[DEFM14A] ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. Merger Proxy Statement
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) has agreed to be acquired by Oak-Eagle AcquireCo, Inc., an entity formed by a consortium including The Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. If stockholders approve the merger agreement, each share of EA common stock will be converted into the right to receive $210.00 in cash, without interest, at the effective time of the merger.
A special virtual-only stockholder meeting will be held on December 22, 2025, with a record date of November 19, 2025, when 250,106,129 shares were outstanding and entitled to one vote each. The board unanimously determined the merger is fair and in the best interests of stockholders and recommends voting “FOR” the merger agreement, “FOR” the advisory vote on executive compensation and “FOR” a possible adjournment.
The consortium has committed approximately $36.4 billion of equity financing and lenders have committed $20 billion of debt financing, and the merger is not subject to a financing condition. The deal requires antitrust and foreign investment clearances, including under the HSR Act and from CFIUS, and provides appraisal rights under Delaware law. If completed, EA will become a wholly owned private subsidiary and its stock will be delisted from Nasdaq.
- All-cash premium exit at $210 per share for Electronic Arts stockholders, providing liquidity and valuation certainty if the merger closes.
- Fully committed financing package with approximately $36.4 billion of equity and $20 billion of debt and no financing condition, supporting deal certainty.
- Strong governance process signals, including a unanimous board determination of fairness and a third-party fairness opinion from Goldman Sachs.
- None.
Insights
EA plans a cash sale at $210 per share, backed by sizeable committed financing, pending stockholder and regulatory approvals.
Electronic Arts has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an investor consortium via a merger in which public stockholders receive
The buyer group, led by PIF, Silver Lake and Affinity, has arranged about
Completion still depends on multiple approvals, including the required majority vote of shares outstanding at the
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☐ | 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 Rule 14a-12 |
☐ | 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. |
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Online Before the Meeting Visit the website indicated on your proxy card or voting instruction form and follow the instructions provided. | Telephone Follow the instructions provided on your proxy card or voting instruction form. | Mail Submit your proxy by mail by marking, dating, and signing your proxy card or voting instruction form, and mail it in the enclosed, postage-paid-envelope. | Online at the Meeting Attend the Annual Meeting virtually at http://www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/EA2025SM and follow the instructions on the website. | ||||||
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/s/ Andrew Wilson | |||
ANDREW WILSON | |||
Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair | |||
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Items of Business: | 1. To consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 28, 2025 (as it may be amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, the “merger agreement”), by and among the Company, Oak-Eagle AcquireCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Oak-Eagle MergerCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which and on the terms and subject to the conditions thereof, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the “merger”), with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “surviving corporation”). We refer to this proposal as the “merger agreement proposal.” 2. To consider and vote on a proposal to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, the compensation that may be paid or become payable to our named executive officers in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including consummation of the merger, which proposal we refer to as the “advisory compensation proposal.” 3. To consider and vote on a proposal to approve any adjournment of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the special meeting or adjournment thereof to adopt the merger agreement, which proposal we refer to as the “adjournment proposal.” | ||
Record Date: | Only the holders of record of Company common stock at the close of business on November 19, 2025 (the “holders”)—the record date for the special meeting—will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. | ||
General: | The merger agreement proposal must be approved by the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of the holders representing a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of Company common stock entitled to vote thereon. If you fail to authorize a proxy to vote your shares or vote at the virtual special meeting, fail to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote, or abstain from the merger agreement proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the merger agreement proposal. Accordingly, your vote is very important regardless | ||
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of the number of shares of Company common stock that you own. Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual special meeting, we request that you vote your shares of Company common stock promptly. If you attend the virtual special meeting and you are a Company stockholder of record at the close of business on the record date, you may continue to have your shares of Company common stock voted as instructed in your proxy, or you may withdraw your proxy and vote your shares of Company common stock at the virtual special meeting. The approval of each of the advisory compensation proposal and the adjournment proposal requires the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of a majority of the shares of Company common stock present at the special meeting (in person or by proxy) and voting for or against such proposal. Assuming a quorum is present, if you fail to authorize a proxy to vote your shares or vote at the virtual special meeting, or fail to instruct your bank, broker or other nominee on how to vote, it will have no effect on the outcome of these proposals. Abstentions will not be considered votes cast and therefore, assuming a quorum is present, will have no effect on the outcome of the advisory compensation proposal or the adjournment proposal. If a quorum is not present or represented at the special meeting of the stockholders, then the chair of the meeting may adjourn the special meeting. For Company common stockholders of record, any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by delivery of a properly executed, later-dated proxy card, by submitting a new proxy electronically over the internet or by telephone after the date of the earlier submitted proxy, by submitting a written revocation of your proxy to our Corporate Secretary, or by voting at the virtual special meeting. For Company common stockholders that hold their shares in “street name,” any proxy may be revoked through such stockholder’s broker, bank or other nominee and in accordance with its procedures or by voting at the virtual special meeting. Attendance at the virtual special meeting alone will not be sufficient to revoke a previously authorized proxy. For more information concerning the virtual special meeting, the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, please review the accompanying proxy statement and the copy of the merger agreement attached as Annex A thereto. The Board has reviewed and considered the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. The Board, (i) determined that the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and declared it advisable to enter into the merger agreement, (iii) approved the execution and delivery by the Company of the merger agreement, the performance by the Company of its covenants and agreements contained in the merger agreement and the consummation of the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the merger agreement, (iv) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt the merger agreement, in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the merger agreement, and (v) directed that the merger agreement be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for their adoption. | |||
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Accordingly, the Board recommends a vote “FOR” the merger agreement proposal, “FOR” the advisory compensation proposal and “FOR” the adjournment proposal. Whether or not you plan to attend the virtual special meeting, we want to make sure your shares of Company common stock are represented at the meeting. You may cast your vote by authorizing your proxy in advance of the virtual special meeting by mail, over the internet or by telephone (using the instructions provided in the enclosed proxy card). For voting by mail, please mark, sign, date and return, as promptly as possible, the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid reply envelope provided. If you attend the special meeting and vote thereat, your vote will revoke any proxy that you have previously submitted. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you should instruct your bank, broker or other nominee how to vote your shares in accordance with the enclosed voting instruction form from your bank, broker or other nominee. Your bank, broker or other nominee cannot vote on any of the proposals, including the merger agreement proposal, without your instructions. If you sign, date and mail your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be counted as a vote “FOR” the merger agreement proposal, “FOR” the compensation proposal and “FOR” the adjournment proposal. | |||
By Order of the Board of Directors | |||
/s/ Jacob J. Schatz | |||
JACOB J. SCHATZ | |||
EVP of Global Affairs, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary | |||
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SUMMARY | 1 | ||
The Parties | 1 | ||
The Special Meeting | 2 | ||
Record Date and Stockholders Entitled to Vote; Vote Required to Approve Each Proposal | 2 | ||
Voting Commitments | 2 | ||
The Merger; Certain Effects of the Merger; Consideration To Be Received in the Merger | 3 | ||
Recommendation of the Board | 3 | ||
Opinion of the Company’s Financial Advisor | 4 | ||
Effects on the Company if the Merger Is Not Consummated | 4 | ||
Financing of the Merger | 4 | ||
Limited Guarantees | 5 | ||
The Voting, Support and Rollover Agreement | 5 | ||
The Voting and Support Agreement | 6 | ||
Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger | 6 | ||
Company Equity Awards | 6 | ||
Company ESPP | 7 | ||
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger | 7 | ||
Regulatory Approvals in Connection with the Merger | 8 | ||
Appraisal Rights | 8 | ||
Solicitation of Other Offers; Recommendation Changes | 9 | ||
Conditions of the Merger | 9 | ||
Termination of the Merger Agreement | 10 | ||
Company Termination Fee | 12 | ||
Parent Termination Fee | 12 | ||
Current Price of Company Common Stock | 13 | ||
Additional Information | 13 | ||
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING, THE MERGER AND THE MERGER AGREEMENT | 14 | ||
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | 21 | ||
THE PARTIES | 22 | ||
Electronic Arts Inc. | 22 | ||
Oak-Eagle AcquireCo, Inc. | 22 | ||
Oak-Eagle MergerCo, Inc. | 22 | ||
THE SPECIAL MEETING | 23 | ||
Date, Time and Place | 23 | ||
Purpose of the Special Meeting | 23 | ||
Recommendation of the Board | 23 | ||
Attending the Special Meeting; Voting Procedures | 23 | ||
Record Date and Stockholders Entitled to Vote | 24 | ||
Quorum | 24 | ||
Vote Required | 24 | ||
How Proxies Are Voted | 25 | ||
Revocation of Proxies | 25 | ||
Solicitation of Proxies | 26 | ||
Adjournments | 26 | ||
Voting by Company Directors and Executive Officers | 26 | ||
Appraisal Rights | 26 | ||
Other Matters | 27 | ||
Assistance | 27 | ||
PROPOSAL 1: MERGER AGREEMENT PROPOSAL | 28 | ||
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PROPOSAL 2: ADVISORY COMPENSATION PROPOSAL | 29 | ||
PROPOSAL 3: ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL | 30 | ||
THE MERGER | 31 | ||
Overview | 31 | ||
Background of the Merger | 31 | ||
Recommendation of the Board | 36 | ||
Reasons for the Merger | 36 | ||
Certain Financial Forecasts | 39 | ||
Opinion of the Company’s Financial Advisor | 41 | ||
Certain Effects of the Merger | 47 | ||
Effects on the Company if the Merger Is Not Consummated | 47 | ||
Financing of the Merger | 48 | ||
Appraisal Rights | 50 | ||
Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger | 54 | ||
Certain Assumptions | 55 | ||
Treatment of Outstanding Company Equity Awards | 55 | ||
Change in Control Plan | 56 | ||
Potential Employment Arrangements with Parent | 56 | ||
Indemnification and Insurance | 56 | ||
Other Compensation Matters | 57 | ||
Quantification of Potential Payments and Benefits to the Company’s Named Executive Officers in Connection with the Merger | 57 | ||
Certain Other Relationships | 58 | ||
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger | 58 | ||
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding | 60 | ||
Regulatory Approvals in Connection with the Merger | 60 | ||
Delisting and Deregistration of the Company Common Stock | 61 | ||
THE MERGER AGREEMENT | 62 | ||
Explanatory Note Regarding the Merger Agreement | 62 | ||
Effect of the Merger | 62 | ||
Closing and Effective Time | 63 | ||
Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws; Directors and Officers | 63 | ||
Merger Consideration | 63 | ||
Exchange and Payment Procedures | 64 | ||
Representations and Warranties | 65 | ||
Conduct of Business Pending the Merger | 68 | ||
Solicitation of Other Offers | 70 | ||
Recommendation Changes | 71 | ||
Other Covenants | 73 | ||
Employee Matters | 75 | ||
Conditions to the Closing of the Merger | 75 | ||
Termination of the Merger Agreement | 76 | ||
Company Termination Fee | 78 | ||
Parent Termination Fee | 78 | ||
Fees and Expenses | 79 | ||
Indemnification and Insurance | 79 | ||
Specific Performance | 79 | ||
Limitations of Liability | 80 | ||
Amendment | 80 | ||
Governing Law | 80 | ||
THE VOTING, SUPPORT AND ROLLOVER AGREEMENT | 81 | ||
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THE VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENTS | 82 | ||
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 83 | ||
Beneficial Ownership of Company Common Stock | 83 | ||
MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION | 85 | ||
HOUSEHOLDING | 86 | ||
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS | 87 | ||
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 88 | ||
ANNEX A: THE MERGER AGREEMENT | A-1 | ||
ANNEX B: THE VOTING, SUPPORT AND ROLLOVER AGREEMENT | B-1 | ||
ANNEX C: THE FORM OF VOTING AND SUPPORT AGREEMENT | C-1 | ||
ANNEX D: OPINION OF GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC | D-1 | ||
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• | each of the Company’s executive officers holds unvested Company RSUs and unvested Company PSUs, which will be converted into the Replacement Cash Awards based on the merger consideration, subject to the same vesting terms and conditions (except that performance-based goals that have an incomplete performance period, or for which performance has not been certified as of immediately prior to the effective time, are deemed satisfied based on the greater of target and actual performance measured through the latest practicable date before the effective time); |
• | unvested Company RSUs that are held by non-employee directors of the Company will fully vest at the effective time; |
• | the Company’s executive officers participate in the Company’s Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Plan, which provides severance payments and benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment (i.e., a termination by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason) that occurs within 18 months following the effective time, or during the three-month period immediately preceding the effective time, if such termination is made in connection with the merger; |
• | the Company’s directors and executive officers are entitled to continued indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance coverage under the merger agreement; and |
