As previously announced, on April 12, 2023, National Instruments Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the
“Merger Agreement”) with Emerson Electric Co., a Missouri corporation (“Parent”) and Emersub CXIV, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a preliminary proxy statement (the “Preliminary
Proxy Statement”) on May 11, 2023 and a definitive proxy statement (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”) on May 25, 2023.
Regulatory Approval
As disclosed in the Preliminary Proxy Statement, the Company and Parent made required filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended
(the “HSR Act”) on April 26, 2023. The waiting period under the HSR Act expired on May 26, 2023. The closing of the transaction remains subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders, the receipt of certain other regulatory approvals, and
the satisfaction or waiver of the other remaining closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Litigation Related to the Merger
As disclosed in the Definitive Proxy Statement, at that time, one complaint had been filed in federal court by a purported NI stockholder as an individual action, captioned
O’Dell v. National Instruments Corporation, et al., 1:23-cv-04189 (S.D.N.Y. May 19, 2023). Following
the filing of the Definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC, and as of June 22, 2023, three additional complaints have been filed by purported NI stockholders as individual actions, captioned as follows: Delman v. Cashman III, et al., D-1-GN-23-002902 (Tex. Dist. May 31, 2023); Cook
v. National Instruments Corporation, et al., 1:23-cv-04749 (S.D.N.Y. June 6, 2023); and McDaniel v. National Instruments Corporation, et al., 1:23-cv-00619 (D. Del. June 6, 2023) (together with the complaint filed prior to the filing of the Definitive Proxy Statement, the
“Complaints”). The Complaints generally allege that the Preliminary Proxy Statement and/or the Definitive Proxy Statement are misleading and misrepresent and/or omit certain purportedly material information in violation of applicable federal or
state law. The Complaints seek, among other things: to enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement unless and until the purportedly material information omitted from the Preliminary Proxy Statement or Definitive
Proxy Statement is disclosed; rescission or rescissory damages in the event the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are consummated; a declaration of violation of law and/or wrongdoing; an award of costs of the actions, including
attorneys’ and expert fees; and any other relief the court may deem just and proper.
In addition to the Complaints, as disclosed in the Definitive Proxy Statement, beginning on May 18, 2023, purported stockholders of the Company have sent demand letters
alleging similar deficiencies in the Preliminary Proxy Statement and/or the Definitive Proxy Statement as those asserted in the Complaints (the “Demands,” and together with the Complaints, the “Matters”).
The Company believes that the claims asserted in the Matters are without merit and supplemental disclosures are not required or necessary under applicable laws. However,
in order to avoid the risk that the Matters delay or otherwise adversely affect the Merger, and to minimize the costs, risks and uncertainties inherent in litigation, and without admitting any liability or wrongdoing, the Company has agreed to
supplement the Definitive Proxy Statement as described in this Current Report on Form 8-K. Nothing in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall be deemed an admission of the legal necessity or materiality under applicable laws of any of the disclosures
set forth herein. To the contrary, the Company specifically denies all allegations in the Matters that any additional disclosure was or is required.
Supplemental Disclosures
The additional disclosures in this Current Report on Form 8-K supplement the disclosures contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement and should be read in conjunction with
the disclosures contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement, which should be read in its entirety. To the extent that information set forth in the supplemental disclosures below differs from or updates information contained in the Definitive Proxy
Statement, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall supersede or supplement the information contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement. Page references in the below disclosures are to the Definitive Proxy Statement, and defined
terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement.
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Proposal 1: Adoption of the Merger Agreement—Background of the Merger” is hereby supplemented as
follows:
The underlined language is added to the sixth full paragraph on page 26 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
On November 10, 2022, the Board met, with representatives of Wachtell Lipton in attendance. Mr. McGrath proposed establishing, in the interests of
efficiency, an ad hoc committee of the Board, which would meet regularly to evaluate, with the input of senior management and the Board’s external legal and financial advisors, proposals as to extraordinary transactions made by third parties,
including Emerson, and other potential alternative extraordinary transactions and related strategic matters. The committee, which would consist of Mr. McGrath as Chair and James Cashman, III and Gayla Delly as members, would not have decision making
or veto authority, which authority would remain with the full Board. Following discussion, the Board unanimously approved resolutions establishing such a committee (the “Transaction
Evaluation Committee” or the “TEC”). The TEC members received compensation and expense reimbursement in connection with their service on the TEC.
