☐ | Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |
☐ | Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |
Subject Company Information |
Identity and Background of Filing Person |
Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements |
• | against any Alternative Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or any other action, agreement or transaction involving SigmaTron that is intended, or would reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone or prevent the consummation of the Offer or the Merger, including (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation or other business combination involving SigmaTron (other than the Merger), (ii) any sale, exclusive license or transfer of a material amount of assets or any reorganization, recapitalization or liquidation or (iii) any change in the capitalization of SigmaTron or amendment to SigmaTron’s governing documents; |
• | against any change in membership of the Board that is not recommended or approved by the Board; |
• | against any other proposed action, agreement or transaction involving SigmaTron that would reasonably be expected to impede, interfere with, delay, postpone, adversely affect or prevent the consummation of the Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or any other transaction document; and |
• | against any other proposed action that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of SigmaTron contained in the Merger Agreement, or of the Supporting Stockholder contained in the applicable Support Agreement. |
Name | Position | ||
Gary R. Fairhead | Chief Executive Officer | ||
John P. Sheehan | President | ||
Frank Cesario | Chief Financial Officer, Vice President of Finance, Treasurer and Secretary | ||
Hom-Ming Chang | Vice President, China Operations | ||
Name of Executive Officer or Non-Employee Director | Shares Owned (#) | Total Cash Consideration for Shares ($) | ||||
Executive Officers | ||||||
Gary R. Fairhead | 103,303 | 311,975 | ||||
John P. Sheehan | 36,566 | 110,429 | ||||
Frank Cesario | 30,000(1) | 90,600(1) | ||||
Hom-Ming Chang | — | — | ||||
Non-Employee Directors | ||||||
Thomas W. Rieck | 42,000 | 126,840 | ||||
Bruce J. Mantia | 36,500 | 110,230 | ||||
Dilip S. Vyas | 32,000 | 96,640 | ||||
Paul J. Plante | 32,000 | 96,640 | ||||
(1) | Represents Shares issuable upon the exercise of currently exercisable In-the-Money Options. Total cash consideration for such Shares assumes such In-the-Money Options are exercised prior to the Effective Time. |
• | each Company Option that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, with an exercise price per Share that is less than the Offer Consideration (each, an “In-the-Money Option”) will automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof or SigmaTron, be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (without interest and less applicable tax withholdings) an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the total number of Shares underlying such In-the-Money Option multiplied by (y) the excess of the amount of the Offer Consideration over the applicable exercise price per Share of such In-the-Money Option; and |
• | each Company Option other than an In-the-Money Option which is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof or SigmaTron, be cancelled with no consideration payable therefor. |
Name of Executive Officer or Non-Employee Director | Number of Shares Underlying In-the- Money Options (#) | Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share of In-the- Money Options ($) | Total Cash Consideration for In-the-Money Options ($) | ||||||
Executive Officers | |||||||||
Gary R. Fairhead | — | — | — | ||||||
John P. Sheehan | — | — | — | ||||||
Frank Cesario | 30,000 | 2.93 | 2,700 | ||||||
Hom-Ming Chang | — | — | — | ||||||
Directors | |||||||||
Thomas W. Rieck | — | — | — | ||||||
Bruce J. Mantia | — | — | — | ||||||
Dilip S. Vyas | — | — | — | ||||||
Paul J. Plante | — | — | — | ||||||
• | each outstanding Company Warrant with an exercise price that is less than the amount of the Offer Consideration will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive (without interest) an amount in cash equal to the product of (x) the total number of Shares underlying such Company Warrant multiplied by (y) the excess of the amount of the Offer Consideration over the applicable exercise price per Share of such Company Warrant; and |
• | each Company Warrant, in lieu of Shares immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of such Company Warrant, shall be entitled only to receive such cash amount in respect of such Company Warrant and shall have no other rights pursuant to such holder’s ownership of such Company Warrant; provided, that any such Company Warrant with an exercise price per Share that is equal to or greater than the Offer Consideration shall, automatically and without any required action on the part of the holder thereof or SigmaTron, be cancelled with no consideration payable therefor. |
Name | Cash Severance ($) | ||
Frank Cesario | —(1) | ||
Hom-Ming Chang | 771,164 | ||
(1) | Mr. Cesario is not a participant under the CIC Plan. |
• | for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to SigmaTron or its stockholders; |
• | for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; |
• | for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, as provided under Section 174 of the DGCL; or |
• | for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. |
The Solicitation or Recommendation |
