As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 14, 2021
No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PING IDENTITY HOLDING CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | | 81-2933383 (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) | |
1001 17th Street, Suite 100
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 468-2900
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 468-2900
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
Andre Durand
Chief Executive Officer
1001 17th Street, Suite 100
Denver, Colorado 80202
Telephone: (303) 468-2900
Chief Executive Officer
1001 17th Street, Suite 100
Denver, Colorado 80202
Telephone: (303) 468-2900
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
| Robert M. Hayward, P.C. Robert E. Goedert, P.C. Michael P. Keeley Kirkland & Ellis LLP 300 North LaSalle Chicago, Illinois 60654 (312) 862-2000 | | | Eric C. Jensen Matthew P. Dubofsky David R. Ambler Cooley LLP 1144 15th Street Suite 2300 Denver, Colorado 80202 (720) 566-4000 | |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer ☒ | | | Accelerated filer ☐ | |
| Non-accelerated filer ☐ | | | Smaller reporting company ☐ | |
| | | | Emerging growth company ☐ | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered | | | | Amount to be Registered(1) | | | | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share(2) | | | | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price | | | | Amount of Registration Fee | | ||||||||||||
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share | | | | | | 32,735,350 | | | | | | $ | 24.82(2) | | | | | | $ | 812,491,387 | | | | | | $ | 88,642.81 | | |
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this registration statement shall also cover an indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock that may become issuable as a result of any stock splits, stock dividends, reclassifications, recapitalizations, combinations or similar transactions.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act and based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on June 11, 2021.
PROSPECTUS
Ping Identity Holding Corp.
32,735,350 Shares of Common Stock
This prospectus covers the resale by the selling shareholders identified in this prospectus of up to an aggregate of 32,735,350 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“common stock”), of Ping Identity Holding Corp. (“Ping Identity,” the “Company,” “we” or “us”).
We are not selling any shares of common stock under this prospectus, and we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale or other disposition of shares of common stock by the selling shareholders.
These securities may be offered and sold by the selling shareholders from time to time in accordance with the provisions set forth under “Plan of Distribution.” The selling shareholders may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. The selling shareholders may offer and sell these securities at various times in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of such offerings. This prospectus describes the general terms of these securities and the general manner in which the selling shareholders will offer and sell these securities. A prospectus supplement, if needed, will describe the specific manner in which the selling shareholders will offer and sell these securities and also may add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The names of any underwriters and the specific terms of a plan of distribution, if needed, will be stated in the prospectus supplement.
Our common stock is listed on The New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “PING.” The last reported closing sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $24.69 per share on June 11, 2021.
INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES A NUMBER OF RISKS. SEE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 6 TO READ ABOUT FACTORS YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 14, 2021.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Using this process, the selling shareholders may offer the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of us and the securities that may be offered by the selling shareholders. Because each of the selling shareholders may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, each time securities are offered by the selling shareholders pursuant to this prospectus, the selling shareholders may be required to provide you with this prospectus and, in certain cases, a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the selling shareholders and the terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add to, update or change the information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Please carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, in addition to the information contained in the documents we refer to under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference.”
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement, including any information incorporated by reference. Neither we nor the selling shareholders have authorized anyone to provide you with any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus made available by us. We and the selling shareholders take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you.
You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the cover of this prospectus and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the date indicated on the cover page of such documents.
The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe these restrictions. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which the offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making the offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so, or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make the offer or solicitation.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our common stock. For a more complete understanding of us and this offering, you should read and carefully consider the entire prospectus, including the more detailed information set forth under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, the financial statements and related notes and other information that we incorporate by reference herein, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Some of the statements in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Ping Identity”, the “Company”, “our company”, “we”, “us” and “our” in this prospectus refer to Ping Identity Holding Corp. and, where appropriate, its consolidated subsidiaries. The term “Vista” or “our Sponsor” refers to Vista Equity Partners, our equity sponsor, and the term “Vista Funds” refers to Vista Equity Partners Fund VI, L.P., Vista Equity Partners Fund VI-A, L.P. and VEPF VI FAF, L.P.
Our Mission
Our mission is to secure the digital world through Intelligent Identity.
Overview
Ping Identity is the Intelligent Identity solution for the enterprise. We enable companies to achieve Zero Trust identity-defined security and more personalized, streamlined user experiences. The Ping Intelligent Identity Platform provides customers, workforce and partners with secure, convenient access to their applications whether they are software-as-a-service (“SaaS”), mobile, in the cloud or on-premise. We leverage artificial intelligence (“AI”) and machine learning (“ML”) to analyze device, network, application and user behavior data to make real-time authentication and security control decisions, enhancing the user experience. Our platform is designed to detect anomalies and automatically insert additional security measures, such as multi-factor authentication, only when necessary. We built our platform to meet the requirements of the most demanding enterprises, including over 60% of the Fortune 100. Our cloud-based platform has differentiated deployment flexibility to support multi-cloud and on-premise infrastructures to meet the diverse and demanding requirements of large enterprise customers. Our platform offers a comprehensive suite of turnkey integrations and is able to scale to millions of identities and thousands of cloud and on-premise applications in a single deployment.
The Ping Intelligent Identity Platform can secure all primary identity use cases, including customer, workforce, partner and increasingly, the Internet of Things (“IoT”). For example, enterprises can use our platform to enhance their customers’ user experience by creating a single ID and login across web and mobile properties. For the year ended December 31, 2020, 45% of our subscription revenue was derived from the customer use case. Enterprises can also use our platform to provide their workforce and commercial partners with secure, seamless access from any device to the applications, data and APIs they need to be productive.
The Ping Intelligent Identity Platform is comprised of multiple solutions that can be purchased individually or integrated as a more complete set of solutions for the customer, workforce, partner or IoT use case:
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secure single sign-on;
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adaptive multi-factor authentication;
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security control for applications and APIs;
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personalized and unified profile directories;
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centralized, fine-grained control over access to sensitive identity and device data;
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risk signal capture and analysis to make more intelligent authentication and authorization decisions;
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identity verification services to prove an individual’s identity with facial biometrics and government issued IDs; and
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AI and ML powered API security.
Our offerings are predominately priced based on the solution, use case and number of identities. We sell our platform through subscription-based contracts, and substantially all of our customers pay annually in advance. We sell our solutions primarily through direct sales, which are enhanced by collaboration with our channel partners, resellers, system integrators and technology partners. This includes sourcing new leads, aiding in pre-sale processes (such as proof of concepts, demos or requests for proposals) and reselling our solutions to customers. We also leverage a number of our channel partners and system integrators to provide the implementation services for some of our larger and more complex deployments, significantly increasing the time-to-value for our customers and maximizing the efficiency of our go-to-market efforts.
