Couchbase (BASE) Amends Proxy: Analyst Targets $16–$25, $102K Retention Bonus
Couchbase amended its proxy statement to update disclosures about the board's strategic review, financing discussions and valuation references.
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Couchbase amended its proxy statement to update disclosures about the board's strategic review, financing discussions and valuation references. The Ad Hoc Strategy/Strategy Committee met repeatedly with management and advisers Morgan Stanley and Wilson Sonsini to review interest from several financial sponsors (including Haveli and Sponsor 3) and strategic acquirors; the committee instructed advisers to seek higher acquisition proposals and did not agree to exclusivity. Morgan Stanley added a selected public comparables analysis section and reported publicly available analyst price targets with a median of $22 and a range of $16.00 to $25.00. The filing also discloses a $102,150 retention bonus for CEO William Carey payable at merger closing, subject to continued employment.
Positive
- Expanded disclosure of the board and advisers' strategic review process, including meetings and instructions to seek improved bids
- Morgan Stanley provided a selected public comparables analysis and summarized analyst price targets (median $22, range $16–$25), giving shareholders external valuation context
- Board resisted an initial proposal deemed not compelling and instructed advisers to seek higher per-share offers, indicating active value pursuit
Negative
- Initial proposal from Haveli and Sponsor 3 was judged not compelling, signaling earlier bids were inadequate
- Retention bonus of $102,150 for the CEO is tied to closing and may raise governance or cost questions for some shareholders
- Comparable companies list text appears added but the amendment copy provided here does not enumerate the comparable companies, limiting transparency of that analysis
Insights
TL;DR: Committee pursued bidders, sought higher proposals; analyst targets median $22 suggest market view.
Morgan Stanley led outreach to multiple private equity sponsors and strategic acquirors while advising the board that the Initial Haveli and Sponsor 3 proposal was not compelling. The committee's instruction to request higher per-share bids indicates active value-maximizing negotiation rather than a quick sale. Disclosure of analyst price targets (median $22; $16–$25 range) provides an external valuation reference for shareholders. No financial projections or deal terms are newly provided here beyond these indications.
TL;DR: Process disclosures expanded; retention bonus and limited outreach merit governance attention.
The amendment expands transparency about board deliberations and advisor activities, which is governance-positive. However, the disclosed $102,150 retention bonus for the CEO is a compensation item tied to closing that shareholders may scrutinize. The record shows the committee chose not to broaden outreach at certain meetings, a choice that affects perceptions of process fulsome‑ness. The comparable companies list text appears inserted but the proxy as provided here does not enumerate the comparables in-line.
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
What changes did Couchbase (BASE) make to its proxy statement about the strategic review?
The amendment adds detail on Strategy/Ad Hoc Committee meetings, Morgan Stanley's outreach to potential financial sponsors and strategic acquirors, and instructions to seek higher acquisition proposals.
Did the Couchbase board accept any acquisition proposal?
No; the amendment states the Initial Haveli and Sponsor 3 Proposal was not compelling and the board declined to agree to exclusivity at that time.
Is there any executive compensation change disclosed in the amendment?
Yes; the proxy adds a retention bonus for William Carey of $102,150 payable upon closing of the merger, subject to continued employment through closing.
Who advised Couchbase during the strategic process?
Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor and Wilson Sonsini served as legal counsel, both participating in committee meetings described in the amendment.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14A-101)
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
(Amendment No. 1)
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 Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
COUCHBASE, INC. |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
☐ | 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. |
AMENDMENT TO THE PROXY STATEMENT
FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF
COUCHBASE, INC.
TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
This amendment, dated September 2, 2025 (which we refer to as this “amendment”), amends and supplements the definitive proxy statement, dated August 7, 2025 (which we refer to as the “proxy statement”) filed by Couchbase, Inc. (which we refer to as “Couchbase”). The proxy statement relates to the solicitation of proxies by Couchbase’s Board of Directors (which we refer to as the “Couchbase Board”) for use at a special meeting of stockholders (which we refer to as the “special meeting”). The special meeting will be held on September 9, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., Pacific Time, via live audio webcast at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/BASE2025SM. Terms used in this amendment that are not defined have the meanings given to them in the proxy statement.
