merger agreement (the“go-shop period”), to solicit takeover proposals from third parties, engage in discussions regarding such proposals, furnish certain information (includingnon-public information) in connection with such proposals, and otherwise cooperate with efforts to make such proposals. Suchgo-shop period expired at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on July 14, 2018.
A “takeover proposal” means any proposal or offer (whether or not in writing) made by a third party relating to any (i) merger, amalgamation, consolidation, share exchange, other business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving the Company or SJW, as applicable, or any of their respective subsidiaries, (ii) sale, lease, contribution or other disposition, directly or indirectly (including by way of merger, amalgamation, consolidation, share exchange, other business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, partnership, joint venture, sale of capital stock or voting securities of, or other equity interests in, a subsidiary of the Company or SJW, as applicable, or otherwise) of any business or assets of the Company or SJW, as applicable, or any of their respective subsidiaries representing 15% or more of the consolidated revenues, net income or assets of the Company or SJW and their respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iii) issuance, sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly, to any person or group, of securities or derivative securities representing 15% or more of the total outstanding voting power of the Company or SJW, as applicable, (iv) transaction in which any person would acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership, or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, or formation of any group which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, 15% or more of the total outstanding voting power of the Company or SJW, as applicable, or (v) combination of the foregoing (in each case, other than the merger).
A “superior proposal” means any bona fide written offer made by a third party or group pursuant to which such third party (or in a merger or consolidation involving such party, the shareholders of such third party) or group would acquire, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the shares of SJW common stock or Company common stock, as applicable, or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or SJW, as applicable, and its respective subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i) on terms which such party’s board of directors determines in its reasonable judgment (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisor) to be superior to the merger, taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such offer (including the legal, financial, regulatory, the availability and terms of any required financing, timing and other aspects of the proposal, the identity of the person making the proposal, any risks ofnon-consummation of the proposal and any other factors, including, in the case of the Company, those specified in Article Fifth, Section (d) of the Company’s certificate of incorporation andSection 33-756(g) of the CBCA, that such party’s board of directors determines are appropriate under the circumstances) and the merger agreement (including any changes proposed by the other party to the terms of the merger agreement) and (ii) that is reasonably likely to be completed on the terms proposed taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal, and is fully financed and for which financing (if required) is fully committed and reasonably likely to be obtained.
The merger agreement requires that the Company and SJW, as applicable, promptly, and in any event no later than (i) one business day, in the case of the Company and (ii) 24 hours in the case of SJW, and after such party receives any takeover proposal or any inquiry or proposal that would reasonably be expected to lead to a takeover proposal, notify the other party in writing of its receipt of such inquiry or proposal, the material terms and conditions of such inquiry or proposal (including any changes thereto) and the identity of the party making such request. Each party will keep the other party informed in all material respects on a prompt basis of the status and details (including any change to the terms thereof) of such takeover proposal and will provide to the other party as soon as practicable after receipt or delivery thereof copies of any such takeover proposal or inquiry or proposal received in writing (including drafts of acquisition agreements (as defined below)).
Change in Board Recommendation
Each of the Company and SJW has agreed that neither its board of directors nor any committee thereof would (i) approve, recommend or declare advisable, or propose publicly to approve, recommend or declare advisable, or allow the Company or SJW or its respective affiliates, as applicable, to execute or enter into, any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, alliance agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement or arrangement (each, an “acquisition agreement”) constituting or that would reasonably be expected to lead to any takeover proposal, (ii) solely in the case of the Company, withdraw or modify or qualify in any
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