed thereby which included an initial view on the probability of achieving the financial results forecasted to be generated by such new initiatives (the “New Initiatives Forecast”), (iii) updated forecasts with respect to the D&A Business (prior to the Company receiving the “round two” proposals for the D&A Business on June 12, 2024, as discussed in the section entitled “The MergerBackground of the Merger” beginning on page 36 of this Proxy Statement), (iv) a four percent (4%) market growth rate for asset-based revenue over the forecast period, based on discussion with and feedback from the Board, (v) forecasts with respect to stock-based compensation based on business segment and (vi) the Company’s strategic minority investments carried on its balance sheet. The May Projections were prepared by Company management and approved by the Board at the Board’s May 30, 2024 meeting for use and reliance by Morgan Stanley in connection with its ongoing financial analyses.

Following the Board’s May 30, 2024 meeting, Company management further reviewed the status of the Company’s new initiatives and the assumptions in the May Projections with respect to the probability of achieving the New Initiatives Forecast, and determined, and discussed with the Board at the Board’s June 21, 2024 meeting, that its best then-currently available estimate was to make an additional sixty-seven percent (67%) probability weighting of achieving the New Initiatives Forecast.

Following the Board’s June 21, 2024 meeting, and to incorporate the most recent views of Company management, to reflect the foregoing, Company management, at the direction of the Board, directed Morgan

 

67


Table of Contents

Stanley to use and rely on the May Projections, with such additional adjustments and assumptions as follows, in connection with its financial analysis and the opinion that Morgan Stanley rendered in connection with the Merger as described in the section entitled “The MergerOpinion of Morgan Stanley” beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement:

 

  (i)

for the purposes of public trading comparables analysis, to use the May Projections without any further adjustment, and, in addition to the Management Projections, the Street Projections (as defined in the section entitled “The MergerOpinion of Morgan Stanley” beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement) would also be used as a basis for this analysis. The Street Projections did not reflect (a) the sale of the D&A Business or (b) a further probability weighting of achieving the New Initiatives Forecast. That is substantially the same basis on which the May Projections were created. Therefore, to allow for a like-for-like comparison between the analysis based on the Management Projections and the Street Projections, no adjustment was made to the May Projections;

 

  (ii)

for the purposes of the precedent transactions analysis, (a) to include pro forma adjustments to reflect potential sale of the D&A Business and the associated reduction in corporate expenses following such disposition in the long-term projections based on the net proceeds in the “round two” proposals and negotiations with bidders for the D&A Business (the “D&A Adjustment”), as it reflected the best then-currently available view of Company management and (b) to make no further probability weighting of the New Initiatives Forecast (“No Initiatives Adjustment” and the May Projections adjusted to reflect the D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, the “May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment”), as the forecast period was backwards looking for the 12-months preceding June 30, 2024 and the revenue contribution of the new business initiatives was $0 in such period;

 

  (iii)

for the purposes of the discounted equity analysis, to use May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, which (a) included pro forma adjustments to reflect the D&A Adjustment, as it reflected the best then-currently available view of Company management and (b) reflected the No Initiatives Adjustment;

 

  (iv)

for the purposes of the discounted cash flow analysis, (a) to include pro forma adjustments to reflect the D&A Adjustment, which reflected the best then-currently available view of Company management, and (b) to make a further sixty-seven percent (67%) probability weighting of the New Initiatives Forecast, which reflected the best then-currently available estimate of Company management as to the expected probability of achieving the New Initiatives Forecast, reflecting, among other things, the fact that the Company had not achieved any revenue in respect of such new initiatives at that time (the “67% Initiatives Adjustment” and the May Projections adjusted to reflect the D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment, the “May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment”); and

 

  (v)

for the purposes of the leveraged buyout analysis, which would be presented for reference purposes only and would not be relied upon for valuation purposes, based on the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, i.e., adjusted to (a) reflect the D&A Adjustment, which reflected the best then-currently available view of Company management and (b) reflect the No Initiatives Adjustment, as the purpose of this analysis was to show the maximum amount that a potential financial sponsor might be prepared to pay for the Company and as such should reflect the most positive reasonable view of the Company, rather than the Company management’s best then-currently available estimate as to the expected probability of achieving the New Initiatives Forecast.

The May Projections, the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment and the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, collectively are referred to as the “Management Projections” (together with the Preliminary Draft Projections, the “Long-Range Projections”), which were approved by the Board for use and reliance by Morgan Stanley in connection with its financial analyses and fairness opinion as described in the section entitled “The MergerBackground of the Merger” beginning on page 36 of this Proxy Statement.

 

68


Table of Contents

Cautionary Note About the Long-Term Projections

The Long-Range Projections were not prepared with a view toward public disclosure and the summary thereof is not being included in this Proxy Statement to influence a stockholder’s decision with respect to the Merger, including whether to vote in favor of the Merger Proposal or any other proposals to be voted on at the Special Meeting and whether or not to seek appraisal rights with respect to their shares of Envestnet Common Stock in connection with the Merger. The Long-Range Projections may differ from published analyst estimates and forecasts.

The Long-Range Projections were not prepared with a view toward complying and do not necessarily comply with published guidelines of the SEC, the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for preparation and presentation of financial forecasts, or generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (and do not include footnote disclosures as may be required by GAAP). The Long-Range Projections included in this Proxy Statement have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, the Company’s management. Neither KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, nor any other audit firm has audited, reviewed, examined, compiled or applied agreed-upon procedures with respect to the Long-Range Projections and, accordingly, neither KPMG nor any other audit firm has expressed an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto. The KPMG report included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, which is incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement, relates to the Company’s historical financial information and does not extend to the Long-Range Projections and should not be read to do so.

The Long-Range Projections, while presented with numerical specificity, necessarily were based on numerous variables and assumptions that are inherently uncertain and many of which are beyond the control of the Company management. For example, most of the Company’s revenue is currently and is expected to remain a variable percentage of assets managed or administered on its platform which are by their nature sensitive to overall changes in asset prices in the overall capital markets. Because the Long-Range Projections cover multiple years, by their nature, they become subject to greater uncertainty with each successive year. The assumptions upon which the Long-Range Projections were based necessarily involve judgments with respect to, among other things, future economic, competitive and financial market conditions, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the Company’s control, including general economic conditions, competition and the risks discussed in this Proxy Statement under the section entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 26 of this Proxy Statement. The Long-Range Projections also reflect the assumptions as to certain business decisions that are subject to change and are susceptible to multiple interpretations and periodic revisions based on actual results, revised prospects for the Company’s business, competitive environment, changes in general business or economic conditions, or any other transaction or event that has occurred or that may occur and that was not anticipated when the Long-Range Projections were prepared. In addition, the Long-Range Projections might be affected by the Company’s ability to achieve proposed initiatives, objectives and targets over the applicable periods.

The Long-Range Projections treat the Company on a stand-alone basis and without giving effect to, and as if the Company never contemplated, the Merger, including the impact of negotiating or executing the Merger Agreement, the expenses that may be incurred in connection with consummating the Merger, the effect of any business or strategic decision or action that has been or will be taken as a result of the Merger Agreement having been executed or the effect of any business or strategic decisions or actions which would likely have been taken if the Merger Agreement had not been executed but which were instead altered, accelerated, postponed or not taken in anticipation of the Merger.

There can be no assurance that the Long-Range Projections will be realized, and actual results may vary materially from those shown. The inclusion of the Long-Range Projections in this Proxy Statement should not be regarded as an indication that the Company or any of its affiliates, advisors, officers, directors or representatives considered or consider the Long-Range Projections to be predictive of actual future events or events that have occurred since the date of such forecasts, and the Long-Range Projections should not be relied upon as such. The Company has not updated the Long-Range Projections to reflect Company management’s current views of the

 

69


Table of Contents

Company or the Company’s future financial performance and the Long-Range Projections should not be treated as guidance with respect to the projected results for any period. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, advisors, officers, directors or representatives can give any assurance that actual results will not differ materially from the Long-Range Projections, and none of them undertakes any obligation to update or otherwise revise or reconcile the Long-Range Projections to reflect circumstances existing after the date the Long-Range Projections were generated or to reflect the occurrence of future events even in the event that any or all of the assumptions underlying the Long-Range Projections are shown to be in error. The Company does not intend to make publicly available any update or other revision to the Long-Range Projections, except as otherwise required by law, and neither the Company, Bain nor, after the consummation of the Merger, the Surviving Company, undertakes any obligation or otherwise to revise the Long-Range Projections after the date hereof, except to the extent required by law. Neither the Company, Bain, nor any of their respective affiliates, advisors, officers, directors or representatives has made or makes any representation to any stockholder of the Company or other person regarding the ultimate performance of the Company compared to the information contained in the Long-Range Projections or that the Long-Range Projections will be achieved. The Company has made no representation to Bain, Morgan Stanley or their respective affiliates, in the Merger Agreement or otherwise, concerning the Long-Range Projections. The Long-Range Projections are forward-looking statements, and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the risks and uncertainties identified above and in the cautionary statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports filed by the Company with the SEC from time to time, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Certain of the Long-Range Projections (including Adjusted EBITDA and Unlevered Free Cash Flow) are or may be considered non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures used in the Management Projections were relied upon by the Board in connection with its evaluation of the Merger and, at the direction of the Board, by Morgan Stanley in connection with its financial analysis and the opinion that Morgan Stanley rendered in connection with the Merger as described in the section entitled “The MergerOpinion of Morgan Stanley” beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement. There are limitations inherent in non-GAAP financial measures, because they exclude charges and credits that are required to be included in a GAAP presentation. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP, and non-GAAP financial measures as used by the Company may not be comparable to similarly titled amounts used by other companies. No reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the Long-Range Projections to GAAP measures was created or used in connection with preparing the Long-Range Projections and no such reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures in the Long-Range Projections to GAAP measures was relied upon by the Board in connection with its evaluation of the Merger, or by Morgan Stanley in connection with its financial analysis and the opinion that Morgan Stanley rendered in connection with the Merger as described in the section entitled “The MergerOpinion of Morgan Stanley beginning on page 56 of this Proxy Statement.

In light of the foregoing factors and the uncertainties inherent in the Long-Range Projections, stockholders are cautioned not to place undue, if any, reliance on the Long-Range Projections. Neither the Company, Bain nor any of their respective affiliates, advisors, or representatives has made or makes any representation to any person regarding the ultimate performance of the Company compared to the information contained in the Long-Range Projections.

A summary of the Preliminary Draft Projections and the Management Projections are presented below, with all figures presented in millions and rounded to the nearest million. The following summaries are not included in this Proxy Statement to induce any Company stockholder to vote in favor of approving the Merger Proposal or any other proposals to be voted on at the Special Meeting.

 

70


Table of Contents

Preliminary Draft Projections

The following tables summarizing the Preliminary Draft Projections include the unaudited prospective Unlevered Free Cash Flows of the Company as arithmetically derived by Morgan Stanley based on the Preliminary Draft Projections and assumptions provided by Company management. Neither the Preliminary Draft Projections nor the Unlevered Free Cash Flows derived therefrom were approved by the Board for reliance upon and use by Morgan Stanley in the rendering its fairness opinion to the Board or in performing its financial analysis in connection therewith. Morgan Stanley did not rely upon or use the Preliminary Draft Projections and the Unlevered Free Cash Flows derived therefrom in the rendering its fairness opinion to the Board or in performing its financial analysis in connection therewith. However, the Preliminary Draft Projections were approved for use and reliance by Morgan Stanley in connection with certain ongoing preliminary financial analyses as described in the section entitled “The Merger—Background of the Merger” on page 36 of this Proxy Statement.

3% Market Growth Scenario:

 

(amounts in millions)    FY 2024E     FY2025E     FY2026E     FY2027E     FY2028E  

Gross Revenue

   $ 1,375     $ 1,468     $ 1,618     $ 1,779     $ 1,962  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 313     $ 351     $ 407     $ 460     $ 520  

Capital Expenditures and Capitalized Software

   $ (85   $ (87   $ (88   $ (92   $ (96

Unlevered Free Cash Flow(2)(3)

   $ 77     $ 118     $ 159     $ 185     $ 220  

4% Market Growth Scenario:

 

(amounts in millions)    FY 2024E     FY2025E     FY2026E     FY2027E     FY2028E  

Gross Revenue

   $ 1,377     $ 1478     $ 1,639     $ 1,813     $ 2,012  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 314     $ 355     $ 415     $ 473     $ 520  

Capital Expenditures and Capitalized Software

   $ (85   $ (87   $ (88   $ (92   $ (96

Unlevered Free Cash Flow(2)(3)

   $ 77     $ 121     $ 164     $ 195     $ 233  

5% Market Growth Scenario:

 

(amounts in millions)    FY 2024E     FY2025E     FY2026E     FY2027E     FY2028E  

Gross Revenue

   $ 1,379     $ 1,489     $ 1,660     $ 1,847     $ 2,063  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 314     $ 360     $ 424     $ 487     $ 561  

Capital Expenditures and Capitalized Software

   $ (85   $ (87   $ (88   $ (92   $ (96

Unlevered Free Cash Flow(2)(3)

   $ 78     $ 124     $ 170     $ 204     $ 247  

 

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before deferred revenue fair value adjustment, interest income, interest expense, income tax provision, depreciation and amortization, goodwill impairment, gain on deconsolidation, non-cash compensation expense, restructuring charges and transaction costs, severance expense, litigation, regulatory and other governance related expenses, foreign currency, non-income tax expense adjustment, fair market value adjustments to investments in private companies, (gain) loss from equity method investments and loss attributable to non-controlling interest. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, and is not intended to represent, or to be used, as a substitute for net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP measure differently than Envestnet, which limits comparability between companies.

(2)

Assumed tax rate of 25.5%.

(3)

Unlevered Free Cash Flow is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA less (i) depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring charges and transaction costs, severance expense, litigation, regulatory and other governance related expenses, less (ii) tax expense, plus (iii) depreciation and amortization, less (iv) capital expenditures and capitalization of internally developed software, plus or less (v) change in net working capital. Unlevered Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure, and is not intended to represent, or to be used, as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP measure differently, which limits comparability between companies.

