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INFORMATION REGARDING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE |
Arlo combines an intelligent cloud infrastructure and mobile app with a variety of smart connected devices that is transforming the way people experience the connected lifestyle. Arlo’s deep expertise in product design, wireless connectivity, cloud infrastructure and cutting-edge AI capabilities focuses on delivering a seamless, smart home experience for Arlo users that is easy to setup and interact with every day. Our cloud-based platform provides users with visibility, insight and a powerful means to help protect and connect in real-time with the people and things that matter most, from any location with a Wi-Fi or a cellular connection. The Company primarily generates revenue by selling devices through retail, wholesale distribution, wireless carrier channels, security solution providers, Arlo's direct to consumer store and paid subscription services. The Company was incorporated in Delaware on January 5, 2018.
On February 6, 2018, NETGEAR announced that its board of directors had unanimously approved the pursuit of a separation of its Arlo business from NETGEAR (the “Separation”) to be effected through an initial public offering (the “IPO”) of newly issued shares of the common stock of Arlo, then a wholly owned subsidiary of NETGEAR. On July 6, 2018, the Company filed a registration statement (as amended, the “IPO Registration Statement”) relating to the IPO of common stock of Arlo with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Following a series of restructuring steps prior to the completion of the IPO of Arlo common stock, the Arlo business was transferred from NETGEAR to Arlo (collectively, the “Contribution”).
On August 2, 2018, NETGEAR and Arlo announced the pricing of the IPO of 10,215,000 shares of Arlo’s common stock at a price to the public of $16.00 per share. On August 3, 2018, Arlo’s shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “ARLO.” On August 7, 2018, the Company completed its IPO of 11,747,250 shares of common stock (including 1,532,250 shares of common stock pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, which was exercised in full on August 3, 2018), at $16.00 per share, before underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering costs. Cash proceeds from the IPO were $173.4 million, net of the portion of the offering cost paid by Arlo, which portion was $1.4 million. The total offering cost was $4.6 million, of which $3.2 million was paid by NETGEAR.
Prior to the completion of the IPO, the Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of NETGEAR and upon the closing of the IPO (including the issuance of additional shares of common stock pursuant to the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares, which was exercised in full) on August 7, 2018, NETGEAR owned approximately 84.2% of the shares of Arlo’s outstanding common stock.
On November 29, 2018, NETGEAR announced that its board of directors had approved a special stock dividend (the “Distribution”) to NETGEAR stockholders of the 62,500,000 shares of Arlo common stock owned by NETGEAR. The Distribution was made on December 31, 2018 (the “Distribution Date”) to all NETGEAR stockholders of record as of the close of business on December 17, 2018 (the “Record Date”). In the Distribution, each NETGEAR stockholder of record on the Record Date received 1.980295 shares of Arlo common stock for every share of NETGEAR common stock held on the Record Date, subject to cash in lieu of fractional shares. The Distribution was intended to qualify as generally tax free to NETGEAR stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In connection with the Distribution, 62,500,000 shares of Arlo common stock held by NETGEAR were distributed to its stockholders and NETGEAR is no longer considered a related party to the Company.
Independence of the Board of Directors
As required under the NYSE listing standards, a majority of the members of a listed company’s board of directors must qualify as “independent,” as affirmatively determined by the board of directors. Our Board consults with the Company’s counsel to ensure that the Board’s determinations are consistent with relevant securities and other laws and regulations regarding the definition of “independent,” including those set forth in pertinent listing standards of NYSE, as in effect from time to time.