Jiayuan.com (DATE) agrees to be acquired for $7.56/ADS
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Parent will acquire the Company for cash consideration equal to US$5.04 per ordinary share of the Company and US$7.56 per American depositary share of the Company, each two ADSs representing three Shares. This price represents an approximately 62.9% premium over the closing price of the ADSs as quoted by NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) on March 2, 2015, the last trading day immediately prior to the Company’s announcement on March 3, 2015 that it had received a “going private” proposal from Vast Profit Holdings Limited, one of the Company’s shareholders, and an approximately 58.7% premium over the volume-weighted average trading price of the ADSs during the 30 trading days prior to, and including, March 2, 2015.
The consideration to be paid to holders of Shares and ADSs pursuant to the Merger Agreement also represents an increase of approximately 40.8% from the original US$3.58 per Share and US$5.37 per ADS offer price included in the March 3, 2015 “going private” proposal.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Subsidiary will merge with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving company (the “Surviving Company”) and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”), and each of the Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (including Shares represented by ADSs) will be cancelled in consideration for the right to receive US$5.04 per Share or US$7.56 per ADS, in each case, in cash, without interest, except for Shares owned by holders who have validly exercised and not effectively withdrawn or lost their rights to dissent from the Merger pursuant to Section 238 of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands, which Shares will be cancelled at the effective time of the Merger for the right to receive the fair value of such Shares determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 238 of the Companies Law of the Cayman Islands.
In connection with the entry into the Merger Agreement, Baihe has deposited a cash amount equal to RMB 150,000,000 with the Company, which would be utilized to fund a portion of the merger consideration. Baihe intends to fund the remainder of the merger consideration through a private placement of its shares, or a bank loan as an alternative. Baihe has also entered into a guarantee in favor of the Company pursuant to which it has agreed to guarantee the obligations of Parent and Merger Subsidiary under the Merger Agreement.
The Company’s Board of Directors, acting upon the unanimous recommendation of the special committee of independent directors formed by the Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”), unanimously approved the Merger Agreement, the plan of merger required to be filed with the Registrar of Companies of the Cayman Islands in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby (the “Transactions”), including the Merger, and resolved to recommend that the Company’s shareholders vote to approve the Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger. The Special Committee, which is composed entirely of independent directors who are unaffiliated with Parent, Merger Subsidiary, Baihe or the management of the Company, exclusively negotiated the terms of the Agreement with Parent, Merger Subsidiary and Baihe with the assistance of its independent financial and legal advisors.
The Merger, which is currently expected to close no later than the first quarter of 2016, is subject to customary closing conditions, including the approval by an affirmative vote of shareholders holding two-thirds or more of the votes represented by the Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) present and voting in person or by proxy as a single class at the extraordinary general meeting, which will be convened to consider the approval of the Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger. If completed, the Transactions will result in the Company becoming a privately-held company and its ADSs will no longer be listed on NASDAQ.
After the Merger is completed, Mr. Linguang Wu, director and chief executive officer of the Company, will serve as co-chairman and co-chief executive officer of the Surviving Company, and Baihe will initiate its name changing process.
Barclays Bank PLC is serving as financial advisor to the Special Committee. Davis Polk & Wardwell is serving as U.S. legal advisor to the Special Committee and Walkers is serving as Cayman Islands legal advisor to the Special Committee. Shearman & Sterling is serving as legal advisor to Barclays Bank PLC.
Paul Hastings LLP is serving as U.S. legal advisor to the Company and Zhong Lun Law Firm is serving as PRC legal advisor to the Company.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as U.S. legal advisor to Baihe, De Heng Law Offices is serving as PRC legal advisor to Baihe, Conyers Dill & Pearman is serving as Cayman Islands legal advisor to Baihe, and Haitong Security and Shiner Capital are serving as financial advisors to Baihe.