The underlined language is added to the seventh paragraph on page 31 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
Between January 20, 2023 and February 9, 2023, NI executed confidentiality agreements with six parties, including Party A, Party B, and Party C. The
confidentiality agreements included standstill provisions, none of which standstill provisions remain in effect. The confidentiality agreements did not prohibit the counterparties from making a
confidential request to NI to amend or waive the standstill provisions, and each confidentiality agreement provided for, among other things, an exception that would permit the counterparty to make a confidential proposal to NI’s CEO or the Board
of Directors. The confidentiality agreements also provided that the standstill provisions would automatically terminate if any person entered into a definitive agreement with NI to acquire more than 50% of NI’s outstanding voting securities or
businesses or assets.
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Proposal 1: Adoption of the Merger Agreement—Opinion of BofA Securities, Inc.” is hereby
supplemented as follows:
The underlined columns are added to the following chart on page 44 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
Primary Selected Precedent Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transaction
Value
(in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
01/04/21
|
|
Teledyne Technologies Incorporated
|
|
FLIR Systems, Inc.
|
|
$
|
8,285
|
|
|
|
17.1x
|
|
|
|
17.4x
|
|
07/25/19
|
|
Advent International
|
|
Cobham plc
|
|
$
|
4,812
|
|
|
|
14.4x
|
|
|
|
13.2x
|
|
06/24/19
|
|
Nanometrics Incorporated
|
|
Rudolph Technologies, Inc.
|
|
$
|
713
|
|
|
|
15.8x
|
|
|
|
14.4x
|
|
03/19/18
|
|
KLA-Tencor Corporation
|
|
Orbotech Ltd.
|
|
$
|
3,517
|
|
|
|
17.7x
|
|
|
|
16.6x
|
|
01/30/17
|
|
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
|
|
Ixia
|
|
$
|
1,746
|
|
|
|
21.0x
|
|
|
|
15.9x
|
|
11/14/16
|
|
Siemens AG
|
|
Mentor Graphics Corporation
|
|
$
|
4,775
|
|
|
|
21.9x
|
|
|
|
16.5x
|
|
Other Selected Precedent Transactions
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transaction
Value
(in millions)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
02/28/22
|
|
Spectris plc
|
|
Oxford Instruments plc
|
|
$
|
2,400
|
|
|
|
33.4x
|
|
|
|
31.5x
|
|
10/11/21
|
|
Emerson Electric Co.
|
|
Aspen Technology, Inc.
|
|
$
|
10,851
|
|
|
|
26.7x
|
|
|
|
28.2x
|
|
09/30/21
|
|
Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P.
|
|
Brooks Automation, Inc., Semiconductor Solutions Group
|
|
$
|
3,000
|
|
|
|
20.5x
|
|
|
NA
|
|
06/25/21
|
|
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
|
|
Plex Systems, Inc.
|
|
$
|
2,220
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
NA
|
|
02/12/21
|
|
II-VI Incorporated
|
|
Coherent, Inc.
|
|
$
|
7,690
|
|
|
|
49.5x
|
|
|
|
28.4x
|
|
08/31/20
|
|
Emerson Electric Co.
|
|
Open Systems International, Inc.
|
|
$
|
1,600
|
|
|
|
28.0x
|
|
|
|
23.5x
|
|
08/25/20
|
|
AVEVA Group plc
|
|
OSIsoft, LLC
|
|
$
|
5,020
|
|
|
|
34.2x
|
|
|
|
29.6x
|
|
10/30/18
|
|
MKS Instruments Inc.
|
|
Electro Scientific Industries, Inc.
|
|
$
|
1,107
|
|
|
|
7.1x
|
|
|
|
8.8x
|
|
07/31/18
|
|
Fortive Corporation
|
|
Accruent
|
|
$
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
20.0x
|
|
|
|
17.4x
|
|
The underlined language is added to the second bullet point on page 45 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
• |
publicly available equity research analyst price targets then published by seven analysts for NI common stock available as of January 12,
2023, which had a price target range (discounted one year by a 9.9% cost of equity) of $39.12 to $47.31 per share; and
|
The underlined language is added to and the crossed-out language is deleted from the third full paragraph on page 46 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
NI has agreed to pay BofA Securities for its services in connection with the Merger an aggregate fee currently estimated to be approximately $51 million, a portion$3 million of which was payable in connection with its opinion and a significant portionthe remainder
of which is contingent upon the completion of the Merger.