• | certain other compensation matters. |
• | Company Options. Each option to purchase shares of Company common stock (each, a “Company Option”) that is outstanding and vested as of immediately prior to the effective time will be cancelled |
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• | Unvested Company RSUs and Unvested Company PSUs. Each award of restricted stock units with respect to shares of Company common stock subject to solely time-based vesting conditions (“Company RSUs”) and each award of restricted stock units with respect to shares of Company common stock that vests on the achievement of performance-based goals (“Company PSUs”) outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time and that is not an award of Vested Company RSUs (as defined below) will be cancelled and replaced with a restricted cash award (each, a “Replacement Cash Award”) in an amount equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Company RSUs or Company PSUs as of immediately prior to the effective time multiplied by the merger consideration. Performance-based goals associated with Company PSUs that have an incomplete performance period, or for which performance has not been certified as of immediately prior to the effective time, will be deemed satisfied based on the greater of (i) target level performance and (ii) actual performance measured through the latest practicable date before the effective time as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Each Replacement Cash Award will be subject to the same vesting terms and conditions as applied to the replaced unvested Company RSUs or Company PSUs (other than any performance conditions); and |
• | Vested Company RSUs. Each award of unvested Company RSUs held by a non-employee director and each award of vested but unsettled Company RSUs (together, “Vested Company RSUs”) that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Vested Company RSUs multiplied by the merger consideration. |
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• | the receipt of the Company stockholder approval; |
• | the expiration, termination, or waiver of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act and any mutually agreed agreements with any U.S. governmental authority to delay or otherwise not consummate as soon as practicable the merger; |
• | CFIUS Approval; |
• | the receipt or waiver of (or termination of applicable waiting periods with respect to) governmental approvals required under the regulatory laws of specified jurisdictions; and |
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• | no court or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in the United States or other specified jurisdictions having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any final and non-appealable law or order that permanently enjoins or otherwise permanently prohibits the consummation of the merger. |
• | the representations and warranties of the Company being true and correct as of the signing of the merger agreement and as of the closing date, subject to materiality standards set forth in the merger agreement; |
• | the Company having performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the closing; |
• | there not having occurred a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below under the section entitled “The Merger Agreement—Representations and Warranties”) since the signing of the merger agreement that is continuing; and |
• | the receipt by Parent and Merger Sub of a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied. |
• | the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in the merger agreement being true and correct as of the signing of the merger agreement and as of the closing date, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the merger and deliver the merger consideration in accordance with the merger agreement; |
• | each of Parent and Merger Sub having performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the closing; and |
• | the receipt by the Company of a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by an executive officer of Parent certifying that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied. |
• | by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent; |
• | if the merger has not been consummated on or before September 28, 2026 (the “outside date”) (provided, however, that the right to terminate the merger agreement will not be available to any party whose failure to comply with its obligations under the merger agreement has been the primary cause of, or has primarily resulted in, the failure of the closing to occur on or prior to such date). The outside date will be automatically extended to December 28, 2026 if, as of three (3) business days prior to September 28, 2026, antitrust clearance, CFIUS Approval or any other governmental approval required under the regulatory laws of specified jurisdictions has not been received, or a governmental authority in specified jurisdictions has enacted a final and non-appealable order relating to a regulatory law that permanently enjoins the merger, but all of the other conditions to closing (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing) have been satisfied or are capable of being satisfied or, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the merger agreement, have been waived, provided that Parent and the Company may mutually agree in writing to amend the outside date to any other date as agreed. In addition, if the marketing period (as defined below under the section entitled “The Merger—Financing of the Merger”) has commenced but not yet been completed as of the close |
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• | if the Company fails to obtain the Company stockholder approval at the special meeting (or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof taken in accordance with the merger agreement) at which a vote is taken on the adoption of the merger agreement; or |
• | if any court or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in the United States or other specified jurisdictions has enacted, issued, promulgated or entered any order that permanently enjoins or otherwise permanently prohibits the consummation of the merger and such order has become final and non-appealable. |
• | if there is a breach by Parent or Merger Sub of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement, or any such representation or warranty of Parent or Merger Sub has become untrue, in either case causing the conditions to closing related to the accuracy of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s representations and warranties or to the performance of their obligations under the merger agreement to not be satisfied, subject to certain opportunities to cure the breach prior to the outside date; |
• | if, prior to the receipt of the Company stockholder approval, the Company terminates the merger agreement to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement providing for a Superior Proposal in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement described below under “The Merger Agreement— Recommendation Changes— No Change of Recommendation”, if the Company pays to Parent the Company termination fee; or |
• | if, at any time prior to the effective time, all of the conditions to Parent and Merger Sub consummating the closing have been and remain satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing, but which are capable of being satisfied at the closing), Parent and Merger Sub have failed to effect the closing by the date on which the closing was required to occur pursuant to the merger agreement, following such failure to effect the closing and at least three (3) business days prior to termination, the Company confirmed in writing that the Company is (and remains throughout such three (3)-business day period) ready, willing and able to close the merger and Parent and Merger Sub fail to effect the closing on or prior to the date that is three (3) business days following delivery of such written confirmation from the Company. |
• | if there is a breach by the Company of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the merger agreement, or if any such representation or warranty of the Company has become untrue, in either case causing the conditions to closing related to the accuracy of the Company’s representations and warranties or to the performance of the Company’s obligations under the merger agreement to not be satisfied, subject to certain opportunities to cure the breach prior to the outside date; or |
• | if, prior to the receipt of the Company stockholder approval, there has been a change of recommendation. |
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• | if (a) since the signing of the merger agreement, an Acquisition Proposal has been made publicly or announced by the Company or the Board and has not been publicly withdrawn at least three (3) business days prior to the special meeting; (b) either Parent or the Company terminates the merger agreement for failure to obtain the Company stockholder approval; and (c) within 12 months following such termination, the Company consummates a transaction that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal or enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (with the references to “25% or more” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” deemed to be references to “more than 50%”); |
• | if Parent terminates the merger agreement because the Board makes a change of recommendation; or |
• | if the Company terminates the merger agreement in order to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement providing for a Superior Proposal. |
• | the merger agreement is terminated by the Company, prior to the end of the 45-day period immediately following the signing of the merger agreement (the “window shop period”), in order for the Company to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal that the Board has determined, in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, constitutes a Superior Proposal; or |
• | the merger agreement is terminated by Parent because the Board makes a change of recommendation prior to the end of the window shop period in response to an Acquisition Proposal that the Board has determined, in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, is a Superior Proposal. |
• | if either Parent or the Company terminates the merger agreement as a result of a final and non-appealable order relating to a regulatory law that permanently enjoins merger, and no breach by the Company of its obligations with respect to its regulatory efforts has been the primary cause of the order permanently enjoining the merger; |
• | if either Parent or the Company terminates the merger agreement because the closing has not occurred by the outside date, and at the time of such termination, one or more of the conditions relating to antitrust clearance, CFIUS Approval, or any other required governmental approval in specified jurisdictions has not been satisfied, or a court or other governmental authority in certain specified jurisdictions has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order that is in effect and enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the merger, but the other conditions to Parent and Merger Sub consummating the merger have been satisfied (other than those that by their nature are to be satisfied at closing, but which are capable of being satisfied at closing) or waived, and no breach by the Company of its obligations with respect to its regulatory efforts has been the primary cause of the failure of any such condition to be satisfied; |
• | if the Company terminates the merger agreement as a result of Parent’s willful and material breach of the merger agreement; |
• | if the Company terminates the merger agreement at a time when all of the conditions to Parent and Merger Sub consummating the merger have been and remain satisfied or waived (other than those |
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• | if Parent terminates the merger agreement because the closing has not occurred by the outside date and the Company could have validly terminated the merger agreement pursuant to either of the preceding two bullets within three (3) business days of such termination by Parent. |
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Q: | Why am I receiving this proxy statement? |
A: | On September 28, 2025, the Company entered into the merger agreement with Parent and Merger Sub. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. |
Q: | As a holder of Company common stock, what will I receive in the merger? |
A: | If the merger is consummated, you will be entitled to receive $210.00 in cash, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of Company common stock that you own immediately prior to the effective time. |
Q: | When and where is the special meeting of our stockholders? |
A: | The special meeting of Company stockholders will be held on December 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m., Pacific Time, in a virtual-only meeting format. We are conducting the special meeting in a virtual-only format, so our stockholders can participate from any geographic location with Internet connectivity. We believe this enhances accessibility to the special meeting for all of our stockholders. Company stockholders will not be able to physically attend the special meeting. |
Q: | Who is entitled to attend and vote at the special meeting? |
A: | Only Company common stockholders of record at the close of business on November 19, 2025, the record date for the special meeting, will be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the special meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof. As of the record date, there were 250,106,129 shares of Company common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each Company common stockholder is entitled to one vote per share of Company common stock held by such Company stockholder on the record date. |
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Q: | What proposals will be considered at the special meeting? |
A: | At the special meeting, the Holders will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals: |
• | the merger agreement proposal; |
• | the advisory compensation proposal; and |
• | the adjournment proposal. |
Q: | How does the Board recommend that I vote? |
A: | The Board recommends a vote “FOR” the merger agreement proposal, “FOR” the advisory compensation proposal and “FOR” the adjournment proposal. |
Q: | What constitutes a quorum for purposes of the special meeting? |
A: | A majority of all outstanding shares of Company common stock entitled to vote as of the record date must be present in person or by remote communication at the special meeting or represented by proxy to constitute a quorum. |
Q: | What vote of our stockholders is required to approve each of the proposals? |
A: | Under Delaware law, the approval of the merger agreement proposal requires the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) of the holders of a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding shares of |
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Q: | How do the Company’s directors and executive officers intend to vote? |
A: | As of November 4, 2025, the directors and executive officers of the Company collectively beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Company common stock. On September 28, 2025, certain directors and executive officers of the Company entered into Voting and Support Agreements pursuant to which such directors and officers have agreed to vote all of their shares of Company common stock “FOR” the merger agreement proposal. |
Q: | Do any of the Company’s directors or executive officers have any interests in the merger that are different from, or in addition to, my interests as a Company stockholder? |
A: | In considering the recommendation of the Board with respect to the merger, the Company stockholders should be aware that the directors and executive officers of the Company may have certain interests in the merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of the Company stockholders generally. The Board was aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in making its recommendation that the Company stockholders vote to approve the merger agreement proposal and the advisory compensation proposal. These interests include, among others, the following: |