 

71


Table of Contents

Management Projections

The following tables summarizing the Management Projections reflect in (i) the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment, an additional sixty-seven percent (67%) probability weighting of achieving the New Initiatives Forecast and (ii) the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment and the May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment, the unaudited prospective Unlevered Free Cash Flows of the Company, in the case of each of (i) and (ii), as arithmetically derived by Morgan Stanley based on the May Projections and assumptions provided by Company management, which derivations were approved by the Board for reliance upon and use by Morgan Stanley in the rendering its fairness opinion to the Board and in performing its financial analysis in connection therewith. Morgan Stanley did not derive unaudited prospective Unlevered Free Cash Flows of the Company based on the May Projections other than as summarized in the following tables entitled “May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment” and the “May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment.”

May Projections:

 

(amounts in millions)    FY 2024E     FY 2025E     FY 2026E     FY 2027E     FY 2028E  

Gross Revenue

   $ 1,375     $ 1,495     $ 1,691     $ 1,920     $ 2,189  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 311     $ 355     $ 426     $ 519     $ 625  

Capital Expenditures and Capitalized Software

   $ (85   $ (84   $ (88   $ (92   $ (96

 

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before deferred revenue fair value adjustment, interest income, interest expense, income tax provision, depreciation and amortization, goodwill impairment, gain on deconsolidation, non-cash compensation expense, restructuring charges and transaction costs, severance expense, litigation, regulatory and other governance related expenses, foreign currency, non-income tax expense adjustment, fair market value adjustments to investments in private companies, (gain) loss from equity method investments and loss attributable to non-controlling interest. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, and is not intended to represent, or to be used, as a substitute for net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP measure differently than Envestnet, which limits comparability between companies.

May Projections with D&A Adjustment and 67% Initiatives Adjustment:

 

(amounts in millions)    Six months
ending
December 31,
2024E
    FY
2025E
    FY
2026E
    FY
2027E
    FY
2028E
 

Gross Revenue

   $ 624     $ 1,326     $ 1,486     $ 1,670     $ 1,883  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 147     $ 321     $ 373     $ 435     $ 503  

Capital Expenditures and Capitalized Software

   $ (29   $ (65   $ (68   $ (71   $ (74

Unlevered Free Cash Flow(2)(3)

   $ 48     $ 114     $ 149     $ 180     $ 218  

 

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before deferred revenue fair value adjustment, interest income, interest expense, income tax provision, depreciation and amortization, goodwill impairment, gain on deconsolidation, non-cash compensation expense, restructuring charges and transaction costs, severance expense, litigation, regulatory and other governance related expenses, foreign currency, non-income tax expense adjustment, fair market value adjustments to investments in private companies, (gain) loss from equity method investments and loss attributable to non-controlling interest. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, and is not intended to represent, or to be used, as a substitute for net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP measure differently than Envestnet, which limits comparability between companies.

(2)

Assumed tax rate of 25.5%.

 

72


Table of Contents
(3)

Unlevered Free Cash Flow is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA less (i) depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring charges and transaction costs, severance expense, litigation, regulatory and other governance related expenses, less (ii) tax expense, plus (iii) depreciation and amortization, less (iv) capital expenditures and capitalization of internally developed software, plus or less (v) change in net working capital. Unlevered Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure, and is not intended to represent, or to be used, as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP measure differently, which limits comparability between companies.

May Projections with D&A Adjustment and No Initiatives Adjustment:

 

(amounts in millions)    Six months
ending
December 31,
2024E
    FY
2025E
    FY
2026E
    FY
2027E
    FY
2028E
 

Gross Revenue

   $ 624     $ 1,330     $ 1,501     $ 1,703     $ 1,940  

Adjusted EBITDA(1)

   $ 147     $ 320     $ 377     $ 447     $ 529  

Capital Expenditures and Capitalized Software

   $ (29   $ (65   $ (68   $ (72   $ (75

Unlevered Free Cash Flow(2)(3)

   $ 48     $ 113     $ 150     $ 187     $ 234  

 

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) before deferred revenue fair value adjustment, interest income, interest expense, income tax provision, depreciation and amortization, goodwill impairment, gain on deconsolidation, non-cash compensation expense, restructuring charges and transaction costs, severance expense, litigation, regulatory and other governance related expenses, foreign currency, non-income tax expense adjustment, fair market value adjustments to investments in private companies, (gain) loss from equity method investments and loss attributable to non-controlling interest. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure, and is not intended to represent, or to be used, as a substitute for net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP measure differently than Envestnet, which limits comparability between companies.

(2)

Assumed tax rate of 25.5%.

(3)

Unlevered Free Cash Flow is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA less (i) depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, restructuring charges and transaction costs, severance expense, litigation, regulatory and other governance related expenses, less (ii) tax expense, plus (iii) depreciation and amortization, less (iv) capital expenditures and capitalization of internally developed software, plus or less (v) change in net working capital. Unlevered Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP measure, and is not intended to represent, or to be used, as a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity. Other companies may calculate this non-GAAP measure differently, which limits comparability between companies.

The Long-Range Projections should be evaluated, if at all, in conjunction with the historical financial statements and other information regarding the Company incorporated by reference into this Proxy Statement.

 

73


Table of Contents

Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger

When considering the recommendation of the Board that you vote to approve the Merger Proposal, you should be aware that directors and executive officers of Envestnet may have interests in the Merger that are or may be different from, or in addition to, your interests as a Company stockholder. The Board was aware of and considered these interests to the extent such interests existed at the time, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Merger Agreement, in approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger and in recommending that the Merger Agreement be adopted by Company stockholders. These interests include the following:

 

   

the conversion of unvested Company RSUs and Company PSUs held by the directors and executive officers of Envestnet into RSU Deferred Cash Awards and PSU Deferred Cash Awards at the Effective Time;

 

   

the acceleration and cash out of Company Options held by the directors and executive officers of Envestnet at the Effective Time;

 

   

the entitlement of each of the executive officers of Envestnet to receive severance payments and benefits under any preexisting employment agreement upon a termination of employment in certain circumstances;

 

   

the entitlement of certain executive officers of Envestnet to receive retention awards in connection with the Merger; and

 

   

the continued indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to be provided by the Surviving Company.

If the Merger Proposal is approved by Company stockholders, the shares of Envestnet Common Stock held by the directors and executive officers of Envestnet will be treated in the same manner as outstanding shares of Envestnet Common Stock held by all other Company stockholders entitled to receive the Merger Consideration.

Envestnet’s executive officers included in the summary below, all of whom, except Mr. Fox, were named executive officers during Envestnet’s fiscal year 2023, are:

 

   

James Fox — Interim Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Joshua Warren — Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Shelly O’Brien — Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary;

 

   

William Crager — Senior Advisor to the Interim Chief Executive Officer; Former Chief Executive; Officer; and

 

   

Peter D’Arrigo — Former Chief Financial Officer

Although Peter D’Arrigo, Envestnet’s former Chief Financial Officer, is no longer an executive officer of Envestnet as of the date of this filing, he served as an executive officer for a period of time during fiscal year 2023 and, therefore, is included in the summary below.

For purposes of this disclosure, Envestnet’s non-employee directors are:

 

   

Luis A. Aguilar

 

   

Gayle Crowell

 

   

Valerie Mosley

 

   

Gregory Smith

 

   

Barbara Turner

 

   

Lauren Taylor Wolfe

 

74


Table of Contents

James Fox Second Amendment to Interim CEO Agreement

James Fox has been serving as Envestnet’s Interim Chief Executive Officer under an Interim Executive Agreement with Envestnet and its subsidiary, Envestnet Financial Technologies, Inc. (“EFT”), dated as of January 7, 2024, and amended as of March 14, 2024 (as amended, the “Interim CEO Agreement”). The Interim CEO Agreement provided for an initial six-month term, which may be extended for additional one-month periods at Envestnet’s discretion. Additionally, the Interim CEO Agreement provided Mr. Fox with a salary of $350,000 per month, of which twenty-five percent (25%) is paid in cash and the remainder of which is deferred and be paid in shares of Envestnet Common Stock, subject to vesting and to be delivered promptly following the end of the term of the Interim CEO Agreement, which vesting conditions were waived in connection with entering into the Merger Agreement. Mr. Fox has vested but deferred Envestnet Common Stock worth $1,575,000 as of the date hereof.

In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, on July 11, 2024, Envestnet, EFT and Mr. Fox entered into a second amendment to the Interim CEO Agreement that provides that, effective as of the date of such amendment: (i) Mr. Fox’s salary will be paid in one hundred percent (100%) cash (in lieu of cash and shares of Envestnet Common Stock) and (ii) the term of the Interim CEO Agreement will be subject to automatic, rather than discretionary, extensions for additional one-month periods until the Effective Time, at which time it shall automatically terminate.

Separately, and unrelated to the Merger, in connection with the expiration of the initially contemplated term of Mr. Fox’s Interim CEO Agreement, the Compensation Committee of the Company Board has approved a $900,000 discretionary cash bonus to Mr. Fox pursuant to the terms of his agreement.

Treatment and Quantification of Envestnet Equity Awards

As of August 20, 2024 (which is the latest practicable date to determine the amounts included below before the filing of this proxy statement), certain of the Company’s directors and executive officers held Company Options, Company RSUs and Company PSUs (collectively, the “Company Equity Awards”), as set forth in the tables below. Amounts in the table below have been determined using the Merger Consideration of $63.15 per share.

Company Option Awards

 

Name

   Number of Shares
Subject to Company
Options (#)
     Value of Shares
Subject to Company
Options ($)
     Weighted Average
Exercise Prices ($)
 

James L. Fox

     8,082        312,479        24.49  

Joshua Warren

     —         —         —   

Shelly O’Brien

     8,931        201,988        40.53  

William Crager

     22,985        535,510        39.85  

Peter D’Arrigo

     —         —         —   

Luis A. Aguilar

     1,745        54,880        31.70  

Gayle Crowell

     1,745        54,880        31.70  

Valerie Mosley

     —         —         —   

Gregory Smith

     8,038        311,095        24.45  

Barbara Turner

     —         —         —   

Lauren Taylor Wolfe

     —         —         —   

Each Company Option held by a director or executive officer of Envestnet, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding and unexercised as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the total

 

75


Table of Contents

number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time. Any Company Option that has an exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock that is greater than or equal to the Merger Consideration will be cancelled at the Effective Time for no consideration. None of Envestnet’s directors or executive officers have been granted any Company Options on or after July 11, 2024.

Company RSU Awards

 

Name

   Number of Shares
Subject to Company
RSUs (#)
     Value of Shares
Subject to Company
RSUs ($)
 

James L. Fox

     10,665        673,495  

Joshua Warren

     13,731        867,113  

Shelly O’Brien

     27,896        1,761,632  

William Crager

     24,751        1,563,026  

Peter D’Arrigo

     —         —   

Luis A. Aguilar

     3,825        241,549  

Gayle Crowell

     3,987        251,779  

Valerie Mosley

     3,663        231,318  

Gregory Smith

     4,237        267,567  

Barbara Turner

     4,401        277,923  

Lauren Taylor Wolfe

     4,239        267,693  

Each Company RSU held by a director or executive officer of Envestnet that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a RSU Deferred Cash Award. Each RSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder’s continued employment or service through the applicable vesting dates, vest in accordance with the same vesting schedule as the underlying Company RSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company RSU for which it was exchanged. None of Envestnet’s directors or executive officers have been granted any Company RSU on or after July 11, 2024.

Company PSU Awards

 

Name

   Number of Shares
Subject to Company
PSU (#)
     Value of Shares
Subject to Company
PSU ($)
 

James L. Fox

     —         —   

Joshua Warren

     35,308        2,229,700  

Shelly O’Brien

     38,073        2,404,310  

William Crager

     63,429        4,005,541  

Peter D’Arrigo

     12,805        808,636  

Luis A. Aguilar

     —         —   

Gayle Crowell

     —         —   

Valerie Mosley

     —         —   

Gregory Smith

     —         —   

Lauren Taylor Wolfe

     —         —   

Each Company PSU held by an executive officer of Envestnet that is outstanding as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to

 

76


Table of Contents

the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration, multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a PSU Deferred Cash Award. Each PSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder of such award’s continued employment or service on the last day of such performance period applicable to the Company PSU for which the Company PSU Deferred Cash Award was exchanged, vest at the same time as the underlying Company PSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company PSU for which it was exchanged. None of our executive officers have been granted any Company PSUs on or after July 11, 2024, and none of our directors hold Company PSUs. The numbers set forth in the table above reflect the number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock that would be deemed earned at the greater of target or actual performance as of the date hereof (resulting in PSUs being deemed earned at one hundred percent (100%) of target, other than 2024 PSUs being deemed earned at two hundred percent (200%) based on actual performance). Company PSUs are able to be earned at up to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of target (or, with respect to Company PSUs granted in 2024, at up to two hundred percent (200%) of target).

Retention Awards

In connection with the Merger, Envestnet may establish a cash-based retention bonus pool for designated employees with a maximum aggregate amount of $25 million. Retention bonuses are payable to designated employee participants fifty percent (50%) at the Effective Time and fifty percent (50%) on the 12-month anniversary of the Effective Time, in each case, subject to the participant’s continued employment through the applicable date, unless such participant’s employment is terminated by Envestnet without “cause” or due to “disability” or death, as such terms are defined in the retention award agreements (the “Retention Agreements”). In respect of its executive officers, Envestnet has entered into a Retention Agreement with each of Joshua Warren, Envestnet’s Chief Financial Officer, and Shelly O’Brien, Envestnet’s Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, pursuant to which each executive may receive a cash payment from Envestnet in the aggregate amounts of $1,000,000 and $900,000, respectively, subject to applicable taxes and withholdings.