• | Transom’s updated proposal was based on an enterprise value of the Company of approximately $91.0 million (the “Updated Transom Proposal”). The Updated Transom Proposal represented an equity value of approximately $19.7 million and an implied purchase price of $3.22 per share (calculated based on the Fully Diluted Shares). The Updated Transom Proposal stated that it remained subject to completion of due diligence, including a quality of earnings analysis. The Updated Transom Proposal contained an updated memorandum prepared by K&E, which contained Transom’s revised comments on the auction draft of the Merger Agreement. Among other things, Transom’s comments contemplated that the Company would pay Transom a termination fee equal to 3.3% of the Company’s equity value at the time of signing in the event the Merger Agreement was terminated in certain circumstances. The comments also indicated that Transom was prepared to accept the two-step tender offer/back-end merger structure proposed by the Company. The Updated Transom Proposal requested an exclusivity period of 30 days to complete due diligence and negotiate a definitive Merger Agreement and included a draft exclusivity agreement. |
• | Party B’s updated proposal was based on an equity value of approximately $12.0 million, subject to completion of due diligence (the “Updated Party B Proposal”). The Updated Party B Proposal represented an implied purchase price of $1.96 per share (as calculated by the Company based on the Fully Diluted Shares). The Updated Party B Proposal assumed, among other things, (i) $55.5 million to pay off all of the Company’s existing secured debt held by JPM and TCW and (ii) $5.0 million of seller transaction fees and expenses. The Updated Party B Proposal contained an updated memorandum prepared by Party B’s counsel, which contained Party B’s comments on the auction draft of the Merger Agreement. Among other things, Party B’s comments contemplated that the Company would pay Party B (i) a termination fee equal to $300,000 in the event the Merger Agreement was terminated in certain circumstances and (ii) expense reimbursement of up to $3.0 million, if the Company entered into a refinancing transaction with a third party. The Updated Party B Proposal requested an exclusivity period of 30 days to complete due diligence and negotiate a definitive Merger Agreement and included a draft exclusivity agreement. |
• | Transom’s updated proposal was based on an enterprise value of approximately $97.0 million, subject to due diligence (the “Transom March 28 Proposal”). The Transom March 28 Proposal represented an equity value of approximately $25.7 million and implied purchase price of $4.20 per share (calculated based on the Fully Diluted Shares). |
• | Party B’s updated proposal was based on an equity value of approximately $25.1 million, subject to due diligence (the “Party B March 28 Proposal”). The Party B March 28 Proposal represented an implied purchase price of $4.27 per share (as calculated by the Company based on the Fully Diluted Shares). |
• | Fair Price. After conducting a market check, the Board concluded that the Offer Consideration represented a fair valuation for SigmaTron, while representing a significant and certain premium over the market price of the Shares: (i) a premium of 134% to SigmaTron’s closing price of $1.29 per share on May 20, 2025, which was the trading day prior to SigmaTron’s announcement of the Transactions and (ii) representing a total enterprise value of approximately $83 million. |
• | Lack of Superior Alternatives. The Board considered the results of SigmaTron’s strategic alternatives review process announced in September 2024 that it undertook with the assistance of its advisor Lincoln, which included, in addition to a possible sale of SigmaTron, the following: |
○ | a review of other strategic alternatives, including the possibility of continuing to operate SigmaTron as an independent public company, a sale or divestiture of one or more of SigmaTron’s divisions or assets in one or more separate transactions or in connection with the sale of the remaining Company; |
○ | the fact that SigmaTron’s efforts to refinance its existing secured debt, which SigmaTron was exploring as part of its strategic alternatives review, failed to secure a financing commitment for an amount that would be sufficient to repay SigmaTron’s existing secured debt in full while leaving the Company with sufficient working capital to continue operations; |
○ | an assessment of the difficulty of selling certain of SigmaTron’s divisions or assets from the remainder of SigmaTron’s business, including (i) challenges finding viable buyers for such divisions or assets, (ii) challenges resulting from SigmaTron’s current high level of indebtedness and the covenants required by lenders under the terms of such indebtedness, (iii) the prospect that the terms required by a buyer in a divestiture transaction could negatively impact the value or attractiveness of the remaining Company to potential acquirors, and (iv) the complexity of completing one or more divestitures; |
○ | the fact that SigmaTron publicly announced on September 3, 2024 that it was considering strategic alternatives and has publicly maintained that position since that time, thereby affording any potentially interested party the opportunity to propose a transaction with SigmaTron, that SigmaTron and Lincoln actively solicited approximately 60 potential counterparties for a transaction with SigmaTron, and that only three parties (including Transom and Party A following the execution of the Merger Agreement) submitted a proposal to acquire the Company, none of which resulted in proposals that the Board believed were reasonably likely to create greater value for the Company’s stockholders than the Offer and the Merger; |