The section of the Definitive Proxy Statement entitled “Proposal 1: Adoption of the Merger Agreement—Certain Financial Projections” is hereby
supplemented as follows:
The underlined rows and footnotes are added to the following chart on pages 47-48 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
The following table summarizes the June 2022 Projections, with dollars in millions, except per share values:
Fiscal Years
|
|
|
|
|
2022E
|
|
|
|
2023E
|
|
|
|
2024E
|
|
|
|
2025E
|
|
|
|
2026E
|
|
|
|
2027E
|
|
|
|
2028E
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
1,703
|
|
|
$
|
2,116
|
|
|
$
|
2,192
|
|
|
$
|
2,376
|
|
|
$
|
2,554
|
|
|
$
|
2,741
|
|
|
$
|
2,938
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
|
$
|
388
|
|
|
$
|
581
|
|
|
$
|
583
|
|
|
$
|
660
|
|
|
$
|
741
|
|
|
$
|
827
|
|
|
$
|
931
|
|
Depreciation & Amortization
|
|
$
|
55
|
|
|
$
|
65
|
|
|
$
|
70
|
|
|
$
|
76
|
|
|
$
|
82
|
|
|
$
|
88
|
|
|
$
|
94
|
|
Stock-Based Compensation
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
Adjusted EBIT(2)
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
437
|
|
|
$
|
434
|
|
|
$
|
505
|
|
|
$
|
579
|
|
|
$
|
660
|
|
|
$
|
758
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
79
|
|
|
$
|
78
|
|
|
$
|
91
|
|
|
$
|
104
|
|
|
$
|
119
|
|
|
$
|
136
|
|
Tax-Effected EBIT(3)
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
358
|
|
|
$
|
356
|
|
|
$
|
414
|
|
|
$
|
475
|
|
|
$
|
542
|
|
|
$
|
621
|
|
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(24)
|
|
$
|
2.05
|
|
|
$
|
3.17
|
|
|
$
|
3.15
|
|
|
$
|
3.59
|
|
|
$
|
4.05
|
|
|
$
|
4.55
|
|
|
$
|
5.14
|
|
Unlevered Free Cash Flow(35)
|
|
$
|
92
|
|
|
$
|
399
|
|
|
$
|
399
|
|
|
$
|
461
|
|
|
$
|
526
|
|
|
$
|
596
|
|
|
$
|
679
|
|
(1) Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of
intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(2) Adjusted EBIT represents earnings before interest and taxes less stock-based compensation expense, excluding amortization of intangibles, restructuring costs, and
other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(3) Tax-Effected EBIT represents earnings before interest and taxes less estimated tax expense and stock-based compensation expense, excluding amortization of
intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(24) Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share represents earnings per share, calculated as net
income, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and /or a non-operational nature, divided by weighted average diluted shares
outstanding, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(35) Unlevered Free Cash Flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less stock-based compensation
expense, capital expenditures, changes in net working capital, restructuring costs and taxes (on an unlevered basis), and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(6) The June 2022 Projections did not include Adjusted EBIT, Taxes, or Tax-Effected EBIT for fiscal year 2022E.