Risks Factor Summary
There are a number of risks related to our business, our indebtedness, and our common stock. You should carefully consider all the information presented in this section entitled “Risk Factors” in this prospectus. Some of the principal risks include the following:
Risks relating to our business include, among others:
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our ability to adapt to rapid technological change, evolving industry standards and changing customer needs, requirements or preferences;
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our ability to enhance and deploy our cloud-based offerings while continuing to effectively offer our on-premise offerings;
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our ability to maintain or improve our competitive position;
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the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic;
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the impact on our business of a network or data security incident or unauthorized access to our network or data or our customers’ data;
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the effects on our business if we are unable to acquire new customers, if our customers do not renew their arrangements with us, or if we are unable to expand sales to our existing customers or develop new solutions or solution packages that achieve market acceptance;
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our ability to manage our growth effectively, execute our business plan, maintain high levels of service and customer satisfaction or adequately address competitive challenges;
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our dependence on our senior management team and other key employees;
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our ability to enhance and expand our sales and marketing capabilities;
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our ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel to execute our growth plan;
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the risks associated with interruptions or performance problems of our technology, infrastructure and service providers;
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our dependence on Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure services;
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the impact of data privacy concerns, evolving regulations of cloud computing, cross-border data transfer restrictions and other domestic and foreign laws and regulations; and
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the impact of volatility in quarterly operating results.
Risks relating to our indebtedness include, among others:
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how our existing indebtedness could adversely affect our business and growth prospects;
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the fact that we may still be able to incur substantially more indebtedness or make certain restricted payments, which could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness, despite our current indebtedness levels and restrictive covenants;
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our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to service all of our indebtedness, and that we may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under such indebtedness, which may not be successful;
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the risks associated with the financing documents governing our senior secured credit facilities, which restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions; and
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our ability to refinance our indebtedness.
Risks relating to our common stock include, among others:
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the ownership of a large portion of our common stock by Vista, and Vista’s ability to influence certain of our corporate actions, which may conflict with our or your interests in the future;
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the potential strain on our resources and management that the requirements of being a public company could cause, which could make it difficult to manage our business;
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the risks associated with the provisions of our corporate governance documents that could make an acquisition of us more difficult and may prevent attempts by our shareholders to replace or remove our current management, even if beneficial to our shareholders;
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the risks associated with the designation of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain litigation that may be initiated by our shareholders in our certificate of incorporation, which could limit our shareholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us;
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the potential that an active, liquid trading market for our common stock may not be sustained, which may limit your ability to sell your shares; and the potential volatility of our operating results and stock price, and the potential that the market price of our common stock may drop below the price you paid.
Our Sponsor
We have a valuable relationship with our equity sponsor, Vista. In May 2016, Vista formed our company for the purpose of acquiring all of the capital stock of Ping Identity Corporation. We refer to this transaction as the “Vista Acquisition”.
Vista is a U.S.-based investment firm with offices in Austin, San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Oakland with more than $75 billion in assets under management. Vista exclusively invests in software, data and technology-enabled organizations led by world-class management teams. As a value-added investor with a long-term perspective, Vista contributes professional expertise and multi-level support towards companies to realize their potential. Vista’s investment approach is anchored by a sizable long-term capital base, experience in structuring technology-oriented transactions and proven management techniques that yield flexibility and opportunity.
General Corporate Information
We were incorporated in 2016 as Roaring Fork Holding, Inc., a Delaware corporation, in connection with the Vista Acquisition. Effective August 22, 2019, the name of our company was changed to Ping Identity Holding Corp. Our principal executive offices are located at 1001 17th Street, Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80202. Our telephone number is (303) 468-2900. Our website address is www.pingidentity.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website as part of this prospectus or in deciding whether to purchase our common stock. We are a holding company and all of our business operations are conducted through our subsidiaries.
This prospectus includes our trademarks and service marks such as “Ping Identity”, “Ping Intelligent Identity”, and “Ping Intelligent Identity Platform”, which are protected under applicable intellectual property
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laws and are the property of us or our subsidiaries. This prospectus also contains trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of other companies, such as “Amazon” which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ® or ™ symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the rights of the applicable licensor to these trademarks and trade names.
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THE OFFERING
Common stock offered by the selling shareholders
Up to 32,735,350 shares
Terms of the offering
The selling shareholders will determine when and how they sell the shares of common stock offered in this prospectus, as described in “Plan of Distribution.”
Use of proceeds
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock being offered in this prospectus. See “Use of Proceeds.”
NYSE symbol
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “PING.”
Risk factors
You should read the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus for a discussion of factors to consider carefully before deciding to invest in shares of our common stock.
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RISK FACTORS
Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in this prospectus or any applicable prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference herein or therein. The risks so described are not the only risks facing our company. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. Furthermore, the trading price of our securities could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “projects,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “targets,” “anticipates” and similar expressions generally identify these forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include statements relating to our future financial condition and operating results, as well as any other statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact.
Forward-looking statements are based on expectations and assumptions that we believe to be reasonable when made, but that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in our forward-looking statements is contained under “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference (and in any of our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for subsequent periods that are so incorporated). Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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USE OF PROCEEDS
We are not selling any shares of common stock under this prospectus, and we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of common stock by the selling shareholders. All shares of common stock offered by this prospectus are being registered for the account of the selling shareholders.
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SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
This prospectus covers the possible resale by the selling shareholders identified in this prospectus of up to an aggregate of 32,735,350 shares of our common stock, which consists of shares held by the Vista Funds.
The selling shareholders and any brokers, dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of shares of common stock may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts, concessions, commissions or fees received by them and any profit on the resale of shares sold by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
The following table sets forth information about the maximum number of shares of common stock that may be offered from time to time by the selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholders identified below may acquire at any time shares in addition to those registered hereby. In addition, the selling shareholders identified below may sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of some or all of their shares in transactions exempt from or not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Accordingly, we cannot give an estimate as to the number of shares that will be held by the selling shareholders upon termination of this offering. The information set forth below is based on information provided by or on behalf of the selling shareholders prior to the date hereof. Information concerning the selling shareholders may change from time to time.