○ | a review of the range of possible benefits to SigmaTron’s stockholders of the various strategic alternatives and the timing and the costs, risks and likelihood of accomplishing the goals of any of these alternatives; and |
○ | an assessment by the Board that none of the strategic alternatives was reasonably likely to present superior opportunities for SigmaTron, or reasonably likely to create greater value for the SigmaTron stockholders, than the Offer and the Merger. |
• | Significant Indebtedness and Financial Condition. SigmaTron’s significant level of indebtedness, combined with its limited ability to reduce debt through free cash flows, significantly contributed to |
• | Potentially Limited Period of Opportunity. The Board’s belief that prolonging the strategic review process could have resulted in the loss of the opportunity to consummate a transaction on terms as favorable as those in the Merger Agreement and the Offer, including the aggregate value represented by the Offer Consideration. Additionally, due to the deadlines imposed in SigmaTron’s credit agreements to pay the debt obligations in full no later than September 30, 2025, further delay could have resulted in a sale transaction not occurring prior to such date, in which case there was a substantial likelihood that the Company’s secured lenders would exercise remedies under the credit agreements, which could include foreclosure. The exercise of such remedies by the Company’s secured lenders in such circumstances could have material adverse impacts on SigmaTron (including its ability to consummate a transaction). |
• | Speed of Consummation. The fact that the Transactions are structured as a two-step transaction under Section 251(h) of the DGCL, resulting in a higher likelihood of SigmaTron’s stockholders receiving the Offer Consideration pursuant to the Offer in a relatively short time frame, followed promptly by the Merger in which SigmaTron’s stockholders who do not tender in the Offer will receive the same consideration per share as is paid in the Offer. Such relatively short timeframe is expected to reduce execution risk and potential disruption to SigmaTron’s business pending the closing of the Merger. |
• | High Likelihood of Closing. The Board’s belief that the likelihood of completing the Transactions is high, particularly in light of the terms of the Merger Agreement, including (i) the conditions to the Offer and the Merger being specific and limited, (ii) the expectation that the Transactions will be completed without any regulatory filings or investigations, (iii) the exceptions contained within the “material adverse effect” definition, which generally defines the standard for closing risk and (iv) the size and financial strength of Transom, and Parent’s ability to fund the Offer Consideration with cash. |
• | Lincoln Analysis and Fairness Opinion. The opinion of Lincoln rendered to the Board, at the request of the Board, on May 20, 2025, which was subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated May 20, 2025 that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the qualifications, procedures, limitations, assumptions and other matters considered by Lincoln in connection with the preparation of its opinion, the Offer Consideration to be received by the holders of Shares (other than the Excluded Shares) in the Transactions was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders, as more fully described below under the caption “—Opinion of Lincoln International LLC”. |
• | Successful Negotiations with Transom. The terms of the Merger Agreement, which were the product of arms’-length negotiations, and the Board’s belief that the Offer and subsequent Merger provided significant value for SigmaTron’s stockholders. The factors considered include: |
○ | The Board’s ability, under certain circumstances, to withdraw or modify its recommendation that SigmaTron stockholders tender their Shares pursuant to the Offer. |
○ | SigmaTron’s ability, under certain circumstances, to terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement. In that regard, the Board believed that the termination fee of $756,500 payable by SigmaTron in such instance was reasonable, consistent with or below similar fees payable in comparable transactions, and not preclusive of other offers. |
○ | The limited conditions to Parent’s and Purchaser’s obligations to consummate the Transactions, making the Transactions reasonably likely to be consummated. |
○ | The fact that Transom has delivered to SigmaTron an equity commitment letter for the entire amount of consideration payable to SigmaTron’s stockholders pursuant to the Offer and the Merger, and therefore, the consummation of the Transactions not being subject to any financing contingencies. |
○ | SigmaTron’s ability, under certain circumstances and upon written request to Purchaser, to extend the Offer beyond the initial expiration date of the Offer or, if applicable, subsequent expiration dates. |
• | Opportunity to Accept a Superior Proposal. The fact that the terms of the Merger Agreement permit SigmaTron to respond to unsolicited proposals in certain circumstances, and that the Merger Agreement permits the Board in certain circumstances to terminate the Merger Agreement in order to enter into a definitive agreement with respect to an unsolicited superior proposal, subject to the payment of a termination fee of $756,500, which amount the Board believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and unlikely to serve as a meaningful deterrent to other acquisition proposals. |
• | Offer Acceptance by Stockholders. The fact that closing of the Offer would be subject to tenders of Shares by holders that would constitute a majority of the Shares. |
