UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
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| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
On November 4, 2022, as previously disclosed, Velodyne Lidar, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Velodyne” or the “Company”), Ouster, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Ouster”), Oban Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ouster (“Merger Sub I”), and Oban Merger Sub II LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ouster (“Merger Sub II”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions specified therein, Merger Sub I will be merged with and into Velodyne (the “First Merger”), with Velodyne surviving the First Merger as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ouster (the “Surviving Corporation”), and as soon as practicable following the First Merger, the Surviving Corporation will be merged with and into Merger Sub II with Merger Sub II surviving as a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Ouster (the “Second Merger”, and together with the First Merger, the “Mergers”).
On December 11, 2022, the Board of Directors of Velodyne (the “Board”) took actions, effective in December 2022, to preserve compensation-related corporate income tax deductions for Velodyne that might otherwise be disallowed through the operation of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), in connection with the Mergers. Specifically, the Board approved the accelerated vesting of equity awards and payment of cash-based awards to Theodore L. Tewksbury III, Velodyne’s Chief Executive Officer. The Board also approved the accelerated payment of cash-based awards to Mark Weinswig, Velodyne’s Chief Financial Officer; and Anurag Gupta, Velodyne’s Executive Vice President, Engineering, in each case as further described below. These actions will mitigate or eliminate the amount of excise tax that may be payable by Drs. Tewksbury and Gupta, and Mr. Weinswig, pursuant to Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code in certain circumstances.
In approving the accelerated vesting and payment of the awards, the Board considered, among other things, the projected value of the corporate income tax deductions that may be lost as a result of the effect of Section 280G and 4999 of the Code and the benefits accruing to Velodyne from reducing the potential tax burden that the Company’s executives may bear in connection with payments associated with the closing of the Merger and thereby providing Drs. Tewksbury and Gupta, and Mr. Weinswig, an additional financial incentive to remain with Velodyne through the closing of the Merger.
With respect to Dr. Tewskbury, the Board approved the accelerated vesting of 436,343 performance vesting restricted stock awards (“PSAs”), which were scheduled to vest on February 28, 2023, calculated by assuming that the applicable performance goals were achieved at target performance. As a result of such acceleration, the awards will vest on December 23, 2022. The estimated value of Dr. Tewksbury’s accelerated PSAs is $458,160, based upon the closing price of Velodyne’s common stock on December 12, 2022 of $1.05 per share. The foregoing equity awards would have vested upon the earlier of (i) their scheduled vesting date or (ii) the termination of Dr. Tewksbury’s employment without “cause” or his resignation for “good reason” (as each such term is defined in his employment agreement) following the closing of the Merger.
In addition, the Board approved cash payment of $570,000 for Dr. Tewksbury, $175,000 for Mr. Weinswig, and $150,000 for Dr. Gupta (which are expected to be paid on or around December 23, 2022), which represent the early payment of their bonuses for the 2022 fiscal year, calculated by assuming that the applicable performance goals were achieved at 100% of target.
In connection with the bonus payment and accelerated equity and equity-based award vesting and payment described above, each Executive has signed and Acceleration and Clawback Acknowledgement (“Clawback Agreement”). Each Clawback Agreement provides that the Executive’s accelerated payments are subject to certain repayment and true-up conditions, as described in the Clawback Agreement.