• | each of the Company’s executive officers holds unvested Company RSUs and unvested Company PSUs, which will be converted into the Replacement Cash Awards based on the merger consideration, subject to the same vesting terms and conditions (except that performance-based goals that have an incomplete performance period, or for which performance has not been certified as of immediately prior to the effective time, are deemed satisfied based on the greater of target and actual performance measured through the latest practicable date before the effective time); |
• | unvested Company RSUs that are held by non-employee directors of the Company will fully vest at the effective time; |
• | the Company’s executive officers participate in the Company’s Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Plan, which provides severance payments and benefits upon a qualifying termination of employment (i.e., a termination by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason) that occurs within 18 months following the effective time, or during the three-month period immediately preceding the effective time, if such termination is made in connection with the merger; |
• | the Company’s directors and executive officers are entitled to continued indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance coverage under the merger agreement; and |
• | certain other compensation matters. |
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Q: | What will happen to outstanding Company equity awards in the merger? |
A: | At the effective time, outstanding Company equity awards will be treated as follows, subject to all required withholding taxes: |
• | Company Options. Each Company Option that is outstanding and vested as of immediately prior to the effective time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (x) the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such vested Company Option multiplied by (y) the excess, if any, of the merger consideration over the per share exercise price of such vested Company Option. The Company does not have any unvested Company Options or Company Options with an exercise price equal to or greater than the merger consideration; |
• | Unvested Company RSUs and Unvested Company PSUs. Each award of Company RSUs and each award of Company PSUs outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time and that is not an award of Vested Company RSUs will be cancelled and replaced with a Replacement Cash Award in an amount equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Company RSUs or Company PSUs as of immediately prior to the effective time multiplied by the merger consideration, with performance-based goals associated with Company PSUs that have an incomplete performance period, or for which performance has not been certified as of immediately prior to the effective time, deemed satisfied based on the greater of (i) target level performance and (ii) actual performance measured through the latest practicable date before the effective time as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Each Replacement Cash Award will be subject to the same vesting terms and conditions as applied to the replaced unvested Company RSUs or Company PSUs (other than any performance conditions); and |
• | Vested Company RSUs. Each award of unvested Company RSUs held by a non-employee director and each award of Vested Company RSUs that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Vested Company RSUs multiplied by the merger consideration. |
Q: | What will happen to my participation in the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)? |
A: | Following the date of the merger agreement, the then current offering period (in effect as of September 28, 2025) will continue, but no new offering periods or purchase periods may be commenced pursuant to the Company ESPP, and no employees may newly participate in or increase their contribution rates or purchase elections pursuant to the Company ESPP, except as may be required by applicable law. If the effective time occurs prior to the end of such current offering period, all outstanding purchase rights under the Company ESPP will automatically be exercised, in accordance with the terms of the Company ESPP, no later than the Final Exercise Date and the Company ESPP will terminate effective no later than the second trading day before the effective time. Each share of Company common stock purchased on the Final Exercise Date will be cancelled at the effective time and converted into the right to receive the merger consideration in the same manner as other Company stockholders (less applicable tax withholding). |
Q: | What happens if I transfer my Company common stock before the special meeting? |
A: | The record date for the special meeting is earlier than the date of the special meeting. If you own Company common stock on the record date and transfer your shares after the record date but prior to the special meeting, you will retain your right to vote such shares of Company common stock at the special meeting. However, the right to receive the merger consideration will pass to the person to whom you transferred your shares of Company common stock. |
Q: | How do I vote if I am a Company common stockholder of record or hold my shares in “street name”? |
A: | If you are a Company common stockholder of record, you may vote in advance by authorizing a proxy for the special meeting by completing, signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided or by granting your proxy electronically over the internet or by telephone (using the instructions provided in the enclosed proxy card). You may also vote by attending the virtual special meeting and voting during the live webcast. |
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Q: | If I am a holder of Company common stock, can I change my vote after I have delivered my proxy? |
A: | Yes. For the Company common stockholders of record, any time after you have submitted a proxy and before the proxy is exercised, you may revoke or change your vote in one of four ways: |
• | you may submit a new proxy card bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy) in accordance with the instructions detailed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “The Special Meeting—Attending the Special Meeting; Voting Procedures”; |
• | you may submit a new proxy electronically over the internet or by telephone after the date of the earlier submitted proxy; |
• | you may submit a written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Electronic Arts Inc., 209 Redwood Shores Parkway, Redwood City, California 94065; or |
• | you may attend the virtual special meeting and vote during the live webcast. Attendance at the virtual special meeting will not, in itself, constitute revocation of a previously granted proxy. |
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 or multiple proxy cards or voting instruction forms. For example, if you hold your Company common stock in more than one brokerage account, you will receive a separate voting instruction form for each brokerage account in which you hold Company common stock. Please submit each proxy card and voting instruction form that you receive to ensure that all of your shares of Company common stock are voted. |
Q: | If I hold my Company common stock in certificated form, should I send in my stock certificates now? |
A: | No. Parent will designate a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as paying agent for the payment of the merger consideration in accordance with the merger agreement. At or prior to the effective time, Parent will deposit or cause to be deposited with the paying agent an amount in cash sufficient to pay the aggregate merger consideration. Promptly after the effective time, and in any event not |
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Q: | Am I entitled to exercise appraisal rights instead of receiving the merger consideration for my Company common stock? |
A: | Yes. Company stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL so long as they take certain actions and meet certain conditions, including that they do not vote (in person or by proxy) in favor of the merger agreement proposal. For more information regarding appraisal rights, see “The Merger—Appraisal Rights.” Failure to strictly comply with Section 262 of the DGCL may result in your waiver of, or inability to exercise, appraisal rights. |
Q: | When is the merger expected to be consummated? |
A: | We currently expect to consummate the merger in the first quarter of the Company’s 2027 fiscal year, subject to receipt of the Company stockholder approval and the required regulatory approvals and the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the merger described in the merger agreement. |
Q: | What effect will the merger have on the Company? |
Q: | What happens if the merger is not consummated? |
A: | In the event that the Company stockholder approval is not obtained or if the merger is not consummated for any other reason, Company stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares of Company common stock in connection with the merger. Instead, the Company will remain an independent public company, the Company common stock will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq, the Company common stock will continue to be registered under the Exchange Act, and the Company stockholders will continue to own their shares of Company common stock and will continue to be subject to the same general risks and opportunities as they currently are with respect to ownership of the Company common stock. |
Q: | What is householding and how does it affect me? |
A: | The Company has adopted an SEC-approved procedure called “householding.” Under this procedure, the Company may deliver a single copy of this proxy statement to multiple stockholders who share the same last name and address and who have consented to householding, unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of those stockholders. This procedure reduces the environmental impact of the Company’s stockholder meetings and reduces the Company’s printing and mailing costs. Stockholders who |
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Q: | Who can help answer my questions? |
A: | If you need assistance in completing your proxy card or have questions regarding the special meeting, please contact our proxy solicitation agent: |
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• | to consider and vote on the merger agreement proposal; |
• | to consider and vote on the advisory compensation proposal; and |
• | to consider and vote on the adjournment proposal. |
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• | you may submit a new proxy card bearing a later date (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy or voting instructions) in accordance with the instructions detailed in the section of this proxy statement entitled “—Attending the Special Meeting; Voting Procedures”; |
• | you may submit a new proxy electronically over the internet or by telephone after the date of the earlier submitted proxy; |
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• | you may submit a written notice of revocation to the Company’s Corporate Secretary at Electronic Arts Inc., 209 Redwood Shores Parkway, Redwood City, California 94065; or |
• | you may attend the virtual special meeting and vote during the live webcast. Attendance at the virtual special meeting will not, in itself, constitute revocation of a previously granted proxy. |
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• | determined that the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders; |
• | determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and declared it advisable to enter into the merger agreement; |
• | approved the execution and delivery by the Company of the merger agreement, the performance by the Company of its covenants and agreements contained in the merger agreement and the consummation of the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the merger agreement; |
• | resolved to recommend that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt the merger agreement, in each case on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the merger agreement; and |
• | directed that the merger agreement be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for their adoption. |
• | Significant premium over unaffected share price. The merger consideration of $210.00 per share represents: |
○ | a 25% premium over the $168.32 closing price of the Company common stock on September 25, 2025, the last trading day prior to the Wall Street Journal article regarding a potential transaction, |
○ | a 32% premium over the 90-day volume weighted average price of the Company common stock ending on September 25, 2025, and |
○ | a 17% premium over the Company’s all-time high stock price, and the Company’s 52-week high stock price, of $179.01 per share. |
• | Cash consideration and certainty of value. The all-cash consideration provides certain, immediate value and liquidity to the stockholders of the Company upon the closing of the merger, and the Board believed that this value is more favorable to Company stockholders than the risk-adjusted value to them if the Company remained an independent public company. |
• | Stockholders avoid risk associated with a standalone strategy. The all-cash consideration enables stockholders of the Company to avoid the risk and uncertainties associated with the Company’s long-term standalone strategy, which risks and uncertainties include: |
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• | the fact that the digital interactive entertainment industry is highly competitive; |
• | risks relating to the Company’s ability to continue to deliver successful and engaging products and services that consumers prefer over competitors’ products; |
• | risks related to the Company’s revenue concentration in products and services based on a few popular franchises; |
• | risks relating to the Company’s ability to meet product and live service development schedules; |
• | risks relating to rapid industry changes and the Company’s ability to anticipate and successfully implement new technologies and business strategies, including new artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technology; |
• | risks related to consumer expectations regarding the quality, performance and integrity of the Company’s products and services; |
• | risks relating to consumer adoption of third-party consoles, platforms and devices for which the Company develops its products and services and through which the Company’s products and services are distributed; |
• | risks related to acquisitions and other strategic transactions; |
• | risks related to security breaches, cyber-events, outages and disruptions of the Company’s products and services; |
• | risks related to governmental regulations that impact the Company’s business; |
• | risks relating to the Company’s ability to maintain and acquire licenses to include intellectual property owned by others in the Company’s games; and |
• | macroeconomic risks that may affect the Company. |
• | Fully negotiated price. The Board considered the course and history of the arm’s-length negotiations with the Consortium conducted by the Company and its advisors at the direction of the Board, which the Board believed resulted in the highest and best price that the Consortium was willing to pay for the Company and which was reasonably available to the Company. |
• | Goldman Sachs Fairness Opinion and Related Financial Analysis. The Board considered the oral opinion of Goldman Sachs rendered to the Board on September 28, 2025, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated September 28, 2025, to the Board that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the $210.00 in cash per share to be paid to the holders of Company common stock (other than Parent and its Affiliates) pursuant to the merger agreement was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. For a detailed discussion of Goldman Sachs’ opinion, please see below in the sections of this proxy statement entitled “Opinion of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC”. The written opinion delivered by Goldman Sachs is attached to this proxy statement as Annex D. |
• | Availability and certainty of financing. The merger is not subject to a financing condition, and the acquiror obtained equity commitments and a debt commitment to fund the full amount of the aggregate merger consideration, as further described below in the section of this proxy statement entitled “—Financing of the Merger.” |
