UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. )
Filed by the Registrant o
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant x
Check the appropriate box:
x Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨ Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule14a-6(e)(2))
¨ Definitive Proxy Statement
o Definitive Additional Materials
o Soliciting Material Under Rule 14a-12
DEPOMED, INC. |
| (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
STARBOARD VALUE LP STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY S LLC STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY C LP STARBOARD VALUE GP LLC STARBOARD PRINCIPAL CO LP STARBOARD PRINCIPAL CO GP LLC STARBOARD VALUE R LP STARBOARD VALUE R GP LLC JEFFREY C. SMITH MARK R. MITCHELL PETER A. FELD JOHN J. DELUCCA JAMES P. FOGARTY PETER A. LANKAU GAVIN T. MOLINELLI MARY K. PENDERGAST |
| (Name of Persons(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant) |
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x No fee required.
¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
| (3) | Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined): |
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
***PRELIMINARY SOLICITATION STATEMENT – SUBJECT TO COMPLETION***
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING
OF DEPOMED, INC. SHAREHOLDERS
SOLICITATION STATEMENT
OF
STARBOARD VALUE LP
AND
STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD
To the Fellow Shareholders of Depomed, Inc.:
This solicitation statement (the “Solicitation Statement”), the enclosed form of Special Meeting Request attached as Exhibit [ ] (the “Special Meeting Request Form”), the accompanying [COLOR] Proxy Card (the “[COLOR] Proxy Card”) and the other exhibits to the Solicitation Statement are being furnished to you as a shareholder of Depomed, Inc., a California corporation (the “Company” or “Depomed”), by and on behalf of Starboard Value LP (“Starboard Value”), a Delaware limited partnership, Starboard Value and Opportunity Master Fund Ltd, an exempted company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the “Starboard V&O Fund”), Starboard Value and Opportunity S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Starboard S LLC”), Starboard Value and Opportunity C LP, Delaware limited partnership (“Starboard C LP”), Starboard Value GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Starboard Value GP”), Starboard Principal Co LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Principal Co”), Starboard Principal Co GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Principal GP”), Starboard Value R LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“Starboard R LP”), Starboard Value R GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, (“Starboard R GP”), and Jeffrey C. Smith, Mark R. Mitchell, Peter A. Feld, Gavin T. Molinelli, John J. Delucca, James P. Fogarty, Peter A. Lankau, and Mary K. Pendergast (collectively, unless context requires otherwise, “we,” “our” or “Starboard”), for the purpose of soliciting revocable proxies from Company shareholders to empower us to deliver to the Company the Special Meeting Request Form on your behalf to call a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders for the purposes described in the Solicitation Statement (the “Special Meeting”).
Pursuant to the General Corporation Law of the California Corporations Code (the “CGCL”) and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), the holders of shares of Common Stock (as defined below) entitled to cast not less than 10% of the votes at the Special Meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) are entitled to call the Special Meeting, subject to the information and procedural requirements of Sections 2 and 5(d) of the Bylaws.
As of May 26, 2016, Starboard V&O Fund was the holder of record of 1,000 shares of Depomed common stock, no par value (the “Common Stock”), and collectively, the members of Starboard, including the Nominees (as defined below), beneficially owned in the aggregate 6,031,450 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 9.87% of such shares that would be entitled to call the Special Meeting pursuant to the CGCL and the Bylaws if the Request Record Date (as defined below) had been set as May 4, 2016, based on 61,097,929 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of such date, which is the Company’s most recent publicly available number of outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Starboard believes that Depomed is deeply undervalued and that significant opportunities exist to create shareholder value based on actions within the control of the Depomed Board of Directors (the “Board”). Starboard also continues to have significant concerns regarding the manner in which Depomed is being governed by the current Board. Consistent with Starboard’s concerns, on April 8, 2016, Starboard V&O Fund delivered to Depomed the documentation required under the Bylaws to request that the Board set a record date for determining the shareholders entitled to call a special meeting. On May 26, 2016, Starboard withdrew its previous Record Date Request Notice and proposals and delivered a new Record Date Request Notice to Depomed (the “Record Date Request Notice”).
1
For additional background on Starboard’s communications with the Company, please see the section titled “Background and Past Contacts” in the Solicitation Statement below.
We believe the Board lacks the leadership, objectivity, and perspective needed to make decisions that are in the best interests of shareholders. To this end, we are seeking your support to call the Special Meeting in order to effect much-needed change to the composition of the Board.
Accordingly, we are hereby asking you to help us request that Depomed call the Special Meeting for the following purposes:
| 1. | to remove from office, without cause, the six (6) members of the current Board, constituting the entire current Board, Peter D. Staple, Karen A. Dawes, Louis J. Lavigne, Jr., Samuel R. Saks, James A. Schoeneck and David B. Zenoff, as well as any person or persons elected or appointed to the Board without shareholder approval after Depomed’s 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and up to and including the date of the Special Meeting, each such removal to become effective upon the election of each successor by the shareholders of the Company; |
| 2. | in the event that the Board is fixed at some size other than six (6) members as of the date of the Special Meeting, that Section 16 of the Bylaws be amended to fix the size of the Board at six (6) members; |
| 3. | to elect the following six (6) individuals to serve as directors on the Board, contingent on Proposal 1 being passed, John J. Delucca, James P. Fogarty, Peter A. Lankau, Gavin T. Molinelli, Mary K. Pendergast, and Jeffrey C. Smith (each, a “Nominee” and, collectively, the “Nominees”); and |
| 4. | to repeal any amendment or provision of the Bylaws adopted and approved by the Board that changes the Bylaws in any way from the version of the Bylaws adopted and approved by the Board on July 12, 2015 through the date of the Special Meeting, and that the section of the Bylaws entitled “AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS” be amended to eliminate the power of the Board to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws from the date of the Special Meeting through 120 days following such date as set forth in such section of the Bylaws (Proposals 1 through 4 above are collectively referred to as the “Proposals”). |
At this time, we are soliciting your revocable proxy to empower us to deliver the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form on your behalf to a designated officer of the Company to call the Special Meeting. We are not currently seeking your proxy, consent, authorization or agent designation for approval of any proposals or any other actions that would be considered at the Special Meeting. In the event the Special Meeting is called, we will send you proxy materials relating to a vote on the Proposals.
For additional details on the Proposals, please see the section titled “Our Plans for the Special Meeting” in the Solicitation Statement below.
2
Shareholder-Called Special Meeting Process Overview
Generally, for Depomed shareholders to call the Special Meeting, (i) a shareholder must request that the Board set a record date for determining shareholders entitled to request the Special Meeting (the “Request Record Date”) by sending written notice to the Secretary of the Company, and (ii) one or more written requests for the Special Meeting signed by shareholders entitled as of the Request Record Date to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage must be submitted to and received by any designated officer of the Company within thirty (30) days of the Request Record Date. Once such written requests are received by a designated officer of the Company, the Company shall have five (5) business days to determine whether such submitting shareholders have satisfied the requirements under the Bylaws for calling the Special Meeting.
The enclosed Special Meeting Request Form reflects our good faith effort to identify all the information required by the Bylaws in connection with shareholders’ written request for the Special Meeting with respect to Starboard V&O Fund as the shareholder soliciting fellow shareholders to call such meeting. We encourage you to submit your [COLOR] Proxy Card to permit us to submit the Special Meeting Request Form.
On May 26, 2016, when Starboard V&O Fund submitted the Record Date Request Notice to Depomed, it was the beneficial owner of 4,636,387 shares of Common Stock (1,000 shares of which were and are held in record name), and collectively with Starboard Value and its affiliates and Nominees, beneficially owned in the aggregate 6,031,450 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 9.87% of such shares that would be entitled to call the Special Meeting pursuant to the CGCL and the Bylaws if the Request Record Date had been set as of May 4, 2016, based on 61,097,929 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of such date. The Record Date Request Notice is attached as Exhibit [ ] to the Solicitation Statement. Pursuant to the Bylaws, the Request Record Date has not yet been set by the Board. Holders of record of shares of Common Stock as of the Request Record Date will be entitled to submit a [COLOR] Proxy Card to permit us to submit the Special Meeting Request Form on their respective behalves to call the Special Meeting.
As the next step in calling the Special Meeting, we are now soliciting revocable proxies from Depomed shareholders to empower us to deliver the Special Meeting Request Form on your behalf to call the Special Meeting. From the Request Record Date, we have thirty (30) days to solicit such revocable proxies and for the Company to be in receipt of the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form from Starboard V&O Fund and [COLOR] Proxy Cards from shareholders representing the Special Meeting Percentage together with Starboard’s shares of Common Stock before a new Request Record Date must be requested from the Board and the process for a shareholder-called special meeting must be restarted.
Please join us in requesting that Depomed call the Special Meeting and show the Board that shareholders want to have their voices heard.
Why You Were Sent The Solicitation Statement
As noted above, Starboard acquired its position in Depomed because it believes that Depomed is substantially undervalued and opportunities exist to create significant value for shareholders. Starboard has significant concerns regarding serious corporate governance deficiencies existing at Depomed, questionable capital allocation decisions, and egregious actions taken by the Board to impede strategic interest in acquiring Depomed and to suppress shareholder rights.
3
Depomed’s corporate governance deficiencies are exemplified (i) by the manner in which it sought to fend off an unsolicited proposal from Horizon Pharma plc (“Horizon”) in 2015 through its unilateral adoption of a poison pill with a 10% trigger threshold and Bylaw amendments aimed at making it significantly more difficult and time-consuming for shareholders to call a special meeting, and more recently, (ii) by the surreptitious manner in which the Board attempted to further entrench itself under the guise of a proposal to reincorporate the Company in Delaware.
Starboard has little doubt that if it had not called attention to certain important provisions relating to the proposed reincorporation from California to Delaware (the “Reincorporation Proposal”) that were buried in the appendices of Depomed’s proxy statement for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”), the Reincorporation Proposal would still be an item on the Annual Meeting’s agenda.
Given the apparent willingness of the current Board members to take extraordinary action to entrench themselves, as demonstrated by the Board’s responses to the Horizon offers and its now withdrawn Delaware reincorporation proposal, Starboard believes that a significant Board overhaul is required at Depomed in order to ensure that the Company is being run in a manner consistent with the best interests of all shareholders. We feel strongly that the Board, as currently constituted, is incapable of unlocking the significant value that exists within Depomed and urge shareholders to join in requesting that Depomed call the Special Meeting.
Summary Proxy Submission Procedures
We are asking the Company’s shareholders to complete, sign and date the accompanying [COLOR] Proxy Card so that Starboard V&O Fund may submit the Special Meeting Request Form and to return the [COLOR] Proxy Card in the enclosed envelope to Okapi Partners LLC (“Okapi”), which is assisting us in this solicitation of proxies to call the Special Meeting, at the address set forth below.
The Special Meeting Request Form that Starboard V&O Fund would submit on your behalf to the Company asks that the Special Meeting be held on a date and at a time to be specified by Starboard V&O Fund, as permitted under the CGCL and the Bylaws. Subject to the CGCL and the Bylaws, the [COLOR] Proxy Card grants Starboard V&O Fund the discretion to specify such date and such time as it deems appropriate in the Special Meeting Request Form.
We ask that your executed [COLOR] Proxy Card be delivered as promptly as possible, by mail in the enclosed postage-paid envelope to Okapi at the address below.
If you have any questions about completing, executing and dating your [COLOR] Proxy Card or delivering the [COLOR] Proxy Card to Okapi, or otherwise require assistance, please contact Okapi at the address and telephone numbers below. We encourage you to submit your [COLOR] Proxy Card, even if you cannot complete your [COLOR] Proxy Card in full.
