Amendment No. 3 to Form S-4
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2019

Registration No. 333-229749

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No. 3

To

FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 

 

Tesla, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   3711   91-2197729

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

3500 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 681-5000

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

Elon Musk

Chief Executive Officer

Tesla, Inc.

3500 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 681-5000

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Mark B. Baudler

Michael S. Ringler

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

650 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 493-9300

 

Jonathan A. Chang

M. Yun Huh

Rakhi I. Patel

Tesla, Inc.

3500 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

(650) 681-5000

 

Larry W. Nishnick

Patrick J. O’Malley

DLA Piper LLP

4365 Executive Drive, Suite 1100

San Diego, California 92121

(858) 677-1400

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: February 20, 2019, the date on which the preliminary prospectus and tender offer materials are filed and sent to securityholders. The offer cannot, however, be completed prior to the time this Registration Statement becomes effective. Accordingly, any actual sale or purchase of securities pursuant to the offer will occur only after this Registration Statement is effective, subject to the conditions to the transactions described herein.

If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box:  ☐

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.:

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer   
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company   
     Emerging growth company   

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  ☐

 

If applicable, place an  ☐ in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)  ☐

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)  ☐

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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The information in this document is not complete and may change. The registrant may not complete the offer and issue these securities until the registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This document is not an offer to sell these securities, and the registrant is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer is not permitted.

 

PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE, DATED APRIL 2, 2019

Offer by

CAMBRIA ACQUISITION CORP.

a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of

TESLA, INC.

to Exchange Each Outstanding Share of Common Stock of

MAXWELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

for

$4.75 in Fair Market Value of Shares of Common Stock of Tesla

(subject to the minimum as described in this

prospectus/offer to exchange and the related letter of transmittal)

 

 

THE OFFER COMMENCED ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019. THE OFFER AND THE WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 11:59 P.M., EASTERN TIME, AT THE END OF APRIL 10, 2019, UNLESS EXTENDED OR TERMINATED.

Tesla, Inc. (“Tesla”), a Delaware corporation, through its direct wholly-owned subsidiary Cambria Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Offeror”), is offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this document and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, to exchange each outstanding share of common stock of Maxwell Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Maxwell”), par value $0.10 per share (“Maxwell common stock” and such shares of Maxwell common stock, “Maxwell shares”), that has been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer for a fraction of a share of Tesla’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Tesla common stock” and such shares of Tesla common stock, “Tesla shares”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $4.75 by the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second trading day prior to the date of the expiration of the offer, subject to the minimum, plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Tesla common stock, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes. In the event that the Tesla common stock price is equal to or less than $245.90, the minimum will apply and each share of Maxwell common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer will be exchanged for 0.0193 of a share of Tesla common stock. For the avoidance of doubt, if the offer were to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on a Tuesday, then the five (5) consecutive trading days would be the preceding Monday through Friday assuming each day prior to the Tuesday expiration date was a trading day (other than Saturday or Sunday).

We refer to this as the “offer consideration.”

The Offeror’s obligation to accept for exchange Maxwell shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Offeror of certain conditions, including the condition that, prior to the expiration of the offer, there have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn a number of Maxwell shares that, upon the consummation of the offer, together with Maxwell shares then owned by Tesla and the Offeror (if any), would represent at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding immediately after the consummation of the offer (which we refer to as the “minimum tender condition”), as more fully described under the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.”

The offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (which we refer to as the “merger agreement”), dated as of February 3, 2019, among Tesla, the Offeror and Maxwell. A copy of the merger agreement is attached to this document as Annex A.


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The purpose of the offer is for Tesla to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, Maxwell. The offer is the first step in Tesla’s plan to acquire all of the outstanding Maxwell shares. If the offer is completed and as a second step in such plan, Tesla intends to promptly consummate a merger of the Offeror with and into Maxwell, with Maxwell surviving the merger (the “merger”), subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement. The purpose of the merger is for Tesla to acquire all Maxwell shares that it did not acquire in the offer. In the merger, each outstanding Maxwell share that was not acquired by Tesla or the Offeror will be converted into the right to receive the offer consideration. Upon the consummation of the merger, the Maxwell business will be held in a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla, and the former Maxwell stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in the surviving corporation. If the offer is completed, the merger will be consummated pursuant to Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), and accordingly no stockholder vote will be required to complete the merger. The board of directors of Maxwell unanimously: (i) determined that the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer, the merger and the issuance of Tesla shares in connection therewith, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Maxwell and its stockholders; (ii) determined that it is in the best interests of Maxwell and its stockholders and declared it advisable to enter into the merger agreement; and (iii) approved the execution and delivery by Maxwell of the merger agreement, the performance by Maxwell of its covenants and agreements contained in the merger agreement and the consummation of the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the merger agreement. The board of directors of Maxwell has also resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Maxwell accept the offer and tender their shares of Maxwell common stock to the Offeror pursuant to the offer.

