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News  |  February 16, 2024

K1 Investment Management, LLC (“K1”) Statement regarding Possible Offer for MariaDB plc (“MariaDB”)

POSSIBLE OFFER (RULE 2.4 ANNOUNCEMENT)

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

THIS IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT UNDER RULE 2.4 OF THE IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL ACT, 1997, TAKEOVER RULES, 2022 (THE “TAKEOVER RULES”) AND IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FIRM INTENTION TO MAKE AN OFFER UNDER RULE 2.7 OF THE TAKEOVER RULES. THERE CAN BE NO CERTAINTY THAT ANY OFFER WILL BE MADE, NOR AS TO THE TERMS ON WHICH ANY SUCH OFFER WILL BE MADE.

16 February, 2024

K1 Investment Management, LLC (“K1”)

Statement regarding Possible Offer for MariaDB plc (“MariaDB”)

K1 confirms that it made, on 15 February 2024, a non-binding proposal to the board of directors of MariaDB (the “Board”) to acquire, together with K1’s investment affiliates, all of the issued, and to be issued, share capital of MariaDB at a value of $0.55 per share (the “Possible Offer”). The terms of the Possible Offer represent:-

  • (i) a 189% premium to MariaDB’s closing share price on February 5, 2024, the last full trading day prior to the announcement by MariaDB of a potential forbearance agreement with RP Ventures LLC and Hale Capital Partners; and
  • (ii) a 114% premium to MariaDB’s average closing share price of the last 30 calendar days.

K1 has a high regard for the MariaDB business and looks forward to engaging with MariaDB in connection with the Possible Offer.

It is intended that the proposed transaction would be effected by way of an Irish law scheme of arrangement whereby K1, or its affiliates, would acquire 100% of the issued shares of the Company. However, K1 reserves the right to implement the proposal, instead, by way of contractual offer. The form and/or mix of the offer consideration has not yet been determined. 

There can be no certainty that any offer will be made, nor as to the terms on which any such offer might be made.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, K1 must, by no later than 5.00 p.m. on 29 March 2024 either announce a firm intention to make an offer for MariaDB in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Irish Takeover Rules or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Irish Takeover Rules applies. This deadline may be extended with the consent of the Panel in accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Irish Takeover Rules.

Pursuant to Rule 2.5 of the Irish Takeover Rules, K1 reserves the right to amend the terms of any offer (including making the offer on less favourable terms or at a lower value than US$0.55 per share):

  1. with the recommendation or consent of the Board, or an independent committee of the Board (as appropriate);
  • if any dividend or any other distribution or return of value is paid or becomes payable by MariaDB to MariaDB shareholders after the date of this announcement, in which case K1 will have the right to reduce the offer consideration by the amount of any dividend (or other distribution or return of value) which is paid or becomes payable by Maria DB to MariaDB shareholders;
  • following the announcement by MariaDB of a whitewash transaction pursuant to the Irish Takeover Rules on less favourable terms than those set out in this announcement; or
  • if a third party announces a firm intention to make an offer for MariaDB on less favourable terms than those set out in this announcement or at a lower value than $0.55 per share.

A further announcement will be made as and when appropriate.

Contacts:

Lazard (Financial Advisor to K1)

Adrian Duchini, Keiran Wilson, Charles White                                                                       +44 20 7187 2000

About K1

K1 is a global investment firm that builds category-leading enterprise software companies and has over $13 billion of assets under management. K1 partners with strong management teams of high-growth technology businesses to help them achieve successful outcomes. With over 125 professionals, K1 and its operating affiliate, K1 Operations LLC, change industry landscapes with operationally focused growth strategies designed to rapidly scale portfolio companies. Since the inception of the firm, K1 has partnered with over 200 enterprise software companies including industry leaders such as Axcient, Checkmarx, Emburse, Elmo, Granicus, Litera Microsystems, Onit, Reveal-Brainspace, simPRO, Smarsh, and XTM International.