The underlined rows and footnotes are added to the following chart on page 48 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
The following table summarizes the December 2022 Projections, with dollars in millions, except per share values:
Fiscal Years
|
|
|
|
|
2022E
|
|
|
|
2023E
|
|
|
|
2024E
|
|
|
|
2025E
|
|
|
|
2026E
|
|
|
|
2027E
|
|
|
|
2028E
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
1,660
|
|
|
$
|
2,003
|
|
|
$
|
2,143
|
|
|
$
|
2,329
|
|
|
$
|
2,504
|
|
|
$
|
2,691
|
|
|
$
|
2,893
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
|
$
|
356
|
|
|
$
|
607
|
|
|
$
|
665
|
|
|
$
|
756
|
|
|
$
|
822
|
|
|
$
|
893
|
|
|
$
|
980
|
|
Depreciation & Amortization
|
|
$
|
40
|
|
|
$
|
41
|
|
|
$
|
41
|
|
|
$
|
40
|
|
|
$
|
39
|
|
|
$
|
39
|
|
|
$
|
47
|
|
Stock-Based Compensation
|
|
$
|
81
|
|
|
$
|
76
|
|
|
$
|
73
|
|
|
$
|
79
|
|
|
$
|
85
|
|
|
$
|
92
|
|
|
$
|
98
|
|
Adjusted EBIT(2)
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
491
|
|
|
$
|
552
|
|
|
$
|
637
|
|
|
$
|
697
|
|
|
$
|
763
|
|
|
$
|
835
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
97
|
|
|
$
|
106
|
|
|
$
|
122
|
|
|
$
|
133
|
|
|
$
|
145
|
|
|
$
|
159
|
|
Tax-Effected EBIT(3)
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
394
|
|
|
$
|
446
|
|
|
$
|
515
|
|
|
$
|
564
|
|
|
$
|
618
|
|
|
$
|
676
|
|
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(24)
|
|
$
|
1.91
|
|
|
$
|
3.46
|
|
|
$
|
3.87
|
|
|
$
|
4.48
|
|
|
$
|
4.90
|
|
|
$
|
5.35
|
|
|
$
|
5.84
|
|
Unlevered Free Cash Flow(35)
|
|
$
|
50
|
|
|
$
|
404
|
|
|
$
|
471
|
|
|
$
|
541
|
|
|
$
|
559
|
|
|
$
|
621
|
|
|
$
|
690
|
|
(1) Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of
intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(2) Adjusted EBIT represents earnings before interest and taxes less stock-based compensation expense, excluding amortization of intangibles, restructuring costs, and
other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(3) Tax-Effected EBIT represents earnings before interest and taxes less estimated tax expense and stock-based compensation expense, excluding amortization of
intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(24) Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share represents earnings per share, calculated as net
income, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and /or a non-operational nature, divided by weighted average diluted shares
outstanding, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(35) Unlevered Free Cash Flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less stock-based compensation
expense, capital expenditures, changes in net working capital, restructuring costs and taxes (on an unlevered basis), and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(6) The December 2022 Projections did not include Adjusted EBIT, Taxes, or Tax-Effected EBIT for fiscal year 2022E.
The underlined rows and footnotes are added to the following chart on pages 48-49 of the Definitive Proxy Statement:
The following table summarizes the February 2023 Projections, with dollars in millions, except per share values:
Fiscal Years
|
|
|
|
|
2023E
|
|
|
|
2024E
|
|
|
|
2025E
|
|
|
|
2026E
|
|
|
|
2027E
|
|
|
|
2028E
|
|
Revenue
|
|
$
|
2,003
|
|
|
$
|
2,143
|
|
|
$
|
2,329
|
|
|
$
|
2,504
|
|
|
$
|
2,691
|
|
|
$
|
2,893
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA(1)
|
|
$
|
609
|
|
|
$
|
670
|
|
|
$
|
763
|
|
|
$
|
833
|
|
|
$
|
909
|
|
|
$
|
991
|
|
Depreciation & Amortization
|
|
$
|
42
|
|
|
$
|
46
|
|
|
$
|
48
|
|
|
$
|
50
|
|
|
$
|
52
|
|
|
$
|
49
|
|
Stock-Based Compensation
|
|
$
|
76
|
|
|
$
|
73
|
|
|
$
|
79
|
|
|
$
|
85
|
|
|
$
|
92
|
|
|
$
|
98
|
|
Adjusted EBIT(2)
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
551
|
|
|
$
|
636
|
|
|
$
|
698
|
|
|
$
|
765
|
|
|
$
|
844
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
102
|
|
|
$
|
118
|
|
|
$
|
129
|
|
|
$
|
142
|
|
|
$
|
156
|
|
Tax-Effected EBIT(3)
|
|
|
|
(6)
|
|
$
|
449
|
|
|
$
|
518
|
|
|
$
|
569
|
|
|
$
|
623
|
|
|
$
|
688
|
|
Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share(24)
|
|
$
|
3.30
|
|
|
$
|
3.82
|
|
|
$
|
4.40
|
|
|
$
|
4.90
|
|
|
$
|
5.35
|
|
|
$
|
5.84
|
|
Unlevered Free Cash Flow(35)
|
|
$
|
422
|
|
|
$
|
472
|
|
|
$
|
522
|
|
|
$
|
564
|
|
|
$
|
609
|
|
|
$
|
648
|
|
(1) Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of
intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(2) Adjusted EBIT represents earnings before interest and taxes less stock-based compensation expense, excluding amortization of intangibles, restructuring costs, and
other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(3) Tax-Effected EBIT represents earnings before interest and taxes less estimated tax expense and stock-based compensation expense, excluding amortization of
intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and/or non-operational nature, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(24) Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share represents earnings per share, calculated as net
income, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangibles, restructuring costs, and other significant items of a non-recurring and /or a non-operational nature, divided by weighted average diluted shares
outstanding, and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(35) Unlevered Free Cash Flow is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less stock-based compensation
expense, capital expenditures, changes in net working capital, restructuring costs and taxes (on an unlevered basis), and is a non-GAAP financial measure.