As of the date of this amendment, two complaints (which we refer to collectively as the “complaints”) were filed on August 14, 2025 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, captioned Fitzpatrick v. Couchbase, Inc., et al., Index No. 654843/2025 and Thompson v. Couchbase, Inc., et al., Index No. 654856/2025. The complaints allege that the proxy statement is materially incomplete and assert claims for negligent misrepresentation, concealment, and negligence. The complaints name as defendants Couchbase and the members of the Couchbase Board and seek, among other relief, an injunction of the merger, rescission or rescissory damages (if the merger is consummated), and attorneys’ fees. In addition, Couchbase has received multiple demand letters from purported stockholders (which we refer to collectively as the “demand letters”) which make similar allegations as in the aforementioned complaints regarding the purported deficiencies and/or incomplete information in the proxy statement.
Couchbase believes that the disclosures set forth in the proxy statement comply fully with all applicable law and that the allegations contained in the complaints and demand letters are without merit. However, in order to moot the purported stockholders’ unmeritorious disclosure claims, alleviate the costs, risks and uncertainties inherent in litigation, Couchbase has determined to voluntarily supplement the proxy statement with the supplemental disclosures provided herein. Nothing in these supplemental disclosures shall be deemed an admission of the legal necessity or materiality under applicable laws of any of these supplemental disclosures. To the contrary, Couchbase specifically denies all allegations by the purported stockholders in the complaints and demand letters that any additional disclosure was or is required or material.
Except as described in this amendment, the information provided in the proxy statement continues to apply. If information in this amendment differs from or updates information contained in the proxy statement, then the information in this amendment is more current and supersedes the different information contained in the proxy statement. THIS AMENDMENT SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROXY STATEMENT.
Supplemental Disclosures
All page references in the information below are references to pages in the proxy statement, and the terms used in this amendment that are not defined in this amendment have the meanings given to them in the proxy statement.
For clarity, new text within restated paragraphs from the proxy statement is highlighted with bold, underlined text, and deleted text within restated paragraphs from the proxy statement is highlighted with strikethrough text.
The paragraph on pages 35 to 36 of the proxy statement that begins “Later on March 20, 2025 . . .” is amended as follows:
Later on March 20, 2025, the Ad Hoc Strategy Committee met, with members of Couchbase management in attendance. Members of Couchbase management reviewed projected financial information, including drafts, prepared by Couchbase management, of the Base Case Long-Term Plan and the Accelerate Case Long-Term Plan (each as further described in the section of this proxy statement captioned “The Merger—Financial Projections”). Members of Couchbase management described the process for preparing the Base Case Long-Term Plan and Accelerate
Long-Term Plan, along with the respective underlying assumptions and various execution and other risks to achieving the forecasted results. The Ad Hoc Strategy Committee provided advice and input to Couchbase management on the Base Case Long-Term Plan and Accelerate Long-Term Plan. The Ad Hoc Strategy Committee instructed Couchbase management to share drafts of the Base Case Long-Term Plan and Accelerate Long-Term Plan with the Couchbase Board for additional input and perspective. Additional information about the preparation and substance of the Base Case Long-Term Plan and the Accelerate Case Long-Term Plan is contained in the section of this proxy statement captioned “The Merger—Financial Projections.” Mr. Cain summarized his conversations with Haveli, Sponsor 1, Sponsor 2, Sponsor 3 and Sponsor 4. Additionally, Mr. Cain summarized discussions he had with representatives of another financial sponsor (which we refer to as “Sponsor 5”) in 2023 in which Sponsor 5 had expressed an interest in learning more about Couchbase and its business. Mr. Cain also provided an update on a recent discussion with a stockholder of Couchbase concerning the stockholder’s perspective on Couchbase’s business. Representatives of Morgan Stanley joined the meeting and reviewed a preliminary list of potential financial sponsors (including Haveli, Sponsor 1, Sponsor 2, Sponsor 3, Sponsor 4 and Sponsor 5) and strategic acquirors most likely to be interested in pursuing, and able to finance and consummate, an acquisition of Couchbase. The Ad Hoc Strategy Committee instructed Morgan Stanley to contact Haveli, Sponsor 1, Sponsor 2, Sponsor 3, Sponsor 4 and Sponsor 5 to discuss each party’s interest in a potential acquisition of Couchbase.