The Tesla board of directors also determined that the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer and the merger and the issuance of Tesla shares in the offer and merger, are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, Tesla and its stockholders, and approved the execution and delivery by Tesla of the merger agreement.

Tesla common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TSLA” and Maxwell common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “MXWL”.

The offer and the merger, taken together, are intended to qualify as a reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders of Maxwell shares should read the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” for a more detailed discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the offer and the merger to holders of Maxwell shares.

 

 

For a discussion of certain factors that Maxwell stockholders should consider in connection with the offer, please read the section of this document entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 24.

You are encouraged to read this entire document and the related letter of transmittal carefully, including the annexes and information referred to or incorporated by reference in this document.

Neither Tesla nor the Offeror has authorized any person to provide any information or to make any representation in connection with the offer other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this document, and if any person provides any information or makes any representation of this kind, that information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Tesla or the Offeror.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this preliminary prospectus/offer to exchange is April 2, 2019.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE OFFER AND THE MERGER

     2  

SUMMARY

     12  

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF TESLA

     20  

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF MAXWELL

     22  

COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA

     23  

RISK FACTORS

     24  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     28  

THE COMPANIES

     29  

Tesla, Inc.

     29  

The Offeror

     29  

Maxwell Technologies, Inc.

     29  

THE OFFER

     30  

General

     30  

Background of the Offer and the Merger

     30  

Maxwell Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the Maxwell Board of Directors

     34  

Tesla’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger

     37  

Opinion of Maxwell’s Financial Advisor

     38  

Distribution of Offering Materials

     46  

Expiration of the Offer

     46  

Extension, Termination and Amendment of Offer

     46  

Exchange of Shares; Delivery of Tesla Shares

     48  

Withdrawal Rights

     48  

Procedure for Tendering

     49  

No Guaranteed Delivery

     50  

Grant of Proxy

     51  

Fees and Commissions

     51  

Matters Concerning Validity and Eligibility

     51  

Announcement of Results of the Offer

     52  

Purpose of the Offer and the Merger

     52  

No Stockholder Approval

     52  

Non-Applicability of Rules Regarding “Going Private” Transactions

     53  

Plans for Maxwell

     53  

Ownership of Tesla Shares after the Offer and the Merger

     53  

Effect of the Offer on the Market for Maxwell Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations

     54  

Conditions of the Offer

     55  

Certain Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals

     56  

Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger

     58  

Certain Relationships with Maxwell

     71  

Fees and Expenses

     71  

Accounting Treatment

     72  

Stock Exchange Listing

     72  

Resale of Tesla Common Stock

     72  

Exchange Agent Contact Information

     72  

MERGER AGREEMENT

     73  

OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS

     93  

Support Agreement

     93  

Confidentiality Agreement

     93  

Exclusivity and Non-Solicitation Agreement

     93  

 

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COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICE

     95  

MANAGEMENT OF TESLA

     96  

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT OF MAXWELL

     123  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS OF TESLA

     125  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     127  

DESCRIPTION OF TESLA CAPITAL STOCK

     131  

COMPARISON OF STOCKHOLDERS’ RIGHTS

     134  

LEGAL MATTERS

     141  

EXPERTS

     141  

WHERE TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION

     141  

 

Annex A

   Agreement and Plan of Merger      A-1  

Annex B

   Opinion of Barclays Capital Inc.      B-1  

Annex C

   Directors and Executive Officers of Tesla and the Offeror      C-1  

 

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This document incorporates by reference important business and financial information about Tesla, Maxwell and their respective subsidiaries from documents filed with the SEC that have not been included in or delivered with this document. This information is available without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, as well as from other sources. See the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information.”

You can obtain the documents incorporated by reference in this document by requesting them in writing or by telephone at the following address and telephone number:

Tesla, Inc.

3500 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

Attention: Investor Relations

(650) 681-5000

In addition, if you have questions about the offer or the merger, or if you need to obtain copies of this document and the letter of transmittal or other documents incorporated by reference in this document, you may contact the information agent for this transaction. You will not be charged for any of the documents you request.

