PRER14C
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14C

(Rule 14c-101)

SCHEDULE 14C INFORMATION

Information Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 1)

Check the appropriate box:

 

x Preliminary Information Statement
¨ Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2))
¨ Definitive Information Statement

TEAVANA HOLDINGS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

¨ No fee required.

 

¨ Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11.

 

  1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

  2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

  3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

 

  4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

 

  5) Total fee paid:

 

 

 

x Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨ Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  1) Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

 

  2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

  3) Filing Party:

 

 

 

  4) Date Filed:

 

 

 


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PRELIMINARY COPY—SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

TEAVANA HOLDINGS, INC.

3630 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1480

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

(404) 995-8200

NOTICE OF ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT AND APPRAISAL RIGHTS

AND

INFORMATION STATEMENT

WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED

NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.

DECEMBER [    ], 2012

Dear Stockholder:

This notice of action by written consent and appraisal rights and the accompanying information statement are being furnished to the holders of common stock of Teavana Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation that we refer to as “Teavana” or the “Company,” in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 14, 2012, by and among Starbucks Corporation, a Washington corporation that we refer to as “Parent,” Taj Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent that we refer to as “Merger Sub,” and Teavana. We refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger as the “Merger Agreement” and to the merger of Merger Sub with and into Teavana that is contemplated by the Merger Agreement as the “Merger.” Upon completion of the Merger, each share of common stock, par value $0.00003, of Teavana (“Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger, except for shares (i) held by stockholders who are entitled to demand and who properly demand appraisal under Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) for such shares or (ii) owned by the Company as treasury stock or by Parent or Merger Sub will be cancelled and converted automatically into the “Merger Consideration,” which represents the right to receive $15.50 in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes. The Principal Stockholders (defined below) and certain executives of Teavana have agreed to escrow a portion of the Merger Consideration payable with respect to their shares to cover certain potential costs including relating to integration matters. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to the accompanying information statement.

If the Merger is completed, you will be entitled to receive $15.50 in cash, without interest and subject to required tax withholdings, for each share of Common Stock owned by you (unless you have properly exercised your appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to such shares).

The Company’s board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) unanimously approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, declared that it was in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders that the Company enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, declared that the Merger Consideration is fair to the Company’s stockholders and recommended that the Company’s stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement.

Under Section 251 of the DGCL and the applicable provisions of Teavana’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, the adoption of the Merger Agreement by Teavana stockholders required the affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. On November 14, 2012, Andrew T. Mack, SKM Equity Fund III, L.P.,

 

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SKM Investment Fund and Jurgen W. Link (together, the “Principal Stockholders”) delivered or caused to be delivered to Teavana a written consent adopting the Merger Agreement in respect of 28,749,196 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 74% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to act by written consent with respect to the adoption of the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, the adoption of the Merger Agreement was effected November 14, 2012. No further approval of the stockholders of Teavana is required to adopt the Merger Agreement. As a result, Teavana has not solicited and will not be soliciting your authorization and adoption of the Merger Agreement and does not intend to call a meeting of stockholders for purposes of voting on the adoption of the Merger Agreement.

This notice of action by written consent and appraisal rights and the accompanying information statement shall constitute notice to you from the Company of the action by written consent to adopt the Merger Agreement taken by the Principal Stockholders.

Under Section 262 of the DGCL, if the Merger is completed, subject to compliance with the requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, holders of shares of Common Stock, other than the Principal Stockholders, will have the right to seek an appraisal for, and be paid the “fair value” of, their shares of Common Stock (as determined by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware) instead of receiving the Merger Consideration. In order to exercise your appraisal rights, you must submit a written demand for an appraisal no later than 20 days after the date of mailing of this notice and the accompanying information statement, or December [    ], 2012, and precisely comply with other procedures set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL, which are summarized in the accompanying information statement. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL is attached to the accompanying information statement as Annex D. This notice and the accompanying information statement shall constitute notice to you from the Company of the availability of appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL.

We urge you to read the entire accompanying information statement carefully. Please do not send in your Common Stock at this time. If the Merger is completed, you will receive instructions regarding the surrender of your Common Stock and payment for your shares of Common Stock.

By order of the Board of Directors,

 

/s/ David V. Christopherson
David V. Christopherson
Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities or other regulatory agency has approved or disapproved the Merger, passed upon the merits or fairness of the Merger, or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosures in this notice or the accompanying information statement. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The information statement is dated December [    ], 2012 and is first being mailed to stockholders on December [    ], 2012.

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

NOTICE OF WRITTEN CONSENT AND APPRAISAL RIGHTS

     i   

TABLE OF CONTENTS

     iii   

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER

     Q-1   

SUMMARY

     1   

The Proposed Transaction

     1   

The Parties to the Merger

     1   

Teavana

     1   

Parent

     2   

Merger Sub

     2   

What You Will Be Entitled to Receive Upon Completion of the Merger

     2   

Record Date

     2   

Recommendation of our Board of Directors

     3   

Teavana’s Financial Advisors

     3   

Financing

     3   

The Written Consent of Stockholders

     3   

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

     4   

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger to our Stockholders

     4   

The Merger Agreement

     5   

Treatment of Stock Options

     5   

Conditions to the Merger

     5   

No Solicitation of Other Offers

     5   

Termination of the Merger Agreement

     6   

Termination Fees

     7   

Appraisal Rights

     7   

Regulatory Approvals

     8   

Market Price of Teavana Common Stock

     8   

Litigation Related to the Merger

     8   

THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER

     10   

Teavana

     10   

Parent

     11   

Merger Sub

     11   

THE MERGER

     12   

Background

     12   

Required Approval of the Merger; Written Consent

     17   

Record Date

     17   

Recommendation of our Board of Directors

     18   

Reasons for the Merger

     18   

Opinion of Teavana’s Financial Advisor

     22   

Summary of Teavana’s Projections

     29   

Additional Financial Advisor

     32   

Financing of the Merger

     32   

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger to our Stockholders

     32   

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

     34   

Appraisal Rights

     37   

Form of the Merger

     40   

Conversion of Shares; Procedures for Exchange of Common Stock

     40   

Delisting and Deregistration of Teavana Common Stock

     40   

Regulatory Approvals Required for the Merger

     41   

Litigation Related to the Merger

     41   

 

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THE MERGER AGREEMENT

     42   

The Merger

     42   

Merger Consideration

     42   

Directors and Officers; Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws

     43   

Treatment of Stock Options

     43   

Stockholders Seeking Appraisal

     43   

Payment for the Shares

     43   

Representations and Warranties

     44   

Conduct of Business Pending the Merger

     45   

Stockholder Action by Written Consent

     47   

Efforts to Complete the Merger

     48   

Conditions to the Merger

     48   

No Solicitation of Other Offers

     50   

Termination of the Merger Agreement

     51   

Termination Fees and Expenses

     52   

Employee Matters

     53   

Amendment, Extension and Waiver

     53   

MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK

     54   

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

     55   

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     57   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     58   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     58   

ANNEX A—AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     A-1   

ANNEX B—STOCKHOLDER WRITTEN CONSENT

     B-1   

ANNEX C—OPINION OF THE COMPANY’S FINANCIAL ADVISOR

     C-1   

ANNEX D—SECTION 262 OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

     D-1   

ANNEX E—ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K OF THE COMPANY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 29, 2012

     E-1   

ANNEX F—QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED APRIL 29, 2012

     F-1   

ANNEX G—QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED JULY 29, 2012

     G-1   

 

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TEAVANA HOLDINGS, INC.

3630 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1480

Atlanta, Georgia 30326

INFORMATION STATEMENT

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE MERGER

The following questions and answers are intended to address briefly some commonly asked questions regarding the Merger Agreement and the Merger. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to you as a Teavana stockholder. Please refer to the additional information contained elsewhere in this information statement, the annexes to this information statement and the documents referred to in this information statement.

Unless otherwise indicated or the context requires otherwise, all references to “Teavana” or the “Company” refer to Teavana Holdings, Inc.; all references to “Parent” refer to Starbucks Corporation, a Washington corporation; all references to “Merger Sub” refer to Taj Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation, a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent; all references to “Merger Agreement” refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 14, 2012, by and among Teavana, Parent and Merger Sub, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this information statement, as it may be amended from time to time; all references to the “Merger” refer to the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and all references to the “Principal Stockholders” refer to Andrew T. Mack, SKM Equity Fund III, L.P., SKM Investment Fund and Jurgen W. Link, which together owned approximately 74% of the outstanding shares of Teavana common stock as of the date of the Merger Agreement.

 

Q. WHY DID I RECEIVE THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT?

 

A. Teavana and Parent have agreed to the acquisition of Teavana by Parent upon the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement described in this information statement, and the Principal Stockholders have adopted the Merger Agreement and approved the Merger. Applicable provisions of Delaware law and certain securities regulations require us to provide you with information regarding the Merger, even though your vote or consent is neither required nor requested to adopt the Merger Agreement or complete the Merger.

 

Q. WHAT IS THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION?

 

A. The proposed transaction is the acquisition of Teavana by Parent. The proposed transaction will be accomplished through a merger of Merger Sub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, with and into Teavana, with Teavana as the surviving corporation. As a result of the Merger, Teavana will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent and our Common Stock will cease to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange and will no longer be publicly traded.

 

Q. WHY DID THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVE THE MERGER AND THE MERGER AGREEMENT?

 

A. After careful consideration and evaluation of the Merger, and in consideration of, among other things, the opinion of Piper Jaffray & Co. that, based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in such opinion, the Merger Consideration to be paid to holders of Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view to the holders of shares of Common Stock, our Board of Directors approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the Merger. To review our Board of Directors’ reasons for recommending and approving the Merger and the Merger Agreement, see “The Merger – Reasons for the Merger” on page 18 of this information statement.

 

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Q. IS THE APPROVAL OF STOCKHOLDERS NECESSARY TO ADOPT THE MERGER AGREEMENT? WHY AM I NOT BEING ASKED TO VOTE ON THE MERGER AGREEMENT?

 

A. The Merger requires the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock. The requisite stockholder approval was obtained on November 14, 2012, the date on which the Principal Stockholders delivered or caused to be delivered to the Company a written consent adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger, in respect of approximately 74% of our outstanding Common Stock. Therefore, your vote is not required and is not being sought. We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.

 

Q. IF THE MERGER IS COMPLETED, WHAT WILL I RECEIVE FOR MY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK?

 

A. In the Merger, each share of our Common Stock that is issued and outstanding will be converted into the right to receive $15.50 in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, which we refer to as the “Merger Consideration.” As a result of the Merger, upon the surrender of your shares of Common Stock, you will receive a total amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying the Merger Consideration by the number of shares of our Common Stock that you own. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Common Stock that is not registered in the records of our transfer agent, the Merger Consideration for shares of our Common Stock may, subject to certain requirements, be paid to a person other than the person in whose name the Common Stock so surrendered is registered. See “The Merger–Conversion of Shares; Procedures for Exchange of Common Stock” on page 40 of this information statement.

 

Q. WILL THE MERGER CONSIDERATION I RECEIVE IN THE MERGER INCREASE IF TEAVANA’S RESULTS OF OPERATIONS IMPROVE OR IF THE PRICE OF TEAVANA’S COMMON STOCK INCREASES ABOVE THE CURRENT MERGER CONSIDERATION?

 

A. No. The Merger Consideration is fixed at $15.50 in cash per share, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes. The Merger Agreement does not contain any provision that would adjust the Merger Consideration (in either direction) based on fluctuations in the price of Teavana’s Common Stock or based on the results of operations of Teavana prior to the consummation of the Merger.

 

Q. IS THE MERGER SUBJECT TO THE FULFILLMENT OF CERTAIN CONDITIONS?

 

A. Yes. Before completion of the Merger, Teavana, Parent and Merger Sub must fulfill or waive several closing conditions. If these conditions are not satisfied or waived, the Merger will not be completed. See “The Merger Agreement – Conditions to the Merger” on page 48 of this information statement.

 

Q. AM I ENTITLED TO APPRAISAL RIGHTS?

 

A. Yes. Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which we refer to as the “DGCL,” stockholders who did not provide a consent to the adoption of the Merger Agreement (i.e., stockholders other than the Principal Stockholders) are entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the Merger with respect to their shares, so long as they precisely follow specific procedures to exercise their rights under Delaware law. See “The Merger – Appraisal Rights” on page 37 of this information statement.

 

Q. WHAT HAPPENS IF A THIRD PARTY MAKES AN OFFER TO ACQUIRE TEAVANA BEFORE THE MERGER IS COMPLETED?

 

A. Prior to the requisite stockholder approval, our Board of Directors could have, subject to certain requirements and rights of Parent, terminated the Merger Agreement in order to enter into a superior acquisition agreement with a third party upon complying with certain other conditions. This termination right ceased upon delivery of a written consent by the Principal Stockholders constituting the requisite stockholder approval on November 14, 2012.

 

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Q. WHEN IS THE MERGER EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED?

 

A. We expect the Merger to be completed on or prior to December 31, 2012, subject to government regulatory review and clearance; however, there can be no assurance that the Merger will be completed at that time, or at all.

 

Q. SHOULD I SURRENDER MY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK NOW?

 

A. No. After the Merger is completed, you will be sent detailed instructions for exchanging your shares of Common Stock for the Merger Consideration.

 

Q. WILL I OWE TAXES AS A RESULT OF THE MERGER?

 

A. The Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. holders of our Common Stock. As a result, assuming you are a U.S. holder, any gain you recognize as a result of the Merger will be subject to United States federal income tax and also may be taxed under applicable state, local or other tax laws. In general, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between (1) the Merger Consideration and (2) the adjusted tax basis of the shares of Common Stock you surrender in the Merger. See “The Merger – Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger to Our Stockholders” on page 32 of this information statement for a more detailed explanation of the tax consequences of the Merger. You should consult your tax advisor on how specific tax consequences of the Merger apply to you.

 

Q. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TEAVANA?

 

A. We file periodic reports and other information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the “SEC.” Some of these reports are attached as annexes to this information statement. You may read and copy this information at the SEC’s public reference facilities. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information about these facilities. This information is also available on the internet site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. For a more detailed description of the information available, please refer to the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 58 of this information statement.

 

Q. WILL I BE IMPACTED BY THE ESCROW?

 

A. No. The Principal Stockholders, as well as certain executives of Teavana, have agreed with Starbucks to place a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their shares pursuant to the Merger into escrow to cover certain potential costs including relating to integration matters. Public stockholders are not subject to the escrow arrangement and accordingly will not have their proceeds reduced thereby.

 

Q. WHO CAN HELP ANSWER MY QUESTIONS?

 

A. If you have questions about the Merger after reading this information statement, please call the Office of the General Counsel, Teavana Holdings, Inc., at (404) 995-8200.

 

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SUMMARY

The following summary highlights selected information from this information statement. Because this summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you, you should carefully read this entire information statement and the other documents to which this information statement refers you for a more complete understanding of the Merger, including, in particular, the copy of the Merger Agreement, the Written Consent of Stockholders and the Fairness Opinion of Piper Jaffray & Co. that are attached to this information statement as Annexes A, B and C, respectively. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.

Unless we otherwise indicate or unless the context requires otherwise: all references in this information statement to “Company,” “Teavana,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Teavana Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation and, where appropriate, its subsidiaries; all references to “Parent” refer to Starbucks Corporation, a Washington corporation; all references to “Merger Sub” refer to Taj Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation; all references to the “Merger Agreement” refer to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 14, 2012, by and among Parent, Merger Sub and the Company, as it may be amended from time to time, a copy of which is attached as Annex A to this information statement; all references to the “Merger” refer to the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement; all references to the “Merger Consideration” refer to the right to receive $15.50 in cash per share, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, contemplated to be received by the holders of our Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement; all references to the “Board of Directors” refer to the Company’s Board of Directors; and all references to “Common Stock” refer to the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.00003 per share.

THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION

 

   

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Teavana, with Teavana continuing as the surviving corporation.

 

   

Upon completion of the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of our Common Stock (other than shares of Common Stock (i) where the holder has properly exercised appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL (and has not withdrawn such exercise or lost such rights) or (ii) owned by Teavana, Parent or Merger Sub will automatically be cancelled and will cease to exist and will be converted into the right to receive $15.50 in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes. The Principal Stockholders and certain executives of Teavana have agreed to escrow a portion of the Merger Consideration payable with respect to their shares to cover certain potential costs including relating to integration matters. Public stockholders are not subject to the escrow arrangement and accordingly will not have their proceeds reduced thereby.

 

   

As a result of the Merger, Teavana will cease to be an independent, publicly-traded company and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER (SEE PAGE 10)

TEAVANA (SEE PAGE 10)

Teavana, a Delaware corporation headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a specialty retailer offering more than 100 varieties of premium loose-leaf teas, authentic artisanal teawares and other tea-related merchandise through more than 300 company-owned stores and on its website. Founded in 1997, the Company offers new tea enthusiasts and tea connoisseurs alike its “Heaven of Tea”® retail experience where passionate and knowledgeable “teaologists” engage and educate them about the ritual and enjoyment of tea. The Company’s mission is to establish Teavana as the most recognized and respected brand in the tea industry by expanding the

 

 

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culture of tea across the world. To support the tea culture globally, Teavana donates approximately 1% of annual net profits to the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc., or “CARE,” through its Teavana Equatrade® program.

Our principal executive office is located at 3630 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1480, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, and our telephone number is (404) 995-8200.

PARENT (SEE PAGE 11)

Starbucks Corporation, a Washington corporation headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is the premier roaster, marketer and retailer of specialty coffee in the world, operating in more than 50 countries. Formed in 1985, Parent purchases and roasts high-quality whole bean coffees that it sells, along with handcrafted coffee and tea beverages and a variety of fresh food items, through company-operated stores. Parent also sells a variety of coffee and tea products and licenses its trademarks through other channels such as licensed stores, and grocery and national foodservice accounts. In addition to Parent’s flagship Starbucks brand, its portfolio also includes Tazo® Tea, Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew.

The mailing address of Parent’s principal executive offices is 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98134, and its telephone number is (206) 447-1575.

MERGER SUB (SEE PAGE 11)

Merger Sub is a Delaware corporation formed by Parent solely for the purpose of completing the Merger with the Company. Merger Sub is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent and has not engaged in any business to date, except for activities incidental to its incorporation and activities undertaken in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

The mailing address of Merger Sub’s principal executive offices is 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98134, and its telephone number is (206) 447-1575.

WHAT YOU WILL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE UPON COMPLETION OF THE MERGER (SEE PAGE 42)

Upon completion of the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of our Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive $15.50 in cash per share, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, which we refer to as the Merger Consideration. As a result of the Merger, upon surrender of your Common Stock you will receive a total amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying the per share Merger Consideration by the number of shares of our Common Stock that you own, less any amounts withheld. We expect the Merger to be completed on or before December 31, 2012, subject to certain government regulatory reviews and approvals; however, there can be no assurance that the Merger will be completed at that time, or at all.

RECORD DATE (SEE PAGE 17)

On November 14, 2012, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to act by written consent with respect to the adoption of the Merger Agreement, there were 38,777,893 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote.

As of November 14, 2012, the Company received a written consent adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger executed by the holders of the requisite number of shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL.

In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company set December 4, 2012 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the approval of the Merger and that appraisal rights are available for

 

 

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holders of our Common Stock. Because this information statement constitutes both notice to stockholders of the action by written consent and notice to stockholders of the availability of appraisal rights, the information statement will be mailed to stockholders of record as of both November 14, 2012 and December 4, 2012.

RECOMMENDATION OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS (SEE PAGE 18)

After careful consideration, our Board of Directors:

 

   

approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

 

   

declared that it was in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders that the Company enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;

 

   

declared that the Merger Consideration is fair to the Company’s stockholders; and

 

   

recommended that the Company’s stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement.

For a discussion of the material factors considered by our Board of Directors in reaching their conclusion, see “The Merger – Reasons for the Merger” on page 18 of this information statement.

TEAVANA’S FINANCIAL ADVISORS (SEE PAGE 22)

On November 14, 2012, Piper Jaffray & Co., which we refer to as “Piper Jaffray,” delivered its oral opinion, which was subsequently confirmed in writing as of November 14, 2012, to the effect that, and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions and limitations set forth therein, as of November 14, 2012, the per share Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of our Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.

The full text of the written opinion of Piper Jaffray, dated November 14, 2012, which sets forth the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached as Annex C to this information statement. Piper Jaffray provided its opinion for the information and assistance of our Board of Directors in connection with its consideration of the Merger. The opinion did not constitute a recommendation to the members of the Board as to whether they should approve the Merger or the Merger Agreement, nor did it constitute a recommendation as to whether stockholders of Teavana should adopt the Merger Agreement and it does not constitute a recommendation as to whether stockholders of Teavana should take any other action in respect of the Merger, including, but not limited to, the exercise of appraisal rights. You are urged to read the opinion in its entirety.

The Board of Directors also engaged North Point Advisors LLC (“North Point”) to act as a financial advisor to the Board of Directors with respect to the contemplated transaction. North Point assisted Teavana in its negotiations with Parent and also helped Teavana assess potential alternative bidders and engaged in discussions with potential buyers. Piper Jaffray also assisted in contacting potential alternative bidders.

FINANCING (SEE PAGE 32)

The Merger is not contingent on the receipt of any proceeds from any financing.

THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS (SEE PAGE 47)

Under Delaware law and Teavana’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, the adoption of the Merger Agreement by Teavana’s stockholders may be provided without a meeting by written consent of the stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of the

 

 

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outstanding shares of Common Stock. On November 14, 2012, the Principal Stockholders, which together owned, as of that date, approximately 74% of the shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement, delivered to the Company written consent to the adoption of the Merger Agreement. A copy of the Written Consent of Stockholders is attached to this information statement as Annex B. As of November 14, 2012, the Company received a written consent adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger from the holders of the requisite number of shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with § 251 of the DGCL, and the adoption of the Merger Agreement was effected as of that date. As a result, no other vote of any other Teavana stockholder is necessary to adopt the Merger Agreement, and your approval is not required and is not being requested. If the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, the Written Consent of Stockholders will be of no further force and effect.

Federal securities laws state that the Merger may not be completed until 20 days after the date of mailing of this information statement to Teavana stockholders. Therefore, notwithstanding the execution and delivery of the written consent (which was obtained shortly after the signing of the Merger Agreement), the Merger will not occur until that time has elapsed. We expect the Merger to be completed on or prior to December 31, 2012, subject to certain government regulatory reviews and approvals. However, there can be no assurance that the Merger will be completed at that time, or at all.

When actions are taken by written consent of less than all of the stockholders entitled to vote on a matter, Section 228(e) of the DGCL requires that notice of the action be provided to those stockholders who did not consent. This information statement and the notice attached hereto shall constitute notice to you of action by written consent as required by Section 228(e) of the DGCL.

INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN THE MERGER (SEE PAGE 34)

Some of our executive officers and the members of our Board of Directors have interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of Teavana and our stockholders generally.

These interests include:

 

   

the accelerated vesting of options to acquire our Common Stock held by directors and executive officers upon the occurrence of the Merger and the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price of such options;

 

   

solely with respect to our executive officers, the right to receive certain severance payments in the event of a qualifying termination of employment following the Merger;

 

   

the right to continued indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance for our directors and officers by the surviving corporation for events occurring prior to the time of the Merger; and

 

   

in order to promote retention of key employees, including the executive officers, during the period prior to and following consummation of the Merger, Parent expects to grant certain key Company employees, including the executive officers, restricted stock units payable in shares of Parent’s common stock and stock options exercisable for shares of Parent’s common stock following the consummation of the Merger.

For the discussion of the restricted stock units and stock options described above, see “Interests of Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger — Executive Retention Arrangements with Parent” on page 36 of this information statement.

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS (SEE PAGE 32)

The Merger will be a taxable transaction to U.S. holders of our Common Stock. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, each of our stockholders who are U.S. holders generally will recognize taxable gain or loss as a result

 

 

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of the Merger measured, on a block by block basis, by the difference, if any, between the aggregate Merger Consideration received and the aggregate adjusted tax basis in that block of shares. That gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss if the shares are held as a capital asset in the hands of the stockholder, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than one year at the time of the completion of the Merger. Stockholders are urged to consult their own tax advisors as to the particular tax consequences to them of the Merger.

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

TREATMENT OF STOCK OPTIONS (SEE PAGE 43)

At the effective time of the Merger, each option to acquire our Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger under any Company stock option or equity incentive plan whether or not then vested and exercisable, will be cancelled and the holder of any such stock option will be entitled to receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to such stock option, an amount in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, equal to the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price of such option. Certain executive officers of Teavana have agreed to place a portion of their proceeds from their options into escrow to cover certain potential costs including with respect to transition matters. All stock options with a per share exercise price equal to or greater than the per share Merger Consideration will be cancelled upon consummation of the Merger and the holders of such stock options will not have any right to receive any consideration in respect thereof.

CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER (SEE PAGE 48)

As more fully described in this information statement and the Merger Agreement, the completion of the Merger depends on the satisfaction or waiver of a number of conditions. If these conditions are not satisfied or waived, the Merger will not be completed.

NO SOLICITATION OF OTHER OFFERS (SEE PAGE 50)

The Merger Agreement provides that Teavana (i) shall not, and shall cause its subsidiaries and any director, officer or employee of Teavana or any of its subsidiaries or any investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of Teavana or any of its subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit, initiate or encourage, or take any other action to knowingly facilitate, any takeover proposal or any inquiries or the making of any proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to a takeover proposal or (B) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person (or any representative thereof) any information with respect to, or otherwise knowingly cooperate in any way with any person (or any representative thereof) with respect to, any takeover proposal, (ii) shall and shall cause its subsidiaries and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing activities, discussions and negotiations with any person conducted heretofore with respect to any takeover proposal and (iii) shall promptly, and in any event within two days following the date of the Merger Agreement, request, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, the prompt return or written acknowledgment of destruction of all confidential information previously furnished to such parties or their representatives in connection with any takeover proposal to the extent that Teavana is entitled to have such documents returned or destroyed; provided, however, that at any time prior to obtaining the requisite stockholder approval (which has now been obtained), in response to a bona fide written unsolicited takeover proposal received after the execution of the Merger Agreement that the Board of Directors of Teavana determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, constitutes a superior proposal, and which takeover proposal did not result from a breach of the non-solicitation covenant or any other provision of the Merger Agreement, and if the Board of Directors of Teavana determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of Teavana under applicable law, Teavana may, and may permit and authorize its subsidiaries and

 

 

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its representatives and its subsidiaries’ representatives to, in each case subject to compliance with the notice provision and the other provisions of the Merger Agreement, (A) furnish information with respect to Teavana or any of its subsidiaries to the person making such takeover proposal (and its representatives) pursuant to a confidentiality agreement which contains terms that are in all material respects no less restrictive of such person than those contained in the confidentiality agreement between Teavana and Parent; provided that all such information had been provided, or is concurrently provided, to Parent, and (B) participate in discussions or negotiations with, and only with, the person making such takeover proposal (and its representatives) regarding such takeover proposal. As a result of the fact that the requisite stockholder approval was obtained upon delivery of the written consent of the Principal Stockholders, the exception to the restrictions set forth in this paragraph with respect to certain unsolicited takeover proposals is no longer in effect.

The term “takeover proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any person or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than Parent or Merger Sub or any of their affiliates) relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, in one transaction or a series of transactions, any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation or dissolution involving Teavana or any direct or indirect acquisition, including by way of any merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture, license agreement or similar transaction, of (i) assets or businesses that constitute or represent 20% or more of the total revenue, net income, EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization) or assets of Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) 20% or more of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock or of any class of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, one or more of the subsidiaries of Teavana which, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly hold the assets or businesses referred to in clause (i) above.

The term “superior proposal” means any binding bona fide unsolicited written offer which did not result from a breach of the non-solicitation covenant made by any person (other than Parent or Merger Sub or any of their affiliates) that, if consummated, would result in such person (or, in the case of a direct merger between such person and Teavana, the stockholders of such person) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of our Common Stock or all or substantially all the assets of Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and which offer, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of Teavana (after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation and outside legal counsel), (i) provides a higher value to the stockholders of Teavana than the consideration payable in the Merger (taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such proposal and the Merger Agreement (including any changes to the terms of the Merger Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such superior proposal or otherwise)) and (ii) is reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal.

TERMINATION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT (SEE PAGE 51)

The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the completion of the Merger:

 

   

by mutual written consent of Teavana, Parent and Merger Sub;

 

   

by either Teavana or Parent:

 

   

if the Merger shall not have been consummated by March 14, 2013, except that this right is not available to any party whose action or failure to act has been a principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of the Merger Agreement; or

 

   

if any court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental entity issues or enters a temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment or other legal restraint that has the effect of preventing the consummation of the Merger and such legal restraint has become final and non-appealable; or

 

 

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by Parent:

 

   

if prior to the receipt of stockholder approval (which has been obtained), Teavana delivers written notice to Parent that the Board withdraws or modifies in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, or proposes publicly to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the recommendation or declaration of advisability by the Board or any committee of the Merger Agreement or the Merger;

 

   

if (i) we breach or fail to perform any of our representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth under “The Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Merger—Conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s Obligations” and (B) is incapable of being cured or is not cured by Teavana by the date that is 30 business days after such breach or failure or, if capable of being cured by Teavana by such date, Teavana does not commence to cure such breach or failure within 10 business days after its receipt of written notice thereof from Parent and diligently pursue such cure thereafter;

 

   

if a written consent duly executed by the Principal Stockholders had not been delivered to Parent and Teavana prior to 6:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date immediately following the date of the Merger Agreement; or

 

   

by Teavana:

 

   

if (i) Parent breaches or fails to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth under “The Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Merger—Conditions to Teavana’s Obligations” and (B) is incapable of being cured or is not cured by Parent or Merger Sub by the date that is 30 business days after such breach or failure or, if capable of being cured by Parent or Merger Sub by such date, Parent or Merger Sub, as the case may be, does not commence to cure such breach or failure within 10 business days after its receipt of written notice thereof from Teavana and diligently pursue such cure thereafter; or

 

   

if prior to the receipt of stockholder approval (which has been obtained), Teavana (i) executed a definitive agreement with respect to a superior proposal in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, and (ii) paid to Parent the termination fee.

TERMINATION FEES (SEE PAGE 52)

In certain circumstances, the Board of Directors had the right to terminate the Merger Agreement in order to enter into a definitive agreement relating to a superior proposal, as further described in “The Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement.” In that event and in certain other specified circumstances, the Merger Agreement provides that we must pay Parent a termination fee of $18,400,000. See “The Merger Agreement—Termination Fees and Expenses.”

As a result of the receipt by Teavana of the written consent by the Principal Stockholders, this right is no longer operative.

APPRAISAL RIGHTS (SEE PAGE 37)

Stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL (and have not withdrawn such exercise or lost such rights) will not have the right to receive the Merger Consideration, but will receive payment in cash for the fair value of their shares of our Common Stock as determined in accordance with Delaware law. The fair value of shares of our Common Stock as determined in accordance with Delaware law may be more or less than (or the same as) the per share Merger Consideration to be paid to stockholders who

 

 

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choose not to exercise their appraisal rights. Stockholders who wish to exercise appraisal rights must precisely follow specific procedures. These procedures are described in this information statement, and the provisions of Delaware law that grant appraisal rights and govern such procedures are attached as Annex D to this information statement. We encourage you to read these provisions carefully and in their entirety.

REGULATORY APPROVALS (SEE PAGE 41)

The Hart-Scott-Rodino Act provides that transactions such as the Merger may not be completed until certain information has been submitted to the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied. On November 16, 2012, Teavana and Parent each filed a Notification and Report Form with the Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission and requested an early termination of the waiting period. Early termination of the waiting period was granted on November 27, 2012.

Under the Merger Agreement, both Teavana and Parent have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all required governmental approvals and avoid any action or proceeding by a governmental entity to the extent necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Merger. Except as noted above with respect to the required filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, the expiration of 20 days from the dissemination of this information statement to Teavana’s stockholders and the filing of a certificate of merger in Delaware at or before the effective date of the Merger, we are unaware of any material federal, state or foreign regulatory requirements or approvals required for the execution of the Merger Agreement or completion of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

MARKET PRICE OF TEAVANA COMMON STOCK (SEE PAGE 54)

Our Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “TEA.” The closing sale price of our Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on November 13, 2012, the last full trading day prior to the announcement of the Merger, was $10.13 per share. The $15.50 cash consideration to be paid for each share of our Common Stock in the Merger represents an approximately 53.0% premium to the closing sale price of our Common Stock on November 13, 2012. On December 4, 2012, the last trading day before the date of this information statement, the closing sale price of our Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $14.40 per share.

LITIGATION RELATED TO THE MERGER (SEE PAGE 41)

On November 19, 2012, a putative class action, entitled Rosenblum v. Teavana Holdings, Inc. et al., Case No. 2012CV224005, was filed against the Company, the members of its Board of Directors, Parent and Merger Sub in the Superior Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of all the Company’s stockholders (excluding the defendants and their affiliates). The complaint alleges that the Merger Consideration is inadequate, that the members of the Board of Directors breached their fiduciary obligations to the Company’s stockholders in approving the Merger Agreement and related agreements and by failing to make adequate disclosures to the Company’s stockholders, and that the other named defendants aided and abetted the breach of those duties. The complaint seeks various forms of relief, including injunctive relief that would, if granted, prevent the completion of the Merger and an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses. All defendants intend to vigorously defend against this action.

On November 27, 2012, a putative class action, entitled Rubin v. Teavana Holdings, Inc. et al., Case No. 8069-VCN, was filed against the Company, the members of its Board of Directors, SKM Partners, LLC (“SKM”), Parent and Merger Sub in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of all the Company’s stockholders (excluding the defendants and their affiliates). The complaint alleges that the members of the Board of Directors breached their fiduciary obligations to the

 

 

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Company’s stockholders in approving the Merger Agreement and related agreements and by failing to make adequate disclosures to the Company’s stockholders, and that the Company Parent and Merger Sub aided and abetted the breach of those duties. The complaint also alleges that several large stockholders of the Company, including the Company’s chief executive officer and SKM, breached their fiduciary obligations to the Company’s stockholders by executing the written consent approving the Merger Agreement. The complaint seeks various forms of relief, including injunctive relief that would, if granted, prevent the completion of the Merger and an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses. All defendants intend to vigorously defend against this action.

 

 

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THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER

TEAVANA

Teavana Holdings, Inc. is a specialty retailer offering more than 100 varieties of premium loose-leaf teas, authentic artisanal teawares and other tea-related merchandise through more than 300 company-owned stores and on its website. Founded in 1997, the Company offers new tea enthusiasts and tea connoisseurs alike its “Heaven of Tea”® retail experience where passionate and knowledgeable “teaologists” engage and educate them about the ritual and enjoyment of tea. The Company’s mission is to establish Teavana as the most recognized and respected brand in the tea industry by expanding the culture of tea across the world. To support the tea culture globally, Teavana donates approximately 1% of annual net profits to the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc., or “CARE,” through its Teavana Equatrade® program.

Retail Stores

We operate more than 300 company-owned stores in 40 states and Canada. We focus on high traffic locations in malls and lifestyle centers with top-tier co-tenants, and our store base is balanced geographically across the United States.

