Electro-Sensors (ELSE) to be taken private for $7.75 per share by Battery Ventures affiliate
Electro-Sensors, Inc. is asking shareholders to approve an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated April 20, 2026 under which Steute Burwell, Inc. (a subsidiary of steute Industrial Controls, an affiliate of Battery Ventures) will merge into Electro-Sensors and the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. At the Effective Time, each outstanding share of Common Stock (other than dissenting shares) will be converted into the right to receive $7.75 per share in cash, before tax withholdings. The Board and a Special Committee of independent directors have unanimously recommended that shareholders vote FOR adoption of the Merger Agreement. The proxy materials state that the Merger Consideration represents a premium of 68.5% to the trading price on November 21, 2025 and 75% to the closing price on April 20, 2026. The Company anticipates completing the Merger in Q3 2026, subject to shareholder approval and other closing conditions.
Positive
- $7.75 per share cash consideration represents a substantial premium (proxy cites 68.5% and 75% premiums to specified historical prices), providing immediate liquidity to shareholders
Negative
- Delisting and deregistration upon closing will end public trading and reporting, eliminating market liquidity and ongoing public disclosure for remaining stakeholders
Insights
Merger is a typical negotiated going-private deal with standard protections and termination fees.
The Merger Agreement executed April 20, 2026 contemplates cash consideration of $7.75 per share and includes customary conditions, termination rights, $1,000,000 termination fees and a reimbursement cap of $300,000. Voting agreements covering ~52.7% of voting shares have been secured.
Key procedural items to watch in subsequent filings are: confirmatory fairness materials (Annex B), the exact record date vote tally versus the majority-of-outstanding threshold, and the timing of articles of merger filing that will make the transaction effective.
Cash price of $7.75 implies a substantial premium to recent trading; transaction is all-cash with no financing condition.
Proxy cites premiums of 68.5% and 75 to selected historical prices and indicates Parent represented it has adequate resources to pay the Merger Consideration. The proxy also summarizes Lake Street’s fairness opinion dated April 20, 2026.
Material near-term milestones include shareholder vote at the Special Meeting and satisfaction of closing conditions; filings around closing will confirm whether dissenters’ rights are perfected and the exact cash required at closing.
Key Figures
Key Terms
Dissenters’ rights / Appraisal legal
Fairness Opinion financial
Voting Agreements corporate
ESOP Amendment employee
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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 Section 240.14a-12 |
ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. |
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
N/A |
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
☐ | No fee required |
☐ | Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
☒ | Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
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1. | To consider and vote on a proposal to adopt an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 20, 2026 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, steute Industrial Controls, Inc. (“Parent”), and Steute Burwell, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”); |
2. | To consider and vote on the proposal to approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, compensation that will or may become payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger Agreement; |
3. | To consider and vote on the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting from time to time, to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, under certain circumstances, including for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies in favor of the foregoing proposals, in the event the Company does not receive the requisite shareholder vote to approve such proposals or establish a quorum; and |
4. | To transact such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting. |

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SUMMARY | 1 | ||
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MERGER | 7 | ||
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION | 12 | ||
THE MERGER | 14 | ||
Background of the Merger | 14 | ||
Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Special Committee; Recommendation of the Board; Fairness of the Merger | 19 | ||
Recommendation of the Board | 23 | ||
Opinion of Financial Advisor to the Board | 23 | ||
Certain Effects of the Merger | 30 | ||
Financing | 32 | ||
Interests of the Company’s Directors, Officers and Executive Officers in the Merger | 32 | ||
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger | 34 | ||
Fees and Expenses | 36 | ||
Anticipated Accounting Treatment of the Merger | 36 | ||
THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER | 37 | ||
Electro-Sensors, Inc. | 37 | ||
steute Industrial Controls, Inc. | 37 | ||
Steute Burwell, Inc. | 37 | ||
THE SPECIAL MEETING | 38 | ||
Date, Time and Place | 38 | ||
Record Date and Quorum | 38 | ||
Required Vote | 38 | ||
Voting; Proxies; Revocation | 39 | ||
Adjournments and Postponements | 40 | ||
Solicitation of Proxies | 40 | ||
THE MERGER AGREEMENT | 41 | ||
Explanatory Note Regarding the Merger Agreement | 41 | ||
Structure of the Merger | 41 | ||
When the Merger Becomes Effective | 41 | ||
Effect of the Merger on the Common Stock of the Company and Merger Sub | 42 | ||
Treatment of Company Equity Awards | 42 | ||
Payment for the Common Stock in the Merger | 42 | ||
Representations and Warranties | 43 | ||
Conduct of Business Pending the Merger | 45 | ||
Other Covenants and Agreements | 46 | ||
Conditions to the Merger | 49 | ||
Termination | 50 | ||
Fees and Expenses | 51 | ||
Expense Reimbursement Provisions | 51 | ||
Amendments and Modification | 51 | ||
Specific Performance | 51 | ||
Governing Law | 51 | ||
AGREEMENTS INVOLVING COMMON STOCK | 52 | ||
Voting Agreements | 52 | ||
PROPOSAL NO. 1: APPROVAL OF THE MERGER PROPOSAL | 54 | ||
PROPOSAL NO. 2: ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION PROPOSAL | 55 | ||
PROPOSAL NO. 3: APPROVAL OF THE ADJOURNMENT PROPOSAL | 57 | ||
Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners | 58 | ||
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Page | |||
Market Price Information | 59 | ||
RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL | 60 | ||
DELISTING AND DEREGISTRATION OF COMMON STOCK | 62 | ||
SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS | 62 | ||
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 63 | ||
MISCELLANEOUS | 64 | ||
ANNEX A | A-1 | ||
ANNEX B | B-1 | ||
ANNEX C | C-1 | ||
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• | The requisite approval by our shareholders of the Merger (the “Company Shareholder Approval”) will have been obtained; and |
• | No law, injunction or similar order by any governmental entity that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger will have been entered, enacted or promulgated and continue to be in effect. |
• | The representations and warranties of the Company will be true and correct (subject to applicable materiality and other qualifications); |
• | The Company will have performed in all material respects all obligations and complied in all material respects with all covenants required by the Merger Agreement; |
• | No material adverse effect will have occurred after the date of the Merger Agreement; |
• | Each Voting Agreement (defined below) will remain in full force and effect; |
• | Holders of no more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock will have exercised statutory dissenters’ rights; and |
• | Certain conditions related to the Electro-Sensors, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust (the “ESOP”) will have been satisfied. |
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• | The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub will be true and correct (subject to applicable materiality and other qualifications); and |
• | Parent and Merger Sub will have performed in all material respects all obligations and complied in all material respects with all covenants required by the Merger Agreement. |
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• | By mutual written consent of the Company and Parent; |
• | By either the Company or Parent if (i) the Effective Time has not occurred on or before June 30, 2026 (the “End Date”), provided that this termination right is not available to a party whose actions or failure to act materially contributed to the failure to satisfy the conditions on or before the End Date, subject to the right of the Company to extend such period by 30 days upon delivery of written notice if any regulatory approval |
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• | By the Company if (i) Parent or Merger Sub has breached any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements where such breach would result in a failure of a closing condition and cannot be cured or is not cured within applicable cure periods; or (ii) Parent fails to consummate the closing of the Merger when required and the Company has confirmed in writing that closing conditions have been satisfied; or |
• | By Parent if (i) the Company has breached any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements where such breach would result in a failure of a closing condition and cannot be cured or is not cured within applicable cure periods; or (ii) the Board effects a Recommendation Change. |
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Q. | Why am I receiving this proxy statement? |
A. | On April 20, 2026, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement with Parent and Merger Sub, which provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation. If the Merger is completed, each outstanding share of the Company’s Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive $7.75 in cash, without interest and subject to any required tax withholdings, except for shares with respect to which appraisal rights are properly exercised and not withdrawn or lost in accordance with applicable Minnesota law. You should read “Summary” beginning on page 1 for more information about the proposed Merger. |
Q: | What will I receive in the Merger? |
A: | If the Merger is completed and you do not properly exercise your appraisal rights, you will be entitled to receive $7.75 in cash, without interest and before giving effect to any required tax withholdings, for each share of the Company’s Common Stock that you own. You will not be entitled to receive shares in the surviving corporation or in Parent. |
Q. | What conditions must be satisfied to complete the Merger? |
A. | The Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including, among others, (i) the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Company’s shareholders, (ii) the absence of any law, injunction or similar order by any governmental entity that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger, and (iii) other customary conditions, including the accuracy of representations and warranties and compliance with covenants. In addition, Parent’s obligation to complete the Merger is subject to certain additional conditions, including that the Voting Agreements remain in full force and effect, that holders of no more than 10% of the outstanding shares have exercised statutory dissenters’ rights, and that certain ESOP-related conditions are satisfied. |
Q: | What matters will be voted on at the Special Meeting? |
A: | You will be asked to vote on the following proposals: |
• | to adopt the Merger Agreement; |
• | to approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, compensation that will or may become payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger; |