• | Tender and Support Agreements. The fact that the Supporting Stockholders, who collectively held approximately 2.29% of the outstanding Shares as of May 19, 2025, had entered into the Support Agreements with Parent and Purchaser and agreed to support the Transactions and tender their Shares in the Offer. |
• | Appraisal Rights. The fact that stockholders who do not believe that the Offer Consideration represents fair consideration for their Shares will have an opportunity to pursue appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL. |
• | Opportunity Costs. The fact that SigmaTron will no longer exist as an independent public company, and SigmaTron’s stockholders will forgo any potential increase in its value above the amount of the Offer Consideration, without interest and subject to reduction for any applicable withholding of taxes, that might result from SigmaTron’s possible growth. |
• | Dilutive Effect of Warrants. The dilutive impact of SigmaTron’s obligation to issue to one of its lenders warrants to purchase shares of SigmaTron’s common stock in the aggregate amount representing up to 17.5% of SigmaTron’s outstanding common stock (on a fully diluted basis), in the event certain leverage ratios and financial covenants under the terms of its credit agreement are not met, with warrants issued as of May 20, 2025, the date the Board approved the Merger Agreement, representing approximately 12.5% of SigmaTron’s outstanding common stock (on a fully diluted basis), which amount subsequently increased to 15.0% (on a fully diluted basis) as of June 1, 2025. |
• | Potential Negative Impact on SigmaTron’s Business. The possible negative effect of the Offer and the Merger and public announcement of the Offer and the Merger on SigmaTron’s operations and SigmaTron’s relationships with customers, suppliers, business partners and employees. |
• | Prohibition Against Solicitations. The fact that the Merger Agreement precludes SigmaTron from soliciting competing acquisition proposals and obligates SigmaTron to pay Transom a termination fee equal to $756,500 under specified circumstances, which could discourage the making of a competing acquisition proposal or adversely impact the price offered in such a proposal. |
• | Business Operation Restrictions. The fact that the Merger Agreement imposes customary restrictions on the conduct of SigmaTron’s business in the pre-closing period, which may adversely affect SigmaTron by delaying or preventing SigmaTron from pursuing non-ordinary course opportunities that may arise. |
• | Closing Conditions. The fact that the completion of the Offer and the Merger requires the satisfaction of closing conditions that are not fully within SigmaTron’s control. |
• | Effect of Failure to Consummate Transactions. The possibility that the Transactions might not be consummated, and if they are not consummated, that: (1) SigmaTron’s directors, management and other employees will have expended extensive time and effort and will have experienced significant distractions from their work during the pendency of the Transactions; (2) SigmaTron will have incurred significant transaction and other costs; (3) SigmaTron’s continuing business relationships with customers, suppliers and employees may be adversely affected; (4) the trading price of the Shares could be adversely affected; (5) the other contractual and legal remedies available to SigmaTron in the event of termination of the Merger Agreement may be insufficient, costly to pursue or both; (6) that there may be a potential adverse market perception of SigmaTron’s prospects; and (7) the termination fee of $756,500 may become payable by SigmaTron to Transom upon termination of the Merger Agreement under specified circumstances. |
• | Taxable Consideration. The expectation that the receipt of the Offer Consideration in exchange for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the Merger, as applicable, will generally be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
• | Litigation Risk. The inherent risk of litigation in relation to the sale of SigmaTron, including potential stockholder litigation in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Offer and the Merger. |
• | Transaction Expenses. The substantial transaction expenses to be incurred in connection with the Transactions and the negative impact of such expenses on SigmaTron’s cash reserves and operating results should the Offer and the Merger not be completed. |
Fiscal year ended April 30, | ||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2025E | 2026E | ||||
Total Revenue | $305.7 | $372.8 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $10.5 | $23.6 | ||||
Capital Expenditures | $(3.5) | $(4.2) | ||||
Change in Net Working Capital | $(8.2) | $0.7 | ||||
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is defined as the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets, as adjusted for non-cash and non-recurring items, including, for 2025E, the sale and leaseback transaction with respect to the Company’s Elk Grove Village, Illinois headquarters. Adjusted EBITDA is not adjusted for approximately $1.9 million of projected public company costs and is calculated on a standalone basis without giving effect to the Transactions (including the Offer and the Merger). |
Fiscal year ended April 30, | ||||||
(Dollars in millions) | 2025E | 2026E | ||||
Total Revenue | $307.8 | $372.3 | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA(1) | $9.8 | $26.6 | ||||
Capital Expenditures | $(1.2) | $(4.2) | ||||
Change in Net Working Capital | $(15.8) | $12.7 | ||||