• | Reasonable likelihood of closing. The Board’s belief that there was a reasonable likelihood of closing based on, among other matters: |
○ | the fact that the merger is not subject to a financing condition, and the acquiror obtained equity commitments and a debt commitment to fund the full amount of the aggregate merger consideration; |
○ | the limited conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to consummate the merger; |
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○ | the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances, to specifically enforce Parent’s obligations under the merger agreement and the terms of the equity commitment letters which commit the parties thereto to cause the equity financing to be funded under certain circumstances; |
○ | the remedies available to the Company under the merger agreement in the event the merger is not consummated including that Parent is required to pay a reverse termination fee of $1 billion to the Company if the merger agreement is terminated under certain circumstances. |
• | Other alternatives. In the Board’s view, after discussion with members of management and its advisors, it was unlikely that any other party had the strategic interest in potentially acquiring the Company at a price that was higher than the merger consideration, with greater or similar certainty of closing, and that the Company had not received any acquisition proposals or inbound indications of interest following the September 26 Wall Street Journal article. In addition, the merger agreement would also permit other such parties to submit proposals to acquire the Company after the signing of the merger agreement and in certain circumstances permit the Company to terminate the merger agreement to accept a superior proposal, subject to payment of a termination fee of $540 million during the window-shop period or $1 billion outside the window-shop period. |
• | No stockholder participation in future earnings or potential growth. The all-cash consideration means that the Company’s stockholders will not participate in any future earnings or potential growth of the Company. |
• | Tax treatment. The exchange of Company common stock for cash pursuant to the merger would be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
• | Restrictions on the operation of the Company’s business. The merger agreement would impose restrictions on the conduct of the Company’s business prior to the consummation of the merger, which might delay or prevent the Company from undertaking certain significant transactions or pursuing certain business opportunities. |
• | Distraction of management and employees. The announcement and pendency of the merger agreement could distract the normal operations of the Company, potentially adversely affecting the Company’s ability to retain and attract employees and affecting its relationship with partners and customers. |
• | Risks associated with failure to consummate the merger. There would be risks and costs to the Company if the merger does not close on the terms set forth in the merger agreement or the timeline currently contemplated or at all. |
• | Other risks. The Board considered various other risks associated with the merger and the business of the Company, as more fully described above in the section of this proxy statement entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” |
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Fiscal Year Ending March 31(1) | ||||||||||||||||||
($ in millions) | 2026E | 2027E | 2028E | 2029E | 2030E | 2031E | ||||||||||||
Net Bookings(2) | $7,850 | $8,250 | $10,000 | $10,400 | $10,820 | $11,250 | ||||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA(3) | $2,759 | $3,003 | $4,200 | $4,060 | $4,328 | $4,500 | ||||||||||||
Unlevered Free Cash Flow(4) | $1,503 | $1,678 | $2,541 | $2,520 | $2,737 | $2,878 | ||||||||||||
Tax Assets(5) | $46 | $143 | $141 | $126 | $104 | $41 | ||||||||||||
(1) | The Financial Forecasts assume (a) annual stock-based compensation expense of $680 million, and (b) stock repurchases of $1.6 billion in fiscal year 2026, $1.7 billion in 2027, $2.5 billion in 2028, $2.4 billion in 2029, $2.5 billion in 2030, and $2.6 billion in 2031. |
(2) | Defined as the net amount of products and services sold digitally or physically in the applicable period. Net bookings is calculated by adding total net revenue to the change in deferred net revenue for online-enabled games. |
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(3) | Represents operating income plus stock-based compensation plus/minus change in deferred revenue. |
(4) | Represents Adjusted EBITDA, minus stock-based compensation, minus cash taxes excluding tax savings / (costs) from interest expense / interest income, plus/minus the change in net working capital, minus capital expenditures. |
(5) | Referred to in the section of this proxy statement entitled “—Opinion of the Company’s Financial Advisor” as the “Tax Asset Forecasts”. Reflects projected tax benefits arising from foreign tax deductions, net operating loss carryforwards and tax reform benefits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. |
• | the merger agreement; |
• | annual reports to stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K of the Company for the five fiscal years ended March 31, 2025; |
• | certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of the Company; |
• | certain other communications from the Company to its stockholders; |
• | certain publicly available research analyst reports for the Company; and |
• | the Financial Forecasts, which were prepared by the Company’s management and approved for Goldman Sachs’ use by the Company (as more fully described in the section of this proxy statement entitled “—Certain Financial Forecasts”) including certain foreign tax deductions, net operating loss carryforwards and tax reform benefits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) of the Company, as prepared by its management and approved for Goldman Sachs’ use by the Company (the “Tax Asset Forecasts”, as more fully described in the section of this proxy statement entitled “—Certain Financial Forecasts”). |
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• | a premium of 24.8% based on the closing price per share of Company common stock on September 25, 2025, the last full trading day prior to published market speculation regarding a potential sale of the Company; |
• | a premium of 22.4% based on the 30-day VWAP of $171.57 per share of Company common stock as of September 25, 2025; |
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• | a premium of 31.9% based on the 90-day VWAP of $159.20 per share of Company common stock as of September 25, 2025; |
• | a premium of 35.5% based on the six-month VWAP of $154.98 per share of Company common stock as of September 25, 2025; |
• | a premium of 17.3% based on the highest closing price per share of Company common stock for the 52-week period ending September 25, 2025; and |
• | a premium of 22.4% based on the median broker target price per share of Company common stock. |
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• | the merger shall have been consummated, or substantially simultaneously with the initial borrowings under the Credit Facilities shall be consummated, in all material respects in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, after giving effect to any modifications, amendments, consents or waivers thereto, other than those amendments, modifications or waivers that are materially adverse to the Lenders in their capacity as such when taken as a whole, unless consented to by certain of the Lenders holding a majority of the aggregate amount of outstanding financing commitments in respect of the Credit Facilities at the applicable time, with such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; |
• | the repayment of certain outstanding indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries has occurred; |
• | subject to certain limitations and exceptions, the accuracy in all material respects as of the closing of the merger of certain specified representations and warranties in the merger agreement and certain specified representations and warranties in the loan documents; |
• | the payment of required fees and out-of-pocket expenses in accordance with the debt commitment letter and the fee letter related thereto; |
• | the delivery of a solvency certificate; |
• | to the extent required under such Credit Facility, the delivery of all documents and instruments necessary to establish that the administrative agent will have perfected security interests in the collateral; |
• | the equity financing has occurred or, substantially concurrently with the initial borrowing under the Credit Facilities, will occur in an amount specified by, and in accordance with, the debt commitment letter; |
• | the execution and delivery by the loan parties of the definitive documentation governing the Credit Facilities; |
• | the Lenders shall have been afforded a period (the “marketing period”) of at least 15 consecutive business days following the receipt of information necessary to market senior notes of the Parent issued in lieu of certain debt contemplated by the commitment letter; and |
• | the absence of a material adverse effect since September 28, 2025 that is continuing. |
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• | the consummation of the merger and the payment by Parent of all amounts due in connection with the closing under the merger agreement; |
• | payment in full in cash of the guaranteed obligations, subject to the $1.02 billion aggregate cap; |
• | the valid termination of the merger agreement in accordance with its terms under circumstances in which Parent has no liability with respect to any guaranteed obligations; |
• | the date that is 90 days following the valid termination of the merger agreement in accordance with its terms in a circumstance in which Parent may have liability with respect to any of the guaranteed obligations, unless prior to such 90th day the Company or any of its successors or assigns (or any agents acting on its or their behalf) has commenced a proceeding against Parent or the guarantors alleging that payment of any of the guaranteed obligations is due and owing; provided that if the merger agreement has been so terminated, the guarantors will have no further guaranteed obligations under the limited guarantees from and after the earliest of (1) payment in full in cash of all of the guaranteed obligations (subject to the $1.02 billion cap on such guaranteed obligations), (2) entry of a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction discharging the guarantors of all guaranteed obligations, and (3) a mutual written agreement between the Company and the applicable guarantor terminating the guaranteed obligations of the guarantor under the applicable limited guarantee; and |
• | termination of the applicable limited guarantee by mutual written agreement. |
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• | the relevant price per share of Company common stock is $210, which is the per share merger consideration; |
• | the effective time of the merger as referenced in this section occurs on November 10, 2025, which is the assumed date of the effective time of the merger solely for purposes of the disclosure in this section (the “Assumed Closing Date”); and |
• | the employment of each executive officer was terminated by the Company without “cause” or due to the executive officer’s resignation for “good reason” (as such terms are defined in the relevant plans and agreements), in either case immediately following the merger and on the Assumed Closing Date. |
• | Company Options. Each Company Option that is outstanding and vested as of immediately prior to the effective time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to (x) the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such vested Company Option multiplied by (y) the excess, if any, of the merger consideration over the per share exercise price of such vested Company Option. The Company does not have any unvested Company Options or Company Options with an exercise price per share equal to or greater than the merger consideration; |
• | Unvested Company RSUs and Unvested Company PSUs. Each Company RSU and Company PSU award that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time and is not an award of Vested Company RSUs will be cancelled and replaced with a Replacement Cash Award equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Company RSU or Company PSU award as of immediately prior to the effective time multiplied by the merger consideration, with performance-based goals that have an incomplete performance period, or for which performance has not been certified as of immediately prior to the effective time, deemed satisfied based on the greater of (i) target level performance and (ii) actual performance measured through the latest practicable date before the effective time. Each Replacement Cash Award will be subject to the same vesting terms and conditions as applied to the replaced unvested Company RSU or Company PSU award (other than any performance conditions); and |
• | Vested Company RSUs. Each Vested Company RSU award (which definition includes vested and unvested Company RSU awards held by non-employee directors) that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Vested Company RSUs multiplied by the merger consideration. |
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• | a lump-sum cash payment equal to 1.5 times (or two times, in the case of Mr. Wilson, and one times, in the case of the executive officer who is not a named executive officer) the sum of the executive officer’s annual base salary and target annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs; |
• | a prorated annual bonus for the year of termination, based on target performance (or if greater, based on actual performance to the extent that actual performance was determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board before a change in control); |
• | full accelerated vesting of all outstanding equity awards, which would apply to all Replacement Cash Awards; and |
• | a lump sum cash payment equal to the applicable monthly COBRA premium for continued health benefits for the executive officer and his or her eligible dependents for 18 months (or 24 months, in the case of Mr. Wilson and 12 months, in the case of the executive officer who is not a named executive officer). |
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Named Executive Officer | Cash ($)(1) | Equity ($)(2) | Total ($) | ||||||
Andrew Wilson | 12,426,187 | 105,933,240 | 118,359,427 | ||||||
Stuart Canfield | 3,019,053 | 33,439,350 | 36,458,403 | ||||||
Laura Miele | 3,867,135 | 44,404,500 | 48,271,635 | ||||||
Mala Singh | 2,651,510 | 24,638,250 | 27,289,760 | ||||||
Jacob Schatz | 2,657,140 | 24,638,250 | 27,295,390 | ||||||
(1) | Cash. Consists of (i) a lump-sum cash payment equal to 1.5 times (or two times, in the case of Mr. Wilson) the sum of the named executive officer’s annual base salary and target annual bonus for the year in which the termination occurs; (ii) the 2026 Bonus |
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Named Executive Officer | Severance ($) | 2026 Bonus ($) | COBRA Payment ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||
Andrew Wilson | 9,100,000 | 3,250,000 | 76,187 | 12,426,187 | ||||||||
Stuart Canfield | 2,250,000 | 750,000 | 19,053 | 3,019,053 | ||||||||
Laura Miele | 2,784,375 | 1,031,250 | 51,510 | 3,867,135 | ||||||||
Mala Singh | 1,950,000 | 650,000 | 51,510 | 2,651,510 | ||||||||
Jacob Schatz | 1,950,000 | 650,000 | 57,140 | 2,657,140 | ||||||||
(2) | Equity. Consists of the value of the unvested Company RSUs and Company PRSUs (which awards will be converted to Replacement Cash Awards upon the effective time) that would vest upon a qualifying termination of employment following the effective time. Pursuant to the merger agreement, any performance-based goals that have an incomplete performance period, or for which performance has not been certified as of immediately prior to the effective time, will be deemed achieved at the greater of (i) target-level performance and (ii) actual performance measured through the latest practicable date before the effective time. The value of such Company PSUs was calculated assuming that actual performance is equal to target performance for purposes of this quantification. The accelerated vesting of these awards is a “double trigger” benefit and is triggered only upon a qualifying termination of employment following the effective time, as described in more detail under “—Treatment of Outstanding Company Equity Awards” above. |