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• | to approve the adjournment of the Special Meeting from time to time, to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, under certain circumstances, including for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies in favor of the foregoing proposals, in the event the Company does not receive the requisite shareholder vote to approve such proposals or establish a quorum; and |
• | to act upon other business that may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. |
Q: | How does the Board recommend that I vote? |
A: | Based in part on the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee, the Board recommends unanimously that our shareholders vote: |
• | “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement; |
• | “FOR” the non-binding, advisory proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger; and |
• | “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting from time to time, to a later date or dates, if necessary or appropriate, under certain circumstances, including for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies in favor of the foregoing proposals, in the event the Company does not receive the requisite shareholder vote to approve such proposals or establish a quorum. |
Q: | What effects will the Merger have on Electro-Sensors? |
A: | The Common Stock is currently registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “ELSE.” If the Merger is consummated, the Company will become a privately held company, wholly-owned by Parent, and its Common Stock will be delisted from Nasdaq and deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. |
Q: | What will happen if the Merger is not consummated? |
A: | If the Merger is not consummated for any reason, our shareholders will not receive any payment for their shares in connection with the Merger. Instead, we will remain a public company and our Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq. The market price of our Common Stock may decline to the extent current market prices reflect a market assumption that the Merger will be completed. Under specified circumstances, we may be required to pay Parent and Sub a termination fee, up to a maximum of $1,000,000, plus certain transaction-related expenses of up to $300,000, if the Merger Agreement is terminated. |
Q: | What will happen if shareholders do not approve the advisory proposal on executive compensation payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger? |
A: | The approval of this proposal is not a condition to the completion of the Merger. The SEC rules require the Company to seek approval on a non-binding, advisory basis of certain payments that will or may be made to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger. The vote on this proposal is an advisory vote and will not be binding on the Company or Parent. If the Merger Agreement is adopted by the shareholders and the Merger is completed, the Merger-related compensation may be paid to the Company’s named executive officers even if shareholders fail to approve this proposal. |
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Q. | Who is entitled to vote at the Special Meeting? |
A. | All holders of shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date, which is the close of business on [ ], 2026, are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Each holder of shares of our Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share of our Common Stock held on the Record Date. As of the close of business on the Record Date, there were [3,532,423] shares of our Common Stock outstanding. |
Q. | What is the difference between holding shares as a shareholder of record and in “street name” as a beneficial owner? |
A. | Our shareholders may hold their shares of our Common Stock through a broker, bank or other nominee (that is, in “street name”) rather than directly in their own name. Summarized below are some of the differences between shares held of record and those owned beneficially in “street name.” |
• | Shareholder of Record. If your shares are registered directly in your name with the Company’s transfer agent, Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“Equiniti”), you are considered, with respect to those shares, the shareholder of record and this proxy statement was sent directly to you by Broadridge ICS, a third party shareholder services company. As the shareholder of record, you have the right to vote your shares at the Special Meeting or to grant your proxy directly to certain officers of the Company to vote your shares at the Special Meeting. |
• | Beneficial Owner. If your shares are held through a broker, bank or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name,” and this proxy statement was forwarded to you by your broker, bank or other nominee. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares on your behalf at the Special Meeting, or you may vote your shares at the Special Meeting. |
Q. | How can I attend the virtual Special Meeting? |
A. | The Special Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of shareholders, which will be conducted exclusively by live webcast. You are entitled to participate in the Special Meeting only if you were a shareholder of the Company as of the close of business on the Record Date, or if you hold a valid proxy for the Special Meeting. No physical meeting will be held. |
Q. | How do I vote? |
A. | You may vote your shares before the Special Meeting via the internet, by telephone, or by mail. If you vote via the internet or by telephone, you do not need to mail in a proxy card or voting instructions. |
• | By Internet — Visit www.proxyvote.com before the Special Meeting. You will need to have the information contained on your proxy card available to access the website. |
• | By Telephone — Dial 1-800-690-6903 and have your proxy card available when you call. |
• | By Mail — Complete, sign and return the accompanying proxy card using the enclosed postage-paid envelope. |
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Q. | What is the deadline for voting? |
A. | If you are a shareholder of record, your proxy must be received by telephone or internet by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on [ ], 2026, the day before the Special Meeting, in order for your shares to be voted at the Special Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record and you cause your shares to be voted by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card by mail, your proxy card must be received before the Special Meeting for your shares to be voted at the Special Meeting. |
Q: | Should I send in my stock certificates or other evidence of ownership now? |
A: | No. After the Merger is completed, you will be sent a letter of transmittal with detailed written instructions for exchanging your shares of Common Stock for the per share Merger Consideration. If your shares of Common Stock are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or other nominee, you may receive instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee as to what action, if any, you need to take to effect the surrender of your “street name” shares in exchange for the per share Merger Consideration. Do not send in your certificates now. |
Q: | Can I revoke my proxy and voting instructions? |
A: | Yes. You can revoke your proxy and voting instructions at any time before your proxy is voted at the Special Meeting. If you are a shareholder of record, a proxy may be revoked, prior to its exercise, by executing and delivering a later-dated proxy via the Internet, via telephone or by mail, by delivering written notice of the revocation of the proxy to the Company’s President prior to the Special Meeting, or by attending and voting at the Special Meeting. Attendance at the Special Meeting, in and of itself, will not constitute a revocation of a proxy. |
Q. | Do I have appraisal (dissenters’) rights? |
A. | If the Merger Agreement is adopted by the Company shareholders and the Merger is consummated, shareholders who do not vote in favor of the Merger proposal and who otherwise strictly comply with the applicable provisions of Section 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the MBCA may be entitled to exercise dissenters’ rights and receive payment of the “fair value” of their shares as determined in accordance with the MBCA. The statutory provisions governing dissenters’ rights are reproduced in Annex C to this proxy statement. Because the procedures are technical and time-sensitive, you should carefully review Annex C and consult your legal advisor if you are considering exercising dissenters’ rights. |
Q: | What happens if I sell my shares of Common Stock before completion of the Merger? |
A: | If you transfer your shares of Common Stock, you will have transferred your right to receive the Merger Consideration in the Merger. In order to receive the Merger Consideration, you must hold your shares of Common Stock through completion of the Merger. |
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Q. | Who will count the votes? |
A. | The votes will be counted by the inspector of elections appointed for the Special Meeting. |
Q: | What is householding and how does it affect me? |
A: | The SEC permits companies to send a single set of proxy materials to any household at which two or more shareholders reside, unless contrary instructions have been received, but only if the applicable company provides advance notice and follows certain procedures. In such cases, each shareholder continues to receive a separate notice of the meeting and proxy card. Certain brokerage firms may have instituted householding for beneficial owners of Common Stock held through brokerage firms. If your family has multiple accounts holding Common Stock, you may have already received a householding notification from your broker. Please contact your broker directly if you have any questions or require additional copies of this proxy statement. The broker will arrange for delivery of a separate copy of this proxy statement promptly upon your written or oral request. You may decide at any time to revoke your decision to household, and thereby receive multiple copies. |
Q. | What do I do if I receive more than one proxy or set of voting instructions? |
A. | If you received more than one proxy card or voting instruction form, your shares are likely registered in different names or with different addresses or are in more than one account. You must separately vote the shares shown on each proxy card or voting instruction form that you received in order for all of your shares to be voted at the Special Meeting. |
Q. | Is the Merger expected to be taxable to U.S. shareholders? |
A. | Yes. The Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You should consult your tax advisor regarding the particular tax consequences of the Merger to you. See “The Merger – Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger.” |
Q. | Will I have to pay brokerage fees and commissions if the Merger is effected? |
A. | If you are a holder of record of your shares of Common Stock you will not incur any brokerage fees or commissions. If you hold your shares of Common Stock in street name through a broker, bank or other nominee, your broker may charge you a fee for doing so. |
Q: | Who can help answer my other questions? |
A: | If you have additional questions about the Merger, or require assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares or need additional copies of this proxy statement or proxy card, please contact the Company directly at: |
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• | the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement or a delay in the closing of the Merger; |
• | the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be instituted against the Company or others relating to the Merger Agreement; |
• | the inability to complete the Merger because of the failure to obtain the Company Shareholder Approval, the failure to satisfy conditions relating to the ESOP Trustee’s delivery of evidence of completion of the ESOP Vote and delivery of the ESOP Determination, the exercise of statutory dissenters’ rights by holders of more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the occurrence of a Company Material Adverse Effect, the failure of the Voting Agreements to remain in full force and effect, or the failure to satisfy other conditions to consummation of the Merger; |
• | the failure of the Merger to close for any other reason; |