Name of Selling Shareholder | | | Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering | | | Shares of Common Stock Offered Hereby | | | Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned After Completion of the Offering(1) | | |||||||||||||||
| Number | | | Percentage | | ||||||||||||||||||||
Vista Funds(2) | | | | | 32,735,350 | | | | | | 32,735,350 | | | | | | — | | | | | | — | | |
(1)
Assumes the selling shareholders sell all of the shares of common stock offered pursuant to this prospectus.
(2)
Represents 20,253,616 shares held directly by Vista Equity Partners Fund VI, L.P., 12,235,273 shares held directly by Vista Equity Partners Fund VI-A, L.P. and 246,461 shares held directly by VEPF VI FAF, L.P. Vista Equity Partners Fund VI GP, L.P., or Fund VI GP, is the sole general partner of each of the Vista Funds. Fund VI GP’s sole general partner is VEPF VI GP, Ltd., or Fund VI UGP. Robert F. Smith is the Sole Director of Fund VI UGP, as well as one of its 11 Members. VEPF Management, L.P., or Management Company, is the sole management company of each of the Vista Funds. The Management Company’s sole general partner is VEP Group, LLC, or the VEP Group, and the Management Company’s sole limited partner is Vista Equity Partners Management, LLC, or VEPM. VEP Group is the Senior Managing Member of the VEPM. Robert F. Smith is the sole Managing Member of VEP Group. Consequently, Mr. Smith, Fund VI GP, Fund VI UGP, the Management Company and VEP Group may be deemed the beneficial owners of the shares held by the Vista Funds. Certain affiliates of the Vista Funds may make a contribution of shares of our common stock to a certain charity prior to the consummation of an offering. In such case, the recipient charity, if it chooses to participate in such offering, will be the selling shareholder with respect to the donated shares. Any such contribution will not change the aggregate number of shares being offered by the selling shareholders. The principal business address of each of the Vista Funds, Fund VI UGP, the Management Company and the VEP Group is c/o Vista Equity Partners, 4 Embarcadero Center, 20th Fl., San Francisco, California 94111. The principal business address of Mr. Smith is c/o Vista Equity Partners, 401 Congress Drive, Suite 3100, Austin, Texas 78701.
Director Nomination Agreement
We are party to a Director Nomination Agreement with Vista that provides Vista the right to designate nominees for election to our Board for so long as Vista beneficially owns 5% or more of the total number of shares of our common stock that it owned as of the completion of our initial public offering. Vista may also assign its designation rights under the Director Nomination Agreement to an affiliate.
The Director Nomination Agreement provides Vista the right to designate: (i) all of the nominees for election to our Board for so long as Vista beneficially owns 40% or more of the total number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by Vista upon completion of our initial public offering, as adjusted for any reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar changes in the Company’s capitalization, or such amount of shares, as adjusted, the Original Amount; (ii) a number of directors (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to 40% of the total directors for so long as Vista beneficially owns at least 30% and less than 40% of the Original Amount; (iii) a number of directors (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to 30% of the total directors for so long as Vista beneficially owns at least 20% and less than 30% of the Original Amount; (iv) a
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number of directors (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to 20% of the total directors for so long as Vista beneficially owns at least 10% and less than 20% of the Original Amount; and (v) one director for so long as Vista beneficially owns at least 5% and less than 10% of the Original Amount. In each case, Vista’s nominees must comply with applicable law and stock exchange rules. In addition, Vista shall be entitled to designate the replacement for any of its board designees whose board service terminates prior to the end of the director’s term regardless of Vista’s beneficial ownership at such time. Vista shall also have the right to have its designees participate on committees of our Board proportionate to its stock ownership, subject to compliance with applicable law and stock exchange rules. The Director Nomination Agreement will also prohibit us from increasing or decreasing the size of our Board without the prior written consent of Vista. This agreement will terminate at such time as Vista owns less than 5% of the Original Amount.
Registration Rights Agreement
We are party to a registration rights agreement with Vista. Vista is entitled to request that we register Vista’s shares on a long-form or short-form registration statement on one or more occasions in the future, which registrations may be “shelf registrations”. Vista is also entitled to participate in certain of our registered offerings, subject to the restrictions in the registration rights agreement. We will pay Vista’s expenses in connection with Vista’s exercise of these rights. The registration rights described in this paragraph apply to (i) shares of our common stock held by Vista and its affiliates and (ii) any of our capital stock (or that of our subsidiaries) issued or issuable with respect to the common stock described in clause (i) with respect to any dividend, distribution, recapitalization, reorganization, or certain other corporate transactions, or Registrable Securities. These registration rights are also for the benefit of any subsequent holder of Registrable Securities; provided that any particular securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when they have been sold in a registered public offering, sold in compliance with Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, or repurchased by us or our subsidiaries. In addition, with the consent of the company and holders of a majority of Registrable Securities, any Registrable Securities held by a person other than Vista and its affiliates will cease to be Registrable Securities if they can be sold without limitation under Rule 144 of the Securities Act.
Relationship with VCG
Following the Vista Acquisition, we have utilized Vista Consulting Group, LLC, or VCG, the operating and consulting arm of Vista, for consulting services and executive recruitment, and have also reimbursed VCG for expenses related to participation by Ping Identity employees in VCG sponsored events and for certain enterprise software licenses utilized by Ping Identity, and also paid to VCG related fees and expenses. We recorded expenses to VCG of $0.9 million, $0.7 million and $0.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and no expenses for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. We may continue to engage VCG from time to time, subject to compliance with our related party transactions policy.
Arrangements with Companies Controlled by Vista
We have subscription arrangements for our solutions with companies controlled by Vista. We recognized revenue in connection with these agreements of $1.9 million, $0.6 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and $0.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. We also purchase services from companies controlled by Vista. We recognized expense of $0.3 million, $0.5 million and $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, and $0.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2021. We believe all of these arrangements are on comparable terms that are provided to unrelated third parties.
Term Loan Facility
From time to time, Vista may acquire loans incurred by us either from us, in open market transactions or through loan syndications. In connection with our entry into the 2018 Term Loan Facility on January 25, 2018, affiliates of Vista collectively acquired $35.0 million of term loans under our 2018 Term Loan
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Facility. During the year ended December 31, 2019, the largest principal amount of debt under the 2018 Term Loan Facility held by affiliates of Vista was $34.8 million. In conjunction with the repayment of debt using proceeds from our initial public offering and the refinancing of the 2018 Credit Facilities, affiliates of Vista received proceeds of $27.5 million and $7.1 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2019, affiliates of Vista were paid $34.8 million in principal and $1.7 million in interest on the portion of the 2018 Term Loan Facility, respectively, held by them.