Named Executive Officer | Company RSUs ($) | Company PSUs ($) | Total ($) | ||||||
Andrew Wilson | 28,538,790 | 77,394,450 | 105,933,240 | ||||||
Stuart Canfield | 9,044,070 | 24,395,280 | 33,439,350 | ||||||
Laura Miele | 11,807,250 | 32,597,250 | 44,404,500 | ||||||
Mala Singh | 8,719,410 | 15,918,840 | 24,638,250 | ||||||
Jacob Schatz | 8,719,410 | 15,918,840 | 24,638,250 | ||||||
• | Talbott Roche currently serves as Chief Executive Officer and a director of Blackhawk Network (“BHN”). Silver Lake holds a majority equity stake in BHN, and two representatives of Silver Lake serve on BHN’s board. Ms. Roche also holds investments in certain Silver Lake funds and maintains a social relationship with certain senior representatives of Silver Lake. In light of her current service as the Chief Executive Officer of Blackhawk Network, Ms. Roche recused herself from voting on the resolutions approving the merger agreement and related matters at the Board’s September 28, 2025 meeting. |
• | Richard Simonson currently serves on the board of Evercommerce, of which Silver Lake currently owns approximately 37% of the equity. Silver Lake has certain board appointment rights at Evercommerce, but Mr. Simonson is not a Silver Lake appointee. |
• | Heidi Ueberroth holds investments in certain Silver Lake funds. These investments are immaterial to Ms. Ueberroth’s overall investment portfolio. Ms. Ueberroth also maintains a social relationship with certain senior representatives of members of the Consortium. |
• | Andrew Wilson served as a special advisor to Silver Lake from December 11, 2024 to September 12, 2025, pursuant to an engagement approved by the Board. Under the engagement, Mr. Wilson received an annual retainer fee of $250,000, paid in monthly increments, and participation rights in certain Silver Lake funds. The engagement was terminated on September 12, 2025. Mr. Wilson also maintains a social relationship with certain senior representatives of Silver Lake. |
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• | an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; |
• | a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
• | a trust (a) that is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and all the substantial decisions of which are controlled by one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of the Code) or (b) that has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a United States person; or |
• | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source. |
• | banks and other financial institutions; |
• | mutual funds; |
• | insurance companies; |
• | brokers or dealers in securities, currencies or commodities; |
• | traders in securities subject to a mark-to-market method of accounting with respect to shares of Company common stock; |
• | small business investment companies, regulated investment companies, and real estate investment trusts; |
• | retirement plans, individual retirement and other deferred accounts; |
• | tax-exempt organizations, governmental agencies, instrumentalities or other governmental organizations and pension funds; |
• | holders who hold their shares of Company common stock as part of a hedging, constructive sale or conversion, straddle, synthetic security, integrated investment or other risk reduction transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
• | U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar; |
• | partnerships, other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, “S corporations,” or any other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes (or investors in such entities); |
• | holders that own or have owned (directly, indirectly or constructively) 5% or more of Company common stock (by vote or value); |
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• | holders that acquired their shares of Company common stock in a compensatory transaction, through a tax-qualified retirement plan or pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants; |
• | holders that acquired their shares of Company common stock as “qualified small business stock” for purposes of Sections 1202 and/or 1045 of the Code; |
• | U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the United States; |
• | holders that own an equity interest in Parent following the Merger; |
• | holders liable for any applicable minimum tax; |
• | holders exercising appraisal rights under the DGCL; and |
• | persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to Company common stock as a result of such income being taken into account on an applicable financial statement. |
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• | have been made only for purposes of the merger agreement; |
• | have been qualified by certain documents filed with, or furnished to, the SEC by the Company after March 31, 2023 and publicly available prior to September 26, 2025 (subject to exceptions); |
• | have been qualified by confidential disclosures made by the Company in connection with the merger agreement; |
• | are subject to materiality qualifications contained in the merger agreement that may differ from what may be viewed as material by investors; |
• | were made only as of the date of the merger agreement or such other date as is specified in the merger agreement; and |
• | have been included in the merger agreement for the purpose of allocating risk between the Company, on the one hand, and Parent and Merger Sub, on the other hand, rather than establishing matters as facts. |
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• | Company Options. Each Company Option that is outstanding and vested as of immediately prior to the effective time will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to |
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• | Unvested Company RSUs and Unvested Company PSUs. Each award of Company RSUs and each award of Company PSUs outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time and that is not an award of Vested Company RSUs will be cancelled and replaced with a Replacement Cash Award in an amount equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Company RSUs or Company PSUs as of immediately prior to the effective time multiplied by the merger consideration, with performance-based goals that have an incomplete performance period, or for which performance has not been certified as of immediately prior to the effective time, deemed satisfied based on the greater of (i) target level performance and (ii) actual performance measured through the latest practicable date before the effective time as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board. Each Replacement Cash Award will be subject to the same vesting terms and conditions as applied to the replaced unvested Company RSUs or Company PSUs (other than any performance conditions); and |
• | Vested Company RSUs. Each award of Vested Company RSUs that is outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time will be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the number of shares of Company common stock subject to such Vested Company RSUs multiplied by the merger consideration. |
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• | changes in the economy or financial, debt, credit or securities markets generally in the United States or any other country or region in the world, or changes in conditions in the global economy generally; |
• | changes generally affecting the industries or geographic regions in the United States or elsewhere in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; |
• | changes or proposed changes in U.S. GAAP or other accounting standards or interpretations thereof; |
• | changes in any political or geopolitical, regulatory, legislative, or social conditions, acts of war (whether or not declared), hostilities, military acts or acts of terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of the foregoing; |
• | weather conditions or acts of God (including storms, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, hurricanes, pandemics, epidemics or other outbreaks of disease, quarantine restrictions, floods, droughts or other natural disasters and force majeure events) (or escalation or worsening of any such events or occurrences, including, as applicable, subsequent wave(s)); |
• | any capital market conditions in the United States or any other country or region where the Company and its subsidiaries operate; |
• | changes or proposed changes in laws (or the enforcement or interpretation thereof); |
• | any computer hacking, data breaches, ransomware or cyberattacks, or other outages or terminations of web hosting platforms; |
• | a decline in the price or trading volume of the shares of Company common stock on Nasdaq or any other securities market or in the trading price of any other securities of the Company or its subsidiaries or any change in the ratings or ratings outlook for the Company or its subsidiaries (provided that the underlying causes may be taken into account to the extent not otherwise excluded by other clauses of this definition); |
• | any failure by the Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions of revenues, earnings, cash flow or cash position or other financial, accounting or operating measures or metrics (whether made by the Company or independent third parties) for any period (provided that the underlying causes may be taken into account to the extent not otherwise excluded by other clauses of this definition); |
• | the impact of the identity of Parent or Merger Sub or any of their affiliates or the announcement, pendency, or consummation of the merger agreement or the merger, including, in each case the impact of the foregoing on the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ relationships with employees, customers, suppliers, distributors, partners, vendors, or other persons (except to the extent of those representations or warranties the purpose of which is to address the consequences of the execution of the merger agreement or the consummation of the merger); |
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• | any action or claim made or brought by any of the Company’s current or former stockholders (on their behalf or on behalf of the Company) against the Company or any of its directors, officers or employees to the extent arising out of the merger agreement or the merger or any other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; |
• | any action or inaction by the Company or its subsidiaries taken or omitted to be taken at the written request of or with the written consent of Parent or Merger Sub or expressly contemplated by the merger agreement (other than the enumerated actions described in the section of this proxy statement entitled “—Conduct of Business Pending the Merger”); |
• | any matter described or disclosed in the confidential disclosure schedule to the merger agreement; and |
• | the availability or cost of equity, debt or other financing to Parent or Merger Sub. |
• | due organization, valid existence, good standing and authority and qualification to own its properties and assets and conduct business with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries; |
• | the capital structure of the Company as well as the ownership and capital structure of its subsidiaries; |
• | the absence of preemptive rights or other outstanding rights, options, warrants, conversion rights, stock appreciation rights, redemption rights, repurchase rights, agreements, arrangements, calls, subscription agreements, commitments or rights of any kind that obligate the Company or any of its subsidiaries to issue, grant or sell, or giving any person a right to subscribe for any equity interests, securities or obligations convertible or exchangeable into, or exercisable for, any equity interests or other securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; |
• | the absence of outstanding debt securities, bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness the holders of which have the right to vote with the holders of equity interests in the Company on any matter; |
• | the absence of any shareholders’ agreement, voting trust agreement, registration rights agreement or other similar agreement to which the Company is a party relating to any voting or equity interests in the Company; |
• | the Company’s requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and perform the merger agreement and the enforceability of the merger agreement; |
• | required consents, approvals and governmental 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 or applicable laws due to the execution and delivery of the merger agreement and performance thereof; |
• | the accuracy and completeness of the Company’s SEC filings; |
• | the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures; |
• | the Company’s financial statements; |
• | the Company’s internal accounting controls and procedures; |
• | the absence of specified undisclosed liabilities; |
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• | the conduct of business of the Company and its subsidiaries in all material respects in the ordinary course of business since June 30, 2025 and the absence of a Material Adverse Effect on the Company since March 31, 2025; |
• | legal proceedings; |
• | employee benefit plans; |
• | the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ compliance with laws and possession of necessary permits; |
• | the existence and enforceability of specified categories of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ material contracts and any breaches or defaults with respect thereto; |
• | real property owned, leased or subleased by the Company and its subsidiaries; |
• | the inapplicability of anti-takeover statutes to the merger agreement, the merger and the transactions contemplated thereby; |
• | information technology systems; |
• | data security and privacy matters; |
• | tax matters; |
• | labor matters; |
• | intellectual property; |
• | insurance; |
• | the rendering of the fairness opinion of Goldman Sachs to the Board; |
• | the accuracy of information supplied by the Company for inclusion or incorporation by reference in this proxy statement and any amendment or supplement thereto; |
• | payment of fees to brokers in connection with the merger agreement; |
• | the absence of any contracts or transactions between the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any affiliate or related person since March 31, 2024; |
• | international trade and anti-corruption matters; and |
• | the exclusivity and terms of the representations and warranties made by the Consortium. |
• | due organization, valid existence, good standing and authority and qualification to conduct business with respect to Parent and Merger Sub; |
• | Parent’s and Merger Sub’s authority to enter into and perform the merger agreement; |
• | the absence of any conflict or violation of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s organizational documents, existing contracts, and applicable laws due to the execution and delivery of the merger agreement and performance thereof; |
• | required consents and regulatory filings in connection with the merger agreement and performance thereof; |
• | the absence of legal proceedings and orders; |
• | the limited guarantees; |
• | matters with respect to Parent’s financing, including the equity commitment letters and the debt commitment letter; |
• | the ownership of Merger Sub; |
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• | the solvency of Parent and each of its subsidiaries immediately after giving effect to the merger; |
• | the payment of fees to brokers in connection with the merger agreement; |
• | the accuracy of information supplied by Parent and Merger Sub for inclusion or incorporation by reference in this proxy statement and any amendment or supplement thereto; and |
• | the exclusivity and terms of the representations and warranties made by the Company. |
• | amend the organizational documents of the Company or its subsidiaries; |
• | merge or consolidate the Company or its subsidiaries with any other third party; |
• | restructure, reorganize or completely or partially liquidate or dissolve or otherwise impose material changes or restrictions on the assets, operations or business of the Company or its subsidiaries except where consummated among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries or in a manner that does not increase any material liability to any person; |
• | issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any shares of Company common stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any such shares (or authorize any of the foregoing), other than (a) transactions solely among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, (b) pursuant to the exercise or settlement of Company equity awards outstanding as of the signing of the merger agreement in accordance with their terms or pursuant to the Company ESPP under its terms in effect as of the signing of the merger agreement, or (c) the incurrence of any liens permitted under the merger agreement; |
• | make any loans, advances or capital contributions to any person, other than (a) transactions solely among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and (b) extensions of credit terms to customers, partners or employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
• | declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution with respect to the Company capital stock or equity-linked securities, except for (a) transactions solely among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and (b) a regular quarterly dividend on shares of Company common stock not in excess of $0.19 per share per calendar quarter; |
• | reclassify, split, combine, subdivide or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of Company common stock, equity interests or securities convertible into or exercisable for Company common stock (including equity-linked securities), except for (a) transactions solely among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries (which do not result in the subsidiary no longer being wholly owned), (b) acquisitions of shares of Company common stock in satisfaction of withholding obligations in respect of Company equity awards outstanding as of the signing of the merger agreement, or (c) payment of the exercise price in respect of certain stock options outstanding as of the signing of the merger agreement; |
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• | create, incur, assume or guarantee or become liable for any indebtedness, except for (a) revolver borrowings or letters of credit under the Company’s existing revolving credit facility, (b) letters of credit, banker’s acceptances or similar items or guarantees or credit support provided by the Company or its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, and (c) any indebtedness solely among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, or solely among the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, and any guarantees by the Company or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries of obligations of the Company or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries; |
• | incur or commit to any capital expenditure or expenditures in an aggregate amount in excess of $20 million, other than (a) in accordance with the Company’s capital expenditure budget, as set forth in the confidential disclosure schedule to the merger agreement or (b) pursuant to existing contracts made available to Parent; |
• | other than in the ordinary course of business, subject to certain exceptions, enter into certain material contracts or amend in any material respect or terminate certain material contracts in a manner adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries (other than expirations of any such contract in accordance with its terms) or otherwise waive, release or assign in a manner adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries any material rights, material claims or material benefits of the Company or its subsidiaries under such material contracts; |
• | make any changes with respect to financial accounting policies or procedures, except as required by law, GAAP or statutory or regulatory accounting rules or interpretations; |
• | other than with respect to taxes, settle certain actions (a) for an amount in excess of $10 million individually or $25 million in the aggregate, other than where the amount paid or to be paid by the Company or its subsidiaries is fully covered and paid by insurance coverage, or (b) that would materially restrict the operations of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries after the effective time (including as a result of material injunctive relief); |
• | sell, lease, exclusively license, exclusively sublicense, grant a lien on (other than liens permitted under the merger agreement) or otherwise dispose of any material assets or property of the Company or its subsidiaries, except (a) pursuant to existing contracts or commitments, (b) transactions solely among the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries, (c) for the distribution of products or services of the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (d) solely with respect to exclusive licenses or sublicenses or the lapse, expiration or abandonment of intellectual property, in the ordinary course of business, or (e) otherwise in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and in no event in an amount exceeding $10 million in the aggregate; |
• | except as required by the terms of any Company benefit plan as in effect as of the signing of the merger agreement: (a) increase the amount or accelerate the vesting, payment or funding of the compensation or benefits payable or provided to the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ current or former officers, directors, individual service providers or employees, (b) grant or enter into any cash or equity or equity-based incentive, bonus, employment, change of control, severance or retention or similar compensation or benefits to any current or former officer, director, individual service provider or employee of the Company or its subsidiaries, (c) establish, adopt, enter into or materially amend any Company benefit plan or any other benefit or compensation plan, policy, program, contract, agreement or arrangement that would be a Company benefit plan if in effect as of the signing of the merger agreement, other than in connection with annual renewals or replacements of Company benefit plans that provide broad-based health and welfare benefits, or (d) hire or terminate (other than for cause) any employee of the Company or its subsidiaries at the Executive Vice President level or above; |
• | other than in the ordinary course of business, enter into any material labor agreement; |
• | affirmatively waive any restrictive covenant obligation of any current or former employee of the Company or its subsidiaries at the Executive Vice President level or above; |
• | acquire any capital stock or other equity interests in, or any business line or all or a material portion of the assets of any business, corporation, partnership, association, joint venture, or other entity or other |
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• | (a) other than in a manner consistent with past practice, make (outside the ordinary course of business), change or revoke any material tax election, (b) change any annual tax accounting period or material method of tax accounting, (c) file any material amendment with respect to any material tax return (other than amendments that would not reasonably be expected to result in a material increase to the tax liability of the Company or its subsidiaries or Parent or its affiliates), (d) settle or compromise any tax claim, notice, audit, investigation, assessment or other proceeding for an amount in excess of $10 million individually and $25 million in the aggregate, (e) surrender any right to claim a material tax refund, (f) enter into any “closing agreement” under Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law), (g) other than in a manner consistent with past practice, agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to the assessment or collection of a material amount of taxes (taking into account any extension of time within which to file) without notifying Parent reasonably promptly thereafter, or (h) enter into or amend any material tax sharing agreement; |
• | license, escrow, or otherwise grant any rights to, any material owned source code or disclose any material trade secrets owned or processed by the Company or its subsidiaries (except in the ordinary course of business); or |
• | agree, authorize or commit to do any of the foregoing. |
• | a merger, joint venture, partnership, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, tender offer, license, recapitalization, reorganization, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or assets, in each case, representing 25% or more of the consolidated net revenues, net income or total assets (including equity securities of the Company’s subsidiaries) of the Company; |
• | any direct or indirect acquisition by any person or group resulting in, or proposal or offer, which if consummated would result in, any person or group becoming the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, of 25% or more of the total voting power of any class of equity securities of the Company, or those of any of its subsidiaries or assets, in each case, representing 25% or more of the consolidated net revenues or total assets (including equity securities of its subsidiaries or any other entity) of the Company; or |
• | any combination of the foregoing, in each case, other than with Parent, Merger Sub or one or more of their affiliates. |
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• | initiate, solicit, or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal; |
• | engage in, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or provide any nonpublic information or data to any third party relating to any Acquisition Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal (except to notify such third party that the no-shop provisions of the merger agreement prohibit any such discussions); |
• | approve, endorse or recommend any Acquisition Proposal or submit an Acquisition Proposal; |
• | enter into any contract or understanding relating to an Acquisition Proposal or that would reasonably be expected to require the Company to abandon, terminate, or fail to consummate the merger; or |
• | resolve or agree to do any of the foregoing. |
• | withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify (in a manner adverse to Parent) the Company recommendation; |
• | authorize, adopt, approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal or publicly propose to do so; |
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• | fail to include the Company recommendation in the proxy statement; |
• | recommend against acceptance of any Acquisition Proposal initiated through a tender or exchange offer pursuant to Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act, within ten (10) business days of receipt such offer; or |
• | declare advisable, propose to enter into or enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement or similar binding agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal, except as expressly permitted by the merger agreement (together with the foregoing bullets above, collectively a “change of recommendation”). |
• | the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition Proposal is a Superior Proposal; |
• | the Company has given five (5) business days’ prior written notice to Parent that the Company has received such proposal, specifying the material terms and conditions of such proposal (including the identity of the person or group making such proposal and copies of any written proposals or documents delivered to the Company or its representatives) and that the Company intends to effect a change of recommendation or terminate the merger agreement in order to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement; |
• | after giving such notice and prior to effecting such change of recommendation, the Company and its representatives are reasonably available to participate in good faith negotiations with Parent (to the extent Parent wishes to negotiate) to make such adjustments or revisions to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and the equity commitment letters such that the Acquisition Proposal would cease to constitute a Superior Proposal; and |
• | at the end of the five (5) business day period, prior to effecting a change of recommendation or terminating the merger agreement to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement, the Board determines (taking into account any adjustment to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement or the equity commitment letters and/or the limited guarantees committed to by Parent in writing in response to such Acquisition Proposal, if any, and any other information offered by Parent in response to such notice) in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that the Acquisition Proposal remains a Superior Proposal. |
• | the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with its fiduciary obligations to the Company stockholders under applicable law; |
• | the Company has given five (5) business days’ prior notice to Parent that the Company has determined that an Intervening Event has occurred or arisen and that the Company intends to effect a change of recommendation; |
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• | after giving such notice and prior to effecting such change of recommendation, the Company and its representatives negotiate in good faith with Parent and its representatives (to the extent Parent wishes to negotiate) to make such adjustments or revisions to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and the equity commitment letters and/or the limited guarantees as would permit the Board not to effect a change of recommendation; and |
• | at the end of the five (5) business day period, prior to taking action to effect a change of recommendation, the Board takes into account any adjustments or revisions to the terms of the merger agreement and the equity commitment letters and/or the limited guarantees proposed by Parent in writing and any other information offered by Parent in response to such notice, and determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that the failure to effect a change of recommendation in response to such Intervening Event would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the fiduciary obligations owed by the Board to the Company stockholders under applicable law. |
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• | the receipt of the Company stockholder approval; |
• | the expiration, termination, or waiver of the applicable waiting period under the HSR Act and any mutually agreed agreements with any U.S. governmental authority to delay or otherwise not consummate as soon as practicable the merger; |
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• | CFIUS Approval; |
• | the receipt or waiver (or termination of applicable waiting periods with respect to) of governmental approvals required under the regulatory laws of specified jurisdictions; and |
• | no court or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in the United States or other specified jurisdictions having enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any final and non-appealable law or order that permanently enjoins or otherwise permanently prohibits the consummation of the merger. |
• | the representation and warranty of the Company regarding the absence of a Material Adverse Effect on the Company from March 31, 2025 until the signing of the merger agreement being true and correct in all respects as of the signing of the merger agreement and as of the closing date; |
• | the representations and warranties of the Company regarding certain aspects of its capital structure being true and correct in all respects as of the signing of the merger agreement and as of the closing date (other than de minimis inaccuracies); |
• | the representations and warranties of the Company regarding certain aspects of its capital structure, its organization, good standing and qualification, its corporate authority, approval and fairness, the inapplicability of certain takeover statutes and disclosure of brokers’ and finders’ fees being true and correct in all material respects as of the signing of the merger agreement and as of the closing date; |