• | the risk that the pendency of the Merger disrupts current plans and operations and potential difficulties in employee retention as a result of the pendency of the Merger; |
• | the effect of the announcement of the Merger on our business relationships, operating results and business generally; |
• | the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the Merger; |
• | the risk that the Merger may not be completed within the expected timeframe or prior to June 30, 2026 (the “End Date”), subject to the Company’s right to extend such period by 30 days in certain circumstances; |
• | the restrictions on the conduct of the Company’s business during the pendency of the Merger, including the requirement to conduct business in the ordinary course, limitations on capital expenditures, indebtedness, acquisitions and other actions, and the requirement to maintain a consolidated amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of at least $10,250,000, less certain permitted transaction expenses, at all times during the ten (10) business day period immediately prior to closing; |
• | the effects of the non-solicitation provisions of the Merger Agreement on the Company’s ability to engage with third parties regarding alternative transactions, subject to certain exceptions for unsolicited proposals that could reasonably be expected to lead to a Superior Proposal; |
• | the risk that the Company may be required to pay a termination fee of $1,000,000 and/or reimburse Parent’s expenses in an amount up to $300,000 under certain circumstances if the Merger Agreement is terminated; |
• | the risk that the Voting Agreements entered into by certain shareholders may be terminated under certain circumstances, including if the Merger Agreement is amended or modified in a manner that reduces the Merger Consideration or is otherwise materially adverse to the Company’s shareholders; |
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• | the diversion of management’s attention and the Company’s resources from ongoing business operations during the pendency of the Merger and the incurrence of significant costs, fees and expenses relating to the Merger; |
• | the risk that the Company’s stock price may decline significantly if the Merger is not completed; |
• | the interests that the Company’s directors and executive officers may have in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of the Company’s shareholders generally; and |
• | other risks detailed in our filings with the SEC, including our most recent filings on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. |
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• | a proposed all-cash acquisition transaction involving Battery Ventures and steute Technologies (“Party A”); |
• | a proposed combination transaction involving a privately-held company (“Party B”); |
• | a proposed combination transaction involving a privately-held company (“Party C”); and |
• | a proposed all-cash strategic transaction involving an industrial industry participant (“Party D”). |
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• | the fact that, as a condition to the closing of the Merger, the Merger Agreement must be adopted by our shareholders, which allows for an informed vote by the shareholders on the merits of the Merger; |
• | the fact that the Merger Consideration consists solely of cash, providing our shareholders with immediate liquidity and a fixed cash value upon consummation of the Merger, particularly in light of the relatively limited trading volume of our stock; |
• | the extensive nature of the Company’s multi-year strategic review process, including the evaluation of numerous strategic alternatives, discussions with multiple strategic and financial counterparties, and consideration of a variety of transaction structures and strategic opportunities, which the Special Committee believed provided a meaningful basis to assess available strategic alternatives and transaction terms; |
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• | the Special Committee’s and the Board’s consideration of the Company’s prospects and costs as an independent public company, including the Company’s modest historical financial performance profile, the relatively static stock price, the challenges associated with increasing scale and expanding operations in a competitive industrial technology market, and the execution risks associated with pursuing the Company’s strategic objectives on a standalone basis; |
• | the relatively limited public trading volume and liquidity of the Common Stock, which the Special Committee and the Board believed could limit shareholders’ ability to efficiently monetize ownership positions in the public market without adversely affecting the trading price of the Common Stock; |
• | the costs, management time and administrative burdens associated with operating as a small public company, including increasing legal, accounting, compliance, governance and reporting obligations, and compensating and retaining a Board; |
• | the concentration of ownership of the Company’s Common Stock among a relatively small group of long-term shareholders, including members of the Peterson family, and the Special Committee’s and the Board’s belief that the Merger would provide all shareholders with the opportunity to receive immediate liquidity and certainty of value on equal terms; |
• | the Special Committee’s and the Board’s assessment that the all-cash Merger Consideration provided greater certainty of value to shareholders than alternative proposals that would require more complex transaction arrangements that could expose shareholders to additional market, financing or execution risk; |
• | the Special Committee’s and the Board’s belief that the Company’s future trading price and long-term prospects as an independent public company could be adversely affected if the Company did not successfully execute on its strategic and operational objectives or if broader market and industry conditions deteriorated; |
• | recent and historical market prices for our Common Stock, as compared to the Merger Consideration, including the fact that the Merger Consideration of $7.75 per share represents an approximate premium of 75% of the closing price of the day before the merger was announced; |
• | based on negotiations with the Parent and the advice of its financial advisor, the Special Committee believed that further negotiations were unlikely to result in a higher price or more favorable terms; |
• | the Special Committee’s and the Board’s assessment of Parent’s financial capacity and that the Merger presented greater transaction consummation certainty relative to other strategic alternatives evaluated by the Company, including in light of the all-cash structure of the transactions, the absence of any financing condition and Parent’s stated access to sufficient funds to consummate the Merger; |
• | the financial analysis reviewed by Lake Street with the Special Committee as well as the oral opinion of Lake Street rendered to the Special Committee and the Board on April 20, 2026 (which was confirmed by delivery of Lake Street’s written opinion, dated April 20, 2026, to the Board) as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of such date, of the Merger Consideration to be received by Company shareholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, which financial analysis and conclusion the Special Committee represented one of several factors considered in reaching its determination. See “Opinion of Financial Advisor to the Board”; |
• | the Special Committee’s review of the structure of the Merger Agreement and the financial and other terms of the Merger Agreement, including, among others, the following specific terms of the Merger Agreement: |
• | the limited and customary conditions to the parties’ obligations to complete the Merger, the commitment by Parent and Merger Sub to use their reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby, including all actions necessary to obtain applicable regulatory approvals, and their agreement to pay a termination fee of up to $1,000,000 in certain circumstances; |
• | subject to compliance with the Merger Agreement and prior to the time our shareholders approve the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, the ability of our Board (or the Special Committee) to participate in discussions or negotiations with, or provide non-public information to, any person in |
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• | the ability of our Board (or the Special Committee), subject to certain conditions, to change its recommendation that our shareholders adopt the Merger Agreement; |
• | our ability to specifically enforce Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement in certain circumstances, including their obligation to consummate the Merger, subject to certain conditions being met; |
• | the Special Committee’s belief, after consultation with legal counsel, that the representations, warranties and covenants of Parent and Sub in the Merger Agreement were generally consistent with those contained in similar transactions; |
• | the absence of any financing condition to Parent’s obligation to consummate the Merger, which the Special Committee and the Board viewed as enhancing transaction certainty; and |
• | the availability of appraisal rights under Minnesota law to our shareholders who do not vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and comply with all of the required procedures under Minnesota law, which provides those eligible shareholders with an opportunity to have a Minnesota court determine the fair value of their shares, which may be more than, less than, or the same as the amount such shareholders would have received under the Merger Agreement. |
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• | the fact that, subsequent to completion of the Merger, the Company will no longer exist as an independent public company and that the nature of the transaction as a cash transaction would prevent our shareholders from participating in any value creation the business could generate, as well as any future appreciation in our value; |
• | the fact that we would be obligated to pay a termination fee of $1,000,000 under certain circumstances and reimburse Parent’s and Merger Sub’s expenses in an amount up to $300,000 under other circumstances, including the impact of such payment on the willingness of other potential acquirers to propose alternative transactions, although our Special Committee believed that such payment was reasonable and customary and were not expected by the Special Committee to preclude a serious and financially capable potential acquirer from submitting a proposal to acquire the Company following the announcement of the Merger; |
• | the fact that we will be prohibited from soliciting or taking any actions to knowingly facilitate, encourage or assist, or knowingly induce the making of an Alternative Acquisition Proposal (however, we will be able to respond to and engage in discussions of certain unsolicited acquisition proposals, subject to certain conditions, if our Board or an independent committee of the Board (including the Special Committee) determines in good faith that such proposals would reasonably be expected to lead to more favorable proposals, such proposals did not result from the Company’s breach of its obligations under the non-solicitation provisions of the Merger Agreement and, if the Board or Special Committee determines, after consultation with its counsel, that the failure to take action concerning such proposals would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law); |
• | the fact that Parent’s and Merger Sub’s obligations to consummate the Merger are subject to certain conditions, including that the total number of dissenting shares does not exceed 10% of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the filing of the certificate of merger, and the possibility that such conditions may not be satisfied, including as a result of events outside our control; |
• | the fact that if the Merger is not consummated: |
• | our directors, officers and other employees will have expended extensive time and effort and will have experienced significant distractions from their work during the pendency of the transaction, and we will have incurred significant transaction costs attempting to consummate the transaction; |