Other Material Relationships
To our knowledge, none of the selling shareholders has, or has had within the past three years, any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our predecessors or affiliates, other than as described above and other than (i) their ownership of our common stock and (ii) certain members of our board of director’s employment at Vista.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The offered shares are being registered to permit the selling shareholders to offer and sell the offered shares from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale or other distribution of the common stock. We will bear the fees and expenses incurred by us in connection with our obligation to register the offered securities pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement. If the shares are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, we will not be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agents’ commissions.
The selling shareholders may act independently of us in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each of their sales. The selling shareholders and certain of their successors, including certain transferees and assignees, may make sales of the shares of common stock included in this prospectus from time to time through one or more methods specified herein or through a combination of any of such methods or any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. Such offers and sales may be made directly to purchasers, through underwriters, to dealers or through agents, on any stock exchange on which the shares are listed or otherwise at prices and under terms prevailing at the time of the sale, at prices related to the then-current market price, at fixed prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, at privately negotiated prices or any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. Such sales may be effected by a variety of methods, including the following:
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in market transactions or on any national securities exchange or quotation service or over-the-counter market on which the shares may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
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in transactions other than on such exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market;
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in privately negotiated transactions;
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through one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis, including through overnight underwritten offerings or bought deals;
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through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions (including the issuance by the selling shareholders of derivative securities), whether the options or such other derivative securities are listed on an options exchange or otherwise;
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through the settlement of certain short sales entered into after the date of this prospectus;
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purchases by the broker-dealer as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus;
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a block trade in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may resell all or a portion of the block as principal in order to facilitate the transaction;
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in a public auction;
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transactions in which a broker-dealer may agree with the selling shareholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;
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transactions in which the broker-dealer as agent solicits purchasers and ordinary brokerage transactions by the broker-dealer as agent;
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an offering at other than a fixed price on or through the facilities of any stock exchange on which the shares are then listed or to or through a market maker other than on that stock exchange;
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through any combination of the foregoing methods of sale; or
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through any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The selling shareholders may enter into derivative transactions with third parties or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions.
A selling shareholder that is an entity may elect to make a pro rata in-kind distribution of shares of our common stock to its members, partners or shareholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part by delivering a prospectus. To the extent that such members, partners
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or stockholders are not affiliates of such selling shareholder, such members, partners or shareholders would thereby receive freely tradeable shares of our common stock pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement.
The selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or any other person, in connection with such broker dealer or other person who may in turn engage in short sales of the shares of common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling shareholders also may sell shares short and deliver shares covered by this prospectus to close out the short positions or loan, pledge, or grant a security interest in, some or all the shares owned by them to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares.
The selling shareholders may also directly make offers to sell some or all of the shares of common stock included in this prospectus to, or solicit offers to purchase such shares from, purchasers from time to time.
If the selling shareholders use one or more underwriters in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account, and they may resell these securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be offered and sold to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. In connection with those sales, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from the selling shareholders in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the shares for which they may act as agents. Underwriters may resell the shares to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of one or more discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and commissions from purchasers for which they may act as agents.
From time to time, the selling shareholders may sell the shares of common stock included in this prospectus to one or more dealers acting as principals. The dealers, which may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, may then resell the shares to purchasers.
The selling shareholders may designate broker-dealers as agents from time to time to solicit offers from purchasers to purchase the shares of common stock included in this prospectus, or to sell such shares in ordinary brokerage transactions, on their behalf. Such broker-dealers may be deemed to be “underwriters” as that term is defined in the Securities Act in such offering.
The selling shareholders or their respective underwriters, broker-dealers, or agents may make sales of the shares of common stock that are deemed to be an at-the-market offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, which includes sales of such shares made directly on or through any stock exchange on which the shares are listed, the existing trading market for the shares, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
From time to time, one or more of the selling shareholders may pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in some or all of the shares of common stock owned by them. In the event of default, the pledgees, secured parties or persons to whom the shares have been hypothecated will, to the extent registration rights are transferable and are transferred upon foreclosure, be deemed to be selling shareholders under this prospectus. The number of shares offered under this prospectus by a given selling shareholder will decrease as and when such events occur. In addition, a selling shareholder may, from time to time, sell the shares short, and, in those instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with the short sales, and the shares offered under this prospectus may be used to cover short sales.
In addition to the transactions described above, the selling shareholders may sell the shares of common stock included in this prospectus in compliance with available exemptions from the registration requirements under the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this prospectus.
The selling shareholders may decide to sell all or a portion of the securities offered by them pursuant to this prospectus or may decide not to sell any securities under this prospectus. In addition, the selling shareholders may transfer, sell or dispose of the securities by other means not described in this prospectus.
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The selling shareholders and any other persons participating in the sale or distribution of shares of common stock will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M. Regulation M may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the shares by the selling shareholders and any other such persons. In addition, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the shares to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares being distributed for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. This may affect the marketability of the shares and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the shares.
To the extent required, the securities to be sold, the names of the selling shareholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offering will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.
We have agreed to indemnify, in certain circumstances, the selling shareholders against certain liabilities to which they may become subject in connection with the sale of the shares of common stock included in this prospectus, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. Each of the selling shareholders has agreed to indemnify us in certain circumstances against certain liabilities to which we may become subject in connection with the sale of such shares, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. We have also agreed that if the indemnification described above is held by a court or government agency of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to any indemnified party or is insufficient to hold them harmless in respect of any losses, then each such indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and of such indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. We and the selling shareholders may agree to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of the shares included in this prospectus against certain liabilities to which they may become subject in connection with the sale of such shares, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may engage in transactions with and may perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
We have agreed to pay the expenses of the registration of the shares of common stock offered and sold by the selling shareholders under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, including, but not limited to, all registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of our counsel and accountants, and to reimburse the selling shareholders for any legal fees and expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending against certain liabilities. The selling shareholders will pay any underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the shares sold by the selling shareholders.