• | the Company’s other representations and warranties set forth in the merger agreement (disregarding any materiality limitations, such as “material,” “in all material respects” and “Material Adverse Effect” set forth therein) being true and correct as of the signing of the merger agreement and as of the closing date, except as have not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; |
• | the Company having performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the closing; |
• | there not having occurred a Material Adverse Effect since the signing of the merger agreement that is continuing; and |
• | the receipt by Parent and Merger Sub of a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certifying that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied. |
• | the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in the merger agreement being true and correct as of the signing of the merger agreement and as of the closing date, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to prevent the ability of Parent or Merger Sub to consummate the merger and deliver the merger consideration in accordance with the merger agreement; |
• | each of Parent and Merger Sub having performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the closing; and |
• | the receipt by the Company of a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and Merger Sub by an executive officer of Parent certifying that the foregoing conditions have been satisfied. |
• | by mutual written consent of the Company and Parent; |
• | if the merger has not been consummated on or before September 28, 2026 (the “outside date”) (provided, however, that the right to terminate the merger agreement will not be available to any party |
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• | if the Company fails to obtain the Company stockholder approval at the special meeting (or any adjournment, recess or postponement thereof taken in accordance with the merger agreement) at which a vote is taken on the adoption of the merger agreement; or |
• | if any court or other governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in the United States or other specified jurisdictions has enacted, issued, promulgated or entered any order that permanently enjoins or otherwise permanently prohibits the consummation of the merger and such order has become final and non-appealable. |
• | if there is a breach by Parent or Merger Sub of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement, or any such representation or warranty of Parent or Merger Sub has become untrue, in either case causing the conditions to closing related to the accuracy of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s representations and warranties or to the performance of their obligations under the merger agreement to not be satisfied, subject to certain opportunities to cure the breach prior to the outside date; |
• | if, prior to the receipt of the Company stockholder approval, the Company terminates the merger agreement to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement providing for a Superior Proposal in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement described above under “—Recommendation Changes—No Change of Recommendation” if the Company pays to Parent the Company termination fee; or |
• | if, at any time prior to the effective time, all of the conditions to Parent and Merger Sub consummating the closing have been and remain satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing, but which are capable of being satisfied at the closing), Parent and Merger Sub have failed to effect the closing by the date on which the closing was required to occur pursuant to the merger agreement, following such failure to effect the closing and at least three (3) business days prior to termination, the Company confirmed in writing that the Company is (and remains throughout such three (3)-business day period) ready, willing and able to close the merger and Parent and Merger Sub fail to effect the closing on or prior to the date that is three (3) business days following delivery of such written confirmation from the Company. |
• | if there is a breach by the Company of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in the merger agreement, or if any such representation or warranty of the Company has become untrue, in |
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• | if, prior to the receipt of the Company stockholder approval, there has been a change of recommendation. |
• | (a) since the signing of the merger agreement, an Acquisition Proposal has been made publicly or announced by the Company or the Board and has not been publicly withdrawn at least three (3) business days prior to the special meeting; (b) either Parent or the Company terminates the merger agreement for failure to obtain the Company stockholder approval; and (c) within 12 months following such termination, the Company consummates a transaction that constitutes an Acquisition Proposal or enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (with references to “25% or more” in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal” deemed to be references to “more than 50%”); |
• | Parent terminates the merger agreement because the Board makes a change of recommendation; or |
• | the Company terminates the merger agreement in order to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement providing for a Superior Proposal. |
• | the merger agreement is terminated by the Company, prior to the end of the 45-day period immediately following the signing of the merger agreement (the “window shop period”), in order for the Company to enter into a definitive agreement prior to the end of the window shop period with respect to an Acquisition Proposal that the Board has determined, in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, constitutes a Superior Proposal; or |
• | the merger agreement is terminated by Parent, in response to a change of recommendation by the Board prior to the end of the window shop period, on the basis of an Acquisition Proposal that the Board has determined, in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, is a Superior Proposal. |
• | Parent or the Company terminates the merger agreement as a result of a final and non-appealable order relating to a regulatory law that permanently enjoins merger, and no breach by the Company of its obligations with respect to its regulatory efforts has been the primary cause of the order permanently enjoining the merger; |
• | Parent or the Company terminates the merger agreement because the closing has not occurred by the outside date, and at the time of such termination, one or more of the conditions relating to antitrust clearance, CFIUS Approval, or any other required governmental approval in specified jurisdictions has not been satisfied, or a court or other governmental authority in certain specified jurisdictions has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order that is in effect and enjoins or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the merger, but the other conditions to Parent and Merger Sub consummating the merger have been satisfied (other than those that by their nature are to be satisfied at closing, but which are capable of being satisfied at closing) or waived, and no breach by the Company of its obligations with respect to its regulatory efforts has been the primary cause of the failure of any such condition to be satisfied; |
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• | the Company terminates the merger agreement as a result of Parent’s willful and material breach of the merger agreement; |
• | the Company terminates the merger agreement at a time when all of the conditions to Parent and Merger Sub consummating the merger have been and remain satisfied or waived (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing, but which are capable of being satisfied at the closing), Parent and Merger Sub have failed to effect the closing by the date on which the closing was required to occur pursuant to the merger agreement, following such failure to effect the closing and at least three (3) business days prior to termination, the Company confirmed in writing that the Company is (and remains throughout such three (3)-business day period) ready, willing and able to close the merger and Parent and Merger Sub fail to effect the closing on or prior to the date that is three (3) business days following delivery of such written confirmation from the Company; or |
• | Parent terminates the merger agreement because the closing has not occurred by the outside date and the Company could have validly terminated the merger agreement pursuant to either of the preceding two bullets within three (3) business days of such termination by Parent. |
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Name and address of beneficial owner | Shares Owned(1) | Right to Acquire(2) | Percent of Outstanding Shares(3) | ||||||
>5% Stockholders: | |||||||||
The Vanguard Group Inc.(4) | 29,159,500 | — | 11.66% | ||||||
The Public Investment Fund(5) | 24,807,932 | — | 9.92% | ||||||
Blackrock, Inc.(6) | 22,383,518 | — | 8.95% | ||||||
State Street Corporation(7) | 17,074,524 | — | 6.83% | ||||||
NEOs and Directors: | |||||||||
Andrew Wilson(8) | 130,948 | — | * | ||||||
Stuart Canfield | 7,095 | 3,189 | * | ||||||
Laura Miele | 55,648 | — | * | ||||||
Mala Singh(9) | 34,760 | — | * | ||||||
Jacob Schatz | 28,009 | — | * | ||||||
Kofi A. Bruce | 7,746 | — | * | ||||||
Rachel A. Gonzalez | 8,108 | — | * | ||||||
Jeffrey T. Huber(10) | 98,149 | — | * | ||||||
Talbott Roche | 27,107 | — | * | ||||||
Richard A. Simonson | 79,681 | 9,165 | * | ||||||
Luis A. Ubiñas | — | 50,534 | * | ||||||
Heidi J. Ueberroth | 12,848 | 6,369 | * | ||||||
All current directors and executive officers as a group (13 persons)(11) | 497,415 | 69,257 | .23% | ||||||
* | Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding Company common stock. |
(1) | Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes, includes shares of common stock for which the named person has sole or shared voting and investment power. This column excludes shares of common stock that may be acquired through stock option exercises, which are included in the column “Right to Acquire.” |
(2) | Includes (a) shares of common stock that may be acquired through stock option exercises and releases of RSUs within 60 days of November 19, 2025, (b) in the case of Mr. Simonson, reflects 9,165 RSUs that have vested but have been deferred, (c) in the case of Mr. Ubiñas, reflects 50,534 RSUs that have vested but have been deferred and (d) in the case of Ms. Ueberroth, reflects 6,369 RSUs that have vested but have been deferred. |
(3) | Calculated based on the total number of shares owned plus the number of shares that may be acquired through stock option exercises and the release of vested RSUs within 60 days of November 19, 2025. |
(4) | As of March 28, 2024, based on information contained in a report on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on April 10, 2024 by The Vanguard Group, reporting shared voting power over 312,028 shares of common stock, sole dispositive power over 28,077,176 shares of common stock, shared dispositive power over 1,082,324 and sole voting power over no shares of common stock. The address for The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, PA 19355. |
(5) | As of September 25, 2025, based on information contained in a report on Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on September 29, 2025, by The Public Investment Fund, reporting sole voting and dispositive power over 24,807,932 shares of common stock, and shared voting and dispositive power over no shares. The address for The Public Investment Fund is The Public Investment Fund Tower, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Al Aqiq District, Riyadh, T0, 13519, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. |
(6) | As of March 31, 2025 based on information contained in a report on Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on April 17, 2025 by Blackrock, Inc., reporting sole voting power over 20,489,682 shares of common stock, sole dispositive power over 22,383,518 shares of common stock, and shared voting and dispositive power over no shares. The address for BlackRock, Inc. is 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001. |
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(7) | As of June 30, 2025, based on information contained in a report on Schedule 13G filed with the SEC on August 11, 2025 by State Street Corporation, reporting shared voting power over 12,501,315 shares of common stock, shared dispositive power over 17,072,959 shares of common stock, and sole voting and dispositive power over no shares of common stock. The address for State Street Corporation is One Congress Street, Suite 1, Boston, MA 02114-2016. |
(8) | Includes 48,858 shares of common stock held by Mr. Wilson’s family trust and 82,090 shares of common stock held in trust for the benefit of Mr. Wilson’s descendants. Mr. Wilson has investment control over, and pecuniary interest in, shares held in his family trust. Mr. Wilson has investment control over shares held in trusts for his descendants. |
(9) | Includes 34,760 shares of common stock held by Ms. Singh’s family trust. Ms. Singh has investment control over, and pecuniary interest in, shares held in her family trust. |
(10) | Includes 304 shares of common stock held directly by Mr. Huber, 79,077 shares of common stock held by Mr. Huber’s family trust and 18,768 shares of common stock held by trusts over which Mr. Huber maintains investment control and pecuniary interest. |
(11) | Includes all executive officers and directors of the Company as of the date of this filing. |
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High | Low | |||||
Fiscal Year 2026 | ||||||
October 1, 2025 through November 19, 2025 | $202.30 | $199.80 | ||||
Second quarter (July 1-September 30) | $203.75 | $146.97 | ||||
First quarter (April 1-June 30) | $160.70 | $131.15 | ||||
Fiscal Year 2025 | ||||||
Fourth quarter (January 1-March 31) | $147.76 | $115.21 | ||||
Third quarter (October 1-December 31) | $168.50 | $140.41 | ||||
Second quarter (July 1-September 30) | $153.51 | $137.11 | ||||
First quarter (April 1-June 30) | $141.82 | $124.92 | ||||
Fiscal Year 2024 | ||||||
Fourth quarter (January 1-March 31) | $144.53 | $129.38 | ||||
Third quarter (October 1-December 31) | $143.47 | $118.60 | ||||
Second quarter (July 1-September 30) | $140.30 | $117.47 | ||||
First quarter (April 1-June 30) | $132.87 | $119.60 | ||||
Fiscal Year 2023 | ||||||
Fourth quarter (January 1-March 31) | $130.57 | $108.53 | ||||
Third quarter (October 1-December 31) | $133.40 | $116.01 | ||||
Second quarter (July 1-September 30) | $135.85 | $114.07 | ||||
First quarter (April 1-June 30) | $142.79 | $109.24 | ||||
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• | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2025; |
• | the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2025 annual meeting of stockholders, filed with the SEC on June 24, 2025, that are incorporated by reference in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025; |
• | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2025; and |
• | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on July 29, 2025, August 15, 2025, September 29, 2025 and October 28, 2025 (other than documents or portions of these documents deemed to be furnished but not filed). |
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ARTICLE I The Merger; Closing; Effective Time | A-5 | |||||
1.1. | The Merger | A-5 | ||||
1.2. | Closing | A-5 | ||||
1.3. | Effective Time | A-5 | ||||
ARTICLE II Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation | A-5 | |||||
2.1. | Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation | A-5 | ||||
2.2. | Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation | A-5 | ||||
ARTICLE III Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation | A-6 | |||||
3.1. | Directors of the Surviving Corporation | A-6 | ||||
3.2. | Officers of the Surviving Corporation | A-6 | ||||
ARTICLE IV Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock; Exchange of Share Certificates | A-6 | |||||
4.1. | Effect on Capital Stock | A-6 | ||||
4.2. | Exchange of Share Certificates | A-6 | ||||
4.3. | Treatment of Company Equity Awards and Company ESPP | A-9 | ||||
4.4. | Adjustments to Prevent Dilution | A-11 | ||||
ARTICLE V Representations and Warranties | A-11 | |||||
5.1. | Representations and Warranties of the Company | A-11 | ||||
5.2. | Representations and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub | A-24 | ||||
ARTICLE VI Covenants | A-28 | |||||