• | the market’s perception of our continuing business could potentially result in a loss of customers, vendors, business partners, collaboration partners and employees; and |
• | the trading price of our Common Stock would likely materially decrease; |
• | the potential negative effect of the pendency of the Merger on our business and relationships with customers, vendors, business partners, collaboration partners and employees, including the risk that certain key members of our management might choose not to remain employed with the Company prior to the completion of the Merger, regardless of whether or not the Merger is completed; |
• | the fact that under the terms of the Merger Agreement, we have agreed that we will conduct our business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices and use our reasonable best efforts to preserve intact our business organizations and relationships with third parties and to keep available the services of our current officers and key employees, and that subject to Parent’s consent, we will not take a number of specific actions related to the conduct of our business and the possibility that these terms may limit our ability to pursue business opportunities that we would otherwise pursue; |
• | the fact that our directors and officers may receive certain benefits that are different from, and in addition to, those of our other shareholders, as described in “The Merger – Interests of the Company’s Directors, Officers and Executive Officers in the Merger” beginning on page 32; |
• | the fact that we have incurred and will continue to incur significant transaction costs and expenses in connection with the potential transaction, regardless of whether the Merger is consummated; and |
• | the fact that the receipt of cash in exchange for Common Stock pursuant to the Merger will generally be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
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• | determined unanimously that the Merger Agreement and the Merger are advisable and are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company; |
• | approved unanimously the Merger Agreement and the Merger; and |
• | resolved unanimously to recommend that the Company’s shareholders vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger. |
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• | reviewed the financial terms and conditions as set forth in the substantially final draft of the Merger Agreement; |
• | reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information relating to Electro-Sensors that Lake Street deemed relevant, including certain information in Electro-Sensors’ audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 and interim unaudited financial statements, including for the first quarter of 2026; |
• | held discussions with members of management of Electro-Sensors regarding the business, operations, financial condition and future prospects of Electro-Sensors; |
• | reviewed certain information relating to the historical, current and future operations, financial condition and prospects of Electro-Sensors made available to Lake Street by management of Electro-Sensors, including financial projections prepared by management of Electro-Sensors for future fiscal periods (the “Projections”); |
• | analyzed public information with respect to certain other companies in lines of business that Lake Street believes to be comparable to Electro-Sensors, in whole or in part, which included an examination of current public market prices and resulting financial statistics; |
• | reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain other mergers involving the acquisition of companies Lake Street believes to be comparable to Electro-Sensors, in whole or in part; |
• | conducted such other financial studies, analyses and inquiries and such other information as Lake Street deemed appropriate; |
• | performed a discounted cash flow analysis of Electro-Sensors on a standalone basis based on the Projections; and |
• | performed other research and analysis and considered such other factors as we deemed appropriate. |
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Company | Ticker | ||
Vishay Precision Group, Inc. | NYSE:VPG | ||
CTS Corporation | NYSE:CTS | ||
Cohu, Inc. | NasdaqGS:COHU | ||
Badger Meter, Inc. | NYSE:BMI | ||
Itron, Inc. | NasdaqGS:ITRI | ||
Novanta Inc. | NasdaqGS:NOVT | ||
Mirion Technologies, Inc. | NYSE:MIR | ||
Ralliant Corporation | NYSE:RAL | ||
Sensata Technologies Holding plc | NYSE:ST | ||
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• | total enterprise value (“TEV”), as a multiple of estimated EBITDA for calendar year 2026 (“CY 2026E”); |
• | TEV as a multiple of estimated EBITDA for calendar year 2027 (“CY 2027E”), and |
• | TEV as a multiple of estimated EBITDA for calendar year 2028 (“CY 2028E”). |
Financial Multiple | 25th Percentile | Median | Average | 75th Percentile | ||||||||
2026E TEV / EBITDA | 11.9x | 14.6x | 15.0x | 19.1x | ||||||||
2027E TEV / EBITDA | 10.8x | 13.3x | 13.6x | 16.8x | ||||||||
2028E TEV / EBITDA | 8.2x | 11.8x | 11.0x | 13.5x | ||||||||
Financial Multiple | Representative Range | Implied Share Price | ||||
2026E TEV / EBITDA | 11.9x – 19.1x | $5.35 – $6.82 | ||||
2027E TEV / EBITDA | 10.8x – 16.8x | $5.83 – $7.43 | ||||
2028E TEV / EBITDA | 8.2x – 13.5x | $5.53 – $7.21 | ||||
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Date Closed | Target | Buyer | ||||
Jan-25 | SmartCover Systems | Badger Meter | ||||
Nov-24 | Iteris | Almaviva | ||||
May-24 | The L.S. Starrett Company | MiddleGround Management | ||||
Apr-24 | Red Lion Controls | HMS Networks | ||||
Sep-23 | MicroStrain | Spectris Limited | ||||
Dec-22 | Magnasphere | discoverIE Group | ||||
Nov-22 | Durex Industries | Spirax Group | ||||
Jul-22 | OMEGA Engineering | Dwyer Instruments | ||||
Jul-21 | Bacharach | MSA Safety | ||||
Jun-21 | Diversified Technical Systems | Vishay Precision Group | ||||
Jun-21 | TEGAM | Advanced Energy Industries | ||||
Jan-21 | Analytical Technology | Badger Meter | ||||
Dec-20 | Perceptron | Atlas Copco | ||||
Financial Multiple | Representative Range | Implied Share Price | ||||
2026E TEV / EBITDA | 4.8x – 18.7x | $3.76 – $6.29 | ||||
2027E TEV / EBITDA | 4.8x – 18.7x | $3.85 – $6.64 | ||||
2028E TEV / EBITDA | 4.8x – 18.7x | $3.85 – $6.62 | ||||
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Financial Multiple | Representative Range | Implied Share Price | ||||
Terminal EBITDA Multiple | 4.8x–18.7x | $4.13–$7.16 | ||||
Perpetual Growth | 2.00%–4.00% | $3.59–$3.66 | ||||
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• | each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger (other than shares owned by Parent and Merger Sub, shares owned by the Company as treasury stock and shares owned by shareholders who have perfected and not withdrawn a demand for appraisal rights) will immediately be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest and less applicable withholding taxes; |
• | each Company RSU outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger will become fully vested, and will automatically be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of (i) the total number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Company RSU multiplied by (ii) the Merger Consideration, less applicable withholding taxes; and |
• | each Company Option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger will become fully vested, and will automatically be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the Merger Consideration less the applicable exercise price per share, less applicable withholding taxes; |
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Fiscal Year | ||||||||||||||||||
Actual | Actual | |||||||||||||||||
($’s in thousands) | FY 2023 | FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | FY 2028 | ||||||||||||
Net Sales | $8,555 | $9,373 | $10,100 | $11,200 | $12,350 | $13,500 | ||||||||||||
Cost of Goods Sold | $4,310 | $4,791 | $5,028 | $5,407 | $5,955 | $6,507 | ||||||||||||
Gross Profit | $4,245 | $4,582 | $5,072 | $5,793 | $6,395 | $6,993 | ||||||||||||
Operating Income (Loss) | $(28) | $(4) | $242 | $621 | $857 | $1,046 | ||||||||||||
Net Income | $275 | $446 | $457 | $756 | $942 | $1,092 | ||||||||||||
Depreciation Expense | $94 | $92 | $126 | $126 | $126 | $120 | ||||||||||||
EBITDA* | $66 | $88 | $368 | $747 | $983 | $1,166 | ||||||||||||
Pro Forma Adjustments(1) | $697 | $848 | $916 | $872 | $893 | $880 | ||||||||||||
Pro Forma EBITDA* | $763 | $936 | $1,284 | $1,619 | $1,876 | $2,046 | ||||||||||||
* | Non-GAAP financial measure |
(1) | Pro Forma Adjustments reflect the removal of estimated public company costs (including board compensation, D&O insurance, audit costs, legal costs, Nasdaq/filing fees, SEC filing software, proxy costs, press release costs, and transfer agent fees), non-cash stock compensation related to public company status, and certain non-recurring items, as if the Company were operating as a private company (the “Public Company Costs”). |
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($’s in thousands) | Actual FY 2023 | Actual FY 2024 | ||||
Net Income | $275 | $446 | ||||
Interest | $(406) | $(440) | ||||
Income Taxes | $103 | $(10) | ||||
Depreciation and Amortization | $94 | $92 | ||||
EBITDA | $66 | $88 | ||||
Public Company Costs | $697 | $848 | ||||
Pro Forma EBITDA | $763 | $936 | ||||
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• | Concentrated Voting Control and Voting Agreements. In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain shareholders of the Company entered into Voting Agreements with Parent, pursuant to which each such shareholder agreed to vote all shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by such shareholder in favor of the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the Merger. The shareholders who entered into the Voting Agreements include (i) David L. Klenk, our President, CEO, CFO and director, (ii) all of the directors on the Board, and (iii) members of the Peterson family, who own a majority of our common stock. Pursuant to such Voting Agreements, shareholders owning approximately 52.7% of the required vote, as of the Record Date, have agreed to vote in favor of each of the proposals recommended by our Board. |
• | Equity Awards. As of the Record Date, (i) David Klenk held 25,000 Company Options and 21,000 Company RSUs; and (ii) each of the non-employee directors, Joseph A. Marino, Scott A. Gabbard, and Jeffrey D. Peterson, held 25,000 Company Options and 10,500 Company RSUs. At the Effective Time, each outstanding Company Option will be fully vested and will automatically be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, without interest, equal to $7.75 per share less the exercise price applicable to such Company Option, subject to any required withholding of taxes. At the Effective Time, each outstanding Company RSU will be fully vested and will automatically be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (A) the total number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Company RSU by (B) $7.75, the Merger Consideration, subject to any required withholding of taxes. |
• | Retention Awards. Our executive officer, David Klenk, may receive a cash retention bonus in the amount of $105,000 in connection with agreeing to continued service until closing of the Merger. |
• | Indemnification; Insurance. Directors and officers will be indemnified and covered by insurance purchased by the Company pursuant to the Company’s bylaws and the Merger Agreement, as described below under “Indemnification; Insurance.” |
• | Compensation for members of the Special Committee. As members of the Special Committee, such individuals will receive the compensation described below under “Compensation of the Special Committee.” |
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• | a citizen or individual resident of the United States; |
• | a corporation or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; |
• | a trust if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust, or (2) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person; or |