(1) | Adjusted EBITDA is defined as the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of intangible assets, as adjusted for non-cash and non-recurring items, including, for 2025E, the sale and leaseback transaction with respect to the Company’s Elk Grove Village, Illinois headquarters. Adjusted EBITDA is not adjusted for projected public company costs or costs of directors and related services and is calculated on a standalone basis without giving effect to the Transactions (including the Offer and the Merger). |
• | Reviewed the following documents: |
○ | Certain publicly available business and financial information relating to the Company (including audited financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements) that Lincoln deemed to be relevant, including the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on March 14, 2025 and the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 3, 2024; |
○ | Internal unaudited interim financial statements for the eleven-month periods ended March 31, 2023, March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025; |
○ | The budget and financial projections for the Company for the years ending April 30, 2025 through April 30, 2026, provided to Lincoln by management of the Company (the “Management Projections”); |
○ | The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 18, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and among the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, as lender; |
○ | The Credit Agreement dated as of July 18, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and among the Company, the financial institutions identified therein (the “TCW Lenders”) and TCW Asset Management Company LLC, as administrative agent for the TCW Lenders; |
○ | The equity capitalization of the Company as of May 20, 2025 provided to Lincoln by management of the Company; |
○ | Correspondence, dated May 15, 2025, addressed to Lincoln by management of the Company which contains, among other things, representations regarding the accuracy of the information, data and other materials (financial or otherwise) provided to, or discussed with, Lincoln by or on behalf of the Company in connection with Lincoln’s review of the Transaction; |
○ | The Confidential Information Presentation dated December 2024; |
○ | Draft Merger Agreement; and |
○ | Other documents relating to the history, past and current operations, financial conditions, and probable future outlook of the Company provided to Lincoln by management of the Company; |
• | Discussed the terms and circumstances surrounding the Transactions with management of the Company; |
• | Met with management of the Company virtually and discussed the business, financial outlook and prospects of the Company; |
• | Reviewed certain financial, stock trading and other information for the Company, and compared that data and information with certain stock trading, financial and corresponding data and information for companies with publicly traded securities that Lincoln deemed relevant, none of which is directly comparable to the Company; |
• | Reviewed certain financial, stock trading and other information for the Company and the Transaction, and compared that data and information with certain financial, stock trading and corresponding data and information for companies that have been subject to change of control M&A transactions that Lincoln deemed relevant, none of which is directly comparable to the Company and the Transactions; |
• | Performed certain valuation and comparative financial analyses including a discounted cash flow analysis, an analysis of selected public companies and an analysis of change of control M&A transactions that Lincoln deemed relevant; and |
• | Considered such other information, financial studies, generally accepted valuation and analytical techniques and investigations and financial, economic and market criteria that Lincoln deemed relevant. |
• | Enterprise Value — generally, the value as of a specified date of the relevant company’s outstanding equity securities including plus the amount of debt outstanding, preferred stock and non-controlling interests, and less the amount of cash and cash equivalents, the carrying value of its equity investments and net non-operating assets on its balance sheet. |
• | Adjusted EBITDA — generally, the amount of the relevant company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for a specified time period, as adjusted for certain non-recurring items. |
• | Enterprise value as a multiple of trailing Adjusted EBITDA for the latest twelve months, or “LTM Adjusted EBITDA”; and |
• | Enterprise value as a multiple of projected Adjusted EBITDA for the trailing twelve months ending on or around April 30, 2026, or “TTM April 2026 Adjusted EBITDA”. |
Enterprise Value / | ||||||
LTM Adjusted EBITDA | TTM April 2026 Adjusted EBITDA | |||||
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. | 8.4x | NA | ||||
Celestica Inc. | 19.5x | 16.2x | ||||
Fabrinet | 20.2x | 18.2x | ||||
Flex Ltd. | 9.9x | 9.0x | ||||
Jabil Inc. | 10.0x | 9.1x | ||||
Key Tronic Corporation | 8.6x | NA | ||||
Kimball Electronics, Inc. | 6.1x | 7.5x | ||||
Nortech Systems Incorporated | NMF | NA | ||||
Plexus Corp. | 12.9x | 11.0x | ||||
Sanmina Corporation | 9.2x | 8.7x | ||||
Mean | 11.6x | 11.4x | ||||
Median | 9.9x | 9.1x | ||||
Date Announced | Acquirer | Target | Enterprise Value / LTM Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||
11/2024 | OEP 80 B.V. | Cicor Technologies Ltd. | 6.6x | ||||||||
07/2023 | Incap Oyj | Pennatronics Corporation | 7.4x | ||||||||
06/2023 | Microtest S.p.A. | RoodMicrotec N.V. | 7.7x | ||||||||
05/2023 | NCAB Group AB | Phase 3 Technologies, Inc. | 6.5x | ||||||||
03/2022 | Volex plc | inYantra Technologies Pvt LTD | 8.2x | ||||||||