Payments Upon Termination at or Following a Change in Control

Each of the Company’s executive officers is a party to an executive agreement with Envestnet and participates in the 2010 Long-Term Incentive Plan, 2024 Long-Term Incentive Plan and other applicable employee benefit plans, which may provide for potential payments to the Company’s executive officers in connection with a termination of employment. Each executive officer would be eligible to receive the following potential payments and benefits upon a termination of the executive officer’s employment by Envestnet without “cause” or, for certain executives, a resignation for “good reason,” as each such term is defined in the executive’s respective agreements, subject to each executive officer’s execution of a general release of claims:

 

   

Mr. Fox’s Interim CEO Agreement provides that (i) upon a termination of his employment by Envestnet without “cause,” he is entitled to receive any earned but unpaid cash bonus pursuant to such agreement and (ii) promptly following the end of his agreement term, the deferred shares of Envestnet Common Stock.

 

   

Pursuant to their respective executive agreements, Mr. Warren and Ms. O’Brien will be eligible to receive (i) cash payment equal to two times the sum of his or her (a) base salary plus (b) an amount equal to the average of his or her most recent two annual bonuses, paid in equal installments on regular payment dates over two years, (ii) a prorated bonus for the year of termination, which is calculated by multiplying the executive’s average annual bonus over the last two years by a fraction, the numerator of which equals the number of days during the calendar year prior to the termination date and the denominator of which equals 365, paid no later than the 60 day anniversary of the termination date and (iii) a cash payment equal to eighteen months’ of monthly COBRA premiums (based on the executive’s health care premium costs covered by the Company as of the termination date), paid in lump sum no

 

77


Table of Contents
 

later than the 60 day anniversary of the termination date. For the estimated value of the severance and benefits that would be payable to Mr. Warren and Ms. O’Brien, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Golden Parachute Compensation” beginning on page 79 of this Proxy Statement.

 

   

Mr. Warren and Ms. O’Brien are entitled to receive any unpaid portion of their retention award upon a termination by Envestnet without “cause” or due to “disability” or death, as such terms are defined in the Retention Agreement.

 

   

Mr. Crager’s senior advisor agreement provides that upon a termination of his employment by Envestnet without “cause,” he is entitled to receive (i) any earned but unpaid performance bonus up to a maximum of $500,000 (as of August 20, 2024, Mr. Crager would only be entitled to a bonus payment of up to $300,000 because $200,000 was previously paid to Mr. Crager on June 28, 2024), (ii) continued payment of any unpaid portion of his base salary through the end of the term of the agreement (March 31, 2025 or, if the parties agree to an extension, such agreed upon later date) and (iii) retirement treatment in regard to any outstanding Company RSUs and Company PSUs as of the date of his termination.

 

   

Peter D’Arrigo, who stepped down from the role of Chief Financial Officer effective November 15, 2023, and is no longer employed by Envestnet but was an executive officer during a portion of fiscal year 2023, will not receive any severance payments or benefits in connection with the consummation of the Merger.

Each of our executive officers is also subject to restrictive covenants as a part of his or her executive agreement with Envestnet which provide that, during the course of each executive officer’s employment and for two years following the termination of his or her employment for any reason, each executive officer will not (i) compete with Envestnet, (ii) hire or engage any of Envestnet’s employees or individual consultants, (iii) solicit any of Envestnet’s employees, individual consultants, customers, suppliers, licensees or other business relations or (iv) make disparaging statements about Envestnet or any of its employees, customers, suppliers or licensees. In addition, each of our executive officers have agreed in their respective executive agreements that they will not improperly use or disclose any of Envestnet’s proprietary, trade secret or confidential information or disparage Envestnet or any of its affiliates at any time.

Insurance and Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company’s directors and officers will be entitled to certain ongoing indemnification. Please see the section entitled “Terms of the Merger AgreementIndemnification and Insurance” beginning on page 106 of this Proxy Statement for a description of such ongoing indemnification and insurance coverage obligations.

For further information with respect to the arrangements between the Company and its executive officers, please see the information included under “The MergerInterests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger” beginning on page 74 of this Proxy Statement and “The MergerGolden Parachute Compensation” beginning on page 79 of this Proxy Statement.

Arrangements with Parent

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, none of our executive officers has had any discussions or negotiations, or entered into any agreement, with Parent or any of its affiliates regarding the potential terms of their individual employment arrangements or the right to purchase or participate in the equity of Parent or one or more of its affiliates following the consummation of the Merger. Prior to, or following the consummation of, the Merger, however, certain executive officers may have additional discussions, or may enter into agreements, with Parent, Envestnet or their respective affiliates regarding employment with, or the right to purchase or participate in the equity of, Parent or one or more of its affiliates after the Effective Time.

 

78


Table of Contents

Since July 11, 2024, Parent and its affiliates have had preliminary discussions with Thomas Sipp, Executive Vice President, Business Lines of Envestnet (who is not an executive officer), regarding Parent or its affiliates’ potential purchase of Mr. Sipp’s minority equity interests in the following companies: Fiduciary Exchange, LLC, Advisor Credit Exchange, LLC and HealthPilot Technologies, LLC. Such purchases may involve the issuance of equity in Parent or its affiliate in exchange for such interests. The Company also owns equity interests in these companies and is aware of such preliminary discussions. There is no assurance that parties will reach an agreement with respect to such transactions.

Golden Parachute Compensation

In accordance with Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC, the table below sets forth the compensation that is based on, or otherwise relates to, the Merger that may be paid or become payable to each of the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger. Please see the previous portions of this section for further information regarding this compensation. Under the applicable SEC rules, the Company’s named executive officers for this purpose are required to consist of our Interim Chief Executive Officer and the named executive officers for whom disclosures were required in Envestnet’s most recent proxy statement filed with the SEC, who are:

 

   

James Fox — Interim Chief Executive Officer;

 

   

Joshua Warren — Chief Financial Officer;

 

   

Shelly O’Brien — Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary;

 

   

William Crager — Senior Advisor to the Interim Chief Executive Officer; Former Chief Executive Officer; and

 

   

Peter D’Arrigo — Former Chief Financial Officer

Peter D’Arrigo, former Chief Financial Officer, prior to his separation, served as a named executive officer during fiscal year 2023 and thus, has been included in the disclosure below, although he has no interest in the Merger (except insofar as he is a holder of shares of Envestnet Common Stock and Company PSUs).

The amounts indicated in the table below are estimates of the amounts that would be payable assuming, solely for purposes of this table, that the Merger is consummated on August 20, 2024, and in the case of each named executive officer, that the named executive officer’s employment is terminated by the Surviving Company without cause.

In addition to the assumptions regarding the consummation date of the Merger and the termination of employment, these estimates are based on certain other assumptions that are described in the footnotes accompanying the table below. Accordingly, the ultimate values to be received by a named executive officer in connection with the Merger may differ from the amounts set forth below.

Golden Parachute Compensation

 

Named Executive Officer

   Cash ($)(1)      Equity ($)(2)      Perquisites/
Benefits ($)(3)
     Total ($)  

James Fox

     0        985,974        0        985,974  

Joshua Warren

     2,858,123        3,096,813        31,538        5,986,474  

Shelly O’Brien

     2,365,416        4,367,930        29,508        6,762,854  

William Crager

     697,123        6,104,077        0        6,801,200  

Peter D’Arrigo

     0        808,636        0        808,636  

 

(1)

The cash amounts reflected in this column represent potential severance payments to each named executive officer pursuant to their respective executive agreements with Envestnet if the named executive officer’s

 

79


Table of Contents
  employment is terminated by Envestnet without cause or by the named executive officer (except Mr. Crager) for good reason (as each such term is defined in the applicable executive’s executive agreement), and include the base salary and bonus components (which, for Mr. Warren, assumes his average bonus for the two years prior to termination is at the target level because he commenced employment with Envestnet during that period) of such payments. Mr. Fox is only entitled to any earned but unpaid cash bonus upon his termination of employment by Envestnet without cause or by him for good reason (as each such term is defined in his Interim CEO Agreement). The severance amounts, as described above, are “double-trigger” payments solely payable upon a named executive officer’s qualifying termination of employment within the 24-month period following a change in control. The cash amounts also reflect, for Mr. Warren and Ms. O’Brien, payment of their retention awards. For more information, please see the sections entitled “The Merger—Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger—Payments Upon Termination at or Following a Change in Control” beginning on page 77 of this Proxy Statement.

 

Named Executive Officer

   Base
Salary
($)
     Average
Annual
Bonus ($)
     Severance
Multiplier
(%)
    Prorated
Average Annual
Bonus ($)
     Retention
Award

($)
     Total ($)  

James Fox

     0        0        0     0        0        0  

Joshua Warren

     425,000        382,500        200     243,123        1,000,000        2,858,123  

Shelly O’Brien

     425,000        233,500        200     148,416        900,000        2,365,416  

William Crager

     397,123        300,000        0     0        0        697,123  

Peter D’Arrigo

     0        0        0     0        0        0  

 

(2)

The amounts reflected in this column represent the value of Company Equity Awards as follows: (i) with respect to each Company Option, (a) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the Effective Time, multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time; (ii) with respect to each Company RSU that is outstanding as of the Effective Time, (a) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (1) the Merger Consideration, multiplied by (2) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (b) to the extent unvested as of the Effective Time, a RSU Deferred Cash Award and (iii) with respect to each Company PSU that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (a) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (1) the Merger Consideration, multiplied by (2) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (b) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a PSU Deferred Cash Award (assuming that the Company PSUs are deemed earned at the greater of target or actual performance as of the date hereof). The equity acceleration amounts for the Company Options are “single-trigger” and the equity acceleration amounts for the Company RSUs and Company PSUs are “double-trigger,” other than for Mr. D’Arrigo, whose employment has terminated. For more information, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the MergerPayments Upon Termination at or Following a Change in Control” beginning on page 77 of this Proxy Statement.

(3)

The amounts reflected in this column represent for Mr. Warren and Ms. O’Brien, the value of the COBRA payments for 18 months of coverage. These amounts, as described above, are “double-trigger” payments solely payable upon a named executive officer’s qualifying termination of employment within the 24-month period following a change in control. For more information, please see the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of the Directors and Executive Officers of Envestnet in the Merger—Payments Upon Termination at or Following a Change in Control” beginning on page 77 of this Proxy Statement.

Financing of the Transactions

Parent obtained equity and Debt Financing commitments for the Transactions, the aggregate proceeds of which will be sufficient for Parent to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration (including payments in respect of the Company’s outstanding equity-based awards payable in connection with the Closing pursuant to the Merger

 

80


Table of Contents

Agreement) and all related fees and expenses of Parent and Merger Sub (including in connection with the Debt Financing described below and giving effect to the “rollover” of certain stockholders’ equity as described under “Support and Rollover Agreements” below).

We anticipate that the total amount of funds necessary to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration (including payments in respect of the Company’s outstanding equity-based awards payable in connection with the Closing pursuant to the Merger Agreement) in the Merger is approximately $3.6 billion in cash.

Equity Commitment Letters

In connection with the financing of the Transactions, certain investment vehicles managed or advised by Bain and State Street Global Advisors and subsidiaries of or funds affiliated with Reverence Capital, Franklin Templeton and Norwest have committed, pursuant to the Equity Commitment Letters to capitalize Parent, at or immediately prior to the closing of the Merger, with an aggregate equity contribution in an amount of $2,500,264,000, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Equity Commitment Letters.

Each Equity Commitment Letter provides, among other things, that: (i) Envestnet is a third-party beneficiary thereof solely in connection with Envestnet’s exercise of its rights related to specific performance under the Merger Agreement; and (ii) the applicable fund party to the Equity Commitment Letter will not oppose the granting of an injunction or an order of specific performance in connection with the exercise of such third-party beneficiary rights. Each Equity Commitment Letter may not be amended, modified or waived unless approved in writing by Parent, the applicable fund party thereto and Envestnet.

Limited Guarantees

Certain investment vehicles managed or advised by Bain and State Street Global Advisors and subsidiaries of or funds affiliated with Reverence Capital, Franklin Templeton and Norwest have each provided limited guarantees in favor of Envestnet, pursuant to such guarantor’s applicable Limited Guarantee, to guarantee, subject to certain limitations set forth in such Limited Guarantee, the payment of such guarantor’s pro rata share of the obligation of Parent to pay the Parent Termination Fee, certain indemnification obligations of Parent and Merger Sub and the reasonable out-of-pocket fees, cost and expenses incurred by Envestnet in connection with any suit contemplated by, and solely to the extent reimbursable under, the Merger Agreement and such Limited Guarantee, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Limited Guarantee. The obligations of each guarantor under its respective Limited Guarantee are subject to a Cap.

Subject to specified exceptions, each Limited Guarantee will terminate upon the earliest of:

 

   

the consummation of the Closing under the Merger Agreement, if the Closing occurs;

 

   

the valid termination of the Merger Agreement by mutual written consent of Envestnet and Parent or in circumstances where no payment is due in respect of any Guaranteed Obligation (unless Envestnet shall have commenced litigation against the applicable guarantor under and pursuant to such guarantor’s Limited Guarantee prior to such termination, in which case such Limited Guarantee shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the applicable guarantor of any obligations finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or as may be agreed in writing between Envestnet and the applicable guarantor, in each case, to be owed by the applicable guarantor);

 

   

the satisfaction of the guarantor’s obligations in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations (subject to such guarantor’s respective Cap);

 

   

the 12-month anniversary of the date of the Agreement (unless Envestnet shall have commenced litigation against the applicable guarantor under and pursuant to such guarantor’s Limited Guarantee prior to such termination, in which case such Limited Guarantee shall terminate upon the final, non-appealable resolution of such action and satisfaction by the applicable guarantor of any obligations

 

81


Table of Contents
 

finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or as may be agreed in writing between Envestnet and the applicable guarantor, in each case, to be owed by the applicable guarantor);

 

   

the execution by all parties thereto of a valid amendment to the Merger Agreement for which the applicable guarantor under the Limited Guarantee has not provided consent that (i) increases the Merger Consideration, (ii) increases the Parent Termination Fee or (iii) extends the Outside Date to a date later than July 11, 2025; and

 

   

the termination of any other Limited Guarantee for any reason other than pursuant to the applicable guarantor under such other Limited Guarantee having satisfied its obligations in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations under such other Limited Guarantee.