Online Platform

Our online platform is primarily comprised of our website, www.teavana.com, through which we provide educational resources for tea consumers and the ability to purchase the full range of our teas and tea-related merchandise. Through our online platform, we can target a broader audience of customers and tea enthusiasts who may not live near one of our retail locations. We believe our online platform and our stores are complementary, as our online platform provides our store customers an additional channel through which to purchase our teas and tea-related merchandise, while also helping drive awareness of and traffic to our stores.

Teas and Tea-Related Merchandise

We offer in our stores and through our website more than 100 varieties of premium loose-leaf teas, tea wares such as handcrafted cast-iron, clay and ceramic tea pots, and other tea-related merchandise. We also offer a selection of fresh-brewed teas in our stores.

Teas

We provide our customers a diverse selection of over 100 loose-leaf teas from around the world. Our overall tea selection is comprised of approximately 20% single-estate teas and 80% specially blended teas. Our offering is comprised of teas from the following three main groups:

 

   

Single-estate teas. Our single-estate teas, which are the teas that originate wholly from an individual tea plantation, estate or garden, are produced from the Camellia Sinensis bush. We offer four types of single-estate teas—white, green, oolong and black—each with its own distinctive characteristics arising from the climate, soil, altitude, growing conditions, when and how the tea is harvested, and the processing method used.

 

   

Single-estate blended teas. We offer blends that combine our single-estate teas with spices, herbs, flower petals, essential oils of fruits and other flavorings. We work in close collaboration with third-party blenders to develop our specially blended teas, and spend significant amounts of time perfecting the balance of flavors, aromas and colors to create unique teas that we believe will appeal to our customers.

 

   

Herbal blended teas. Herbal teas are not technically “teas,” as they are not produced from the Camellia Sinensis bush, but are herbal infusions generally made from other sources, such as the Rooibos bush and Honeybush from South Africa, the Maté shrub from Argentina, and other ingredients including

 

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dried fruits, herbs and even flowers. Herbal teas, aside from Maté, are generally caffeine-free and can be brewed individually or blended with other types of tea to create an aromatic and flavorful beverage.

Tea-Related Merchandise

We offer in our stores and through our website a carefully selected assortment of artisanal tea wares and other tea-related merchandise that provides our customers the ability to brew and consume our premium loose-leaf teas and to more broadly experience tea cultures from around the globe. The majority of our tea-related merchandise is Teavana-branded. We also offer a selection of our teas and tea-related merchandise in the form of prepackaged gift sets.

Our tea wares and other tea-related merchandise are grouped into five main categories: (1) teapots, (2) tea cups and mugs, (3) tea accessories, (4) tea décor and media and (5) tea foods.

Beverages

We offer made-to-order fresh-brewed teas in each of our stores. Our customers may select any of the varieties of loose-leaf single-estate and blended teas that we offer. Customers can choose to have their beverages served hot or cold.

For a more detailed description of our business, please see Item 1 in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2012.

The Company was founded in 1997. Our principal executive office is located at 3630 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1480, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, and our telephone number is (404) 995-8200.

PARENT

Starbucks Corporation, a Washington corporation headquartered in Seattle, Washington, is the premier roaster, marketer and retailer of specialty coffee in the world, operating in more than 50 countries. Formed in 1985, Parent purchases and roasts high-quality whole bean coffees that it sells, along with handcrafted coffee and tea beverages and a variety of fresh food items, through company-operated stores. Parent also sells a variety of coffee and tea products and licenses its trademarks through other channels such as licensed stores, and grocery and national foodservice accounts. In addition to Parent’s flagship Starbucks brand, its portfolio also includes Tazo® Tea, Seattle’s Best Coffee®, and Starbucks VIA® Ready Brew.

The mailing address of Parent’s principal executive offices is 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98134, and its telephone number is (206) 447-1575.

MERGER SUB

Taj Acquisition Corp. is a Delaware corporation formed for the sole purpose of completing the Merger with the Company. Merger Sub is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub has not engaged in any business to date except for activities incidental to its incorporation and activities undertaken in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Upon consummation of the proposed Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, Merger Sub will cease to exist and the Company will continue as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, under the name “Teavana Holdings, Inc.”

The mailing address of Merger Sub’s principal executive offices is 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle, Washington 98134, and its telephone number is (206) 447-1575.

 

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THE MERGER

BACKGROUND

The Board of Directors and senior management of the Company periodically review the Company’s long-term strategic plan with a goal of maximizing stockholder value. The Board of Directors explored various alternatives on a preliminary basis, including a possible sale of the Company, before its initial public offering in July 2011, and has continued to review its strategic plans thereafter.

On June 24, 2012, Mr. Howard Schultz, the chairman, president and chief executive officer of Parent, contacted Mr. David Jacquin of North Point, who had advised the Company in the past, to ask whether he believed Mr. Andrew Mack, the CEO of the Company, would be interested in meeting with him.

On August 7, 2012, Mr. Mack met with Mr. Schultz, and they discussed Parent’s interest in expanding its presence in the tea category and the possibility that the Company could provide an interesting platform for such a move. Mr. Jacquin of North Point also attended the meeting. No specific proposals were made, but the parties agreed that further discussion was appropriate.

On August 20, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of DLA Piper LLP (US) (“DLA Piper”), the Company’s outside legal counsel, and North Point in attendance. Mr. Mack advised the Board of Directors of his meeting with Mr. Schultz. Mr. Mack indicated that as a result of that meeting Parent had asked North Point to meet with members of the senior management team of Parent to discuss the possible strategic fit between the two companies. Mr. Mack indicated that the matter was at a very preliminary stage and might or might not develop into something of mutual interest. Mr. Mack also requested the approval of the Board of Directors for North Point to act as the Company’s financial advisor in the discussions with Parent. Following the presentations and further questions and discussion, the Board of Directors agreed that management should engage in further discussions with Parent using North Point as the Company’s financial advisor.

On August 28, 2012, Mr. Jacquin met with Mr. Schultz and Mr. Troy Alstead, the chief financial officer of Parent, in Seattle, Washington. No formal proposals were made, no confidential information was exchanged and the parties discussed on a very preliminary basis the possible benefits of a transaction.

On September 24 and 25, 2012, Messrs. Mack and Jacquin met in Seattle with Messrs. Schultz and Alstead. Also in attendance from Parent were Mr. Bill McNichols, vice president of Corporate Development, and other members of senior management of Parent. At those meetings, Mr. Mack and Mr. Jacquin provided a high level overview of the Company’s business. No confidential information was exchanged. Mr. Schultz indicated that the board of directors of Parent likely would discuss the potential for a transaction at an upcoming board meeting.

On September 26, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. Mr. Mack and North Point provided an update on the contacts and meetings with representatives of Parent. Representatives from DLA Piper reviewed with the Board of Directors their duties under Delaware law if the Board of Directors decided to consider a transaction with Parent and the importance of confidentiality. Following the presentations and further questions and discussion, the Board of Directors expressed support for continuing the exploration of a possible transaction with Parent.

Between October 4 and October 6, 2012, Messrs. Mack and Jacquin met with Mr. Schultz and other members of Parent management. On October 8, 2012, Mr. Schultz advised Messrs. Mack and Jacquin that the Parent board of directors supported the interest of Parent in exploring a possible acquisition of the Company.

On October 8, 2012, North Point provided Parent with a draft of a confidentiality agreement to facilitate the exchange of confidential information between the Company and Parent in consideration of a potential transaction. The parties negotiated the terms of the agreement between October 8, 2012 and October 10, 2012.

 

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On October 9, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. Mr. Mack and North Point provided an update on the contacts with representatives of Parent. Representatives of North Point discussed preliminary valuation methodologies with respect to the Company, procedural considerations for a possible transaction and the Company’s competitive landscape. Representatives from DLA Piper reviewed with the Board of Directors their duties under Delaware law with respect to a potential transaction and possible next steps in reaction to a proposal from Parent. Following the presentations and further questions and discussion, the Board of Directors authorized the execution of a confidentiality agreement with Parent.

On October 10, 2012, the Company and Parent entered into a confidentiality agreement.

On October 11, 2012, Mr. McNichols spoke to Mr. Jacquin by telephone and expressed Parent’s preliminary interest in an acquisition of the Company, providing an indicative value of $16.75 in cash per share, subject to due diligence and further financial review as well as negotiation of definitive transaction documents and board approval, among other items. Additionally, he noted Parent’s expectation that the significant stockholders of the Company holding approximately 74% of the outstanding shares would act by written consent to adopt the Merger Agreement. Mr. Jacquin indicated he would present the proposal to the Company’s Board of Directors.

On October 12, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. At the meeting, North Point informed the Board of Directors of the preliminary indication of value that Parent had provided. North Point informed the Board that Parent had noted the feasibility of completing the transaction by year end and the potential benefit to stockholders of the Company given the taxable nature of the transaction. Following further questions and discussion, the Board of Directors decided to review internal valuation assumptions and models in order to determine an appropriate response.

On October 12, 2012, Parent provided an initial request list of due diligence information to the Company.

On October 15, 2012, the Company’s electronic data room was opened, and Parent was provided access. Thereafter, Parent conducted its due diligence review of the Company.

On October 16, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. North Point discussed the valuation work that had been done to date, which was supplemented with analysis by Mr. Barron Fletcher, a member of the Company’s Board of Directors and a representative of SKM, one of the Company’s large stockholders. North Point also summarized their conversations with representatives of Parent. The Board of Directors discussed the Company’s prospects as an independent company, including market conditions, the competitive landscape and its financial performance, as well as other strategic alternatives that the Company could explore. After discussion and deliberation, and considering the potential long-term value of Teavana to Parent and the belief that Parent would be willing to pay a higher price, the Board of Directors authorized North Point to indicate to Parent that the Company would consider a transaction in the range of $21.00 per share, subject to board approval, negotiation of definitive agreements and further validation of the appropriate price. The Board of Directors also approved the formal engagement of North Point as the Company’s financial advisor and discussed the potential benefits of engaging a second investment bank to render a fairness opinion in connection with any such transaction.

Following the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company, Mr. Jacquin conveyed to Mr. McNichols the Board of Directors’ perspective on valuation. Mr. McNichols responded with an indicative value of $17.00 per share in cash, noting that there was no room to go beyond that price and that the proposed value was still subject to due diligence and further financial review, as well as negotiation of definitive transaction documents and board approval. Mr. McNichols further noted Parent’s ability to move on an accelerated timeline which would make a closing by calendar year end feasible. Mr. Jacquin indicated he would present the proposal to the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

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On October 17, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. North Point updated the Board of Directors with respect to recent conversations with Parent. The Board of Directors again discussed the benefits and risks of remaining an independent company in light of the certainty of value provided by a potential all-cash transaction with Parent, as well as other strategic alternatives the Company could explore. The Board of Directors discussed the fact that the price offered by Parent could be compelling to stockholders, particularly given the recent decline in the Company’s stock price, a recent slowdown in same store sales growth and competitive and other business challenges likely faced by the Company, including competition from Parent. After further discussion and deliberation, the Board of Directors authorized North Point to notify Parent that the Company was willing to remain engaged in conversations with Parent with respect to a potential transaction at $17.00 per share. The Board of Directors also agreed to continue to consider all options, including remaining as an independent company, and instructed North Point and senior management to explore other third party alternatives and determine an appropriate strategy for determining whether there were alternative financial or strategic buyers who would be interested in acquiring the Company at a price competitive with the proposal from Parent. North Point noted, and the Board of Directors discussed, that financial buyers likely would not be interested at pricing multiples within the range contemplated by Parent’s offer given that at such levels the potential internal rate of return would not be sufficient. North Point also noted that Parent was the most logical strategic buyer. Potential targets were discussed, and the Board of Directors asked North Point to work with Messrs. Mack and Fletcher to recommend the most appropriate financial and strategic buyers to be approached.

After the meeting on October 17, 2012, North Point and Messrs. Mack and Fletcher reviewed and assessed possible third party alternatives to Parent, and based on that assessment, the Board of Directors asked North Point to reach out to five potential financial buyers, as well as five potential strategic buyers viewed as the ones most likely to have an interest in a transaction with the Company at a price range that would be competitive with Parent. Between October 18, 2012 and October 25, 2012, North Point reached out to the five financial buyers, discussed the opportunity with each of them and solicited their interest in entering into a confidentiality agreement and receiving detailed information concerning the Company. One financial buyer requested a confidentiality agreement and the Company negotiated and entered into a confidentiality agreement with that potential buyer. The other financial buyers all advised that based on publicly available information and the discussions with North Point they did not have an interest in pursuing a transaction. In addition, the financial buyer who executed the confidentiality agreement also concluded on further analysis not to pursue a transaction and did not engage in any significant due diligence.

North Point also sought out five strategic buyers to determine their interest in a possible transaction as during the period from October 18, 2012 through the signing of the Merger Agreement. One strategic buyer immediately indicated that it was not interested in a transaction. On November 1, 2012, Piper Jaffray was engaged to assist North Point in making contact with the additional four strategic buyers and through Piper Jaffray contact was made with each of those potential strategic buyers. Three of the strategic buyers indicated that they had no interest in pursuing a transaction. One potential strategic buyer indicated it was unlikely that it would have an interest and did not respond to additional inquiries by Piper Jaffray through the date the Merger Agreement was signed.

On October 20, 2012, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (“Cravath”), counsel for Parent, provided a draft Merger Agreement to DLA Piper and the Company for review.

On October 22, 2012, Cravath and DLA Piper engaged in a high level discussion of structural elements of the Merger Agreement and whether to structure the transaction as a merger with a stockholder consent or a tender offer and merger.

Between October 22 and October 24, 2012, Parent conducted on-site due diligence at the Company’s headquarters in Atlanta and at its distribution center in Stratford, Connecticut. During the course of these meetings, management presentations were made to representatives of Parent. Also during this period DLA Piper and Cravath engaged in discussions regarding the draft Merger Agreement.

 

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On October 24, 2012, DLA Piper provided revisions to the draft Merger Agreement, which included significant comments on the representations and warranties, pre-closing covenants, deal protection terms, termination fees and expenses, post-closing employee covenants and closing conditions.

On October 25, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. North Point updated the Board of Directors on recent developments with respect to the potential transaction with Parent and reviewed the diligence meetings that had taken place with Parent. The Board of Directors also discussed the recent weakness in the Company’s stock price. North Point also reported on the efforts to date with respect to other potential interested buyers. A representative of DLA Piper updated the Board of Directors on the status of negotiations related to the Merger Agreement, reviewed the material terms of the Merger Agreement and the structure of the transaction, including the stockholder consent process, and responded to questions from the Board of Directors. At the meeting, the Board of Directors also authorized the engagement of Piper Jaffray to provide a fairness opinion in connection with a possible transaction.

On October 26, 2012, Cravath provided a revised draft of the Merger Agreement that modified certain representations and warranties, certain provisions of the pre-closing covenants regarding the Company’s operations, conditions to closing and the amount of any termination fee or expense reimbursement. In this draft of the Merger Agreement, Parent also proposed that Mr. Mack and his spouse enter into three-year non-competition and non-solicitation agreements at the time of the execution of the Merger Agreement, a proposal which was ultimately accepted.

On October 30, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. North Point updated the Board of Directors on the progress of negotiations with Parent, including updates based on Parent’s due diligence of its views regarding potential integration costs. North Point also indicated Parent’s desire to take more time to complete its due diligence efforts. North Point also provided an update on the exploration of other third party alternatives.

On November 2, Mr. McNichols informed Mr. Jacquin that, based on its ongoing due diligence and financial analysis of the transaction, Parent had concluded that integration costs would be higher than had been expected, and accordingly it was no longer prepared to pursue a transaction at $17.00 per share.

On November 3, 2012, Mr. McNichols told Mr. Jacquin that Parent would be prepared to proceed with a transaction with Teavana at a price of $15.00 per share, including a request for an escrow of funds from certain stockholders to cover certain potential costs of Teavana in connection with the proposed transaction.

On November 5 and November 7, 2012, informal calls were held with members of the Board of Directors who were updated regarding the status of the negotiations and discussions between the Company and Parent. During these calls board members agreed that Mr. Mack should continue to discuss pricing terms with Parent. Also on November 5, the Company stopped further due diligence activities with Parent pending further discussion regarding pricing terms.

On November 6, 2012, Messrs. Mack and Jacquin met with Mr. Schultz and other members of Parent management to discuss the status of the transaction. At that meeting, Mr. Mack stated that the Company could not accept Parent’s proposal of $15.00 per share with an escrow for certain stockholders. Mr. Schultz then reiterated that Parent was not prepared to move forward with a transaction at $17.00 per share, and that Parent’s “best and final” offer was $15.50 per share to all stockholders with a $10 million escrow deposit from Mr. Mack and other significant stockholders. Discussion occurred regarding these matters. Messrs. Mack and Jacquin left without any agreement on a course of action.

On November 7 and November 8, 2012, further conversations occurred between Mr. Jacquin and Mr. McNichols as to whether there was any potential for movement on price, and Mr. McNichols reiterated that Parent was unwilling to pay more than $15.50 per share. Mr. McNichols noted that Parent did have some

 

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flexibility on the terms of the Merger Agreement, making concessions relating to the closing condition on accuracy of representations and warranties and agreeing to a “material adverse effect” standard to provide additional closing certainty.

On November 9, 2012, a meeting of the Board of Directors was held with representatives of North Point and DLA Piper in attendance. Mr. Mack and North Point updated the Board of Directors on recent developments since the update calls that occurred on November 5, 2012 and November 7, 2012. North Point reviewed discussions regarding Parent’s proposed revised price of $15.50 per share, which would also include a $10 million escrow applicable to certain significant stockholders, but not the public stockholders. The Board of Directors also received an update on the exploration of other third party alternatives. After questions and further discussion, and after considering the lack of interest from other third parties and the Company’s prospects as an independent company, the Board of Directors supported continuing negotiations with Parent to determine if a definitive agreement could be reached.

On November 9, 2012, DLA Piper sent a revised draft of the Merger Agreement that included revisions to, among other things, the representations and warranties, conditions to closing and the amount of any termination fee and expense reimbursement.

Between November 9 and November 14, 2012, multiple drafts of the Merger Agreement were exchanged between DLA Piper and Cravath to finalize the terms of the transaction, including a separate agreement establishing an escrow fund from the Principal Stockholders and certain executives of the Company. Independent counsel was retained by the Principal Stockholders to negotiate the escrow agreement and the non-competition agreements with Mr. Mack and his spouse. Subsequently, an additional escrow arrangement was established by the Principal Stockholders and certain executives of the Company to cover certain potential costs including relating to integration matters that were identified by Parent in its pre-closing review of integration planning and related matters.

On November 11, 2012, the Board of Directors of Parent approved entry into the Merger Agreement.

During the day on November 13, 2012, the Board of Directors convened to consider the terms of Parent’s revised Merger Agreement. At the meeting were representatives from Piper Jaffray, North Point and DLA Piper. North Point and Piper Jaffray summarized the current status of the exploration of other third party alternatives. Piper Jaffray then reviewed its preliminary assessment with respect to the fairness of the consideration proposed to be received by stockholders in the transaction. Representatives of DLA Piper then reviewed the status of the negotiations and the revised terms of the Merger Agreement and reviewed with the Board of Directors their fiduciary duties in the context of the transaction being considered. Following discussions and questions from the Board of Directors, DLA Piper reviewed the proposed board resolutions to be considered in connection with the transaction. The Board further reviewed the exploration of other third party alternatives conducted and concluded that there were no other viable acquirors for the Company, particularly at the price level indicated by Parent and the degree of deal certainty offered by Parent. North Point and Piper Jaffray concurred in this judgment based on their analysis of market conditions, their interaction with the potential financial and strategic buyers and their assessment of the price being offered by Parent. The Board of Directors discussed the significant risk of losing the opportunity with Parent in the event of delay. The Board of Directors took no action at this time pending completion of all negotiations of the transaction documents.

On the afternoon of November 14, 2012, the Board of Directors, together with the Company’s legal and financial advisors, convened a meeting. All of the members of the Board of Directors were in attendance. DLA Piper updated the Board of Directors on the course of final negotiations relating to the Merger Agreement and all related agreements, and Piper Jaffray updated the Board of Directors on its financial analyses. Piper Jaffray then rendered its opinion to the Board of Directors to the effect that, as of November 14, 2012 and based upon and subject to the various assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken as set forth in the opinion, the consideration of $15.50 per share in cash proposed to be received by the holders of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Following questions by the members of the Board of Directors to representatives of Piper Jaffray and DLA Piper, and further discussion among the

 

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members of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors then unanimously determined that it was advisable, fair to and in the best of interests of the Company and its stockholders to enter into the Merger Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby and approved, and authorized the execution and delivery of, the Merger Agreement in the form presented to the Board of Directors. After the approval, the meeting adjourned.

DLA Piper informed Cravath that the Company’s Board of Directors had approved the Merger Agreement and related transactions. The parties completed the Merger Agreement and related documents and signature pages thereafter were exchanged and released. The written consent of the Principal Stockholders was delivered thereafter. The parties announced the transaction in a joint press release at approximately 3:00 p.m. on November 14, 2012.

REQUIRED APPROVAL OF THE MERGER; WRITTEN CONSENT

Under Section 251 of the DGCL, the approval of Teavana’s Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of a majority of Teavana’s Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote are required to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the Merger. Teavana’s Board of Directors has previously approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger.

Under Delaware law and Teavana’s Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, the approval of Teavana’s stockholders may be provided by written consent of the stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. On November 14, 2012, the Principal Stockholders, which collectively owned on such date, shares of Common Stock representing approximately 74% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement, delivered a written consent to the adoption of the Merger Agreement. Such written consent constituted adoption of the Merger Agreement by the holders of the requisite number of shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL. This means that the Merger can occur without the vote of any other Teavana stockholders and there will not be a meeting of Teavana stockholders at which you will be asked to vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement.

Federal securities laws state that the Merger may not be completed until 20 days after the date of mailing of this information statement to Teavana stockholders. Therefore, notwithstanding the execution and delivery of the written consent, the Merger will not occur until that time has elapsed. We expect the Merger to close on or before December 31, 2012, subject to certain government regulatory reviews and approvals; however, there is no assurance that the Merger will close at that time, or at all.

RECORD DATE

On November 14, 2012, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to act by written consent with respect to the adoption of the Merger Agreement, there were 38,777,893 shares of Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of our Common Stock issued and outstanding is entitled to one vote. This is the date used for determining the number of shares of Teavana stock outstanding and therefore necessary to adopt the Merger Agreement.

As of November 14, 2012, the Company received the written consent adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger executed by the holders of the requisite number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL. You may be receiving this information statement because you owned shares of our Common Stock on November 14, 2012.

In addition, the Board of Directors of the Company set December 4, 2012 as the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to receive notice of the approval of the Merger and that appraisal rights are available for holders of our Common Stock. You may be receiving this information statement because you owned shares of our Common Stock on December 4, 2012. This is the date used for determining stockholders entitled to receive notice of the availability of appraisal rights.

 

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Because this information statement constitutes both notice to stockholders of the action by written consent and notice to stockholders of the availability of appraisal rights, the information statement will be mailed to stockholders of record as of both November 14, 2012 and December 4, 2012.

RECOMMENDATION OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

On November 14, 2012, at a special meeting of our Board of Directors, after careful consideration, our Board of Directors unanimously:

 

   

approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

 

   

declared that it was in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders that the Company enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement;

 

   

declared that the Merger Consideration is fair to the Company’s stockholders; and

 

   

recommended that the Company’s stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement.

REASONS FOR THE MERGER

The Board of Directors, at a meeting held on November 14, 2012, unanimously approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and declared that it was in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders that the Company enter into the Merger Agreement and consummate the Merger. The Board of Directors made its determination after consultation with its independent legal and financial advisors and consideration of a number of factors.

In reaching its determination, the Board of Directors consulted with Company management and its independent financial and legal advisors and considered a number of potentially positive factors, including the following:

 

   

Historical Trading Price. The Board of Directors considered the fact that the $15.50 per share Merger Consideration represented a premium of approximately 53.0% to the stock price of $10.13 on November 13, 2012, the last full trading day before announcement of the Merger. The Merger Consideration represents a premium of approximately 37.9% to the 30-day average closing price of $11.24 for the 30 days ended November 13, 2012, a 26.9% premium to the 60-day average closing price of $12.21 for the 60 days ended November 13, 2012 and a 53.0% premium to the 52-week low of $10.13 per share on November 13, 2012.

 

   

Teavana’s Business Condition and Prospects. The Board of Directors considered information with respect to Teavana’s financial condition, results of operations, business and earnings prospects in light of various factors, including Teavana’s current and anticipated near-term operating results, which reflects some slow down in the Company’s rate of growth and the competitive dynamics of Teavana’s product offerings. The Board of Directors considered other strategic alternatives reasonably available to the Company, including potential competition from Parent, the prospect of continuing to operate as an independent company and the possibility of growing its business through acquisitions and internal growth. In that connection, the Board of Directors reviewed financial materials prepared by management and management’s concerns that current and projected challenging economic and market conditions create uncertain conditions for the Company’s future business. The Board of Directors considered this information in the context of Teavana’s risk profile if it were to remain an independent company, taking into account the potential benefits, risks and uncertainties associated with that course of action.

 

   

Merger Consideration. The Board of Directors considered the fact that the Merger Consideration is payable in cash, which provides liquidity and certainty of value to holders of shares of Common Stock immediately upon the closing of the Merger in comparison to the risks and uncertainty that would be inherent in continuing to operate as an independent company and executing the Company’s business plan.

 

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The Board also considered the fact that all holders of shares of Common Stock (other than (i) those shares with respect to which appraisal rights are properly exercised and (ii) shares held by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company, if any) will receive the same form and amount of consideration per share of Common Stock in connection with the Merger and that the Principal Stockholders will not be paid a control premium and (together with certain executives of Teavana) will escrow a portion of their proceeds to cover certain potential costs of Teavana including relating to integration matters.

 

   

Process. The Board of Directors took into account the process that Teavana and its advisors had conducted prior to the signing of the Merger Agreement, which involved active assessment by the Board of Directors of potential alternative bidders and initiating contact with a selection of 10 strategic buyers and financial sponsors that the Board of Directors and its advisors believed would potentially have an interest in acquiring Teavana. The sale process did not result in any significant interest on the part of any strategic buyer or financial sponsor to acquire the Company at a price competitive with the price obtained from or proposed by Parent. The Board of Directors also considered the negotiating process with Parent and its belief that the Company obtained the highest price per share of Common Stock that Parent was willing to pay as a result of the extensive negotiations between the Company and its legal and financial advisors, on the one hand, and Parent and its legal advisors, on the other hand.

 

   

Opinion of and Input of Teavana’s Financial Advisors. The Board of Directors considered the financial analysis presented by Piper Jaffray and its oral opinion (which was subsequently confirmed in writing) that, as of November 14, 2012, and based on and subject to the factors and assumptions to be set forth in its written opinion, the $15.50 per share in cash to be received by the holders of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, as more fully described in the subsection entitled “– Opinion of Teavana’s Financial Advisor.” The Board of Directors also considered the input from North Point that in its view the price obtained represented the best price available to the Company at this time.

 

   

Support of the Principal Stockholders. The Board of Directors considered the support of the Principal Stockholders, which controlled approximately 74% of the aggregate voting power of shares of Common Stock, as evidenced by their willingness to execute and deliver a written consent adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger.

 

   

Nature of Principal Stockholders. The Board of Directors considered the fact that the Principal Stockholders could eventually decide to divest their holdings in the Company, and the possibility that such sale could relate only to their own stake, in lieu of a sale transaction in which all stockholders would be entitled to participate, and the Board of Directors’ belief that such a sale alone by the Principal Stockholders could potentially impact the economic interests of our minority stockholders.

 

   

Escrowed Funds. The Board of Directors considered the willingness of the Principal Stockholders, as well as certain executives of Teavana, to place a portion of the proceeds from the sale of their shares and cancellation of their options pursuant to the Merger into escrow to cover certain potential costs of Teavana including relating to integration matters. The public stockholders are not subject to the escrow arrangement and accordingly will not have their proceeds reduced thereby.

 

   

Prompt Closing. The Board of Directors considered the potential for a prompt completion of the Merger, which presented the possibility of favorable tax treatment to stockholders if the transaction is completed before the end of the year. The Board of Directors also considered the risk of losing the opportunity with Parent in the event of any delay.

 

   

Appraisal Rights. The Board of Directors considered the availability of appraisal rights to the stockholders of the Company who are entitled to such rights and who comply with all of the requirements set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL for exercising such rights, which allow such holders to seek appraisal of the “fair value” of their shares of our Common Stock as determined by the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware in lieu of receiving the Merger Consideration.

 

   

Terms of the Merger Agreement. The Board of Directors considered the terms of the Merger Agreement, as reviewed with its legal advisors, including:

 

   

The fact that Parent’s obligation to complete the Merger is not subject to any financing condition.

 

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The fact that the provisions of the Merger Agreement provide the Company with sufficient operating flexibility to conduct its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice between signing the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger.

The Board of Directors also determined that the following factors increased the likelihood that the Merger would be completed:

 

   

the fact that the consent of the Principal Stockholders, who had been involved with the negotiation process, was sufficient to adopt the Merger Agreement without the need for a meeting of stockholders;

 

   

the Company’s ability, under certain circumstances, to seek specific performance to prevent breaches of the Merger Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and to enforce specifically the terms of the Merger Agreement, including enforcing Parent’s obligation to consummate the Merger;

 

   

the fact that while the closing of the Merger is subject to antitrust clearance, the Board of Directors did not expect there to be significant antitrust or other regulatory impediments the closing of the Merger;

 

   

the experience, reputation and financial capability of Parent; and

 

   

the limited conditions to the Closing and the fact that the satisfaction of those conditions was, in the view of the Board of Directors, likely attainable by December 31, 2012.

The Board of Directors also considered certain uncertainties, risks and potentially negative factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

Potential Inability to Complete the Merger. The Board of Directors considered the fact that, while the Company expected the Merger to be consummated if stockholder approval was obtained and that it would likely be obtained through the consent process, (i) there could be no assurance at that time that such stockholder consent would be delivered and (ii) there can be no assurance that all conditions to the parties’ obligations to complete the Merger will be satisfied or waived, and as a result, it is possible that the Merger may not be completed. In that connection, the Board of Directors considered the fact that the Company’s business, sales, operations and financial results could suffer in the event the Merger is not consummated, and that the Company’s stock price would likely be adversely affected.

 

   

Limitation on Alternative Proposals. The Board of Directors considered the fact that under the Merger Agreement, the Board would be unable to solicit, initiate, encourage or take any other action to knowingly facilitate a takeover proposal from a third party, subject to certain exceptions that expired upon delivery by the Principal Stockholders to Teavana of a written consent.

 

   

No Participation in Future Growth. The Board of Directors considered the fact that the $15.50 price per share will represent the maximum price per share receivable by Teavana stockholders pursuant to the Merger Agreement (subject to appraisal rights under Delaware law), and that Teavana will cease to be a public company and its stockholders will no longer participate in any future earnings or growth of Teavana and therefore will not benefit from any appreciation in the Company’s value, including any appreciation in value that could be realized as a result of improvements to operations.

 

   

Written Consent of Stockholders. The Board evaluated the fact that, as a condition to entering into the Merger Agreement, Parent required that the Merger Agreement include a provision permitting Parent to terminate the Merger Agreement and be reimbursed for Parent’s expenses if the Principal Stockholders failed to execute and deliver the Written Consent of Stockholders by 6 a.m. on the day following the execution of the Merger Agreement.

 

   

Interim Operating Covenants. The Board of Directors considered the fact that, although the Company will continue to exercise control and supervision over its operations prior to closing, the Merger Agreement prohibits the Company from taking a number of actions relating to the conduct of its business prior to the Closing without Parent’s consent, which may delay or prevent the Company from undertaking business opportunities that may arise during the pendency of the Merger, whether or not the Merger is completed.

 

   

Pendency of Consummation. The Board of Directors considered the fact that the announcement and pendency of the Merger, or failure to complete the Merger, may cause harm to the Company’s

 

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relationships with its employees (including making it more difficult to attract and retain key personnel), vendors and customers and may divert employees’ attention away from the Company’s day-to-day business operations.

 

   

Stock Price. The Board of Directors considered the fact that while the Merger Consideration of $15.50 per share represented a premium of approximately 53.0% to the closing price of the Company’s Common Stock on November 13, 2012, the last full trading day prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement, the Common Stock had traded at higher prices during the course of the prior year and had received a price of $17.00 per share in its initial public offering on July 28, 2011. The Merger Consideration represents a discount of approximately 40.5% to the 52-week high of $26.03 per share on February 28, 2012.

 

   

Termination Fee. The Board of Directors took into account the $18.4 million termination fee payable to Parent if the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances.

 

   

Expense Reimbursement. The Board of Directors considered the requirement that the Company reimburse Parent for up to $3.5 million of its and its affiliates’ out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the Merger if the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, including the failure of the Principal Stockholders to deliver their written consent adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger.

 

   

Potential for Litigation. The Board of Directors considered the possible effects of the pendency or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including any suit, action or proceeding in respect of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

 

   

Taxability. The Board of Directors considered that any gain from an all-cash transaction such as the Merger will be a taxable transaction to Teavana’s stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

   

Expenses. The Board recognized the fact that the Company has incurred and will incur substantial expenses related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, regardless of whether the Merger is consummated.

 

   

Interests of Teavana’s Directors and Executive Officers. The Board of Directors was aware of and considered the interests that the Company’s directors and executive officers may have with respect to the Merger that differ from, or are in addition to, their interests as stockholders of the Company generally, as described in the section entitled “—Interests of Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger”.

The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Board of Directors is not intended to be exhaustive but includes the material factors considered by the Board of Directors. In view of the complexity and wide variety of factors considered, the Board of Directors did not find it useful to and did not attempt to quantify, rank or otherwise assign weights to these factors. In addition, the Board of Directors did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any particular factor, or any aspect of any particular factor, was favorable or unfavorable to its ultimate determination, but rather the Board of Directors conducted an overall analysis of the factors described above, including discussions with Teavana’s management and its financial and legal advisors. In considering the factors described above, individual members of the Board of Directors may have given different weights to different factors.

After considering these factors, the Board of Directors concluded that the positive factors relating to the Merger Agreement and the Merger outweighed the potential negative factors and declared the advisability of the Merger Agreement and the Merger based upon the totality of the information presented to and considered by it.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVED AND DECLARED ADVISABLE THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE MERGER AND RECOMMENDED THAT OUR STOCKHOLDERS ADOPT THE MERGER AGREEMENT.

 

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OPINION OF TEAVANA’S FINANCIAL ADVISOR

The Company retained Piper Jaffray to render a fairness opinion to the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with the Merger. On November 14, 2012, Piper Jaffray delivered its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing, to the Board of Directors that, based on and subject to the limitations and assumptions stated in the opinion, as of the date of the opinion the Merger Consideration to be received by the holders of the Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Piper Jaffray understands that the Principal Stockholders agreed to have a portion of their Merger Consideration placed in escrow for release upon satisfaction of certain conditions and for purposes of rendering its opinion, Piper Jaffray assumed that the Principal Stockholders would receive their Merger Consideration on the same terms as the other holders of Company Common Stock and that no portion of their Merger Consideration would be subject to escrow.