08/2021 | Creation Technologies International, Inc. | IEC Electronics Corp. | 21.2x | ||||||||
06/2021 | Infestos Sustainability B.V. | Neways Electronics International N.V. | 11.9x | ||||||||
01/2021 | Aem Singapore Pte Ltd. | CEI PTE. LTD. | 11.9x | ||||||||
01/2021 | H.I.G. Capital, LLC | SMTC Corporation | 9.5x | ||||||||
01/2019 | Platinum Equity, LLC | PCI Private Limited | 6.4x | ||||||||
12/2018 | Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. | Sparton Corporation | 9.7x | ||||||||
11/2018 | SMTC Corporation | MC Test Service, Inc. | 6.2x | ||||||||
02/2016 | Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co., Ltd. | Multi-Fineline Electronix, Inc. | 4.5x | ||||||||
Mean | 9.1x | ||||||||||
Median | 7.7x | ||||||||||
Median Transaction Premium | |||||||||
1-Day Prior (%) | 1-Week Prior (%) | 1-Month Prior (%) | |||||||
Criteria | |||||||||
U.S. EMS Deals | 47% | 46% | 44% | ||||||
U.S. Majority Stake Deals < $250 Million | 37% | 38% | 42% | ||||||
U.S. Majority Stake Deals | 29% | 31% | 37% | ||||||
Persons/Assets Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used |
Interest in Securities of the Subject Company |
Purpose of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals |
• | a tender offer or other acquisition of SigmaTron’s securities by SigmaTron or any other person; |
• | any extraordinary transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving SigmaTron; |
• | any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of SigmaTron; or |
• | any material change in the present dividend rate or policy, or indebtedness or capitalization of SigmaTron. |
Additional Information |
• | that the Effective Time will occur on July 28, 2025 (which is the assumed closing date of the Merger solely for purposes of this Schedule 14D-9, including this golden parachute compensation disclosure); |
• | the consummation of the Merger will constitute a change in control for purposes of the CIC Plan; |
• | that the named executive officer will have a qualifying termination of his employment at the Effective Time that results in severance benefits becoming payable to him under the CIC Plan; and |
• | that no payment is reduced pursuant to the terms of the CIC Plan as a result of Sections 280G and 4999 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. |
Name | Cash ($)(1) | Equity ($)(2) | Perquisites/ Benefits ($) | Total ($) | ||||||||
Gary R. Fairhead | 1,292,694 | — | — | 1,292,694 | ||||||||
John P. Sheehan | 1,015,991 | — | — | 1,015,991 | ||||||||
Rajesh Upadhyaya(3) | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
(1) | The amount for each named executive officer represents the pre-tax cash severance payments to which the named executive officer may become entitled under the CIC Plan in connection with a qualifying termination on or within twenty-four months after a change in control, as described in further detail above in “— Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Payment Plan”. The amount listed for each of Messrs. Fairhead, Sheehan, and Upadhyaya represents the named executive officer’s average W-2 income, excluding taxable earnings attributable to the exercise of stock options, paid by the Company to each for five calendar years ending immediately prior to the change in control, multiplied by 2.99. |
(2) | None of the named executive officers hold In-the-Money Options. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, any Company Options other than In-the-Money Options will be cancelled at the Effective Time. |
(3) | As disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by SigmaTron on May 6, 2025, Mr. Upadhyaya resigned as Executive Vice President, West Coast Operations, of SigmaTron, effective as of April 30, 2025. Mr. Upadhyaya is therefore ineligible for severance payment under the CIC Plan in connection with the Transactions. |
• | the transaction in which the stockholder became an interested stockholder or the business combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation before the other party to the business combination became an interested stockholder; |
• | upon completion of the transaction that made it an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the commencement of the transaction (excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) the voting stock owned by directors who are also officers or held in employee benefit plans in which the employees do not have a confidential right to tender stock held by the plan); or |
• | the business combination was approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which the interested stockholder did not own. |
• | the person must, within the later of the Consummation of the Offer and twenty days after the mailing of this Schedule 14D-9, deliver to SigmaTron a written demand for appraisal of their Shares, which demand must reasonably inform SigmaTron of the identity of the stockholder or the beneficial owner, as applicable, and that the stockholder or beneficial owner, as applicable, intends thereby to demand appraisal of such Shares (and, in the case of a demand made by a beneficial owner, the demand must reasonably identify the holder of record of the Shares for which the demand is made, be accompanied by documentary evidence of the beneficial owner’s beneficial ownership of the Shares for which appraisal is demanded, include a statement that such documentary evidence is a true and correct copy of what it purports to be and provide an address at which the beneficial owner consents to receive notices given by the Surviving Corporation in the Merger under Section 262 and to be set forth on the verified list required by subsection (f) of Section 262); |