• | an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source. |
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Amount to be Paid | |||
Financial advisory fee and expenses | $249,000.00 | ||
Legal, accounting and other professional fees | $274,000.00 | ||
SEC filing fees | $3,890.94 | ||
Proxy statement printing and mailing costs | $30,000.00 | ||
Transfer agent and paying agent fees and expenses | $29,000.00 | ||
Total | $585,890.94 | ||
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• | submitting a new proxy with a later date, by using the telephone or Internet proxy submission procedures described above, or by completing, signing, dating and returning a new proxy card by mail to the Company; |
• | attending the Special Meeting and voting in person; or |
• | giving written notice of revocation to the Secretary of the Company at 6111 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343. |
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• | corporate organization, existence and good standing; |
• | the capitalization of the Company, including in particular the number of shares of Common Stock and equity awards outstanding and the existence of any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal with respect to the Common Stock; |
• | corporate power and authority to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by it; |
• | required regulatory filings and authorizations, consents or approvals of government entities and consents or approvals required of other third parties; |
• | the absence of certain violations, defaults or consent requirements under certain contracts, organizational documents and law, in each case arising out of the execution and delivery of, and consummation of, the Merger; |
• | the accuracy of the Company’s filings with the SEC and of the financial statements included in the SEC filings; |
• | disclosure controls and procedures over financial reporting; |
• | the truth and accuracy of the Company’s proxy statement; |
• | the absence of certain undisclosed liabilities for the Company; |
• | conduct of the Company’s business and the absence of a Company Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 2025; |
• | compliance with laws; |
• | pending or threatened legal proceedings; |
• | employee benefit plans; |
• | labor matters; |
• | the payment of taxes, the filing of tax returns and other tax matters related to the Company; |
• | real property owned and leased by the Company; |
• | intellectual property owned, licensed or used by the Company; |
• | information technology; |
• | privacy; |
• | material contracts of the Company; |
• | government contracts; |
• | insurance policies; |
• | affiliate party transactions; |
• | receipt of an opinion from the Company’s financial advisor; |
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• | the absence of any fees or commissions owed to investment bankers, finders or brokers in connection with the Merger other than disclosed in the Merger Agreement; |
• | the Company’s use of all necessary action to ensure that anti-takeover provisions of applicable law will not apply to the Merger; |
• | environmental matters; |
• | regulatory matters; |
• | indebtedness; |
• | transaction expenses; and |
• | the Company Shareholder Approval. |
• | corporate organization and good standing; |
• | power and authority to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by it; |
• | required regulatory filings and authorizations, consents or approvals of government entities and consents or approvals required of other third parties; |
• | the accuracy of the information provided by Parent and Merger Sub to be included in the proxy statement; |
• | the absence of any fees or commissions owed to investment bankers, finders or brokers in connection with the Merger; |
• | no vote of the equityholders of Parent necessary to approve the Merger Agreement and Parent’s adequate financial resources to consummate the Merger; |
• | Parent’s and Merger Sub’s share ownership; and |
• | Merger Sub’s operations. |
• | changes in general economic or political conditions or the securities, equity, credit or financial markets; |
• | any decline in the market price or trading volume of the Common Stock (provided that the facts and circumstances underlying any such decline may be taken into account); |
• | general conditions or changes or developments in the industries in which the Company operates; |
• | changes in law or the interpretation or enforcement thereof; |
• | the execution, delivery or performance of the Merger Agreement or the public announcement or pendency or consummation of the Merger or other transactions contemplated thereby; |
• | the identity of Parent or any of its affiliates as the acquiror of the Company; |
• | any act of civil unrest, mass protest, political instability, political election, insurrection, civil disobedience, war, terrorism, military activity, sabotage, including an outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or any other governmental entity or the declaration by the United States or any other governmental entity of a national emergency or war, or any worsening or escalation of any such conditions threatened or existing on the date of the Merger Agreement; |
• | any hurricane, tornado, flood, earthquake, natural disasters or acts of God; |
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• | any pandemic, epidemic or disease outbreak or other comparable events; |
• | changes in GAAP or the interpretation or enforcement thereof; |
• | any failure by the Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts, estimates or predictions of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance (however, the underlying causes of any such failure may be taken into account); and |
• | any action taken or not taken by the Company at the request of, or consented to by, Parent. |
• | declare, set aside, make, authorize, set a record date for, or pay any dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its outstanding shares of capital stock; |
• | adjust, split, subdivide, repurchase, redeem, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock; |
• | except as required under the existing terms of a Company benefit plan, increase or decrease compensation or other benefits payable or provided to directors or employees of the Company; |
• | hire or engage any person, promote any officers or employees, or terminate the employment of any officer, employee or independent contractor other than in the ordinary course of business or for cause; |
• | materially change financial accounting policies or procedures, except as required by GAAP or any SEC rule or applicable law; |
• | adopt any amendments to the Company’s articles of incorporation or bylaws; |
• | issue, sell, assign, pledge, transfer, dispose of or encumber any shares of its capital stock or other ownership or equity interests; |
• | incur, amend, refinance, prepay, assume, guarantee or become liable for any indebtedness in excess of $50,000; |
• | sell, lease, license, transfer, or subject to any lien, or otherwise dispose of, any portion of its material properties or assets in excess of $15,000 individually or $50,000 in the aggregate; |
• | terminate, modify, assign, amend or waive any claims, benefits or rights under any Company material contract in any material respect; |
• | settle, pay, discharge or satisfy any pending or threatened action; |
• | make or authorize any capital expenditures other than capital expenditures not in excess of $15,000 individually or $50,000 in the aggregate or as contemplated by the capital expenditure budget; |
• | adopt or enter into a plan or arrangement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization; |
• | make or change any entity tax classification election or other tax election; |
• | make any acquisition of any corporation, partnership or other business organization; |
• | negotiate, enter into, adopt, extend, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement; |
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• | implement or announce any employee layoffs, facility closings, reductions in force, furloughs, or temporary layoffs that would reasonably be expected to implicate WARN Act requirements; |
• | expressly waive or release any noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nondisclosure or other restrictive covenant obligation of any current or former employee or independent contractor of the Company; |
• | engage in any transaction with, or enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, any affiliate of the Company or other person covered by Item 404 of Regulation S-K that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404; |
• | make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person; |
• | dispose of any Company intellectual property that is material to the business of the Company; |
• | enter into any new material line of business; |
• | disclose, make available, deliver, or license or place into escrow, any source code owned by the Company with respect to software that is material to the business of the Company; |
• | modify in any material respect any of its policies related to privacy obligations, or any administrative, technical or physical safeguards related to privacy or data security in any way that materially diminishes the privacy or security of personal data or the Company’s IT assets; |
• | purchase any real property or enter into any new lease agreement; |
• | incur greater than $25,000 in legal costs or expenses in any calendar month (other than legal costs related to the transactions), or incur fees and expenses of the Company financial advisor, accountant or legal counsel in connection with this transaction in excess of $500,000; |
• | organize, form, or otherwise acquire any Subsidiary; or |
• | authorize, commit or agree to take any of the foregoing actions. |
• | solicit, initiate, propose or induce the making, submission or announcement of, or encourage, facilitate or assist, any proposal or inquiry that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, an Alternative Acquisition Proposal; |
• | furnish any nonpublic information regarding the Company to any person in connection with or in response to an Alternative Acquisition Proposal; |
• | engage in discussions or negotiations with any person with respect to any Alternative Acquisition Proposal; |
• | approve, endorse or recommend any Alternative Acquisition Proposal; |
• | enter into any letter of intent or contract contemplating or otherwise relating to any Alternative Acquisition Proposal; or |
• | authorize or commit to do any of the foregoing. |
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• | furnish nonpublic information to the person making the unsolicited Alternative Acquisition Proposal and its representatives provided that such person enters into an acceptable confidentiality agreement; |
• | participate in discussions or negotiations with that person and its representatives regarding the unsolicited Alternative Acquisition Proposal; and |
• | promptly make available to Parent any nonpublic information concerning the Company that is provided to any such person that was not previously made available to Parent. |
• | withhold, withdraw, amend, qualify or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, or propose publicly to withhold, withdraw, amend, qualify or modify, in a manner adverse to Parent, the recommendation that the Company’s shareholders approve the Merger Agreement (the “Company Recommendation”); |
• | adopt, approve or recommend, or publicly propose to adopt, approve or recommend or publicly take a neutral position or no position with respect to an Alternative Acquisition Proposal; |
• | following the public announcement of an Alternative Acquisition Proposal, fail to publicly reaffirm the Company Recommendation within five business days after Parent so requests in writing; |
• | fail to include the Company Recommendation in the Company’s proxy statement; or |
• | cause or permit the Company to enter into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement. |
• | make a Recommendation Change in response to an Intervening Event (as defined in the Merger Agreement), if the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law; or |