Debt Commitment Letters

In connection with the financing of the Transactions, RBC Capital Markets, BMO Capital Markets, Barclays, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Ares Capital Management, funds managed by Blue Owl Capital and Benefit Street Partners, L.L.C. have committed to provide the Debt Financing in connection with the Merger consisting of a first lien term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $1,760,000,000, a second lien term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount equal of up to $375,000,000 and a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount equal to $375,000,000, in each case, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in a commitment letter, dated July 11, 2024.

Preferred Commitment Letter

In connection with the signing of the Merger Agreement, Ares Capital Management LLC committed, pursuant to the preferred equity commitment letter dated July 11, 2024, to capitalize an entity that directly or indirectly owns all of the equity interests issued by Parent, at or immediately prior to the Closing pursuant to the Merger Agreement, with an aggregate preferred equity contribution in an amount of $200,000,000, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein. The preferred equity commitment was terminated on July 25, 2024, in connection with an increase to the equity commitment of certain investment vehicles managed or advised by Bain.

Support and Rollover Agreements

Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to Parent’s and certain of its affiliates’ willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement, Parent, certain of its affiliates and the Company entered into support and rollover agreements with a subsidiary of BlackRock and with Fidelity. Under the support and rollover agreements, the applicable stockholders have agreed to vote or execute consents with respect to the Rollover Shares in favor of the Merger, subject to certain terms and conditions contained therein. In addition, the applicable stockholders have agreed to “rollover” their Rollover Shares into a nonvoting ownership interest in the indirect parent company of Parent. The Rollover Shares do not include any shares of Envestnet Common Stock held by Advisory Subsidiaries (as defined in the Schedule 13D filed by BlackRock on May 21, 2021 that relates to shares of Envestnet Common Stock) of BlackRock in their capacity as investment advisers to client accounts (including any additional shares of Envestnet Common Stock acquired by Advisory Subsidiaries after July 11, 2024).

Closing and Effective Time

The Closing will take place on the third business day following the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the Closing (described below under the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Closing of the Merger” beginning on page 105 of this Proxy Statement) (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied at the Closing) or such other time agreed to in writing by Parent and Envestnet; provided that, without the prior written consent of Parent, the Closing will not occur prior to November 25, 2024, the date that is 135 days following July 11, 2024, in order to obtain the Advisory Contract Client Consents.

 

82


Table of Contents

Accounting Treatment

The Merger will be accounted for as a “Business Combination” for financial accounting purposes.

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger

The following discussion is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger that may be relevant to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (each as defined below) whose shares of Envestnet Common Stock are converted into the right to receive cash pursuant to the Merger. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, court decisions, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date of this Proxy Statement and all of which are subject to change or to differing interpretations at any time, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change or differing interpretation could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth in this discussion. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax considerations described in this discussion.

This discussion is limited to Company stockholders who hold their shares of Envestnet Common Stock as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment purposes). In addition, this summary does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. jurisdiction and does not consider any aspects of U.S. federal tax law other than income taxation (e.g., estate or gift taxation) or the alternative minimum tax or the Medicare net investment income surtax that may be relevant or applicable to a particular holder in connection with the Merger. For purposes of this discussion, a “holder” means either a U.S. Holder or a Non-U.S. Holder (each as defined below) or both, as the context may require.

This discussion is for general information purposes only and does not address all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to holders in light of their particular circumstances, nor does it address any consequences to holders subject to special rules under U.S. federal income tax law, including, for example:

 

   

banks or other financial institutions;

 

   

mutual funds;

 

   

insurance companies;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations), governmental agencies, instrumentalities or other governmental organizations;

 

   

retirement plans or other tax-deferred accounts;

 

   

S corporations, partnerships or any other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships or pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (or investors in such

   

entities or arrangements);

 

   

controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies or corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

 

   

dealers or brokers in securities, currencies or commodities;

 

   

traders in securities that elect to use the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities;

 

   

regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts, or entities subject to the U.S. anti-inversion rules;

 

   

U.S. expatriates or certain former citizens or long-term residents of the United States;

 

   

holders that own or have owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) five percent (5%) or more shares of Envestnet Common Stock (by vote or value);

 

83


Table of Contents
   

holders holding the shares as part of a hedging, constructive sale or conversion, straddle or other risk reduction transaction;

 

   

holders subject to special tax accounting rules as a result of any item of gross income with respect to the shares of Envestnet Common Stock being taken into account in an “applicable financial statement” (as defined in the Code);

 

   

holders that received their shares of Envestnet Common Stock in a compensatory transaction, through a tax-qualified retirement plan or pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants;

 

   

holders that hold their shares of Envestnet Common Stock through a bank, financial institution or other entity, or a branch thereof, located, organized or resident outside the United States;

 

   

holders who own an equity interest, actually or constructively, in Parent or the Surviving Company following the Merger;

 

   

holders that do not vote in favor of the Merger and that properly demand appraisal of their shares of Envestnet Common Stock under Section 262 of the DGCL; or

 

   

U.S. Holders whose “functional currency” is not the U.S. dollar.

If a partnership (including an entity or arrangement, domestic or non-U.S., treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of shares of Envestnet Common Stock, then the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partner and the partnership. Partnerships holding shares of Envestnet Common Stock and partners therein should consult their tax advisors regarding the consequences of the Merger.

No ruling has been or will be sought from the IRS regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger described herein. No assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with the views expressed herein, or that a court will not sustain any challenge by the IRS in the event of litigation.

THIS DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE TO ANY HOLDER. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO CONSTITUTE A COMPLETE ANALYSIS OR DESCRIPTION OF ALL POTENTIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATING TO THE MERGER. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES RELATING TO THE MERGER IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND ANY CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S. OR OTHER TAX LAWS.

U.S. Holders

For purposes of this discussion, a “U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of shares of Envestnet Common Stock who or that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

a corporation, or other entity or arrangement taxable as a corporation, created or organized in, or under the laws of, the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (i) that is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one or more “United States persons” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or (ii) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a “United States person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

84


Table of Contents

The receipt of cash by a U.S. Holder in exchange for shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Such U.S. Holder’s gain or loss generally will be equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares surrendered pursuant to the Merger. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis generally will equal the amount that such U.S. Holder paid for the shares. Such gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss and will be a long-term capital gain or loss if such U.S. Holder’s holding period in such shares is more than one year at the time of the completion of the Merger. A reduced tax rate on capital gain generally will apply to long-term capital gain of a non-corporate U.S. Holder (including individuals). The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. If a U.S. Holder acquired different blocks of common stock at different times or different prices, such U.S. Holder must determine its tax basis, holding period, and gain or loss separately with respect to each block of common stock.

Non-U.S. Holders

For purposes of this discussion, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of shares of Envestnet Common Stock that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Subject to the discussion under “The Merger—Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding,” beginning on page 85 of this Proxy Statement, any gain realized by a Non-U.S. Holder pursuant to the Merger generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business of such Non-U.S. Holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by such Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), in which case such gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax, net of certain deductions, at rates generally applicable to United States persons (unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise), and, if the Non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, such gain may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a rate of thirty percent (30%) (or a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty);

 

   

such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the completion of the Merger, and certain other specified conditions are met, in which case such gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of thirty percent (30%) (or a lower rate under an applicable income tax treaty), which gain may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses of such Non-U.S. Holder provided such Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses; or

 

   

shares of Envestnet Common Stock constitute a United States real property interest (“USRPI”) by reason of Envestnet’s status as a “United States real property holding corporation” as such term is defined in Section 897(c) of the Code (a “USRPHC”), at any time within the shorter of the five-year period preceding the Merger or such Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period with respect to the applicable shares of Envestnet Common Stock (the “Relevant Period”) and, if shares of Envestnet Common Stock are regularly traded on an established securities market (within the meaning of Section 897(c)(3) of the Code), such Non-U.S. Holder owns directly or is deemed to own pursuant to attribution rules more than five percent (5%) of shares of Envestnet Common Stock at any time during the Relevant Period, in which case such gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at rates generally applicable to United States persons (as described in the first bullet point above), except that the branch profits tax will not apply. Generally, a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its USRPIs equals or exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests plus its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. Although there can be no assurances in this regard, we believe that we are not, and have not been, a USRPHC at any time during the five-year period preceding the Merger. Non-U.S. Holders are encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding the possible consequences to them if we are a USRPHC.

 

85


Table of Contents

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences to them of the Merger.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting and backup withholding (currently, at a rate of twenty four percent (24%)) may also apply to the proceeds received pursuant to the Merger by a holder of shares of Envestnet Common Stock. Backup withholding generally will not apply to (i) a U.S. Holder that furnishes a correct taxpayer identification number and certifies that such holder is not subject to backup withholding on IRS Form W-9 (or a substitute or successor form) or (ii) a Non-U.S. Holder that (a) provides a certification of such Non-U.S. Holder’s foreign status on an applicable IRS Form W-8 (or a substitute or successor form) or (b) otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability; provided that the holder timely furnishes the required information to the IRS.

Additional Withholding Requirements under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA)

Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, and the U.S. Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance issued thereunder (which we refer to as, collectively, “FATCA”), impose a U.S. federal withholding tax of thirty percent (30%) on certain payments made to a “foreign financial institution” (as specially defined under these rules) unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. government to withhold on certain payments and to collect and provide to the U.S. tax authorities substantial information regarding certain U.S. account holders of such institution (which include certain equity and debt holders of such institution, as well as certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners) or an exemption applies. FATCA also generally imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax of thirty percent (30%) on certain payments made to a “non-financial foreign entity” (as specially defined under these rules) unless such entity provides the withholding agent a certification identifying certain direct and indirect U.S. owners of the entity or an exemption applies. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country may modify these requirements. Under certain circumstances, a Non-U.S. Holder might be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes. The U.S. Treasury Department has released proposed regulations which, if finalized in their present form, would eliminate the FATCA withholding applicable to the gross proceeds of a sale or other disposition of shares of Envestnet Common Stock. In its preamble to such proposed regulations, the U.S. Treasury Department stated that taxpayers generally may rely on the proposed regulations until final regulations are issued. Holders of shares of Envestnet Common Stock are urged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on the disposition of shares of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to the Merger.

THE FOREGOING SUMMARY DOES NOT DISCUSS ALL ASPECTS OF U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO PARTICULAR HOLDERS. IT IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LEGAL ADVICE TO ANY HOLDER. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE RECEIPT OF CASH FOR THEIR SHARES OF ENVESTNET COMMON STOCK PURSUANT TO THE MERGER UNDER ANY U.S. FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL, OR NON-U.S. OR OTHER TAX LAWS, OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Envestnet and the Buyer Parties have agreed to use reasonable best efforts to consummate and make effective, as promptly as practicable, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, to prepare and file all documentation to effect all necessary regulatory filings and to obtain all regulatory approvals required to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. These approvals include (i) approval under, or notifications pursuant to,

 

86


Table of Contents

the HSR Act and any other applicable antitrust laws (whether domestic or foreign), (ii) the FINRA Approval and (iii) certain state specified regulatory consents, approvals, notifications or filings from or to state regulatory bodies.

Under the HSR Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, the Merger cannot be completed until the Buyer Parties and Envestnet file a notification and report form with the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) under the HSR Act and the applicable waiting period has expired or been terminated. A transaction notifiable under the HSR Act may not be completed until the expiration of a 30-calendar day waiting period following the parties’ filing of their respective HSR Act notification and report forms or, if available, the early termination of that waiting period. If the FTC or DOJ issues a request for additional information and documents (the “Second Request”) prior to the expiration of the initial waiting period, the parties must observe a second thirty calendar day waiting period, which would begin to run only after both parties have substantially complied with the Second Request, unless the waiting period is terminated earlier, the parties agree to extend any applicable waiting period, or the parties otherwise agree to delay the Closing. Envestnet and the Buyer Parties made the necessary filings with the FTC and the Antitrust Division of the DOJ on August 1, 2024, and the waiting period under the HSR Act will expire on September 3, 2024.

At any time before or after the consummation of the Merger, notwithstanding the termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, the FTC or the Antitrust Division of the DOJ could take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems necessary or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the completion of the Merger, seeking divestiture of substantial assets of the parties or requiring the parties to license, or hold separate, assets or terminate existing relationships and contractual rights. At any time before or after the completion of the Merger, and notwithstanding the termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, any state could take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems necessary or desirable in the public interest. Such action could include seeking to enjoin the completion of the Merger or seeking divestiture of substantial assets of the parties. Private parties may also seek to take legal action under the antitrust laws under certain circumstances. We cannot be certain that a challenge to the Merger will not be made or that, if a challenge is made, we will prevail.

Legal Proceedings Regarding the Merger

As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Company has received demand letters from purported Company stockholders alleging deficiencies and/or omissions in the preliminary proxy statement the Company filed on August 12, 2024. The demand letters seek additional disclosures to remedy these purported deficiencies. The Company believes that the allegations in these demand letters are without merit.

Potential plaintiffs may file lawsuits or send additional demand letters in connection with the Merger. The outcome of any future litigation is uncertain. Such litigation, if not resolved, could prevent or delay consummation of the Merger and result in substantial costs to Envestnet, including any costs associated with the indemnification of directors and officers. One of the conditions to the consummation of the Merger is that there shall not be any order restraining, enjoining or otherwise preventing the consummation of the Merger issued by any governmental entity having jurisdiction over any of Envestnet, Parent or Merger Sub that remains in effect at the time of the Closing. Therefore, if a plaintiff were successful in obtaining an injunction prohibiting the consummation of the Merger on the agreed-upon terms, then such injunction may prevent the Merger from being consummated, or from being consummated within the expected time frame.

 

87


Table of Contents

TERMS OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT

The discussion of the terms of the Merger Agreement in this section and elsewhere in this Proxy Statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this Proxy Statement and is incorporated into this Proxy Statement by reference. This summary does not purport to be complete and may not contain all of the information about the Merger that is important to you. You are encouraged to read the Merger Agreement carefully and in its entirety as it is the legal document that governs the Merger. The rights and obligations of the parties are governed by the express terms of the Merger Agreement and not by this summary or any other information contained in this Proxy Statement.