The Solicitation Statement is dated [—], 2016. The Solicitation Statement, the Special Meeting Request Form and the accompanying [COLOR] Proxy Card are first being sent or given to Depomed shareholders on or about [—], 2016. The [COLOR] Proxy Cards to submit the Special Meeting Request Form to call the Special Meeting should be delivered as promptly as possible, by mail (using the enclosed envelope), to Starboard’s proxy solicitor, Okapi, as set forth below. A copy of the Company’s current Bylaws may be found on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as Exhibit 3.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on July 13, 2015.
4
IMPORTANT
Please complete, sign and date the enclosed [COLOR] Proxy Card as soon as possible.
From the Request Record Date, we have thirty (30) days to solicit revocable proxies and for the Company to be in receipt of the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form from Starboard V&O Fund and [COLOR] Proxy Cards from shareholders representing the Special Meeting Percentage together with Starboard’s shares of Common Stock before a new Request Record Date must be requested from the Board and the process for a shareholder-called special meeting must be restarted.
If your shares of Common Stock are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank nominee or other institution, only it can sign the [COLOR] Proxy Card with respect to your shares and only upon receipt of specific instructions from you. Accordingly, you should contact the person responsible for your account and give instructions for the [COLOR] Proxy Card to be signed representing your shares of Common Stock. We urge you to confirm in writing your instructions to the person responsible for your account and to provide a copy of such instructions to us in care of Okapi to the address below, so that we will be aware of all instructions given and can attempt to ensure that such instructions are followed.
If you have any questions about completing, executing and dating your [COLOR] Proxy Card, or delivering the document to Okapi, or otherwise require assistance, please contact:
OKAPI PARTNERS LLC
1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Email: info@okapipartners.com
Call toll-free: [ ]
Please complete, sign and date the enclosed [COLOR] Proxy Card and return the document to Okapi in the enclosed postage-paid envelope today.
WHILE CALLING THE SPECIAL MEETING CANNOT ENSURE THE PROPOSALS WILL BE ADOPTED, RESULTING IN A CHANGE TO THE COMPOSITION OF THE BOARD, WE BELIEVE DEPOMED SHAREHOLDERS DESERVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ELECT A SLATE OF EXPERIENCED, DIVERSE, AND INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR CANDIDATES WHO WILL BETTER SERVE DEPOMED AND BETTER PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND BEST INTERESTS OF ALL SHAREHOLDERS. STARBOARD IS THEREFORE SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING TO RECONSTITUTE THE BOARD VIA THE PROPOSALS. ONLY AFTER THE SPECIAL MEETING IS CALLED WOULD DEPOMED SHAREHOLDERS BE ASKED TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS.
THIS SOLICITATION IS BEING MADE BY STARBOARD, AND NOT ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY OR THE BOARD. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT CURRENTLY SEEKING YOUR PROXY, CONSENT, AUTHORIZATION OR AGENT DESIGNATION FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSALS OR ANY OTHER ACTIONS. WE ARE ONLY SOLICITING YOUR REVOCABLE PROXY TO EMPOWER US TO DELIVER TO THE COMPANY’S DESIGNATED OFFICERS THE VALID, EXECUTED AND COMPLETED SPECIAL MEETING REQUEST FORM TO CALL THE SPECIAL MEETING.
AFTER THE SPECIAL MEETING REQUEST FORM AND [COLOR] PROXY CARD FOR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REPRESENTING THE SPECIAL MEETING PERCENTAGE HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO AND PROPERLY RECEIVED BY THE COMPANY, WE WILL SEND YOU PROXY MATERIALS URGING YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSALS ONCE THE SPECIAL MEETING RECORD DATE AND MEETING DATE ARE SET.
5
YOUR [COLOR] PROXY CARD IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES YOU OWN. WE URGE YOU TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY CARD.
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF DEPOMED SHAREHOLDERS.
In addition to delivering printed versions of the Solicitation Statement, the Special Meeting Request Form and the [COLOR] Proxy Card to all shareholders by mail, the Solicitation Statement, the Special Meeting Request Form and the [COLOR] Proxy Card are also available on the Internet. You have the ability to access and print the Solicitation Statement, the Special Meeting Request Form and the [COLOR] Proxy Card at [—].
6
BACKGROUND AND PAST CONTACTS
The following is a chronology of events leading up to the Solicitation Statement:
| · | On April 5, 2016, Depomed filed a preliminary proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the Annual Meeting, which included the Reincorporation Proposal. |
| · | On April 7, 2016, Starboard filed a Schedule 13D with the SEC disclosing combined beneficial and economic ownership interest in approximately 9.8% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. In the Schedule 13D, Starboard stated that it was extremely troubled by the fact that management and the Board of Depomed were seeking to further entrench themselves and further suppress shareholder rights under the guise of the Reincorporation Proposal. Starboard also questioned why Depomed failed to disclose important features of the Reincorporation Proposal that would severely limit certain shareholder rights in the section of the Preliminary Proxy detailing the specifics of the Reincorporation Proposal and instead included these provisions in appendices at the end of the Preliminary Proxy. |
| · | On April 8, 2016, Starboard delivered a letter to Jim Schoeneck, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, expressing significant concerns regarding what it deems as serious corporate governance deficiencies, questionable capital allocation decisions, and egregious actions by the Board to stymie strategic interest. In the letter, Starboard also confirmed that it would shortly commence the process to call a Special Meeting to preserve Starboard’s rights to seek the removal and replacement of the current Board. |
| · | On April 8, 2016, Starboard submitted to Depomed the documentation required under the Bylaws to request that the Board set a record date for determining the shareholders entitled to call a special meeting, to begin the process for calling the Special Meeting to consider the following proposals: (i) to remove from office the six (6) members of the current Board, as well as any person appointed to the Board without shareholder approval up to and including the date of a special meeting; (ii) to fix the number of members of the Board at six (6); (iii) if the current Board is removed, to submit Peter A. Feld, James P. Fogarty, Mark R. Mitchell, Gavin T. Molinelli, Jeffrey C. Smith and Patrick Sullivan for election to the Board by shareholders to fill the existing vacancies; and (iv) to repeal any amendment or provision of the Bylaws adopted by the Board that changes the Bylaws, and to amend the Bylaws to eliminate the power of the Board to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws from the date of the Special Meeting through 120 days following the date thereof. |
| · | On April 12, 2016, Starboard filed an amendment to its Schedule 13D with the SEC disclosing combined beneficial and economic ownership interest in approximately 9.9% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. |
| · | On April 14, 2016, Depomed issued a press release announcing its decision not to pursue the Reincorporation Proposal. |
| · | On April 15, 2016, Starboard issued the following public statement in response to Depomed’s decision to withdraw its Reincorporation Proposal: |
“We read with great interest Depomed’s announcement yesterday that it has decided to withdraw its Delaware Reincorporation Proposal that was purposefully designed to entrench the Board. We remain highly concerned by Depomed’s continued apparent willingness to mislead shareholders about its true intentions with regard to the Reincorporation Proposal. To be abundantly clear, the Reincorporation Proposal was an attempt by the Depomed Board to further suppress shareholder rights under the guise of a benign Delaware reincorporation.
7
After we highlighted Depomed’s true, hidden agenda, with many of the material provisions buried in two appendices, the Board realized that it had no choice but to abandon its Reincorporation Proposal. Yet, in its announcement yesterday, rather than be forthright about its reasons for withdrawing the Proposal, Depomed alluded to removing the Proposal only to avoid 'a costly and distracting proxy contest'. To insinuate that the reason it withdrew the Reincorporation Proposal was to avoid a proxy contest is completely disingenuous.
Based upon the Board's actions over the past year, and reinforced by this recent, entrenchment attempt, we remain convinced that meaningful Board change is required at Depomed. We acquired our position in Depomed because we believe that the Company is substantially undervalued and opportunities exist to create significant value for shareholders. There has been no change to our intention to vigorously continue our pursuit of replacing the existing Board with a slate of experienced, diverse, and independent director candidates that we believe will better serve the Company and better protect the rights and best interests of all shareholders. We look forward to sharing more details with shareholders in the coming weeks regarding our views on the Company and opportunities for value creation.”
| · | On April 25, 2016, Depomed issued a press release to announce that it has established the close of business on April 26, 2016 as the Request Record Date to determine shareholders entitled to request the Special Meeting of Shareholders proposed by Starboard. Depomed also sent a letter to Starboard on April 25, 2016 stating that it has amended its Shareholder Rights Plan to purportedly allow Starboard to immediately submit its request for a proposed Special Meeting without conducting a public solicitation. |
| · | On May 26, 2016, Starboard withdrew its previous Record Date Request Notice and Special Meeting proposals and delivered the Record Date Request Notice and Special Meeting proposals to Depomed. |
8
OUR PLANS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING
If we, with the support of other shareholders, are successful in obtaining sufficient shareholder support to request that the Special Meeting be called pursuant to the Bylaws and the Special Meeting is called, we expect to present the following matters for a shareholder vote at the Special Meeting:
| · | Proposal 1: “RESOLVED, that each of the six (6) members of the Board who are expected to be serving as directors as of the date of the Special Meeting, including Peter D. Staple, Karen A. Dawes, Louis J. Lavigne, Jr., Samuel R. Saks, M.D., James A. Schoeneck and David B. Zenoff, D.B.A, as well as any person or persons elected or appointed to the Board without shareholder approval after the date hereof, and up to and including, the date of the Special Meeting, be removed from office as directors of the Company, each such removal to become effective upon the election of each successor by the shareholders of the Company.” |
Section 19 of the Bylaws, together with Section 303(a) of the CGCL, provides that all of the directors may be removed without cause if such removal is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote.
Starboard is seeking to remove Peter D. Staple, Karen A. Dawes, Louis J. Lavigne, Jr., Samuel R. Saks, James A. Schoeneck and David B. Zenoff because, among other things, Starboard believes these Board members have consistently failed to act in the best interests of shareholders.
| · | Proposal 2: “RESOLVED, that, in the event that the Board is fixed at some size other than six (6) members as of the date of the Special Meeting, Section 16 of the Bylaws be amended to fix the size of the Board at six (6) members.” |
Section 16 of the Bylaws presently allows a definite number of Board members within the range of five (5) to nine (9) Board members to be fixed by resolution of the Board or for a definite number of Board members without provision of an indefinite range to be fixed by an amendment to the Bylaws duly adopted by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. The reason for Proposal 2 is to allow shareholders to fix the size of the Board at six (6) members so that, in the event Proposal 1 is approved in its entirety, shareholders may elect a full Board solely consisting of Starboard’s six (6) Nominees.
The language of the proposed Bylaw amendment:
Section 16 of the Bylaws is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
16. Number. The authorized number of directors of this corporation shall not be less than five (5) nor more than nine (9). The exact number of directors shall be six (6). The indefinite number of directors may be changed or a definite number fixed without provision for an indefinite number by an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or by amendment to these bylaws duly adopted by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. An amendment reducing the minimum number of directors to a number less than five cannot be adopted if the votes cast against its adoption at a meeting of the shareholders, or the shares not consenting in the case of action by written consent, are equal to more than 16-2/3% of the outstanding shares entitled to vote. No amendment may change the maximum number of authorized directors to a number greater than two times the minimum number of directors minus one.
9
| · | Proposal 3: “RESOLVED, that the following six (6) individuals be and hereby are elected to serve as directors on the Board, contingent on Proposal 1 being passed: John J. Delucca, James P. Fogarty, Peter A. Lankau, Gavin T. Molinelli, Mary K. Pendergast, and Jeffrey C. Smith (each, a “Nominee” and, collectively, the “Nominees”).” |
Section 18 of the Bylaws, together with Section 305(a) of the CGCL, provide that only shareholders may elect directors to fill any vacancies arising from any removal of directors by approval of the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly called meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present (in which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum). Consequently, if Proposal 1 passes, the resulting six (6) vacancies may only be filled by the shareholders. Pursuant to Section 9 of the Bylaws, a majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute the required quorum.