• | the person must not tender his, her or its Shares pursuant to the Offer; |
• | the person must continuously hold or beneficially own, as applicable, the Shares from the date of making the demand through the Effective Time (if a stockholder who demanded appraisal transfers or a beneficial owner who demanded appraisal ceases to beneficially own the Shares before the Effective Time, such person will lose appraisal rights with respect to the Shares); and |
• | otherwise comply with Section 262. |
Exhibits |
Exhibit No. | Description | ||
Offer to Purchase dated June 26, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(A) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Form of Letter of Transmittal (including Internal Revenue Service Form W-9) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(B) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(C) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Form of Letter to Clients for Use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(D) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Summary Advertisement as published in The New York Times on June 26, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(1)(E) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Opinion of Lincoln International LLC, dated May 20, 2025 (included as Annex A of this Schedule 14D-9). | |||
Joint Press Release, dated May 21, 2025, issued by SigmaTron International, Inc. and Transom Axis AcquireCo, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2025 (File No. 000-23248)). | |||
Frequently Asked Questions, sent to SigmaTron’s employees on May 21, 2025 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Company’s Schedule 14D-9C filed on May 21, 2025). | |||
Press Release, dated June 26, 2025, issued by Transom Capital Group, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (a)(5)(B) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 20, 2025, by and among Transom Axis AcquireCo, LLC, Transom Axis MergerSub, Inc. and SigmaTron International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2025 (File No. 000-23248)). | |||
Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of December 20, 2024, by Transom Capital Group, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(4) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Exclusivity Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2025, by and between SigmaTron International, Inc. and Transom Capital Group, LLC (as amended on April 29, 2025, May 8, 2025, May 13, 2025 and May 18, 2025) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(6) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Form of Tender and Support Agreement, dated as of May 20, 2025, by and among Transom Axis AcquireCo, LLC, Transom Axis MergerSub, Inc. and certain stockholders of SigmaTron International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A of Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2025 (File No. 000-23248)). | |||
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of SigmaTron International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2023 (File No. 000-23248)). | |||
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of SigmaTron International, Inc., effective as of July 31, 2023 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 13, 2023 (File No. 000-23248)). | |||
(e)(7) | Form of 1993 Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-72100)) (P). | ||
SigmaTron International, Inc. 2004 Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s 2004 Proxy Statement filed on August 16, 2004). | |||
SigmaTron International, Inc. 2011 Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on December 14, 2011). | |||
SigmaTron International, Inc. 2021 Employee Stock Option Plan, dated July 13, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit B to the definitive proxy statement for the Special Meeting of Stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 8, 2021). | |||
Exhibit No. | Description | ||
SigmaTron International, Inc. 2021 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan, dated September 15, 2021 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2021 (File No. 000-23248)). | |||
SigmaTron International, Inc. Amended and Restated Change in Control Severance Payment Plan dated March 11, 2014 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on March 14, 2014 (File No. 000-23248)). | |||
Excerpts from SigmaTron International, Inc’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed on September 20, 2024. | |||
Equity Commitment Letter, dated May 20, 2025, by and between Transom Axis AcquireCo, LLC and Transom Capital Fund IV, L.P. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(3) to the Schedule TO). | |||
Limited Guarantee, dated May 20, 2025, by Transom Capital Fund IV, L.P. in favor of SigmaTron International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit (d)(5) to the Schedule TO). | |||
* | Filed herewith. |
† | Certain exhibits and schedules have been omitted pursuant to Instruction 1 to Item 1016 of Regulation M-A. SigmaTron hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted exhibits and schedules upon request by the SEC. |
(P) | Paper exhibit. |
SIGMATRON INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||||||
By: | /s/ Gary R. Fairhead | |||||
Name: | Gary R. Fairhead | |||||
Title: | Chief Executive Officer | |||||
Lincoln International LLC 110 North Wacker Drive 51st Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606 | www.lincolninternational.com | ||
1) | Reviewed the following documents: |