Explanatory Note Regarding the Merger Agreement

The following description of the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is included as Annex A hereto. The Merger Agreement has been included to provide Company stockholders with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about Envestnet, Parent, Merger Sub, Bain or their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. The representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement were made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement as of the specific dates therein, were solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk among the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to Company stockholders. Company stockholders should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties thereto or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of representations and warranties may have changed after July 11, 2024, which subsequent information may or may not be reflected in Envestnet’s public disclosures. Accordingly, the representations, warranties, covenants and other agreements in the Merger Agreement should not be read alone, and you should read the information provided elsewhere in this document and in the Company’s filings with the SEC regarding Envestnet and its business. Please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 124 of this Proxy Statement.

Effect of the Merger

The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, whereupon the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will thereupon cease, and the Company will continue as the Surviving Company of the Merger. As a result of the Merger, the Surviving Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and Envestnet Common Stock will no longer be publicly traded. In addition, Envestnet Common Stock will be delisted from the NYSE and deregistered under the Exchange Act, in each case, pursuant to applicable law and the rules and regulations, and Envestnet will no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of Envestnet Common Stock. If the Merger is consummated, you will not own any shares of capital stock of the Surviving Company.

From and after the Effective Time, all the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, objects and purposes of the Company and Merger Sub will vest in the Surviving Company and all claims, debts, liabilities and obligations of the Company and Merger Sub will be the claims, debts, liabilities and obligations of the Surviving Company.

Closing and Effective Time

The Closing will take place no later than the third business day following the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted under the Merger Agreement) of all conditions to the Closing (described in the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Closing of the Merger” beginning on page 105 of this Proxy

 

88


Table of Contents

Statement) (other than those conditions that by their terms are to be satisfied by the delivery of documents or the taking of actions at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver (to the extent permitted under the Merger Agreement) of such conditions) or such other date agreed to in writing by Parent and Envestnet; provided that, without the prior written consent of Parent, the Closing may not occur prior to November 25, 2024, the date that is 135 days following July 11, 2024, in order to obtain the Advisory Contract Client Consents. On the Closing Date, the parties will file a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as provided under the DGCL. The Effective Time will occur upon the filing and acceptance of the certificate of merger by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (or such later time as Envestnet, Parent and Merger Sub may mutually agree and specify in the certificate of merger in accordance with the DGCL).

Directors and Officers; Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws

From and after the Effective Time, the board of directors of the Surviving Company will consist of the directors of Merger Sub as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, each to hold office in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Company until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, incapacitation, retirement, resignation or removal, and the officers of the Surviving Company will consist of the officers of Envestnet as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, incapacitation, retirement, resignation or removal. At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of Envestnet, as the Surviving Company, will be amended and restated in its entirety in the form set forth in Exhibit B to the Merger Agreement, and, subject to the Surviving Company’s obligations regarding indemnification, insurance coverage and expense reimbursement and advancement (as described below in the section entitled “Terms of the Merger Agreement—Indemnification and Insurance” beginning on page 106 of this Proxy Statement), the bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, will become the bylaws of the Surviving Company (except that all references in such bylaws of Merger Sub to its name, date of incorporation, registered office or registered agent shall instead refer to the name, date of incorporation, registered office and registered agent, respectively, of the Surviving Company), until thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Company and such bylaws.

Merger Consideration

Envestnet Common Stock

At the Effective Time, each share of Envestnet Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, including any Envestnet Common Stock to the extent issued and converted in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Convertible Notes Indentures (other than the Owned Company Shares and Dissenting Shares) will be automatically cancelled and retired and converted into the right to receive cash in an amount equal to the Merger Consideration. At the Effective Time, each Owned Company Share will be automatically cancelled and retired and will cease to exist without any consideration delivered in exchange therefor.

The Rollover Shares are not entitled to receive any Merger Consideration and will, immediately prior to the Closing, be contributed, directly or indirectly, to the indirect parent company of Parent pursuant to the terms of the applicable support and rollover agreement in exchange for non-voting ownership interest in the parent company of Parent.

Dissenting Shares will not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration at the Effective Time, but instead be entitled only to such consideration as is determined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL. Each Dissenting Share held by Company stockholders or beneficial owners who have failed to perfect or who have effectively withdrawn or otherwise lost the right to appraisal of such shares and payment under Section 262 of the DGCL or if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, then such Dissenting Shares shall have the rights and obligations

 

89


Table of Contents

provided in Section 262 of the DGCL. For more information, please see the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement.

After the Merger is completed, Company stockholders holding either a Certificate (as defined below) or book entry shares will have the right to receive the Merger Consideration, but Company stockholders will no longer have any rights as stockholders of Envestnet (except that Company stockholders who properly exercise their appraisal rights may have the right to receive payment for the “fair value” of their shares determined pursuant to an appraisal proceeding, as contemplated by the DGCL; for more information, please see the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning on page 117 of this Proxy Statement).

Outstanding Company Equity Awards

Company Options. At the Effective Time, each Company Option granted under the Company Stock Plans, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding and unexercised as of the Effective Time, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to (i) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option as of the Effective Time, multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the Effective Time. Any Company Option that has an exercise price per share of Envestnet Common Stock that is greater than or equal to the Merger Consideration will be cancelled at the Effective Time for no consideration.

Company RSUs. At the Effective Time, each Company RSU granted under the Company Stock Plans that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company RSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a RSU Deferred Cash Award. Each RSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder’s continued employment or service through the applicable vesting dates, vest in accordance with the same vesting schedule as the underlying Company RSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company RSU for which it was exchanged.

Company PSUs. At the Effective Time, each Company PSU granted under the Company Stock Plans, whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding as of the Effective Time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (i) to the extent vested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a cash payment equal to (a) the Merger Consideration multiplied by (b) the total number of shares of Envestnet Common Stock subject to such Company PSU immediately prior to the Effective Time and (ii) to the extent unvested as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, a PSU Deferred Cash Award. Each PSU Deferred Cash Award will, subject to the holder of such award’s continued employment or service on the last day of such performance period applicable to the Company PSU for which the Company PSU Deferred Cash Award was exchanged, vest at the same time as the underlying Company PSU (subject to any Acceleration Provisions) and will otherwise generally have the same terms and conditions as applied to the Company PSU for which it was exchanged.

Exchange and Payment Procedures

Parent will designate a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to Envestnet to act as the payment agent for the Merger (the “Paying Agent”) and make payments of the Merger Consideration to Company stockholders.

Promptly after the Effective Time (and in any event within one business day), Parent will deposit (or cause to be deposited) with the Paying Agent an amount of cash necessary to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration; and as and when needed after the Effective Time, Parent will deposit (or cause the Surviving Company to deposit) any additional amounts of cash necessary to make all payments of the Merger Consideration.

 

90


Table of Contents

Promptly after the Effective Time (but in any event within five business days), the Paying Agent will mail to each holder of record of shares of Envestnet Common Stock (other than Dissenting Shares) as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (i) a letter of transmittal (which will specify that delivery will be effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates representing such shares (the “Certificates”) will pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent and will be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for payment of the Merger Consideration.

Any cash deposited with the Paying Agent that remains undistributed to Company stockholders on the date that is one year following the Effective Time will be returned to the Surviving Company, upon demand, and any holders of Envestnet Common Stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time who have not complied with the exchange procedures in the Merger Agreement will thereafter look only to the Surviving Company as general creditors of the Surviving Company for payment of the Merger Consideration (subject to applicable law). Any amounts that remain unclaimed by such holders at such time at which such amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any governmental entity will become, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the property of the Surviving Company or its designee, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person (and their successors, assigns or personal representatives) previously entitled thereto and none of Parent, the Surviving Company nor the Paying Agent will be liable to any holder of a Certificate or book entry share for Merger Consideration delivered to a public official in accordance with any applicable abandoned escheat, property or similar law.

Representations and Warranties

The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub.

Some of the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement made by Envestnet are qualified as to materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein). For purposes of the Merger Agreement, “Company Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to Envestnet, any event, circumstance, occurrence, development, change or effect (each, an “Effect”) that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay the Company’s ability to consummate the Transactions or (ii) has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, operations, assets and liabilities (considered together) of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that in no event will any of the following Effects, alone or in combination, be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account when determining whether there has been or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect for purposes of clause (ii) above:

 

   

any changes in general economic or regulatory, legislative or political conditions or securities, credit, financial or other capital markets conditions in any jurisdiction;

 

   

any changes, events or conditions in the industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate (including changes to interest rates, general market prices and regulatory changes affecting such industries);

 

   

acts of war (whether or not declared), civil disobedience, hostilities, cyberattacks not specifically targeted at the Company or its subsidiaries or disproportionately impacting the Company or its subsidiaries, sabotage, an act of terrorism, military actions or any weather or natural disasters, health emergencies, including pandemics or epidemics or any worsening of such conditions threatened or existing, or any regional, national or international calamity or crisis, or other similar force majeure events, including any worsening of such conditions existing as of July 11, 2024;

 

   

the negotiation, execution, public announcement, pendency or consummation of the Merger or the other Transactions (other than for the purposes of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4.3 and Section 4.4 of the Merger Agreement and any other representation and warranty contained in the Merger Agreement to the extent that such representation and warranty expressly

 

91


Table of Contents
 

addresses consequences resulting from the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance of the Merger Agreement or the announcement of the Merger Agreement or the pendency or consummation of the Transactions);

 

   

any adoption, implementation, promulgation, repeal, modification, amendment or other changes in applicable law or in GAAP, or in accounting standards or any changes in the interpretation or enforcement of any of the foregoing, in each case, after July 11, 2024;

 

   

any steps required to be taken pursuant to the express terms of the Merger Agreement, or the failure of the Company to take any action that the Company is prohibited by the express terms of the Merger Agreement from taking (other than any action or inaction required to be taken or not taken pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Merger Agreement);

 

   

any action taken or omitted to be taken by the Company at the prior written request or with the prior written consent of Parent or Merger Sub following July 11, 2024;

 

   

the identity of Parent, Merger Sub or the equity investors as the acquiror of the Company;

 

   

as set forth in Section 1.2 of the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement;

 

   

any decline in the market price, or change in trading volume, of the Company’s capital stock;

 

   

any failure to meet any internal or public projections, forecasts, guidance, estimates, milestones, or budgets or internal or published financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, premiums written, cash flow, cash position or other financial performance or results; or

 

   

any change or development in the credit, financial strength or other rating of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or its outstanding debt (it being understood that the exceptions in this bullet and the immediately preceding two will not prevent or otherwise affect a determination that the underlying cause of any such change, decline or failure referred to therein (if not otherwise falling within any of the exceptions provided hereof) is, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect);

except, with respect to the first five bullets above, solely to the extent the impact on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, is disproportionately adverse compared to the impact on other companies operating in the industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate in the countries and regions in the world impacted by the Effect in question, the incrementally disproportionate impact or impacts will be taken into account in determining whether there has been, or would reasonably be expected to be, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

In the Merger Agreement, the Company made customary representations and warranties to Parent that are subject, in some cases, to specified exceptions and qualifications contained in the Merger Agreement. These representations and warranties relate to, among other things:

 

   

due organization, valid existence, good standing and authority and qualification to conduct business with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

   

the Company’s corporate power and authority to enter into and perform the Merger Agreement, and the enforceability of the Merger Agreement;

 

   

the necessary approval of the Board;

 

   

the necessary vote of Company stockholders in connection with the Merger Agreement;

 

   

required consents, approvals and regulatory filings in connection with the Merger Agreement and performance thereof;

 

   

the absence of any conflict or violation of any organizational documents of the Company, certain existing contracts of the Company and its subsidiaries, applicable laws to the Company or its subsidiaries or the resulting creation of any lien upon the properties or assets of the Company or its subsidiaries due to the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and performance thereof;

 

92


Table of Contents
   

the capital structure of the Company, as well as the ownership and capital structure of its subsidiaries;

 

   

the absence of any contract relating to the voting of, requiring registration of, or granting any pre-emptive rights, anti-dilutive rights or rights of first refusal or other similar rights with respect to any of the Company’s securities;

 

   

the absence of any undisclosed exchangeable security, option, warrant or other right convertible into shares of capital stock, or other equity or voting interest in the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries;

 

   

the accuracy and completeness of the Company’s SEC filings and financial statements;

 

   

the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ indebtedness;

 

   

the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures;

 

   

the Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures;

 

   

the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and the absence of any Company Material Adverse Effect, in each case, since December 31, 2023;

 

   

the absence of undisclosed liabilities;

 

   

litigation matters;

 

   

tax matters;

 

   

employee benefit plans;

 

   

labor matters;

 

   

the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ compliance with laws and possession of necessary permits;

 

   

export controls matters and compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977;

 

   

environmental matters;

 

   

real property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries;

 

   

the validity and effectiveness of specified categories of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ material contracts, and any notices from certain material vendors to the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to termination or intent not to renew material contracts;

 

   

trademarks, patents, copyrights and other intellectual property matters;

 

   

data privacy matters;

 

   

insurance matters;

 

   

adviser regulatory matters;

 

   

payment of fees to brokers in connection with the Merger Agreement;

 

   

opinion of Morgan Stanley, as financial advisor to the Company; and

 

   

the inapplicability of anti-takeover statutes to the Merger.

In the Merger Agreement, Parent and Merger Sub made customary representations and warranties to the Company that are subject, in some cases, to specified exceptions and qualifications contained in the Merger Agreement. These representations and warranties relate to, among other things:

 

   

due organization, good standing and authority and qualification to conduct business with respect to Parent and Merger Sub;

 

   

Parent and Merger Sub’s authority to enter into and perform the Merger Agreement, and the enforceability of the Merger Agreement;

 

93


Table of Contents
   

the necessary approval of the Boards of Parent and Merger Sub;

 

   

required consents, approvals and regulatory filings in connection with the Merger Agreement and performance thereof;

 

   

the absence of any conflict or violation of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s organizational documents, existing contracts, applicable laws or the resulting creation of any lien upon Parent’s or Merger Sub’s properties or assets due to the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and performance thereof;

 

   

the lack of Parent or any of its “affiliates” or “associates” being an “interested stockholder” (each as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL);

 

   

litigation matters;

 

   

matters with respect to Parent’s equity financing and sufficiency of funds;

 

   

delivery and enforceability of the Limited Guarantees;

 

   

the absence of agreements between Parent, Merger Sub, and each such Parties’ affiliates, and members of the Board or the Company and its subsidiaries’ management;

 

   

the absence of any stockholder or management arrangements related to the Merger;

 

   

payment of fees to brokers in connection with the Merger Agreement; and

 

   

compliance with CFIUS.