The description of the Clawback Agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Clawback Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 herewith and is incorporated by reference herein.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K (“Form 8-K”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations of the management of Ouster and Velodyne that are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “continue,” “target,” “contemplate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “predict,” “possible,” “potential,” “pursue,” “likely,” and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, including statements regarding the expected timing of the closing of the proposed transaction; the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction considering the various closing conditions; the expected benefits of the proposed transaction; the cash position of the combined company; the competitive ability and position of the combined company; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Ouster’s and Velodyne’s plans, estimates or expectations could include, but are not limited to: (i) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect Ouster’s and Velodyne’s businesses and the price of their respective securities; (ii) uncertainties as to the timing of the consummation of the proposed transaction and the potential failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including obtaining stockholder and regulatory approvals; (iii) the proposed transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (iv) the effect of the announcement, pendency or completion of the proposed transaction on the ability of Ouster or Velodyne to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and others with whom Ouster or Velodyne does business, or on Ouster’s or Velodyne’s operating results and business generally; (v) Ouster’s or Velodyne’s respective businesses may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the proposed transaction and disruption of management’s attention due to the proposed transaction; (vi) the outcome of any legal proceedings related to the proposed transaction or otherwise, or the impact of the proposed transaction thereupon; (vii) Ouster or Velodyne may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; (viii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement and the proposed transaction; (ix) restrictions during the pendency of the proposed transaction that may impact Ouster’s or Velodyne’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (x) the risk that Ouster or Velodyne may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the proposed transaction, or that required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the consummation of the proposed transaction or result in the imposition of conditions that could reduce the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction; (xi) risks that the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction or other commercial opportunities may otherwise not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; (xii) the impact of legislative, regulatory, economic, competitive and technological changes; (xiii) risks relating to the value of the Ouster shares to be issued in the proposed transaction;
(xiv) the risk that integration of the proposed transaction post-closing may not occur as anticipated or the combined company may not be able to achieve the growth prospects and synergies expected from the proposed transaction, as well as the risk of potential delays, challenges and expenses associated with integrating the combined company’s existing businesses; (xv) exposure to inflation, currency rate and interest rate fluctuations and risks associated with doing business locally and internationally, as well as fluctuations in the market price of Ouster’s and Velodyne’s traded securities; (xvi) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ouster’s and Velodyne’s business and general economic conditions; (xvii) the market for and adoption of lidar and related technology and the combined company’s ability to compete in a market that is rapidly evolving and subject to technological developments; (xviii) the impact of cost increases and supply chain shortages in the components needed for the production of lidar products and related technology; and (xix) the unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as Ouster’s and Velodyne’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. Additional factors that may affect the future results of Ouster and Velodyne are set forth in their respective filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including each of Ouster’s and Velodyne’s most recently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. See in particular Ouster’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” as updated by Ouster’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Velodyne’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2022, in Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors.” The risks and uncertainties described above and in the SEC filings cited above are not exclusive and further information concerning Ouster and Velodyne and their respective businesses, including factors that potentially could materially affect their respective businesses, financial conditions or operating results, may emerge from time to time. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating these forward-looking statements, and not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.
Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s reasonable estimates and beliefs as of the date of this Form 8-K. While Ouster and Velodyne may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, they disclaim any obligation to do so, other than as may be required by law, even if subsequent events cause their views to change.
Additional Information
In connection with the proposed transaction, Ouster and Velodyne plan to file with the SEC and mail or otherwise provide to their respective stockholders a joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”). INVESTORS AND OUSTER’S AND VELODYNE’S RESPECTIVE STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IN ITS ENTIRETY WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE AND ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED BY EACH OF OUSTER AND VELODYNE WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents containing important information about Ouster and Velodyne, once such documents are filed with the SEC, from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Ouster and Velodyne make available free of charge at www.ouster.com and www.velodynelidar.com, respectively (in the “Investors” section), copies of materials they file with, or furnish to, the SEC.
No Offer or Solicitation
This Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Participants in the Solicitation
Ouster, Velodyne and their respective directors, executive officers and certain employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Ouster and Velodyne in connection with the proposed transaction. Securityholders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Ouster’s directors and executive officers in Ouster’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2022, and its definitive proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 27, 2022. Securityholders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Velodyne’s directors and executive officers in Velodyne’s definitive proxy statement for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2022. Additional information regarding the interests of such individuals in the proposed transaction will be included in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the proposed transaction when it is filed with the SEC. These documents (when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, Ouster’s website at www.ouster.com and Velodyne’s website at www.velodynelidar.com.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits |
| (d) | Exhibits |
| Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit | |
| 10.1 | Form of Clawback Agreement | |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| VELODYNE LIDAR, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Daniel Horwood | |
| Daniel Horwood | ||
| General Counsel and Secretary | ||
Date December 15, 2022