The full text of Piper Jaffray’s written opinion dated November 14, 2012, which contains the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, and with the prior written approval of Piper Jaffray, is attached as Annex C to this information statement and is incorporated herein by reference. The summary of Piper Jaffray’s opinion in this information statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion. You are urged to read the opinion in its entirety and this summary is qualified by reference to the written opinion. Piper Jaffray’s opinion addressed solely the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of the Company Common Stock of the Merger Consideration. Piper Jaffray’s opinion was directed solely to the Company’s Board of Directors in connection with its consideration of the Merger and was not intended to be, and does not constitute, a recommendation to any Company stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote or how any such stockholder should act with respect to the Merger or any other matter, including, but not limited to, exercise of appraisal rights. Piper Jaffray’s opinion was approved for issuance by the Piper Jaffray Opinion Committee.

In arriving at its opinion, Piper Jaffray, among other things, has:

 

   

reviewed and analyzed the financial terms of a draft of the Merger Agreement dated November 12, 2012;

 

   

reviewed and analyzed certain financial and other data with respect to the Company which was publicly available;

 

   

reviewed and analyzed certain information, including financial forecasts, relating to the business, earnings, cash flow, assets, liabilities and prospects of the Company that were publicly available, as well as those that were furnished to Piper Jaffray and prepared by the Company;

 

   

conducted discussions with members of senior management and representatives of the Company concerning the two immediately preceding matters described above, as well as the business and prospects of the Company before and after giving effect to the Merger;

 

   

reviewed the current and historical reported prices and trading activity of the Company’s Common Stock and similar information for certain other companies deemed by Piper Jaffray to be comparable to the Company;

 

   

compared the financial performance of the Company with that of certain other public companies that Piper Jaffray deemed relevant; and

 

   

reviewed the financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of certain business combination transactions that Piper Jaffray deemed relevant.

In addition, Piper Jaffray conducted such other inquiries, examinations and analyses, and considered such other financial, economic and market criteria as Piper Jaffray deemed necessary in arriving at its opinion.

The following is a summary of the material financial analyses performed by Piper Jaffray in connection with the preparation of its fairness opinion, which was reviewed with, and formally delivered to, the Company’s Board of Directors at a meeting held on November 13, 2012, and confirmed at a subsequent meeting held on

 

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November 14, 2012. The preparation of analyses and a fairness opinion is a complex analytic process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances. Therefore, this summary does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed by Piper Jaffray or of its presentation to the Board of Directors on November 13, 2012, subsequently confirmed on November 14, 2012.

This summary includes information presented in tabular format, which tables must be read together with the text of each analysis summary and considered as a whole in order to fully understand the financial analyses presented by Piper Jaffray. The tables alone do not constitute a complete summary of the financial analyses. The order in which these analyses are presented below, and the results of those analyses, should not be taken as an indication of the relative importance or weight given to these analyses by Piper Jaffray or the Company’s Board of Directors. Except as otherwise noted, the following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before November 9, 2012, and is not necessarily indicative of current market conditions.

For purposes of its analyses, Piper Jaffray calculated (i) the Company’s equity value implied by the Merger to be approximately $613.4 million, based on approximately 39,576,211 fully-diluted shares of Common Stock outstanding as of October 24, 2012, calculated using the treasury stock method and the Merger Consideration and (ii) the Company’s enterprise value (“EV”) (for the purposes of this analysis, implied EV equates to implied equity value, plus debt, less cash) to be approximately $622.2 million.

Financial Analyses

Piper Jaffray performed the following financial analyses in connection with rendering its opinion to the Company’s Board of Directors:

 

   

selected public companies analysis;

 

   

selected mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) transaction analysis;

 

   

premiums paid analysis; and

 

   

discounted cash flows analysis.

Each of these analyses is summarized below.

Selected Public Companies Analysis

Piper Jaffray reviewed selected historical financial data of the Company and estimated financial data of the Company based on projections provided by Company management and compared them to corresponding financial data, where applicable, for U.S. listed public companies in the consumer sector, including specialty retail, limited service restaurants (primarily non-franchised), and beverage companies that Piper Jaffray deemed comparable to the Company. Piper Jaffray selected companies in these industries based on information obtained by searching SEC filings, public company disclosures, press releases, equity research reports, industry and popular press reports, databases and other sources. Piper Jaffray selected these companies based on the following criteria:

 

   

EV greater than $250 million;

 

   

long-term EPS growth greater than 15%; and

 

   

non-financially distressed.

 

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Based on these criteria, Piper Jaffray identified and analyzed the following selected companies:

 

Specialty Retail

 

Non-Franchised,

Limited Service Restaurants

 

Beverage Companies

Abercrombie & Fitch Co.

  rue21, Inc.   Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.   Green Mountain Beverage Corporation

Chico’s FAS Inc.

  Stage Stores Inc.   Panera Bread Co.   Monster Beverage Corporation

Coach, Inc.

  Tilly’s, Inc.   Starbucks Corporation  

Express Inc.

  Tumi Holdings, Inc.    

Fossil, Inc.

Francesca’s Holding Corp.

  Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc.    

Hot Topic Inc.

  Urban Outfitters Inc.    

Jos. A Bank Clothiers Inc.

  Vera Bradley, Inc.    

Lululemon Athletica Inc.

  Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.    

Michael Kors Holdings Ltd.

  Zumiez, Inc.    
     

Piper Jaffray performed its valuation analysis using the Company’s Base Case Forecast and Upside Case Forecast described below under “The Merger – Summary of Teavana’s Projections.” For the selected public companies analysis, Piper Jaffray compared valuation multiples for the Company derived from the Merger Consideration and the Company’s last 12 months (“LTM”) revenue and LTM EBITDA (calculated throughout as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), as well as the Company’s management projections for 2012-2017 revenue, EBITDA and Net Income, to valuation multiples for the selected public companies derived from their closing prices per share on November 9, 2012, and LTM revenue and LTM EBITDA, as well as consensus projections for calendar year 2012 and 2013 revenue, EBITDA and Net Income.

The selected public companies analysis showed that, based on the estimates and assumptions used in the analysis, the implied valuation multiples of the Company based on the Merger Consideration were within the range of valuation multiples of the selected public companies when comparing the ratio of EV to (i) LTM revenue, (ii) projected revenue for calendar year 2012, (iii) projected revenue for calendar year 2013, (iv) LTM EBITDA, (v) projected EBITDA for calendar year 2012, (vi) projected EBITDA for calendar year 2013, (vii) projected Price/Earnings for calendar year 2012 and (viii) projected Price/Earnings for calendar year 2013. Piper Jaffray also compared the projected long-term EPS Growth Rates of the selected public companies.

 

     Selected Public Companies  
      Company
Base  Case(1)
     Company
Upside  Case(1)
     Minimum      Mean      Median      Maximum  

EV to LTM Revenue (2)

     3.3x         3.3x         0.4x         2.4x         1.9x         8.0x   

EV to Projected 2012 Revenue (3)

     2.7x         2.7x         0.4x         2.2x         1.8x         6.9x   

EV to Projected 2013 Revenue (3)

     2.2x         2.1x         0.4x         1.8x         1.6x         5.6x   

EV to LTM EBITDA (2)

     17.4x         17.4x         3.0x         11.8x         9.8x         29.9x   

EV to Projected 2012 EBITDA (3)

     13.4x         13.4x         3.4x         10.5x         9.1x         24.2x   

EV to Projected 2013 EBITDA (3)

     10.1x         9.5x         3.3x         8.8x         7.8x         18.1x   

Projected 2012 Price/Earnings (3)

     28.2x         28.2x         7.6x         21.9x         19.7x         44.2x   

Projected 2013 Price/Earnings (3)

     20.3x         19.0x         7.0x         18.1x         16.7x         30.1x   

Projected Long-term EPS Growth Rate (4)

     18.5%         26.8%         15.0%         20.3%         18.9%         34.0%   

 

(1) Based on the Merger Consideration.
(2) LTM for selected public company analysis is based on latest publicly reported financial results. For the Company, LTM is as of July 29, 2012.
(3) Projected calendar year 2012 and calendar 2013 revenue, EBITDA, and Net Income for the Company were based on Company management projections. Projected calendar year 2012 and calendar year 2013 revenue, EBITDA, and Net Income for the selected public companies were based on equity research analyst consensus estimates.
(4) The projected long-term EPS growth rate for the Company was based on Company management projections. The projected long-term EPS growth rates for the selected public companies were based on equity research analyst consensus estimates.

 

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Selected M&A Transaction Analysis

Piper Jaffray reviewed merger and acquisition transactions involving target companies in the retail, restaurant and beverage industries that it deemed comparable to the Company. Piper Jaffray selected these transactions based on information obtained by searching SEC filings, public company disclosures, press releases, equity research reports, industry and popular press reports, databases and other sources. Piper Jaffray selected these transactions based on the following criteria:

 

   

transaction value between $250 million and $4 billion;

 

   

pending or completed transactions announced since 2009; and

 

   

transactions in which the acquiring company purchased a controlling interest of the target.

The following transactions had target companies in the retail industry that were deemed comparable to the Company:

 

Target

  

Acquiror

99 Cents Only

   Ares Management, CPP Investment Board

BJ’s Wholesale Club

   Leonard Green & Partners LP, CVC Capital Partners

Charming Shoppes

   Ascena Retail Group

Charlotte Russe Holding Inc.

   Advent International

Cost Plus World Market

   Bed, Bath and Beyond

Gymboree

   Bain Capital

J. Crew Group

   TPG, Leonard Green & Partners

Jo-Ann Fabrics

   Leonard Green & Partners

Party City

   Thomas H. Lee Partners

Peet’s Coffee & Tea

   BDT Capital Partners

The following transactions had target companies in the restaurant industry that were deemed comparable to the Company:

 

Target

  

Acquiror

Benihana Inc.

   Angelo, Gordon and Co.

California Pizza Kitchen

   Golden Gate Capital

CKE Restaurants

   Apollo Management

Dave & Buster’s

   Oak Hill Capital

Landry’s Restaurants

   Fertitta Group, Inc.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

   Centerbridge Capital Partners

The following transactions had target companies in the beverage industry that were deemed comparable to the Company:

 

Target

  

Acquiror

Cliffstar

   Cott Corporation

Van Houtte

   Green Mountain Coffee Roasters

Wm. Bolthouse Farms

   Campbell Soup Company

Piper Jaffray calculated the ratio of implied EV to: (i) LTM revenue, (ii) LTM EBITDA and (iii) LTM EBIT. Piper Jaffray also calculated the ratio of the implied equity value to the LTM Net Income. Piper Jaffray then compared the results of these calculations with similar calculations for the Company based on the Merger Consideration.

The selected transactions analysis showed that, based on the estimates and assumptions used in the analysis, the implied valuation multiples of the Company based on the Merger Consideration were within or above the

 

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range of valuation multiples of the selected transactions when comparing the ratio of (i) the implied EV to LTM revenue, (ii) the implied EV to LTM EBITDA, (iii) the implied EV to LTM EBIT, and (iv) the implied equity value to the LTM Net Income.

The analysis indicated the following multiples:

 

     Selected M&A Transactions  
     Company(1)      Minimum      Mean      Median      Maximum  

Implied EV to LTM Revenue (2)

     3.3x         0.2x         1.1x         0.9x         2.5x   

Implied EV to LTM EBITDA (2)

     17.4x         6.1x         9.2x         8.5x         22.2x   

Implied EV to LTM EBIT (2)(3)

     21.7x         7.9x         16.6x         14.5x         34.5x   

Implied Equity Value to LTM Net Income (2)(4)

     36.6x         16.6x         26.9x         20.3x         59.5x   

 

(1) Based on the Merger Consideration.
(2) LTM for the selected transactions is based on latest publicly reported financial results. For the Company, LTM was as of July 29, 2012.
(3) Piper Jaffray omitted EBIT results of two selected transactions in which the target company was undergoing restructuring and impairment charges or experiencing operational distress, resulting in multiples that were negative or not meaningful, and deemed misleading.
(4) Piper Jaffray omitted Equity Value to LTM Net Income results of five selected transactions in which the target company was undergoing restructuring and impairment charges or experiencing operational distress, resulting in multiples that were negative or not meaningful, and deemed misleading.

Premiums Paid Analysis

Piper Jaffray reviewed publicly available information for selected announced and completed or pending merger transactions to determine the premiums paid in the transactions over recent trading prices of the target companies prior to announcement of the transaction. Piper Jaffray selected these transactions based on the following criteria:

 

   

transactions announced after January 1, 2006;

 

   

targets in broad-based consumer industries, including retail, food and beverage, restaurants, apparel, consumer products and consumer services; and

 

   

EV between $250 million and $4 billion.

Piper Jaffray performed its analysis on approximately 55 transactions that satisfied these criteria, and the table below shows a comparison of premiums paid in these transactions to the premium that would be paid to the Company’s stockholders based on the Merger Consideration.

 

     Selected Premiums Paid based on Enterprise Value  
     Company(1)     Minimum     Mean     Median     Maximum  

Premium 1 day prior

     50.5     0.7     33.5     24.9     147.3

Premium 1 week prior

     50.0     (7.2 %)      33.8     27.1     137.0

Premium 4 weeks prior

     20.3     (7.0 %)      35.1     28.4     157.9

Premium 3 months prior

     29.2     (12.9 %)      38.8     30.1     171.3

 

(1) Based on the Merger Consideration.

Discounted Cash Flows Analysis

Using a discounted cash flows analysis, Piper Jaffray calculated an estimated range of theoretical values for the Company using the Company’s Base Case Forecast and Upside Case Forecast described below under “The Merger – Summary of Teavana’s Projections,” based on the net present value of (i) implied free cash flows from July 29, 2012 through fiscal year 2017; and (ii) a terminal value at fiscal year 2017 based upon a multiple of EBITDA

 

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consistent with transaction analysis multiples. The free cash flows for each year were calculated from the Company’s projections as operating income less taxes plus depreciation and amortization, less capital expenditures, plus/less change in net working capital. Using the Company’s Base Case Forecast, Piper Jaffray calculated the range of net present values based on terminal value multiples ranging from 7.0x to 9.0x and discount rates ranging from 11.0% to 16.0%, based on a weighted average cost of capital analysis, which was adjusted upward to account for small Company premiums as provided by Ibbotson and inherent business risk relative to the Company, and a tax rate ranging from 40.5% in 2012 to 37.3% in 2017 based on the Company’s projections. This analysis resulted in implied per share values of the Company’s Common Stock ranging from a low of $10.84 per share to a high of $16.18 per share. Using the Company’s Upside Case Forecast, Piper Jaffray calculated the range of net present values based on terminal value multiples ranging from 8.0x to 10.0x and discount rates ranging from 11.0% to 16.0%, based on a weighted average cost of capital analysis, which was adjusted upward to account for small Company premiums as provided by Ibbotson and inherent business risk relative to the Company, and a tax rate ranging from 40.5% in 2012 to 37.3% in 2017 based on the Company’s projections. This analysis resulted in implied per share values of the Company’s Common Stock ranging from a low of $14.98 per share to a high of $22.53 per share. Piper Jaffray observed that the Merger Consideration was within the range of values derived from this analysis.

Miscellaneous

The summary set forth above does not contain a complete description of the analyses performed by Piper Jaffray, but does summarize the material analyses performed by Piper Jaffray in rendering its opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. Piper Jaffray believes that its analyses and the summary set forth above must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses or of the summary, without considering the analyses as a whole or all of the factors included in its analyses, would create an incomplete view of the processes underlying the analyses set forth in the Piper Jaffray opinion. In arriving at its opinion, Piper Jaffray considered the results of all of its analyses and did not attribute any particular weight to any factor or analysis. Instead, Piper Jaffray made its determination as to fairness on the basis of its experience and financial judgment after considering the results of all of its analyses. The fact that any specific analysis has been referred to in the summary above is not meant to indicate that this analysis was given greater weight than any other analysis. In addition, the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis described above should not be taken to be Piper Jaffray’s view of the actual value of the Company.

No company or transaction used in the above analyses as a comparison is directly comparable to the Company or the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, an analysis of the results of the comparisons is not mathematical; rather, it involves complex considerations and judgments about differences in the companies and transactions to which the Company and the Merger were compared and other factors that could affect the public trading value or transaction value of the companies involved.

Piper Jaffray performed its analyses for purposes of providing its opinion to the Company’s Board of Directors. In performing its analyses, Piper Jaffray made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters. Certain of the analyses performed by Piper Jaffray are based upon forecasts of future results furnished to Piper Jaffray by the Company’s management, which are not necessarily indicative of actual future results and may be significantly more or less favorable than actual future results. These forecasts are inherently subject to uncertainty because, among other things, they are based upon numerous factors or events beyond the control of the parties or their respective advisors. Piper Jaffray does not assume responsibility if future results are materially different from forecasted results.

Piper Jaffray relied upon and assumed, without assuming liability or responsibility for independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information that was publicly available or was furnished, or otherwise made available, to Piper Jaffray or discussed with or reviewed by Piper Jaffray. Piper Jaffray further relied upon the assurances of the Company’s management that the financial information provided to Piper Jaffray was prepared on a reasonable basis in accordance with industry practice, and that the Company’s management

 

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was not aware of any information or facts that would make any information provided to Piper Jaffray incomplete or misleading. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, for the purpose of Piper Jaffray’s opinion, Piper Jaffray assumed that with respect to financial forecasts, estimates and other forward-looking information reviewed by Piper Jaffray, that such information was reasonably prepared based on assumptions reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the Company’s management as to the expected future results of operations and financial condition of the Company. Piper Jaffray expressed no opinion as to any such financial forecasts, estimates or forward-looking information or the assumptions on which they were based. Piper Jaffray relied, with the Company’s consent, on advice of the outside counsel and the independent registered public accounting firm to the Company, and on the assumptions of the Company’s management, as to all accounting, legal, regulatory, tax and financial reporting matters with respect to the Company and the Merger Agreement. Piper Jaffray’s opinion does not address any accounting, legal, regulatory, tax and financial reporting matters.

In arriving at its opinion, Piper Jaffray assumed that the executed Merger Agreement was in all material respects identical to the last draft reviewed by Piper Jaffray. Piper Jaffray relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, that (i) the representations and warranties of all parties to the Merger Agreement and all other related documents and instruments that are referred to therein were true and correct, (ii) each party to such agreements would fully and timely perform all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by such party, (iii) the Merger would be consummated pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement without amendments thereto and (iv) all conditions to the consummation of the Merger would be satisfied without waiver by any party of any conditions or obligations thereunder. Additionally, Piper Jaffray assumed that all the necessary regulatory approvals and consents required for the Merger would be obtained in a manner that would not adversely affect the Company or the contemplated benefits of the Merger. Piper Jaffray understands that the Principal Stockholders agreed to have a portion of their Merger Consideration placed in escrow for release upon satisfaction of certain conditions and for purposes of rendering its opinion, Piper Jaffray assumed that the Principal Stockholders would receive their Merger Consideration on the same terms as the other holders of Company Common Stock and that no portion of their Merger Consideration would be subject to escrow.

In arriving at its opinion, Piper Jaffray did not perform any appraisals or valuations of any specific assets or liabilities (fixed, contingent or other) of the Company, and was not furnished or provided with any such appraisals or valuations, nor did Piper Jaffray evaluate the solvency of the Company under any state or federal law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. The analyses performed by Piper Jaffray in connection with its opinion were going concern analyses. Piper Jaffray expressed no opinion regarding the liquidation value of the Company or any other entity. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Piper Jaffray undertook no independent analysis of any pending or threatened litigation, regulatory action, possible unasserted claims or other contingent liabilities, to which the Company or any of its affiliates was a party or may be subject, and at the direction of the Company and with its consent, Piper Jaffray’s opinion made no assumption concerning, and therefore did not consider, the possible assertion of claims, outcomes or damages arising out of any such matters. Piper Jaffray also assumed that neither the Company nor Parent is party to any material pending transaction, including without limitation any financing, recapitalization, acquisition or merger, divestiture or spin-off, other than the Merger.

Piper Jaffray’s opinion was necessarily based upon the information available to it and facts and circumstances as they existed and were subject to evaluation on the date of its opinion. Events occurring after the date of its opinion could materially affect the assumptions used in preparing its opinion. Piper Jaffray did not express any opinion as to the price at which shares of Company Common Stock may trade following announcement of the Merger or at any future time. Piper Jaffray did not undertake to reaffirm or revise its opinion or otherwise comment upon any events occurring after the date of its opinion and does not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its opinion.

Piper Jaffray’s opinion addressed solely the fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of the Company Common Stock of the Merger Consideration, as set forth in the Merger Agreement, and did not address any other terms or agreement relating to the Merger or any other terms of the Merger Agreement. Piper Jaffray

 

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was not requested to opine as to, and its opinion does not address, the basic business decision to proceed with or effect and the Merger, the merits of the Merger relative to any alternative transaction or business strategy that may be available to the Company, Parent’s ability to fund the Merger Consideration payable in the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement or any other terms contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Furthermore, Piper Jaffray expressed no opinion with respect to the amount or nature of the compensation to any officer, director or employee, or any class of such persons, relative to the compensation to be received by holders of Company Common Stock in the Merger or with respect to the fairness of any such compensation.

Piper Jaffray is a nationally recognized investment banking firm and is regularly engaged as financial advisor in connection with mergers and acquisitions, underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements, and valuations for corporate and other purposes. The Company’s Board of Directors selected Piper Jaffray to render its fairness opinion in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement on the basis of its experience and reputation in acting as financial advisor in connection with mergers and acquisitions.

Piper Jaffray rendered to the Company’s Board of Directors a fairness opinion in connection with the Merger and will receive a fee of approximately $375,000 plus expenses from the Company, none of which is contingent upon the consummation of the Merger. The opinion fee was not contingent upon the consummation of the Merger or the conclusions reached in Piper Jaffray’s opinion. Piper Jaffray will also receive a fee of approximately $100,000 from the Company for making a limited number of initial contacts with potential acquirers, none of which is contingent upon the consummation of the Merger. The Company has agreed to indemnify Piper Jaffray against certain liabilities and reimburse Piper Jaffray for certain expenses in connection with its services. In the ordinary course of its business, Piper Jaffray and its affiliates may actively trade securities of the Company for its own account or the account of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities. Piper Jaffray and its affiliates may from time to time perform various investment banking and financial advisory services for the Company and for other clients and customers that may have conflicting interests with the Company, for which Piper Jaffray would expect to receive compensation.

Consistent with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, Piper Jaffray has adopted policies and procedures to establish and maintain the independence of Piper Jaffray’s research department and personnel. As a result, Piper Jaffray’s research analysts may hold opinions, make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Merger and other participants in the merger that differ from the opinions of Piper Jaffray’s investment banking personnel.

SUMMARY OF TEAVANA’S PROJECTIONS

Teavana does not as a matter of course publicly disclose long-term forecasts or internal projections as to future performance, revenues, earnings, financial condition or other results due to, among other reasons, the uncertainty of the underlying assumptions and estimates. However, in connection with the Board of Directors’ exploration of strategic alternatives, Company management prepared unaudited prospective financial information on a stand-alone, pre-merger basis. Teavana is electing to provide the unaudited prospective financial information in this information statement to provide the stockholders of Teavana access to certain non-public unaudited prospective financial information that was made available to Parent or to Teavana’s financial advisors in connection with the Merger. The unaudited prospective financial information was not prepared with a view toward public disclosure and the inclusion of this information should not be regarded as an indication that Teavana or any other recipient of this information considered, or now considers, it to be necessarily predictive of actual future results. Neither Teavana nor any of its affiliates assumes any responsibility for the accuracy of this information. Readers of this information statement are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the unaudited prospective financial information. No one has made or makes any representation to any stockholder of Teavana regarding the information included in the unaudited prospective financial information or the ultimate performance of Teavana compared to the information included in the unaudited prospective financial information.

 

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The unaudited prospective financial information was not prepared with a view toward complying with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), the published guidelines of the SEC regarding projections or the guidelines established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants with respect to the preparation or presentation of prospective financial information. Certain of the unaudited prospective financial information presents financial metrics that were not prepared in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Teavana has not prepared, and neither the Board of Directors nor the Board of Directors’ financial advisors have considered, a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to applicable GAAP financial measures.

There can be no assurance that the assumptions made in preparing such information will prove accurate or that the projected results reflected therein will be realized. Neither Teavana’s independent registered public accounting firm, nor any other independent accountants, have compiled, examined or performed any procedures with respect to the unaudited prospective financial information contained herein, nor have they expressed any opinion or any other form of assurance on such information or its achievability, and assume no responsibility for the unaudited prospective financial information and disclaim any association with, the prospective financial information. Furthermore, the unaudited prospective financial information does not take into account any circumstance or event occurring after the date it was prepared or which may occur in the future, and, in particular, does not take into account any revised prospects of Teavana’s business, changes in general business, regulatory or economic conditions, competition or any other transaction or event that has occurred since the date on which such information was prepared or which may occur in the future.

While presented with numeric specificity, the unaudited prospective financial information reflects numerous estimates and assumptions made by Company management with respect to industry performance and competition, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and matters specific to Teavana’s business, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond Teavana’s control. As a result, the unaudited prospective financial information reflects numerous assumptions and estimates as to future events and there can be no assurance that these assumptions will accurately reflect future conditions, that the unaudited prospective financial information will be realized or that actual results will not be significantly higher or lower than estimated. Since the unaudited prospective financial information covers multiple years, such information by its nature becomes less predictive with each successive year.

Company management prepared unaudited prospective financial information under two cases reflecting alternative business scenarios, reflected below as the Upside Case Forecast and the Base Case Forecast. The Upside Case Forecast was prepared first and was provided to Parent and reflected management’s forecast based on aggressive growth assumptions relating to new store openings and growth in comparable store sales. The Base Case Forecast was prepared later and reflected a more conservative growth pattern and was based on the most recent financial performance trends of the Company as well as management’s judgment that competitive and other conditions would make obtaining the Upside Case Forecast difficult and less likely. The Board considered both of the forecasts in reaching its judgment to accept the proposal from Parent, and concluded that the Base Case Forecast was subject to risk and uncertainty but represented the more likely outcome at this time and that the Upside Case Forecast was subject to significant additional risk and uncertainty.

 

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The following table presents a summary of the material unaudited prospective financial information of Teavana contained in the base plan or Base Case Forecast:

 

($ in millions)    Historical      Projected  
     Fiscal Year End  
     2010A      2011A      2012E      2013E      2014E      2015E      2016E      2017E  

Net Sales

   $ 124.7       $ 168.1       $ 234.4       $ 279.3       $ 309.9       $ 347.9       $ 388.8       $ 428.3   

Cost of Goods Sold

     46.3         60.9         87.0         102.5         113.9         128.3         144.0         159.1   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross Profit

     78.4         107.2         147.4         176.8         196.1         219.6         244.9         269.2   

Selling General and Administrative

     50.4         69.7         100.9         115.2         127.1         140.9         155.3         170.2   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 28.0       $ 37.5       $ 46.5       $ 61.5       $ 69.0       $ 78.7       $ 89.6       $ 99.0   

Depreciation and amortization

     4.6         6.0         9.2         11.0         12.2         13.7         15.3         16.8   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

     23.4         31.6         37.3         50.5         56.8         65.0         74.4         82.2   

Interest

     2.4         1.6         0.8         0.6         0.3         0.3         0.3         0.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pre-Tax Income

     20.9         29.9         36.4         49.9         56.5         64.7         74.1         81.9   

Taxes

     8.9         12.2         14.8         19.4         21.9         24.7         28.1         30.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 12.0       $ 17.8       $ 21.7       $ 30.5       $ 34.6       $ 40.0       $ 45.9       $ 51.3   

The following table presents a summary of the material unaudited prospective financial information of Teavana contained in the upside plan or Upside Case Forecast:

 

($ in millions)    Historical      Projected  
     Fiscal Year End  
     2010A      2011A      2012E      2013E      2014E      2015E      2016E      2017E  

Net Sales

   $ 124.7       $ 168.1       $ 234.4       $ 300.0       $ 368.3       $ 442.0       $ 510.4       $ 579.0   

Cost of Goods Sold

     46.3         60.9         87.0         110.4         136.0         163.7         190.3         216.5   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross Profit

     78.4         107.2         147.4         189.6         232.3         278.2         320.1         362.6   

Selling General and Administrative

     50.4         69.7         100.9         124.0         150.0         176.2         200.4         224.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 28.0       $ 37.5       $ 46.5       $ 65.6       $ 82.3       $ 102.0       $ 119.7       $ 137.7   

Depreciation and amortization

     4.6         6.0         9.2         11.8         14.4         17.1         19.7         22.4   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating Income

     23.4         31.6         37.3         53.9         67.9         84.9         100.0         115.3   

Interest

     2.4         1.6         0.8         0.6         0.3         0.3         0.3         0.3   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Pre-Tax Income

     20.9         29.9         36.4         53.3         67.6         84.6         99.7         115.0   

Taxes

     8.9         12.2         14.8         20.7         26.2         32.3         37.9         42.9   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net Income

   $ 12.0       $ 17.8       $ 21.7       $ 32.5       $ 41.4       $ 52.3       $ 61.8       $ 72.1   

Piper Jaffray calculated free cash flows based on the Company’s projections that were also used in its analyses. The free cash flows from July 29, 2012 through 2017 used by Piper Jaffray in its analyses for the Base Case Forecast were $19.2 million, $28.1 million, $27.6 million, $34.0 million, $46.1 million and $46.6 million, respectively. The free cash flows from July 29, 2012 through 2017 used by Piper Jaffray in its analyses for the Upside Case Forecast were $19.2 million, $22.3 million, $18.7 million, $31.1 million, $39.3 million and $49.3 million, respectively.

The unaudited prospective financial information includes forward-looking statements and is based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to factors such as industry performance, competition, general business, economic, regulatory, market and financial conditions, as well as changes to the business, financial condition or results of operations of Teavana, including the factors described under “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 57, and other risk factors as disclosed in Teavana’s filings with the SEC that could cause actual results to differ materially from those shown below. Teavana’s most recent annual and quarterly reports on Forms 10-K and 10-Q are attached to this information statement as Annex E, Annex F and Annex G. Stockholders are urged to review Teavana’s most recent SEC filings for a description of risk factors with respect to Teavana’s business. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” beginning on page 57 and “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 58. The

 

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unaudited prospective financial information does not take into account any of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, which might cause actual results to differ materially.

Teavana’s stockholders are urged to review Teavana’s most recent SEC filings attached as annexes to this information statement for a description of Teavana’s reported results of operations, financial condition and capital resources during the fiscal year ended January 29, 2012, and the six months ended July 29, 2012. See “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 58.

For the foregoing reasons, as well as the bases and assumptions on which the unaudited prospective financial information was compiled, the inclusion of Teavana’s unaudited prospective financial information in this information statement should not be regarded as an indication that such information will be predictive of future results or events nor construed as financial guidance, and it should not be relied on as such or for any other purpose whatsoever.

TEAVANA HAS NOT UPDATED AND DOES NOT INTEND TO UPDATE OR OTHERWISE REVISE THE PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION SET FORTH ABOVE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, TO REFLECT CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTING AFTER THE DATE SUCH INFORMATION WAS PREPARED OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF FUTURE EVENTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CHANGES IN GENERAL ECONOMIC, REGULATORY OR INDUSTRY CONDITIONS, EVEN IN THE EVENT THAT ANY OR ALL OF THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THE PROSPECTIVE FINANCIAL INFORMATION ARE NO LONGER APPROPRIATE.

ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL ADVISOR

The Board of Directors also engaged North Point to act as a financial advisor to the Board of Directors with respect to the contemplated transaction. North Point was selected because of its long-time relationship with the Company as well as its substantial experience in the Company’s industry, including acquisition transactions in that industry. Under the terms of its agreement with North Point, the Company has agreed to pay North Point a transaction fee of $6.1 million, all of which is payable upon consummation of the transaction. In addition, Teavana has agreed to reimburse North Point up to $100,000 in the aggregate for its reasonable expenses, including fees and expenses of its legal counsel, and to indemnify North Point and related persons against various liabilities, including certain liabilities under the federal securities laws. In light of the fact that North Point and its affiliates owned shares of Common Stock, Teavana did not ask North Point to render an opinion as to the fairness from a financial point of view to the holders of Common Stock of Teavana of the consideration to be received by such holders pursuant to the Merger Agreement, but rather requested and relied on the opinion of Piper Jaffray.

Piper Jaffray served as a co-manager in connection with the Company’s initial public offering in July 2011 and North Point advised the Company in connection with its 2011 acquisition of Teaopia. In addition, Mr. Jacquin served on the Board of Directors of the Company from 2004 to 2010 prior to the Company’s initial public offering. North Point also holds less than one percent of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock. During the two years preceding the date of Piper Jaffray’s opinion, neither Piper Jaffray nor North Point were engaged by, performed any services for or received any compensation from Parent.

FINANCING OF THE MERGER

Parent’s obligation to complete the Merger is not conditioned upon obtaining financing. Parent has advised the Company that it will have available at the closing date of the Merger the necessary funds from its cash on hand to complete the Merger.

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS

The following is a summary of United States federal income tax consequences of the Merger to U.S. holders (as defined below) whose shares of our Common Stock are converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in the Merger. The discussion is for general information purposes only and does not purport to consider all aspects of United States federal income taxation that might be relevant to our stockholders. The

 

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discussion is based on current law which is subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. The discussion applies only to stockholders who hold shares of our Common Stock as capital assets, and does not address the tax consequences that may be relevant to a particular stockholder subject to special treatment under certain federal income tax laws, such as dealers in securities, banks, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, and stockholders who acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of options or otherwise as compensation or through a tax-qualified retirement plan.

For purposes of this summary, a “U.S. holder” is a holder of our Common Stock who is, for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

   

An individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

   

A corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation) created or organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

 

   

An estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

   

A trust (a) if a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration and one or more United States persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) if the trust has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person.

This discussion does not discuss the tax consequences to any stockholder who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is not a U.S. holder and does not address any aspect of state, local or non-U.S. tax laws.

If our Common Stock is held by a partnership, the United States federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that are holders of our Common Stock, and partners in such partnerships, are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the consequences to them of the Merger.

The receipt of the Merger Consideration for shares of our Common Stock in the Merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, a stockholder who surrenders shares of our Common Stock for cash in the Merger will recognize capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes equal to the difference, if any, between the Merger Consideration and the stockholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares of our Common Stock surrendered. Gain or loss will be determined separately for each block of shares (i.e., shares acquired at the same cost in a single transaction) surrendered in the Merger. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss provided that a stockholder’s holding period for such shares is more than one year at the time of the completion of the Merger. Long-term capital gains of individuals are eligible for reduced rates of taxation in 2012. There are limitations on the deductibility of capital losses.

Backup withholding will apply to all cash payments to which a stockholder or other payee is entitled pursuant to the Merger Agreement, unless such stockholder or other payee provides a taxpayer identification number (Social Security number, in the case of individuals, or employer identification number, in the case of other stockholders), certifies that such number is correct, and otherwise complies with the backup withholding tax rules. Each of our stockholders and, if applicable, each other payee, should complete and sign the Substitute Form W-9 which will be included as part of the letter of transmittal and return it to the paying agent, in order to provide the information and certification necessary to avoid backup withholding tax, unless an exemption applies and is established in a manner satisfactory to the paying agent.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability provided the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

Stockholders considering the exercise of their appraisal rights should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any consequences of the exercise of such rights arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction.