a. | Certain publicly available business and financial information relating to the Company (including audited financial statements and unaudited interim financial statements) that we deemed to be relevant, including the Company’s Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 14, 2025 and the Company’s form 10-K filed with the SEC on September 3, 2024; |
b. | Internal unaudited interim financial statements for the eleven-month periods ended March 31, 2023, March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2025; |
c. | The budget and financial projections for the Company for the years ending April 30, 2025 through April 30, 2026, provided to us by management of the Company (the “Management Projections”); |
d. | The Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 18, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and among the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A, as lender; |
e. | The Credit Agreement dated as of July 18, 2022 (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and among the Company, the financial institutions identified therein (the “TCW Lenders”) and TCW Asset Management Company LLC, as administrative agent for the TCW Lenders; |
f. | The equity capitalization of the Company as of May 20, 2025 provided to us by management of the Company; |
g. | Correspondence, dated May 15, 2025, addressed to us by management of the Company which contains, among other things, representations regarding the accuracy of the information, data and other materials (financial or otherwise) provided to, or discussed with, us by or on behalf of the Company in connection with our review of the Transaction; |
h. | The Confidential Information Presentation dated December 2024; |
i. | Draft Merger Agreement; and |
j. | Other documents relating to the history, past and current operations, financial conditions, and probable future outlook of the Company provided to Lincoln by management of the Company; |
2) | Discussed the terms and circumstances surrounding the Transaction with management of the Company; |
3) | Met with management of the Company virtually and discussed the business, financial outlook and prospects of the Company; |
4) | Reviewed certain financial, stock trading and other information for the Company, and compared that data and information with certain stock trading, financial and corresponding data and information for companies with publicly traded securities that we deemed relevant, none of which is directly comparable to the Company; |
5) | Reviewed certain financial, stock trading and other information for the Company and the Transaction, and compared that data and information with certain financial, stock trading and corresponding data and information for companies that have been subject to change of control M&A transactions that we deemed relevant, none of which is directly comparable to the Company and the Transaction; |
6) | Performed certain valuation and comparative financial analyses including a discounted cash flow analysis, an analysis of selected public companies and an analysis of change of control M&A transactions that we deemed relevant; and |
7) | Considered such other information, financial studies, generally accepted valuation and analytical techniques and investigations and financial, economic and market criteria that we deemed relevant. |
1) | Relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial, accounting, legal, tax and other information we reviewed, and we have not assumed any responsibility for the independent verification of, nor independently verified, any of such information; |
2) | Relied upon the assurances of management of the Company that they are unaware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information materially incomplete or misleading; |
3) | Relied upon the fact that the Board and Company have been advised by counsel with respect to the Transaction and that the Transaction will be consummated in a valid and timely manner that complies in all respects with all applicable federal and state statutes, rules and regulations; |
4) | Assumed that the financial forecasts, including the Management Projections, the unaudited interim financial statements, and other financial information provided to Lincoln by the Company were reasonably prepared in good faith on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the Company’s management, and Lincoln assumes no responsibility for and expresses no opinion on the assumptions, estimates, and judgments on which such forecasts, including the Management Projections, interim financial statements, and other financial information were based; |
5) | Assumed that in the course of obtaining any necessary regulatory and third-party consents, approvals and agreements for the Transaction, no modification, delay, limitation, restriction, or condition will be imposed that is material to Lincoln’s analysis; |
6) | Assumed that the Transaction will be consummated in accordance with the terms outlined by the Company and other documents made available to Lincoln, without waiver, modification or amendment of any term, condition or agreement therein that is material to Lincoln’s analysis; |
7) | Assumed that there has been no change in the assets, liabilities, business, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, or prospects of the Company in any manner material to Lincoln’s analysis since the date of the most recent financial information made available to Lincoln; |
8) | Assumed that the final terms of the Merger Agreement will not vary in any manner material to Lincoln’s analysis from those set forth in the copies or drafts, as applicable, reviewed by Lincoln; and |
9) | Assumed that the final versions of all documents conform in all material respects to the drafts reviewed by Lincoln. |