The paragraph on page 38 of the proxy statement that begins “Also on April 24, 2025 . . .” is amended as follows:
Also on April 24, 2025, the Strategy Committee met, with members of Couchbase management, other members of the Couchbase Board, and representatives of each of Morgan Stanley and Wilson Sonsini in attendance. The representatives of Morgan Stanley reviewed the status of Couchbase’s discussions with potential financial sponsors and strategic acquirors regarding a potential strategic transaction with Couchbase. The Strategy Committee discussed whether to contact any additional potential acquirors concerning a potential acquisition of Couchbase and determined not to do so at that time. The Strategy Committee reviewed stockholder perspectives on Couchbase’s business and the impact that public disclosure of these perspectives could have on the strategic process.
The paragraph on page 38 of the proxy statement that begins “On May 9, 2025 . . .” is amended as follows:
On May 9, 2025, the Strategy Committee met, with members of Couchbase management, other members of the Couchbase Board, and representatives of each of Morgan Stanley and Wilson Sonsini in attendance. The representatives of Morgan Stanley reviewed the status of Couchbase’s discussions with potential financial sponsors and strategic acquirors regarding a potential strategic transaction with Couchbase. The Strategy Committee discussed whether to contact any additional potential acquirors concerning a potential acquisition of Couchbase and determined not to do so at that time. The Strategy Committee also discussed the contents of a letter received from a stockholder of Couchbase concerning its perspectives on Couchbase’s business, and the impact that public disclosure of these perspectives could have on the strategic process.
The paragraph on pages 38 to 39 of the proxy statement that begins “On May 20, 2025 . . .” is amended as follows:
On May 20, 2025, the Strategy Committee met, with members of Couchbase management, other members of the Couchbase Board, and representatives of each of Morgan Stanley and Wilson Sonsini in attendance. The representatives of Morgan Stanley reviewed certain preliminary financial considerations with respect to the Initial Haveli and Sponsor 3 Proposal. The Strategy Committee discussed the status of Couchbase’s exploration of strategic alternatives and prospects as an independent public company. After discussion with its advisors, the Strategy Committee instructed Morgan Stanley to inform Haveli and Sponsor 3 that (1) the Initial Haveli and Sponsor 3 Proposal was not compelling; (2) the Couchbase Board was not prepared to agree to negotiate exclusively at that time; and (3) Couchbase would provide additional due diligence information to support Haveli and Sponsor 3 making an acquisition proposal at a higher per share price. The Strategy Committee also instructed Morgan Stanley to instruct the other parties still considering an acquisition of Couchbase (including Sponsor 1 and Sponsor 5) to submit an acquisition proposal in the near term. The Strategy Committee reviewed stockholder perspectives on Couchbase’s business and the impact that public disclosure of these perspectives could have on the strategic process.
The disclosure under the section captioned “Selected Public Company Comparables Analysis” is hereby amended and restated by adding the following table in the first full paragraph of such section on page 50 of the proxy statement:
Morgan Stanley performed a selected public company comparables analysis, which attempts to provide an implied value of a company by comparing it to similar companies that are publicly traded. Morgan Stanley reviewed and compared certain financial estimates for Couchbase with comparable publicly available consensus equity analyst research estimates for companies, selected based on Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and experience, that share similar business characteristics and have certain comparable operating characteristics including, among other things, similarly sized revenue and/or revenue growth rates, market capitalizations, profitability, scale and/or other similar operating characteristics (which we refer to as the “comparable companies”). The following is a list of the comparable companies:
AV/CY2025E Revenue | AV/CY2026E Revenue | |||||
Appian Corporation | 3.4x | 3.1x | ||||
CS Disco, Inc. | 1.1x | 1.0x | ||||
Elastic N.V. | 5.3x | 4.7x | ||||
Health Catalyst, Inc. | 1.0x | 0.9x | ||||
JFrog Ltd. | 9.4x | 8.1x | ||||
Lightspeed Commerce | 1.0x | 0.9x | ||||
MongoDB Inc. | 6.7x | 5.8x | ||||
UiPath Inc. | 3.6x | 3.3x | ||||
The disclosure under the section captioned “Selected Public Company Comparables Analysis” is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following bolded and underlined text in the fourth full paragraph of such section on page 50 of the proxy statement:
Based on the outstanding shares of our common stock on a fully diluted basis as of June 4, 2025, as provided by Couchbase’s management, and Couchbase’s net cash of approximately $142 million as of May 31, 2025, as provided by Couchbase’s management, Morgan Stanley calculated the estimated implied value per share of our common stock as follows:
The disclosure under the section captioned “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis” is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following bolded and underlined text and deleting the strikethrough language in the second to last sentence of the first paragraph of such section on page 52 of the proxy statement:
Morgan Stanley then discounted unlevered free cash flows and terminal value with respect to each of the Management Base Case and Management Accelerate Case to present values as of April 30, 2025 using a range of discount rates ranging from 10.8% to 12.8%, which discount rates were selected to reflect an estimate of Couchbase’s weighted average cost of capital determined by applying the capital asset pricing model and based on the application of Morgan Stanley’s professional judgment and experience , to reflect an estimate of Couchbase’s weighted average cost of capital .