• | make a Recommendation Change in response to a Superior Proposal, if the Board determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable Law. |
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• | delivering all required notices and using reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary actions or nonactions, authorizations, permits, waivers, consents, clearances, approvals and expirations or terminations of waiting periods from governmental entities; |
• | using reasonable best efforts to obtain, upon the request of Parent, all necessary consents from counterparties to any Company material contracts; |
• | Parent using its reasonable best efforts to obtain or cause any financing necessary to be funded at or prior to Closing; |
• | defending any actions, lawsuits or other legal proceedings challenging the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger; and |
• | executing and delivering any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Merger. |
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• | the filing of this proxy statement with the SEC (and cooperation in response to any comments from the SEC with respect to this proxy statement); |
• | the coordination of press releases and other public announcements or filings relating to the Merger; |
• | antitakeover statutes or regulations that become applicable to the Merger; |
• | certain matters relating to Section 16 of the Exchange Act; |
• | the de-listing of the Common Stock from the Nasdaq Capital Market and the deregistration under the Exchange Act; |
• | tax matters. |
• | that the Company Shareholder Approval has been obtained; |
• | that no law, injunction or similar order by any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger will have been entered, enacted or promulgated. |
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• | the continued accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company in the Merger Agreement, subject to the standards set forth in the Merger Agreement, including the fundamental representations being true and correct in all respects and the Company Material Adverse Effect standards for other representations; |
• | that the Company has in all material respects performed all obligations and complied with all covenants required by the Merger Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to the Closing; |
• | that no Company Material Adverse Effect will have occurred after the date of the Merger Agreement; |
• | that each Voting Agreement shall remain in full force and effect; |
• | that holders of no more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall have exercised statutory dissenters’ rights; |
• | that the Company shall have delivered an officer’s certificate confirming the satisfaction of the foregoing conditions; |
• | that the holders of all Company Options and the Company shall have duly executed and delivered an option cancellation receipt and release to Parent; and |
• | that the ESOP-related conditions, including the ESOP Trustee’s delivery of evidence of completion of the ESOP Vote and delivery of the ESOP Determination, have been satisfied. |
• | the continued accuracy of the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub in the Merger Agreement, except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect; |
• | that each of Parent and Merger Sub has in all material respects performed all obligations and complied with all covenants required by the Merger Agreement to be performed or complied with by them prior to the Closing; and |
• | that Parent and Merger Sub shall have delivered a certificate confirming the accuracy of their representations and warranties and performance of their obligations. |
• | the Effective Time will not have occurred on or before June 30, 2026 (the “End Date”), subject to right of the Company to extend such period by 30 days in certain circumstances, provided that this termination right is not available to a party whose actions or failure to act materially contributed to the failure to satisfy the conditions on or before the End Date; |
• | any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction will have enacted, issued, promulgated, entered or enforced an injunction or similar order that permanently enjoins, prohibits, restrains or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger, and such injunction or order will have become final and non-appealable, or any Law that prohibits, restrains or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger; or |
• | the Special Meeting will have been held and been concluded and the Company Shareholder Approval has not been obtained. |
• | if Parent or Merger Sub will have breached any of their respective representations or warranties or failed to perform any of their covenants or other agreements under the Merger Agreement, in any such case where such breach or failure to perform would result in a failure of a condition to closing and cannot be cured by the End Date or is not cured within 30 days following the Company’s delivery of written notice of such breach; or |
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• | if the conditions to Closing have been satisfied or waived and Parent fails to consummate the Closing on the date on which it is required to do so, and the Company has confirmed in writing that it is ready, willing and able to consummate the Closing. |
• | if the Company will have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or other agreements under the Merger Agreement, in any such case where such breach or failure to perform would result in a failure of a condition to closing and cannot be cured by the End Date or is not cured within 30 days following Parent’s delivery of written notice of such breach; or |
• | prior to receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval, if the Board effects a Recommendation Change. |
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• | the named executive officer’s outstanding Company Options and Company RSUs are those that are outstanding and unvested as of May 19, 2026; and |
• | a price per Company share equal to the Merger Consideration of $7.75. |
Named Executive Officer | Cash ($)(1) | Equity ($)(2) | Benefits/ Perquisites ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||
David L. Klenk | 105,000 | 197,750 | — | 302,750 | ||||||||
(1) | Cash. Amount reflects the retention bonus approved by the Electro-Sensors compensation committee if the merger is completed. |
(2) | Equity. Amounts shown reflect the sum of the value that Mr. Klenk is expected to receive in connection with the accelerated vesting of his Company Options and Company RSUs at the Closing, as more fully described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement – Treatment of Equity Awards” beginning on page 42 of this proxy statement. |
Named Executive Officer | Number of Accelerated Company Options (#) | Value of Accelerated Company Options ($) | Number of Shares subject to Company RSUs (#) | Value of Shares subject to Company RSUs ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||||
David L. Klenk | 10,000 | 35,000 | 21,000 | 162,750 | 197,750 | ||||||||||
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Common Stock | ||||||
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner | Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(1) | Percent of Class | ||||
Jeffrey D. Peterson 15708 Woodknoll Lane Minnetonka, MN 55345 | 375,438(2) | 10.6% | ||||
Patricia N. Peterson 6005 Erin Terrace Edina, MN 55439 | 364,768(3) | 10.3% | ||||
Lynne E. Peterson 10254 Nottingham Trail Eden Prairie, MN 55347 | 350,893(4) | 9.9% | ||||
John E. Peterson 815 Buttonbush Lane Naples, FL 34108 | 350,893(3) | 9.9% | ||||
Paul R. Peterson 227 Cedar Drive West Hudson, WI 54016 | 350,893(3) | 9.9% | ||||
Caldwell Sutter Capital, Inc. Joseph F. Helmer 30 Liberty Ship Way #3225 Sausalito, CA 94965 | 249,025(5) | 7.0% | ||||
David L. Klenk | 82,373(6) | 2.3% | ||||
Scott A. Gabbard | 22,000(7) | 0.6% | ||||
Joseph A. Marino | 24,500(8) | 0.7% | ||||
Officers and Directors as a Group (4 persons) | 504,311 | 14.0% | ||||
(1) | Except as otherwise indicated, each person named has the sole power to vote and sole power to direct the disposition of all shares listed as beneficially owned by him or her. Beneficial ownership information is based on information furnished by the specified persons and is determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as required for purposes of this Proxy Statement. Accordingly, it includes shares of Common Stock that are issuable upon the exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of May 19, 2026 as noted below. |
(2) | Based on a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024. Includes 15,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of May 19, 2026, and 46 shares held by the Electro-Sensors, Inc. ESOP for the account of Mr. Peterson. |
(3) | Based on a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on February 14, 2024. |
(4) | Based on a Schedule 13D/A filed with the SEC on February 21, 2024. |
(5) | Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 11, 2025. Includes shares owned by Caldwell Sutter Capital, Inc. and Joseph F. Helmer. Mr. Helmer has sole voting power of 26,592 shares, the reporting parties have shared voting power of zero shares, Mr. Helmer has sole dispositive power of 16,928 shares, and the reporting parties have shared dispositive power of 232,097 shares. |
(6) | Includes 15,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of May 19, 2026, and 3,373 shares held by the Electro-Sensors, Inc. ESOP for the account of Mr. Klenk. |
(7) | Includes 15,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of May 19, 2026. |
(8) | Includes 15,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options exercisable within 60 days of May 19, 2026. |
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High | Low | |||||
2026 | ||||||
April 1, 2026 through May 27, 2026 | $7.69 | $4.22 | ||||
First quarter | $4.69 | $4.13 | ||||
2025 | ||||||
Fourth quarter | $4.91 | $4.05 | ||||
Third quarter | $5.00 | $4.20 | ||||
Second quarter | $5.29 | $3.65 | ||||
First quarter | $5.50 | $4.21 | ||||
2024 | ||||||
Fourth quarter | $5.37 | $3.81 | ||||
Third quarter | $4.13 | $3.75 | ||||
Second quarter | $4.40 | $3.93 | ||||
First quarter | $4.32 | $3.74 | ||||
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• | Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2026; |
• | Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2026; and |
• | Our Current Reports on Form 8-K and 8-K/A filed with the SEC on April 24, 2026 and April 27, 2026 (other than the portions of such document not deemed to be filed). |
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ARTICLE 1 THE MERGER | A-4 | ||||||||
Section 1.1 | The Merger | A-4 | |||||||
Section 1.2 | Effective Time of Merger | A-4 | |||||||
Section 1.3 | General Effects of Merger | A-5 | |||||||
Section 1.4 | Effect of Merger on Capital Stock | A-5 | |||||||
Section 1.5 | Treatment of Company Options and RSUs | A-6 | |||||||
Section 1.6 | Surviving Corporation | A-6 | |||||||
ARTICLE 2 THE CLOSING | A-7 | ||||||||
Section 2.1 | The Closing | A-7 | |||||||
Section 2.2 | Conditions to Closing | A-7 | |||||||
Section 2.3 | Payment of Merger Consideration | A-8 | |||||||
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | A-10 | ||||||||
Section 3.1 | Qualification, Organization, Subsidiaries | A-11 | |||||||
Section 3.2 | Capitalization | A-11 | |||||||
Section 3.3 | Authority; Enforceability | A-12 | |||||||
Section 3.4 | Consents and Approvals; No Violation | A-12 | |||||||
Section 3.5 | Reports and Financial Statements | A-13 | |||||||
Section 3.6 | Internal Controls and Procedures | A-13 | |||||||
Section 3.7 | No Undisclosed Liabilities | A-13 | |||||||
Section 3.8 | Absence of Certain Changes | A-14 | |||||||
Section 3.9 | Compliance with Laws | A-14 | |||||||
Section 3.10 | Investigations; Litigation | A-16 | |||||||
Section 3.11 | Employee Benefit Plans | A-16 | |||||||
Section 3.12 | Labor Matters | A-18 | |||||||
Section 3.13 | Tax Matters | A-19 | |||||||
Section 3.14 | Real Property | A-20 | |||||||
Section 3.15 | Intellectual Property | A-22 | |||||||
Section 3.16 | Information Technology | A-23 | |||||||
Section 3.17 | Privacy | A-23 | |||||||
Section 3.18 | Material Contracts | A-24 | |||||||