A prospectus and accompanying prospectus supplement in electronic form may be made available on the websites maintained by the underwriters of a given offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of securities for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Such allocations of securities for internet distributions will be made on the same basis as other allocations. In addition, securities may be sold by the underwriters to securities dealers who resell securities to online brokerage account holders.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. The place and time of delivery for the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
In connection with offerings of securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and in compliance with applicable law, underwriters, brokers or dealers may engage in transactions that stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market. Specifically, underwriters, brokers or dealers may over-allot in connection with offerings, creating a short position in the securities for their own accounts. For the
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purpose of covering a syndicate short position or stabilizing the price of the securities, the underwriters, brokers or dealers may place bids for the securities or effect purchases of the securities in the open market. Finally, the underwriters may impose a penalty whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other brokers or dealers for distribution of the securities in offerings may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the syndicate repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to cover short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market, and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on or through any stock exchange on which the shares are listed, the existing trading market for the shares, or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and 50,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share. As of June 10, 2021, we had 82,086,665 shares of common stock outstanding held by 45,415 shareholders of record and no shares of preferred stock outstanding, 3,661,363 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding stock options and 4,224,335 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of outstanding RSUs. After consummation of this offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, we expect to have 82,086,665 shares of our common stock outstanding, and expect to have no shares of preferred stock outstanding. The following description of our capital stock is intended as a summary only and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and to the applicable provisions of the DGCL.
Common Stock
Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may apply to shares of preferred stock outstanding at the time, holders of outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available at the times and in the amounts as our Board may determine from time to time.
Voting Rights
Each outstanding share of common stock are entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. Holders of shares of our common stock shall have no cumulative voting rights.
Preemptive Rights
Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive or other similar subscription rights to purchase any of our securities.
Conversion or Redemption Rights
Our common stock is neither convertible nor redeemable.
Liquidation Rights
Upon our liquidation, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive pro rata our assets that are legally available for distribution, after payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding.
Preferred Stock
Our Board may, without further action by our shareholders, from time to time, direct the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series and may, at the time of issuance, determine the designations, powers, preferences, privileges, and relative participating, optional or special rights as well as the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of our common stock. Holders of shares of preferred stock may be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of our liquidation before any payment is made to the holders of shares of our common stock. Under certain circumstances, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management. Upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the total
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number of directors then in office, our Board, without shareholder approval, may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of shares of our common stock and the market value of our common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Our Bylaws
Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the DGCL contain provisions, which are summarized in the following paragraphs, that are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our Board. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our Board to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have an anti-takeover effect and may delay, deter or prevent a merger or acquisition of the Company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in its best interest, including those attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for the shares of common stock held by shareholders.
These provisions include:
Classified Board
Our certificate of incorporation provides that our Board be divided into three classes of directors, with the classes as nearly equal in number as possible, and with the directors serving three-year terms. As a result, approximately one-third of our Board will be elected each year. The classification of directors will have the effect of making it more difficult for shareholders to change the composition of our Board. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors will be fixed exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by our Board. Our Board has nine members.
Shareholder Action by Written Consent
Our certificate of incorporation precludes shareholder action by written consent at any time when Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 35% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
Special Meetings of Shareholders
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, except as required by law, special meetings of our shareholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of our Board or the chairman of our Board; provided, however, at any time when Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 35% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, special meetings of our shareholders shall also be called by our Board or the chairman of our Board at the request of Vista. Our bylaws prohibits the conduct of any business at a special meeting other than as specified in the notice for such meeting. These provisions may have the effect of deferring, delaying or discouraging hostile takeovers, or changes in control or management of the Company.
Advance Notice Procedures
Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for shareholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of our shareholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to our Board; provided, however, at any time when Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 10% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, such advance notice procedure will not apply to Vista. Shareholders at an annual meeting will only be able to consider proposals or nominations specified in the notice of meeting or brought before the meeting by or at the direction of our Board or by a shareholder who was a shareholder of record on the record date for the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has given our Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the shareholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Although the bylaws do not give our Board the power to approve or disapprove shareholder nominations of candidates or proposals regarding other business to be conducted at a special or annual meeting, the
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bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company. These provisions do not apply to nominations by Vista pursuant to the Director Nomination Agreement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions — Director Nomination Agreement” in our Proxy Statement for our 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which is incorporated by reference, for more details with respect to the Director Nomination Agreement.
Removal of Directors; Vacancies
Our certificate of incorporation provides that directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class; provided, however, at any time when Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 40% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, directors may only be removed for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662∕3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the rights granted to one or more series of preferred stock then outstanding, any newly created directorship on our Board that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on our Board will be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, by a sole remaining director.
Supermajority Approval Requirements
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that our Board is expressly authorized to make, alter, amend, change, add to, rescind or repeal, in whole or in part, our bylaws without a shareholder vote in any matter not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Delaware and our certificate of incorporation. For as long as Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, at least 50% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of our bylaws by our shareholders will require the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of our stock entitled to vote on such amendment, alteration, change, addition, rescission or repeal. At any time when Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 50% in voting power of all outstanding shares of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of our bylaws by our shareholders will require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662∕3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Since, as of the date of this prospectus, Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 50% in voting power of all outstanding shares of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, any amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of our bylaws by our shareholders will require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662∕3% in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class.
The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless the certificate of incorporation requires a greater percentage.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that at any time when Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, less than 50% in voting power of the stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, the following provisions in our certificate of incorporation may be amended, altered, repealed or rescinded only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 662∕3% (as opposed to a majority threshold that would apply if Vista beneficially owns, in the aggregate, 50% or more) in voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class:
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the provision requiring a 662∕3% supermajority vote for shareholders to amend our bylaws;
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the provisions providing for a classified board of directors (the election and term of our directors);
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the provisions regarding resignation and removal of directors;
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the provisions regarding entering into business combinations with interested shareholders;
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the provisions regarding shareholder action by written consent;
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the provisions regarding calling special meetings of shareholders;
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the provisions regarding filling vacancies on our Board and newly created directorships;
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the provisions eliminating monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty by a director; and
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the amendment provision requiring that the above provisions be amended only with a 662∕3% supermajority vote.
The combination of the classification of our Board, the lack of cumulative voting and the supermajority voting requirements will make it more difficult for our existing shareholders to replace our Board as well as for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our Board. Because our Board has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for existing shareholders or another party to effect a change in management.
Authorized but Unissued Shares
Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without shareholder approval, subject to stock exchange rules. These additional shares may be utilized for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. One of the effects of the existence of authorized but unissued common stock or preferred stock may be to enable our Board to issue shares to persons friendly to current management, which issuance could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise, and thereby protect the continuity of our management and possibly deprive our shareholders of opportunities to sell their shares of common stock at prices higher than prevailing market prices.