Responsibility statement

The K1 Responsible Persons (being the investment committee of K1) accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the K1 Responsible Persons (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Important notice relating to financial adviser

Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, together with its affiliate Lazard & Co., Limited (which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority) (“Lazard”), is acting exclusively as financial adviser to K1 and no one else in connection with the Possible Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than K1 for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the Possible Offer or any other matters referred to in this announcement. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with this announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Further Information; No Offer or Solicitation

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or invitation to purchase any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Possible Offer or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In particular, this announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

Disclosure Requirements under the Irish Takeover Rules

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Irish Takeover Rules, any person who is ‘interested’ in 1% or more of any class of ‘relevant securities’ of MariaDB or a securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror which has announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an ‘opening position disclosure’ following the commencement of the ‘offer period’ and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An ‘opening position disclosure’ must contain, among other things, details of the person’s ‘interests’ and ‘short positions’ in any ‘relevant securities’ of each of (i) MariaDB and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An ‘opening position disclosure’ by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3:30 pm (Irish time) on the day that is ten ‘business days’ following the commencement of the ‘offer period’ and, if appropriate, by no later than 3:30 pm (Irish time) on the day that is ten ‘business days’ following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Irish Takeover Rules, if any person is, or becomes, ‘interested’ (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of ‘relevant securities’ of MariaDB, all ‘dealings’ in any ‘relevant securities’ of MariaDB or any securities exchange offeror (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such ‘relevant securities’) must be publicly disclosed by not later than 3:30 pm (Irish time) on the ‘business day’ following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the ‘offer period’ ends. If two or more persons cooperate on the basis of any agreement either express or tacit, either oral or written, to acquire an ‘interest’ in ‘relevant securities’ of MariaDB, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules. A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose ‘relevant securities’ ‘dealings’ should be disclosed can be found on the Irish Takeover Panel’s website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie.

If two or more persons co-operate on the basis of an agreement or understanding, whether express or tacit, either oral or written, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1 and 8.2 of the Irish Takeover Rules).

In general, interests in securities arise when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of the securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an ‘interest’ by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.

Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Irish Takeover Rules, which can be found on the Irish Takeover Panel’s website.

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel’s website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a ’dealing’ under Rule 8, please consult the Irish Takeover Panel’s website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie or contact the Irish Takeover Panel at telephone number +353 1 678 9020.

Publication on Website

In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, a copy of this announcement will be available on K1’s website: https://k1.com/meridian promptly and in any event by no later than 12 noon on the business day following this announcement. The content of this website is not incorporated into and does not form part of this announcement.

Disclaimer Notice - Important

You are attempting to enter the section of this website that is designated for the publication of documents and information in connection with the possible offer (the “Possible Offer”) by K5 Private Investors, L.P., a fund controlled by K1 Investment Management, LLC (“K1”) for MariaDB plc (“MariaDB”).

 

Terms defined in the announcement of the Possible Offer dated 15 February 2024 shall have the same meaning when used in this notice.

 

ACCESS TO THIS SECTION OF THE WEBSITE MAY BE RESTRICTED UNDER SECURITIES LAWS IN CERTAIN JURISDICTIONS. THIS NOTICE REQUIRES YOU TO CONFIRM CERTAIN MATTERS (INCLUDING THAT YOU ARE NOT RESIDENT IN SUCH A JURISDICTION), BEFORE YOU MAY OBTAIN ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. THE INFORMATION IS NOT DIRECTED AT, AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE ACCESSIBLE BY, PERSONS RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF THAT JURISDICTION. IF YOU ARE NOT PERMITTED TO VIEW THE INFORMATION, OR VIEWING THE INFORMATION WOULD RESULT IN A BREACH OF THE ABOVE, OR YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO WHETHER YOU ARE PERMITTED TO VIEW THE INFORMATION, PLEASE EXIT THIS WEBPAGE. THIS SECTION OF THE WEBSITE CONTAINS ANNOUNCEMENTS, DOCUMENTS AND INFORMATION (TOGETHER THE “INFORMATION”) RELATING TO THE POSSIBLE OFFER IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE IRISH TAKEOVER PANEL ACT, 1997, TAKEOVER RULES 2022 (THE “IRISH TAKEOVER RULES”). THE INFORMATION IS BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY, AND ITS AVAILABILITY IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT BELOW. THE INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO, AND DOES NOT, CONSTITUTE OR FORM ANY PART OF AN OFFER TO SELL OR OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF OR AN INVITATION OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRE ANY SECURITIES, OR THE SOLICITATION OF A VOTE OR APPROVAL PURSUANT TO THE INFORMATION OR OTHERWISE. ANY PERSON SEEKING ACCESS TO THIS SECTION OF K1’S WEBSITE REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS TO K1 THAT THEY ARE DOING SO FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.