Section 3.19 | Government Contracts | A-25 | |||||||
Section 3.20 | Insurance Policies | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.21 | Affiliate Party Transactions | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.22 | Proxy Statement | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.23 | Opinion of Financial Advisor | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.24 | Finders or Brokers | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.25 | Takeover Laws | A-26 | |||||||
Section 3.26 | Environmental Matters | A-27 | |||||||
Section 3.27 | Regulatory Matters | A-27 | |||||||
Section 3.28 | Indebtedness | A-27 | |||||||
Section 3.29 | Transaction Expenses | A-27 | |||||||
Section 3.30 | No Other Representations or Warranties; No Reliance | A-27 | |||||||
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB | A-28 | ||||||||
Section 4.1 | Qualification, Organization | A-28 | |||||||
Section 4.2 | Authority; Enforceability | A-28 | |||||||
Section 4.3 | Consents and Approvals; No Violation | A-29 | |||||||
Section 4.4 | Proxy Statement; Other Information | A-29 | |||||||
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Section 4.5 | Finders or Brokers | A-29 | |||||||
Section 4.6 | No Parent Vote or Approval Required; Performance | A-29 | |||||||
Section 4.7 | No Other Representations or Warranties; No Reliance | A-29 | |||||||
Section 4.8 | Ownership of Company Common Stock | A-30 | |||||||
Section 4.9 | Merger Sub | A-30 | |||||||
ARTICLE 5 INTERIM OPERATION OF BUSINESS | A-30 | ||||||||
Section 5.1 | Conduct of Company Business During Pendency of Merger | A-30 | |||||||
ARTICLE 6 ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS | A-33 | ||||||||
Section 6.1 | No Solicitation | A-33 | |||||||
Section 6.2 | Notices | A-37 | |||||||
Section 6.3 | Company Shareholder Approval | A-37 | |||||||
Section 6.4 | General Efforts to Complete Merger | A-39 | |||||||
Section 6.5 | ESOP Matters | A-39 | |||||||
Section 6.6 | Interim Access to Company | A-40 | |||||||
Section 6.7 | No Employment Commitments | A-41 | |||||||
Section 6.8 | Indemnification and Insurance | A-41 | |||||||
Section 6.9 | Takeover Statute | A-42 | |||||||
Section 6.10 | Public Announcements | A-42 | |||||||
Section 6.11 | Stock Exchange Removal From Trading; Exchange Act Deregistration | A-43 | |||||||
Section 6.12 | Rule 16b-3 | A-43 | |||||||
Section 6.13 | Shareholder Litigation | A-43 | |||||||
Section 6.14 | Director Resignations | A-43 | |||||||
Section 6.15 | Lease Termination | A-43 | |||||||
Section 6.16 | Tax Matters | A-43 | |||||||
ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT | A-44 | ||||||||
Section 7.1 | Termination or Abandonment | A-44 | |||||||
Section 7.2 | Effect of Termination | A-45 | |||||||
Section 7.3 | Termination Fees | A-45 | |||||||
ARTICLE 8 MISCELLANEOUS | A-48 | ||||||||
Section 8.1 | Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties | A-48 | |||||||
Section 8.2 | Expenses | A-48 | |||||||
Section 8.3 | Counterparts; Effectiveness | A-48 | |||||||
Section 8.4 | Governing Law; Jurisdiction | A-48 | |||||||
Section 8.5 | Specific Enforcement | A-48 | |||||||
Section 8.6 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | A-49 | |||||||
Section 8.7 | Notices | A-49 | |||||||
Section 8.8 | Assignment; Binding Effect | A-50 | |||||||
Section 8.9 | Severability | A-50 | |||||||
Section 8.10 | Confidentiality | A-50 | |||||||
Section 8.11 | Entire Agreement | A-50 | |||||||
Section 8.12 | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | A-50 | |||||||
Section 8.13 | Amendments; Waivers | A-51 | |||||||
Section 8.14 | Headings | A-51 | |||||||
Section 8.15 | Interpretation | A-51 | |||||||
Section 8.16 | Obligations of Merger Sub | A-51 | |||||||
ANNEX A DEFINITIONS | A-53 | ||||||||
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To Parent or Merger Sub: | ||||||
Steute Industrial Controls, Inc. | ||||||
c/o Battery Ventures | ||||||
One Marina Park Drive, Suite 1100 | ||||||
Boston, MA 02210 | ||||||
Attention: Jesse Feldman | ||||||
Email: jesse@battery.com | ||||||
with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
TCF Law Group, PLLC | ||||||
101 Federal Street | ||||||
Suite 1900 | ||||||
Boston, MA 02110 | ||||||
Attention: Neil McLaughlin | ||||||
Email: nmclaughlin@tcflaw.com | ||||||
To the Company: | ||||||
Electro-Sensors, Inc. | ||||||
6111 Blue Circle Drive | ||||||
Minnetonka, MN 55343 | ||||||
Attention: David Klenk | ||||||
Email: dklenk@electro-sensors.com | ||||||
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with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to: | ||||||
Holland & Hart LLP | ||||||
555 17th Street | ||||||
Suite 3200 | ||||||
Denver, CO 80202 | ||||||
Attention: George H. Singer | ||||||
Email: ghsinger@hollandhart.com | ||||||
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STEUTE INDUSTRIAL CONTROLS, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Martin Kunz | |||||
Name: | Martin Kunz | |||||
Title: | Authorized Person | |||||
STEUTE BURWELL, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Martin Kunz | |||||
Name: | Martin Kunz | |||||
Title: | Authorized Person | |||||
ELECTRO-SENSORS, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ David L. Klenk | |||||
Name: | David L. Klenk | |||||
Title: | President | |||||
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Term | Section | Page | ||||
Agreement | Preamble | A-4 | ||||
Alternative Acquisition Agreement | Section 6.1(a) | A-34 | ||||
Anti-Corruption Laws | Section 3.9(d) | A-14 | ||||
BIS | Section 3.9(h)(iv) | A-15 | ||||
Book-Entry Shares | Section 1.4(b) | A-5 | ||||
Cancelled Shares | Section 1.4(c) | A-5 | ||||
Capitalization Date | Section 3.2(a) | A-11 | ||||
Certificate | Section 1.4(b) | A-5 | ||||
Certificate of Merger | Section 1.2 | A-4 | ||||
Clearance Date | Section 6.3(a) | A-38 | ||||
Closing | Section 2.1 | A-7 | ||||
Closing Date | Section 2.1 | A-7 | ||||
Code | Section 2.3(f) | A-10 | ||||
Company | Preamble | A-4 | ||||
Company Approvals | Section 3.4(a) | A-12 | ||||
Company Balance Sheet Date | Section 3.7 | A-14 | ||||
Company Board | Recitals | A-4 | ||||
Company Disclosure Schedules | Article 3 | A-10 | ||||
Company Insurance Policies | Section 3.20 | A-26 | ||||
Company Material Contract | Section 3.18 | A-25 | ||||
Company Permits | Section 3.9(b) | A-14 | ||||
Company Recommendation | Section 3.3(a) | A-12 | ||||
Company Registered Intellectual Property | Section 3.15(a) | A-22 | ||||
Company Related Parties | Section 7.3(d) | A-47 | ||||
Company SEC Documents | Section 3.5(a) | A-13 | ||||
Company Shareholder Approval | Section 3.3(b) | A-12 | ||||
Company Shareholder Meeting | Section 6.3(b) | A-38 | ||||
Company Termination Fee | Section 7.3(a) | A-45 | ||||
Consents | Section 6.4 | A-39 | ||||
Contributor | Section 3.15(e) | A-22 | ||||
Dissenting Shares | Section 1.4(d) | A-5 | ||||
Effective Time | Section 1.2 | A-4 | ||||
End Date | Section 7.1(b)(i) | A-44 | ||||
Enforceability Exceptions | Section 3.3(d) | A-12 | ||||
ESOP Amendment | Section 6.5(a) | A-39 | ||||
ESOP Participant | Section 6.5(a) | A-40 | ||||
ESOP Vote | Section 6.3(d) | A-39 | ||||
Ex-Im Laws | Section 3.9(h)(i) | A-15 | ||||
Foreign Plan | Section 3.11(b) | A-17 | ||||
Governmental Entity | Section 3.4(a) | A-12 | ||||
Improvements | Section 3.14(d) | A-21 | ||||
Indemnified Party | Section 6.8(a) | A-41 | ||||
Intervening Event Notice Period | Section 6.1(d)(i)(1) | A-35 | ||||
IRS Determination | Section 6.5(b) | A-40 | ||||
Last Condition | Section 2.1 | A-7 | ||||
Lease | Section 3.14(b) | A-21 | ||||
Leased Real Property | Section 3.14(b) | A-21 | ||||
Leases | Section 3.14(b) | A-21 | ||||
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Term | Section | Page | ||||
Material Customers | Section 3.18(a)(xii) | A-24 | ||||
Material Vendors | Section 3.18(a)(xii) | A-24 | ||||
Maximum Premium | Section 6.8(c) | A-42 | ||||
Merger | Recitals | A-4 | ||||
Merger Consideration | Section 1.4(b) | A-5 | ||||
Merger Sub | Preamble | A-4 | ||||
Notice Period | Section 6.1(d)(ii)(3) | A-36 | ||||
MBCA | Recitals | A-4 | ||||
OFAC | Section 3.9(h)(iv) | A-15 | ||||
Owned Real Property | Section 3.14(a) | A-20 | ||||
Parent | Preamble | A-4 | ||||
Parent Approvals | Section 4.3(a) | A-29 | ||||
Parent Expense Reimbursement | Section 7.3(a) | A-46 | ||||
Parent Material Adverse Effect | Section 4.1 | A-28 | ||||
Parent Related Parties | Section 7.3(e) | A-47 | ||||
Parent Termination Fee | Section 7.3(b) | A-46 | ||||
participate | Section 6.13 | A-43 | ||||
Parties | Preamble | A-4 | ||||
Party | Preamble | A-4 | ||||
Paying Agent | Section 2.3(a)(i) | A-8 | ||||
Payment Fund | Section 2.3(a)(i) | A-8 | ||||
Permits | Section 3.9(b) | A-14 | ||||
Permitted Claims | Section 7.3(f) | A-47 | ||||
Proceeding | Section 6.8(a) | A-41 | ||||
Proxy Statement | Section 3.4(a) | A-12 | ||||
Real Property | Section 3.14(b) | A-21 | ||||
Recommendation Change | Section 6.1(c)(i) | A-34 | ||||
Regulatory Authorizations | Section 3.27(a) | A-27 | ||||
Restricted Person | Section 3.9(h)(ii) | A-15 | ||||
Sanctioned Country | Section 3.9(h)(iii) | A-15 | ||||
Sanctioned Person | Section 3.9(h)(iv) | A-15 | ||||
Sanctions Laws | Section 3.9(h)(v) | A-16 | ||||
Shareholder Litigation | Section 6.13 | A-43 | ||||
Straddle Period | Section 6.16(b) | A-43 | ||||
Support Agreements | Recitals | A-4 | ||||
Support Shareholders | Recitals | A-4 | ||||
Surviving Corporation | Section 1.1 | A-4 | ||||
Takeover Law | Section 3.25 | A-26 | ||||
Termination Date | Section 5.1(a) | A-30 | ||||
Trade Control Laws | Section 3.9(e) | A-15 | ||||
Transaction Documents | Section 8.11 | A-50 | ||||
Transaction Related Matters | Section 7.3(e) | A-47 | ||||
Vested Company Option Consideration | Section 1.5(a) | A-6 | ||||
Vested Company RSU Consideration | Section 1.5(a) | A-6 | ||||
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• | Reviewed the financial terms and conditions as set forth in the Agreement; |
• | Reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information relating to the Company that we deemed relevant, including certain information in the Company’s audited financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2025; |
• | Held discussions with members of management of the Company regarding the business, operations, financial condition and future prospects of the Company; |
• | Reviewed certain information relating to the historical, current and future operations, financial condition and prospects of the Company made available to us by management of the Company, including financial projections prepared by management of the Company for future fiscal periods (the “Projections”); |
• | Analyzed public information with respect to certain other companies in lines of business that we believe to be comparable to the Company, in whole or in part, which included an examination of current public market prices and resulting valuation statistics; |
• | Reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain other mergers involving the acquisition of companies we believe to be comparable to the Company, in whole or in part; |
• | Conducted such other financial studies, analyses and inquiries and such other information as we deemed appropriate; |
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• | Performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the Company on a standalone basis based on the Projections; and |
• | Performed other research and analysis and considered such other factors as we deemed appropriate. |
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(a) | unless otherwise provided in the articles, an amendment of the articles that materially and adversely affects the rights or preferences of the shares of the dissenting shareholder in that it: |
(1) | alters or abolishes a preferential right of the shares; |
(2) | creates, alters, or abolishes a right in respect of the redemption of the shares, including a provision respecting a sinking fund for the redemption or repurchase of the shares; |
(3) | alters or abolishes a preemptive right of the holder of the shares to acquire shares, securities other than shares, or rights to purchase shares or securities other than shares; |