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

Conduct of Business Pending the Merger

The Merger Agreement provides that, except: (i) with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) as is expressly required or contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (iii) as is required by applicable law or (iv) as is disclosed in the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement, during the period between July 11, 2024 and the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company will, and will cause its subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

   

conduct their business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices in all material respects; and

 

   

preserve intact their business organizations, goodwill and assets, and preserve their material relationships with governmental entities and other material business relationships with third parties and other persons.

In addition, the Company has also agreed that, except: (i) with the prior written consent of Parent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (ii) as expressly required or contemplated by the Merger Agreement; (iii) as is required by applicable law or (iv) as disclosed in the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement, during the period between July 11, 2024 and the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company will not, and will not permit its subsidiaries to, among other things (subject to the limitations set forth below):

 

   

amend or adopt any change in its organizational documents, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, or waive any material term thereunder;

 

   

authorize, recommend, propose, enter into or adopt a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, winding up, dissolution, merger or consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

94


Table of Contents
   

offer, issue, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of, encumber or adjust or amend the terms of any shares or equity interests of, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or options, warrants, calls, commitments or rights of any kind to acquire, any shares of capital stock or other voting or equity interests of any class or series of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or grant any Company Equity Award or other equity or equity-based awards, other than (i) issuances pursuant to the exercise of Company Options or the vesting and settlement of Company RSUs and Company PSUs outstanding as of July 11, 2024, in accordance with their terms as in effect on July 11, 2024, (ii) issuances pursuant to conversion of any Convertible Notes in accordance with the terms of the Convertible Notes Indentures or (iii) issuances by and among one or more wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company and/or the Company;

 

   

split, reverse split, combine, subdivide or reclassify the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

   

declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, stock or property with respect to the capital stock or other equity interests, other than with respect to any wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, to the Company or another wholly owned subsidiary of the Company;

 

   

redeem, purchase, repurchase or otherwise acquire directly or indirectly any of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ capital stock or other voting or equity interests of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for repurchases, redemptions or acquisitions (i) by a wholly owned subsidiary of share capital or such other securities or equity or voting interests, as the case may be, of another of its wholly owned subsidiaries, (ii) in connection with tax withholding obligations pursuant to the terms of a Company Equity Award to the extent required by the terms of such Company Equity Award as in effect on July 11, 2024 or (iii) pursuant to the conversion of any Convertible Notes in accordance with the terms of the Convertible Notes Indentures;

 

   

except as required under the terms of any Company Benefit Plan set forth on the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement, (i) increase the compensation or benefits paid or payable, whether conditionally or otherwise, of any current or former manager, director, officer, employee or individual independent contractor, other than increases in annual base salary or wage rate in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in respect of any non-officer employee whose annual base salary or wage rate does not exceed $250,000 after giving effect to such increase, (ii) enter into, adopt, grant or provide any change in control, severance, retention or similar payments or benefits to any current or former manager, director, officer, employee or individual independent contractor; or (iii) subject to clauses (i)-(ii) above, establish, adopt, enter into, terminate or amend any material Company Benefit Plan or establish, adopt or enter into any plan, agreement, program, policy or other arrangement that would be a material Company Benefit Plan if it were in existence as of July 11, 2024, other than (a) in connection with amendments to broad-based health and welfare plans pursuant to an annual renewal process in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that do not increase the amount of liability attributable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in respect of such Company Benefit Plan by a material amount or (b) in connection with severance payments or benefits provided pursuant to a Company Benefit Plan in effect as of July 11, 2024 and set forth on the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice in connection with a non-officer employee’s termination of employment permitted under the following bullet or (c) accelerate or grant the right to accelerate the vesting, funding or payment of any compensation or benefits under any Company Benefit Plan;

 

   

hire, engage, promote or terminate (other than for cause) the employment or engagement of any employee or independent contractor, in each case, with an annual base salary or wage rate in excess of $250,000, provided, that extensions permitted by, or terminations required by, the terms of the applicable employment or independent contractor arrangement in existence as of July 11, 2024 and set forth on the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement (e.g., at the end of the applicable fixed term of service) will not be considered a hiring, engagement, promotion or termination;

 

95


Table of Contents
   

acquire or agree to acquire (including by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing all or a material portion of the assets of, or by purchasing any equity or voting interest in, or by any other manner) any (i) business or person or division thereof or equity interest in any of the foregoing or (ii) any other assets, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), for consideration in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate;

 

   

sell, assign, lease, transfer, license, encumber, abandon, permit to lapse or otherwise dispose of (i) any material portion of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ assets, business or property (including the capital stock of any subsidiary of the Company), other than (a) dispositions of obsolete, surplus, or worn out tangible assets or tangible assets that are no longer used or useful in the conduct of the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (b) transfers among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, (c) leases and subleases of real property owned or leased by the Company or its subsidiaries and voluntary terminations or surrenders of leases on real property held by the Company or its subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (d) sales or dispositions of tangible assets in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and not in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate, (e) abandonments of any registered intellectual property of the Company and its subsidiaries, other than material registered intellectual property of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or (f) the grant of non-exclusive licenses of intellectual property of the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or (ii) any of the assets, business or property (including any capital stock) set forth in the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement;

 

   

enter into any new line of business, or create any new non-wholly owned subsidiary;

 

   

incur, create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable or responsible for any indebtedness, other than (i) any indebtedness among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries or among the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, (ii) guarantees by the Company of indebtedness of its wholly owned subsidiaries or guarantees by any subsidiaries of indebtedness of the Company to the extent such indebtedness is in existence on July 11, 2024 or incurred in compliance with the Merger Agreement, (iii) performance bonds or surety bonds entered into in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, (iv) any borrowings in the ordinary course of business for working capital purposes under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility as in effect on July 11, 2024 and (v) any other incurrence, guaranty or assumption of indebtedness so long as the aggregate amount thereof at any given time after July 11, 2024 does not exceed $2,000,000;

 

   

enter into, modify, amend, extend, renew, change the economic terms of, terminate, assign or waive, release or assign any material rights or fees to be paid under any Material Contract or any agreement that would constitute a Material Contract if in effect on July 11, 2024;

 

   

commence, release, assign, resolve, settle or compromise, in whole or in part, any proceeding, whether now pending or hereafter made or brought, or waive any claims, other than with respect to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ ordinary course claims activity, (i) in any such case, in an amount in excess of $5,000,000 individually or $15,000,000 in the aggregate (net of the amounts reserved for such matters by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or amounts covered by insurance), (ii) that imposes (a) any obligation to be performed by, or any non-monetary obligations on, or (b) restriction imposed against, the Company or any of its subsidiaries following the Closing Date, in the case of (a) or (b), that would be material to them, taken as a whole, or in the aggregate of all such cases or (iii) that includes any admission by the Company or its subsidiaries of wrongdoing or does not provide for a full settlement and release of all known and unknown claims;

 

   

except for any such change that is not material or that is required by GAAP or applicable law or any competent governmental entity, change (i) any method of financial accounting methods, principles or practices used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) the Company’s fiscal year;

 

96


Table of Contents
   

(i) make, change or revoke any material tax election (except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) (ii) change any annual tax accounting period or any material method of accounting, (iii) file any material amended tax return, (iv) settle or otherwise compromise any material tax claim, proceeding or assessment relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (v) surrender any right to claim a material refund of taxes or (vi) consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any tax claim, proceeding, or assessment relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

   

(i) modify, extend, or enter into any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with any labor union, works council, trade union, labor association or other employee or contract worker representative organization, or (ii) voluntarily recognize or certify any labor union, works council, trade union, labor association or other employee or contract worker representative organization, or group of employees of the Company or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries as the bargaining representative for any employees of the Company or its wholly owned subsidiaries;

 

   

make any capital expenditures or authorizations or commitments with respect thereto that in the aggregate are in excess of $1,000,000 individually or $5,000,000 in the aggregate in any six-month period; or

 

   

authorize any of, or agree or commit to do, in writing or otherwise, any of the foregoing.

Employee Matters

The Merger Agreement provides that until the first anniversary of the Effective Time (or, if earlier, the termination date of an applicable Continuing Employee (as defined below)), the Surviving Company and its subsidiaries will (and Parent will cause the Surviving Company and its subsidiaries to) provide (i) an annual base salary or base wage rate, as applicable, that is no less favorable than the annual base salary or base wage rate provided to the Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) annual cash incentive compensation opportunities (including, as applicable, target amounts but excluding change-in-control, transaction, non-qualified deferred compensation, retention and equity-related bonus opportunities and performance goals) that are no less favorable to those provided to the Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time, (iii) retirement, health and welfare benefits (other than any change-in-control or transaction- based payments, long-term incentives, nonqualified deferred compensation, severance, retention, equity or equity-based compensation, defined benefit arrangements, and post- retirement or retiree medical or welfare benefits (collectively, the “Excluded Benefits”)) that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to those provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time (excluding the Excluded Benefits) and (iv) severance benefits that are no less favorable in the aggregate than those provided under the applicable benefit plan as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and set forth on the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement, in each case, to each individual who is an employee of Envestnet and its subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time and continues to be an employee of Parent or one of its subsidiaries (including Envestnet) (a “Continuing Employee”).

For all purposes under the employee benefit plans of Parent and its subsidiaries providing benefits to any Continuing Employee after the Effective Time (the “New Plans”), each Continuing Employee will be credited with his or her years of service with Envestnet and its subsidiaries and their respective predecessors, to the same extent such Continuing Employee was entitled, before the Effective Time, to credit for such service under any similar benefit plan in which such Continuing Employee participated or was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that the foregoing will not apply (i) with respect to benefit accrual under any New Plan that is a defined benefit pension plan, (ii) for purposes of any New Plan that is a post- employment welfare benefit plan or (iii) to the extent that its application would result in a duplication of benefits. For the avoidance of doubt, all applicable service credit provided under any Legacy Plan (as defined below) as of the Effective Time will apply and continue to accrue for each applicable Continuing Employee from and after the Effective Time in accordance with the terms of the applicable Legacy Plan. In addition, and without

 

97


Table of Contents

limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Continuing Employee to be immediately eligible to participate, without any waiting time, in each New Plan to the extent such Continuing Employee was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Effective Time in an Envestnet benefit plan providing analogous benefits (such Envestnet plans, collectively, the “Legacy Plans”), (ii) for purposes of each New Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical and/or vision benefits to any Continuing Employee, Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to waive all pre-existing condition exclusions and actively at work requirements of such New Plans for such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents, such that each Continuing Employee will be immediately eligible to participate therein, without any waiting time, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, unless such conditions would not have been waived under the Legacy Plans and (iii) Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any eligible expenses incurred by a Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents during the portion of the plan year of each Legacy Plan ending on the date such Continuing Employee’s participation in the corresponding New Plan begins will be taken into account under such New Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year as if such amounts had been paid in accordance with such New Plan.

Convertible Notes, Revolving Credit Agreement and Capped Call Transactions

Convertible Notes

The Company will (i) take all actions as may be required in accordance with, and subject to the terms of, the applicable provisions of each of the Convertible Notes Indentures, including the giving of any notices required by the Convertible Notes Indentures in connection with the Transactions and making any repurchases required under the Convertible Notes Indentures or conversions of the Convertible Notes occurring as a result of the Transactions in accordance with the terms of the Convertible Notes Indentures, (ii) prior to the Closing Date, prepare any supplemental indentures required in connection with the Transactions and the consummation thereof to be executed and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the Effective Time under each of the Convertible Notes Indentures, (iii) take all such further actions, including the delivery of any officers’ certificates and opinions of counsel required by the Convertible Notes Indentures or other documents or instruments, as may be necessary to comply with all of the terms and conditions of the Convertible Notes Indentures in connection with the Transactions, (iv) provide Parent and its counsel reasonable opportunity to review and comment on any written notice or communication and any notices, certificates, press releases, supplemental indentures, legal opinions, officers’ certificates or other documents or instruments deliverable pursuant to or in connection with the Convertible Notes Indentures prior to the dispatch or making thereof, and (v) use commercially reasonable efforts to (and cause its subsidiaries to use commercially reasonable efforts to) cause their respective representatives to, cooperate with Parent in connection with the fulfillment of the Company’s obligations under the terms of the Convertible Notes and the Convertible Notes Indentures at any time after July 11, 2024 as reasonably requested by Parent.

Revolving Credit Agreement

The Company will deliver to Parent at least three business days prior to the Closing Date an executed payoff letter with respect to the Revolving Credit Facility (the “Subject Indebtedness”) in customary form, which payoff letter will (i) indicate the total amount required to be paid to fully satisfy all principal, interest, prepayment premiums, penalties, breakage costs and any other monetary obligations then due and payable under the Subject Indebtedness as of the anticipated Closing Date (and the daily accrual thereafter) and payment instructions for the same (the “Payoff Amount”), (ii) state that upon receipt of the Payoff Amount under such payoff letter, the Subject Indebtedness and all related loan documents will be terminated and (iii) provide that all liens and guarantees in connection with the Subject Indebtedness will be automatically released and terminated upon payment of the Payoff Amount on the Closing Date.

