On February 2, 2021, in accordance with the instructions of the Five Prime Board, a representative of Lazard, on behalf of Five Prime, informed representatives of Amgen that the Five Prime Board was considering a sale process for Five Prime and invited Amgen to submit an indication of value for Five Prime.
Between February 8 and February 12, 2021, representatives of Cooley LLP (“Cooley”), Five Prime’s outside legal counsel, and Amgen negotiated the Non-Disclosure Agreement (as described in Section 14—“The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements—Non-Disclosure Agreement”) with respect to a potential acquisition transaction. On February 12, 2021, Amgen and Five Prime executed the Non-Disclosure Agreement, in which Amgen agreed to abide by a customary standstill provision; however, the standstill provision would not prevent Amgen from submitting a private acquisition proposal or making a public acquisition proposal following the announcement of, or entry into, a change-in-control transaction with respect to Five Prime.
Following the entry into Non-Disclosure Agreement, Amgen was provided with access to a virtual data room for the sharing of certain information with respect to a potential acquisition transaction.
On February 11, 2021, a representative of Lazard, on behalf of the Five Prime Board, verbally communicated to Amgen a February 18, 2021 deadline to submit a bid for an acquisition of Five Prime.
On February 13, 2021, Five Prime senior management provided a management presentation to representatives of Amgen.
On February 14, 2021, representatives of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“Goldman Sachs”), Amgen’s financial advisor, and representatives of Lazard discussed the acquisition process and timing, with representatives of Lazard noting that Five Prime had already received a proposal to acquire Five Prime.
On February 15, 2021, Amgen management delivered a memorandum to Amgen’s board of directors via its secure board portal system regarding the potential acquisition opportunity in anticipation of further discussions at the March 3, 2021 regular meeting of the Amgen board of directors.
On February 18, 2021, Amgen submitted a non-binding written proposal to the Five Prime Board for an acquisition of Five Prime for $32.00 per Share.
On February 19, 2021, Amgen received a process letter from representatives of Lazard, noting a “best and final” bid deadline of March 1, 2021, along with an initial auction draft of the Merger Agreement. Later on February 19, 2021, representatives of Goldman Sachs, on behalf of Amgen, and representatives of Lazard, on behalf of Five Prime, held a telephone conversation to discuss next steps in the process, including the timing of a definitive offer. Representatives of Lazard noted that the process was expected to be competitive with Five Prime having already received multiple acquisition proposals.
Between February 22, 2021 and March 1, 2021, representatives of Amgen and their advisors participated in several telephone conversations with representatives of Five Prime and its advisors with respect to due diligence matters.
On February 23, 2021, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, Amgen’s outside legal counsel (“Sullivan & Cromwell”) and Cooley had an introductory meeting and high-level discussion regarding certain terms of the draft Merger Agreement, including the structure of the transaction as a tender offer, treatment of Five Prime’s outstanding equity awards at closing, regulatory matters and termination rights of the parties, including Five Prime’s ability to terminate the Merger Agreement in order to accept a superior offer.
On February 25, 2021, Sullivan & Cromwell and Cooley had a further discussion regarding Amgen’s position with respect to key issues in the draft Merger Agreement, including with respect to treatment of Five Prime’s outstanding equity awards at closing, gross-ups for tax penalties imposed under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code for Five Prime executives, and regulatory matters.
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