Business Combinations
We are not subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested shareholder” for a three-year period following the time that the person becomes an interested shareholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes, among other things, a merger, asset or stock sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or did own within three years prior to the determination of interested shareholder status, 15% or more of the corporation’s voting stock.
Under Section 203, a business combination between a corporation and an interested shareholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions: (1) before the shareholder became an interested shareholder, the board of directors approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder; (2) upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers, and employee stock plans, in some instances; or (3) at or after the time the shareholder became an interested shareholder, the business combination was approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested shareholder.
A Delaware corporation may “opt out” of these provisions with an express provision in its original certificate of incorporation or an express provision in its certificate of incorporation or bylaws resulting from a shareholders’ amendment approved by at least a majority of the outstanding voting shares.
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We have opted out of Section 203; however, our certificate of incorporation contains similar provisions providing that we may not engage in certain “business combinations” with any “interested shareholder” for a three-year period following the time that the shareholder became an interested shareholder, unless:
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prior to such time, our Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder;
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upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding certain shares; or
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at or subsequent to that time, the business combination is approved by our Board and by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 662∕3% of our outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested shareholder.
Under certain circumstances, this provision will make it more difficult for a person who would be an “interested shareholder” to effect various business combinations with the Company for a three-year period. This provision may encourage companies interested in acquiring the Company to negotiate in advance with our Board because the shareholder approval requirement would be avoided if our Board approves either the business combination or the transaction which results in the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our Board and may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions which shareholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that Vista, and any of its direct or indirect transferees and any group as to which such persons are a party, do not constitute “interested shareholders” for purposes of this provision.
Dissenters’ Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the DGCL, with certain exceptions, our shareholders will have appraisal rights in connection with a merger or consolidation of us. Pursuant to the DGCL, shareholders who properly request and perfect appraisal rights in connection with such merger or consolidation will have the right to receive payment of the fair value of their shares as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Shareholders’ Derivative Actions
Under the DGCL, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a holder of our shares at the time of the transaction to which the action relates or such shareholder’s stock thereafter devolved by operation of law.
Exclusive Forum
Our certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if the Court of Chancery does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware) will be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our shareholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws or (4) any other action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer of the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, the forum selection provision that identifies the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the exclusive forum for certain litigation, including any “derivative action”, will not apply to suits to enforce a duty or liability created by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our certificate
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of incorporation described above. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law for the specified types of actions and proceedings, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against us or our directors and officers.
Conflicts of Interest
Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or shareholders. Our certificate of incorporation, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounces any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to certain of our officers, directors or shareholders or their respective affiliates, other than those officers, directors, shareholders or affiliates who are our or our subsidiaries’ employees. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of Vista or any director who is not employed by us (including any non-employee director who serves as one of our officers in both his director and officer capacities) or his or her affiliates will have any duty to refrain from (1) engaging in a corporate opportunity in the same or similar lines of business in which we or our affiliates now engage or propose to engage or (2) otherwise competing with us or our affiliates. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the event that Vista or any non-employee director acquires knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself or himself or its or his affiliates or for us or our affiliates, such person will have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us or any of our affiliates and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity. Our certificate of incorporation does not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is expressly offered to a non-employee director solely in his or her capacity as a director or officer of the Company. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no business opportunity will be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for us unless we would be permitted to undertake the opportunity under our certificate of incorporation, we have sufficient financial resources to undertake the opportunity, and the opportunity would be in line with our business.
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors
The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties, subject to certain exceptions. Our certificate of incorporation includes a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the DGCL. The effect of these provisions will be to eliminate the rights of us and our shareholders, through shareholders’ derivative suits on our behalf, to recover monetary damages from a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, including breaches resulting from grossly negligent behavior. However, exculpation will not apply to any director if the director has acted in bad faith, knowingly or intentionally violated the law, authorized illegal dividends or redemptions or derived an improper benefit from his or her actions as a director.
Our bylaws provide that we must indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We also are expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification and advancement provisions and insurance will be useful to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.
The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions that are included in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breaches of their fiduciary duty. These provisions also may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
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There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The transfer agent’s address is 6201 15th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11219 and its phone number is (800) 937-5449.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “PING”.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The following discussion is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax effects. The effects of other U.S. federal tax laws, such as estate and gift tax laws, and any applicable state, local or non-U.S. tax laws are not discussed. This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, or Treasury Regulations, judicial decisions, and published rulings and administrative pronouncements of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, in each case as in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities may change or be subject to differing interpretations. Any such change or differing interpretation may be applied retroactively in a manner that could adversely affect a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock. We have not sought and will not seek any rulings from the IRS regarding the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance the IRS or a court will not take a contrary position to those discussed below regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our common stock.
This discussion is limited to Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax consequences relevant to a Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances, including the impact of the Medicare contribution tax on net investment income. In addition, it does not address consequences relevant to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including, without limitation:
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U.S. expatriates and former citizens or long-term residents of the U.S.;
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persons subject to the alternative minimum tax;
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persons holding our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy or as part of a conversion transaction or other integrated investment;
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banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions;
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real estate investment trusts or regulated investment companies;
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brokers, dealers or traders in securities;
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“controlled foreign corporations”, “passive foreign investment companies”, and corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;
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partnerships or other entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and investors therein);
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tax-exempt organizations or governmental organizations;
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persons deemed to sell our common stock under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;
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persons who hold or receive our common stock pursuant to the exercise of any employee stock option or otherwise as compensation;
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persons that own, or are deemed to own, more than five percent of our capital stock (except to the extent specifically set forth below);
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“qualified foreign pension funds” (within the meaning of Section 897(1)(2) of the Code and entities, all of the interests of which are held by qualified foreign pension funds); and
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tax-qualified retirement plans.
If any partnership or arrangement classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds our common stock, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will depend on the status of the partner, the activities of the partnership and certain determinations made at the partner level. Accordingly, partnerships holding our common stock and partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to them.
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INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF OUR COMMON STOCK ARISING UNDER THE U.S. FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX LAWS OR UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE INCOME TAX TREATY.