Each Nominee named in this Proposal 3 has consented to be named in any proxy or solicitation statement and proxy cards to be filed with the SEC and distributed to shareholders of Depomed by Starboard and to serve as a director of Depomed, if elected, in accordance with Section 5(d)(i)(2) of the Bylaws. The Nominees have not made any commitment to Starboard, if elected, other than that they will serve as directors, exercise their independent judgment in accordance with their fiduciary duties in all matters before the Board and otherwise discharge their duties as directors of Depomed consistent with all applicable legal requirements. If elected, each Nominee named in this Proposal 3 would serve as a director until a successor has been duly elected and qualified at the Company’s annual meeting in 2017 or an intervening special meeting of Company shareholders at which Company directors are elected and a successor has been duly elected. Starboard will, in accordance with SEC requirements, provide shareholders with a way to vote for inclusion of less than all of the Nominees in the elections contemplated by Proposal 3. In the event that Proposal 1 passes and the directors named or described in Proposal 1 are removed from the Board creating six (6) vacancies, but none of the Nominees are elected pursuant to Proposal 3, then the current Board shall be subject to removal upon their successors otherwise being duly elected and qualified at Depomed’s annual meeting in 2017 or an intervening special meeting.
| · | Proposal 4: “RESOLVED, that any amendment or provision of the Bylaws adopted and approved by the Board that changes the Bylaws in any way from the version of the Bylaws adopted and approved by the Board on July 12, 2015 through the date of the Special Meeting be and hereby is repealed, and that Section 42 of the Bylaws entitled “AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS” be and hereby is amended to eliminate the power of the Board to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws from the date of the Special Meeting through 120 days following such Special Meeting.” |
Section 42 of the Bylaws, together with Section 211 of the CGCL, provide that approval of each of Proposals 2 and 4 requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote.
Proposal 4 is designed to prevent the Board from taking any such further actions to amend the Bylaws to attempt to nullify or delay the actions taken by, or proposed to be taken by, the shareholders pursuant to the other Proposals or to create new obstacles to the consideration of the Proposals at the Special Meeting.
The language of the proposed Bylaw amendment:
Section 42 of the Bylaws is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:
10
42. Bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote or by the Board of Directors, except that (i) any such adoption, amendment or repeal by the Board of Directors shall be effective only as of the date 121 days after the date hereof and that during such period the power of the Board of Directors to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws shall hereby be eliminated and (ii) an amendment changing the authorized number of directors may only be adopted as provided in Section 16.
We will solicit votes in favor of the Proposals only by means of a proxy statement and proxy card once the record date and meeting date for the Special Meeting have been established. If we are successful in requesting that the Special Meeting be called as a result of shareholders representing the Special Meeting Percentage, together with Starboard’s shares of Common Stock, completing, executing, dating and returning the enclosed [COLOR] Proxy Card to Okapi, and Starboard delivering the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form and such [COLOR] Proxy Card to a Depomed designated officer, then we will include in Starboard’s definitive proxy statement for such Special Meeting more detailed information regarding voting at the Special Meeting. The sole purpose of this solicitation, and the only effect of your return of the [COLOR] Proxy Card is to request the calling of the Special Meeting and to empower us to deliver the Special Meeting Request Form to a Company designated officer.
Accordingly, we urge you to join with us to request the call of the Special Meeting for the purpose of submitting the Proposals to shareholders for a vote thereon. To help us call the Special Meeting, please follow the instructions for delivering the [COLOR] Proxy Card described below.
WE URGE YOU TO COMPLETE, EXECUTE, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY CARD TO OKAPI.
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Request Record Date Process. The Request Record Date has been set by the Board as [______ __, 2016]. Holders of record of shares of Common Stock as of that date will be entitled to request that the Special Meeting be called. Under the Bylaws, the Board has twenty-eight (28) days to set a Request Record Date from receipt of a valid Record Date Request Notice from a shareholder, which Request Record Date could be as many as sixty (60) days after the close of business on the date the Board sets the Request Record Date. If the Board fails to set a Request Record Date, the Request Record Date is to be twenty-eight (28) days after the Record Date Request Notice was validly submitted to and received by the Secretary of the Company (or, if the twenty-eighth (28th) day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter). Starboard’s Record Date Request Notice, which was delivered to Depomed on May 26, 2016, is attached as Exhibit [ ] to the Solicitation Statement.
Special Meeting Request Form and the [COLOR] Proxy Card. Starboard is asking shareholders to complete, execute, date and return the enclosed [COLOR] Proxy Card to Okapi, which is assisting us with this solicitation and, upon receiving your executed [COLOR] Proxy Card, will deliver the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form on behalf of itself and shareholders together representing the Special Meeting Percentage (once the [COLOR] Proxy Cards are received) to a Company designated officer to obligate Depomed to call the Special Meeting pursuant to the Bylaws. We are furnishing the Solicitation Statement, the Special Meeting Request Form and the [COLOR] Proxy Card to enable you and Depomed’s other shareholders to support us in requesting the Special Meeting be called and held.
Pursuant to the Bylaws, from the Request Record Date, we have thirty (30) days to solicit such revocable proxies and for the Company to be in receipt of the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form from Starboard V&O Fund and [COLOR] Proxy Cards from shareholders representing the Special Meeting Percentage together with Starboard’s shares of Common Stock before a new Request Record Date must be requested from the Board and the process for a shareholder-called special meeting must be restarted.
11
Special Meeting Percentage. For the Special Meeting to be properly requested in accordance with the Bylaws, the Special Meeting Request Form requesting the call of the Special Meeting must be executed by Starboard V&O Fund as a shareholder as of the Request Record Date and the [COLOR] Proxy Cards must be executed by shareholders as of the Request Record Date authorizing Starboard V&O Fund to submit the Special Meeting Request Form on their behalves, which shareholders, together with Starboard V&O Fund, must hold shares of Common Stock equaling the Special Meeting Percentage.
According to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the SEC on May 6, 2016, as of May 4, 2016, there were 61,097,929 shares of Common Stock outstanding. Based on such number, and the fact that Starboard Value and its affiliates and Nominees already own in the aggregate 6,031,450 shares of Common Stock, additional properly completed and unrevoked [COLOR] Proxy Cards from holders of an aggregate of approximately less than 1% of shares of Common Stock will have to be received by Depomed in accordance with the Bylaws to request Depomed to call the Special Meeting. Starboard anticipates submitting, through Starboard V&O Fund, all of such [COLOR] Proxy Cards to a Company designated officer as soon as practicable after Starboard obtains a sufficient number of [COLOR] Proxy Cards.
Special Meeting Date. The Special Meeting Request Form requests that the Special Meeting be held on a date and at a time to be specified by Starboard V&O Fund, which, in accordance with the CGCL and the Bylaws, will be no less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days after Depomed receives the [COLOR] Proxy Cards together with the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form from shares representing the Special Meeting Percentage. After the Special Meeting is called, we intend to solicit proxies from you in support of the Proposals via Depomed sending you a notice of the Special Meeting (or, if the Company fails to do so in the required statutory period described below, we will send such notice or seek judicial relief that would require Depomed to do so) and via our sending you a proxy statement and a proxy card for use therewith. At the Special Meeting, we will ask the shareholders to vote “FOR” the Proposals.
Record Date and Notice for Special Meeting. Pursuant to Section 701(a) of the CGCL, together with Section 7 of the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting may be fixed by the Board as no less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Special Meeting. Pursuant to Section 601(c) of the CGCL, upon receipt of the [COLOR] Proxy Cards and the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form from shares representing the Special Meeting Percentage, a Depomed designated officer must give notice of the Special Meeting to shareholders within twenty (20) days. If Depomed fails to do so, then we may mail such notice or seek judicial relief to require Depomed to do so.
Location of Special Meeting. The Bylaws provide that all meetings of shareholders shall be held either at the principal office of Depomed (which is 7999 Gateway Blvd., Suite 300, Newark, California 94560) or at any other place, within or without California, which is designated by the Board or the President of Depomed.
12
PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING THE SPECIAL MEETING REQUEST FORM AND [COLOR] PROXY CARDS
Pursuant to the Solicitation Statement, Starboard is requesting that the holders of the outstanding shares of Common Stock request that a Depomed designated officer call the Special Meeting and hold the Special Meeting pursuant to the Special Meeting Request Form by taking the following actions: complete, execute and date the accompanying [COLOR] Proxy Card furnished to you, by which you will empower us to deliver the valid, executed and completed Special Meeting Request Form on behalf of ourselves and shareholders together holding shares representing the Special Meeting Percentage to a Depomed designated officer on your behalf and deliver to Okapi at the address set forth on the enclosed envelope accompanying your executed [COLOR] Proxy Card. Please note that because Section 2(d)(i) of the Bylaws provides that special meeting requests must identify the same purposes and the same matters proposed to be acted on at the Special Meeting as in the Record Date Request Notice, we request that you not change the purposes or Proposals referenced in the [COLOR] Proxy Card.
We encourage you to submit your [COLOR] Proxy Card to permit us to submit the Special Meeting Request Form. The [COLOR] Proxy Card should be delivered by mail to Okapi using the enclosed postage-paid envelope.
Written Request for the Special Meeting. If we receive executed [COLOR] Proxy Cards amounting to the Special Meeting Percentage, we will submit such [COLOR] Proxy Cards, together with the Special Meeting Request Form, to Depomed as soon as practicable and request a Depomed designated officer to promptly call the Special Meeting at such time. Please note that the delivery of the enclosed [COLOR] Proxy Card will not commit you to cast any vote in respect of any Proposal to be brought before the Special Meeting. To vote on the matters to be brought before the Special Meeting, you must vote by proxy or in person at the Special Meeting.
Representations. As a result of the onerous provisions in the Bylaws, the [COLOR] Proxy Card asks shareholders to represent that (i) they will notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for the Special Meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of Depomed owned of record by such shareholder, and (ii) they intend to appear in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting to propose such business as proposed in the Record Date Request Notice.
Revocation Procedure. Shareholders who have executed and delivered a [COLOR] Proxy Card may revoke it at any time before the proxy is exercised by delivering an instrument revoking the earlier [COLOR] Proxy Card, or a duly executed later-dated [COLOR] Proxy Card for the same shares, to Okapi, our proxy solicitor, at 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10036.
Delivery Procedures for Direct and Beneficial Owners. If your shares of Common Stock are registered in your own name, please sign, date and mail the enclosed [COLOR] Proxy Card to Okapi in the postage-paid envelope provided.
If any of your shares of Common Stock are held in the name of a brokerage firm, bank nominee or other institution, only it can sign the [COLOR] Proxy Card. Accordingly, please contact the person responsible for your account and give instructions for the [COLOR] Proxy Card to be signed representing your shares of Common Stock.
Your [COLOR] Proxy Card is important, no matter how many or how few shares you own. Please send the [COLOR] Proxy Card to the address set forth on the enclosed envelope as promptly as possible. The failure to sign and return the [COLOR] Proxy Card will have the same effect as opposing the call of the Special Meeting.
13
If you have any questions about completing, executing and dating your [COLOR] Proxy Card or delivering the [COLOR] Proxy Card to Okapi, or otherwise require assistance, please contact:
OKAPI PARTNERS LLC
1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 297-0720
Shareholders Call Toll-Free at: [_________]
E-mail: info@okapipartners.com
By delivering the enclosed [COLOR] Proxy Card to Okapi, you are not committing to cast any particular vote in respect of, nor are you granting us any proxy to vote on, any Proposal to be brought before the Special Meeting.
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NOMINEES
In the event that the Special Meeting is called and held and the Company shareholders approve the proposal to remove from office, without cause, the six (6) members of the current Board, constituting the entire current Board, Peter D. Staple, Karen A. Dawes, Louis J. Lavigne, Jr., Samuel R. Saks, James A. Schoeneck and David B. Zenoff, as well as any person or persons elected or appointed to the Board without shareholder approval after the Annual Meeting, Proposal 2 will fix the size of the Board at six (6) directors and Proposal 3 provides that shareholders elect the Nominees. Starboard reserves the right to request the appointment or election of substitute persons for any of the Nominees named herein. The information herein regarding a particular Nominee has been furnished to Starboard by such Nominee.