6.1. | Interim Operations | A-28 | ||||
6.2. | Acquisition Proposals; Change of Recommendation | A-31 | ||||
6.3. | Proxy Statement Filing; Information Supplied | A-34 | ||||
6.4. | Company Stockholders Meeting | A-35 | ||||
6.5. | Efforts; Cooperation; Regulatory Matters | A-36 | ||||
6.6. | Information; Access and Reports | A-38 | ||||
6.7. | Stock Exchange Delisting | A-39 | ||||
6.8. | Publicity | A-39 | ||||
6.9. | Employee Benefits | A-40 | ||||
6.10. | Expenses | A-41 | ||||
6.11. | Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance | A-41 | ||||
6.12. | Stockholder Litigation | A-43 | ||||
6.13. | Financing | A-43 | ||||
6.14. | Other Actions by the Company | A-45 | ||||
6.15. | Obligations of Parent | A-46 | ||||
6.16. | Financing Cooperation | A-46 | ||||
6.17. | Tender Offer | A-50 | ||||
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ARTICLE VII Conditions | A-50 | |||||
7.1. | Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger | A-50 | ||||
7.2. | Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub | A-51 | ||||
7.3. | Conditions to Obligation of the Company | A-51 | ||||
ARTICLE VIII Termination | A-52 | |||||
8.1. | Termination | A-52 | ||||
8.2. | Effect of Termination and Abandonment | A-53 | ||||
ARTICLE IX Miscellaneous and General | A-57 | |||||
9.1. | Survival Following Consummation of the Merger | A-57 | ||||
9.2. | Modification or Amendment | A-57 | ||||
9.3. | Waiver | A-57 | ||||
9.4. | Counterparts | A-57 | ||||
9.5. | Governing Law and Venue; Waiver of Jury Trial; Specific Performance | A-57 | ||||
9.6. | Notices | A-59 | ||||
9.7. | Entire Agreement | A-60 | ||||
9.8. | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | A-61 | ||||
9.9. | Obligations of Parent and of the Company | A-61 | ||||
9.10. | Definitions | A-61 | ||||
9.11. | Severability | A-61 | ||||
9.12. | Interpretation; Construction | A-61 | ||||
9.13. | Successors and Assigns | A-62 | ||||
9.14. | Debt Financing Provisions | A-62 | ||||
9.15. | Non-Recourse | A-63 | ||||
Annex A | Defined Terms | A-65 | ||||
Exhibit A | Form of Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation | Exhibit A-1 | ||||
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If to Parent or Merger Sub: | ||||||
c/o The Public Investment Fund | ||||||
The Public Investment Fund Tower | ||||||
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Building 1.16 | ||||||
Al Aqiq district, Riyadh 13519, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | ||||||
Attention: | Turqi A. Alnowaiser | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
c/o Silver Lake | ||||||
55 Hudson Yards | ||||||
40th Floor | ||||||
New York, NY 10001 | ||||||
Attention: | Justin Hamill | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
c/o Affinity Partners | ||||||
16690 Collins Avenue, Suite 901 | ||||||
Sunny Isles Beach FL 33160 | ||||||
Attention: | Ian Brekke | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||||||
Kirkland & Ellis LLP | ||||||
601 Lexington Avenue | ||||||
New York, NY 10022 | ||||||
Attention: | Sarkis Jebejian, P.C. | |||||
Maggie D. Flores, P.C. | ||||||
Jonathan L. Davis, P.C. | ||||||
Lee M. Blum | ||||||
Email: | sarkis.jebejian@kirkland.com | |||||
maggie.flores@kirkland.com | ||||||
jonathan.davis@kirkland.com | ||||||
lee.blum@kirkland.com | ||||||
Kirkland & Ellis International Law Firm | ||||||
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), | ||||||
Level 7, Building 4.07 | ||||||
7229 Innovation Boulevard | ||||||
Riyadh 13519 | ||||||
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | ||||||
Attention: | Kamran S. Bajwa | |||||
Noor M. Al-Fawzan | ||||||
Email: | kamran.bajwa@kirkland.com | |||||
noor.alfawzan@kirkland.com | ||||||
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Latham & Watkins LLP | ||||||
1271 Avenue of the Americas | ||||||
New York, NY 10020 | ||||||
Attention: | Charles Ruck | |||||
Michael Anastasio | ||||||
Ian Nussbaum | ||||||
Email: | charles.ruck@lw.com | |||||
michael.anastasio@lw.com | ||||||
ian.nussbaum@lw.com | ||||||
Sidley Austin LLP | ||||||
One South Dearborn | ||||||
Chicago, Illinois 60603 | ||||||
Attention: | Perry J. Shwachman | |||||
William R. Levi | ||||||
Jonathan Blackburn | ||||||
Email: | pshwachman@sidley.com; | |||||
illiam.levi@sidley.com; | ||||||
jblackburn@sidley.com | ||||||
If to the Company: | ||||||
Electronic Arts Inc. | ||||||
209 Redwood Shores Parkway | ||||||
Redwood City, CA 94065 | ||||||
Attention: | Jake Schatz, EVP, Chief Legal Officer | |||||
Email: | [***] | |||||
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice): | ||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | ||||||
51 West 52nd Street | ||||||
New York, NY 10019 | ||||||
Attention: | Edward D. Herlihy, Esq. | |||||
David K. Lam, Esq. | ||||||
Eric M. Feinstein, Esq. | ||||||
Email: | EDHerlihy@wlrk.com | |||||
DKLam@wlrk.com | ||||||
EMFeinstein@wlrk.com | ||||||
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OAK-EAGLE ACQUIRECO, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Turqi A. Alnowaiser | |||||
Name: Turqi A. Alnowaiser | ||||||
Title: President, Vice President and Secretary | ||||||
OAK-EAGLE MERGERCO, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Turqi A. Alnowaiser | |||||
Name: Turqi A. Alnowaiser | ||||||
Title: President, Vice President and Secretary | ||||||
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Andrew Wilson | |||||
Name: Andrew Wilson | ||||||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||||||
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Action | 5.1(h) | ||
Affinity | Recitals | ||
Agreement | Preamble | ||
Alternate Debt Financing | 6.13(c) | ||
Alternative Acquisition Agreement | 6.2(c)(v) | ||
AP Guarantee | Recitals | ||
Applicable Date | 5.1 | ||
Bankruptcy and Equity Exception | 5.1(c)(i) | ||
Benefit Plans | 5.1(i)(i) | ||
Book-Entry Shares | 4.1(a) | ||
Bylaws | 2.2 | ||
Certificate of Merger | 1.3 | ||
CFIUS Notice | 6.5(a) | ||
Change of Recommendation | 6.2(c)(iv) | ||
Charter | 2.1 | ||
Chosen Courts | 9.5(a) | ||
Closing | 1.2 | ||
Closing Date | 1.2 | ||
Code | 4.2(h) | ||
Company | Preamble | ||
Company Board | Recitals | ||
Company Cooperation Parties | 6.16(b) | ||
Company Disclosure Schedule | 5.1 | ||
Company Equity Awards | 4.3(d) | ||
Company Financial Statements | 5.1(e)(iii) | ||
Company Note Offer | 6.16(a)(x) | ||
Company Option | 4.3(a) | ||
Company Permits | 5.1(j)(ii) | ||
Company Recommendation | 5.1(c)(ii) | ||
Company Reports | 5.1(e)(i) | ||
Company RSU Award | 4.3(a) | ||
Company Stockholders Meeting | 6.4(a) | ||
Conditional Redemption Notice | 6.16(a)(x) | ||
Contract | 5.1(d)(ii) | ||
D&O Insurance | 6.11(c) | ||
Debt Financing | 5.2(f)(i) | ||
Debt Offer Documents | 6.16(a)(x) | ||
Definitive Agreements | 6.3(a) | ||
DGCL | Recitals | ||
DOJ | 6.5(b) | ||
DTC | 4.2(c)(i) | ||
Effective Time | 1.3 | ||
Equity Financing | 5.2(f)(ii) | ||
ERISA | 5.1(i)(i) | ||
Exchange Act | 5.1(d)(i) | ||
Final Exercise Date | 4.3(c) | ||
Financing Amounts | 5.2(f)(v) | ||
FTC | 6.5(b) | ||
Governmental Authority | 5.1(d)(i) | ||
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Guarantees | Recitals | ||
Guarantors | Recitals | ||
Indemnified Parties | 6.11(a) | ||
Insurance Policy | 5.1(r) | ||
Insurance Premium Cap | 6.11(c) | ||
Interest and Expenses Cap | 8.2(d) | ||
Interests and Expenses | 8.2(c) | ||
Intervening Event | 6.2(d)(ii) | ||
IRS | 5.1(i)(ii) | ||
Labor Agreement | 5.1(p)(i) | ||
Laws | 5.1(j)(i) | ||
Letter of Transmittal | 4.2(c)(i) | ||
Liability Limitation | 8.2(e) | ||
Material Contract | 5.1(k)(i) | ||
material weakness | 5.1(e)(ii) | ||
Measurement Date | 5.1(b)(i) | ||
Merger | Recitals | ||
Merger Consideration | 4.1(a) | ||
Merger Sub | Preamble | ||
Multiemployer Plan | 5.1(i)(i) | ||
New Debt Commitment Letter | 6.13(c) | ||
Non-U.S. Benefit Plan | 5.1(i)(i) | ||
Order | 5.1(h) | ||
Parent | Preamble | ||
Parent Disclosure Schedule | 5.2 | ||
Parent Termination Fee | 8.2(c) | ||
Parties | Preamble | ||
Party | Preamble | ||
Paying Agent | 4.2(a) | ||
Payment Fund | 4.2(b) | ||
PIF | Recitals | ||
PIF Guarantee | Recitals | ||
Prohibited Modification | 6.13(b) | ||
Proxy Statement | 6.3(a) | ||
Redemption Certificate | 6.16(a)(x) | ||
Regulatory Law | 6.5(e) | ||
Reimbursement Obligations | 8.2(e) | ||
Related Party | 8.2(e) | ||
Required Jurisdictions | 7.1(d) | ||
SEC | 5.1(e)(i) | ||
Securities Act | 5.1(d)(i) | ||
Share Certificate | 4.1(a) | ||
Shares | 4.1(a) | ||
significant deficiency | 5.1(e)(ii) | ||
Silver Lake | Recitals | ||
Silver Lake Guarantee | Recitals | ||
Surviving Corporation | 1.1 | ||
Tail Period | 6.11(c) | ||
Takeover Statute | 5.1(m) | ||
Termination Payment | 8.2(d) | ||
Trade Controls | 5.1(w)(i) | ||
Transaction Litigation | 6.12 | ||
U.S. Benefit Plan | 5.1(i)(i) | ||
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(i) | if to the Stockholder, to: | ||||||||
The Public Investment Fund | |||||||||
Attention: | Turqi A. Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and | ||||||||
Head of International Investments Division | |||||||||
Email: | [***] | ||||||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | |||||||||
Kirkland & Ellis LLP | |||||||||
601 Lexington Avenue | |||||||||
New York, NY 10022 | |||||||||
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Attention: | Sarkis Jebejian, P.C. | |||||||||||
Maggie D. Flores, P.C. | ||||||||||||
Jonathan L. Davis, P.C. | ||||||||||||
Lee M. Blum | ||||||||||||
Email: | sarkis.jebejian@kirkland.com | |||||||||||
maggie.flores@kirkland.com | ||||||||||||
Jonathan L. Davis, P.C. | ||||||||||||
lee.blum@kirkland.com | ||||||||||||
(ii) | if to Parent, to: | |||||||||||
The Public Investment Fund | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Turqi A. Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and | |||||||||||
Head of International Investments Division | ||||||||||||
Email: | [***] | |||||||||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||||||||
Kirkland & Ellis LLP | ||||||||||||
601 Lexington Avenue | ||||||||||||
New York, NY 10022 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Sarkis Jebejian, P.C. | |||||||||||
Maggie D. Flores, P.C. | ||||||||||||
Jonathan L. Davis, P.C. | ||||||||||||
Lee M. Blum | ||||||||||||
Email: | sarkis.jebejian@kirkland.com | |||||||||||
maggie.flores@kirkland.com | ||||||||||||
jonathan.davis@kirkland.com | ||||||||||||
lee.blum@kirkland.com | ||||||||||||
Latham & Watkins LLP | ||||||||||||
1271 Avenue of the Americas | ||||||||||||
New York, NY 10020 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Charles Ruck | |||||||||||
Michael Anastasio | ||||||||||||
Ian Nussbaum | ||||||||||||
Email: | charles.ruck@lw.com | |||||||||||
michael.anastasio@lw.com | ||||||||||||
ian.nussbaum@lw.com | ||||||||||||
Sidley Austin LLP | ||||||||||||
One South Dearborn | ||||||||||||
Chicago, Illinois 60603 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Perry J. Shwachman | |||||||||||
William R. Levi | ||||||||||||
Jonathan Blackburn | ||||||||||||
Email: | pshwachman@sidley.com | |||||||||||
William.levi@sidley.com | ||||||||||||
jblackburn@sidley.com | ||||||||||||
(iii) | if to Company, to: | |||||||||||
Electronic Arts Inc. | ||||||||||||
209 Redwood Shores Parkway | ||||||||||||
Redwood City, CA 94065 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Jacob J. Schatz, Executive Vice President, | |||||||||||
Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer | ||||||||||||
Email: | [***] | |||||||||||
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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | |||||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz | |||||||||
51 West 52nd Street | |||||||||
New York, NY 10019 | |||||||||
Attention: | Edward D. Herlihy, Esq. | ||||||||
David K. Lam, Esq. | |||||||||
Eric M. Feinstein, Esq. | |||||||||
Email: | EDHerlihy@wlrk.com | ||||||||
DKLam@wlrk.com | |||||||||
EMFeinstein@wlrk.com | |||||||||
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PARENT: | ||||||
OAK-EAGLE ACQUIRECO, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Turqi A. Alnowaiser | |||||
Name: | Turqi A. Alnowaiser | |||||
Title: | President, Vice President and Secretary | |||||
STOCKHOLDER: | ||||||
THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND | ||||||
By: | /s/ Turqi A. Alnowaiser | |||||
Name: | Turqi A. Alnowaiser | |||||
Title: | Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments Division | |||||
COMPANY: | ||||||
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Andrew Wilson | |||||
Name: | Andrew Wilson | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||
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Stockholder | Shares of Company Common Stock | ||
The Public Investment Fund | 24,807,932 | ||
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(i) | if to the Company or the Stockholder, to: | |||||||||||
Electronic Arts Inc. 209 Redwood Shores Parkway Redwood City, CA 94065 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Jacob J. Schatz, Executive Vice President, Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer | |||||||||||
Email: | [***] | |||||||||||
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to: | ||||||||||||
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz 51 West 52nd Street New York, NY 10019 | ||||||||||||
Attention: | Edward D. Herlihy, Esq. David K. Lam, Esq. Eric M. Feinstein, Esq. | |||||||||||
Email: | EDHerlihy@wlrk.com DKLam@wlrk.com EMFeinstein@wlrk.com | |||||||||||
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COMPANY: | ||||||
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | Andrew Wilson | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||
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[•] | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: | ||||||
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Stockholder | Shares of Company Common Stock | ||
[•] | [•] | ||
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Very truly yours, | |||
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(GOLDMAN SACHS & CO. LLC) | |||
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FAQ
What is Electronic Arts (EA) being offered per share in the proposed merger?
Under the merger agreement, each share of Electronic Arts common stock issued and outstanding immediately before the effective time will be converted into the right to receive $210.00 in cash, without interest, except for specified excluded and appraisal shares.
Who is acquiring Electronic Arts (EA) in this transaction?
EA will be acquired by Oak-Eagle AcquireCo, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Oak-Eagle MergerCo, Inc., which are controlled by a consortium consisting of The Public Investment Fund, funds affiliated with Silver Lake and funds affiliated with Affinity Partners.
When is the EA stockholder vote on the $210 per share cash merger?
The special meeting of Electronic Arts stockholders to vote on adopting the merger agreement and related proposals is scheduled for December 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time and will be held in a virtual-only format.
What approvals are required for the Electronic Arts merger to close?
The merger requires approval by holders representing a majority of the aggregate voting power of outstanding EA common stock, expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, CFIUS approval, and various other antitrust or foreign investment clearances, including in Canada and the EU, along with other specified closing conditions.
What happens to EA common stock and its Nasdaq listing if the merger is consummated?
At closing, EA will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the buyer’s parent entity, all eligible shares will be converted into the cash merger consideration, and EA common stock will be delisted from Nasdaq and deregistered under the Exchange Act, so it will no longer trade publicly.
Do EA stockholders have appraisal rights in connection with this merger?
Yes. Holders who do not wish to accept the merger consideration may seek appraisal rights under Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, if they strictly comply with the statutory procedures and continue to hold their shares through the effective time.
How is the Electronic Arts merger financed and is there a financing condition?
The parties estimate total funds of approximately $55 billion, comprising about $36.4 billion of equity commitments from consortium members and $20 billion of committed debt financing from lenders. The merger is expressly not subject to a financing condition.