Definition of a Non-U.S. Holder
For purposes of this discussion, a “Non-U.S. Holder” is any beneficial owner of our common stock that is neither a “United States person” nor an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A United States person is any person that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is or is treated as any of the following:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.;
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a corporation, or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the U.S. any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or
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a trust that (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and the control of one or more “United States persons” (within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code), or (2) has a valid election in effect to be treated as a United States person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Distributions
As described in the section entitled “Dividend Policy”, we do not anticipate declaring or paying dividends to holders of our common stock in the foreseeable future. However, if we do make distributions of cash or property on our common stock, such distributions will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Amounts not treated as dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes will constitute a return of capital and first be applied against and reduce a Non-U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in its common stock, but not below zero. Any excess will be treated as capital gain and will be treated as described below under “Sale or Other Taxable Disposition”.
Subject to the discussion below on effectively connected income, backup withholding, and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty, provided the Non-U.S. Holder furnishes to us or our paying agent prior to the payment of dividends a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E (or other applicable documentation) certifying qualification for the lower treaty rate). A Non-U.S. Holder that does not timely furnish the required documentation, but that qualifies for a reduced treaty rate, may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their entitlement to benefits under any applicable income tax treaty.
If dividends paid to a Non-U.S. Holder are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the U.S. to which such dividends are attributable), the Non-U.S. Holder will be exempt from the U.S. federal withholding tax described above. To claim the exemption, the Non-U.S. Holder must furnish to the applicable withholding agent a valid IRS Form W-8ECI, certifying that the dividends are effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the U.S.
Any such effectively connected dividends will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on
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its effectively connected earnings and profits (as adjusted for certain items), which will include such effectively connected dividends. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding any applicable tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Sale or Other Taxable Disposition
Subject to the discussion below on backup withholding and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized upon the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:
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the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the U.S. (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, the Non-U.S. Holder maintains a permanent establishment in the U.S. to which such gain is attributable);
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the Non-U.S. Holder is a nonresident alien individual present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met; or
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our common stock constitutes a U.S. real property interest, or USRPI, by reason of our status as a U.S. real property holding corporation, or USRPHC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Gain described in the first bullet point above generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the regular rates. A Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation also may be subject to a branch profits tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on its effectively connected earnings and profits (as adjusted for certain items), which will include such effectively connected gain.
A Non-U.S. Holder described in the second bullet point above will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate specified by an applicable income tax treaty) on any gain derived from the disposition, which may generally be offset by U.S. source capital losses of the Non-U.S. Holder (even though the individual is not considered a resident of the U.S.), provided the Non-U.S. Holder has timely filed U.S. federal income tax returns with respect to such losses.
With respect to the third bullet point above, we believe we currently are not, and do not anticipate becoming, a USRPHC. Because the determination of whether we are a USRPHC depends, however, on the fair market value of our USRPIs relative to the fair market value of our non-U.S. real property interests and our other business assets, there can be no assurance we currently are not a USRPHC or will not become one in the future. Even if we are or were to become a USRPHC, gain arising from the sale or other taxable disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder of our common stock will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax if our common stock is “regularly traded”, as defined by applicable Treasury Regulations, on an established securities market, and such Non-U.S. Holder owned, actually and constructively, five percent or less of our common stock throughout the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the sale or other taxable disposition or the Non-U.S. Holder’s holding period. If we were to become a USRPHC and our common stock were not considered to be “regularly traded” on an established securities market during the calendar year in which the relevant disposition by a Non-U.S. holder occurs, such Non-U.S. holder (regardless of the percentage of stock owned) would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock and a 15% withholding tax would apply to the gross proceeds from such disposition.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potentially applicable income tax treaties that may provide for different rules.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of dividends on our common stock generally will not be subject to backup withholding, provided the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know the Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person and the Non-U.S. Holder either certifies its non-U.S. status, such as by furnishing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI, or otherwise establishes an exemption. However, information returns are required to be filed with the IRS in connection with any
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dividends on our common stock paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld. In addition, proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock within the U.S. or conducted through certain U.S.-related brokers generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting if the applicable withholding agent receives the certification described above and does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. If a Non-U.S. Holder does not provide the certification described above or the applicable withholding agent has actual knowledge or reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a United States person, payments of dividends or of proceeds of the sale or other taxable disposition of our common stock may be subject to backup withholding at a rate currently equal to 24% of the gross proceeds of such dividend, sale, or taxable disposition Proceeds of a disposition of our common stock conducted through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to backup withholding or information reporting.
Copies of information returns that are filed with the IRS may also be made available under the provisions of an applicable treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is established.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.
Additional Withholding Tax on Payments Made to Foreign Accounts
Subject to the discussion below regarding recently issued Proposed Treasury Regulations, withholding taxes may be imposed under Sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code (such Sections commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, on certain types of payments made to non-U.S. financial institutions and certain other non-U.S. entities. Specifically, a 30% withholding tax may be imposed on dividends on, or gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our common stock paid to a “foreign financial institution” or a “non-financial foreign entity” (each as defined in the Code) (including, in some cases, when such foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity is acting as an intermediary), unless (1) the foreign financial institution undertakes certain diligence and reporting obligations, (2) the non-financial foreign entity either certifies it does not have any “substantial United States owners” (as defined in the Code) or furnishes identifying information regarding each direct and indirect substantial United States owner, or (3) the foreign financial institution or non-financial foreign entity otherwise qualifies for an exemption from these rules. If the payee is a foreign financial institution and is subject to the diligence and reporting requirements in (1) above, it must enter into an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Treasury requiring, among other things, that it undertake to identify accounts held by certain “specified United States persons” or “United States-owned foreign entities” (each as defined in the Code), annually report certain information about such accounts, and withhold 30% on certain payments to noncompliant foreign financial institutions and certain other account holders. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.
Under the applicable Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance, withholding under FATCA generally applies to payments of dividends on our common stock, and subject to recently issued Proposed Treasury Regulations described below, to payments of gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of such stock. On December 13, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released proposed regulations (the preamble to which specifies that taxpayers may rely on them pending finalization) which would eliminate FATCA withholding on the gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our common stock. There can be no assurance that the proposed regulations will be finalized in their present form.
Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the potential application of withholding under FATCA to their investment in our common stock.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC (File No. 001-39056). The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the site is http://www.sec.gov. This reference to the SEC’s website is an inactive textual reference only and is not a hyperlink.
We are subject to the reporting, proxy and information requirements of the Exchange Act, and are required to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available at the website of the SEC referred to above, as well as on our website, https://www.pingidentity.com. This reference to our website is an inactive textual reference only and is not a hyperlink. The contents of our website are not part of this prospectus, and you should not consider the contents of our website in making an investment decision with respect to our common stock. We will furnish our shareholders with annual reports containing audited financial statements and quarterly reports containing unaudited interim financial statements for each of the first three quarters of each year.