Name, Address, Age and Employment History. Set forth below are the name, age, business address, present principal occupation, and employment and material occupations, positions, offices, or employments for the past five (5) years of each of the Nominees.
| Name | Business Address | Age | Present Principal Occupation or Employment; Five (5) Year Employment History |
John J. Delucca | 314 Ardmore Road Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423 | 73 | John J. Delucca is currently the President of Atlantic & Gulf, Limited, L.L.C., an investment and consulting company, a position he has held since 2004. Previously, Mr. Delucca was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the REL Consultancy Group, a business consulting firm, from 2003 until his retirement in 2004. Prior to that, he served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Finance & Administration, of Coty, Inc., a fragrance and beauty products company, from 1998 to 2002. From 1993 to 1998, he was Senior Vice President and Treasurer of RJR Nabisco, Inc. ��During his earlier career, he also served in executive positions for Hascoe Associates, Inc., The Lexington Group, the Trump Group, International Controls Corp., and Textron, Inc. Mr. Delucca has extensive corporate governance experience serving as a member of the Boards of Directors of numerous companies, including: Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP), a global specialty pharmaceutical company, from 2006 to June 2015; MergeWorthRx Corp. (NASDAQ: NWRX), a special purpose acquisition, from June 2013 to January 2015; Elster Group SE, a then publicly traded German integrated metering and smart grid technology company, from October 2010 to October 2012; The Elliot Company, a manufacturer of turbines and generation equipment and wholly owned subsidiary of the public Japanese company Ebara Corporation, from 1997 to August 2012; ITC Deltacom, a then publicly traded telecommunications company, from 2004 to 2010; Tier Technologies, Inc., a then publicly traded payment solutions company, from 2007 to 2010; British Energy, a then publicly traded UK-based electricity generation company, from 2004 to 2009; and Enzo Biochem Inc. (NYSE:ENZ), a leading life sciences biotechnology company, from 1984 to 2008. Mr. Delucca also previously served as a director of Horizon Natural Resources, Kash n’ Karry, Nature’s Food Centres, RKO Warner Theaters, Emperor Clock Co., and Edison Controls Corp. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bloomfield College and a Masters of Business Administration from Farleigh-Dickinson University School of Graduate Study. Mr. Delucca’s extensive experience serving as a senior executive and a director of both public and private companies, where he served as Chairman of numerous Audit Committees, together with his financial expertise well qualifies him for service on the Board. |
14
| James P. Fogarty | 14 Old Roaring Brook Rd. Mount Kisco, NY 10549 | 47 | James P. Fogarty is currently a private investor. Previously, he was the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Orchard Brands, a multi-channel marketer of apparel and home products, from November 2011 until its sale in July 2015, and was a Senior Advisor to acquirer Bluestem Group Inc. for a transition period through October 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Fogarty was a private investor from November 2010 to November 2011. Since October 2014, Mr. Fogarty has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI), a full service restaurant company, where he serves as Chairman of its Compensation Committee and as a member of its Finance Committee. From April 2009 until November 2010, Mr. Fogarty was President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Charming Shoppes, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRS), a multi-brand, specialty apparel retailer. Other prior executive positions held by Mr. Fogarty include Managing Director of Alvarez & Marsal, an independent global professional services firm, from August 1994 until April 2009, President and Chief Operating Officer of Lehman Brothers Holdings (subsequent to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing) from September 2008 until April 2009, President and CEO of American Italian Pasta Company, the largest producer of dry pasta in North America, from September 2005 through February 2008, Chief Financial Officer of Levi Strauss & Co., a brand-name apparel company, from 2003 until 2005, and from December 2001 through September 2003, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and for a period as a Director of The Warnaco Group, a global apparel maker. From October 2011 through October 2015, Mr. Fogarty served as a director of Regis Corporation (NYSE:RGS), which owns, operates and franchises hair and retail products. Mr. Fogarty holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Computer Science from Williams College and an MBA in Finance and Accounting from the Leonard Stern School of Business at New York University. Mr. Fogarty’s extensive operational experience and turnaround experience, coupled with his significant public board and managerial experience make him an excellent candidate for the Board. Mr. Fogarty’s extensive operational experience and turnaround experience, coupled with his significant public board and managerial experience would make him an excellent candidate for the Board. |
| Peter A. Lankau | P.O. Box 827 Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437 | 63 | Peter A. Lankau is currently a principal in the consulting firm, Lankau Consulting LLC, which provides advisory and consulting services to support boards of directors and senior management of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as venture capital and private equity firms, which he founded in January 2014. Mr. Lankau has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phosphagenics Limited (ASX: POH), an Australian research-based biotechnology company, since May 2015 and as a Director since April 2015. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of ANI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANIP), an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company developing, manufacturing, and marketing branded and generic prescription pharmaceuticals, since October 2015. Previously, Mr. Lankau was Executive Chairman at Nautilus Neurosciences, Inc., a private neurology-focused specialty pharmaceutical company, from October 2011 to January 2014, which sold its business assets to Depomed in December 2013. From April 2009 to February 2011, he was Chief Executive Officer and from February 2011 to December 2012, Chairman, of Logical Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held, clinical stage biopharmaceutical company which developed therapeutic agents to treat medical conditions caused by inflammatory diseases. From 2005 to 2008, Mr. Lankau was President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., the predecessor of Endo International plc (NASDAQ: ENDP), a specialty pharmaceutical company (“Endo”). He also previously served as Endo’s President and Chief Operating Officer and as Senior Vice President, Commercial Business. Prior to Endo, Mr. Lankau was Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Alpharma, Inc. He began his pharmaceutical career with Rhone-Poulenc Rorer, Inc. (now Sanofi) in multiple commercial roles, and was most recently Vice President, Sales-US Pharmaceuticals. Mr. Lankau also currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Orchard Venture Partners, a life sciences venture capital firm, a position he has held since January 2013. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Albany. Mr. Lankau’s extensive experience as a bio-pharmaceutical executive with over 30 years of management experience in developing and commercializing pharmaceutical products together with his corporate governance experience as a director of both public and private pharmaceutical companies would make him a valuable addition to the Board. |
15
| Gavin T. Molinelli | c/o Starboard Value LP 777 Third Avenue 18th Floor New York, NY 10017 | 32 | Gavin T. Molinelli is a Partner of Starboard Value LP, a New York-based investment adviser with a focused and fundamental approach to investing in publicly traded U.S. companies. Prior to the formation of Starboard Value LP in 2011, as part of the spin-out from Ramius, Mr. Molinelli was a Director and Investment Analyst for the Ramius Value & Opportunity Fund. Prior to joining Ramius in October 2006, Mr. Molinelli was a member of the Technology Investment Banking group at Banc of America Securities LLC. Mr. Molinelli previously served on the Board of Directors of Wausau Paper Corp., a then leading provider of away from home towel and tissue products, from July 2014 until it was acquired by SCA Tissue North America LLC in January 2016. Mr. Molinelli was also formerly on the Board of Directors of Actel Corp, a semi-conductor company. Mr. Molinelli received a B.A. in Economics from Washington and Lee University. Mr. Molinelli’s public company board experience and financial expertise together with his experience serving in various managerial roles would make him a valuable addition to the Board. |
| Mary K. Pendergast | 4328 Yuma Street, NW Washington, DC 20016 | 65 | Mary K. Pendergast, J.D., LL.M. is currently the President of Pendergast Consulting, a legal and regulatory consulting firm to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, which she founded in June 2003. Ms. Pendergast has also served as a member of the Boards of Directors of Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPXL), a specialty pharmaceutical company, since July 2013 and ICON plc (NASDAQ: ICLR), a provider of outsourced development services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, since February 2014. Previously, Ms. Pendergast served as Executive Vice President, Government Affairs, at Elan Corporation, plc, a then publicly traded major drugs firm based in Dublin, Ireland, from January 1998 to June 2003. Prior to that, Ms. Pendergast served as Deputy Commissioner and Senior Advisor to the Commissioner at the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), from November 1990 to December 1997, and as Associate Chief Counsel for Enforcement, Office of the General Counsel, at the FDA, from July 1979 to November 1990. She was also an attorney at the Office of the General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services, from July 1977 to June 1979. Ms. Pendergast also previously served on the Board of Directors of ARCA biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABIO), a biopharmaceutical company developing genetically-targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases, from 2002 until May 2011. Ms. Pendergast received a B.A. degree from Northwestern University, a J.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Law, and an LL.M. degree from Yale Law School. Ms. Pendergast’s extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries serving as an executive and board member, including her service at the FDA, would make her a valuable addition to the Board. |
16
| Jeffrey C. Smith | c/o Starboard Value LP 777 Third Avenue 18th Floor New York, NY 10017 | 43 | Jeffrey C. Smith is a Managing Member, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Starboard Value LP, a New York-based investment adviser with a focused and fundamental approach to investing in publicly traded U.S. companies, which he co-founded in March 2011, after having launched the Starboard Value investment strategy in 2002. Previously, Mr. Smith was a Partner and Managing Director of Ramius LLC, a subsidiary of the Cowen Group, Inc. (“Cowen”). Mr. Smith is a former member of Cowen’s Operating Committee and Cowen’s Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ramius LLC in January 1998, he served as Vice President of Strategic Development and a member of the Board of Directors of The Fresh Juice Company, Inc. Mr. Smith began his career in the Mergers and Acquisitions department at Société Générale. Mr. Smith currently serves on the Board of Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP), a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider in North America, a position he has held since November 2015. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO), a multinational technology company, a position he has held since April 2016. Previously, he served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI), a full service restaurant chain, from October 2014 to April 2016. Mr. Smith also previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of each of Quantum Corporation (NYSE: QTM), a global expert in data protection and big data management, from May 2013 to May 2015, Office Depot, Inc. (NYSE: ODP), an office supply company, from August 2013 to September 2014, Regis Corporation (NASDAQ: RGS), a global leader in beauty salons, hair restoration centers and cosmetology education, from October 2011 until October 2013, Surmodics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SRDX), a leading provider of drug delivery and surface modification technologies to the healthcare industry, from January 2011 to August 2012, and Zoran Corporation, a leading provider of digital solutions in the digital entertainment and digital imaging market, from March 2011 until its merger with CSR plc in August 2011. Mr. Smith was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phoenix Technologies Ltd., a provider of core systems software products, services, and embedded technologies, from November 2009 until the sale of the company to Marlin Equity Partners in November 2010. In addition, Mr. Smith previously served as a member of the Board of Directors of each of Actel Corporation, a provider of power management solutions, from March 2009 until its sale to Microsemi Corporation (NASDAQ: MSCC) in October 2010, S1 Corporation, a provider of customer interaction software for financial and payment services, from May 2006 to September 2008, Kensey Nash Corporation, a leading medical technology company, from December 2007 to February 2009, and The Fresh Juice Company, Inc. (FRSH) from 1996 until its sale to the Saratoga Beverage Group (TOGA) in 1998. Mr. Smith graduated from The Wharton School of Business at The University of Pennsylvania, where he received a B.S. in Economics. Mr. Smith’s extensive public board experience and experience in a variety of industries together with his management experience in a variety of roles would enable him to provide invaluable oversight to the Board. |
Additional Information about the Nominees. Each Nominee named in the Solicitation Statement is independent under the Board’s independence guidelines, the applicable rules of Nasdaq, and the independence standards applicable to the Company under paragraph (a)(1) of Item 407 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
Each Nominee who will serve on the audit committee of the Board will meet the financial literacy requirements under the applicable rules of Nasdaq, and each will qualify as an “audit committee financial expert” under the applicable rules of Nasdaq.
