In a telephone call on May 12, 2020, Mr. Cassens indicated to Stephens’ representatives a preliminary purchase price range of $8.50 - $9.50 per Share. Following this conversation, Stephens’ representatives and Mr. Alpert discussed HelpSystems’ verbal indication and possible responses.
In a telephone call on May 13, 2020, Stephens’ representatives advised Mr. Cassens that HelpSystems should consider raising its preliminary purchase price range prior to submitting a written IOI.
On May 15, 2020, HelpSystems submitted a written IOI with a preliminary purchase price range of $9.00 - $9.50 per Share. The IOI identified additional information that would be needed by HelpSystems to refine its preliminary purchase price range and arrive at a definitive price.
On May 18, 2020, the Company Board held a meeting to review HelpSystems’ proposal, and to receive an update from Stephens’ representatives regarding the discussions that they had with HelpSystems and with other potentially interested parties.
From mid-May 2020 through July 19, 2020, the Company and Stephens’ representatives engaged in numerous due diligence telephone calls with, and provided extensive additional due diligence materials to, HelpSystems and its attorneys, accountants and other advisors. On May 19, 2020, HelpSystems was granted access to the Company’s virtual data room, which contained extensive due diligence information.
During this period, a draft of the Merger Agreement was posted to the Company’s virtual data room and made available to HelpSystems. Legal counsel for the parties discussed certain deal terms of the Merger Agreement and related transaction documents, including, among other things, the inclusion of a “go-shop” provision, whether the transaction would be structured as a tender offer and the timing of the HSR filing.
On May 26, 2020, Stephens and HelpSystems held a call to discuss due diligence activity and to encourage HelpSystems to provide a refined offer reflecting the extensive due diligence completed.
On May 27, 2020, HelpSystems submitted a revised IOI with a proposed purchase price of $9.35 per Share.
On May 28, 2020, Mr. Alpert and Stephens’ representatives discussed the revised HelpSystems IOI and possible responses.
On May 30, 2020, Mr. Alpert and Harry Taylor, a director of 2019 HS Topco LP, HelpSystems’ parent entity, spoke by telephone regarding HelpSystems’ revised IOI and its proposed purchase price of $9.35 per Share. Mr. Alpert told Mr. Taylor that, based on prior discussions with the Company Board, the proposed purchase price would likely be unacceptable to the Company Board, but both parties agreed to continue the due diligence process and discussion of other transaction terms and defer further price negotiations until the parties had made additional due diligence progress.
On June 16, 2020, Goodwin Procter LLP, counsel to HelpSystems, sent initial comments on the draft Merger Agreement to Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP.
On June 19, 2020, Mr. Cassens discussed with representatives of Stephens certain additional information HelpSystems would need in order to consider whether it was willing to consider potentially increasing its proposed purchase price, including information about results for the quarter ending June 30, 2020.
On June 19, 2020, Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement to Goodwin Procter LLP.
On June 22, 2020, the Company Board convened to discuss HelpSystems’ negotiations and other discussions with interested parties, including the additional information requested by HelpSystems.
In early July, 2020, the Company provided to HelpSystems the Company’s preliminary second quarter 2020 financial statements and certain related information.
On July 3, 2020, Goodwin Procter LLP sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement.
On July 5, 2020, Matt Reck, Chief Financial Officer of HelpSystems, and Stephens’ representatives had a telephone discussion regarding the Company’s second quarter 2020 results. Mr. Reck requested a call with the Company to discuss the software license revenue miss compared to the Company’s plan.