in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of Olink (including, but not limited to, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations).
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, neither Parent nor Buyer or, to the best knowledge of Parent and Buyer, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto, has had any business relationship or transaction with Olink or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates that is required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to the Offer. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, there have been no contacts, negotiations or transactions between Parent or Buyer or any of their subsidiaries, or, to the best knowledge of Parent and Buyer, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, on the one hand, and Olink or its affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of securities, an election of directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets during the past two (2) years.
Available Information. Pursuant to Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange Act, we have filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (the “Schedule TO”), of which this Offer to Purchase forms a part, and exhibits to the Schedule TO. The Schedule TO and the exhibits thereto, as well as other information filed by Parent and Buyer with the SEC, are available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
| Source and Amount of Funds. |
As of the date of the Purchase Agreement, Parent and Buyer had access to sufficient cash or other sources of immediately available funds, and as of the Closing Date, Parent and Buyer will have sufficient cash on hand or other sources of immediately available funds, in each case, to enable Buyer to consummate the Offer, the Compulsory Redemption and the other transactions pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement and to satisfy all of Buyer’s obligations under the Purchase Agreement, including to pay the aggregate Offer Consideration and to pay all amounts required to consummate the Offer and the Compulsory Redemption. Parent and Buyer expressly acknowledge and agree that their obligations under the Purchase Agreement, including their obligations to consummate the Offer and the Compulsory Redemption or any of the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, are not subject to, or conditioned on, the receipt or availability of any funds or financing. Parent and Buyer anticipate funding such cash requirements using Parent’s available cash on hand and may, in Parent’s sole discretion, draw down upon Parent’s existing debt facilities or enter into new debt arrangements.
| Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Olink. |
Parent’s senior management team regularly considers, evaluates and discusses with the board of directors of Parent (the “Parent Board”) potential strategic alternatives, and has considered ways to enhance Parent’s performance and prospects in light of competitive and other relevant developments. These reviews have included periodic discussions with respect to potential transactions and collaborations that would further Parent’s strategic objectives and the potential benefits and risks of such transactions.
In early May 2023, representatives of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“J.P. Morgan”), on behalf of the Company, reached out to Paul Parker, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development of Parent and his senior team members, to gauge, on the basis of publicly available information, Parent’s interest in, and knowledge of, the Company. Between early May and mid-June 2023, J.P. Morgan, on behalf of the Company, held additional initial discussions and shared introductory materials about the Company based on publicly available information with Parent.
From early June through late July 2023, J.P. Morgan, and from late July through late August 2023, J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE, Sweden Bankfilial (“Goldman Sachs”), each on behalf of the Company, were in contact with Parent about its potential interest in acquiring the Company. On June 25, 2023, Parent entered into a non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”) with the Company and received confidential information regarding the Company and its business.
After the execution of the NDA, Company management, together with representatives of J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, held management sessions with Parent in order to provide certain confidential information and a detailed overview of the Company.
J.P. Morgan, as directed by the Company, invited Parent, by delivery of a process letter on July 18, 2023, to submit an initial indication of interest for the potential acquisition of the Company by August 4, 2023.