 

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The United States federal income tax consequences set forth above are for general information purposes only and are not intended to constitute a complete description of all tax consequences relating to the Merger. Because individual circumstances may differ, each stockholder should consult the stockholder’s tax advisor regarding the applicability of the rules discussed above to the stockholder and the particular tax effects to the stockholder of the Merger, including the application of state, local and non-U.S. tax laws.

INTERESTS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS IN THE MERGER

Members of our Board of Directors and our executive officers have various interests in the Merger described in this section that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of Teavana and our stockholders generally.

Please see “The Merger Agreement—Treatment of Stock Options” for a discussion of the treatment of outstanding vested and unvested options to acquire our Common Stock held by our directors and executive officers at the closing of the Merger. Please see “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” for details regarding the beneficial ownership of certain members of our Board of Directors and our executive officers.

Stock Options to be Cashed Out in the Merger

The following table sets forth, based on options outstanding as of November 14, 2012, the cash proceeds that each of the Company’s directors and executive officers would receive at the closing of the Merger (and, with respect to Messrs. Mack, Glennon, Luckhurst and Link, some portion of which will be payable only upon release of funds from an escrow account) in respect of the cash-out of those options (taking into account, for purposes of determining the cash proceeds in respect of vested and unvested stock options, respectively, any stock options that are expected to vest in accordance with their terms between the date of this information statement and the closing of the Merger). With respect to Messrs. Mack, Glennon, Luckhurst and Link, a portion of the cash proceeds they will receive will be payable only upon release of funds from an escrow account. The amounts disclosed in the table below do not include any vested or unvested stock options with a per share exercise price equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration as those stock options will be cancelled for no consideration.

 

Name

   Cash Payment
for Vested

Stock Options
($)
     Cash Payment
for Unvested

Stock Options
($)
     Total Cash
Payment for
Stock Options (1)

($)
 

Non-Employee Directors:

        

Robert J. Dennis

     —         $ 4,920       $ 4,920   

F. Barron Fletcher III

     —           —           —     

John E. Kyees

     —         $ 4,920       $ 4,920   

Michael J. Nevins

   $ 624,873       $ 4,920       $ 629,793   

Thomas A. Saunders III

     —         $ 4,920       $ 4,920   

Named Executive Officers:

        

Andrew T. Mack

     —           —           —     

Daniel P. Glennon (2)

   $ 2,153,922         —         $ 2,153,922   

Peter M. Luckhurst (2)

   $ 3,245,924         —         $ 3,245,924   

Jurgen W. Link (2)

   $ 393,287         —         $ 393,287   

David V. Christopherson

     —         $ 38,850       $ 38,850   

All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (10 Persons)

   $ 6,276,994       $ 58,530       $ 6,335,524   

 

(1) Does not include value attributable to vested Common Stock owned outright by the director or executive officer.
(2) A portion of the option cash-out proceeds will be placed in escrow to cover certain potential costs including relating to integration matters.

 

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Potential Severance Payable to Executive Officers

The Company is party to employment agreements with each of Messrs. Mack, Link, Glennon, Luckhurst and Christopherson. Pursuant to these agreements, if we terminate an executive officer’s employment without “cause,” as defined in the agreement, or if the executive officer resigns for “good reason,” as defined below, we are required to continue to pay the executive officer’s base salary for 18 months following the termination date, subject to the executive officer’s execution and delivery to us of a general release of claims in our favor. If we terminate the executive officer for “cause,” or if the executive officer resigns other than for “good reason,” we are required only to pay the executive officer accrued but unpaid salary and unreimbursed expenses for which the executive is entitled to reimbursement from us. Pursuant to their employment agreements, the executive officers have also agreed to a non-competition and non-solicitation clause, which survives for two years following termination of employment, a confidentiality clause which survives for five years following termination of employment and provisions relating to protection of our intellectual property. If the executive officer breaches any of these covenants, we have the right to seek specific performance and, if the executive officer breaches either the non-competition or the non-solicitation covenant, we may cease any severance payments being made to the executive and recover severance payments already made.

For purposes of the employment agreements, “good reason” means the occurrence of any of the following events, without the executive officer’s consent: (i) the Company’s material breach of the employment agreement; (ii) the assignment of the executive officer to a position, responsibilities, or duties of a materially lesser status or degree of responsibility than his position, responsibilities, or duties as of the effective date of the employment agreement; or (iii) relocation of the executive officer’s principal workplace to a location that is more than 50 miles away from the location on the effective date of the agreement. No “good reason” exists unless (x) the executive officer notifies the Company in writing within 60 days after the initial existence of any condition listed above, and the Company fails to cure the condition within 60 days after receiving notice, and (y) the executive officer terminates employment by no later than 150 days after the initial existence of any condition listed above.

Golden Parachute Compensation

The following table shows the aggregate dollar value of the various elements of compensation that each of our named executive officers could receive in connection with the Merger from the Company and Parent, as required by Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K, assuming that (i) the consummation of the Merger occurred on November 14, 2012 and (ii) each named executive officer’s employment was terminated on the date of consummation of the Merger without “cause” or by the named executive officer for “good reason:”

 

Name

   Cash
($) (1)
     Equity
($) (2)
     Total
Payments
($)
 

Andrew T. Mack

   $ 525,000         —         $ 525,000   

Daniel P. Glennon

   $ 405,000         —         $ 405,000   

Peter M. Luckhurst

   $ 405,000         —         $ 405,000   

Jurgen W. Link

   $ 309,582         —         $ 309,582   

David V. Christopherson

   $ 315,000       $ 38,850       $ 353,850   

 

(1) These amounts represent cash severance equal to 18 months of continued base salary payable pursuant to the executives’ employment agreements. These payments are “double-trigger,” as they will generally only be payable in the event of a qualifying termination of employment following the consummation of the Merger. These payments are based on the named executive officers’ base salary levels in effect on November 15, 2012; therefore, if base salaries are increased after November 15, 2012, actual payments may be greater than those provided for above. In addition, these “double-trigger” payments that the named executive officers are entitled to receive pursuant to their employment agreements are subject to their execution of a release of claims and continued compliance with the non-competition and non-solicitation covenants in their employment agreements.

 

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(2) These amounts represent the cash to be received upon consummation of the Merger due to the cash-out of unvested stock options. These payments are “single-trigger,” as they will occur upon consummation of the Merger.

Executive Retention Arrangements with Parent

In order to promote the retention of key Company employees during the period prior to and following the consummation of the Merger, Parent expects to grant the employees, including the executive officers, restricted stock units payable in shares of Parent’s common stock that are expected to vest in equal 50% installments on each of the second and fourth anniversaries of the consummation of the Merger and stock options exercisable for shares of Parent’s common stock that are expected to vest in equal 25% installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the consummation of the Merger, in each case subject to the employee’s continued provision of services through the applicable vesting date. The following table indicates the anticipated grant date value of these expected equity grants with respect to our executive officers:

 

Name

   Grant Date
Economic Value
of Equity Grants

($)
 

Andrew T. Mack

   $ 375,000   

Daniel P. Glennon

   $ 125,000   

Peter M. Luckhurst

   $ 125,000   

Jurgen W. Link

   $ 125,000   

David V. Christopherson

   $ 125,000   

New Management Arrangements

As of the date of this filing, neither the Company nor Parent has entered into any employment agreements with the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger other than the anticipated retention equity grants described above, and the Company has not amended or modified any employment agreements or other arrangements with management.

Non-Competition Agreements

Contemporaneously with the execution of the Merger Agreement, each of Andrew T. Mack and his spouse entered into a non-competition agreement with the Company and Parent, effective as of the closing of the Merger, pursuant to which each of them agreed not to compete with the Company or Parent for a period of three years following the closing, to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary and trade secret information of the Company, and to certain restrictions on soliciting customers of the Company and soliciting, recruiting or hiring employees of the Company.

Indemnification and Insurance

The Merger Agreement provides that following the Merger, the surviving corporation will assume all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Merger existing in favor of the current or former directors or officers of Teavana and its subsidiaries as provided in their respective certificates of incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) and any indemnification or other agreements of Teavana as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement. For six years after the Merger, the surviving corporation must maintain in the certificate of incorporation, bylaws and other organizational documents of the surviving corporation provisions concerning the indemnification and exculpation of Teavana’s and its subsidiaries’ current and former officers, directors and employees that are no less favorable than the provisions under Teavana’s and its subsidiaries’ certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) as of the date of the Merger Agreement. Prior to the Merger, Teavana shall purchase a six-year “tail” directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy, subject to a cap on aggregate premiums, for acts or omissions prior to the Merger.

 

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APPRAISAL RIGHTS

The discussion of the provisions set forth below is not intended to be a complete summary regarding your appraisal rights under Delaware law and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the relevant provisions of Delaware law, which are attached as Annex D to this information statement. Stockholders intending to exercise appraisal rights should carefully review Annex D. Failure to follow precisely any of the statutory procedures set forth in Annex D may result in a loss or waiver of these rights.

If the Merger is completed, holders of our Common Stock who did not consent to the adoption of the Merger Agreement and who precisely follow the procedures specified in Section 262 of the DGCL within the appropriate time periods will be entitled to have their shares of our Common Stock appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive the “fair value” of such shares in cash as determined by such court in lieu of the consideration that such stockholders would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

The following is a brief summary of Section 262, which sets forth the procedures for holders of Common Stock who did not consent to the adoption of the Merger Agreement and decide to exercise their statutory appraisal rights. Failure to follow the procedures set forth in Section 262 precisely could result in the loss of appraisal rights. Stockholders who desire to exercise their appraisal rights must satisfy all of the conditions of Section 262. A stockholder of record wishing to assert appraisal rights must hold the shares of stock on the date of making a demand for appraisal rights with respect to such shares and must continuously hold such shares through the effective date of the Merger.

Under Section 262, where a merger is adopted by stockholders by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders, either the constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger or the surviving or resulting corporation after the merger, within 10 days after the effective date of the merger, must notify each stockholder of the constituent corporation entitled to appraisal rights of the merger and that appraisal rights are available. This notice and this information statement constitute notice to holders of Teavana’s Common Stock concerning the availability of appraisal rights under Section 262.

Holders of shares of our Common Stock who desire to exercise their appraisal rights must deliver a written demand for appraisal to Teavana not later than December [    ], 2012 (which is 20 days after the date of mailing of this information statement and the notice attached hereto). A stockholder who elects to exercise appraisal rights should mail or deliver the written demand to Teavana at 3630 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1480, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, Attention: Office of the General Counsel. A demand for appraisal must be executed by or for the stockholder of record and must reasonably inform Teavana of the identity of the stockholder of record and that such stockholder intends thereby to demand appraisal of our Common Stock.

Only a holder of record of our Common Stock is entitled to assert appraisal rights for the shares of Common Stock registered in that holder’s name. If the shares are owned of record in a fiduciary capacity, such as by a trustee, guardian or custodian, the demand must be executed by the fiduciary in such capacity. If the shares are owned of record by more than one person, as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, the demand should be executed by or for all joint owners. An authorized agent, including an agent for two or more joint owners, may execute the demand for appraisal for a stockholder of record; however, the agent must identify the record owner or owners and expressly disclose the fact that, in exercising the demand, he is acting as agent for the record owner or owners. If a stockholder holds shares of our Common Stock through a broker who in turn holds the shares through a central securities depository nominee, a demand for appraisal of such shares must be made by or on behalf of the depository nominee and must identify the depository nominee as record holder.

A record holder, such as a broker, fiduciary, depositary or other nominee, who holds shares of our Common Stock as a nominee for others, may exercise appraisal rights with respect to the shares held for all or less than all beneficial owners of shares as to which such person is the record owner. In such case, the written demand should set forth the number of shares covered by the demand. Where the number of shares is not expressly stated, the demand will be presumed to cover all shares of our Common Stock outstanding in the name of such record owner.

 

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A person having a beneficial interest in our Common Stock held of record in the name of another person, such as a broker, depositary or other nominee, must act promptly to cause the record holder to follow the procedures set forth in Section 262 in a timely manner to perfect any appraisal rights. Stockholders who hold their shares of Common Stock in brokerage accounts or other nominee forms and who wish to exercise appraisal rights are urged to consult with their brokers or other nominees to determine the appropriate procedures for the making of a demand for appraisal by such brokers or nominees.

Prior to the Merger or within 10 days after the effective time of the Merger, we must provide notice of the effective time of the Merger to all of our stockholders entitled to appraisal rights. If this notice is sent more than 20 days after the sending of this information statement, we will only send it to stockholders who are entitled to appraisal rights and who have demanded appraisal in accordance with Section 262.

Within 120 days after the effective date of the Merger, any stockholder who has satisfied the requirements of Section 262 may deliver to us a written demand for a statement listing the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. Teavana, as the surviving corporation in the Merger, must mail any such written statement to the stockholder within 10 days after the stockholders’ request is received by us or within 10 days after the latest date for delivery of a demand for appraisal under Section 262, whichever is later.

Within 120 days after the effective date of the Merger, either Teavana or any stockholder who has complied with the required conditions of Section 262 and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights may file a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the fair value of the Teavana shares of Common Stock of stockholders entitled to appraisal rights. We have no obligation, and no present intention, to file such a petition. If no petition is filed, appraisal rights will be lost for all stockholders who had previously demanded appraisal of their shares. Accordingly, it is the obligation of the holders of our Common Stock to initiate all necessary action to perfect their appraisal rights in respect of such shares of Common Stock within the time prescribed in Section 262.

Upon the filing of a petition for appraisal by a stockholder in accordance with Section 262, service of a copy must be provided to us. Within 20 days after service, we must file in the office of the Delaware Register in Chancery a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by us. The Delaware Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Delaware Court of Chancery, will give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to us and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated, and notice will also be given by publishing a notice at least one week before the day of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or such publication as the Delaware Court of Chancery deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication must be approved by the Delaware Court of Chancery, and the costs thereof will be borne by us. The Delaware Court of Chancery may require the stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their shares (and who hold stock represented by certificates) to submit their stock certificates to the Delaware Register in Chancery for notation of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings and the Delaware Court of Chancery may dismiss the proceedings as to any stockholder that fails to comply with such direction.

If a petition for an appraisal is filed in a timely fashion, after a hearing on the petition, the Delaware Court of Chancery will determine which stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights and will appraise the shares owned by these stockholders, determining the fair value of such shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with a fair rate of interest to be paid, if any, upon the amount determined to be the fair value. When the fair value is so determined, the Delaware Court of Chancery will direct the payment by Teavana, as the surviving corporation of the Merger, of such value, with interest thereon to be paid in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL and as the Delaware Court of Chancery so determines, to the stockholders entitled thereto, upon the surrender to Teavana by such stockholders of such shares of Common Stock. Unless the Delaware Court of Chancery, in its discretion, sets a different interest rate

 

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for good cause shown, interest on an appraisal award will accrue and compound quarterly from the effective time of the Merger through the date on which the judgment is paid at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time to time during the period between the effective time of the Merger and the date of payment of the judgment.

In determining “fair value” of shares, the Delaware Court of Chancery will take into account all relevant factors. In Weinberger v. UOP, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court has stated that such factors include “market value, asset value, dividends, earning prospects, the nature of the enterprise and any other facts which were known or which could be ascertained as of the date of the merger and which throw any light on future prospects of the merged corporation.” In Weinberger, the Delaware Supreme Court stated, among other things, that “proof of value by any techniques or methods which are generally considered acceptable in the financial community and otherwise admissible in court” should be considered in an appraisal proceeding. Section 262 of the DGCL provides that fair value is to be “exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger.” In Cede & Co. v. Technicolor, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court stated that such exclusion is a “narrow exclusion [that] does not encompass known elements of value,” but which rather applies only to the speculative elements of value arising from such accomplishment or expectation. In Weinberger, the Delaware Supreme Court construed Section 262 of the DGCL to mean that “elements of future value, including the nature of the enterprise, which are known or susceptible of proof as of the date of the merger and not the product of speculation, may be considered.” In addition, the Court of Chancery has decided that the statutory appraisal remedy, depending on factual circumstances, may or may not be a dissenter’s exclusive remedy.

Teavana stockholders considering seeking appraisal of their shares should note that the fair value of their shares determined under Section 262 could be more, the same or less than the consideration they would have received pursuant to the Merger Agreement if they had not sought appraisal of their shares and that opinions of investment banking firms as to the fairness of the Merger Consideration, from a financial point of view, are not necessarily opinions as to the fair value thereof to be determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery under Section 262 of the DGCL. Moreover, Teavana does not anticipate offering more than the Merger Consideration to any stockholder exercising appraisal rights and reserves the right to assert, in any appraisal proceeding, that, for purposes of Section 262, the “fair value” of a share of our Common Stock is less than the Merger Consideration. The costs of the appraisal proceeding may be determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery and assessed against the parties as the Delaware Court of Chancery deems equitable under the circumstances. However, costs do not include attorney and expert witness fees. Upon application of a stockholder seeking appraisal, the Delaware Court of Chancery may order that all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and the fees and expenses of experts, be charged pro rata against the value of all shares entitled to appraisal. In the absence of an assessment, each party must bear his, her or its own expenses.

Any stockholder who has duly demanded appraisal in compliance with Section 262 will not, after the effective time of the Merger, be entitled to vote for any purpose the shares subject to appraisal or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on such shares, except for dividends or distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date prior to the effective time of the Merger.

At any time within 60 days after the effective date of the Merger, any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party will have the right to withdraw his, her or its demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered in the Merger Agreement by delivering a written withdrawal of such demand to the Company. After this 60-day period, a stockholder may withdraw his, her or its demand for appraisal and receive payment for his, her or its shares as provided in the Merger Agreement only with our consent. If no petition for appraisal is filed with the Delaware Court of Chancery within 120 days after the effective date of the Merger, stockholders’ rights to appraisal (if available) will cease. Inasmuch as we have no obligation or present intention to file such a petition, any stockholder who desires a petition to be filed is advised to file it on a timely basis. No petition timely filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding appraisal may be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the Delaware Court of Chancery, which

 

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approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Delaware Court of Chancery deems just, except that this provision will not affect the right of any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party to withdraw such stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to accept the terms of the Merger within 60 days after the effective date of the Merger.

Failure by any stockholder to comply fully with the procedures described above and set forth in Annex D to this information statement may result in loss of the stockholder’s appraisal rights. If you properly demand appraisal of your shares of our Common Stock under Section 262 of the DGCL and you fail to perfect, or effectively withdraw or lose, your right to appraisal, as provided in the DGCL, your shares of our Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

If you are considering whether to demand appraisal of the fair value of your shares of Common Stock of the Company, you are urged to consult your own legal counsel.

FORM OF THE MERGER

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and in accordance with DGCL, at the effective date of the Merger, Merger Sub will merge with and into Teavana. Teavana will survive the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

CONVERSION OF SHARES; PROCEDURES FOR EXCHANGE OF COMMON STOCK

The conversion of our Common Stock into the right to receive the per share Merger Consideration in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, will occur automatically at the effective date of the Merger. As soon as practicable (but in any event within two business days) after the effective date of the Merger, the paying agent will mail a letter of transmittal to each holder of record (other than the Company, Parent and Merger Sub, any of their respective subsidiaries and any stockholders who chose to exercise their appraisal rights) of our Common Stock. The letter of transmittal will be accompanied by instructions for use by each such holder in surrendering his, her or its stock certificates or transferring book-entry shares, as applicable, in exchange for the Merger Consideration into which such shares shall have been converted in the Merger. Stockholders should not return stock certificates or transfer book-entry shares before receiving the letter of transmittal.

In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of our Common Stock that is not registered in the records of our transfer agent, the Merger Consideration for such shares may be paid to a person other than the person in whose name the certificate so surrendered is registered if:

 

   

the certificate is properly endorsed or otherwise is in proper form for transfer or such book-entry shares shall be properly transferred; and

 

   

the person requesting such payment (a) pays any transfer or other taxes resulting from the payment to a person other than the registered holder of the certificate or (b) establishes that the tax has been paid or is not applicable.

The Merger Consideration paid upon surrender of shares of our Common Stock will be in full satisfaction of all rights relating to the shares of our Common Stock.

DELISTING AND DEREGISTRATION OF TEAVANA COMMON STOCK

If the merger is completed, Teavana’s Common Stock will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and deregistered under the Exchange Act, and we will no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of our Common Stock.

 

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REGULATORY APPROVALS REQUIRED FOR THE MERGER

Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, the Merger may not be completed until the Company and Parent have filed notification and report forms with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the applicable waiting period has expired or been terminated. On November 16, 2012, Teavana and Parent each filed a Notification and Report Form with the Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission and requested an early termination of the waiting period. Early termination of the waiting period was granted on November 27, 2012.

Under the Merger Agreement, both Teavana and Parent have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all required governmental approvals and avoid any action or proceeding by a governmental entity to the extent necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the Merger. Except as noted above with respect to the required filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, the expiration of 20 days from the dissemination of this information statement to Teavana’s stockholders and the filing of a certificate of merger in Delaware at or before the effective date of the Merger, we are unaware of any material federal, state or foreign regulatory requirements or approvals required for the execution of the Merger Agreement or completion of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

LITIGATION RELATED TO THE MERGER

On November 19, 2012, a putative class action, entitled Rosenblum v. Teavana Holdings, Inc. et al., Case No. 2012CV224005, was filed against the Company, the members of its Board of Directors, Parent and Merger Sub in the Superior Court of Fulton County, State of Georgia. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of all the Company’s stockholders (excluding the defendants and their affiliates). The complaint alleges that the members of the Board of Directors breached their fiduciary obligations to the Company’s stockholders in approving the Merger Agreement and related agreements and by failing to make adequate disclosures to the Company’s stockholders, and that the other named defendants aided and abetted the breach of those duties. More specifically, the complaint alleges, among other things, that (i) the Merger Consideration is inadequate; (ii) the no-solicitation, termination fee and matching rights provisions of the Merger Agreement will hinder and deter other potential acquirers from seeking to acquire the Company on better terms than the proposed transaction; and (iii) the members of the Board of Directors are conflicted. The complaint seeks various forms of relief, including injunctive relief that would, if granted, prevent the completion of the Merger and an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses.

On November 27, 2012, a putative class action, entitled Rubin v. Teavana Holdings, Inc. et al., Case No. 8069-VCN, was filed against the Company, the members of its Board of Directors, SKM Partners, LLC (“SKM”), Parent and Merger Sub in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of all the Company’s stockholders (excluding the defendants and their affiliates). The complaint alleges that the members of the Board of Directors breached their fiduciary obligations to the Company’s stockholders in approving the Merger Agreement and related agreements and by failing to make adequate disclosures to the Company’s stockholders, and that the Company Parent and Merger Sub aided and abetted the breach of those duties. The complaint also alleges that several large stockholders of the Company, including the Company’s chief executive officer and SKM, breached their fiduciary obligations to the Company’s stockholders in executing the written consent approving the Merger Agreement. More specifically, the complaint alleges, among other things, that (i) the Merger Consideration is inadequate; (ii) the execution of the written consent, and the no-solicitation, termination fee and matching rights provisions of the Merger Agreement restrict the Company from soliciting other offers on more favorable terms than the proposed transaction; and (iii) the members of the Board of Directors are conflicted. The complaint seeks various forms of relief, including injunctive relief that would, if granted, prevent the completion of the Merger and an award of attorneys’ fees and expenses.

 

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THE MERGER AGREEMENT

This section of this information statement describes the material provisions of the Merger Agreement but does not purport to describe all of the terms of the Merger Agreement. The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Merger Agreement, which is attached as Annex A to this information statement and is incorporated into this information statement by reference. We urge you to read the full text of the Merger Agreement because it is the legal document that governs the Merger. This section is not intended to provide you with any factual information about us. Such information can be found elsewhere in this information statement and in the public filings we make with the SEC, as described in the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 58.

Explanatory Note Regarding the Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement and this summary of its terms are included to provide you with information regarding its terms. Factual disclosures about the Company contained in this information statement or in the Company’s public reports filed with the SEC may supplement, update or modify the factual disclosures about the Company contained in the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement has been included to provide investors and security holders with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about Teavana, Starbucks or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. The representations and warranties of Teavana contained in the Merger Agreement have been made solely for the benefit of Starbucks and Merger Sub. In addition, such representations and warranties (a) have been made only for purposes of the Merger Agreement, (b) may be subject to limits or exceptions agreed upon by the contracting parties, (c) are subject to materiality qualifications contained in the Merger Agreement which may differ from what may be viewed as material by investors, (d) were made only as of the date of the Merger Agreement or other specific dates and (e) have been included in the Merger Agreement for the purpose of allocating risk between the contracting parties rather than establishing matters as facts. Additionally, the representations, warranties, covenants, conditions and other terms of the Merger Agreement may be subject to subsequent waiver or modification. Matters may change from the state of affairs contemplated by the representations and warranties. The Company will provide additional disclosure in its public reports to the extent that it is aware of the existence of any material facts that are required to be disclosed under federal securities law and that might otherwise contradict the terms and information contained in the Merger Agreement and will update such disclosure as required by federal securities laws. Accordingly, the representations and warranties of Teavana contained in the Merger Agreement should not be read alone, but instead should be read together with the information provided elsewhere in this information statement, the Company’s periodic reports attached as annexes to this information statement, and reports, statements and filings that the Company publicly files with the SEC from time to time. Please refer to the sections entitled “Additional Information” and “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 58 of this information statement.

THE MERGER

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, will merge with and into Teavana, with Teavana continuing as the surviving corporation. As a result of the Merger, Teavana will cease to be an independent, publicly-traded company and will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. The Merger will be effective at the time a certificate of merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (or at a later time, if agreed upon by the parties and specified in the certificate of merger filed with the Secretary of State).

MERGER CONSIDERATION

Upon completion of the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of our Common Stock will automatically be cancelled and will cease to exist and each outstanding share (other than shares (i) where the holder has properly exercised appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL (and has not withdrawn such exercise or lost such rights) or (ii) owned by Teavana, Parent or Merger Sub) will automatically be cancelled and will cease to

 

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exist and will be converted into the right to receive $15.50 in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes. The Principal Stockholders and certain executives of Teavana have agreed to escrow a portion of the Merger Consideration payable with respect to their shares to cover certain potential costs of Teavana including relating to integration matters.

DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS; CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION; BYLAWS

The board of directors of the surviving corporation will, from and after the effective time of the Merger, consist of the directors of Merger Sub until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified. The officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will, from and after the effective time of the Merger, be the officers of the surviving corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors have been duly elected and qualified.

The certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation will be amended in the Merger to be in the form of the certificate of incorporation attached as an exhibit to the Merger Agreement, until changed or amended in accordance with its terms and as provided by applicable law. The bylaws of Merger Sub in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be the bylaws of the surviving corporation, until thereafter changed or amended in accordance with its terms and as provided by applicable law.

TREATMENT OF STOCK OPTIONS

At the effective time of the Merger, each Teavana option outstanding immediately prior to the Merger, whether or not then vested and exercisable, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to such stock option, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price of such option; provided that the Principal Stockholders that hold options and certain executives of Teavana have agreed to escrow a portion of such consideration. All stock options with an exercise price greater than the per share Merger Consideration will be cancelled at the effective time and the holders of such stock options will not have any right to receive any consideration in respect thereof.

STOCKHOLDERS SEEKING APPRAISAL

The Merger Agreement provides that those stockholders who are entitled to demand and properly demand appraisal will not have the right to receive the Merger Consideration, but will receive payment in cash for the fair value of their shares of our Common Stock as determined in accordance with Delaware law. If a holder fails to perfect, waives, withdraws or loses his, her or its right to appraisal of our Common Stock, his, her or its shares will be treated as if they had been converted into and are exchangeable for the Merger Consideration as of the effective time without interest and the stockholder’s right to appraisal will be extinguished. Teavana must give Parent prompt notice of demands for appraisal and Teavana may not make a payment with respect to a demand for appraisal or settle any such demands without Parent’s prior written consent.

The fair value of shares of our Common Stock as determined in accordance with Delaware law may be more or less than (or same as) the Merger Consideration to be paid to stockholders who choose not to exercise their appraisal rights. Stockholders who wish to exercise appraisal rights must precisely follow specific procedures. Additional details on appraisal rights are described above in “The Merger—Appraisal Rights.”

PAYMENT FOR THE SHARES

Parent will designate a paying agent reasonably acceptable to us to make payment of the Merger Consideration as contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Prior to or at the time of the Merger, Parent will deposit with the paying agent the funds appropriate to pay the Merger Consideration to the stockholders on a timely basis.

 

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As soon as reasonably practicable after the completion of the Merger, the paying agent will send you a letter of transmittal and instructions advising you how to surrender your shares of Common Stock in exchange for the Merger Consideration. The paying agent will promptly pay you your Merger Consideration after you have (1) surrendered your shares of Common Stock and (2) provided to the paying agent a properly completed letter of transmittal and any other documents reasonable required by the paying agent. Interest will not be paid or accrue in respect of cash payments. The amount of any cash payments paid to you will be reduced by any applicable withholding taxes. YOU SHOULD NOT SURRENDER YOUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK WITHOUT A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

If any stock certificate shall have been lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such stock certificate to be lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed and, if required by the surviving corporation, the posting by such person of a bond in such amount as the surviving corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such stock certificate, the paying agent or the surviving corporation, as the case may be, shall pay the Merger Consideration in respect of such lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed stock certificate.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties made by Teavana to Parent and Merger Sub, including representations and warranties relating to:

 

   

our organization, standing and power, and other corporate matters of Teavana and our subsidiaries;

 

   

ownership of the Company’s subsidiaries;

 

   

the capitalization of Teavana and our subsidiaries;

 

   

the authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Merger Agreement and the related transaction agreements;

 

   

the absence of conflicts or violations under our organizational documents, contracts or law, and required consents and approvals;

 

   

reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents filed with the SEC and the accuracy of the information in those documents;

 

   

the absence of certain changes or events since January 29, 2012;

 

   

the absence of material litigation;

 

   

our material contracts;

 

   

our compliance with applicable laws and permits;

 

   

our employee benefit plans and labor relations;

 

   

our compliance with environmental laws and other environmental matters;

 

   

tax matters;

 

   

our real property and tangible assets;

 

   

our intellectual property;

 

   

our insurance policies;

 

   

matters regarding Teavana franchises and franchisees;

 

   

our compliance with food quality and safety matters;

 

   

our compliance with merchandise quality and safety matters;

 

   

matters regarding our suppliers and other vendors;

 

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related-party transactions;

 

   

compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and other anticorruption and trade laws;

 

   

the inapplicability of state takeover statutes;

 

   

the written consent executed by the Principal Stockholders;

 

   

the brokers’ and finders’ fees and other expenses payable by us with respect to the Merger; and

 

   

our receipt of a fairness opinion.

The Merger Agreement also contains representations and warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub to Teavana, including representations and warranties relating to:

 

   

organization, standing and power, and other corporate matters;

 

   

authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Merger Agreement and related transaction agreements;

 

   

the absence of conflicts or violations under organizational documents, contracts or law, and required consents and approvals;

 

   

the operations of Merger Sub;

 

   

the brokers’ lack of and finders’ fees payable by Parent with respect to the Merger; and

 

   

Parent’s lack of ownership of our Common Stock.

The representations and warranties of each of the parties to the Merger Agreement will expire upon completion of the Merger.

CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER

From the date of the Merger Agreement through the effective date of the Merger or, if earlier, the termination of the Merger Agreement, Teavana has agreed (and has agreed to cause its subsidiaries) to conduct its respective businesses in the ordinary course in all material respects and, to the extent consistent therewith, use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with applicable laws, keep available the services of its present officers and other employees, to preserve its assets and preserve its relationships with material suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors, franchisees and others having business dealings with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

In addition, during the same period, Teavana has also agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, without the prior written consent of Parent, it will not, and will not permit its subsidiaries to:

 

   

(i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests, except for dividends by a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary; (ii) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests, or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for, shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests; or (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock, other equity or voting interests or any of its other securities or any of its subsidiaries or any options, restricted shares, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other securities;

 

   

issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber any (i) shares of its capital stock, other equity or voting interests or equity equivalents (other than the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement) or (ii) securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire, any such stock, interests or equity equivalents;

 

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amend its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational documents);

 

   

acquire or agree to acquire (i) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing all or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by purchasing all or a substantial equity or voting interest in, or by any other manner, any business or person or division thereof or (ii) any other assets other than certain capital expenditures, and purchases of raw materials, supplies or immaterial assets in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

sell, lease, license, sell and lease back, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any lien or otherwise dispose of any of its material properties or assets (including any shares of capital stock, equity or voting interests or other rights, instruments or securities), except sales of inventory or used equipment in the ordinary course of business and except for permitted liens;

 

   

(i) repurchase, prepay or incur any indebtedness, including by way of a guarantee or an issuance or sale of debt securities, or issue and sell options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any of its debt securities or any of its subsidiaries, enter into any “keep well” or other contract to maintain any financial statement or similar condition of another person or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, other than the incurrence of borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement in the ordinary course of business and not in excess of the amount outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement plus $1,000,000 or (ii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other than the Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary;

 

   

incur or commit to incur any capital expenditures, or any obligations or liabilities in connection therewith, that individually are in excess of $125,000 or in the aggregate are in excess of $2,000,000, other than capital expenditures incurred (i) in connection with the construction of new stores in the ordinary course of business or (ii) under existing contracts;

 

   

(i) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any claims (including any claims of stockholders and any stockholder litigation relating to the Merger Agreement, the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement or otherwise), liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business, or as required by their terms on the date of the Merger Agreement, of claims, liabilities or obligations reserved against in the Company’s financial statements (for amounts not in excess of such reserves) or incurred since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business or (1) for an aggregate amount of less than (x) $1,500,000 in the case of certain claims, liabilities and obligations identified by the Company or included in filings with the SEC and (y) $500,000 in the case of all other claims, liabilities and obligations, or (2) for amounts that are covered by insurance (other than a customary deductible) in each case, the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction of which does not include any obligation (other than the payment of money) to be performed by the Company or its subsidiaries following the closing of the Merger, (ii) waive, relinquish, release, grant, transfer or assign any right of material value or (iii) waive any material benefits of, or agree to modify in any adverse respect, or fail to enforce, or consent to any matter with respect to which its consent is required under, any confidentiality or similar contract to or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound;

 

   

except for certain planned leasing activity identified to parent, enter into any lease or sublease of real property (whether as a lessor, sublessor, lessee or sublessee), or modify or amend in any material respect, or exercise any right to renew, any lease or sublease of real property or acquire any interest in real property;

 

   

modify or amend in any material respect, or accelerate, terminate or cancel, any material contract or waive in any material respect any right to enforce, or relinquish, release, transfer or assign any rights or claims thereunder;

 

   

except as required to ensure that any benefit plan or benefit agreement as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement is not then out of compliance with applicable law or as specifically required

 

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pursuant to the Merger Agreement, (i) adopt, establish, enter into, terminate, amend or modify any benefit plan or benefit agreement, (ii) except for standard salary increases in connection with anniversary dates of employment in the ordinary course of business, increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of, or pay any bonus or award to, or grant any loan to, any employee, (iii) pay or provide to any employee any compensation or benefit not provided for under a benefit plan or benefit agreement as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement, other than the payment of base compensation in the ordinary course of business, (iv) grant or amend any award under any benefit plan (including the grant or amendment of stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance units, stock purchase rights or other equity or equity-based compensation) or remove or modify existing restrictions in any benefit plan or benefit agreement or awards made thereunder, (v) grant or pay any severance, separation, change in control, termination, retention or similar compensation or benefits to, or increase in any manner the severance, separation, change in control, termination, retention or similar compensation or benefits of, any employee, (vi) enter into any trust, annuity or insurance contract or similar agreement or take any other action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any benefit plan or benefit agreement, (vii) take any action to accelerate, or that would reasonably be expected to result in the acceleration of, the time of payment or vesting of any rights, compensation, benefits or funding obligations under any benefit plan or benefit agreement or otherwise or (viii) make any material determination under any benefit plan or benefit agreement that is inconsistent with the ordinary course of business or past practice;

 

   

form any subsidiary;

 

   

adopt or enter into any collective-bargaining agreement or other labor union contract applicable to the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries;

 

   

write-down any of its material assets or make any change in any financial or tax accounting principle, method or practice, other than as required by GAAP or applicable law;

 

   

enter into, extend, renew or amend certain identified categories of contracts;

 

   

amend, modify or waive any of the Company’s existing takeover defenses or take any action to render any state takeover or similar statute inapplicable to any transaction other than the Merger;

 

   

make any material amendment or modification to the policies, procedures and guidelines of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to franchises and franchisees;

 

   

enter into any new line of business not related to tea;

 

   

authorize any of, or commit, resolve or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions; or

 

   

file any tax return by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; settle or compromise any suit, claim, action, assessment, investigation, proceeding or audit pending against or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any tax; or make, revoke or change any material tax election.

STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT

Immediately after the execution of the Merger Agreement, Teavana submitted a form of irrevocable written consent adopting the Merger Agreement to the Principal Stockholders. If such stockholder written consent had not been delivered by the Principal Stockholders to the Company and Parent by 6:00 a.m. on the day after the execution of the Merger Agreement, Parent would have had the right to terminate the Merger Agreement.

Following the execution of the Merger Agreement, Teavana received and delivered to Parent, the stockholder written consent (a copy of which is attached as Annex B) executed by the Principal Stockholders, which on such date owned shares of Common Stock representing approximately 74% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement. Therefore, no further approval by Teavana’s stockholders is required in connection with the Merger Agreement or the Merger.

 

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EFFORTS TO COMPLETE THE MERGER

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, we, Parent and Merger Sub have agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including using commercially reasonable efforts to accomplish the following: (i) the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Merger, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary actions or non-actions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations from, and the giving of any necessary notices to, governmental entities and other persons and the making of all necessary registrations, declarations and filings (including filings under the HSR Act and other registrations, declarations and filings with, or notices to, governmental entities, if any), (iii) the taking of all reasonable steps to provide any supplemental information requested by a governmental entity, including participating in meetings with officials of such entity in the course of its review of the Merger Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (iv) the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to avoid any suit, claim, action, investigation or proceeding by any governmental entity or third party and (v)  the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from any third party.

CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

The consummation of the Merger is subject to certain customary closing conditions, as described further below.

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations. Each party’s obligations to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:

 

   

the Company and Parent shall have received duly executed copies of a written consent executed by the Principal Stockholders;

 

   

any waiting period (and any extensions thereof) applicable to the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, shall have been terminated or expired. Any other approval or waiting period under any other applicable competition, merger control, antitrust or similar law shall have been obtained or terminated or shall have expired;

 

   

no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition issued or enacted by a governmental entity that has the effect of preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; and

 

   

this information statement shall have been mailed to the stockholders of the Company at least 20 days prior and the consummation of the Merger shall be permitted by Regulation 14C of the Exchange Act (including, without limitation, Rule 14c-2, promulgated under the Exchange Act).

Conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s Obligations. The obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Parent of the following conditions:

 

   

the representations and warranties of Teavana in the Merger Agreement related to corporate organization, standing and corporate power, subsidiaries, capital structure, authority/non-contravention (in certain respects), state takeover statutes, voting requirements, brokers and the opinion of the financial advisor that are qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect shall be true and correct in all respects (as so qualified), and the representations and warranties of Teavana in the Merger Agreement related to corporate organization, standing and corporate power, subsidiaries, capital structure, authority/non-contravention, state takeover statutes, voting requirements, brokers and the opinion of the financial advisor that are not qualified as to materiality or material adverse effect shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the closing of the Merger with the same effect as though made as of the closing of the Merger, except that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified

 

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date will be determined as of such date; provided that the representations and warranties relating to the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of Teavana shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis exceptions or inaccuracies) as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the closing of the Merger;

 

   

the representations and warranties of the Company (other than those covered in the previous bullet point) shall be true and correct, without giving effect to any qualifications as to materiality or material adverse effect, in each case as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the closing of the Merger with the same effect as though made as of the closing of the Merger, except that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified date will be determined as of such date, other than any failures to be true and correct which, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect;

 

   

Teavana shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under the Merger Agreement at or prior to the closing of the Merger;

 

   

since November 14, 2012, there shall not have occurred any material adverse effect (as defined below);

 

   

Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Teavana by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of Teavana certifying satisfaction of each of above conditions; and

 

   

Teavana shall have provided Parent with a pay-off letter with respect to the Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2008, by and among Teavana, Teavana Corporation, ST Acquisition Company, Teavana Franchising Corporation and Teavana International, Inc., as obligors, and Fifth Third Bank, as lender, reasonably satisfactory to Parent, which will become effective upon payment of the amount specified in such pay-off letter.

A “material adverse effect” means any state of facts, change, development, event, effect, condition, occurrence, action or omission that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, financial condition or results of operations of Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that, in the case of this clause (i), any state of facts, change, development, event, effect, condition, occurrence, action or omission resulting from the following (either alone or in combination) shall not be taken into account in determining whether a material adverse effect has occurred or may occur: (A) any change, in and of itself, in the market price or trading volume of Teavana’s common stock or any failure, in and of itself, to meet internal projections or forecasts or published revenue or earnings predictions (it being understood that the facts or causes underlying or contributing to such change or failure shall be considered in determining whether a material adverse effect has occurred or may occur, if not otherwise excluded pursuant to this definition); (B) changes in general economic or political conditions, or in the financial, credit or securities markets in general (except to the extent, and only to the extent, disproportionately affecting Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industry in which Teavana and its subsidiaries conduct business); (C) changes in applicable law or GAAP or in any interpretation thereof (except to the extent, and only to the extent, disproportionately affecting Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industry in which Teavana and its subsidiaries conduct business); (D) changes in the conditions generally of the industries in which Teavana and its subsidiaries conduct their respective businesses (except to the extent, and only to the extent, disproportionately affecting Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industry in which Teavana and its subsidiaries conduct business); (E) acts of civil unrest or war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or any escalation or worsening of any acts of civil unrest or war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism underway as of the date of the Merger Agreement (except to the extent, and only to the extent, disproportionately affecting Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industry in which Teavana and its subsidiaries conduct business); (F) earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis, tornadoes, floods, mudslides, volcanic eruptions or other natural disasters (except to the extent, and only to the extent, disproportionately affecting Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other participants in the industry in which Teavana and its subsidiaries conduct business) or (G) the announcement of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, including any actions of competitors, customers, employees,

 

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suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, partners or third parties in a similar relationship with Teavana and its subsidiaries resulting from such announcement; or (ii) would prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation by Teavana of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

Conditions to Teavana’s Obligations. Teavana’s obligation to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Teavana of the following conditions:

 

   

the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement that are qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct (as so qualified), and the representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the closing of the Merger with the same effect as though made as of the closing of the Merger, except that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified date will be determined as of such date. Teavana shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an authorized signatory of Parent to such effect; and

 

   

Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under the Merger Agreement at or prior to the closing of the Merger, and Teavana shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an authorized signatory of Parent to such effect.

NO SOLICITATION OF OTHER OFFERS

The Merger Agreement provides that Teavana (i) shall not, and shall cause its subsidiaries and any director, officer or employee of Teavana or any of its subsidiaries or any investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of Teavana or any of its subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit, initiate or encourage, or take any other action to knowingly facilitate, any takeover proposal or any inquiries or the making of any proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to a takeover proposal or (B) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person (or any representative thereof) any information with respect to, or otherwise knowingly cooperate in any way with any person (or any representative thereof) with respect to, any takeover proposal, (ii) shall and shall cause its subsidiaries and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing activities, discussions and negotiations with any person with respect to any takeover proposal and (iii) shall promptly, and in any event within two days following the date of the Merger Agreement, request, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, the prompt return or written acknowledgment of destruction of all confidential information previously furnished to such parties or their representatives in connection with any takeover proposal to the extent that Teavana is entitled to have such documents returned or destroyed; provided, however, that at any time prior to obtaining the requisite stockholder approval (which was obtained upon the delivery of the written consent executed by the Principal Stockholders), in response to a bona fide written unsolicited takeover proposal received after the execution of the Merger Agreement by each of the parties hereto that the Board of Directors of Teavana determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, constitutes a superior proposal, and which takeover proposal did not result from a breach of the non-solicitation covenant or any other provision of the Merger Agreement, if the Board of Directors of Teavana determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of Teavana under applicable law, Teavana may, and may permit and authorize its subsidiaries and its representatives and its subsidiaries’ representatives to, in each case subject to compliance with the notice provision and the other provisions of the Merger Agreement, (A) furnish information with respect to Teavana or any of its subsidiaries to the person making such takeover proposal (and its representatives) pursuant to a confidentiality agreement which contains terms that are in all material respects no less restrictive of such person than those contained in the confidentiality agreement between Teavana and Parent; provided that all such information had been provided, or is concurrently provided, to Parent, and (B) participate in discussions or negotiations with, and only with, the person making such takeover proposal (and its representatives) regarding such takeover proposal.

 

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The term “takeover proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any person or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than Parent or Merger Sub or any of their affiliates) relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, in one transaction or a series of transactions, any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation or dissolution involving Teavana or any direct or indirect acquisition, including by way of any merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture, license agreement or similar transaction, of (i) assets or businesses that constitute or represent 20% or more of the total revenue, net income, EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization) or assets of Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Teavana’s common stock or of any class of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, one or more of the subsidiaries of Teavana which, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly hold the assets or businesses referred to in clause (i) above.

The term “superior proposal” means any binding bona fide unsolicited written offer which did not result from a breach of the non-solicitation covenant made by any person (other than Parent or Merger Sub or any of their affiliates) that, if consummated, would result in such person (or, in the case of a direct merger between such person and Teavana, the stockholders of such person) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the Teavana’s common stock or all or substantially all the assets of the Teavana and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and which offer, in the reasonable good-faith judgment of the Board of Directors of Teavana (after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation and outside legal counsel), (i) provides a higher value to the stockholders of Teavana than the consideration payable in the Merger (taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such proposal and the Merger Agreement (including any changes to the terms of the Merger Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such superior proposal or otherwise)) and (ii) is reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal.

Because the Principal Stockholders delivered a written consent adopting and approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger on November 14, 2012, the Company may not terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to receipt of a takeover proposal or superior proposal.

TERMINATION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT

The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the completion of the Merger:

 

   

by mutual written consent of Teavana, Parent and Merger Sub;

 

   

by either Teavana or Parent:

 

   

if the Merger is not consummated on or before March 14, 2013, except that this right is not available to any party if its failure to fulfill any obligation under the Merger Agreement was a principal cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to occur by such date; or

 

   

if any court of competent jurisdiction issues or enters a permanent injunction or other judgment, that prevents consummation of the Merger and the injunction or judgment has become final and non-appealable; or

 

   

by Parent:

 

   

if prior to the receipt of stockholder approval (which was obtained upon delivery of the written consent by the Principal Stockholders), the Teavana Board of Directors changes its recommendation of the Merger or notifies Parent of the intent to make such a change;

 

   

if (i) we breach or fail to perform any of our representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would give rise to the failure of a conditions set forth under “The Merger Agreement – Conditions to the Merger – Conditions to Parent’s and Merger Sub’s Obligations” and (B) is incapable of being

 

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cured or is not cured by Teavana by the date that is 30 business days after such breach or failure or, if capable of being cured by Teavana by such date, Teavana does not commence to cure such breach or failure within 10 business days after its receipt of written notice thereof from Parent and diligently pursue such cure thereafter;

 

   

if a written consent executed by the Principal Stockholders had not been delivered to Parent and Teavana prior to 6:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date immediately following the date of the Merger Agreement (which consent was delivered on the date of the Merger Agreement); or

 

   

by Teavana:

 

   

if (i) Parent breaches or fails to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements contained in the Merger Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would give rise to the failure of a conditions set forth under “The Merger Agreement – Conditions to the Merger – Conditions to Teavana’s Obligations” and (B) is incapable of being cured or is not cured by Parent or Merger Sub by the date that is 30 business days after such breach or failure or, if capable of being cured by Parent or Merger Sub by such date, Parent or Merger Sub, as the case may be, does not commence to cure such breach or failure within 10 business days after its receipt of written notice thereof from Teavana and diligently pursue such cure thereafter; or

 

   

if prior to the receipt of stockholder approval (which was obtained upon delivery of the written consent by the Principal Stockholders), in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, Teavana (i) executes a definitive agreement with respect to a superior proposal and (ii) pays to Parent the termination fee.

TERMINATION FEES AND EXPENSES

Termination Fee

We must pay to Parent a termination fee of $18,400,000, if:

 

   

either party terminates the Merger Agreement if (i) the closing has not occurred on or before March 14, 2013, (ii) an acquisition proposal (for at least 50% of the Company) has been made publicly and (iii) within 12 months after such termination the Company has consummated or entered into a definitive agreement relating to any acquisition proposal for the Company;

 

   

Parent terminates the Merger Agreement because, prior to the receipt of stockholder approval (which was obtained upon delivery of the written consent by the Principal Stockholders) or the Teavana Board changes its recommendation of the Merger or notifies Parent of the intent to make such a change; or

 

   

Teavana terminates the Merger Agreement prior to the receipt of stockholder approval (which was obtained upon delivery of the written consent by the Principal Stockholders), in order to enter into a definitive agreement for a superior proposal.

Reimbursement of Expenses

All out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby will be paid by the party incurring such cost or expenses, except that we may be required to reimburse Parent for reasonably documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by Parent and its affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, up to a maximum of $3.5 million, if (i) Parent terminates the Merger Agreement because the Teavana Board changes its recommendation of the Merger or notifies Parent of their intent to make such a change, (ii) Parent terminates the Merger Agreement because a written consent executed by the Principal Stockholders (which was obtained upon delivery of the written consent by the Principal Stockholders) has not been delivered to Parent and Teavana prior to 6:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date immediately following the date of the Merger Agreement or (iii) the Company terminates the Merger Agreement in order to enter into a definitive agreement for a superior proposal.

 

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EMPLOYEE MATTERS

The Merger Agreement provides that, for a period of one year following the effectiveness of the Merger, the employees of Teavana that remain employed by the surviving corporation will receive base cash compensation that is no less favorable than the base cash compensation in effect immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Merger. Parent will also provide employee benefit plans and arrangements (including bonus and incentive opportunities (but excluding equity-based compensation) and paid time off accrual) to employees of Teavana that remain employed by the surviving corporation that are substantially comparable to those provided to similarly situated employees of Parent and will generally consider employees of Teavana that remain employed by the surviving corporation for equity-based compensation grants at the same time and levels as similarly situated employees of Parent.

Following the completion of the Merger, Parent will recognize the service with Teavana or its subsidiaries for purposes of eligibility, participation, vesting and, except under defined benefit pension plans, benefit accrual under such employee benefit plan of Parent or any of its subsidiaries, to the same extent such service was recognized immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Merger under a comparable benefit plan in which employees of Teavana that remain employed by the surviving corporation were eligible to participate immediately prior to the effectiveness of the Merger except to the extent such credit would result in duplication of benefits or for which similarly situated employees of Parent do not receive credit for prior service.

Parent will use commercially reasonable efforts to waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions and exclusions with respect to participation and coverage requirements under any health, dental, vision or other welfare plans maintained by Parent to the extent such conditions and exclusions were satisfied or did not apply prior to the closing of the Merger and will also use commercially reasonable efforts to provide continuing employees with credit for co-payments and deductibles paid in satisfying any analogous deductible or out-of-pocket requirements under Teavana’s plans.

AMENDMENT, EXTENSION AND WAIVER

The parties may amend provisions of the Merger Agreement at any time, except that after stockholder approval has been obtained, no amendment that requires further approval by stockholders of Teavana is permitted without the further approval of such stockholders. All such amendments must be in writing and signed by each of the parties.

At any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, the parties may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in the Merger Agreement, except that after stockholder approval has been obtained, no waiver that requires further approval by stockholders of Teavana is permitted without the further approval of such stockholders. Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party. The failure of any party to the Merger Agreement to assert any of its rights under the Merger Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

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MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK

General

Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that we may issue up to 105,000,000 shares of stock, consisting of: (a) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock and (b) 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”). As of December 4, 2012, there were 38,784,893 shares of Common Stock outstanding and no shares of Preferred Stock were outstanding.

Principal Trading Market; High and Low Sales Prices

Our Common Stock has been listed on the NYSE under the symbol “TEA” since July 28, 2011 in connection with our initial public offering, which had a price of $17.00 per share. Before then, there was no public market for our Common Stock. The closing sale price of our Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on November 13, 2012, the last full trading day prior to the announcement of the Merger, was $10.13 per share. The $15.50 cash consideration to be paid for each share of our Common Stock in the merger represents a premium of approximately 53.0% from the closing sale price of our Common Stock on November 13, 2012. On December 4, 2012, the last trading day before the date of this information statement, the closing sale price of our Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $14.40 per share. You are encouraged to obtain current market quotations for our Common Stock.

The following table sets forth, for the fiscal quarters indicated, the high and low sales price per share, as reported on New York Stock Exchange, for our Common Stock.

 

     High      Low  

Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2012

     

Second quarter (commencing July 28, 2011)

   $ 29.35       $ 17.00   

Third quarter

   $ 29.01       $ 18.00   

Fourth quarter

   $ 24.07       $ 14.28   

Fiscal Year Ending February 3, 2013

     

First quarter

   $ 26.03       $ 18.30   

Second quarter

   $ 22.58       $ 10.83   

Third quarter

   $ 13.78       $ 10.41   

Fourth quarter (through December 4, 2012)

   $ 16.06       $ 9.75   

There are no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding or listed for trading on any market. Following the Merger, there will be no further market for our Common Stock and our Common Stock will be delisted from New York Stock Exchange and deregistered under the Exchange Act, and we will no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of our Common Stock.

Dividends

We did not pay cash dividends in 2011, and we currently do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends on shares of our Common Stock for the foreseeable future. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, including our senior secured credit facility and other indebtedness we may incur, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, under the Merger Agreement we are prohibited from declaring any dividend without Parent’s prior written consent.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our Common Stock is ComputerShare Limited.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of Teavana’s common stock (as of December 4, 2012, unless otherwise indicated) for the following:

 

   

each person (or group of affiliated persons) who is known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock;

 

   

each of our non-employee directors;

 

   

each of our named executive officers; and

 

   

all directors, director nominees and current executive officers of Teavana as a group.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with SEC rules. The information does not necessarily indicate beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under these rules, a person is deemed to be a beneficial owner of our common stock if that person has a right to acquire ownership within 60 days of December 4, 2012 by the exercise of vested options. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial holder of our common stock if that person has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or direct the voting of our common stock, or investment power, which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such capital stock. Except in cases where community property laws apply or as indicated in the footnotes to this table, we believe that each stockholder identified in the table possesses sole voting and investment power over all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by the stockholder. The percentages of beneficial ownership set forth below are based on 38,784,893 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding as of December 4, 2012.

Except as otherwise indicated, the address for each person listed below is c/o Teavana Holdings, Inc., 3630 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1480, Atlanta, Georgia 30326.

 

Name

   Amount and Nature
of Beneficial
Ownership (1)
     Percent of
Class (2)
 

5% or Greater Owners

     

Andrew T. Mack

     21,510,960         55.5

3630 Peachtree Rd. Suite 1480
Atlanta, GA 30326

     

SKM Equity Fund III, L.P. (3)

     6,146,656         15.8

601 Lexington Ave. 53rd Floor
New York, New York 10022

     

President and Fellows of Harvard College (4)

     2,240,000         5.8

c/o Harvard Management Company, Inc.
600 Atlantic Ave
Boston, MA 02210

     

The TCW Group, Inc., on behalf of the TCW Business Unit (5)

     1,949,429         5.0

865 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017

     

Directors and Executive Officers

     

Daniel P. Glennon (6)

     199,786         *   

Peter M. Luckhurst (7)

     244,286         *   

Jurgen W. Link (8)

     973,465         2.5

David V. Christopherson (9)

     32,000         *   

Robert J. Dennis (10)

     9,500         *   

F. Barron Fletcher III (11)

     6,146,656         15.8

John E. Kyees (12)

     9,500         *   

Michael J. Nevins (13)

     54,638         *   

Thomas A. Saunders III (14)

     39,254         *   

All executive officers and directors as a group (11 persons) (15)

     29,220,045         74.2

 

* Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

 

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(1) Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if that person, directly or indirectly, has or shares the power to direct the voting of the security or the power to dispose or direct the disposition of the security. Accordingly, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the same securities. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities if that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days of the relevant date. Unless otherwise indicated by footnote, the named individuals have sole voting and investment power with respect to beneficially owned shares of stock.
(2) Based on 38,784,893 shares of our common stock outstanding as of November 14, 2012. In accordance with SEC rules, percent of class as of December 4, 2012 is calculated for each person and group by dividing the number of shares beneficially owned by the sum of the total shares outstanding plus the number of shares subject to options exercisable by that person or group within 60 days.
(3) Based upon a Form 4, dated February 23, 2012, showing sole dispositive and voting power with respect to 6,146,656 shares. SKM Partners, LLC is the general partner of SKM Equity Fund III, L.P. F. Barron Fletcher III is the person authorized by SKM Partners, LLC to have voting and dispositive power over the Common Stock held by SKM Equity Fund III, L.P. Both SKM Partners, LLC and Mr. Fletcher disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of its and/or his pecuniary interest, if any, therein.
(4) Based upon a Schedule 13D dated November 29, 2012, showing sole dispositive and voting power with respect to 2,240,000 shares.
(5) Based upon a Schedule 13G dated February 9, 2012, showing sole dispositive and voting power with respect to 1,949,429 shares.
(6) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 199,786 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(7) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 244,286 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(8) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 943,465 shares of common stock held and 30,092 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(9) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 32,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(10) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 9,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(11) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents shares of common stock held by SKM Equity Fund III, L.P. SKM Partners, LLC is the general partner of SKM Equity Fund III, L.P. Mr. Fletcher is the person authorized by SKM Partners, LLC to have voting and dispositive power over the common stock held by SKM Equity Fund III, L.P. Both SKM Partners, LLC and Mr. Fletcher disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of its and/or his pecuniary interest, if any, therein.
(12) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 9,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(13) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 54,638 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(14) The amount listed under “Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership” represents 25,593 shares of common stock held directly, 681 shares of common stock held indirectly through the Ivor Family GST Trust, 3,480 shares of common stock held indirectly in custodial accounts for family members and 9,500 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of vested options within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.
(15) This number includes shares held and shares issuable upon the exercise of options held by the individuals named above that are exercisable within 60 days of December 4, 2012 under the 2004 Management Incentive Plan.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This information statement, and the documents to which we refer you in this information statement, contain forward-looking statements that involve numerous risks and uncertainties which may be difficult to predict. The statements contained in this communication that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements regarding projections of net sales, EBITDA, net income or other financial items, the expected timing of the closing of the proposed Merger, the management of the Company and the Company’s current views and estimates regarding our industry, business strategy, goals and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, capital expenditures, liquidity and capital resources and other financial and operating information. All forward-looking statements included in this communication are based on information available to the Company on the date hereof. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as such as “anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “goals,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “preliminary,” “should,” “targets” or variations of such words, similar expressions, or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.

No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Accordingly, actual results may differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Neither the Company nor any other person can assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of forward-looking statements. There are various important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These factors include, without limitation: the results and impact of the Company’s announcement of the proposed Merger; failure to obtain, delays in obtaining or adverse conditions contained in any required regulatory or other approvals in connection with the Merger; failure to consummate or delay in consummating the Merger for other reasons; changes in laws or regulations; the outcome of any legal proceedings that have been or may be instituted against Teavana and others related to the Merger Agreement; the impact of the Merger on our ability to attract and retain key personnel, on our sales, including the length of our sales cycles, and on our total costs and expenses; the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns as a result of the Merger; costs relating to the Merger, such as legal, accounting and financial advisory fees, and, in specified circumstances, termination fees, that must be paid even if the Merger is not completed; risks relating to our strategy and expansion plans, the availability of suitable new store locations, risks that consumer spending may decline and that U.S., Canadian and global macroeconomic conditions may worsen, risks related to our continued retention of our senior management and other key personnel, risks relating to changes in consumer preferences and economic conditions, risks relating to our distribution center, quality or health concerns about our teas and tea-related merchandise, events that may affect our vendors, increased competition from other tea and beverage retailers, risks relating to trade restrictions, risks associated with leasing substantial amounts of space; the ability of our majority stockholder to exert influence over our affairs, including the ability to approve or disapprove any corporate actions submitted to a vote of our stockholders; and other factors that are set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including risk factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at http://www.sec.gov and in all filings with the SEC made by us subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K.

Any forward-looking statement made by us in this information statement speaks only as of the date on which we make it. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The following documents that we previously filed with the SEC accompany this information statement, portions of which are referenced herein:

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2012, filed with the SEC on April 13, 2012, including the financial statements and related notes thereto and the report of independent auditor, is attached to this information statement as Annex E.

 

   

Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended April 29, 2012, filed with the SEC on June 12, 2012, including the financial statements and related notes thereto, is attached to this information statement as Annex F.

 

   

Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 29, 2012, filed with the SEC on September 10, 2012, including the financial statements and related notes thereto, is attached to this information statement as Annex G.

Such Annual Report and Quarterly Reports should be read in conjunction with this information statement.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information contain additional information about the Company. Stockholders may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by the Company at the SEC’s public reference room at Station Place, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the public reference section of the SEC at Station Place, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. The Company’s SEC filings made electronically are available to the public at the SEC’s website located at www.sec.gov. Stockholders can also obtain free copies of the Company’s SEC filings through the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at www.teavana.com. The Company’s website address is being provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information provided on the Company’s website, other than the copies of the documents listed or referenced above that have been or will be filed with the SEC, is not part of this information statement, and therefore is not incorporated herein by reference.

Pursuant to the rules of the SEC, services that deliver the Company’s communications to stockholders that hold their stock through a bank, broker or other holder of record may deliver to multiple stockholders sharing the same address a single copy of the Company’s information statement, unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. Upon written or oral request, the Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of this information statement to any stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of this information statement was delivered. Multiple stockholders sharing the same address may also notify the Company if they wish to receive separate copies of the Company’s communications to stockholders in the future or if they are currently receiving multiple copies of such communications and they would prefer to receive a single copy in the future. Stockholders may notify the Company of their requests by calling or writing the Office of the General Counsel, Teavana Holdings, Inc., 3630 Peachtree Rd. NE, Suite 1480, Atlanta, Georgia 30326, telephone (404) 995-8200.

 

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ANNEX A

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Among

STARBUCKS CORPORATION

TAJ ACQUISITION CORP.

and

TEAVANA HOLDINGS, INC.

Dated as of November 14, 2012

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page  
ARTICLE I   
The Merger   

SECTION 1.01. The Merger

     A-7   

SECTION 1.02. Closing

     A-7   

SECTION 1.03. Effective Time of the Merger

     A-7   

SECTION 1.04. Effects of the Merger

     A-8   

SECTION 1.05. Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

     A-8   

SECTION 1.06. Directors

     A-8   

SECTION 1.07. Officers

     A-8   
ARTICLE II   
Conversion of Securities   

SECTION 2.01. Conversion of Capital Stock

     A-8   

SECTION 2.02. Appraisal Rights

     A-9   

SECTION 2.03. Exchange of Certificates

     A-9   
ARTICLE III   
Representations and Warranties   

SECTION 3.01. Representations and Warranties of the Company

     A-11   

SECTION 3.02. Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub

     A-32   
ARTICLE IV   
Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business   

SECTION 4.01. Conduct of Business

     A-33   

SECTION 4.02. No Solicitation

     A-36   

SECTION 4.03. Conduct by Parent

     A-38   
ARTICLE V   
Additional Agreements   

SECTION 5.01. Stockholder Consent; Preparation of the Information Statement

     A-38   

SECTION 5.02. Access to Information; Confidentiality

     A-40   

SECTION 5.03. Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Consultation and Notice

     A-40   

SECTION 5.04. Equity Awards

     A-42   

SECTION 5.05. Employee Matters

     A-43   

SECTION 5.06. Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance

     A-44   

SECTION 5.07. Fees and Expenses

     A-45   

SECTION 5.08. Public Announcements

     A-46   

SECTION 5.09. Resignation of Directors

     A-46   

SECTION 5.10. Sub Compliance

     A-46   

SECTION 5.11. Section 16 Compliance

     A-46   

 

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ARTICLE VI   
Conditions Precedent   

SECTION 6.01. Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger

     A-46   

SECTION 6.02. Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub

     A-47   

SECTION 6.03. Conditions to Obligation of the Company

     A-48   

SECTION 6.04. Frustration of Closing Conditions

     A-48   
ARTICLE VII   
Termination, Amendment and Waiver   

SECTION 7.01. Termination

     A-48   

SECTION 7.02. Effect of Termination

     A-49   

SECTION 7.03. Amendment

     A-49   

SECTION 7.04. Extension; Waiver

     A-49   
ARTICLE VIII   
General Provisions   

SECTION 8.01. Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties

     A-49   

SECTION 8.02. Notices

     A-50   

SECTION 8.03. Definitions

     A-51   

SECTION 8.04. Exhibits; Interpretation

     A-52   

SECTION 8.05. Counterparts

     A-53   

SECTION 8.06. Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

     A-53   

SECTION 8.07. Governing Law

     A-53   

SECTION 8.08. Assignment

     A-53   

SECTION 8.09. Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Venue

     A-53   

SECTION 8.10. Waiver of Jury Trial

     A-53   

SECTION 8.11. Enforcement

     A-54   

SECTION 8.12. Consents and Approvals

     A-54   

SECTION 8.13. Severability

     A-54   

 

EXHIBIT A

   Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation

EXHIBIT B

   Form of Stockholder Consent

EXHIBIT C

   Form of FIRPTA Certificate

 

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GLOSSARY

 

Term    Section

2004 Plan

   3.01(c)(i)

2011 Plan

   3.01(c)(i)

409A Authorities

   3.01(l)(x)

Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement

   4.02(a)

Acquisition Agreement

   4.02(b)

Adverse Change Notice

   4.02(b)

Adverse Recommendation Change

   4.02(b)

affiliate

   8.03(a)

Agreement

   Preamble

Appraisal Shares

   2.02

Baseline Financials

   8.03(b)

Benefit Agreements

   3.01(f)

Benefit Plans

   3.01(j)(i)

Cash Consideration

   2.01(c)

Ceramic and Tableware Laws

   3.01(s)

Certificate

   2.01(c)

Certificate of Merger

   1.03

Closing

   1.02

Closing Date

   1.02

Code

   2.03(f)

Commonly Controlled Entity

   3.01(j)(i)

Company

   Preamble

Company 401(k) Plan

   5.05(c)

Company Bylaws

   3.01(a)

Company Certificate

   3.01(a)

Company Common Stock

   2.01

Company Exclusively Licensed Intellectual Property

   3.01(o)(i)

Company Letter

   3.01

Company Owned Intellectual Property

   3.01(o)(i)

Company Personnel

   3.01(f)

Company Policies

   3.01(t)

Company Preferred Stock

   3.01(c)(i)

Company Stock Plans

   3.01(c)(i)

Confidentiality Agreement

   8.03(c)

Consumer Product Safety Laws

   3.01(s)

Continuing Employees

   5.05(a)

Contract

   3.01(d)

CPSC

   3.01(s)

CPSIA

   3.01(s)

DC Termination Date

   5.05(c)

DGCL

   1.01

Effective Time

   1.03

Environmental Claims

   3.01(k)

Environmental Law

   3.01(k)

Environmental Permits

   3.01(k)

 

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EPA

   3.01(r)

Equity Equivalents

   3.01(c)(iii)

ERISA

   3.01(l)(i)

Escrow Agreement

   8.03(d)

Escrow Amount

   8.03(e)

Escrow Consideration

   2.01(c)

Escrow Proceeds

   8.03(f)

Exchange Act

   3.01(d)

Exchange Fund

   2.03(a)

FCPA

   3.01(v)(v)

FDA

   3.01(r)

FDCA

   3.01(r)

FDD

   3.01(q)(v)

Filed SEC Document

   8.03(g)

Food & Beverage Products

   3.01(r)

Food and Beverage Laws

   3.01(r)

Founders

   Recitals

Franchise

   3.01(q)(i)

Franchise Agreements

   3.01(q)(i)

Franchise Laws

   8.03(g)

Franchised Store

   3.01(q)(i)

Franchisee

   3.01(q)(v)

FTC

   3.01(r)

FTC Rule

   8.03(i)

GAAP

   3.01(e)(i)

Governmental Entity

   3.01(d)

Grant Date

   3.01(c)(iii)

Hazardous Materials

   3.01(k)

HSR Act

   3.01(d)

indebtedness

   3.01(c)(iv)

Information Statement

   5.01(b)

Intellectual Property

   3.01(o)(iii)

In-the-Money Stock Option

   8.03(j)

IRS

   3.01(l)(ii)

Judgment

   3.01(d)

knowledge

   8.03(k)

Law

   3.01(d)

Leased Real Property

   3.01(n)(ii)

Legal Restraints

   6.01(c)

Liens

   3.01(b)

Major Vendors

   3.01(t)

Material Adverse Effect

   8.03(l)

Maximum Premium

   5.06(d)

Merchandise Products

   3.01(s)

Merger

   Recitals

Merger Consideration

   2.01(c)

Noncompetition Agreement

   Recitals

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan

   3.01(l)(x)

 

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Packaging Laws

   3.01(s)

Parent

   Preamble

Parent Expenses

   5.07(c)

Parent Welfare Plan

   5.05(b)

Paying Agent

   2.03(a)

Pension Plan

   3.01(l)(i)

Permits

   3.01(i)

Permitted Liens

   3.01(h)(i)(E)

Per Share Escrow Amount

   8.03(n)

person

   8.03(o)

Post-Signing Returns

   4.01(b)

Relationship Laws

   8.03(p)

Release

   3.01(k)

Scheduled Indemnity Agreements

   5.06(a)

SEC

   3.01(d)

SEC Documents

   3.01(e)(i)

Section 262

   2.02

Securities Act

   3.01(e)(i)

SOX

   3.01(e)(ii)

Specified Contracts

   3.01(h)(i)

Specified Stockholders

   8.03(q)

Specified Stockholder Shares

   8.03(r)

Stock Option Agreements

   3.01(c)(v)

Stock Options

   3.01(c)(i)

Stockholder Approval

   3.01(x)

Stockholder Consent

   5.01(a)

Sub

   Preamble

Subsidiary

   8.03(s)

Superior Proposal

   4.02(a)

Surviving Corporation

   1.01

Takeover Proposal

   4.02(a)

tax return

   3.01(m)(i)

taxes

   3.01(m)(i)

taxing authority

   3.01(m)(i)

Termination Date

   7.01(b)(i)

Termination Fee

   5.07(b)

Trade Secrets

   3.01(o)(iii)

USDA

   3.01(r)

Vendor

   3.01(t)

Welfare Plan

   3.01(l)(iv)

 

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of November 14, 2012 (this “Agreement”), by and among Starbucks Corporation, a Washington corporation (“Parent”), Taj Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Sub”), and Teavana Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).