Each Nominee named herein has consented to be named in any proxy or solicitation statement and proxy cards to be filed with the SEC and distributed to stockholders of Depomed by Starboard and to serve as a director of the Company, if elected. If these Nominees are elected, they intend to discharge their duties as directors of the Company consistent with all applicable legal requirements, including the fiduciary obligations imposed upon corporate directors under the CGCL. If elected, each of the Nominees would serve as a director until the Company’s annual meeting in 2017 or an intervening special meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected and a successor has been duly elected.
If elected, the Nominees will be entitled to such compensation from the Company as may be determined by the Company for non-employee directors, and which is described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting, as filed with the SEC on April 14, 2016.
Each of the Nominees’ ownership of securities of the Company is set forth below in the section titled “Certain Information Regarding the Participants”. All of the Nominees are citizens of the United States.
Starboard V&O Fund has signed letter agreements, pursuant to which it and its affiliates have agreed to indemnify each of Messrs. Fogarty, Delucca, and Lankau, as well as Ms. Pendergast, against claims arising from the solicitation of proxies from the Company shareholders in connection with the Special Meeting and any related transactions.
17
Starboard V&O Fund has signed compensation letter agreements with each of Messrs. Fogarty, Delucca, and Lankau, as well as Ms. Pendergast, pursuant to which Starboard V&O Fund has agreed to pay each of them (i) $15,000 in cash upon Starboard V&O Fund submitting the Record Date Request Notice (other than Mr. Fogarty who previously received the $15,000 in cash upon delivery of the previous Record Date Request Notice, dated April 7, 2016) and (ii) $15,000 in cash upon the filing by Starboard V&O Fund of a definitive proxy statement with the SEC relating to a solicitation of proxies in favor of each of their election as a director of the Company at the Special Meeting. Pursuant to the compensation letter agreements, each of Messrs. Fogarty, Delucca, and Lankau, as well as Ms. Pendergast, has agreed to use the after-tax proceeds from such compensation to acquire securities of the Company (the “Nominee Shares”) at such time that each of Messrs. Fogarty, Delucca, and Lankau, as well as Ms. Pendergast, shall determine, but in any event no later than fourteen (14) days after receipt of such compensation, subject to certain limitations. If elected or appointed to serve as a director of the Board, each of Messrs. Fogarty, Delucca, and Lankau, as well as Ms. Pendergast, agrees not to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Nominee Shares within two (2) years of his or her election or appointment as a director; provided, however, in the event that the Company enters into a business combination with a third party, each of Messrs. Fogarty, Delucca, and Lankau, as well as Ms. Pendergast, may sell, transfer or exchange the Nominee Shares in accordance with the terms of such business combination.
Each of the Starboard members has entered into an Amended and Restated Joint Filing and Solicitation Agreement in which, among other things, (a) they agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Company, (b) they agreed to form a group for the purpose of (i) submitting the Record Date Request Notice, (ii) soliciting written requests from the holders of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock to call the Special Meeting, and (iii) soliciting proxies at any such Special Meeting for the purpose of approving the Proposals set forth herein, and (c) Starboard V&O Fund and certain of its affiliates agreed to bear all expenses incurred in connection with the solicitation, including approved expenses incurred by any of the parties in connection with the solicitation, subject to certain limitations.
No Nominee or any associate of a Nominee is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any material proceeding, and there is no event that occurred during the past ten (10) years with respect to any of the Nominees that is required to be described under 401(d) or 401(f) of Regulation S-K.
Filling of Vacancies. Section 18, together with Section 305(a) of the CGCL, provides that only shareholders may elect directors to fill any vacancies arising from any removal of directors by approval of the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented and voting at a duly meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present (which shares voting affirmatively also constitute at least a majority of the required quorum). Additionally, Section 18, together with Section 305(b) of the CGCL, provide that shareholders may elect a director at any time to fill any vacancy not filled by the directors of the Company.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES; EXPENSES
The entire expense of preparing and mailing the Solicitation Statement and any other soliciting material and the total expenditures relating to the solicitation of proxies to call the Special Meeting will be borne by Starboard. In addition to the use of the mails, requests may be solicited by Starboard by mail, courier services, Internet, email, telephone, telegraph, facsimile, advertisements or in person. Banks, brokerage houses, and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries will be requested to forward solicitation material to the beneficial owners of Common Stock that such institutions hold, and Starboard will reimburse such institutions for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in so doing.
Starboard has retained Okapi, a proxy solicitation firm, to assist in the solicitation of proxies to call the Special Meeting and the proxy solicitation in connection with the Special Meeting. Starboard has agreed to pay Okapi customary fees as may be mutually agreed. In addition, Starboard will reimburse Okapi for its reasonable disbursements. Okapi will be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses. That firm will utilize approximately [ ] persons in its solicitation efforts.
18
Starboard estimates that its total expenditures relating to the solicitation of proxies to call the Special Meeting and the solicitation of proxies for approval of the Proposals at the Special Meeting will be approximately $[ ]. Total expenditures incurred to date relating to these solicitations have been approximately $[ ].
CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING THE PARTICIPANTS
Starboard Value and Starboard V&O Fund are participants in this solicitation of proxies, in addition to Starboard S LLC, Starboard C LP, Starboard Value GP, Principal Co, Principal GP, Starboard R LP, Starboard R GP, Mark R. Mitchell, Peter A. Feld and the Nominees.
The principal business of Starboard V&O Fund is serving as a private investment fund. Starboard V&O Fund has been formed for the purpose of making equity investments and, on occasion, taking an active role in the management of portfolio companies in order to enhance shareholder value. Starboard S LLC and Starboard C LP have been formed for the purpose of investing in securities and engaging in all related activities and transactions. Starboard Value LP provides investment advisory and management services and acts as the investment manager of Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard C LP and the Starboard Value LP Account and the manager of Starboard S LLC. The principal business of Starboard Value GP is providing a full range of investment advisory, pension advisory and management services and serving as the general partner of Starboard Value LP. The principal business of Principal Co is providing investment advisory and management services. Principal Co is a member of Starboard Value GP. Principal GP serves as the general partner of Principal Co. Starboard R LP serves as the general partner of Starboard C LP. Starboard R GP serves as the general partner of Starboard R LP. Messrs. Smith, Mitchell and Feld serve as members of Principal GP and the members of each of the Management Committee of Starboard Value GP and the Management Committee of Principal GP. Mr. Molinelli’s principal occupation is serving as Managing Director of Starboard Value LP. Mr. Delucca is the President of Atlantic & Gulf, Limited, L.L.C., an investment and consulting company. Mr. Fogarty is currently a private investor. Mr. Lankau is a principal in the consulting firm, Lankau Consulting LLC, which provides advisory and consulting services to support boards of directors and senior management of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, as well as venture capital and private equity firms. Ms. Pendergast is President of Pendergast Consulting, a legal and regulatory consulting firm to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
The address of the principal office of each of Starboard S LLC, Starboard C LP, Starboard R LP, Starboard R GP, Starboard Value LP, Starboard Value GP, Principal Co, Principal GP, and Messrs. Smith, Mitchell, Molinelli, and Feld is 777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10017. The address of the principal office of Starboard V&O Fund is 89 Nexus Way, Camana Bay, PO Box 31106, Grand Cayman KY1-1205, Cayman Islands. The principal business address of each of the other Nominees is set forth above.
As of the date hereof, Starboard V&O Fund directly owns 4,636,387 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Starboard S LLC directly owns 548,714 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, Starboard C LP directly owns 304,821 shares of Common Stock. Starboard R LP, as the general partner of Starboard C LP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 304,821 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Starboard C LP. Starboard R GP, as the general partner of Starboard R LP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 304,821 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Starboard C LP. As of the date hereof, 525,078 shares of Common Stock were held in an account managed by Starboard Value LP (the “Starboard Value LP Account”). Starboard Value LP, as the investment manager of each of Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard C LP and the Starboard Value LP Account and the manager of Starboard S LLC, may be deemed the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 6,015,000 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard S LLC and Starboard C LP and held in the Starboard Value LP Account. Each of Starboard Value GP, as the general partner of Starboard Value LP, Principal Co, as a member of Starboard Value GP, Principal GP, as the general partner of Principal Co and each of Messrs. Smith, Mitchell and Feld, as a member of Principal GP and as a member of each of the Management Committee of Starboard Value GP and the Management Committee of Principal GP, may be deemed the beneficial owner of the 6,015,000 shares of Common Stock directly owned by Starboard V&O Fund, Starboard S LLC and Starboard C LP and held in the Starboard Value LP Account. As of the date hereof, Mr. Fogarty directly owns 16,450 shares of Common Stock. As of the date hereof, none of Messrs. Molinelli, Delucca, or Lankau, nor Ms. Pendergast, directly or indirectly, own any securities of the Company.
19
Except as set forth in the Solicitation Statement (including the Exhibits and Annexes), no participant in this solicitation or any of his or its associates has a substantial interest, direct or indirect, by securities holdings or otherwise in any matter to be acted on at the Special Meeting.
Except as set forth in the Solicitation Statement (including the Exhibits and Annexes), (ii) during the past 10 years, no participant in this solicitation has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors); (ii) no participant in this solicitation directly or indirectly beneficially owns any securities of the Company; (iii) no participant in this solicitation owns any securities of the Company which are owned of record but not beneficially; (iv) no participant in this solicitation has purchased or sold any securities of the Company during the past two years; (v) no part of the purchase price or market value of the securities of the Company owned by any participant in this solicitation is represented by funds borrowed or otherwise obtained for the purpose of acquiring or holding such securities; (vi) no participant in this solicitation is, or within the past year was, a party to any contract, arrangements or understandings with any person with respect to any securities of the Company, including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies; (vii) no associate of any participant in this solicitation owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, any securities of the Company; (viii) no participant in this solicitation owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, any securities of any parent or subsidiary of the Company; (ix) no participant in this solicitation or any of his, her or its associates was a party to any transaction, or series of similar transactions, since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, or is a party to any currently proposed transaction, or series of similar transactions, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries was or is to be a party, in which the amount involved exceeds $120,000; (x) no participant in this solicitation or any of his, her or its associates has any arrangement or understanding with any person with respect to any future employment by the Company or its affiliates, or with respect to any future transactions to which the Company or any of its affiliates will or may be a party; (xi) no participant in this solicitation has a substantial interest, direct or indirect, by securities holdings or otherwise in any matter to be acted on at the Special Meeting; (xii) no participant in this solicitation holds any positions or offices with the Company; (xiii) no participant in this solicitation has a family relationship with any director, executive officer, or person nominated or chosen by the Company to become a director or executive officer; and (xiv) no corporations or organizations, with which any participant in this solicitation has been employed in the past five years, is a parent, subsidiary or other affiliate of the Company. Except as set forth in the Solicitation Statement (including the Exhibits and Annexes), there are no material proceedings to which any participant in this solicitation or any of his, her or its associates is a party adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or has a material interest adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
20
CERTAIN EFFECTS RELATED TO THIS SOLICITATION
2021 Notes
Based on a review of the Company’s public filings with the SEC, pursuant to the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 9, 2014 (the “Supplemental Indenture”), to the Indenture, dated as of September 9, 2014, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (the “Indenture”), regarding certain 2.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”), the Proposals, if passed, are not likely to result in any payments in connection with a “Fundamental Change” (i.e., change of control) (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture), which definition includes the consummation of (i) any recapitalization, reclassification or change of the Common Stock (other than changes resulting from a subdivision or combination) as a result of which the Common Stock would be converted into, or exchanged for, stock, other securities, other property or assets; (ii) any share exchange, consolidation or merger of the Company pursuant to which the Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property or assets; or (iii) any sale, lease or other transfer in one transaction or a series of transactions of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person other than one of the Company’s subsidiaries; provided, however, that a transaction described in clause (ii) in which all persons in whose names’ at the time each particular 2021 Note is registered in the Company’s note register of all classes of the Company’s Common Equity (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) immediately prior to such transaction own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of all classes of common equity of the continuing or surviving corporation or transferee or the parent thereof immediately after such transaction in substantially the same proportions as such ownership immediately prior to such transaction shall not be a Fundamental Change. However, any of the transactions listed in clauses (i) through (iii) of the foregoing sentence will not constitute a Fundamental Change if at least 90% of the consideration received or to be received by holders of Common Stock, excluding cash payments for fractional shares, in connection with such transaction or transactions consists of shares of publicly listed common stock and as a result of such transactions the 2021 Notes become convertible into such consideration, excluding cash payments for fractional shares. The Proposals, if passed, would not otherwise trigger a Fundamental Change under the 2021 Notes.