 

98


Table of Contents

Capped Call Transactions

The Company will cooperate with Parent, at Parent’s reasonable written request, in connection with any discussions, negotiations or agreements with certain dealers, any of their respective affiliates or any other person with respect to any determination, adjustment, cancellation, termination, exercise, settlement or computation in connection with the Capped Call Transactions, including with respect to any cash amounts or shares of Envestnet Common Stock that may be receivable by the Company pursuant to the Capped Call Transactions, subject to the mutual agreement of Company, Parent and the relevant dealers in accordance with the terms of the Capped Call Transactions (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed by the Company); provided that in no event will the Merger Agreement require the Company to effect any such determination, adjustment, cancellation, termination, exercise, settlement or computation in connection therewith prior to the Effective Time or that would be effective if the Effective Time did not occur.

The Company (i) will not, without Parent’s prior written consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, (a) make any amendments, modifications or other changes to the terms of, or agree to any adjustment under or amounts due upon termination, cancellation or settlement of, the Capped Call Transactions, (b) exercise any right it may have to terminate, or cause the early settlement, exercise or cancellation of, any of the Capped Call Transactions or (c) except as contemplated in the Merger Agreement or has occurred prior to July 11, 2024, enter into any discussions, negotiations or agreements with respect to any of the foregoing in this paragraph and (ii) will keep Parent fully informed of all such discussions and negotiations. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to take all such other actions as may be required in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of the Capped Call Transactions, including delivery of any notices or other documents or instruments required to give effect to the foregoing or in connection with the consummation of the Merger, each of which shall be so delivered substantially in a form previously provided to Parent for Parent’s review.

Advisory Contract Client Consents

Certain subsidiaries of Envestnet (“Adviser Subsidiaries” and each, individually, an “Adviser Subsidiary”) are party to contracts (each, an “Advisory Contract”) under which such Adviser Subsidiary acts as an investment advisor or sub-advisor to, or manages any investment or trading account of, the counterparties thereto. In connection with obtaining any approvals and consents related to such Advisory Contracts in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Advisers Act or the Investment Company Act applicable thereto and any other applicable law, the Company will, and will cause each applicable Adviser Subsidiary to, use its reasonable best efforts to do the following:

 

   

With respect to each Advisory Contract Client of an Adviser Subsidiary that is a Public Fund (as defined below), obtain or to cause to be obtained, in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Company Act applicable thereto and any other applicable law, (i) the necessary approval of each board of directors or other similar governing body of the Public Fund (the “Public Fund Board”), (ii) the approval of the stockholders of each such Public Fund, of a new Advisory Contract relating to such Public Fund, with such agreement becoming effective immediately following the Closing and containing terms that are substantially similar to (with fee and any other economic terms that are not less favorable to the Company or the Adviser Subsidiary than) the terms of the applicable existing Advisory Contract with such Public Fund and (iii) the approval, as necessary, of the Public Fund Board of an “interim contract” pursuant to Rule 15a-4 under the Investment Company Act.

 

   

With respect to each Advisory Contract Client that is not a Public Fund, including any Private Fund (as defined below), as applicable, obtain or use reasonable best efforts to cause to be obtained prior to Closing, in accordance with applicable law, the consent of such Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract Client to the “assignment” or deemed “assignment” (within the meaning of Section 202(a)(1) and Section 205(a)(2) of the Investment Advisers Act) of its Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract as a result of the Transactions.

 

99


Table of Contents
   

With respect to any Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract Client that enters into a Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract or an amendment to a Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract with an Adviser Subsidiary between July 11, 2024 and Closing, (i) prior to entering into such Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract, provide written notice to such Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract Client (a) informing such Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract Client of the assignment of such Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract effective as of Closing as a result of the Transactions and (b) stating that, by entering into such Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract, such Non-Public Fund Advisory Contract Client will be deemed to have consented, effective as of Closing, to such assignment and (ii) cause such Contract to permit “assignment” or deemed “assignment” thereof to be obtained without written consent.

For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances will the Company nor any Adviser Subsidiary be required to make any payment or provide any other benefit to any Advisory Contract Client to obtain such Advisory Contract Client’s consent and in no event will obtaining Advisory Contract Client Consents be a condition to any of Parent or Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement.

For purposes of this Proxy Statement and the Merger Agreement:

“Advisory Contract Client” means each person, as of July 11, 2024, to which, or in respect of which, an Adviser Subsidiary provides investment advisory services pursuant to an Advisory Contract.

“Public Fund” means each vehicle for collective investment (in whatever form of organization, including the form of a corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other entity, and including each separate portfolio or series of any of the foregoing) (i) that is registered with the SEC as an investment company under the Investment Company Act (including any business development company regulated as such under the Investment Company Act), and (ii) for which an Adviser Subsidiary acts as the sponsor, general partner, managing member, trustee, investment manager, investment adviser, sub-adviser, or in a similar capacity.

“Private Fund” means each vehicle for individual or collective investment (in whatever form of organization, including the form of a corporation, company, limited liability company, partnership, association, trust or other entity, and including each separate portfolio or series of any of the foregoing) (i) that is not registered or required to be registered with the SEC as an investment company under the Investment Company Act and (ii) for which an Adviser Subsidiary acts as the sponsor, general partner, managing member, trustee, investment manager, investment advisor, sub-advisor or in a similar capacity.

No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation Changes

For purposes of this Proxy Statement and the Merger Agreement:

“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means an agreement with Envestnet that is either (i) in effect as of July 11, 2024; or (ii) executed, delivered and effective after July 11, 2024, in either case that contains provisions requiring the counterparty thereto (and any of its affiliates and representatives) that receives material nonpublic information of or with respect to Envestnet and its subsidiaries to keep such information confidential; provided, however, that, in each case, the provisions contained therein are no less restrictive in any material respect to such counterparty (and any of its affiliates and representatives named therein) and no less favorable to the Company in any material respect, in each case, than the terms of the confidentiality agreement entered into between Envestnet and Bain, it being understood that such agreement need not contain any “standstill” or similar provisions, or otherwise prohibit the making of, or amendment or modification to, any Acquisition Proposal.

“Acquisition Proposal” means any bona fide offer or proposal (other than an offer or proposal by Parent or Merger Sub) to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

 

100


Table of Contents

“Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions (other than the Transactions) involving:

 

  (i)

any direct or indirect purchase or other acquisition by any person or “group” (as defined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of persons, whether from Envestnet or any other person(s), of securities representing more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total outstanding equity securities of Envestnet (by vote or economic interests) after giving effect to the consummation of such purchase or other acquisition, including pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer by any person or “group” of persons that, if consummated in accordance with its terms, would result in such person or “group” of persons beneficially owning more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total outstanding equity securities of Envestnet (by vote or economic interests) after giving effect to the consummation of such tender or exchange offer;

 

  (ii)

any direct or indirect purchase, license or other acquisition by any person or “group” (as defined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of persons of assets constituting or accounting for more than fifteen percent (15%) of the consolidated assets, revenue or net income of Envestnet and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (measured by the fair market value thereof as of the date of such purchase or acquisition); or

 

  (iii)

any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or other transaction involving Envestnet pursuant to which any person or “group” (as defined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of persons would hold securities representing more than fifteen percent (15%) of the total outstanding equity securities of the Company (by vote or economic interests) after giving effect to the consummation of such transaction.

“Alternative Acquisition Agreement” means any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement or other contract relating to an Acquisition Transaction, other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement and other than in respect of Parent, its affiliates and their respective affiliates in respect of the Transactions.

“Superior Proposal” means any bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that the Company Board has determined in good faith (after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel) (i) is reasonably likely to be consummated in accordance with its terms, taking into account all legal, regulatory and financing aspects and terms and conditions of the proposal (including certainty of closing, the identity of the person making the proposal and any termination or break-up fees and conditions to consummation), that the Company Board deems relevant, and (ii) if consummated, would be more favorable, from a financial point of view, to the Company stockholders (in their capacity as such) than the Merger (taking into account any revisions to the Merger Agreement made or proposed in writing by Parent prior to the time of such determination). For purposes of the reference to an “Acquisition Proposal” in this definition, all references to “fifteen percent (15%)” in the definition of “Acquisition Transaction” will be deemed to be references to “fifty percent (50%).”

No Solicitation

From July 11, 2024 until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time and the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company and its subsidiaries will not, and will cause its directors and officers and will direct and use reasonable best efforts to cause its employees and other subsidiaries and representatives not to, directly or indirectly:

 

   

solicit, initiate, propose, knowingly induce the making, submission or announcement of, knowingly encourage, facilitate or assist, any proposal or inquiry that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal;

 

   

furnish to any person any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or afford to any person access to the business, properties, assets, books, records or other non-public information, or to any personnel, of the Company and any of its subsidiaries, in any such case with the

 

101


Table of Contents
 

intent to solicit or induce the making, submission or announcement of, or to knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate, any proposal or inquiry that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal;

 

   

participate or engage in discussions or negotiations with any person with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (other than informing such persons of the provisions contained in this paragraph and contacting the person making the Acquisition Proposal to the extent necessary solely to clarify the terms of the Acquisition Proposal in connection with determining whether the Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal);

 

   

approve, endorse or recommend any proposal that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal; or

 

   

enter into any Alternative Acquisition Agreement, other than in respect of Parent, its affiliates and their respective affiliates in respect of the Transactions.

The Merger Agreement also obligates the Company to take the following actions:

 

   

cease and cause to be terminated, any and all discussions, communications or negotiations with any person and its subsidiaries and representatives (other than the parties and their respective subsidiaries and representatives) in connection with any Acquisition Proposal (or proposal or offer that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal) by any such person;

 

   

request the return or destruction of all non-public information concerning the Company and its subsidiaries furnished to any person (other than Parent, the guarantors, the financing sources and their respective subsidiaries, representatives and affiliates) in connection with any Acquisition Proposal (or proposal or offer that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal) at any time prior to July 11, 2024;

 

   

terminate all access granted to any such person and its subsidiaries and representatives to any physical or electronic data room maintained by the Company or other diligence access with respect to any Acquisition Proposal (or proposal or offer that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal); and

 

   

not to terminate, waive, amend or modify any provision of, or grant permission or request under, any standstill or confidentiality agreement to which it or any subsidiary is or becomes a party, and use reasonable best efforts to, and cause each of its subsidiaries to use reasonable best efforts to, enforce any such agreement, in each case, unless the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Board pursuant to applicable law, in which event the Company may take the actions described in this bullet solely to the extent necessary to permit a third party to make an Acquisition Proposal or in order not to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Board pursuant to applicable law.

Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, from July 11, 2024 until the Company’s receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval, if the Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that an Acquisition Proposal, that did not result from any material breach of the Merger Agreement, either constitutes a Superior Proposal or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal, and the Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that the failure to take the actions contemplated by this paragraph would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law, then, so long as the Company promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) notifies Parent of such determination, the Company may, directly or indirectly, (i) subject to the entry into, and in accordance with, an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, furnish to the person making such Acquisition Proposal (and its subsidiaries and representatives and financing sources) any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries and afford to such person (and such person’s subsidiaries, representatives and financing sources) access to the business, properties, assets, books, records or other non-public information, or to

 

102


Table of Contents

personnel, of the Company and its subsidiaries, including to induce the making, submission or announcement of, or to knowingly encourage, knowingly facilitate or assist, a proposal or inquiry that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal and any inquiries or the making of any proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal or potential Acquisition Proposal; provided, however, that the Company will promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) provide to Parent, or provide Parent access to, any such non-public information concerning the Company and any of its subsidiaries that is provided to any such person, its subsidiaries and its and their respective representatives that was not previously provided to Parent or its subsidiaries and representatives; and (ii) participate or engage in discussions or negotiations with such person (and their subsidiaries, representatives and financing sources) with respect to the Acquisition Proposal.

Company Board Recommendation Changes

As described above, and subject to the provisions described below, the Board has made the recommendation that the Company stockholders vote “FOR” the Merger Proposal. The Merger Agreement provides that the Board will not effect a Company Board Recommendation Change (as defined below) except as described below.

Prior to obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Approval, the Board may not take any action described in the following (any such action, a “Company Board Recommendation Change”):

 

   

withhold, withdraw, amend, qualify or modify, or publicly propose to withhold, withdraw, amend, qualify or modify, the Board’s recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent;

 

   

adopt, approve, endorse, recommend or otherwise declare advisable, or propose publicly to adopt, approve, endorse, recommend or otherwise declare advisable, or submit to the Company’s stockholders for approval or adoption, an Acquisition Proposal;

 

   

fail to publicly reaffirm the Board’s recommendation within 10 business days after Parent so requests in writing (or, if earlier, at least two business days prior to the Special Meeting);

 

   

take any formal action or make any recommendation or public statement in connection with a tender or exchange offer, other than a recommendation against such offer or a “stop, look and listen” communication by the Board to the holders of Envestnet Common Stock pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any substantially similar communication), or fail to recommend against any tender or exchange offer (it being understood that the Board may refrain from taking a position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal that is a tender or exchange offer until the close of business on the tenth business day after the commencement of a tender or exchange offer in connection with such Acquisition Proposal without such action being considered a violation of the Merger Agreement);

 

   

fail to include the Board’s recommendation in this Proxy Statement; or

 

   

cause or permit the Company or its subsidiaries to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement.

Notwithstanding the restrictions described above, prior to obtaining the Requisite Stockholder Approval, the Board may effect a Company Board Recommendation Change if (i) there has been an Intervening Event or (ii) the Board determines that an Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal.

The Board may only effect a Company Board Recommendation Change for an Intervening Event if the Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law and if and only if:

 

   

Envestnet has provided written notice to Parent at least five business days in advance to the effect that the Board, has (i) so determined; and (ii) resolved to effect a Company Board Recommendation Change pursuant to the Merger Agreement, which notice must specify the applicable Intervening Event in reasonable detail;

 

103


Table of Contents
   

prior to effecting such Company Board Recommendation Change, Envestnet and its representatives, during such five business day notice period, have negotiated with Parent and its representatives in good faith (to the extent that Parent desires to so negotiate) to enable Parent to make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the Commitment Letters so that the Board no longer determines that the failure to make a Company Board Recommendation Change in response to such Intervening Event would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law; and

 

   

at the end of the five business day notice period and prior to taking any such action, the Board has considered in good faith any such proposals by Parent to make revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Commitment Letters, and has determined in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel), that the failure to take such action would continue to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law if such changes proposed by Parent were to be given effect.