WHEREAS the Board of Directors of each of the Company and Sub deems it in the best interests of their respective stockholders to consummate the merger (the “Merger”), on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, of Sub with and into the Company in which the Company would survive and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, and such Boards of Directors have approved this Agreement, declared its advisability and recommended that this Agreement be adopted by the stockholders of the Company or Sub, as the case may be;

WHEREAS Parent, Sub and the Company desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe various conditions to the Merger; and

WHEREAS concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a condition to the willingness of Parent and Sub to enter into this Agreement, Parent, the Company and each of Andrew Mack and Nancy Mack (the “Founders”) have entered into a noncompetition agreement, pursuant to which the Founders will agree, among other things, to certain non-interference, non-solicitation, non-competition and no hire restrictions.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

The Merger

SECTION 1.01. The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), Sub shall be merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Sub shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”).

SECTION 1.02. Closing. The closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) will take place at 10:00 a.m., New York time, on a date to be specified by the parties, which shall be not later than the second business day after satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those that by their terms are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at Closing) (except, if such conditions are satisfied or waived on or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on December 31, 2012, the Closing shall occur on December 31, 2012), at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, 825 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10019, unless another time, date or place is agreed to in writing by Parent and the Company; provided, however, that if all the conditions set forth in Article VI shall not have been satisfied or (to the extent permitted by Law) waived on such second business day (or on December 31, 2012, as applicable), then the Closing shall take place on the first business day on which all such conditions shall have been satisfied or (to the extent permitted by Law) waived. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”.

SECTION 1.03. Effective Time of the Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, as soon as practicable on or after the Closing Date, the parties shall properly file a certificate of merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) in such form as is required by, and executed and acknowledged in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such date and time as the Certificate of Merger is duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or, to the extent

 

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permitted by applicable Law, at such subsequent date and time as Parent and the Company shall agree and specify in the Certificate of Merger. The date and time at which the Merger becomes effective is referred to in this Agreement as the “Effective Time”.

SECTION 1.04. Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.

SECTION 1.05. Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. The certificate of incorporation of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended by virtue of the Merger at the Effective Time to read in the form of Exhibit A hereto and, as so amended, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

(a) The bylaws of the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be amended at the Effective Time to read in the same form as the bylaws of Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and, as so amended, shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.

SECTION 1.06. Directors. The directors of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

SECTION 1.07. Officers. The officers of Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

ARTICLE II

Conversion of Securities

SECTION 2.01. Conversion of Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of common stock, par value $0.00003 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”), or the holder of any shares of capital stock of Sub:

(a) Capital Stock of Sub. Each issued and outstanding share of common stock of Sub, par value $0.01 per share, shall be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

(b) Cancelation of Treasury Stock and Parent-Owned Stock. All shares of Company Common Stock that are owned as treasury stock by the Company or owned by Parent or Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and no consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange therefor.

(c) Conversion of Company Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) shares to be canceled in accordance with Section 2.01(b) and (ii) except as provided in Section 2.02, the Appraisal Shares) shall be converted into the right to receive $15.50 in cash, without interest (the “Cash Consideration”); provided, however, that the shares of Company Common Stock that are Specified Stockholder Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration less the Per Share Escrow Amount plus any Escrow Proceeds (such sum, the “Escrow Consideration”). At the Effective Time such shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate or evidence of shares in book-entry form that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such shares (a “Certificate”) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Cash Consideration or the Escrow Consideration, as applicable (the “Merger Consideration”) in accordance with the terms of this

 

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Agreement. The right of any holder of any share of Company Common Stock to receive the Merger Consideration shall be subject to and reduced by the amount of any withholding that is required under applicable tax Law, such withholding to be pursuant to the terms of Section 2.03(f) and any applicable tax Law.

SECTION 2.02. Appraisal Rights. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, shares (the “Appraisal Shares”) of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that are held by any holder who is entitled to demand and properly demands appraisal of such shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL (“Section 262”) shall not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.01(c), but instead such holder shall be entitled to payment of the fair value of such shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262. At the Effective Time, the Appraisal Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate or evidence of shares in book-entry form that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Appraisal Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the fair value of such shares in accordance with the provisions of Section 262. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such holder shall fail to perfect or otherwise shall waive, withdraw or lose the right to appraisal under Section 262 or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262, then the right of such holder to be paid the fair value of such holder’s Appraisal Shares under Section 262 shall cease and such Appraisal Shares shall be deemed to have been converted at the Effective Time into, and shall have become, the right to receive the Merger Consideration as provided in Section 2.01(c). The Company shall serve prompt notice to Parent of any demands for appraisal of any shares of Company Common Stock, withdrawals of any such demands and any other related instruments served pursuant to the DGCL that are received by the Company, and Parent shall have the right to participate in and direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands, or agree to do or commit to do any of the foregoing.

SECTION 2.03. Exchange of Certificates. Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall designate a bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent for the payment of the Merger Consideration upon surrender of Certificates (the “Paying Agent”), and Parent shall deposit with the Paying Agent, for the benefit of holders of shares of Company Common Stock, cash in immediately available funds (such cash in immediately available funds, the “Exchange Fund”) in amounts necessary for the payment of the Merger Consideration (excluding the Escrow Amount) pursuant to Section 2.01(c) upon surrender of Certificates, it being understood that all such funds shall be invested as directed by Parent and that any and all interest or other amounts earned with respect to funds made available to the Paying Agent pursuant to this Agreement shall be turned over to Parent. In the event that the Exchange Fund is at any time insufficient to satisfy all of the payment obligations to be made by the Paying Agent pursuant to this Agreement, Parent shall make available to the Paying Agent as promptly as practicable any additional amounts necessary to satisfy such obligations.

(a) Exchange Procedure. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time (but no later than two business days thereafter), the Surviving Corporation or Parent shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate (i) a form of letter of transmittal (which shall include an accompanying substitute IRS Form W-9 or the applicable IRS Form W-8, shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates held by such person shall pass, only upon proper delivery of such Certificates to the Paying Agent and shall be in a form and have such other provisions (including customary provisions regarding delivery of an “agent’s message” with respect to shares held in book-entry form) as Parent may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancelation to the Paying Agent or to such other agent or agents as may be appointed by Parent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed, and such other documents as may reasonably be required by the Paying Agent, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the amount of cash equal to the Merger Consideration (excluding, in the case of the Specified Stockholders, the Escrow Proceeds) that such holder has the right to

 

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receive pursuant to Section 2.01(c), and each Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Common Stock that is not registered in the stock transfer books of the Company, payment of the Merger Consideration in exchange therefor may be made to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered if such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Corporation that such tax has been paid or is not applicable. No interest shall be paid or shall accrue on the cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate.

(b) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock. All Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender of a Certificate in accordance with the terms of this Article II shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate (it being understood that, in the case of the shares of Company Common Stock that are Specified Stockholder Shares, the payment of the Cash Consideration less the Per Share Escrow Amount upon the surrender of a Certificate in respect of such shares in accordance with the terms of this Article II, and the deposit of the Escrow Amount in accordance with the Escrow Agreement, shall be deemed to have been in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares formerly represented by such Certificate, but that the Specified Stockholders shall continue to have the right to receive the Escrow Proceeds in accordance with, and subject to, the terms of the Escrow Agreement). At the close of business on the day on which the Effective Time occurs, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the close of business on the day on which the Effective Time occurs, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent for transfer or any other reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article II.

(c) No Liability. None of Parent, Sub, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be liable to any person in respect of any Merger Consideration that would otherwise have been payable in respect of any Certificate which is delivered to a public official in accordance with any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificates shall not have been surrendered prior to two years after the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which any Merger Consideration would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity), any Merger Consideration payable in accordance with this Article II in respect thereof shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any person previously entitled thereto.

(d) Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed and, if required by the Surviving Corporation, the posting by such person of a bond in such amount as the Surviving Corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall pay the Merger Consideration in respect of such lost, stolen, defaced or destroyed Certificate.

(e) Withholding Rights. Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration and any other amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock or Stock Options such amounts as Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or any provision of state, local or foreign tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock or Stock Options in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent.

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interest received with respect thereto) that had been made available to the Paying Agent pursuant to Section 2.03(a) (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include Escrow Proceeds paid to the Paying Agent for disbursement to the Specified Stockholders) and that have not been disbursed to holders of Certificates, and thereafter, subject to time limitations in Section 2.03(d), such holders shall be entitled to look only to Parent and the Surviving Corporation (subject to abandoned property, escheat or other similar Laws) as general creditors thereof with respect to the payment of any Merger Consideration that may be payable upon surrender of any Certificates held by such holders, as determined pursuant to this Agreement, without any interest thereon.

(g) Escrow Proceeds. As promptly as practical upon receipt of any Escrow Proceeds, the Paying Agent shall distribute such funds to the Specified Stockholders on a pro rata basis in accordance with their respective ownership of Specified Stockholder Shares.

ARTICLE III

Representations and Warranties

SECTION 3.01. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as set forth in (x) the letter delivered by the Company to Parent not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement (the “Company Letter”) (with specific reference to the Section of this Agreement to which the information stated in such disclosure relates; provided that disclosure of information in any section of the Company Letter shall be deemed to qualify or apply to other Sections in this Article III to the extent it is readily apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is relevant to such other Sections) or (y) the Filed SEC Documents filed on or after January 29, 2012, other than any disclosure contained or referenced therein under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Statements” and any other disclosure contained or referenced therein of information, factors or risks that are predictive, cautionary or forward-looking in nature (it being agreed that any matter disclosed in such Filed SEC Documents shall be deemed to qualify this Article III only to the extent that it is readily apparent from such disclosure the Section or Sections of this Agreement to which such disclosure is relevant), the Company represents and warrants to Parent and Sub as follows:

(a) Organization, Standing and Corporate Power. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) is a corporation or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization (except, in the case of good standing, for entities organized under the Laws of any jurisdiction that does not recognize such concept), (ii) has all requisite corporate, company, partnership or other organizational power and authority to carry on its business as currently conducted and (iii) is duly qualified or licensed to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction (except, in the case of good standing, any jurisdiction that does not recognize such concept) in which the nature of its business or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties makes such qualification or licensing necessary, other than where the failure to be so organized, existing, qualified or licensed or in good standing (except, in the case of clause (i) above, with respect to the Company), individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended to the date of this Agreement (the “Company Certificate”), and the bylaws of the Company, as amended to the date of this Agreement (the “Company Bylaws”), and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws (or similar organizational documents) of each of its Subsidiaries, in each case as amended to the date of this Agreement. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of the minutes (or, in the case of draft minutes, the most recent drafts thereof) of all meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and each committee of the Board of Directors of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries held since February 1, 2009. The Company has made available to Parent complete and correct copies of all resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, and each committee thereof, in respect of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

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equity or voting interests in, each such Subsidiary are owned by the Company, by one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company or by the Company and one or more wholly owned Subsidiaries of the Company, free and clear of all pledges, claims, liens, charges, options, security interests or other encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, “Liens”), except for transfer restrictions imposed by applicable securities Laws, and are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except for the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, its Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, any person.

(c) Capital Structure. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Company Preferred Stock”). At the close of business on November 11, 2012, (A) 38,777,893 shares of Company Common Stock (excluding treasury shares) were issued and outstanding, (B) no shares of Company Common Stock were held by the Company as treasury shares and (C) 1,644,466 shares of Company Common Stock were reserved and available for issuance in the aggregate pursuant to the 2011 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2011 Plan”) and the 2004 Management Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”, and together with the 2011 Plan, the “Company Stock Plans”), of which 1,439,246 shares of Company Common Stock were subject to outstanding options to acquire shares of Company Common Stock from the Company (such options, together with any other stock options granted after November 11, 2012, in each case whether granted pursuant to the Company Stock Plans or otherwise, the “Stock Options”). As of the date of this Agreement none of the issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are subject to vesting or forfeiture conditions or a right of repurchase by the Company. All outstanding Stock Options have been granted under the Company Stock Plans. Other than the Company Stock Plans, there is no plan, Contract or arrangement providing for the grant of Stock Options. No shares of Company Preferred Stock are issued or outstanding. No shares of Company Common Stock are owned by any Subsidiary of the Company. Section 3.01(c)(i) of the Company Letter sets forth a list, as of the close of business on November 11, 2012, of all outstanding Stock Options, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to each such Stock Option, the grant date, exercise price per share, vesting schedule and expiration date of each such Stock Option, the name of the holder thereof, an indication of whether or not each such holder is a current director or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not such Stock Option (or any portion thereof) is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code and the name of the Company Stock Plan pursuant to which each such Stock Option was granted. As of the date of this Agreement, other than the outstanding Stock Options, there are no outstanding rights of any person to receive Company Common Stock under the Company Stock Plans or otherwise, on a deferred basis or otherwise.

(i) Except for outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and Stock Options set forth in Section 3.01(c)(i), as of the close of business on November 11, 2012, no shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or options, warrants, shares of deferred stock, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance units, phantom stock awards or other rights to acquire any such capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, or other rights that are linked to the value of Company Common Stock or the value of the Company or any part thereof, were issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding. From the close of business on November 11, 2012 to the date of this Agreement, (A) there have been no issuances by the Company of shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, other than issuances of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of Stock Options outstanding as of November 11, 2012, and only if and to the extent required by their respective terms as in effect on such date and (B) there have been no issuances by the Company of securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or options, warrants, shares of deferred stock, restricted stock awards, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance units, phantom stock awards, other rights to acquire shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company, or other rights that are linked to the value of Company Common Stock or the value of the Company or any part thereof.

 

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(ii) All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and all shares that may be issued pursuant to the Company Stock Plans will be, when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive rights. Except as set forth in this Section 3.01(c), there are no (A) bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (B) securities or other instruments or rights (including stock appreciation rights, phantom stock awards or other similar rights) issued by, or other obligations of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, that are linked to, or the value of which is in any way based upon or derived from, the value of any class of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the value of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any part thereof, or any dividends or other distributions declared or paid on any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or which have or which by their terms may have at any time (whether actual or contingent) the right to vote (or which are convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may vote (the items referred to in clauses (A) and (B) collectively, “Equity Equivalents”). Except as set forth in this Section 3.01(c), there are no securities, options, warrants, calls, rights or Contracts of any kind to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such security, option, warrant, call, right or Contract. With respect to the Stock Options, (1) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (2) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the Board of Directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (3) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Stock Plan, the Exchange Act and all other applicable Laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, (4) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was not less than the fair market value (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, in the case of each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” and within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, in the case of each other Stock Option) of a share of Company Common Stock on the applicable Grant Date and (5) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s SEC Documents in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable Laws. Except pursuant to the forfeiture conditions of the Stock Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and except pursuant to the cashless exercise or tax withholding provisions of such Stock Options as in effect on the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding contractual or other obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to (I) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (II) vote or dispose of any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company is not a party to any voting agreement with respect to any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, as of the date of this Agreement there are no irrevocable proxies and no voting agreements with respect to any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to grant, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinate the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

 

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(iii) As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any (A) indebtedness for borrowed money, (B) indebtedness evidenced by any bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture or other debt instrument or debt security, (C) amounts owing as deferred purchase price for the purchase of any property, (D) capital lease obligations or (E) guarantees with respect to any indebtedness or obligation of a type described in clauses (A) through (D) above of any other person (collectively, “indebtedness”).

(iv) All Stock Options may, by their terms, be treated in accordance with Section 5.04(a). No holder of any Stock Option is entitled to any treatment of such Stock Option other than as provided with respect to such Stock Option in Section 5.04(a), and after the Closing no holder of a Stock Option (or former holder of a Stock Option) or any current or former participant in the Company Stock Plans or any other Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement shall have the right thereunder to acquire any capital stock of the Company or any other equity interest therein (including phantom stock or stock appreciation rights). All outstanding Stock Options are evidenced by individual written stock option agreements (the “Stock Option Agreements”) substantially identical to the form made available to Parent and its counsel.

(v) The persons set forth on Section 5.01 of the Company Letter are the record holders of each share of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by such persons and collectively are the record holders of over 70% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock. Nancy Mack is not the record holder of any shares of Company Common Stock.

(d) Authority; Noncontravention. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to comply with the provisions of this Agreement, subject, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, to obtaining the Stockholder Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Noncompetition Agreement by the Company, the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement, to comply with the terms of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, subject, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, to obtaining the Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming the due execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. The Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting duly called and held at which all of the directors of the Company were present, duly and unanimously adopted resolutions (i) approving and declaring advisable this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) declaring that it is in the best interests of the Company’s stockholders that the Company enter into this Agreement and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, (iii) declaring that the consideration to be paid to the Company’s stockholders in the Merger is fair to such stockholders and (iv) recommending that the Company’s stockholders adopt this Agreement, which resolutions, except to the extent expressly permitted by Section 4.02, have not been rescinded, modified or withdrawn in any way. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Agreement do not and will not conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to a loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien in or upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under, or give rise to any increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements under (including any right of a holder of a security of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to require the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to acquire such security), any provision of (A) the Company Certificate or the Company Bylaws or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational documents) of any of its Subsidiaries, (B) any loan or credit agreement, bond,

 

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debenture, note, mortgage, indenture, guarantee, lease or other contract, commitment, agreement, instrument, arrangement, understanding, obligation, undertaking or license, whether oral or written (each, including all amendments thereto, a “Contract”), or Permit to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound or to or by which any of their respective properties or assets are subject or bound or otherwise under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has rights or benefits or (C) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred to in the following sentence, any (1) Federal, state or local, domestic, foreign, multinational or supranational statute, law, code, ordinance, rule or regulation of any Governmental Entity (each, a “Law”), assuming receipt of the Stockholder Approval and the adoption of this Agreement by Parent, as the sole stockholder of Sub, or (2) Federal, state or local, domestic or foreign, judgment, injunction, order, writ or decree of any Governmental Entity (each, a “Judgment”), in each case, applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (B) and (C), any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, terminations, cancelations, accelerations, losses, Liens, rights or entitlements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to (x) have a Material Adverse Effect or (y) impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Federal, state or local, domestic or foreign, government or any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental, quasi-governmental or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a “Governmental Entity”), is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Agreement, except for (I) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by the Company and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), (II) the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of the Information Statement and such reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (III) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other jurisdictions in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is qualified to do business, (IV) any filings required under the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange and The NASDAQ Stock Market and (V) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings and notices the failure of which to be obtained or made, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to (x) have a Material Adverse Effect or (y) impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

(e) SEC Documents. The Company has filed or furnished, as applicable, all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the SEC required to be filed or furnished by the Company since July 27, 2011 (together with all documents and information incorporated therein by reference, the “SEC Documents”), in each case at or prior to the time required. No Subsidiary of the Company is required to file or furnish any report, schedule, form, statement or other document with, or make any other filing with, or furnish any other material to, the SEC. As of their respective dates, each of the SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”) and the Exchange Act, in each case, applicable to such SEC Document, and none of the SEC Documents at the time it was filed or furnished contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company has made available to Parent copies of all comment letters received by the Company from the SEC since January 29, 2012 and relating to the SEC Documents, together with all written responses of the Company thereto. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in such comment letters received by the Company from the SEC. As of the date of this Agreement, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the SEC Documents is the subject of

 

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any ongoing review by the SEC. The financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company included in the SEC Documents complied, at the time the respective statements were filed, as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States of America (“GAAP”) (except, in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and their consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended. Except as set forth in the Baseline Financials and except for (A) liabilities or obligations that are not material to the Company and its Subsidiaries and (B) liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business after the date of the latest balance sheet included in the Baseline Financials that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries have no liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) that are required to be disclosed under GAAP in a financial statement or footnote thereto.

(i) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, “SOX”) applicable to it. To the knowledge of the Company, there have been no violations of provisions of the Company’s code of ethics.

(ii) The principal executive officer of the Company and the principal financial officer of the Company each has made all certifications required by Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14 under the Exchange Act and Sections 302 and 906 of SOX, as applicable, with respect to the SEC Documents, and the statements contained in such certifications were accurate as of the date they were made. For purposes of this Agreement, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in SOX. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding, or has (since the Company was subject thereto) arranged any outstanding, “extension of credit” to directors or executive officers within the meaning of Section 402 of SOX.

(iii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by, or has any commitment to become a party to or bound by, any joint venture, off-balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract (including any Contract relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or person, on the other hand, or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC)), where the purpose or intended or known result or effect of such joint venture, partnership or Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ published financial statements or other SEC Documents.

(iv) The Company maintains “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) in compliance with the Exchange Act.

(v) The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) in compliance with the Exchange Act.

(f) Absence of Certain Changes or Events. From January 29, 2012 to the date of this Agreement, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary course and there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend on, or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity or voting interests, except for dividends by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent, (iii) any split, combination or reclassification of any of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ capital stock or other equity or voting interests or any issuance or the authorization of any issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of

 

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or in substitution for shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv)(A) any grant by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any current or former director, officer, employee, contractor or consultant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Company Personnel”) located at the Company’s headquarters office or who have annual base compensation in excess of $100,000 of any bonus or award opportunity, any loan or any increase in any type of compensation or benefits, except for grants of normal bonus opportunities and normal increases of base cash compensation, in each case, in the ordinary course of business, or (B) any payment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Company Personnel located at the Company’s headquarters office or who have annual base compensation in excess of $100,000 of any bonus or award, other than payments in the ordinary course of business, (v) any grant by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any Company Personnel of any severance, separation, change in control, retention, termination or similar compensation or benefits or increase therein or of the right to receive any severance, separation, change in control, retention, termination or similar compensation or benefits or increase therein, (vi) any adoption or establishment of or entry by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries into, any amendment of, modification to or termination of, or agreement to amend, modify or terminate, or any termination of (or announcement of an intention to amend, modify or terminate), (A) any employment, deferred compensation, change in control, severance, termination, employee benefit, loan, indemnification, retention, equity or equity-based compensation, consulting, restrictive covenant or similar Contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Company Personnel, on the other hand, (B) any Contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Company Personnel, on the other hand, the benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which are altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Company of the nature contemplated by this Agreement (alone or in combination with any other event) or (C) any trust or insurance Contract or other agreement to separately fund or otherwise secure payment of any compensation or benefit to be provided to any Company Personnel (all such Contracts under this clause (vi), including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such Contract that is entered into on or after the date of this Agreement, collectively, “Benefit Agreements”), (vii) any grant or amendment of any award under any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement (including the grant or amendment of Stock Options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance units, phantom stock, stock repurchase rights or other equity or equity-based compensation) or the removal or material modification of any restrictions in any such award, (viii) any payment to any Company Personnel of any compensation or benefit not provided for under any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement, other than the payment of base cash and bonus compensation in the ordinary course of business, (ix) the taking of any action to accelerate, or that would reasonably be expected to result in the acceleration of, the time of vesting or payment of any rights, compensation, benefits or funding obligations, (x) any material change in financial or tax accounting methods, principles or practices by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except insofar as may have been required by GAAP or applicable Law, (xi) any material tax election or change in any material tax election or any settlement or compromise of any material tax liability, or (xii) any write-down by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any of the material assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(g) Litigation. Section 3.01(g) of the Company Letter sets forth a list of each claim, action, suit or judicial, administrative or regulatory proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement (i) for money damages that would reasonably be expected to be in excess of $250,000, (ii) that seeks injunctive relief or (iii) that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any legal restraint on or prohibition against the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. There is no claim, action, suit or judicial, administrative or regulatory proceeding or investigation pending or threatened by or against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no Judgment of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against, or investigation, proceeding, notice of violation, order of forfeiture or complaint by any Governmental Entity involving, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(h) Contracts. Section 3.01(h) of the Company Letter sets forth (with specific reference to the subsection of this Section 3.01(h) to which such Contract relates, including any further subsection) a list as of the date of this Agreement of:

(A) each Contract pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has agreed not to compete with any person in any area or to engage in any activity or business, or pursuant to which any material benefit or right is required to be given or lost, or any material penalty or detriment is incurred, as a result of so competing or engaging;

(B) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound (1) providing for exclusivity, (2) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is restricted in any material respect, or (3) which after the Effective Time would restrict Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in any material respect, in each case which exclusivity or restrictions apply to the development, manufacture, marketing, franchising or distribution of their respective products or services or otherwise with respect to the operation of their respective businesses;

(C) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound or with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any material obligation with (1) any affiliate of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (2) any Company Personnel, (3) any union or other labor organization or (4) any affiliate of any such person (other than, in each case, (I) offer letters or employment agreements that are terminable at will by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries both without any penalty and without any obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to pay severance or other compensation or benefits (other than accrued base salary, accrued commissions, accrued bonuses, accrued vacation pay, accrued floating holidays and legally mandated benefits), (II) Benefit Plans and Benefit Agreements other than offer letters or employment agreements and (III) Contracts between the Company or one of its Subsidiaries and any of the Company’s Subsidiaries);

(D) each Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any indebtedness having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $250,000;

(E) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound creating or granting a Lien (including Liens upon properties or assets acquired under conditional sales, capital leases or other title retention or security devices), other than (1) Liens for taxes assessments and other governmental charges not yet due and payable, that are payable without penalty or that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established, (2) Liens for landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, repairmen’s, workers’ or similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business, in each case for sums not yet due and payable or due but not delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (3) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds and similar obligations and (4) Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business that are not reasonably likely to adversely interfere in a material way with the use of the properties or assets encumbered thereby (collectively, “Permitted Liens”);

(F) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound (other than Benefit Plans and Benefit Agreements) containing any provisions contemplating or relating in any way to a “change in control” or similar event with respect to the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, including provisions requiring consent or approval of, or notice to, any Governmental Entity or other person in the event of a change in control of the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries, or otherwise having the effect of providing that the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the execution, delivery or effectiveness of this Agreement will materially conflict with, result in a material violation or material breach of, or constitute a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, such Contract, or give rise

 

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under such Contract to any right of, or result in, a termination, right of first refusal, material amendment, revocation, cancelation or material acceleration of any obligation, or a loss of a material benefit or the creation of any material Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or to any increased, guaranteed, accelerated or additional material rights or material entitlements of any person;

(G) each Contract pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (1) consented to or agreed not to assert rights with respect to the use or registration by a third party of the trademark “Teavana” or any similar trademark or (2) has received a third party’s consent to the use or registration by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the trademark “Teavana” or any similar trademark;

(H) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound granting the other party to such Contract or a third party “most favored nation” pricing or terms that (1) applies to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (2) following the Effective Time, would apply to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries other than the Surviving Corporation or its Subsidiaries;

(I) each Contract containing any “non-solicitation”, “no-hire” or similar provision that restricts the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in any material respect;

(J) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound forming or establishing, or relating to the formation or establishment of, any joint venture (whether in partnership, limited liability company or other organizational form) or alliance or similar arrangement;

(K) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound with any Governmental Entity;

(L) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound entered into in the last five years in connection with the settlement or other resolution of any suit, claim, action, investigation or proceeding;

(M) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound containing any standstill provisions which in any way limit the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to acquire the securities or assets of any person;

(N) each Contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any Major Vendor, including any material terms and conditions that are in effect as of the date of this Agreement and referenced in purchase orders with any such Major Vendor (other than ordinary course terms and conditions regarding purchase price, amounts and delivery) and any written or oral commitments to purchase additional products, supplies, services or ingredients from any such Major Vendor in excess of $100,000;

(O) each Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound that contains any indemnification rights or obligations, or credit support relating to such indemnification rights or obligations, other than any of such indemnification rights or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(P) each Contract not otherwise disclosed under this Section 3.01(h)(i) which has aggregate future sums due to or from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (1) during the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending on the 12-month anniversary of this Agreement, in excess of $500,000 or (2) of more than $1,500,000 during the life of the Contract; and

(Q) except for the Contracts disclosed above, each material Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound not made in the ordinary course of business.

The Contracts of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the type referred to in clauses (A) through (Q) of this subsection (i) (whether in effect on the date of this Agreement or entered into following the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date), together with the Franchise Agreements, are collectively referred to in

 

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this Agreement as “Specified Contracts”. The Company has made available to Parent a complete and correct copy of each of the Specified Contracts, including all amendments thereto. Each Specified Contract is in full force and effect (except for those Contracts that have expired in accordance with their terms) and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company, of each other party thereto, enforceable against the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company, against the other party or parties thereto, in each case, in accordance with its terms. Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (x) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) in breach or default under any Specified Contract and has not waived or failed to enforce any rights or benefits thereunder (other than in the ordinary course of business), (y) no other party to any of the Specified Contracts is (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) in breach or default thereunder and (z) there has occurred no event that (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) would give to others any right of termination, material amendment or cancellation of any Specified Contract.

(i) Permits; Compliance with Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries have in effect all certificates, permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, concessions, qualifications, registrations, certifications and similar authorizations from any Governmental Entity (collectively, “Permits”) that are necessary for them to own, lease or operate their properties and assets and to carry on their businesses in all material respects as currently conducted. Section 3.01(i) of the Company Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a list of all Permits that are material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than ordinary course Permits generally required for the operation of a retail store of any type. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and since February 1, 2009 has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws (for the avoidance of doubt, when used in this Agreement “applicable Laws” shall include Franchise Laws and Relationship Laws) and Judgments, and no condition or state of facts exists that would reasonably be expected to give rise to a material violation of, or a material liability or default under, any applicable Law or Judgment. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance with the terms hereof would not reasonably be expected to, cause the revocation or cancellation of any material Permit. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written communication during the past three years from any person that alleges that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance in all material respects with, or is subject to material liability under, any Permit, Law or Judgment or relating to the revocation or modification of any material Permit. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice that any investigation or review by any Governmental Entity is pending with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the assets or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that any such investigation or review is contemplated.

(j) Absence of Changes in Benefit Plans; Employment Agreements; Labor Relations. Except as disclosed in the Filed SEC Documents or as required under applicable Law, since January 29, 2012, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has adopted, entered into, established, terminated, amended or modified or agreed to adopt, enter into, establish, terminate, amend or modify (or announced an intention to adopt, enter into, establish, terminate, amend or modify) any collective bargaining agreement or any employment, bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, equity or equity-based compensation, performance, retirement, thrift, savings, cafeteria, paid time off, material perquisite or fringe benefit, vacation, unemployment, severance, change in control, termination, retention, disability, death benefit, hospitalization, medical or other welfare benefit or other similar plan, program, policy, arrangement or understanding (whether oral or written, formal or informal, funded or unfunded and whether or not legally binding or subject to the Laws of the United States) sponsored, maintained, contributed to or required to be sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other person or entity that, together with the Company, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or with respect to which the Company is otherwise jointly or severally liable under applicable Law (each, a “Commonly Controlled Entity”), in each case, providing compensation or benefits to any Company Personnel, including the Company Stock Plans, but not including the Benefit Agreements (all such plans, programs, policies, arrangements and understandings, collectively, “Benefit Plans”), or has made any material change in any actuarial or other assumption used to

 

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calculate funding obligations with respect to any Pension Plan, or any change in the manner in which contributions to any Pension Plan are made or the basis on which such contributions are determined.

(i) There are no collective bargaining or other labor union agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound. Since February 1, 2009 neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has encountered any labor union organizing activity, or had any actual or threatened employee strikes, work stoppages, slowdowns or lockouts and, to the knowledge of the Company, no labor union organizing activity, strike, work stoppage, slowdown or lockout is threatened. None of the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is represented by any labor union, works council or similar organization with respect to his or her employment by the Company or such Subsidiary. The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any obligation (including to inform or consult with any such employees or their representatives in respect of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement) with respect to any such organization. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and since February 1, 2009 has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws and Judgments relating to labor relations, employment and employment practices, occupational safety and health standards, terms and conditions of employment, payment of wages, classification of employees, immigration, visa, work status, human rights, pay equity and workers’ compensation, and is not, and since February 1, 2009 has not, engaged in any unfair labor practice. There is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, in each case before the National Labor Relations Board or any comparable Governmental Entity. No question concerning representation has been raised or is, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened respecting the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. No grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of a collective bargaining agreement is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(k) Environmental Matters. (i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and has been, in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any communication alleging that the Company or such Subsidiary is in violation of, or may have liability under, any Environmental Law; (ii) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries possesses and is in compliance in all material respects with all Permits required under Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”) for the conduct of its operations, and all such Environmental Permits are valid and in good standing; (iii) there are no material Environmental Claims pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iv) there has been no Release of or exposure to any Hazardous Material that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any material Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or against any person whose liabilities for such Environmental Claims the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, or may have, retained or assumed, either contractually or by operation of Law; (v) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has retained or assumed, either contractually or by operation of Law, any liabilities or obligations that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of any material Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (vi) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries stores, generates or disposes of Hazardous Materials (other than cleaning supplies used and stored in the ordinary course of store operations) at, on, under, about or from property owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (vii) there are no past or present events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, actions or plans that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of a material Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

For all purposes of this Agreement, (A) “Environmental Claims” means any and all administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, Judgments, demands, directives, claims, Liens, investigations, proceedings or written or oral notices of noncompliance or violation by or from any person alleging liability of any kind or nature (including liability or responsibility for the costs of enforcement proceedings, investigations, cleanup, governmental response, removal or remediation, natural resource damages, property damages, personal injuries, medical monitoring, penalties, contribution, indemnification and injunctive relief) arising out of, based on or resulting from (1) the presence or Release of, or exposure to, any Hazardous Material at any location, or (2) the failure to comply with any Environmental Law; (B) “Environmental Law” means any Law, Judgment, legally

 

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binding agreement or Permit issued, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Entity relating to pollution, the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), natural resources, the climate, human health and safety or the protection of endangered or threatened species; (C) “Hazardous Materials” means any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, hazardous or toxic substances and any other chemical, material, substance or waste that is prohibited, limited or regulated under any Environmental Law; and (D) “Release” means any actual or threatened release, spill, emission, leaking, dumping, injection, pouring, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or migration into or through the environment or within any building, structure, facility or fixture.