Senior Secured Notes
Further based on a review of the Company’s public filings with the SEC, pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 12, 2015, by and between the Company, the purchasers party thereto from time to time (“Purchasers”), and Deerfield Private Design Fund III, L.P. (the “Note Purchase Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company requested that the Purchasers purchase an aggregate principal amount of $575,000,000 of the Company’s senior secured notes (the “Senior Secured Notes”), the Proposals are not likely to result in any prepayment obligations and penalty prepayment premiums in connection with a “Major Transaction” under the Note Purchase Agreement. We cannot confirm whether this would be the case as of the date hereof as operative provisions of the Note Purchase Agreement as publicly disclosed have received confidential treatment. As publicly disclosed, a Major Transaction includes a consolidation, merger, exchange of shares, recapitalization, reorganization, business combination or any other event following which the holders of Common Stock immediately preceding such consolidation, merger, exchange, recapitalization, reorganization, combination or event either (i) no longer hold a majority of the shares of Common Stock or (ii) no longer have the ability to elect a majority of the Board.
21
2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Further based on a review of the Company’s public filings with the SEC, pursuant to the 2014 Omnibus Incentive Plan, effective as of February 19, 2014, Proposal 1 if passed without election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 or Proposal 1 if passed together with the election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 could each potentially result in a “Change in Control.” A Change in Control means any event so determined by the Board and that also constitutes a “change in the ownership or effective control” of the Company or change in “ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of the Company within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) (provided, that the Board may specify a definition of Change in Control in an award agreement that is not inconsistent with this definition of Change in Control), and, accordingly, the Board may so determine that Proposal 1 if passed without election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 or Proposal 1 if passed together with the election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 qualifies. In the event of a Change in Control, the Compensation Committee of the Board can accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an award, eliminate or make less restrictive any restrictions in an award, waive any restriction or other provision of the plan or an award or otherwise amend or modify an award in any manner that is, in either case, (i) not materially adverse to the participant to whom such award was granted, (ii) consented to by such participant or (iii) authorized by section 15(c) of the plan; provided, however, that subject to certain exceptions, no such action shall permit the term of any option or stock appreciation right to be greater than ten (10) years from its grant date.
2004 Equity Incentive Plan
Further based on a review of the Company’s public filings with the SEC, pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended on December 20, 2011, Proposal 1 if passed without election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 or Proposal 1 if passed together with the election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 could each potentially result in a “Change in Control” within the meaning of the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.
Examples of transactions or events that the Board may treat as Changes in Control are: (i) any person or entity, including a “group” as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, acquires securities holding 50% or more of the total combined voting power or value of the Company, or (ii) as a result of or in connection with a contested election of Company directors, the persons who were Company directors immediately before the election cease to constitute a majority of the Board. Accordingly, the Board could potentially provide that the passage of Proposal 1 without election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 or Proposal 1 if passed together with the election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 constitute a Change in Control.
In connection with a Change in Control, notwithstanding any other provision of the plan, the Board may, but need not, take any one or more of the following actions. The Board may, in its sole discretion, provide that the vesting of any or all award shares subject to vesting or a right of repurchase shall accelerate or lapse, as the case may be. If the Board exercises such discretion with respect to options, such options shall become exercisable in full prior to the consummation of such event at such time and on such conditions as the Board determines, and if such options are not exercised prior to the consummation of the event, they shall terminate at such time as determined by the Board. The Board need not have adopted the same rules for each award or each awardee. Subject to any greater rights granted to participants as described under the foregoing provisions, any outstanding awards shall be treated as provided in any applicable agreement or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets, as the case may be. In addition, the Board may extend the date for the exercise of awards (but not beyond their original expiration date). The Board need not adopt the same rules for each award or each awardee.
22
Different rules apply under the 2004 Equity Incentive Plan in respect of individuals who are non-employee directors. In the event of a Change in Control while the awardee remains a non-employee director, the shares at the time subject to each outstanding option held by such awardee pursuant to the plan, but not otherwise vested, shall automatically vest in full so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become exercisable for all the shares as fully vested shares and may be exercised for any or all of those vested shares. Each such option shall remain exercisable for such fully vested Shares until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term in connection with a Change in Control.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Further based on a review of the Company’s public filings with the SEC, pursuant to the 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended on February 19, 2014, the Proposals are not likely to result in the immediate termination of the “Offering Period” thereunder. Each Offering Period consists of four (4) six (6)-month purchase periods during which payroll deductions of the participants are accumulated under the plan. In the event of, among other things, a merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but after which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger (other than any shareholder that merges, or which owns or controls another corporation that merges, with the Company in such merger) cease to own their shares or other equity interest in the Company, each purchase right under the plan shall be assumed or an equivalent purchase right shall be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of the successor corporation, unless the successor corporation does not agree to assume the option or to substitute an equivalent purchase right, in which case the Board may determine, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such assumption or substitution, to shorten the Offering Period then in progress by setting a new purchase date.
Management Continuity Agreements
Further based on a review of the Company’s public filings with the SEC, Proposal 1 if passed without election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 or Proposal 1 if passed together with the election of any Nominee pursuant to Proposal 3 could each potentially trigger change in control payments under the May 2014 form of Management Continuity Agreement entered into with executive officers of the Company.
The Management Continuity Agreement provides, among other things, that in the event an executive officer is subject to an involuntary termination (a termination by the Company without “Cause” or by the executive for “Good Reason,” as those terms are defined in the Management Continuity Agreements) within ninety (90) days before or twenty-four (24) months following a “change in control”, the executive officer is entitled to receive: (i) 100% vesting acceleration of such officer’s unvested Company equity awards; (ii) subject to execution of a release of claims, severance payments for a period of twelve (12) months (if the officer is the chief executive officer) or twenty-four (24) months (if the officer is not the chief executive officer) equal to the base salary which the officer was receiving immediately prior to the change in control (or immediately prior to the termination, if greater); (iii) a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times (if such officer is the chief executive officer) or equal to (if the officer is not the chief executive officer) such officer’s annual bonus target for the Company’s fiscal year in which the termination occurs; and (iv) payment by the Company of the full cost of the health insurance benefits provided to such officers immediately prior to the change in control through the earlier of the end of the severance period or until such officer is no longer eligible for such benefits under applicable law. If the foregoing payments and benefits are subject to the “golden parachute” excise tax under the Internal Revenue Code, they will be reduced if and to the extent doing so would cause the executive to retain a greater amount on an after-tax basis.
23
Filed Agreements
We have not independently verified if the copies of the agreements discussed above in this section of the Solicitation Statement titled “Certain Effects Related to This Solicitation” (collectively, the “Filed Agreements”) and publicly filed by the Company with the SEC are the same as the executed copies of the Filed Agreements, and the analyses above are based on our review of the Company’s public SEC filings. While we are not aware of any, there may be other agreements that may be triggered by a change in control in connection the Proposals. The discussion of the potential impact of the Proposals is based entirely upon our review of the Filed Agreements and the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.
OTHER MATTERS
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 7999 Gateway Boulevard, Suite 300, Newark, California 94560. Except as otherwise noted herein, the information concerning the Company has been taken from or is based upon documents and records on file with the SEC and other publicly available information. Although Starboard does not have any knowledge that would indicate that any statement contained herein that is based upon such documents and records is untrue, it does not take any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in such documents and records, or for any failure by the Company to disclose events that may affect the significance or accuracy of such information. For information regarding the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of the Company, see [Schedule I.]
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
According to Depomed’s 2016 Annual Meeting proxy statement, shareholders who wish to submit proposals for inclusion in the Company’s proxy statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit such proposals so as to be received by Depomed at 7999 Gateway Blvd., Suite 300, Newark, California 94560, on or before December 15, 2016.
In addition, according to Depomed’s proxy statement for the Annual Meeting, the Company’s nominating and corporate governance committee will consider written proposals from shareholders for nominees for director. Any such nominations should be submitted to the nominating and corporate governance committee c/o the Secretary of the Company and should include (at a minimum) the following information: (a) all information relating to such nominee that is required to be disclosed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director, if elected); (b) the name(s) and address(es) of the shareholder(s) making the nomination and the number of shares of Common Stock which are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder(s); and (c) appropriate biographical information and a statement as to the qualifications of the nominee, and should be submitted in the time frame described in the Bylaws. Pursuant to the Bylaws, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Company Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than one-hundred-twenty (120) or more than one-hundred-fifty (150) days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders.
The information set forth above regarding the procedures for submitting shareholder proposals for consideration at Depomed’s 2017 Annual Meeting is based on information contained in Depomed’s 2016 proxy statement and Bylaws. The incorporation of this information in the Solicitation Statement should not be construed as an admission by Starboard that such procedures are legal, valid or binding.
24
YOUR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT
NO MATTER HOW MANY OR HOW FEW SHARES YOU OWN, WE ARE SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT. PLEASE COMPLETE, EXECUTE AND DATE THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IF YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ARE HELD IN THE NAME OF A BROKERAGE FIRM, BANK, BANK NOMINEE OR OTHER INSTITUTION, ONLY IT CAN SIGN THE [COLOR] PROXY CARD WITH RESPECT TO YOUR COMMON STOCK. ACCORDINGLY, PLEASE CONTACT THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ACCOUNT AND GIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR A [COLOR] PROXY CARD TO BE SIGNED REPRESENTING YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
WHOM YOU CAN CALL IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS
If you have any questions or require any assistance, please contact Okapi, Starboard’s proxy solicitor, at the following address and telephone numbers:
OKAPI PARTNERS LLC
1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 297-0720
Shareholders Call Toll-Free at: 855-208-8903
E-mail: info@okapipartners.com
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED [COLOR] PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE TO AVOID UNNECESSARY EXPENSE AND DELAY. NO POSTAGE IS NECESSARY.
| STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD |
| STARBOARD VALUE LP |
| [—], 2016 |
25
SCHEDULE I
TRANSACTIONS IN SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY
DURING THE PAST TWO (2) YEARS
| Nature of the Transaction | Amount of Securities Purchased/(Sold) | Date of Purchase/Sale |
STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD
| Purchase of Common Stock | 132,414 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 21,970 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 103,538 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,179 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 77,793 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 12,907 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 168,024 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 27,878 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 102,621 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,027 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 143,887 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 23,874 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,648 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 439 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 109,062 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 18,096 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 234,372 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 38,887 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 343,627 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 57,014 | 02/23/2016 |
I-1
| Purchase of Common Stock | 29,793 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,943 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 122,058 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 20,252 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 85,337 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,159 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 114,737 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 19,037 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 77,728 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 12,896 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 88,915 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,753 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 215,173 | 03/14/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (215,173) | 03/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 35,701 | 03/14/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (35,701) | 03/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 397,242 | 03/15/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (397,242) | 03/15/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 65,910 | 03/15/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (65,910) | 03/15/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 264,828 | 03/16/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (264,828) | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 43,940 | 03/16/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (43,940) | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 66,207 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 10,998 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 331,035 | 03/23/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (331,035) | 03/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 54,929 | 03/23/2016 |
I-2
| Sale of Common Stock | (54,929) | 03/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 51,024 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,476 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 84,414 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,022 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 129,390 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 21,494 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 132,414 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 21,996 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 160,869 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 26,723 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 19,549 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,248 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 84,411 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,022 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 215,173 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 35,743 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 115,862 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 19,247 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,255 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 541 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 62,952 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 10,457 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 99,311 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 16,497 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,284 | 04/01/2016 |
I-3
| Purchase of Common Stock | 548 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 45,979 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,662 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 59,117 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,852 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 22,990 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,831 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 124,802 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 20,798 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 52,548 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,757 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 28,836 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,805 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 214,199 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 35,695 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 29,558 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,926 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 118,233 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 19,703 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 82,106 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 13,682 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 32,843 | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 231,725 | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (231,725) | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,473 | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 38,448 | 04/07/2016 |
I-4
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (38,448) | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (264,828) | 04/08/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 264,828 | 04/08/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (43,941) | 04/08/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 43,941 | 04/08/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (198,621) | 04/11/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 198,621 | 04/11/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (32,956) | 04/11/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 32,956 | 04/11/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (264,828) | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 264,828 | 04/12/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (43,941) | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 43,941 | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 99,310 | 04/13/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (99,310) | 04/13/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 16,478 | 04/13/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (16,478) | 04/13/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 148,966 | 04/14/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (148,966) | 04/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 24,716 | 04/14/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (24,716) | 04/14/2016 |
STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY S LLC
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,660 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,600 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 12,245 | 02/17/2016 |
I-5
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,033 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,200 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,528 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 19,871 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,299 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 12,136 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,015 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,017 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,825 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 313 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 52 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 12,898 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,141 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 27,718 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,602 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 40,639 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,747 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,523 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 585 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,435 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,397 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 10,092 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,676 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 13,569 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,253 | 02/24/2016 |
I-6
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,192 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,526 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 10,516 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,746 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 25,447 | 03/14/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (25,447) | 03/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 4,225 | 03/14/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (4,225) | 03/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 46,979 | 03/15/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (46,979) | 03/15/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 7,800 | 03/15/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (7,800) | 03/15/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 31,320 | 03/16/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (31,320) | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 5,200 | 03/16/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (5,200) | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,743 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,287 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 39,124 | 03/23/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (39,124) | 03/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 6,496 | 03/23/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (6,496) | 03/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,967 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 992 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,872 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,641 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,132 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,515 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,486 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,574 | 03/28/2016 |
I-7
| Purchase of Common Stock | 18,814 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,127 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,286 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 380 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,872 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,641 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 25,165 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,183 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 13,550 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,252 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 381 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 63 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,362 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,224 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,614 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,930 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 396 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 66 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,542 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 928 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,125 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,193 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,771 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 464 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,042 | 04/04/2016 |
I-8
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,519 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,334 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,061 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,475 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 582 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 25,817 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,324 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,563 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 597 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,251 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,387 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,896 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,658 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,958 | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 27,400 | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (27,400) | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 663 | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,549 | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (4,549) | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (31,314) | 04/08/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 31,314 | 04/08/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (5,199) | 04/08/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,199 | 04/08/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (23,485) | 04/11/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 23,485 | 04/11/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (3,899) | 04/11/2016 |
I-9
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,899 | 04/11/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (31,314) | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 31,314 | 04/12/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (5,199) | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,199 | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,743 | 04/13/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (11,743) | 04/13/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,950 | 04/13/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (1,950) | 04/13/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,614 | 04/14/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (17,614) | 04/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,925 | 04/14/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (2,925) | 04/14/2016 |
STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY C LP
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,700 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,430 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,803 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,118 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,111 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 840 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,040 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,815 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,743 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,108 | 02/19/2016 |
I-10
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,453 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,554 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 174 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 29 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,166 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,178 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,399 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,531 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 22,578 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,711 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,958 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 322 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,020 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,318 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,607 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 921 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,539 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,239 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,107 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 840 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,842 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 960 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 14,138 | 03/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 2,324 | 03/14/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (14,138) | 03/14/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (2,324) | 03/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 26,101 | 03/15/2016 |
I-11
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 4,290 | 03/15/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (26,101) | 03/15/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock) | (4,290) | 03/15/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 17,400 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 2,860 | 03/16/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (17,400) | 03/16/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (2,860) | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,350 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 715 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 21,750 | 03/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 3,575 | 03/23/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (21,750) | 03/23/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (3,575) | 03/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,353 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 551 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,546 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 912 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,501 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,397 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,700 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,430 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 10,569 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,737 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,284 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 211 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,546 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 911 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,137 | 03/30/2016 |
I-12
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,324 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,613 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,251 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 214 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 35 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,136 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 680 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,525 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,073 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 218 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 36 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,045 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 510 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,915 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 655 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,522 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 255 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,265 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,383 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,480 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 582 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,910 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 320 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,185 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,374 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,957 | 04/06/2016 |
I-13
| Purchase of Common Stock | 327 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,830 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,310 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 5,438 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 910 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,175 | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,225 | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (15,225) | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 364 | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,503 | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (2,503) | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (17,400) | 04/08/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,400 | 04/08/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (2,860) | 04/08/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,860 | 04/08/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (2,145) | 04/11/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,145 | 04/11/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (13,051) | 04/11/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 13,051 | 04/11/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (17,400) | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,400 | 04/12/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (2,860) | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,860 | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,525 | 04/13/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (6,525) | 04/13/2016 |
I-14
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,072 | 04/13/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (1,072) | 04/13/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 9,788 | 04/14/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (9,788) | 04/14/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 1,609 | 04/14/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (1,609) | 04/14/2016 |
STARBOARD VALUE LP
(Through the Starboard Value LP Account)
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,226 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 13,469 | 02/17/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 21,859 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 10,121 | 02/18/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 13,350 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 18,719 | 02/19/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,188 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 345 | 02/22/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 30,490 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 44,703 | 02/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,876 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,879 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,102 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 14,926 | 02/24/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 10,112 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,567 | 02/25/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 27,992 | 03/14/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (27,992) | 03/14/2016 |
I-15
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 51,678 | 03/15/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (51,678) | 03/15/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 34,452 | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,700 | 03/16/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (34,452) | 03/16/2016 |
| Purchase of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | 43,091 | 03/23/2016 |
| Sale of Common Stock | (43,091) | 03/23/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,093 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,003 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,705 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,400 | 03/28/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,092 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 21,139 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 2,569 | 03/29/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 15,225 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 28,275 | 03/30/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 428 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 13,050 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,272 | 03/31/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 6,334 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 452 | 04/01/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 17,191 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 8,143 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,167 | 04/04/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 7,238 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 3,972 | 04/05/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 29,506 | 04/05/2016 |
I-16
| Purchase of Common Stock | 11,310 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 16,286 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,072 | 04/06/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 4,524 | 04/07/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 30,150 | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (30,150) | 04/07/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (34,458) | 04/08/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 34,458 | 04/08/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (25,843) | 04/11/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 25,843 | 04/11/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (34,458) | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 34,458 | 04/12/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 12,922 | 04/13/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (12,922) | 04/13/2016 |
| Purchase of Common Stock | 19,382 | 04/14/2016 |
| Sale of Cash-Settled Total Return Swap | (19,382) | 04/14/2016 |
JAMES P. FOGARTY
| Purchase of Common Stock | 16,450 | 04/07/2016 |
I-17
SCHEDULE II
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL HOLDERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth information regarding ownership of the Company’s common stock as of March 10, 2016 (or for information based on filings with the SEC as of the dates specified below) by (a) each person known to the Company to own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, (b) each director, (c) each named executive officer and (d) all current directors and executive officers as a group. The information in this table is based solely on statements in filings with the SEC or other information made available to the Company that is deemed reliable.
Name of Beneficial Owner(1) | Aggregate Number of Shares of Common Stock(2) | Number Subject to Convertible Securities Exercisable Within 60 days | Percentage of Common Stock(2) | |||||||||
| BlackRock, Inc(3) | 6,249,132 | (4) | — | 10.26 | % | |||||||
| Senvest Management, LLC(5) | 4,385,852 | (6) | — | 7.20 | % | |||||||
| The Vanguard Group(7) | 4,195,231 | (8) | — | 6.89 | % | |||||||
| Invesco Ltd.(9) | 3,564,579 | (10) | — | 5.85 | % | |||||||
| Oak Ridge Investments, LLC(11) | 3,044,921 | (12) | — | 5.00 | % | |||||||
| Starboard Value LP(13) | 5,640,000 | (14) | — | 9.26 | % | |||||||
| James A. Schoeneck(15) | 1,296,691 | 891,591 | 2.10 | % | ||||||||
| Thadd M. Vargas | 367,304 | 214,747 | * | |||||||||
| Matthew M. Gosling | 331,758 | 278,082 | * | |||||||||
| August J. Moretti | 321,850 | 295,531 | * | |||||||||
| Peter D. Staple | 219,556 | 137,054 | * | |||||||||
| David B. Zenoff | 184,152 | 162,054 | * | |||||||||
| Karen A. Dawes | 157,719 | 147,054 | * | |||||||||
| Srinivas G. Rao, MD | 86,072 | 79,163 | * | |||||||||
| R. Scott Shively | 82,261 | 79,531 | * | |||||||||
| Samuel R. Saks, M.D. | 75,784 | 72,887 | * | |||||||||
| Vicente Anido, Jr., Ph.D. | 72,056 | 69,554 | * | |||||||||
| Louis J. Lavigne, Jr. | 47,889 | 45,387 | * | |||||||||
| All current directors & executive officers as a group (12 persons) | 3,243,091 | 2,472,634 | 5.12 | % | ||||||||
____________________
| *Less than one percent |
| (1) | Except as otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner listed in the table is Depomed, Inc., 7999 Gateway Blvd., Suite 300, Newark, California 94560. |
| (2) | Beneficial ownership of shares is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC and generally includes any shares over which a person exercises sole or shared voting or investment power, or of which a person has the right to acquire ownership within 60 days. Percentage ownership is based on 60,913,101 shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding as of March 10, 2016. Shares of common stock subject to stock options and restricted stock units vesting on or before May 9, 2016 (within 60 days of March 10, 2016) are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of such person but are not treated as outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of other persons. Except as otherwise noted, each person or entity has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares shown. Unless otherwise noted, none of the shares shown as beneficially owned on this table are subject to pledge. |
| (3) | The address of BlackRock, Inc. is 55 East 52nd Street, New York, New York 10022. |
| (4) | Includes (i) 6,120,873 shares of common stock as to which BlackRock, Inc. has sole voting power and (ii) 6,249,132 shares of common stock as to which BlackRock, Inc. has sole dispositive power. This information was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed on January 8, 2016 with the SEC by BlackRock, Inc. |
| (5) | The address of Senvest Management, LLC is 540 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10022. The address of Richard Mashaal (who is the managing member of the Senvest Management, LLC) is c/o Senvest Management, LLC is 540 Madison Avenue, 32nd Floor, New York, New York 10022. |
| (6) | Represents 4,385,852 shares of common stock as to which Senvest Management, LLC has shared voting and shared dispositive power. This information was obtained from the Schedule 13G/A filed on February 12, 2016 with the SEC by Senvest Management, LLC and Richard Mashaal. |
| (7) | The address of The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355. |
| (8) | Includes (i) 131,783 shares of common stock as to which The Vanguard Group has voting power, (ii) 4,063,048 shares of common stock as to which The Vanguard Group has sole dispositive power, (iii) 4,100 shares of common stock as to which The Vanguard Group has shared voting power and (iv) 132,183 shares of common stock as to which The Vanguard Group has shared dispositive power. This information was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed on February 11, 2016 with the SEC by The Vanguard Group. |
II-1
| (9) | The address of Invesco Ltd. is 1555 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. |
| (10) | Represents 3,564,579 shares of common stock as to which Invesco Ltd. has sole voting power and sole dispositive power. This information was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed on February 8, 2016 with the SEC by Invesco Ltd. |
| (11) | The address of Oak Ridge Investments, LLC is 10 LaSalle Street, Suite 1900, Chicago, Illinois 60603. |
| (12) | Includes (i) 2,832,156 shares of common stock as to which Oak Ridge Investments LLC has sole voting power, (ii) 2,987,318 shares of common stock as to which Oak Ridge Investments LLC has sole dispositive power and (iii) 57,603 shares of common stock as to which Oak Ridge Investments LLC has shared dispositive power. This information was obtained from the Schedule 13G filed on February 3, 2016 with the SEC by Oak Ridge Investments, LLC. |
| (13) | The address for Starboard Value LP is 777 Third Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10017. |
| (14) | Represents 5,640,000 shares of common stock as to which Starboard Value LP has sole voting power and sole dispositive power. This information was obtained from Schedule 13D filed on April 7, 2016 and Schedule 13D/A filed on April 12, 2016 by Starboard Value LP and certain of its affiliates. |
| (15) | Includes 221,306 shares of common stock held in Mr. Schoeneck’s family trust and over which Mr. Schoeneck has shared voting power and shared dispositive power. |
II-2
EXHIBIT A
***PRELIMINARY SOLICITATION STATEMENT – SUBJECT TO COMPLETION***
FORM OF SPECIAL MEETING REQUEST FORM
Via Registered Mail and Personal Delivery
DEPOMED, INC.