(4) | excludes or limits the right of a shareholder to vote on a matter, or to cumulate votes, except as the right may be excluded or limited through the authorization or issuance of securities of an existing or new class or series with similar or different voting rights; except that an amendment to the articles of an issuing public corporation that provides that section 302A.671 does not apply to a control share acquisition does not give rise to the right to obtain payment under this section; or |
(5) | eliminates the right to obtain payment under this subdivision; |
(b) | a sale, lease, transfer, or other disposition of property and assets of the corporation that requires shareholder approval under section 302A.661, subdivision 2, but not including a disposition in dissolution described in section 302A.725, subdivision 2, or a disposition pursuant to an order of a court, or a disposition for cash on terms requiring that all or substantially all of the net proceeds of disposition be distributed to the shareholders in accordance with their respective interests within one year after the date of disposition; |
(c) | a plan of merger, whether under this chapter or under chapter 322C, to which the corporation is a constituent organization, except as provided in subdivision 3, and except for a plan of merger adopted under section 302A.626; |
(d) | a plan of exchange, whether under this chapter or under chapter 322C, to which the corporation is a party as the corporation whose shares will be acquired by the acquiring organization, except as provided in subdivision 3; |
(e) | a plan of conversion is adopted by the corporation and becomes effective; |
(f) | an amendment of the articles in connection with a combination of a class or series under section 302A.402 that reduces the number of shares of the class or series owned by the shareholder to a fraction of a share if the corporation exercises its right to repurchase the fractional share so created under section 302A.423; or |
(g) | any other corporate action taken pursuant to a shareholder vote with respect to which the articles, the bylaws, or a resolution approved by the board directs that dissenting shareholders may obtain payment for their shares. |
(a) | A shareholder shall not assert dissenters’ rights as to less than all of the shares registered in the name of the shareholder, unless the shareholder dissents with respect to all the shares that are beneficially owned by another person but registered in the name of the shareholder and discloses the name and address of each beneficial owner on whose behalf the shareholder dissents. In that event, the rights of the dissenter shall be determined as if the shares as to which the shareholder has dissented and the other shares were registered in the names of different shareholders. |
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(b) | A beneficial owner of shares who is not the shareholder may assert dissenters’ rights with respect to shares held on behalf of the beneficial owner, and shall be treated as a dissenting shareholder under the terms of this section and section 302A.473, if the beneficial owner submits to the corporation at the time of or before the assertion of the rights a written consent of the shareholder. |
(a) | Unless the articles, the bylaws, or a resolution approved by the board otherwise provide, the right to obtain payment under this section does not apply to a shareholder of (1) the surviving corporation in a merger with respect to shares of the shareholder that are not entitled to be voted on the merger and are not canceled or exchanged in the merger or (2) the corporation whose shares will be acquired by the acquiring organization in a plan of exchange with respect to shares of the shareholder that are not entitled to be voted on the plan of exchange and are not exchanged in the plan of exchange. |
(b) | If a date is fixed according to section 302A.445, subdivision 1, for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote on an action described in subdivision 1, only shareholders as of the date fixed, and beneficial owners as of the date fixed who hold through shareholders, as provided in subdivision 2, may exercise dissenters’ rights. |
(c) | Notwithstanding subdivision 1, the right to obtain payment under this section, other than in connection with a plan of merger adopted under section 302A.613, subdivision 4, or 302A.621, is limited in accordance with the following provisions: |
(1) | The right to obtain payment under this section is not available for the holders of shares of any class or series of shares that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE MKT LLC, the Nasdaq Global Market, the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Capital Market, or any successor to any such market. |
(2) | The applicability of clause (1) is determined as of: |
(i) | the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the meeting of shareholders to act upon the corporate action described in subdivision 1; or |
(ii) | the day before the effective date of corporate action described in subdivision 1 if there is no meeting of shareholders. |
(3) | Clause (1) is not applicable, and the right to obtain payment under this section is available pursuant to subdivision 1, for the holders of any class or series of shares who are required by the terms of the corporate action described in subdivision 1 to accept for such shares anything other than shares, or cash in lieu of fractional shares, of any class or any series of shares of a domestic or foreign corporation, or any other ownership interest of any other organization, that satisfies the standards set forth in clause (1) at the time the corporate action becomes effective. |
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(a) | For purposes of this section, the terms defined in this subdivision have the meanings given them. |
(b) | “Corporation” means the issuer of the shares held by a dissenter before the corporate action referred to in section 302A.471, subdivision 1 or the successor by merger of that issuer. |
(c) | “Fair value of the shares” means the value of the shares of a corporation immediately before the effective date of the corporate action referred to in section 302A.471, subdivision 1. |
(d) | “Interest” means interest commencing five days after the effective date of the corporate action referred to in section 302A.471, subdivision 1, up to and including the date of payment, calculated at the rate provided in section 549.09, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), clause (1). |
(a) | If a corporation calls a shareholder meeting at which any action described in section 302A.471, subdivision 1 is to be voted upon, the notice of the meeting shall inform each shareholder of the right to dissent and shall include a copy of section 302A.471 and this section and a brief description of the procedure to be followed under these sections. |
(b) | In connection with a qualified offer as described in section 302A.613, subdivision 4, the constituent corporation subject to the offer may, but is not required to, send to all shareholders a written notice informing each shareholder of the right to dissent and must include a copy of this section and section 302A.471 and a brief description of the procedure to be followed under these sections. To be effective, the notice must be sent as promptly as practicable at or following the commencement of the offer, but in any event at least ten days before the consummation of the offer. |
(a) | After the proposed action has been approved by the board and, if necessary, the shareholders, the corporation shall send (i) in any case where subdivision 3 is applicable, to all shareholders who have complied with subdivision 3, (ii) in any case where a written action of shareholders gave effect to the action creating the right to obtain payment under section 302A.471, to all shareholders who did not sign or consent to a written action that gave effect to the action creating the right to obtain payment under section 302A.471, and (iii) in any other case, to all shareholders entitled to dissent, a notice that contains: |
(1) | the address to which a demand for payment and certificates of certificated shares must be sent in order to obtain payment and the date by which they must be received; |
(2) | any restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares that will apply after the demand for payment is received; |
(3) | a form to be used to certify the date on which the shareholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf the shareholder dissents, acquired the shares or an interest in them and to demand payment; and |
(4) | a copy of section 302A.471 and this section and a brief description of the procedures to be followed under these sections. |
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(b) | In order to receive the fair value of the shares, a dissenting shareholder must demand payment and deposit certificated shares or comply with any restrictions on transfer of uncertificated shares within 30 days after the notice required by paragraph (a) was given, but the dissenter retains all other rights of a shareholder until the proposed action takes effect. |
(a) | After the corporate action takes effect, or after the corporation receives a valid demand for payment, whichever is later, the corporation shall remit to each dissenting shareholder who has complied with subdivisions 3 and 4 the amount the corporation estimates to be the fair value of the shares, plus interest, accompanied by: |
(1) | the corporation’s closing balance sheet and statement of income for a fiscal year ending not more than 16 months before the effective date of the corporate action, together with the latest available interim financial statements; |
(2) | an estimate by the corporation of the fair value of the shares and a brief description of the method used to reach the estimate; and |
(3) | a copy of section 302A.471 and this section, and a brief description of the procedure to be followed in demanding supplemental payment. |
(b) | The corporation may withhold the remittance described in paragraph (a) from a person who was not a shareholder on the date the action dissented from was first announced to the public or who is dissenting on behalf of a person who was not a beneficial owner on that date. If the dissenter has complied with subdivisions 3 and 4, the corporation shall forward to the dissenter the materials described in paragraph (a), a statement of the reason for withholding the remittance, and an offer to pay to the dissenter the amount listed in the materials if the dissenter agrees to accept that amount in full satisfaction. The dissenter may decline the offer and demand payment under subdivision 6. Failure to do so entitles the dissenter only to the amount offered. If the dissenter makes demand, subdivisions 7 and 8 apply. |
(c) | If the corporation fails to remit payment within 60 days of the deposit of certificates or the imposition of transfer restrictions on uncertificated shares, it shall return all deposited certificates and cancel all transfer restrictions. However, the corporation may again give notice under subdivision 4 and require deposit or restrict transfer at a later time. |
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(a) | The court shall determine the costs and expenses of a proceeding under subdivision 7, including the reasonable expenses and compensation of any appraisers appointed by the court, and shall assess those costs and expenses against the corporation, except that the court may assess part or all of those costs and expenses against a dissenter whose action in demanding payment under subdivision 6 is found to be arbitrary, vexatious, or not in good faith. |
(b) | If the court finds that the corporation has failed to comply substantially with this section, the court may assess all fees and expenses of any experts or attorneys as the court deems equitable. These fees and expenses may also be assessed against a person who has acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith in bringing the proceeding, and may be awarded to a party injured by those actions. |
(c) | The court may award, in its discretion, fees and expenses to an attorney for the dissenters out of the amount awarded to the dissenters, if any. |
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