(l) Employee Benefits Matters. Section 3.01(l)(i) of the Company Letter sets forth a list of all “employee welfare benefit plans” (as defined in Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)), all “employee pension benefit plans” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (each, a “Pension Plan”) and all other Benefit Plans and Benefit Agreements that, in each case, are in effect as of the date of this Agreement. The Company has delivered or made available to Parent complete and correct copies of (A) each Benefit Plan and each Benefit Agreement (or, in the case of any unwritten Benefit Plans or Benefit Agreements, written descriptions thereof and, in the case of offer letters and employment agreements with employees in Canada, the forms of the same), including any amendments thereto, (B) the two most recent annual reports, or such similar reports, statements, information returns or material correspondence required to be filed with or delivered to any Governmental Entity, if any, with respect to each Benefit Plan (including reports filed on Form 5500 with accompanying schedules and attachments), (C) the most recent summary plan description (if any), and any summary of material modifications, prepared for each Benefit Plan for which a summary plan description is required under applicable Law, (D) each trust agreement and group annuity or insurance Contract and other documents relating to the funding or payment of compensation or benefits under each Benefit Plan and Benefit Agreement (if any) and (E) the two most recent actuarial valuations for each Benefit Plan (if any). Each Benefit Plan and Benefit Agreement has been administered, funded and invested in all material respects in accordance with its terms. The Company and its Subsidiaries and each Benefit Plan and Benefit Agreement are in compliance in all material respects with applicable Law, including ERISA and the Code, and the terms of any collective bargaining agreements or other labor union Contracts.

(i) Each Pension Plan intended to be tax qualified under the Code is so qualified and has been the subject of a favorable determination, advisory, qualification or opinion letter from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to all tax Law changes with respect to which the IRS is currently willing to provide a determination, advisory or opinion letter to the effect that such Pension Plan is qualified and exempt from United States Federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, and no such letter has been revoked (nor, as of the date of this Agreement, has revocation been threatened) and no event has occurred since the date of the most recent such letter or application therefor relating to any such Pension Plan that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualification of such Pension Plan or increase the costs relating thereto or require security under Section 307 of ERISA. Each Benefit Plan required to have been approved by any non-United States Governmental Entity (or permitted to have been approved to obtain any beneficial tax or other status) has been so approved or timely submitted for approval, no such approval has been revoked (nor, as of the date of this Agreement, has revocation been threatened) and no event has occurred since the date of the most recent approval or application therefor relating to any such Pension Plan that would reasonably be expected to affect any such approval relating thereto or increase the costs relating thereto. The Company has delivered to Parent a complete and correct copy of the most recent determination, qualification, opinion or approval letter or similar document received from a Governmental Entity with respect to each Benefit Plan intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment or other status, as well as a complete and correct copy of each pending application for a determination, advisory, qualification or approval letter or similar document, if any, and a list of all amendments to any such Benefit Plans as to which a favorable determination, qualification or approval letter has not yet been received.

 

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(ii) Neither the Company nor any Commonly Controlled Entity has sponsored, maintained, contributed to or been obligated to sponsor, maintain or contribute to, or has any actual or contingent liability under, any Benefit Plan that is a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) or a “multiemployer plan” (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA), or that is subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or that is otherwise a defined benefit pension plan, and neither the Company nor any Commonly Controlled Entity could incur any liability with respect to any such plan (under Title IV of ERISA or otherwise).

(iii) No Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement that provides welfare benefits, whether or not subject to ERISA (each, a “Welfare Plan”), is funded through a “welfare benefits fund” (as such term is defined in Section 419(e) of the Code). There are no understandings, agreements or undertakings, written or oral, that would prevent any Welfare Plan (including any Welfare Plan covering retirees or other former employees) from being amended or terminated without material liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at or at any time after the Effective Time. No Welfare Plan provides benefits, and there are no understandings, written or oral, with respect to the provision of welfare benefits, after termination of employment, except where the cost thereof is borne entirely by the former employee (or his or her eligible dependents or beneficiaries) or as required by Section 4980B(f) of the Code or any similar state statute or foreign Law. The Company and its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Section 4980B(f) of the Code, Sections 601-609 of ERISA and any similar state statute or foreign Law with respect to each Benefit Plan that is a “group health plan” (as defined in Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code or any similar state statute).

(iv) None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the obtaining of the Stockholder Approval or the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (whether alone or as a result of any termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) will, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, result in any breach or violation of, or a default under, any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement. Except as expressly set forth in Section 5.04, none of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the obtaining of the Stockholder Approval or the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (whether alone or as a result of any termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) will (A) entitle any Company Personnel to severance, termination, retention, change in control or similar compensation or benefits or (B) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of, compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other material obligation pursuant to any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement.

(v) All reports, returns and similar documents with respect to each Benefit Plan required to be filed with any Governmental Entity or distributed to any Benefit Plan participant have been duly and timely filed or distributed, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in material liability. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there are no, pending investigations by any Governmental Entity with respect to, or pending termination proceedings or other material claims (except claims for benefits payable in the normal operation of the Benefit Plans and Benefit Agreements), suits or proceedings against or involving or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under, any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement.

(vi) All contributions, premiums and benefit payments under or in connection with each Benefit Plan and Benefit Agreement that are required to have been made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and Benefit Agreement and applicable Laws have been timely made.

(vii) With respect to each Benefit Plan, (A) there has not occurred any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) that could subject the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or employees to any material liability and (B) none of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or employees or, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent of any of the foregoing, has engaged in any transaction or

 

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acted in a manner, or failed to act in a manner, that could subject the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers or employees to any material liability for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA or any other applicable Law. No Benefit Plan or related trust has been terminated, nor has there been any “reportable event” (as such term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) for which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived with respect to any Benefit Plan during the last five years, and no notice of a reportable event will be required to be filed in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(viii) To the knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liability or obligations, including under or on account of a Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement, arising out of the hiring of persons to provide services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and treating such persons as consultants or independent contractors and not as employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(ix) Each Benefit Plan and each Benefit Agreement that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(a)(1)(a) (a “Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan”) (A) was operated in compliance with Section 409A of the Code between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2008, based upon a good faith, reasonable interpretation of (1) Section 409A of the Code and (2) the final Treasury Regulations and other guidance issued by the IRS thereunder, to the extent applicable (clauses (1) and (2), together, the “409A Authorities”) and (B) has been operated in compliance with the 409A Authorities since January 1, 2009. Each Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan has been in documentary compliance with the 409A Authorities since January 1, 2009.

(m) Taxes. For the purposes of this Agreement, (A) “taxes” shall include all (1) Federal, state, local and foreign taxes, assessments, duties (including customs duties), levies, tariffs or similar charges of any kind whatsoever (including any escheat and unclaimed property obligations) and any interest, penalties or additions imposed with respect thereto, (2) liability for the payment of any amounts of the types described in clause (1) as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group and (3) liability for the payment of any amounts as a result of transferee or successor liability with respect to the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (1) or (2); (B) “taxing authority” means any Governmental Entity exercising regulatory authority in respect of any taxes; and (C) “tax return” means any Federal, state, local or foreign return, declaration, report, estimate, form, claim for refund, information return, statement or other document in each case relating to taxes (including any related or supporting information with respect thereto, any certificate, schedule or attachment thereto and including any amendment thereof).

(i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely filed all material tax returns required to be filed in the manner prescribed by applicable Law. All such tax returns are complete and correct in all material respects. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has timely paid all material taxes due from it or them, except for Taxes being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been made, and, in accordance with GAAP, the most recent financial statements contained in the Filed SEC Documents reflect an adequate reserve for all material taxes payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof through the date of such financial statements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has requested any extension of time within which to file any tax return which tax return has not yet been filed.

(ii) No tax return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or has ever been under audit or examination by any taxing authority, and no notice of such an audit or examination has been received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Each assessed deficiency resulting from any audit or examination relating to taxes by any taxing authority has been timely paid (or is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and has been reserved for by the Company in accordance with GAAP) and there is no material deficiency, refund litigation, proposed adjustment or matter in controversy with respect to any taxes due and owing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The tax returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been examined by the relevant taxing authority for the fiscal years set forth in Section 3.01(m)(iii) of the Company Letter. The relevant statute of limitations is closed with respect to all tax returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries for all fiscal years through the fiscal year ended February 1, 2009.

 

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(iii) There is no currently effective agreement or other document extending, or having the effect of extending, the period of assessment or collection of any taxes.

(iv) No material Liens for taxes exist with respect to any assets or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for statutory Liens for taxes not yet due.

(v) Neither of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, bound by or currently has any liability under any tax sharing agreement, tax indemnity obligation or similar agreement, arrangement or practice with respect to taxes (including any similar agreement with any taxing authority).

(vi) Neither of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include in a taxable period ending after the Effective Time (i) taxable income attributable to income that accrued (for purposes of the financial statements of the Company included in the Filed SEC Documents) in a taxable period prior to the Effective Time but was not recognized for tax purposes in such prior taxable period as a result of the installment method of accounting, the completed contract method of accounting, the long-term contract method of accounting, the cash method of accounting or Section 481 of the Code or any comparable provision of any tax Law or for any other reason (including as a result of prepaid amounts or deferred revenue received on or prior to the Effective Time) or (ii) income deferred under Section 108(i) of the Code in a taxable period beginning prior to the Effective Time.

(vii) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the collection, payment and withholding of taxes.

(viii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

(ix) Section 3.01(m)(x) of the Company Letter sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Company, its jurisdiction of organization and its entity classification for U.S. Federal tax purposes.

(x) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in (A) any distribution of stock qualifying or intended to qualify for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code within the two year period ending on the date of this Agreement or (B) a distribution that could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(xi) No amount, economic benefit or other entitlement that could be received (whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (alone or in combination with any other event, including any termination of employment on or following the Closing) by any person who is a “disqualified individual” (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) with respect to the Company would be characterized as an “excess parachute payment” (as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code). No person is entitled to any gross-up, make-whole or other additional payment from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any tax (including Federal, state, local and foreign income, excise and other taxes (including taxes imposed under Section 4999 or 409A of the Code)) or interest or penalty related thereto.

(xii) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has disclosed on its U.S. Federal income tax returns and reports all positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement of U.S. Federal income tax within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code.

(xiii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has ever participated in any “reportable transaction”, as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b).

(xiv) Since the earliest date of incorporation of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their predecessors, there will have been no change in ownership, within the meaning of Section 382(g) of the Code, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to Closing.

 

 

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(xv) All related party transactions involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are at arm’s length in compliance with Section 482 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and any comparable provision of any tax Law.

(n) Properties. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or valid and enforceable leasehold or sublease interests in, or other comparable contract rights in or relating to, all of the material real properties and other tangible assets necessary for the conduct of its business as presently conducted, free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens.

(i) Section 3.01(n)(ii) of the Company Letter sets forth a list as of the date of this Agreement of all real property and interests in real property leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each such property, a “Leased Real Property”). Each lease with respect to Leased Real Property, and any amendment or supplement thereto, has been made available to Parent by the Company. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries currently owns, or has previously owned, in fee any real property or interests in real property.

(ii) With respect to each Leased Real Property, (A) the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not require notice to or the consent of any party to any lease, (B) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has subleased, licensed or otherwise granted anyone the right to use or occupy such Leased Real Property or any portion thereof and (C) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has collaterally assigned or granted any other security interest in any such leasehold estate or any interest therein.

(iii) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with the terms of all leases of Leased Real Property to which it is a party and under which it is in occupancy, and each such lease is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company or its Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company, of each other party thereto, enforceable against the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company, against the other party or parties thereto, in each case, in accordance with its terms. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of default under a lease for Leased Real Property that has not been cured, and the Company has no knowledge of any existing event or condition which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default on the part of Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any such lease.

(o) Intellectual Property. Section 3.01(o)(i) of the Company Letter sets forth a list of (A) all Intellectual Property that is owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Company Owned Intellectual Property”) that is registered or subject to an application for registration or that is otherwise material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (B) all material Intellectual Property that the Company or one of its Subsidiaries is licensed or otherwise permitted by other persons to use, including all Intellectual Property exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Company Exclusively Licensed Intellectual Property”).

(i) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries has the exclusive title to all Company Owned Intellectual Property that is registered or subject to an application for registration, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.

(A) All Company Owned Intellectual Property that is registered or subject to an application for registration is subsisting, valid and enforceable.

(B) The Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed or otherwise permitted to use (in each case, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens) all Intellectual Property used or held for use in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(C) The operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not, to the knowledge of the Company, (1) infringe on or otherwise violate the rights of any person in respect of any Intellectual Property or (2) violate the terms of any agreement pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries possesses the right to use any Intellectual Property.

 

 

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(D) Since February 1, 2009, none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any threatened claim with respect to any Intellectual Property used or held for use in the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including any cancellation, opposition or other action before an intellectual property registry).

(E) To the knowledge of the Company, no person is infringing on or otherwise violating any right of the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to any Company Owned Intellectual Property or any Company Exclusively Licensed Intellectual Property.

(F) Since February 1, 2009, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has asserted or threatened to assert any claims of infringement or other violations of its rights in or to the Company Owned Intellectual Property or the Company Exclusively Licensed Intellectual Property.

(ii) The Company and its Subsidiaries have timely made all filings and payments with the appropriate foreign and domestic agencies required to maintain in subsistence all Company Owned Intellectual Property that is registered or subject to an application for registration. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has taken actions reasonably necessary to maintain the secrecy of all material Trade Secrets which constitute Company Owned Intellectual Property. To the knowledge of the Company, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws pertaining to information privacy and security.

     For purposes of this Agreement, “Intellectual Property” means all trademarks, service marks, trade names, brand names, Internet domain names, logos, certification marks, trade dress, publicity rights and other indications of origin (including any common law rights with respect to the foregoing), the goodwill associated with the foregoing and registrations or applications for registration in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic, of the foregoing and any extensions, modifications or renewals thereof; designs, industrial models, methods of doing business, all patents, applications for patents (including divisions, continuations, continuations in part and renewal applications), and any renewals, extensions or reissues thereof, in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic; all nonpublic information, processes, procedures, product specifications, research records, test information, market surveys, marketing plans and techniques, formulae, recipes, trade secrets, inventions, know-how, customer lists, databases and other confidential information (collectively, “Trade Secrets”) and rights in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic, to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any person; all writings and other published or unpublished works of authorship, whether copyrightable or not (including computer software, source code and object code versions thereof and all related documentation), in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic; all copyrights (including any common law rights), any registrations or applications for registration thereof in any jurisdiction, foreign or domestic, and any extensions, modifications or renewals thereof; and all similar intellectual property or proprietary rights.

(p) Insurance. The Company or its Subsidiaries maintain policies of fire and casualty, liability and other forms of insurance in such amounts, with such deductibles and against such risks and losses as are customary for businesses in the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business. Section 3.01(p) of the Company Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, a list of each insurance policy maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries. All such policies that are material to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, all premiums due and payable thereon have been paid, and no notice of cancelation or termination has been received with respect to any such policy which has not been replaced on substantially similar terms prior to the date of such cancelation. There is no material claim pending under any such policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed.

(q) Franchise Matters. Section 3.01(q)(i) of the Company Letter sets forth a list of all (A) currently effective development agreements in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has granted exclusive rights to develop or operate or license others to develop or operate within one or more countries, states, provinces or other significant geographic areas and (B) franchise or license agreements (clauses (A) and (B) collectively, the “Franchise Agreements”), in each case to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their properties are bound (other than any such agreements between

 

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the Company and its Subsidiaries or among its Subsidiaries) and that grant or purport to grant to any person the right to develop or operate or license others to develop or operate within one or more countries, states, provinces or other significant geographic areas any of the following (each, a “Franchise”): “Teavana” stores (each, a “Franchised Store”).

(i) Each of the Franchise Agreements is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company, of each other party thereto, enforceable against the Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the knowledge of the Company, against the other party or parties thereto, in each case, in accordance with its terms. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has performed or is performing all material obligations required to be performed by it under the Franchise Agreements and is not (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) in material breach or default thereunder, and has not waived or failed to enforce any material rights or benefits thereunder, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no other party to any of the Franchise Agreements is (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) in material breach or default thereunder. To the knowledge of the Company, there has occurred no event giving (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) to others any right of termination, material amendment or cancelation of any Franchise Agreement.

(ii) Section 3.01(q)(iii) of the Company Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all FDDs that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has used to offer or sell Franchises at any time since February 1, 2009. The Company has made available to Parent true and complete copies of each such FDD. Since February 1, 2009, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not, in any such FDD or in any registration, application or filing with any Governmental Entity under any United States federal or state Franchise Law, made any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(iii) Section 3.01(q)(iv) of the Company Letter sets forth a list of all payments to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries made by any Franchisee since February 1, 2009 to support advertising and promotion.

(iv) The term “FDD” means any franchise disclosure document used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the offer or sale of franchises. The term “Franchisee” means a person other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is granted a right (whether directly by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by another Franchisee) to develop or operate, or is granted a right to license others to develop or operate, a Franchised Store within a specific geographic area or at a specific location.

(r) Quality and Safety of Food & Beverage Products. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each of the food and beverage products (including raw ingredients, the “Food & Beverage Products”) produced, distributed or sold by the Company and its Subsidiaries that are or were subject to the jurisdiction of the Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), the United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”), the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) or any comparable state, local or foreign Governmental Entity (A) are and, at all times, have been formulated, manufactured, processed, labeled, stored, tested, packed, transported, distributed, marketed, advertised and promoted by the Company or its Subsidiaries in compliance with all applicable requirements under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938, as amended (including the rules, regulations and guidance promulgated or issued thereunder, the “FDCA”) and all other applicable Laws, including, to the extent applicable, the allergen disclosure requirements of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Action of 2004, the Federal Trade Commission Act of 1914 (including the rules, regulations and guidance promulgated or issued thereunder), state unfair competition and deceptive trade practices statutes, the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder), the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (including the regulations adopted thereunder by the National Organic Standards Board), all comparable state, local and foreign Laws and each of their implementing regulations (collectively, the “Food and Beverage Laws”); (B) are not and have not been adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the FDCA or of any comparable state, local or

 

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foreign statute or regulation, nor are they now, or at any time have they been, products that may not, under Section 404, 505 or 512 of the FDCA (to the extent applicable) be introduced into United States commerce; and (C) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and, to the extent applicable, foreign requirements concerning packaging materials, and any other requirements and prohibitions of any federal, state, local or foreign Governmental Entity concerning the presence of heavy metals or other toxic packaging components; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received (A) any notice that its products are or at any time have been the subject of any warning letter, notice of violation, courtesy letter, seizure, injunction, regulatory enforcement action (including product detention) or criminal action issued, initiated or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the FDA, USDA, EPA, FTC or any comparable state, local or foreign Governmental Entity or (B) any communication alleging any violation of the Food and Beverage Laws, including any communication alleging the Company or any of its Subsidiaries violated section 403(r)(l)(A) or (B) of the FDCA; (iii) no products of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are labeled or marketed as dietary supplements (except to the extent permitted by the FDCA); (iv) since February 1, 2009, there have been no recalls of any Food & Beverage Product of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether ordered by a Governmental Entity or undertaken voluntarily by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and no Food & Beverage Product of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been the subject of a report to the Reportable Foods Registry pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 350f; (v) to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Food & Beverage Products of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries poses a threat to the health or safety of a consumer when consumed in the intended manner; (vi) there exists, and has existed at all relevant times, substantiation meeting the standards of all relevant regulatory bodies for any and all claims about the beneficial effects of any of the products produced, distributed or sold by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries; and (vii) neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor any individual employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been debarred from importing an article of food or offering such an article for import into the United States pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 335a.

(s) Quality and Safety of Merchandise Products. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the products produced, distributed or sold by the Company and its Subsidiaries (excluding the Food & Beverage Products, the “Merchandise Products”) that are or were subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (the “CPSC”), the FDA or any comparable state, local or foreign Governmental Entity (A) are, and at all times have been, formulated, manufactured, processed, labeled, stored, tested, packed, transported, distributed, marketed, advertised and promoted by the Company and its Subsidiaries in compliance with all applicable requirements under CPSC laws (including all rules and regulations thereunder), as amended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (the “CPSIA”), including the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act and other applicable Laws, as well as CPSC bans, standards and guidelines, including the Ban on Lead-Containing Paint and Certain Consumer Products Bearing Lead-Containing Paint (16 C.F.R. §1303), and all comparable state, local and foreign Laws and each of their implementing regulations (the “Consumer Product Safety Laws”), including the provisions of California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 applicable to the content of heavy metals (such as lead and cadmium) in consumer products sold in California and the provisions of the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act applicable to the lead content of consumer products sold in Illinois; (B) are, and at all times have been, formulated, manufactured, processed, labeled, stored, tested, packed, transported, distributed, marketed, advertised and promoted by the Company and its Subsidiaries in compliance with all applicable requirements under FDA laws pertaining to the restrictions on lead and cadmium content with respect to certain dishware and tableware products and all comparable state, local and foreign Laws and each of their implementing regulations (the “Ceramic and Tableware Laws”), including the provisions of California’s Tableware Safety Law applicable to certain ceramic, metal and other dishware and tableware products sold in California; (C) are not and have not been products that have violated Consumer Product Safety Laws or Ceramic and Tableware Laws, nor are they now, or at any time have they been, products that may not be introduced into the United States commerce; and (D) are in compliance with all federal, state or, to the extent applicable, foreign requirements concerning the safety of packaging materials, and any other requirements and prohibitions of any federal, state, local or foreign Governmental Entity concerning the presence of heavy metals or other toxic packaging components (the “Packaging Laws”); (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received (A) any notice that its

 

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Merchandise Products are or at any time have been the subject of any product recall, notice of violation, seizure, injunction, regulatory enforcement action, including product detention, or criminal action issued, initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the CPSC or any comparable state or foreign Governmental Entity or (B) any other communication alleging any violation of the Consumer Product Safety Laws, Ceramic and Tableware Laws, or Packaging Laws; (C) there have been no recalls of any Merchandise Product of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether ordered by a Governmental Entity or undertaken voluntarily by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, none of the Merchandise Products of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries contains a defect in its manufacturing, design, materials, instructions or labeling, or poses an inappropriate threat to the health or safety of a consumer, or poses a product hazard when used in the intended manner.

(t) Vendor Matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries have provided each (i) supplier to the Company and its Subsidiaries of (A) tea, tea blends and any ingredient used in the Company’s tea blends (including botanicals, spices, herbs, fruits and vegetables) and (B) merchandise and (ii) blender, aggregator and co-manufacturer of tea, tea blends and other tea products employed by, or used in the supply chain of, the Company and its Subsidiaries (the persons described in clauses (i) and (ii), collectively, the “Vendors”) with the Company’s applicable vendor manual or other guidelines or policy statements (collectively, “Company Policies”). To the knowledge of the Company, each Vendor has performed its obligations to the Company in compliance in all material respects with applicable Law and all Company Policies. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Major Vendors” shall mean each of the Vendors that fall in any of the following categories: (w) the suppliers of ingredients used in the Company’s top 10 selling tea blends, (x) the top 10 suppliers of ingredients used in the Company’s tea blends on the basis of amounts paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the four consecutive fiscal quarter period ended October 28, 2012, (y) the top 10 tea blenders engaged by the Company on the basis of amounts paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the four consecutive fiscal quarter period ended October 28, 2012 and (z) the top 10 suppliers of merchandise on the basis of amounts paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the four consecutive fiscal quarter period ended October 28, 2012.

(u) Related Party Transactions. There are not, and since January 29, 2012 there have not been, any transactions, agreements, arrangements or understandings between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the Company’s affiliates (other than wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company) or other persons, on the other hand, that would be required to be disclosed under Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and that are not so disclosed.

(v) Unlawful Payments and Trade Practices. (i) Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates, nor any director, officer, employee, agent or representative of the Company or any of its affiliates, nor any other person acting for or on behalf of the Company or any of its affiliates:

(A) has directly or indirectly (I) made, offered or promised to make, or authorized the making of, any unlawful payment to any person, (II) given, offered or promised to give, or authorized the giving of, any unlawful gift, political or charitable contribution or other thing of value or advantage to any person, (III) requested or received any unlawful payment, gift, political or charitable contribution or other thing of value or advantage, (IV) violated any provision of the FCPA or any other Law that prohibits corruption or bribery or (V) violated any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department; or

(B) has been investigated by any Governmental Entity, or been the subject of any allegation, with respect to conduct within the scope of subsection (A) above.

(ii) There have been no false or fictitious entries made in the books or records of the Company or any of its affiliates relating to any secret or unrecorded fund or any unlawful payment, gift, political or charitable contribution or other thing of value or advantage and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates has established or maintained a secret or unrecorded fund.

(iii) The Company and its affiliates have in place policies, procedures and controls that mitigate the risk of any conduct within the scope of subsection (i)(A) above occurring.

 

 

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(iv) All imports, exports, re-exports, sales or transfers of products, services or Intellectual Property or related technical information of the Company and its affiliates have been effected in all material respects in accordance with all applicable anti-corruption, export control, trade sanctions, anti-terrorism and anti-boycott Laws. All products shipped by the Company and its affiliates have been accurately marked, labeled and transported in all material respects in accordance with such Laws.

(v) For the avoidance of doubt, any reference to “other thing of value” in this Section 3.01(v) includes meals, entertainment, travel and lodging. For purposes of this Agreement, the “FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and any rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.

(w) State Takeover Statutes. The approval of this Agreement and the Merger by the Board of Directors of the Company referred to in Section 3.01(d) constitutes the only action necessary to render inapplicable to (i) this Agreement, (ii) the Merger, (iii) the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and (iv) compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, the restrictions on “business combinations” (as defined in Section 203 of the DGCL) set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL to the extent, if any, such restrictions would otherwise be applicable to this Agreement, the Merger, the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and the Escrow Agreement or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and the Escrow Agreement. No other state takeover or similar statute or regulation is applicable to this Agreement, the Merger, the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and the Escrow Agreement or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement and the Escrow Agreement.

(x) Voting Requirements. The affirmative vote or written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock in favor of adopting this Agreement (the “Stockholder Approval”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock necessary to approve or adopt this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The delivery of the Stockholder Consent will constitute the Stockholder Approval.

(y) Brokers. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person, other than North Point Advisors LLC and Piper Jaffray & Co., is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company has delivered to Parent complete and correct copies of all agreements under which such fees or commissions are payable and all indemnification and other agreements related to the engagement of the persons to whom such fees are payable.

(z) Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Company has received the written opinion of Piper Jaffray & Co., in customary form to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement, and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration to be received by the stockholders of the Company pursuant to this Agreement is fair to such stockholders from a financial point of view, copies of which opinions have been delivered to Parent.

(aa) No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto, neither the Company nor any other person on behalf of the Company is making any express or implied representation or warranty in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Any estimates, projections, predictions, data, financial information, memoranda, presentations or other materials or information provided or addressed to Parent, Sub or any of their directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, advisors or other representatives are not and shall not be deemed to be or include representations or warranties in connection with this Agreement unless any such material or information is the subject of any express representation or warranty set forth in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto.

 

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SECTION 3.02. Representations and Warranties of Parent and Sub. Parent and Sub represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

(a) Organization. Each of Parent and Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as currently conducted.

(b) Authority; Noncontravention. Each of Parent and Sub has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to comply with the provisions of this Agreement (subject, in the case of the Merger, to the adoption of this Agreement by Parent, as the sole stockholder of Sub). The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub, the consummation by Parent and Sub of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the compliance by Parent and Sub with the provisions of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Parent and Sub, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent or Sub are necessary to authorize this Agreement, to comply with the terms of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (subject, in the case of the Merger, to the adoption of this Agreement by Parent, as the sole stockholder of Sub). This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Sub, as applicable, and, assuming the due execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company, constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Parent and Sub, as applicable, enforceable against Parent and Sub, as applicable, in accordance with its terms. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the compliance by Parent and Sub with the provisions of this Agreement do not and will not conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or give rise to a right of, or result in, termination, cancelation or acceleration of any obligation or to a loss of a material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien in or upon any of the properties or assets of Parent or Sub under, or give rise to any increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed rights or entitlements under, any provision of (i) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Parent or Sub, (ii) any Contract or Permit to or by which Parent or Sub is a party or bound or to or by which their respective properties or assets are subject or bound or otherwise under which Parent or Sub has rights or benefits or (iii) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred to in the following sentence, any Law (assuming receipt of the Stockholder Approval and the adoption of this Agreement by Parent, as the sole stockholder of Sub) or Judgment, in each case, applicable to Parent or Sub or their respective properties or assets, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, terminations, cancelations, accelerations, losses, Liens, rights or entitlements that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect the ability of each of Parent and Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement or prevent or materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, any Governmental Entity is required by or with respect to Parent or Sub in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Sub, the consummation by Parent and Sub of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the compliance by Parent and Sub with the provisions of this Agreement, except for (A) the filing of a premerger notification and report form and the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act, (B) the filing with the SEC of the Information Statement and such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (C) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is qualified to do business, (D) any filings required under the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange and The NASDAQ Stock Market and (E) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, filings and notices, the failure of which to be obtained or made, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to impair in any material respect the ability of each of Parent and Sub to perform its obligations under this Agreement or prevent or materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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(c) Interim Operations of Sub. Sub was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and has engaged in no business other than in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) Brokers and Finders. Neither Parent nor any of its officers, directors or employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any brokerage fees, commissions or finders’ fees in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(e) Ownership of Common Stock. Neither Parent nor Sub beneficially owns any shares of Company Common Stock. Neither Parent, Sub nor any of their “affiliates” or “associates” is or has been an “interested stockholder,” as such terms are used in Section 203 of the DGCL, at any time within three years prior to the date of this Agreement.

(f) No Other Representations and Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub contained in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant hereto, none of Parent, Sub or any other person on behalf of Parent or Sub is making any express or implied representation or warranty in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

ARTICLE IV

Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business

SECTION 4.01. Conduct of Business. Conduct of Business by the Company. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except with the prior written consent of Parent, as specifically contemplated by this Agreement, as required by applicable Law or as set forth in Section 4.01(a) of the Company Letter, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, carry on their respective businesses in the ordinary course in all material respects and use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable Laws and, to the extent consistent therewith, use commercially reasonable efforts to keep available the services of their present officers and other employees, to preserve their assets, their relationships with material suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors, Franchisees and others having business dealings with them and to maintain their material franchises, rights and Permits. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except with the prior written consent of Parent, as specifically contemplated by this Agreement, as required by applicable Law or as set forth in Section 4.01(a) of the Company Letter (with specific reference to the subsection of this Section 4.01 to which the information stated in such disclosure relates), the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

(i) (A) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests, except for dividends by a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company to its parent, (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests, or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for, shares of its capital stock or other equity or voting interests or (C) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock, other equity or voting interests or any other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any options, restricted shares, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other securities (including any Stock Options, except pursuant to the forfeiture conditions of such Stock Options or the cashless exercise or tax withholding provisions of such Stock Options, in each case only if and to the extent required by the terms of such awards as in effect on the date of this Agreement);

(ii) issue, deliver, sell, pledge or otherwise encumber any (A) shares of its capital stock, other equity or voting interests or Equity Equivalents (other than the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of Stock Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and only if and to the extent required by the terms such awards as in effect on the date of this Agreement), or (B) securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire, any such stock, interests or Equity Equivalents;

 

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(iii) amend its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational documents);

(iv) acquire or agree to acquire (A) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing all or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by purchasing all or a substantial equity or voting interest in, or by any other manner, any business or person or division thereof or (B) any other assets other than capital expenditures, which are subject to the limitations of clause (vii) below, and purchases of raw materials, supplies or immaterial assets in the ordinary course of business;

(v) sell, lease, license, sell and lease back, mortgage or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien or otherwise dispose of any of its material properties or assets (including any shares of capital stock, equity or voting interests or other rights, instruments or securities), except sales of inventory or used equipment in the ordinary course of business and except for Permitted Liens;

(vi) (A) repurchase, prepay or incur any indebtedness, including by way of a guarantee or an issuance or sale of debt securities, or issue and sell options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, enter into any “keep well” or other Contract to maintain any financial statement or similar condition of another person or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, other than the incurrence of borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility as in effect on the date of this Agreement in the ordinary course of business and not in excess of the amount outstanding as of the date of this Agreement plus $1,000,000 or (B) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, other than the Company or any direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company;

(vii) incur or commit to incur any capital expenditures, or any obligations or liabilities in connection therewith, that individually are in excess of $125,000 or in the aggregate are in excess of $2,000,000, other than capital expenditures incurred (A) in connection with the construction of new stores in the ordinary course of business or (B) under existing Contracts;

(viii) (A) pay, discharge, settle or satisfy any claims (including any claims of stockholders and any stockholder litigation relating to this Agreement, the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise), liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business, or as required by their terms on the date of this Agreement, of claims, liabilities or obligations reserved against in the Baseline Financials (for amounts not in excess of such reserves) or incurred since the date of such financial statements in the ordinary course of business or (1) for an aggregate amount of less than (x) $1,500,000 in the case of claims, liabilities and obligations identified in the Company Letter or the Filed SEC Documents and (y) $500,000 in the case of all other claims, liabilities and obligations, or (2) for amounts that are covered by insurance (other than a customary deductible), in each case, the payment, discharge, settlement or satisfaction of which does not include any obligation (other than the payment of money) to be performed by the Company or its Subsidiaries following the Closing Date, (B) waive, relinquish, release, grant, transfer or assign any right of material value or (C) waive any material benefits of, or agree to modify in any adverse respect, or fail to enforce, or consent to any matter with respect to which its consent is required under, any confidentiality or similar Contract to or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound;

(ix) except for new lease activity set forth in Section 4.01(a)(ix) of the Company Letter, enter into any lease or sublease of real property (whether as a lessor, sublessor, lessee or sublessee), or modify or amend in any material respect, or exercise any right to renew, any lease or sublease of real property or acquire any interest in real property;

(x) modify or amend in any material respect, or accelerate, terminate or cancel, any material Contract or waive in any material respect any right to enforce, or relinquish, release, transfer or assign any rights or claims thereunder;

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Agreement, (A) adopt, establish, enter into, terminate, amend or modify any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement, (B) except for standard salary increases in connection with anniversary dates of employment in the ordinary course of business, increase in any manner the compensation or benefits of, or pay any bonus or award to, or grant any loan to, any Company Personnel, (C) pay or provide to any Company Personnel any compensation or benefit not provided for under a Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement as in effect on the date of this Agreement, other than the payment of base compensation in the ordinary course of business, (D) grant or amend any award under any Benefit Plan (including the grant or amendment of Stock Options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units, performance units, stock purchase rights or other equity or equity-based compensation) or remove or modify existing restrictions in any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement or awards made thereunder, (E) grant or pay any severance, separation, change in control, termination, retention or similar compensation or benefits to, or increase in any manner the severance, separation, change in control, termination, retention or similar compensation or benefits of, any Company Personnel, (F) enter into any trust, annuity or insurance Contract or similar agreement or take any other action to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement, (G) take any action to accelerate, or that would reasonably be expected to result in the acceleration of, the time of payment or vesting of any rights, compensation, benefits or funding obligations under any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement or otherwise or (H) make any material determination under any Benefit Plan or Benefit Agreement that is inconsistent with the ordinary course of business or past practice;

(xii) form any Subsidiary of the Company;

(xiii) adopt or enter into any collective bargaining agreement or other labor union Contract applicable to the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(xiv) write-down any of its material assets or make any change in any financial or tax accounting principle, method or practice, other than as required by GAAP or applicable Law;

(xv) enter into, extend or renew any Contract or amendment thereof which, if executed prior to the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.01(h)(i)(A), (B), (C), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (M) or Section 3.01(q)(i);

(xvi) amend, modify or waive any of the Company’s existing takeover defenses or take any action to render any state takeover or similar statute inapplicable to any transaction other than the Merger;

(xvii) make any material amendment or modification to the policies, procedures and guidelines of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Franchises and Franchisees;

(xviii) enter into any new line of business not related to tea; or

(xix) authorize any of, or commit, resolve or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions.