(6) The February 2023 Projections did not include Adjusted EBIT, Taxes, or Tax-Effected EBIT for fiscal year 2023E.
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication relates to the proposed transaction involving National Instruments Corporation (“NI”). In connection with the proposed transaction, NI
has filed relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including NI’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on May 25, 2023 (the “Definitive Proxy Statement”). This communication is not a substitute
for the Definitive Proxy Statement or for any other document that NI may file with the SEC and send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. The proposed transaction will be submitted to NI’s stockholders for their
consideration. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, NI’S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS,
WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
NI’s stockholders will be able to obtain a free copy of the Definitive Proxy Statement, as well as other filings containing information about NI, without
charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Copies of the Definitive Proxy Statement and the filings with the SEC incorporated by reference therein can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to National Instruments Corporation,
11500 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, Texas 78759, Attention: Investor Relations; telephone (512) 683-5215, or from NI’s website www.ni.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
NI and certain of its directors, executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the
proposed transaction. Information regarding NI’s directors and executive officers is available in NI’s proxy statement for the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on March 27, 2023. Other information regarding the
participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the Definitive Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in connection
with the proposed transaction when they become available. Free copies of the Definitive Proxy Statement and such other materials may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of
the Exchange Act that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements include those set forth above relating to the proposed transaction as well as those that may be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “plan,” “may,” “could,”
“will,” “intend to,” “project,” “predict,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “seek to,” “strive to,” “endeavor to,” “are committed to,” “remain committed to,” “focus on,” “are encouraged by,” “remain cautious,” “remain optimistic” or “estimate”; statements
of “goals,” “initiatives,” “commitments,” “strategy”, “focus” or “visions”; or other variations thereof or comparable terminology or the negative thereof. All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections of future
events. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the
forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors
which could affect our future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation: the global shortage
of key components; effect of the global economic and geopolitical conditions; our international operations and foreign economies; adverse public health matters, including epidemics and pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic; our ability to
effectively manage our partners and distribution channels; interruptions in our technology systems or cyber-attacks on our systems; the dependency of our product revenue on certain industries and the risk of contractions in such industries;
concentration of credit risk and uncertain conditions in the global financial markets; our ability to compete in markets that are highly competitive; our ability to release successful new products or achieve expected returns; the risk that our
manufacturing capacity and a substantial majority of our warehousing and distribution capacity are located outside of the U.S.; our dependence on key suppliers and distributors; longer delivery lead times from our suppliers; risk of product
liability claims; dependence on our proprietary rights and risks of intellectual property litigation; the continued service of key management, technical personnel and operational employees; our ability to comply with environmental laws and
associated costs; our ability to maintain our website; the risks of bugs, vulnerabilities, errors or design flaws in our products; our restructuring activities; our exposure to large orders; our shift to more system orders; our ability to
effectively manage our operating expenses and meet budget; fluctuations in our financial results due to factors outside of our control; our outstanding debt; the interest rate risk associated with our variable rate indebtedness; seasonal variation
in our revenues; our ability to comply with laws and regulations; changes in tax rates and exposure to additional tax liabilities; our ability to make certain acquisitions or dispositions, integrate the companies we acquire or separate the
companies we sold and/or enter into strategic relationships; risks related to currency fluctuations; provisions in charter documents and Delaware law that delay or prevent our acquisition; the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any
required governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction that could cause the parties to terminate the merger agreement; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the
merger agreement entered into pursuant to the proposed transaction; the possibility that our stockholders may not approve the proposed transaction; the risk that the parties to the merger agreement may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the
proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have
adverse effects on the market price of our common stock; the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction; the risk that the proposed transaction
and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of the company to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, stockholders and other business relationships and
on its operating results and business generally; and the risk the pending proposed transaction could distract management of the company. The company directs readers to its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and the other documents it
files with the SEC for other risks associated with the company’s future performance. These documents contain and identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking
statements. All information in this communication is as of the date above. The company undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the company’s expectations.