7999 Gateway Blvd., Suite 300
Newark, California 94560
Attention: Any Designated Officer
Re: Request for Special Meeting of Shareholders of Depomed, Inc. (the “Company”)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to Section 2(d) of the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective July 12, 2015 (the “Bylaws”), this letter constitutes a Special Meeting Request (as defined in the Bylaws) (such letter, the “Special Meeting Request Form”) of the undersigned Company shareholder Starboard Value and Opportunity Master Fund Ltd (the “Requesting Shareholder”), an exempted company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands, which on its own behalf is the holder of record of 1,000 shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company (“Common Stock”) as of the Request Record Date (as defined in the Bylaws) and on behalf of all other Company shareholders submitting [COLOR] Proxy Cards authorizing the Requesting Shareholder to submit this Special Meeting Request Form on their behalves in respect of their shares of Common Stock (collectively with the Requesting Shareholder, the “Requesting Shareholders”), to be delivered to any Designated Officer (as defined in the Bylaws) for any such Designated Officer to call a special meeting of the Company’s shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) for the purposes and the matters proposed to be acted on at the Special Meeting set forth in the Record Date Request Notice (as defined in the Bylaws) delivered to the Company by the Requesting Shareholder on May 26, 2016 (the “Record Date Request Notice”), which purposes and matters are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full herein. On [—], 2016, the Requesting Shareholder, collectively with Starboard Value LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Starboard Value and Opportunity S LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Starboard Value and Opportunity C LP, Delaware limited partnership, Starboard Value GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Starboard Principal Co LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Starboard Principal Co GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, Starboard Value R LP, a Delaware limited partnership, Starboard Value R GP LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Jeffrey C. Smith, Mark R. Mitchell, Peter A. Feld, John J. Delucca, James P. Fogarty, Peter A. Lankau, Gavin T. Molinelli, and Mary K. Pendergast, also filed a definitive solicitation statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with soliciting the Company’s shareholders to call the Special Meeting (the “Solicitation Statement”).
The Requesting Shareholders are making this request because they believe adoption of the proposals as set forth in the Record Date Request Notice will greatly improve the composition of the Board in order to enhance shareholder value. The Requesting Shareholder, on behalf of itself and all the other Requesting Shareholders, hereby submits this Special Meeting Request Form to a Designated Officer by registered mail and personal delivery as of the date hereof, which is within thirty (30) days after the Request Record Date (as defined in the Bylaws), and requests that the Special Meeting be held on [—] and at [—], which, in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the California Corporations Code (“CGCL”) and the Bylaws, is no less than thirty-five (35) nor more than sixty (60) days from thirty (30) days after the Request Record Date. Subject to the CGCL and the Bylaws, the [COLOR] Proxy Card grants the Requesting Shareholder the discretion to specify such other date and such other time as it deems appropriate in an amended Special Meeting Request Form. The Requesting Shareholders collectively are the holders of [—] shares of Common Stock as of the Request Record Date and are thereby entitled to cast not less than 10% of the votes at the Special Meeting.
Attached hereto as Attachment A is the Requesting Shareholder Information Statement, which sets forth, for the Requesting Shareholder, the information that is required to be furnished in connection with this Special Meeting Request pursuant to the Bylaws and Rule 14a under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
The information, representations and other matters in Attachment A are incorporated herein by reference as if set forth in full herein.
This Special Meeting Request Form bears the date and signature of the Requesting Shareholder.
Any claim that this Special Meeting Request Form is in any way defective or deficient, and all further correspondence on this matter, should be addressed to [ ] at Okapi Partners, Inc., via mail at 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10036, by telephone at (800)[ ], or by email to info@okapipartners.com, so that there is adequate opportunity to address any such claim in a timely fashion.
[Signature Page Follows]
| Very truly yours, | ||
| STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD | ||
| Name: | Jeffrey C. Smith | |
| Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
| Date: | [to be date of signature] | |
[Signature Page to Special Meeting Request Form]
ATTACHMENT A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/REPRESENTATIONS
Requesting Shareholder and/or Control Person
Information and Representations
To Be Delivered as Part of the Special Meeting Request Form
| 1. | Set forth the name and address as they appear in the Company’s books of the Requesting Shareholder. |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such information as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| 2. | As to the Requesting Shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, with respect to the shares of the Company on whose behalf the business is proposed at the Special Meeting: |
| (a) | the name and address of such beneficial owner: |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such information as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (b) | the class or series and number of shares of stock of Depomed which are owned of record by such Requesting Shareholder and such beneficial owner as of the date of the Request Record Date; |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such information as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (c) | hereby represent and warrant that the Requesting Shareholder will notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for the Special Meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Company owned of record by the Requesting Shareholder and such beneficial owner as of the record date for the Special Meeting; and |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such representation and warranty as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (d) | hereby represent and warrant that the Requesting Shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting to propose such business as proposed in the Record Date Request Notice. |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such representation and warranty as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| 3. | As to the Requesting Shareholder or, if the Special Meeting Request Form is given on behalf of a beneficial owner on whose behalf the business is proposed at the Special Meeting, as to such beneficial owner, and if such Requesting Shareholder or beneficial owner is an entity, as to each director, executive, managing member or control person of such entity (any such individual or control person, a “control person”): |
| (a) | the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Company which are beneficially owned1 by such Requesting Shareholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the date of the Request Record Date: |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such information as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (b) | hereby represent and warrant that the Requesting Shareholder will notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for the Special Meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Company beneficially owned by such Requesting Shareholder or beneficial owner and by any control person as of the record date for the Special Meeting; |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such representation and warranty as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (c) | a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the business to be brought at the Special Meeting between or among such Requesting Shareholder, beneficial owner or control person and any other person, including without limitation any agreements that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of the Exchange Act Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable); |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such information as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (d) | a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including without limitation any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Special Meeting Request Form by, or on behalf of, such Requesting Shareholder, beneficial owner or control person, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit from changes in the share price of any class or series of the Company’s stock, or maintain, increase or decrease the voting power of the Requesting Shareholder, beneficial owner or control person with respect to securities of the Company; |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such information as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth herein as of the date hereof.
1 For purposes of this disclosure, shares of Common Stock shall be treated as “beneficially owned” by a person if the person beneficially owns such shares, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Regulations 13D and 13G thereunder or has or shares pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing): (A) the right to acquire such shares (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time or the fulfillment of a condition or both), (B) the right to vote such shares, alone or in concert with others and/or (C) investment power with respect to such shares, including the power to dispose of, or to direct the disposition of, such shares.
| (e) | hereby represent and warrant that the Requesting Shareholder will notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for the Special Meeting of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the Special Meeting; |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such representation and warranty as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (f) | hereby represent and warrant whether the Requesting Shareholder or the beneficial owner, if any, will engage in a solicitation with respect to the business to be proposed and, if so, the name of each participant (as defined in Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in such solicitation and whether such person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s stock required to approve or adopt the business to be proposed (in person or by proxy) by the Requesting Shareholder; and |
The Requesting Shareholder incorporates by reference herein such representation and warranty as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
| (g) | all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act. |
All such information is incorporated by reference herein as provided in the Record Date Request Notice as though set forth in full herein as of the date hereof.
EXHIBIT B
***PRELIMINARY SOLICITATION STATEMENT – SUBJECT TO COMPLETION***
[COLOR] PROXY CARD INSTRUCTION SHEET
If you want Starboard Value and Opportunity Master Fund Ltd (“Starboard”), an affiliate of Starboard Value LP, to submit the Special Meeting Request Form (attached as Exhibit A to the definitive Solicitation Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Starboard on [—], 2016) on your behalf as a shareholder of Depomed, Inc., you should submit the following item to Okapi Partners LLC (“Okapi”), proxy solicitor for Starboard, at 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10022, Toll-free: ([ ]) [ ]:
| · | a completed, signed and dated [COLOR] Proxy Card in the form furnished to you. |
Okapi will gather all such [COLOR] Proxy Cards and coordinate the submission of such proxies and the Special Meeting Request Form on behalf of any Requesting Shareholders (as defined in the Special Meeting Request Form) to Depomed, Inc.
If you have questions about submitting your [COLOR] Proxy Card, please contact the firm assisting us in this solicitation:
OKAPI PARTNERS LLC
1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 297-0720
Shareholders Call Toll-Free at: [__________]
E-mail: info@okapipartners.com
***PRELIMINARY SOLICITATION STATEMENT – SUBJECT TO COMPLETION***
[COLOR] PROXY CARD
THIS PROXY IS BEING SOLICITED BY STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD AND NOT BY
DEPOMED, INC. OR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DEPOMED, INC.
Please sign and date your [COLOR] proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided or return it to: Okapi Partners LLC, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10036, Attn: [ ]
[COLOR] PROXY CARD
DEPOMED, INC.
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
TO CALL A SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF STARBOARD VALUE AND OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUND LTD
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF DEPOMED, INC. IS NOT SOLICITING THIS
PROXY
The undersigned requesting shareholder (the “Requesting Shareholder”) hereby appoints Starboard Value and Opportunity Master Fund Ltd (“Starboard”) proxy, with full power of substitution, to submit the valid Special Meeting Request Form as completed and executed by Starboard and attached as Exhibit A to the Solicitation Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Starboard on [—], 2016, and any modifications, amendments or updates thereto, to any Designated Officer (as defined in the Special Meeting Request Form) on behalf of the Requesting Shareholder to call a special meeting of shareholders of Depomed, Inc. (the “Company”) to be held on such date and at other time as requested and deemed appropriate by Starboard in the Special Meeting Request Form in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the California Corporations Code and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (the “Special Meeting”). The Requesting Shareholder is a holder of record as of the Record Request Date (as defined in the Special Meeting Request Form) of shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company. The Requesting Shareholder hereby provides that its name and address (as it appears in the Company’s books) is as set forth on this proxy card. The Requesting Shareholder hereby represents and warrants that (i) such Requesting Shareholder will notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for the Special Meeting of the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Company owned of record by such Requesting Shareholder and (ii) that such Requesting Shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting to propose such business as proposed in the Starboard Record Date Request Notice (as defined in the Special Meeting Request Form).
THIS PROXY, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL GRANT STARBOARD A PROXY TO REQUEST THE SPECIAL MEETING. A PROPERLY EXECUTED PROXY FOR WHICH NO INSTRUCTION IS GIVEN WILL GRANT STARBOARD A PROXY TO REQUEST THE SPECIAL MEETING.
ý PLEASE MARK AS IN THIS EXAMPLE.
¨ REQUEST SPECIAL MEETING
¨ DO NO REQUEST SPECIAL MEETING
| Requesting Shareholder Name |
| Signature |
| Joint Signature (Title) |
| Date |
Please sign exactly as name appears hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If a corporation, please sign in full corporate name by authorized officer, giving full title. If a partnership, please sign partnership name by authorized person, giving full title.