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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we provide in other documents filed by us with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the following documents that we have filed with the SEC (other than portions of these documents that are either (i) described in paragraph (e) of Item 201 of Registration S-K or paragraphs (d)(1)-(3) and (e)(5) of Item 407 of Regulation S-K or (ii) deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, including pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K (including any financial statements or exhibits relating thereto furnished pursuant to Item 9.01), unless otherwise indicated therein):
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our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed on May 5, 2021;
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•
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In addition, all documents subsequently filed by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than portions of these documents that are either (i) described in paragraph (e) of Item 201 of Registration S-K or paragraphs (d)(1)-(3) and (e)(5) of Item 407 of Regulation S-K or (ii) deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules, including pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K (including any financial statements or exhibits relating thereto furnished pursuant to Item 9.01), unless otherwise indicated therein), until all offerings under the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part are completed or terminated, will be considered to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the dates of the filing of such documents. The most recent information that we file with the SEC automatically updates and supersedes more dated information.
We will provide, without charge, to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the reports and documents referred to above that have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should direct requests for those documents to:
Ping Identity Holding Corp.
1001 17th Street, Suite 100
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 468-2900
1001 17th Street, Suite 100
Denver, Colorado 80202
(303) 468-2900
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the issuance of our common stock offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago, Illinois. Certain partners of Kirkland & Ellis LLP are members of a limited partnership that is an investor in one or more investment funds affiliated with Vista or are investors in the issuer of common stock in this offering. Kirkland & Ellis LLP represents entities affiliated with Vista in connection with legal matters. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cooley LLP, Denver, Colorado.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”), an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
In connection with our initial public offering, PwC completed an independence assessment to evaluate the services and relationships with the Company and its affiliates that may bear on PwC’s independence under the SEC and the PCAOB (United States) independence rules for an audit period commencing January 1, 2017. PwC informed us that certain of its member firms within PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity (“PwC member firm”), were engaged to perform non-audit services by entities that were under common control by Vista. These non-audit services and business relationship are not in accordance with the auditor independence standards of Regulation S-X and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and are described below.
Commencing in January 2018 and continuing through March 2018, a PwC member firm provided certain legal services to an entity under common control by Vista. The fees for these services were approximately EUR 2,900 (approximately $3,300) (fees for the services were not invoiced or collected).
Commencing in May 2018 and continuing through August 2018, a PwC member firm entered into a business relationship for the purposes of jointly providing services with an entity under common control by Vista. While there was an active joint business relationship agreement in place during the period of affiliation, no joint marketing activities or services took place during such period. There were no fees paid in connection with this business relationship.
Commencing in May 2018 and continuing through August 2018, a PwC member firm assisted an entity under common control by Vista with the drafting and filing of a statistical payroll related report with a local non-tax authority. The fees for these services were approximately EUR 1,400 per month (approximately $1,600 per month).
Commencing in May 2018 and continuing through August 2018, a PwC member firm provided legal and secretarial services to an entity under common control by Vista. The fees for these services were approximately EUR 700 (approximately $800).
PwC noted the business relationship and non-audit services were entered into when the entities were not considered affiliates of the Company pursuant to the standards under which the audit engagement was performed (U.S. GAAS). The filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part necessitates compliance with the SEC’s independence rules. The Board and management of the Company and PwC have separately considered the impact that the business relationships and non-audit services may have had on PwC’s independence with respect to us.
After consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances, management, our Board and PwC have concluded that PwC is capable of exercising objective and impartial judgment in connection with their audit of the Company’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 and that no reasonable investor would conclude otherwise.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets for the various expenses expected to be incurred in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby. Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement relating to an offering by selling shareholders, all such expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, will be paid by us.
| SEC registration fee | | | | $ | 88,643 | | |
| Financial Industry Regulatory Authority filling fee | | | | | (1) | | |
| Printing expenses | | | | | * | | |
| Accounting and engineers’ fees and expenses | | | | | * | | |
| Legal fees and expenses | | | | | * | | |
| Transfer agent fees and expenses | | | | | * | | |
| Miscellaneous | | | | | * | | |
| Total | | | | | * | | |
*
Estimated expenses are not presently known.
(1)
This fee is calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, allows a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached the duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit. Our certificate of incorporation provides for this limitation of liability.
Section 145 of the DGCL, or Section 145, provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any person who was, is or is threatened to be made, party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was illegal. A Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who are, were or are a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests, provided that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer, director, employee or agent is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably incurred.
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Section 145 further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him under Section 145.
Our bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and that we must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise.
We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors. The indemnification agreements provide the executive officers and directors with contractual rights to indemnification, expense advancement and reimbursement, to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL.
The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of our certificate of incorporation or bylaws, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
We will maintain standard policies of insurance that provide coverage (1) to our directors and officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act and (2) to us with respect to indemnification payments that we may make to such directors and officers. The proposed form of Underwriting Agreement to be filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Registration Statement provides for indemnification of our directors and officers by the underwriters party thereto against certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 or otherwise.
Item 16. Exhibits.
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Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
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(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Denver, State of Colorado, on June 14, 2021.
Ping Identity Holding Corp.
By:
/s/ ANDRE DURAND
Name: Andre Durand
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Title: Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned directors and officers of Ping Identity Holding Corp. hereby appoint each of Lauren Romer and Raj Dani, as attorney-in-fact for the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, to sign and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) and exhibits to this registration statement on Form S-3 (or any other registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) and any and all applications and other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to the registration of the securities covered hereby, with full power and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever requisite and necessary or desirable, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | | | Title | | | Date | |
| /s/ ANDRE DURAND Andre Durand | | | Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ RAJ DANI Raj Dani | | | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ ADRIANA CARPENTER Adriana Carpenter | | | Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ ROD ALIABADI Rod Aliabadi | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ DAVID A. BREACH David A. Breach | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ MICHAEL FOSNAUGH Michael Fosnaugh | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| Signature | | | Title | | | Date | |
| /s/ LISA HOOK Lisa Hook | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ PAUL E. MARTIN Paul E. Martin | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ JOHN MCCORMACK John McCormack | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ YANCEY L. SPRUILL Yancey L. Spruill | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ MARTIN TAYLOR Martin Taylor | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |
| /s/ Diane Gherson Diane Gherson | | | Director | | | June 14, 2021 | |