 

BASIS OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION

 

Please read this notice carefully before clicking “I agree” or “I disagree” below. This notice applies to all persons who view this section of the website and, depending on where you live, it may affect your rights. This notice may be amended or updated by K1 from time to time and it should be read carefully in full each time you wish to view the website. In addition, the content of the website, and its accessibility by certain persons, may be amended at any time in whole or in part at the sole discretion of K1. The Information speaks only at the date of the relevant document or announcement and K1 has, and accepts, no responsibility or duty to update any Information (other than to the extent such duty arises as a matter of law or regulation).

 

In relation to the Information contained in this area of the website, the only responsibility accepted by the K1 Responsible Persons is for the correctness and fairness of its reproduction or presentation unless a responsibility statement in any relevant document expressly provides otherwise. Neither the K1 Responsible Persons or any of K1’s affiliated companies, have reviewed, and no such person is or shall be responsible for or accepts any liability in respect of any information contained on any other website that may be linked to this area of the website by a third party.

 

For regulatory reasons we have to ensure you are aware of the appropriate regulations for the country which you are in. To allow you to view details relating to the Possible Offer, you have to read the following and then press “I agree”. If you are unable to agree you should press “I disagree” and you will not be able to view any such details.

 

The Information contained in this section of the website is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form any part of an offer to purchase, sell, subscribe for or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, sell, subscribe for or exchange or an invitation to purchase, sell or subscribe for or exchange any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Information or the potential transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law or regulations. In particular, the Information contained in this section of the website is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. Any person seeking access to this part of K1’s website represents and warrants to K1 that they are doing so for informational purposes only.

 

OVERSEAS PERSONS

 

The Possible Offer is being made for the securities of an Irish company and is subject to Irish disclosure requirements, which are different from those of other jurisdictions. As a consequence of legal restrictions, the release, publication or distribution of information contained on this area of the website in certain jurisdictions or to certain persons may be restricted or unlawful. All persons who wish to view this area of the website must first satisfy themselves that they are not subject to any local requirements in their jurisdiction of residence that prohibit or restrict them from doing so and should inform themselves of, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements applicable in their jurisdiction. If you are resident or located in a country that renders the accessing of this area of the website or parts thereof illegal, whether or not subject to making certain notifications or taking other action, you should not view this area of the website.

 

The Possible Offer will not be made, directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so or by use of mail or by any means or instrumentality (including, without limitation, telephonically or electronically) of interstate or foreign commerce, or by any facility of a national securities exchange of any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so. The Possible Offer will not be capable of acceptance by any such mail, means, instrumentality or facility from or within any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

 

It is your responsibility to satisfy yourself as to the full observance of any relevant laws and regulatory requirements. If you are in any doubt, you should not continue to seek to access this area of the website.

You should not forward, transmit or show the announcements, information or documents contained in this area of the website to any person. In particular, you should not forward or transmit the announcements, information or documents contained therein to any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful to do so.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This section of the website and the Information may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, strategies, objectives, results of operations and businesses of K1 and MariaDB following the implementation of the Possible Offer.

 

All statements other than statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements of future expectations that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements often use identified by their use of terms and phrases such as ‘anticipate’, ‘target’, ‘expect’, ‘estimate’, ‘intend’, ‘plan’, ‘goal’, ‘believe’, ‘hope’, ‘aims’, ‘continue’, ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘would’, ‘could’ or other words of similar meaning.

 

These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by MariaDB and/or K1 in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, future developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in the Information could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading the Information are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of the Information.

 

There are several factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Among such factors are changes in the global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax rates and future business combinations or disposals.

 

OTHER

 

Lazard Frères & Co. LLC, together with its affiliate Lazard & Co., Limited (which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority) (“Lazard”), is acting exclusively as financial adviser to K1 and no one else in connection with the Possible Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than K1 for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the Possible Offer or any other matters referred to in this section of the website. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with this section of the website, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

 

CONFIRMATION OF UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOTICE

 

By clicking on “I agree” below, you confirm that you have read, understood and agreed to be bound by the terms of the notice set out above and that you are not in, or a resident of, any jurisdiction where to download or view the Information would constitute a breach of securities law or regulation in that jurisdiction.

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If you click “I disagree” below, we will be unable to provide you with access to the Information and you will be redirected. Subject to any continuing obligations under applicable law or any relevant regulatory requirements, K1 expressly disclaims any obligation to disseminate, after the date of the posting of any document or announcement on this webpage, any updates or revisions to any statements in such documents or announcements in relation to the Possible Offer to reflect any change in expectations or events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based. If you are in any doubt about the contents of this section of the website or the action you should take, you should seek your own financial advice from an appropriately authorized independent financial adviser.

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