Additionally, during that time between April 2017 and September 2017, Mattersight stayed in contact with potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors that previously had expressed interest in a potential acquisition of Mattersight and had been in contact with Mattersight at various points in the past.
On May 10, 2017, the Board held an in-person regular meeting, with Mr. Gustafson and representatives of Cooley present. The Board continued to discuss potential strategic transactions, including a possible sale of Mattersight or a going private process. Representatives of Cooley advised the Board regarding its fiduciary duties under Delaware law in the context of an assessment of strategic alternatives.
On August 9, 2017, the Board held an in-person regular meeting, with Mr. Gustafson present, at which the Board continued to discuss potential strategic transactions.
On October 4, 2017, the Board held a telephonic special meeting, with Mr. Gustafson present. The Board continued to discuss potential strategic transactions, including a sale of Mattersight. The Board authorized Mr. Conway and Mr. Mullen to formally engage Union Square for purposes of exploring a potential sale of Mattersight on the terms previously reviewed by the Board.
On October 15, 2017, Mattersight and Union Square executed an engagement letter with respect to a potential sale of Mattersight. As part of its engagement, Union Square met with senior management on October 17, 2017 and discussed updated views on various potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors.
On October 20, 2017, Union Square provided an updated potential conflicts letter to the Board.
On November 8, 2017, the Board held an in-person regular meeting, with Mr. Gustafson and representatives of Union Square present. Representatives of Union Square presented to the Board Union Square’s perspectives on Mattersight’s possible exploration of potential strategic alternatives, along with a list of potential buyers and a potential transaction timeline. Following the meeting, management, with the approval of the Board, directed Union Square to begin a formal sale process of Mattersight and to reach out to a list of potential buyers that the Board reviewed.
On November 9, 2017, Union Square began its formal outreach efforts.
During the strategic review process from November 9, 2017 to April 22, 2018, Union Square, acting at the direction of the Board, contacted a total of 44 parties, including 22 potential strategic buyers, including NICE, and 22 financial sponsors, with respect to a possible sale of Mattersight. Mattersight entered into non-disclosure agreements with respect to the strategic review process with a total of 14 counterparties, including NICE, and provided to each of these counterparties access to an electronic data room containing diligence materials. Mattersight held management presentations in connection with the strategic review process with 12 parties, including NICE. Each of the non-disclosure agreements included customary standstill covenants that expired upon execution of the Merger Agreement. None of the non-disclosure agreements included a so-called “don’t-ask-don’t-waive” provision.
In November 2017, Union Square contacted 31 parties (19 potential strategic buyers and 12 financial sponsors). The potential strategic buyers and financial sponsors were selected by senior management following discussion with the Board and in consultation with Union Square, based primarily on prior interest in a potential acquisition of Mattersight, a strong focus in software businesses and demonstrated ability to execute strategic or take private transactions.
Between November 20, 2017 and February 20, 2018, representatives of Party A, a potential strategic acquirer, held six due diligence discussions with Mattersight management and representatives of Union Square to evaluate a potential acquisition of Mattersight.
Between November 27, 2018 and February 23, 2018, representatives of Party B, a potential strategic acquirer, held three due diligence discussions with Mattersight’s management and representatives of Union Square to evaluate a potential acquisition of Mattersight.
In early December 2017, Mattersight senior management and representatives of Union Square discussed the results of the initial outreach to potential buyers, including the lack of interest expressed to date by nearly all of the financial sponsors contacted by Union Square. Thereafter, at the direction of senior management, Union Square contacted nine additional financial sponsors to gauge their interest in pursuing a potential acquisition of Mattersight.