In addition, the Board may only effect a Company Board Recommendation Change, or authorize Envestnet to terminate the Merger Agreement and to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement, in response to a bona fide Acquisition Proposal that the Board has concluded in good faith (after consultation with the Company’s financial advisor and outside legal counsel) is a Superior Proposal if and only if:

 

   

the Board determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel) that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law;

 

   

Envestnet and its subsidiaries and their representatives have not materially breached their obligations pursuant to the Merger Agreement with respect to such Acquisition Proposal;

 

   

Envestnet has provided written notice to Parent at least five business days in advance (the “Notice Period”) to the effect that the Board, has (i) received an Acquisition Proposal that has not been withdrawn; and (ii) it intends to take such action, which notice will specify the identity of the person or “group” (as defined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) making such Acquisition Proposal, the material terms thereof and copies of all material relevant agreements relating to such Acquisition Proposal;

 

   

prior to effecting such Company Board Recommendation Change or termination, Envestnet and its representatives, during the Notice Period, have negotiated with Parent and its representatives in good faith (to the extent that Parent desires to so negotiate) to enable Parent to make such adjustments to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the Commitment Letters so that such Acquisition Proposal would cease to constitute a Superior Proposal or that would obviate the need to effect a Company Board Recommendation Change or termination; provided, however, that in the event of any material revisions to such Acquisition Proposal, the Company will be required to deliver a new written notice to Parent and to comply with the requirements of this paragraph with respect to such new written notice (it being understood that the “Notice Period” in respect of such new written notice will be three business days); and

 

   

at the end of the Notice Period and prior to taking any such action, the Board has considered in good faith any such proposals by Parent to make revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement and the Commitment Letters, and has determined in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel), that (i) such Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal and (ii) the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties pursuant to applicable law if such changes proposed by Parent were to be given effect.

For purposes of this Proxy Statement and the Merger Agreement, an “Intervening Event” means any material Effect with respect to Envestnet (other than in connection with an Acquisition Proposal that constitutes a Superior Proposal) that (i) was not known or reasonably foreseeable to the Board as of July 11, 2024 and (ii) does not relate to (a) any Acquisition Proposal or (b) the mere fact, in and of itself, that the Company meets or exceeds any internal or public projections, forecasts, guidance, estimates, milestones, or budgets or internal or published

 

104


Table of Contents

financial or operating predictions of revenue, earnings, premiums written, cash flow, cash position or other financial performance or results for any period ending on or after July 11, 2024, or changes after July 11, 2024 in the market price or trading volume of the Envestnet Common Stock or credit rating of Envestnet (it being understood that the underlying cause of any of the foregoing in this clause (b) may be considered and taken into account).

Conditions to the Closing of the Merger

The respective obligations of Envestnet, Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permissible pursuant to applicable law) of each of the following conditions:

 

   

the receipt of the Requisite Stockholder Approval;

 

   

(i) the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting periods under any antitrust law set forth on the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement and (ii) the receipt of all requisite approvals and prior written non-disapprovals from the governmental entities set forth on the confidential disclosure schedules to the Merger Agreement; and

 

   

the consummation of the Merger not being restrained, enjoined or otherwise prevented or prohibited or made illegal by any law or order of any governmental entity having jurisdiction over Envestnet, Parent or Merger Sub.

In addition, the obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permitted by applicable law) of each of the following conditions:

 

   

the Company having performed in all material respects all of its obligations, covenants and agreements under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by the Company as of or prior to the Effective Time;

 

   

the representations and warranties of the Company (other than the representations and warranties in the next two bullets) set forth in the Merger Agreement being true and correct (disregarding for these purposes all “Company Material Adverse Effect” and “materiality” qualifications contained in such representations and warranties) at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly speaks as of an earlier date or period, in which case as of such date or period), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, have not had a Company Material Adverse Effect;

 

   

the representations and warranties of the Company relating to certain aspects of the Company’s organization and good standing, corporate power, enforceability, brokers, opinion of financial advisor and anti-takeover laws being true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of such date or period);

 

   

the representations and warranties of the Company relating to certain aspects of the Company’s capitalization being true and correct in all respects at and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of such date or period), except for any inaccuracies that individually or in the aggregate are de minimis relative to the total fully diluted equity capitalization of the Company;

 

   

the absence of any Company Material Adverse Effect after July 11, 2024 that is continuing as of the Closing Date;

 

   

the receipt by Parent and Merger Sub of a certificate of the Company, executed, on behalf of the Company, by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the foregoing conditions to the obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger have been satisfied; and

 

105


Table of Contents
   

the Broker-Dealer Entities having each obtained FINRA Approval.

In addition, the obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where permitted by applicable law) of each of the following conditions:

 

   

Parent having performed in all material respects all of its obligations, covenants and agreements under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by Parent as of or prior to the Effective Time;

 

   

the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in Article V of the Merger Agreement being true and correct (disregarding for these purposes all “Parent Material Adverse Effect” and “materiality” qualifications contained in such representations and warranties) at and as of the Closing Date as though made at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent that any such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date or period, in which case as of such date or period), except where the failure to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect; and

 

   

the receipt by the Company of a certificate of Parent, executed, on behalf of Parent, by an authorized officer of Parent, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the foregoing conditions to the obligations of Envestnet to effect the Merger have been satisfied.

Indemnification and Insurance

The Merger Agreement provides that, for a period of six years from the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Company will not amend, repeal or otherwise modify (i) any provision in the Company’s organizational documents in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) any provision in the organizational documents of the Surviving Company or (iii) any provision in the organizational documents of any subsidiary of the Company in effect as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in each case, in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any Indemnified Person (as defined below) to indemnification, exculpation, defense, being held harmless or expense advancement with respect to Indemnified Liabilities, except, in each case, to the extent required by applicable law. For a period of six years from the Effective Time, Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Company and its subsidiaries to, fulfill and honor any rights of any Indemnified Person to indemnification, exculpation, defense, being held harmless or expense advancement with respect to Indemnified Liabilities (as defined below) under (a) any provision in the Company’s organizational documents in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (b) any provision in the organizational documents of the Surviving Company or (c) any provision in the organizational documents of any subsidiary of the Company in effect as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, in each case to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law.

In addition, the Merger Agreement provides that, during the six year period commencing on the date on which the Effective Time occurs, Parent and the Surviving Company will jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each current or former director or officer of Envestnet and its subsidiaries (and any person who becomes a director or officer of Envestnet or any of its subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time), or any person who acts as a fiduciary under any Company Benefit Plan or is or was serving at the request of Envestnet or any of its subsidiaries as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise (the “Indemnified Persons”) against all losses, claims, damages, costs, fines, penalties, expenses (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses), liabilities or judgments, or amounts that are paid in settlement, of or incurred in connection with any threatened or actual legal proceeding to which such indemnified person is a party or is otherwise involved (including as a witness), based, in whole or in part, on or arising, in whole or in part, out of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Company or such subsidiary of the Company, a fiduciary under any Company Benefit Plan or is or was serving at the request of the Company or such subsidiary of the Company as a director or officer of another company, joint venture, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise or by reason of anything done or not done by such person in any such capacity, to the extent pertaining to any act or omission occurring or existing at or prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the

 

106


Table of Contents

Effective Time (“Indemnified Liabilities”), including all indemnified liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to, the Merger Agreement or the Transactions, in each case. The Merger Agreement also provides that Envestnet and its subsidiaries will, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law, advance reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses) incurred by any indemnified person in connection with matters for which such Indemnified Persons are eligible to be indemnified by Envestnet, the Surviving Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the Merger Agreement (or otherwise) promptly, and in any case within 15 days after receipt by the Surviving Company of a written request for such advance, subject to the execution by such Indemnified Persons of appropriate and reasonable undertakings in favor of Parent and the Surviving Company to repay such advanced costs and expenses if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified.

The Merger Agreement also provides that Parent will cause the Surviving Company to put in place, effective as of the Effective Time, and Parent will fully prepay, or cause to be prepaid, no later than at or immediately prior to the Closing, “tail” insurance policies with a claims reporting or discovery period of six years from the Effective Time with terms and conditions providing retentions, limits and other material terms that are no less favorable, in the aggregate, to the director and officer liability policy maintained by the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to matters, acts or omissions existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including the Transactions), subject to certain limits on the aggregate cost for the six years of coverage under such “tail” policy.

Other Covenants

Special Meeting

Envestnet has agreed to establish a record date for the Special Meeting of the Company stockholders as promptly as possible following the mailing of this Proxy Statement to the Company stockholders for the purpose of voting upon the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the Merger.

Transaction Litigation

Subject to applicable law, the Company will promptly notify Parent of any stockholder demands, litigations, arbitrations or other similar proceedings (including derivative claims) commenced or threatened in writing, or, to the knowledge of the Company, orally against the Company or any director, officer or affiliate of the Company relating to the Merger Agreement or any of the Transactions or seeking damages or discovery in connection with such Transactions (collectively, the “Transaction Litigation”), and keep Parent promptly and reasonably informed regarding any Transaction Litigation. In addition, subject to applicable law, the Company and Parent will (i) cooperate with the other in the defense or settlement of any such Transaction Litigation, at each party’s sole cost and expense, (ii) in good faith consult with each other on a regular basis regarding the defense or settlement of such Transaction Litigation and reasonably consider each other’s advice and views with respect to such Transaction Litigation, but only if it is not reasonably determined by the Company or Parent, upon the advice of counsel, that doing so could result in the loss of the ability to successfully assert any legal privilege or work product protection. Subject to applicable law, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will settle or offer to settle any Transaction Litigation without the prior written consent of Parent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except to the extent the settlement is fully covered by the Company’s insurance policies (other than any applicable deductible), but only if such settlement (i) only involves the payment of monetary damages; (ii) would not result in the imposition of (a) any material obligation to be performed by or (b) material restriction imposed against, the Company or any of its subsidiaries following the Closing Date; (iii) does not directly or indirectly attribute to the Company or any of its subsidiaries any admission of liability or any admission of fact that would reasonably be expected to lead to any liability; (iv) does not impose on Parent or Merger Sub (or any affiliate of Parent or Merger Sub) any judgment, contribution obligation, fine, penalty or any other liability and (v) does not involve the admission of any wrongdoing.

 

107


Table of Contents

Regulatory Efforts

Envestnet, Parent and Merger Sub have agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts to consummate and make effective, as promptly as reasonably practicable, the Merger, including by using reasonable best efforts to cause the conditions to the Merger set forth in the Merger Agreement to be satisfied. If necessary to receive clearance of the Merger pursuant to antitrust laws, Parent will (and cause its affiliates to) use reasonable best efforts to take any and all action to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment under every antitrust law in each case so as to enable the Closing to occur no later than the Outside Date (as defined below), including (i) if any proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) challenging the Transactions as violative of any antitrust law, Parent will (and will cause its affiliates to) use reasonable best efforts to take any and all actions necessary to contest and resist any such proceeding and antitrust law and (ii) using reasonable best efforts to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the Transactions, in each case, until the issuance of a final, non-appealable order with respect thereto, including (a) proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate order, or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or disposition of any businesses, product lines or assets of the Company, Parent and their respective subsidiaries and (b) otherwise taking or committing to take actions that after the Closing would limit the Company’s, Parent’s or their respective subsidiaries’ freedom of action with respect to, or its or their ability to retain, any businesses, product lines or assets of the Company, Parent and their respective subsidiaries.

Capital Financing

From July 11, 2024 and until the Closing, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to provide, and will cause each subsidiary of the Company to use reasonable best efforts to provide, and will use reasonable best efforts to cause its and their respective representatives to provide, such cooperation in connection with arranging and seeking to obtain the capital financing contemplated in the Merger Agreement (the “Capital Financing”) as may be reasonably requested by Parent, including to use reasonable best efforts to:

 

   

make available to Parent, its advisors and its financing sources such financial and other pertinent information regarding the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company as may be reasonably requested by Parent, its advisors or its actual or potential financing sources, including, but not limited to, (i) such information as is necessary to allow Parent, its advisors and its financing sources to prepare pro forma financial statements and marketing materials and (ii) customary authorization letters (including customary representations with respect to accuracy of information and material non-public information); provided, that the Company is given a reasonable opportunity prior to execution to review and provide comments on such authorization letters and such information distributed to prospective lenders in connection therewith;

 

   

assist with the preparation of reasonably requested lender and investor presentations, rating agency presentations, bank information memoranda, marketing materials and other similar documents and materials in connection with the Capital Financing and participating in a reasonable number of meetings, presentations, road shows, drafting sessions and due diligence sessions (in each case, including via video conference) with providers or potential providers of the Capital Financing and ratings agencies and otherwise assisting in the marketing efforts of Parent and its financing sources, in each case to the extent customary for Capital Financings of such type;

 

   

deliver, at least four business days prior to Closing, to Parent all documentation and other information as is reasonably requested by Parent, its advisors and its financing sources at least nine business days prior to Closing with respect to applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act and beneficial ownership regulations (including beneficial ownership certifications as under 31 C.F.R. § 1010.230);

 

   

assist with Parent’s preparation, negotiation and execution of definitive written financing documentation and the schedules and exhibits thereto (including loan agreements, guarantees,

 

108


Table of Contents
 

collateral agreements, hedging arrangements, customary officer’s certificates and corporate resolutions, as applicable) as may reasonably be requested and subject to the occurrence of the Closing; and

 

   

provide reasonable and customary assistance in the taking of all corporate and other equivalent organizational actions, subject to the occurrence of the Closing, reasonably necessary to permit the consummation of the Capital Financing on the Closing Date.

Termination of the Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement may be terminated prior to the Effective Time:

 

   

by mutual written agreement of Envestnet and Parent; or

 

   

by either Envestnet or Parent:

 

   

if the Requisite Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a duly held Special Meeting (including any adjournment, recess, reconvening or postponement thereof), except that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to any party whose breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any obligation, covenant or agreement under the Merger Agreement has proximately caused, or resulted in, the failure to obtain the Requisite Stockholder Approval;

 

   

if the Closing has no