(b) Certain Tax Matters. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, (i) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall timely file all tax returns required to be filed before the Closing (after taking into account any extensions) by or on behalf of each such entity (“Post-Signing Returns”), and all Post-Signing Returns shall be complete and correct and shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the past practices of the Company and its Subsidiaries and in a manner that does not distort taxable income (e.g., by deferring income or accelerating deductions); provided that no Post-Signing Returns shall be filed with any taxing authority without Parent’s written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; (ii) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall timely pay all taxes due and payable in respect of such Post-Signing Returns that are so filed or otherwise owed by each such entity; (iii) the Company will accrue a reserve in its books and records and financial statements in accordance with GAAP and past practice for all taxes payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for which no Post-Signing Return is due prior to the Effective Time; (iv) the Company shall promptly notify Parent of any suit, claim, action, assessment, investigation, proceeding or audit (collectively, “tax actions”) pending against or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any tax and will not settle or compromise any such tax action without Parent’s prior written consent,

 

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which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; (v) none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will make, revoke or change any material tax election without Parent’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed; and (vi) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries will retain all books, documents and records necessary for the preparation of tax returns and reports and tax audits.

(c) Additional Tax Matters. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall cooperate, and, to the extent within its control, shall cause its respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees, contractors, consultants, agents, auditors and representatives reasonably to cooperate, with Parent in all tax matters (including for purposes of enabling Parent to comply with Section 6043A of the Code), including by maintaining and making available to Parent and its affiliates all books and records relating to taxes.

(i) The Company shall deliver to Parent at or prior to the Closing a certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, duly executed and acknowledged, certifying that the payment of the Merger Consideration and any payments made in respect of Appraisal Shares pursuant to the terms of this Agreement are exempt from withholding pursuant to the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act.

(ii) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to the Parent a list of holders of Stock Options, along with such stockholders’ or holders’ taxpayer identification numbers for U.S. Federal income tax purposes. The Company acknowledges and consents that Parent shall be entitled to deliver such list to the Paying Agent for the purpose of facilitating the payment of the Merger Consideration and the treatment of Stock Options as contemplated by Section 5.04.

SECTION 4.02. No Solicitation. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly, (A) solicit, initiate or encourage, or take any other action to knowingly facilitate, any Takeover Proposal or any inquiries or the making of any proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to a Takeover Proposal or (B) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person (or any representative thereof) any information with respect to, or otherwise knowingly cooperate in any way with any person (or any representative thereof) with respect to, any Takeover Proposal, (ii) shall and shall cause its Subsidiaries and its and their respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and representatives to immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing activities, discussions and negotiations with any person conducted heretofore with respect to any Takeover Proposal and (iii) shall promptly, and in any event within two days following the date of this Agreement, request, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause, the prompt return or written acknowledgment of destruction of all confidential information previously furnished to such parties or their representatives in connection with any Takeover Proposal to the extent that the Company is entitled to have such documents returned or destroyed; provided, however, that at any time prior to obtaining the Stockholder Approval, in response to a bona fide written unsolicited Takeover Proposal received after the execution of this Agreement by each of the parties hereto that the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, constitutes a Superior Proposal, and which Takeover Proposal did not result from a breach of this Section 4.02 or any other provision of this Agreement, if the Board of Directors of the Company determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law, the Company may, and may permit and authorize its Subsidiaries and its representatives and its Subsidiaries’ representatives to, in each case subject to compliance with Section 4.02(c) and the other provisions of this Agreement, (A) furnish information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries to the person making such Takeover Proposal (and its representatives) pursuant to a confidentiality agreement which contains terms that are in all material respects no less restrictive of such person than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (an “Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement”); provided that all such information had been provided, or is concurrently provided, to Parent, and (B) participate

 

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in discussions or negotiations with, and only with, the person making such Takeover Proposal (and its representatives) regarding such Takeover Proposal. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, it is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any investment banker, attorney, accountant or other advisor or representative of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 4.02(a) by the Company.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Takeover Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer from any person or “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than Parent or Sub or any of their affiliates) relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, in one transaction or a series of transactions, any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation or dissolution involving the Company or any direct or indirect acquisition, including by way of any merger, consolidation, tender offer, exchange offer, stock acquisition, asset acquisition, binding share exchange, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture, license agreement or similar transaction, of (i) assets or businesses that constitute or represent 20% or more of the total revenue, net income, EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization) or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock or of any class of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, one or more of the Subsidiaries of the Company which, in the aggregate, directly or indirectly hold the assets or businesses referred to in clause (i) above.

For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Superior Proposal” means any binding bona fide unsolicited written offer which did not result from a breach of Section 4.02(a) made by any person (other than Parent or Sub or any of their affiliates) that, if consummated, would result in such person (or, in the case of a direct merger between such person and the Company, the stockholders of such person) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power of the Company Common Stock or all or substantially all the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and which offer, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company (after consultation with a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation and outside legal counsel), (i) provides a higher value to the stockholders of the Company than the consideration payable in the Merger (taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such proposal and this Agreement (including any changes to the terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in response to such Superior Proposal or otherwise)) and (ii) is reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal.

(a) Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor any committee thereof shall (or shall agree or resolve to) (i) withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, or propose publicly to withdraw or modify in a manner adverse to Parent or Sub, the recommendation or declaration of advisability by such Board of Directors or any such committee of this Agreement or the Merger (any such action, resolution or agreement to take such action being referred to herein as an “Adverse Recommendation Change”), (ii) recommend, declare advisable or propose to recommend or declare advisable the approval or adoption of any Takeover Proposal or resolve or agree to take any such action, or adopt or approve any Takeover Proposal, or (iii) cause or permit the Company to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement (each, an “Acquisition Agreement”) constituting or related to, or which would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement), or resolve or agree to take any such action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to the Stockholder Approval, the Board of Directors of the Company may (x) effect an Adverse Recommendation Change or (y) in response to a Superior Proposal, terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(f) to accept such Superior Proposal, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y), if the Board of Directors of the Company has determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties to the stockholders of the Company under applicable Law; provided that the Board of Directors of the Company may not effect such an Adverse Recommendation Change or terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(f) unless the Board of Directors of the Company shall have first provided written notice to Parent (an “Adverse

 

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Change Notice”) at least three business days prior to such action that it is prepared to take such action and, if such action is in response to a Superior Proposal, the following additional conditions are satisfied: (A) such notice shall attach the most current version of any written agreement relating to the transaction that constitutes such Superior Proposal and (B) Parent does not make, within three business days after the receipt of such notice, a proposal that would, in the reasonable good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company (after consultation with a financial advisor of national reputation and outside legal counsel), cause the offer previously constituting a Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal (it being understood and agreed that any amendment or modification of such Superior Proposal shall require a new Adverse Change Notice and a new three business day period). The Company agrees that, during the three business day period prior to its effecting an Adverse Recommendation Change or termination pursuant to Section 7.01(f), the Company and its officers, directors and representatives shall negotiate in good faith with Parent and its officers, directors and representatives regarding any revisions to the terms of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement proposed by Parent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Company shall not be entitled to enter into any agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) with respect to a Superior Proposal unless this Agreement has been terminated by its terms pursuant to Section 7.01, and, if required pursuant to Section 5.07, the Company has paid to Parent the Termination Fee.

(b) In addition to the obligations of the Company set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4.02, the Company shall, as promptly as possible and in any event within 24 hours after the receipt thereof, advise Parent orally and in writing of (i) any Takeover Proposal or any request for information or inquiry that the Company reasonably believes could lead to or contemplates a Takeover Proposal and (ii) the material terms and conditions of such Takeover Proposal, request or inquiry (including any subsequent amendment or other modification to such terms and conditions) and the identity of the person making any such Takeover Proposal, request or inquiry. Commencing upon the provision of any notice referred to above, the Company (or its outside counsel) shall keep Parent (or its outside counsel) reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis of the status and material details of any such Takeover Proposal, request or inquiry (including any material change to its material terms and conditions).

(c) Nothing contained in this Section 4.02 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company from (i) taking and disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or complying with Item 1012(a) of Regulation M-A under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to its stockholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, failure so to disclose would be inconsistent with applicable Law; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or its Board of Directors or any committee thereof take, agree or resolve to take any action prohibited by Section 4.02.

SECTION 4.03. Conduct by Parent. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as consented to in writing by the Company prior to such action or as specifically contemplated by this Agreement, Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries (including Sub) to, take any action that would reasonably be expected to result in (a) any representation and warranty of Parent or Sub set forth in this Agreement that is qualified as to materiality becoming untrue (as so qualified) or (b) any such representation and warranty that is not so qualified becoming untrue in any material respect.

ARTICLE V

Additional Agreements

SECTION 5.01. Stockholder Consent; Preparation of the Information Statement. Immediately after the execution of this Agreement and in lieu of calling a meeting of the Company’s stockholders, the Company shall submit a form of irrevocable written consent attached hereto as Exhibit B to record holders of at least 70% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (such written consent, as duly executed and delivered by all such record holders, the “Stockholder Consent”). As soon as practicable upon receipt of the Stockholder Consent, the

 

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Company will provide Parent with a facsimile copy of such Stockholder Consent, certified as true and complete by an executive officer of the Company. In connection with the Stockholder Consent, the Company shall take all actions necessary to comply, and shall comply in all respects, with the DGCL, including Section 228 and Section 262 thereof, the Company Certificate and the Company Bylaws.

(a) As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement (and in any event within 10 days of the date hereof), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a written information statement of the type contemplated by Rule 14c-2 of the Exchange Act containing the information specified in Schedule 14C under the Exchange Act concerning the Stockholder Consent, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Information Statement”). Each of the Company and Parent shall furnish all information concerning such person to the other as may be reasonably requested in connection with the preparation, filing and distribution of the Information Statement. The Company shall promptly notify Parent upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any request from the SEC or its staff for amendments or supplements to the Information Statement and shall provide Parent with copies of all correspondence between it and its representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand. Each of the Company and Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to respond as promptly as practicable to any comments of the SEC with respect to the Information Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to filing or mailing the Information Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC with respect thereto, the Company (i) shall provide Parent a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such document or response and (ii) shall include in such document or response all comments reasonably proposed by Parent. If, at any time prior to the date that is 20 days after the Information Statement is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders, any information relating to the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates, officers or directors should be discovered by the Company or Parent which is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Information Statement, so that the Information Statement shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the party that discovers such information shall promptly notify the other parties hereto, and an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information shall be filed with the SEC and, to the extent required by applicable Law, disseminated to the stockholders of the Company.

(b) The Company agrees that the Information Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that none of the information included or incorporated by reference in the Information Statement will, at the date the Information Statement is filed with the SEC or mailed to the stockholders of the Company, or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, except that no covenant is made by the Company with respect to statements made in the Information Statement based on information supplied in writing by or on behalf of Parent specifically for inclusion or incorporation for reference therein. Parent agrees that none of such information will, at the date the Information Statement is filed with the SEC or mailed to the stockholders of the Company, or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(c) Each of the Company and Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Information Statement to be (i) filed with the SEC in definitive form as contemplated by Rule 14c-2 under the Exchange Act and (ii) mailed to the stockholders of the Company, in each case as promptly as practicable after, and in any event within two days after, the latest of (A) confirmation from the SEC that it has no further comments on the Information Statement, (ii) confirmation from the SEC that the Information Statement is otherwise not to be reviewed or (iii) expiration of the 10-day period after filing in the event the SEC does not review the Information Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 5.01(d) shall not be affected by any Adverse Recommendation Change or the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company or any other person of any Takeover Proposal.

 

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SECTION 5.02. Access to Information; Confidentiality. Subject to compliance with applicable Law (including antitrust and competition Laws) and appropriate disclosure limitations to maintain attorney-client privilege, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and to Parent’s officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, consultants and other representatives and advisors full access upon reasonable advance notice and during normal business hours during the period prior to the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement to all their respective properties, assets, books, records, Contracts, Permits, documents, information, directors, officers and employees, and during such period the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, furnish to Parent any information concerning its business as Parent may reasonably request (including the work papers of Grant Thornton LLP). Following the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, Parent may (but shall not be required to), following reasonable notice to the Company, contact and interview any Company Personnel and review the personnel records and such other information concerning the Company Personnel as Parent may reasonably request, provided such review is permissible under applicable Law. No investigation by Parent or any of its officers, directors, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other advisors or representatives and no other receipt of information by Parent or any of its officers, directors, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other advisors or representatives shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or other provision of this Agreement, or the obligations of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under the Agreement. Except as required by any applicable Law or Judgment, Parent will hold, and will direct its officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and representatives to hold, any and all information received from the Company confidential in accordance with the Confidentiality Agreement. Any request for information or contact pursuant to this Section 5.02(a) shall be directed to (or in a manner approved by) an executive officer of the Company.

(a) Subject to applicable law, the Company and Parent shall, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, cooperate to ensure an orderly transition and integration process in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement in order to minimize the disruption to, and preserve the value of, the business of the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 5.03. Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Consultation and Notice. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the parties hereto agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions that are necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using its commercially reasonable efforts to accomplish the following: (i) the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Article VI, (ii) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents, approvals, orders and authorizations from, and the giving of any necessary notices to, Governmental Entities and other persons and the making of all necessary registrations, declarations and filings (including filings under the HSR Act and other registrations, declarations and filings with, or notices to, Governmental Entities, if any), (iii) the taking of all reasonable steps to provide any supplemental information requested by a Governmental Entity, including participating in meetings with officials of such entity in the course of its review of this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to avoid any suit, claim, action, investigation or proceeding by any Governmental Entity or third party and (v) the obtaining of all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from any third party. In connection with and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of the Company and its Board of Directors shall, if any state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation is or becomes applicable to this Agreement or any of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, take all actions necessary to ensure that the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to minimize the effect of such statute or regulation on this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Parent or Sub be obligated to, and the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not without the prior written consent of Parent, agree or proffer to divest or hold separate, or enter into any licensing, business restriction or similar arrangement with respect to,

 

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any assets (whether tangible or intangible) or any portion of any business of Parent, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall Parent or any of its Subsidiaries be obligated to litigate or participate in the litigation of any suit, claim, action, investigation or proceeding, whether judicial or administrative, brought by any Governmental Entity (A) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or seeking to obtain from Parent or any of its Subsidiaries any damages in relation therewith; (B) seeking to prohibit or limit in any respect, or place any conditions on, the ownership or operation by the Company, Parent or any of their respective affiliates of all or any portion of the business or assets or any product of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Parent or its Subsidiaries or to require any such person to dispose of, license (whether pursuant to an exclusive or nonexclusive license) or hold separate all or any portion of the business or assets or any product of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Parent or its Subsidiaries, in each case as a result of or in connection with the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (C) seeking to directly or indirectly impose limitations on the ability of Parent or any of its affiliates to acquire or hold, or exercise full rights of ownership of, any shares of Company Common Stock or any shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, including the right to vote Company Common Stock or the shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries on all matters properly presented to the stockholders of the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any of Parent’s Subsidiaries, respectively; or (D) seeking to (1) directly or indirectly prohibit Parent or any of its affiliates from effectively controlling in any respect any of the business or operations of the Company or its or Parent’s Subsidiaries or (2) directly or indirectly prevent the Company or its or Parent’s Subsidiaries from operating any of their respective businesses in substantially the same manner as operated by the Company and its or Parent’s Subsidiaries immediately prior to the date of this Agreement. The Company and Parent shall consult with each other in advance of, and reasonably consider each other’s views concerning, all material communications, whether written or oral, with a Governmental Entity regarding this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. Subject to the relevant Governmental Entity’s permission, each of Parent and the Company shall provide the other person advance notice of, and permit the other person to attend and participate in, all meetings, conferences and material communications with a Governmental Entity regarding this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. Parent shall timely pay all administrative filing fees associated with the filings, registrations, declarations, notices and other submissions required to be made in connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby under the HSR Act or any other Law relating to merger control or designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization, restraint of trade or substantial lessening of competition.

(a) In connection with the continuing operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, subject to applicable Law, the Company shall consult in good faith on a reasonably regular basis with Parent to report material, individually or in the aggregate, operational developments, the general status of relationships with customers, suppliers, Franchisees and resellers, the general status of ongoing operations and other matters reasonably requested by Parent pursuant to procedures reasonably requested by Parent; provided, however, that no such consultation shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or other provision in this Agreement, or the obligations of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

(i) Except as prohibited by applicable Law, the Company shall promptly notify Parent in writing of:

(A) the occurrence of any matter or event that has resulted or, if left uncured, would reasonably be expected to result, in any condition to the transactions contemplated hereby and set forth in Section 6.02 not being satisfied;

(B) any written notice or other communication from any person (other than a Governmental Entity) alleging that notice to or consent of such person is required in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

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otherwise materially adversely modifying its relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(D) any material written notice or other material communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and a copy of any such notice or communication shall be furnished to Parent, together with the Company’s written notice;

(E) any filing or notice made by the Company with any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and a copy of any such filing or notice shall be furnished to Parent together with the Company’s written notice; and

(F) any actions, suits, claims, investigations or proceedings commenced or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against, relating to or involving or otherwise affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, if pending on the date of this Agreement, would have been required to have been disclosed pursuant to Section 3.01(g) or that relate to the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

provided, however, that no such notification shall operate as a waiver or otherwise affect any representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or other provision in this Agreement, or the obligations of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

(ii) Parent shall give prompt notice to the Company of (A) any representation or warranty made by Parent or Sub contained in this Agreement becoming untrue or inaccurate such that the condition set forth in Section 6.03(a) could not be satisfied or (B) the failure of Parent or Sub to perform in any material respect any obligation to be performed by such party under this Agreement such that the condition set forth in Section 6.03(b) could not be satisfied; provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants, agreements or obligations of the parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement.

(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall give Parent the opportunity (at its own expense) to participate in the defense of any litigation against the Company and/or its directors relating to the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and will obtain the prior written consent of Parent prior to settling or satisfying any such claim, it being understood and agreed that this Section 5.03(c) shall not give Parent the right to direct such defense.

(c) Each of Parent and the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, to the extent requested by the other party and subject to compliance with applicable Law, to cooperate with and assist such party in (i) communicating or negotiating with the Franchisees of the parties in connection with the Merger and (ii) any litigation or threatened litigation involving Franchisees of the parties in connection with the Merger.

(d) Immediately following the execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the parties hereto, Parent, as the sole stockholder of Sub, will adopt this Agreement.

SECTION 5.04. Equity Awards. As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement and in any event prior to the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee administering the Company Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions (including obtaining any required consents) as may be required to effect the following:

(i) fully vest all Stock Options that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and adjust the terms of all such Stock Options as necessary to provide that, at the Effective Time, each Stock Option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, in accordance with any applicable Company Stock Plan or any applicable award agreement thereunder, be canceled and the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive in full satisfaction of the rights of such holder with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (A) the number of shares of Company Common Stock that are subject to such Stock Option immediately prior to the Effective Time and (B) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Stock Option, which amount shall be payable to such holder at or as soon as practicable following the Effective Time (excluding, in the case of

 

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the Specified Stockholders, the Per Share Escrow Amount). For the avoidance of doubt, all Stock Options with an exercise price equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration will be canceled at the Effective Time and the holders of such Stock Options will not have any right to receive any consideration in respect thereof; and

(ii) the Company shall ensure prior to the Effective Time that, following the Effective Time, there shall be no rights to acquire shares of Company Common Stock, Stock Options or any other interests in respect of any capital stock (including any phantom stock or stock appreciation rights) of the Company or the Surviving Corporation.

(b) All amounts payable pursuant to this Section 5.04 shall be subject to any required withholding of taxes and shall be paid without interest.

(c) The Company shall take all reasonable steps as may be required to cause the transactions contemplated by this Section 5.04 and any other dispositions of Company equity securities (including derivative securities) in connection with this Agreement by each individual who is a director or officer of the Company subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

SECTION 5.05. Employee Matters. For a period of one year after the Effective Time, Parent shall, and shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, (i) provide base cash compensation to the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Effective Time (the “Continuing Employees”) that is no less favorable than the base cash compensation in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (ii) (x) provide employee benefit plans and arrangements and paid time off accrual (including bonus and incentive opportunities (but excluding equity-based compensation) to Continuing Employees that are substantially comparable to those provided to similarly situated employees of Parent and (y) consider Continuing Employees for equity-based compensation grants at the same time and levels as similarly situated employees of Parent; provided, that (1) in no event shall any Continuing Employee be eligible to participate in any closed or frozen plan of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries; (2) Continuing Employees shall be eligible to participate in the Parent 401(k) Plan as soon as administratively feasible after the Closing Date; and (3) until such time as Parent shall cause the Continuing Employees to participate in the employee benefit plans and arrangements that are made available to similarly situated employees of Parent or its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), a Continuing Employee’s continued participation in the employee benefit plans and arrangements of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be deemed to satisfy the foregoing provisions of this sentence (it being understood that participation in the Parent plans and arrangements may commence at different times with respect to each Parent plan and arrangement). Nothing in this Section 5.05(a) is intended to or shall create any right in any employee, consultant or contractor of the Company to continued employment by or service to Parent, the Company, the Sub, or, in each case, any affiliate or Subsidiary thereof, or limit the ability of Parent, the Company, the Sub, or, in each case, any affiliate or Subsidiary thereof, to terminate the employment or service of any employee, consultant or contractor of the Company for any reason. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.05(a), Parent shall or shall cause its appropriate Subsidiary to honor the Continuing Employee’s accrued paid time off as of the Closing.

(a) To the extent that a Continuing Employee becomes eligible to participate in an employee benefit plan maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company or its Subsidiaries), Parent shall cause such employee benefit plan to (i) recognize the service of such Continuing Employee with the Company or its Subsidiaries (or their predecessor entities) for purposes of eligibility, participation, vesting and, except under defined benefit pension plans, benefit accrual under such employee benefit plan of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, to the same extent such service was recognized immediately prior to the Effective Time under a comparable Benefit Plan in which such Continuing Employee was eligible to participate immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided that such recognition of service (A) shall not operate to duplicate any benefits of a Continuing Employee with respect to the same period of service, and (B) shall not apply for purposes of any plan, program or arrangement under which similarly-situated employees of Parent and its Subsidiaries do not receive credit for prior service; and (ii) with respect to any health, dental, vision plan or other welfare plan of

 

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Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) (any such plan, a “Parent Welfare Plan”) in which any Continuing Employee is eligible to participate for the plan year in which such Continuing Employee is first eligible to participate, use its commercially reasonable efforts to (x) cause any pre-existing condition limitations or eligibility waiting periods under such Parent Welfare Plan or Subsidiary plan to be waived with respect to such Continuing Employee to the extent such limitation would have been waived or satisfied under the Benefit Plan in which such Continuing Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (y) recognize any health, dental or vision expenses incurred by such Continuing Employee in the year that includes the Closing Date (or, if later, the year in which such Continuing Employee is first eligible to participate) for purposes of any applicable deductible and annual out-of-pocket expense requirements under any such health, dental or vision plan of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

(b) The Company shall terminate the Teavana Corporation Retirement Savings Plan and any other Benefit Plan that is intended to constitute a qualified plan under Sections 401(a) and 401(k) of the Code (each such Benefit Plan, a “Company 401(k) Plan”) by board resolution effective no later than the day before the Closing Date (such date of termination, the “DC Termination Date”), unless Parent, in its sole and absolute discretion, agrees to sponsor and maintain (or to cause an affiliate of Parent, including the Company, to sponsor and maintain such plan by providing the Company with written notice of such election prior to the Closing Date. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall provide Parent with evidence reasonably satisfactory to Parent that each Company 401(k) Plan with respect to which Parent has not provided the notice specified in the immediately preceding sentence (i) has been terminated pursuant to resolutions of the Company’s board of directors (or other governing body), as applicable, effective not later than the day immediately preceding the Closing Date and (ii) has adopted and executed an amendment sufficient to ensure compliance with all applicable requirements of the Code and ERISA and any other applicable Law. The form and substance of such resolutions and amendment shall be subject to the prior review and approval of Parent, not to be unreasonably withheld. If the Company has terminated a Company 401(k) Plan as provided in this Section 5.05(c), Parent shall cause each Continuing Employee who was a participant in such Company 401(k) Plan and who has an account balance under such Company 401(k) Plan to be permitted to roll over his or her “eligible rollover distribution,” as defined under Section 402(c)(4) of the Code, in the form of cash and promissory notes relating to outstanding participant loans from such Company 401(k) Plan to the Parent 401(k) Plan, provided that, Parent or the proper fiduciaries of the Parent 401(k) Plan become reasonably satisfied, consistent with the regulations under Section 401(a)(31) of the Code and ERISA and any other applicable Law, that such terminated Company 401(k) Plan meets the requirements for qualification under Section 401(a) of the Code and the requirements of the Parent 401(k) Plan.

(c) This Section 5.05 shall be binding upon and shall inure solely to the benefit of each of the parties to this Agreement, and nothing in this Section 5.05, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other person (including for the avoidance of doubt any current or former directors, officers, employees, contractors or consultants of any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, or on or after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries) any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 5.05 or is intended to be, shall constitute or be construed as an amendment to or modification of any employee benefit plan, program, policy, agreement or arrangement of Parent, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any respective Subsidiary thereof.

SECTION 5.06. Indemnification, Exculpation and Insurance. Parent and Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time now existing in favor of the current or former directors or officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries as provided in their respective certificates of incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents) and any indemnification or other agreements of the Company as in effect on the date of this Agreement and set forth in Section 5.06 of the Company Letter (the “Scheduled Indemnity Agreements”) shall be assumed by the Surviving Corporation in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time, and shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to comply with and honor the foregoing obligations.

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certificates of incorporation, bylaws and other organizational documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries in effect as of the date of this Agreement concerning the indemnification and exculpation (including provisions relating to expense advancement) of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ current or former directors or officers, or provisions that are no less favorable to those persons than the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws and other organizational documents of the Company and its Subsidiaries in effect as of the date of this Agreement, and such provisions shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner adverse to such indemnified party, except as required by applicable Law or except to make such provisions more favorable to those persons.

(b) If the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other corporation or entity and is not the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of the consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any individual, corporation or other entity, then, and in each case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.06.

(c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall purchase a six year “tail” directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy effective for claims asserted for a six year period after the Effective Time covering each person currently covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy for acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time on terms that are no less favorable than those of such policy of the Company in effect on the date of this Agreement, which insurance shall, prior to the Closing, be in effect and prepaid for such entire six-year period; provided that the Company shall not pay aggregate premiums (with respect to the entire six-year period) for such policy in excess of 300% of the current annual premium paid by the Company for its existing coverage (the “Maximum Premium”). If such insurance coverage cannot be obtained at all, or can only be obtained at an aggregate premium in excess of the Maximum Premium, the Company will acquire the most advantageous policy obtainable for an aggregate premium equal to the Maximum Premium.

(d) The rights of each indemnified party hereunder shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other rights such indemnified party may have under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or any other organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, any Scheduled Indemnity Agreement, the DGCL or otherwise. The provisions of this Section 5.06 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and are expressly intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each of the indemnified parties and shall be binding on Parent, the Surviving Corporation and their respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 5.07. Fees and Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in this Section 5.07 and Section 5.03(a), all fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(a) In the event that (i) a Takeover Proposal has been made (whether or not conditional and whether or not withdrawn) to the Company or its stockholders or any person has announced an intention (whether or not conditional and whether or not withdrawn) to make a Takeover Proposal or a Takeover Proposal (whether or not conditional and whether or not withdrawn) otherwise becomes known to the Company or the stockholders of the Company and thereafter (A) this Agreement is terminated by either Parent or the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(b)(i) and (B) prior to the date that is 12 months after such termination, (1) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries enters into any Acquisition Agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal or (2) any Takeover Proposal is consummated (solely for purposes of this Section 5.07(b)(i)(B), the term “Takeover Proposal” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Takeover Proposal contained in Section 4.02(a) except that all references to 20% shall be deemed references to 50%), (ii) this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(c) or (iii) this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(f), then, in each such case, the Company shall pay Parent a fee equal to $18,400,000 (the “Termination Fee”) by wire transfer of same-day funds (x) in the case of a termination by Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(c), within two business days after such termination, (y) in the case of a termination by the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(f), no later than the time of such termination and (z) in the case of a payment as a result of any event referred to in Section 5.07(b)(i)(B), no later than the first to occur of the events referred to in clauses (1) and (2) above, in each case to an account designated by Parent.

 

 

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(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(c) or 7.01(g) or by the Company pursuant to Section 7.01(f), then, in each case, the Company shall pay Parent or its designees by wire transfer of same day funds, as promptly as possible (but in any event within two business days) following the delivery by Parent of an invoice therefor, all reasonably documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by Parent, Sub and their respective affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Parent Expenses”); provided that the Company shall not be required to pay more than an aggregate of $3,500,000 in fees and expenses pursuant to this Section 5.07(c).

(c) The Company acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 5.07 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that, without these agreements, Parent would not have entered into this Agreement. Accordingly, if the Company fails promptly to pay the amounts due pursuant to this Section 5.07 and, in order to obtain such payment, Parent commences a suit that results in a judgment against the Company for the amounts set forth in this Section 5.07, the Company shall pay to Parent its reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) in connection with such suit and any appeal relating thereto, together with interest on the amounts set forth in this Section 5.07 at the prime lending rate as published in the Wall Street Journal in effect on the date such payment was required to be made.

SECTION 5.08. Public Announcements. The parties agree that the initial press release to be issued with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in the form heretofore agreed to by the parties. Each of the Company and Parent shall consult with the other party before making, and give such party a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon, any press release or other public statements with respect to this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without such party’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as may be required by applicable Law, court process or by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities exchange or national securities quotation system.

SECTION 5.09. Resignation of Directors. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver to Parent evidence reasonably satisfactory to Parent of the resignation of all the directors of the Company and any Subsidiary of the Company, effective at the Effective Time.

SECTION 5.10. Sub Compliance. Parent shall cause Sub to comply with all of Sub’s obligations under this Agreement.

SECTION 5.11. Section 16 Compliance. The Board of Directors of the Company shall, prior to the Effective Time, take all such actions as may be necessary or appropriate pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d) and Rule 16b-3(e) under the Exchange Act to exempt from Section 16 of the Exchange Act the disposition of shares of Company Common Stock and “derivative securities” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(c) under the Exchange Act) with respect to shares of Company Common Stock by officers and directors of the Company subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

ARTICLE VI

Conditions Precedent

SECTION 6.01. Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) Stockholder Consent. The Company and Parent shall have received duly executed copies of the Stockholder Consent.

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applicable competition, merger control, antitrust or similar Law shall have been obtained or terminated or shall have expired.

(c) No Injunctions or Legal Restraints. No temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other Judgment issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition issued or enacted by a Governmental Entity (collectively, “Legal Restraints”) that has the effect of preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect.

(d) Information Statement. The Information Statement shall have been mailed to the Company’s stockholders in accordance with Section 5.01 at least 20 days prior to the Closing Date and the consummation of the Merger shall be permitted by Regulation 14C of the Exchange Act (including Rule 14c-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act).

SECTION 6.02. Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Sub. The obligations of Parent and Sub to effect the Merger are further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties.

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.01(a), (b), (c), (d) (with respect only to the first four sentences and clause (A) of the fifth sentence), (w), (x), (y) and (z) that are qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects (as so qualified), and the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 3.01(a), (b), (c), (d) (with respect only to the first four sentences and clause (A) of the fifth sentence), (w), (x), (y) and (z) that are not qualified as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date, except that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified date will be determined as of such date; provided, that the representations and warranties in Section 3.01(c)(i) relating to the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company shall be true and correct in all respects (other than de minimis exceptions or inaccuracies) as of the date of the Agreement and as of the Closing Date;

(ii) the representations and warranties of the Company (other than those covered by Section 6.02(a)(i)) shall be true and correct, without giving effect to any qualifications as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in each case as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date, except that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified date will be determined as of such date, other than any failures to be true and correct which, in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.

(c) Credit Agreement. The Company shall have provided Parent with a pay-off letter with respect to the Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of June 12, 2008, by and among the Company, Teavana Corporation, ST Acquisition Company, Teavana Franchising Corporation and Teavana International, Inc., as obligors, and Fifth Third Bank, as lender, reasonably satisfactory to Parent, which will become effective upon payment of the amount specified in such pay-off letter.

(d) No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect. Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company to such effect.

 

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SECTION 6.03. Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Parent and Sub contained herein that are qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct (as so qualified), and the representations and warranties of Parent and Sub contained herein that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date, except that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified date will be determined as of such date. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an authorized signatory of Parent to such effect.

(b) Performance of Obligations of Parent and Sub. Parent and Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent by an authorized signatory of Parent to such effect.

SECTION 6.04. Frustration of Closing Conditions. None of the Company, Parent or Sub may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such party’s failure to use commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as required by and subject to Section 5.03, or by such party’s breach of any other provision of this Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

Termination, Amendment and Waiver

SECTION 7.01. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated, and the Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned, at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after the Stockholder Approval has been obtained, upon written notice (other than in the case of Section 7.01(a) below) from the terminating party to the non-terminating party specifying the subsection of this Section 7.01 pursuant to which such termination is effected:

(a) by mutual written consent of Parent, Sub and the Company;

(b) by either Parent or the Company, if:

(i) the Merger shall not have been consummated by March 14, 2013 (the “Termination Date”) for any reason; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 7.01(b)(i) shall not be available to any party whose action or failure to act has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to act constitutes a breach of this Agreement; or

(ii) any Legal Restraint having the effect set forth in Section 6.01(c) shall be in effect and shall have become final and nonappealable;

(c) prior to receipt of the Stockholder Approval, by Parent, in the event the Company has delivered an Adverse Change Notice or an Adverse Recommendation Change has occurred;

(d) by Parent, if the Company shall have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.02(a) or 6.02(b) and (B) is incapable of being cured or is not cured by the Company by the date that is 30 business days after such breach or failure or, if capable of being cured by the Company by such date, the Company does not commence to cure such breach or failure within 10 business days after its receipt of written notice thereof from Parent and diligently pursue such cure thereafter;

 

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(e) by the Company, if Parent shall have breached any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform any of its covenants or other agreements contained in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition set forth in Section 6.03(a) or 6.03(b) and (ii) is incapable of being cured or is not cured by Parent or Sub by the date that is 30 business days after such breach or failure or, if capable of being cured by Parent or Sub by such date, Parent or Sub, as the case may be, does not commence to cure such breach or failure within 10 business days after its receipt of written notice thereof from the Company and diligently pursue such cure thereafter;

(f) prior to receipt of the Stockholder Approval, by the Company in accordance with Section 4.02(b) if the Company (i) executes a definitive agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal and (ii) pays to Parent the Termination Fee, in each case, substantially concurrent with the termination of this Agreement; or