The disclosure under the section captioned “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis” is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following bolded and underlined text in the last sentence of the first paragraph of such section on page 52 of the proxy statement:
The resulting implied aggregate value was then adjusted to add the net present value of estimated net operating losses, as provided by Couchbase’s management, and further adjusted to determine implied equity value by adding net cash of approximately $142 million as of May 31, 2025, as provided by Couchbase’s management.
The disclosure under the section captioned “Selected Precedent Transactions Multiples Analysis” is hereby amended and restated by replacing the table of such section on page 52 of the proxy statement:
The following is the list of such reviewed transactions:
Selected Precedent Transactions (Target/Acquiror) | Year | AV / NTM REVENUE | ||||
Matterport, Inc. / CoStar Group | 2024 | 9.0x | ||||
Instructure Holdings, Inc. / Thoma Bravo | 2019 | 6.6x | ||||
Enfusion / Clearwater Analytics | 2025 | 6.2x | ||||
QAD Inc. / Thoma Bravo | 2021 | 5.4x | ||||
Selected Precedent Transactions (Target/Acquiror) | Year | AV / NTM REVENUE | ||||
UserTesting / Thoma Bravo | 2022 | 5.0x | ||||
Forescout Technologies Inc. / Advent International, Crosspoint Capital | 2020 | 4.9x | ||||
Model N, Inc. / Vista | 2024 | 4.6x | ||||
Majesco / Thoma Bravo | 2020 | 4.5x | ||||
Sumo Logic, Inc. / Francisco Partners | 2023 | 4.0x | ||||
WalkMe Ltd. / SAP | 2024 | 4.0x | ||||
AvidXchange, Inc. / TPG | 2025 | 4.0x | ||||
Everbridge, Inc. / Thoma Bravo | 2024 | 3.9x | ||||
Rosetta Stone Inc. / Cambium Learning | 2020 | 3.7x | ||||
Zuora, Inc. / Silver Lake | 2024 | 3.2x | ||||
Monotype Imaging Holdings Inc. / HGGC | 2019 | 3.2x | ||||
Momentive Global / STG | 2023 | 3.0x | ||||
Avid Technology / STG | 2023 | 2.9x | ||||
Carbonite, Inc. / Open Text Corporation | 2019 | 2.7x | ||||
SecureWorks Corp. / Thoma Bravo (Sophos) | 2024 | 2.5x | ||||
NextGen Healthcare / Thoma Bravo | 2023 | 2.3x | ||||
The disclosure under the section captioned “Equity Research Analysts’ Future Price Targets” is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following bolded and underlined text in the first full paragraph of such section on page 54 of the proxy statement:
Morgan Stanley reviewed publicly available equity research analysts’ share price targets for our common stock as of June 18, 2025. The median of undiscounted analyst price targets was $22 per share of our common stock. Morgan Stanley used the lowest and highest undiscounted price targets issued by those research analysts with publicly available price targets for shares of our common stock, resulting in a range of $16.00 to $25.00 per share of our common stock.
The following section is added beneath the section captioned “Indemnification and Insurance of Directors and Executive Officers” and prior to the section captioned “Treatment of Equity Awards” on page 60 of the proxy statement:
Retention Bonus to William Carey
As an incentive to continue with Couchbase through the closing, we granted Mr. Carey a retention bonus equal to $102,150 payable upon the closing of the merger, subject to his continued employment through the closing of the merger.
* * *
If you have any questions concerning the special meeting, the proxy statement or this amendment, would like additional copies of the proxy statement or this amendment, or need help submitting your proxy or voting your shares of common stock, please contact our proxy solicitor:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
28 Liberty Street, Floor 53
New York, NY 10005
Stockholders Call Toll-Free: (888) 626-0988
Banks and Brokers Call: (212) 257-2516
Email: BASE@dfking.com