The Information Agent for the offer is:

 

 

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10104

Stockholders Call Toll Free: (888) 643-8150

If you would like to request documents, please do so by April 3, 2019, in order to receive them before the expiration of the offer.

Information included in this document relating to Maxwell, including but not limited to the descriptions of Maxwell and its business and the information in the sections entitled “The Offer—Maxwell’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the Maxwell Board of Directors,” “The Offer—Opinion of Maxwell’s Financial Advisor” and “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger,” also appears in the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 dated the date of this document and filed by Maxwell with the SEC (the “Schedule 14D-9”). The Schedule 14D-9 is being mailed to holders of Maxwell shares as of the date of this document.

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE OFFER AND THE MERGER

Below are some of the questions that you as a holder of Maxwell shares may have regarding the offer and the merger and answers to those questions. You are urged to carefully read the remainder of this document and the related letter of transmittal and the other documents to which we have referred because the information contained in this section and in the “Summary” is not complete. Additional important information is contained in the remainder of this document and the related letter of transmittal. See the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information.” As used in this document, unless otherwise indicated or the context requires, “Tesla” or “we” refers to Tesla, and its consolidated subsidiaries; the “Offeror” refers to Cambria Acquisition Corp., a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla; and “Maxwell” refers to Maxwell and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Who is offering to buy my Maxwell shares?

Tesla, through the Offeror, its direct wholly-owned subsidiary, is making this offer to exchange Tesla common stock for Maxwell shares. Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, leases and sells high-performance fully electric vehicles, solar energy generation systems and energy storage products. Tesla also offers maintenance, installation, operation and other services related to its products. Tesla’s production vehicle fleet includes its Model S premium sedan and its Model X sport utility vehicle, which are its highest-performance vehicles, and its Model 3, a lower priced sedan designed for the mass market. Tesla continues to enhance its vehicle offerings with enhanced Autopilot options, Internet connectivity and free over-the-air software updates to provide additional safety, convenience and performance features. In addition, Tesla also has several future electric vehicles in its product pipeline, including Model Y, Tesla Semi, a pickup truck and a new version of the Tesla Roadster. Tesla leases and sells retrofit solar energy systems and sells renewable energy and energy storage products to its customers, and is ramping its Solar Roof product that combines solar energy generation with attractive, integrated styling. Tesla’s energy storage products, which it manufactures at Gigafactory 1, consist of Powerwall, mostly for residential applications, and Powerpack, for commercial, industrial and utility-scale applications.

On February 3, 2019, Tesla, the Offeror and Maxwell entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “merger agreement”).

What are the classes and amounts of Maxwell securities that Tesla is offering to acquire?

Tesla is seeking to acquire all issued and outstanding shares of Maxwell common stock, par value $0.10 per share.

What will I receive for my Maxwell shares?

Tesla, through the Offeror, is offering to exchange each outstanding share of Maxwell common stock that has been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer for a fraction of a share of Tesla common stock, par value $0.001 per share, equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $4.75 by the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second trading day prior to the date of the expiration of the offer (the “Tesla trading price”), subject to the minimum, plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Tesla common stock, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes (referred to herein as the “offer consideration”). For the avoidance of doubt, if the offer were to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on a Tuesday, then the five (5) consecutive trading days would be the preceding Monday through Friday assuming each day prior to the Tuesday expiration date was a trading day (other than Saturday or Sunday). In the event that the Tesla common stock price is equal to or less than $245.90, the minimum will apply and each share of Maxwell common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer will be exchanged for 0.0193 of a share of Tesla common stock and may result in less than $4.75 in value. Accordingly, the actual number of shares and the value of Tesla common stock delivered to Maxwell will depend

 

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on the Tesla stock price, and the value of the shares of Tesla common stock delivered for each such share of Maxwell common stock may be less than $4.75. If you do not tender your shares into the offer but the merger is completed (pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL without a stockholder vote), you will also receive the offer consideration in exchange for your shares of Maxwell common stock.

What will happen to my Maxwell stock options?

Any option to purchase shares of Maxwell common stock granted under Maxwell’s 2005 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2005 Plan”) or Maxwell’s 2013 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the “2013 Plan”) that remains outstanding as of the effective time of the merger (the “effective time”) will be treated in accordance with the merger agreement.

Pursuant to the merger agreement, at the effective time, each Maxwell option that is outstanding, unexercised and unexpired as of immediately prior to the effective time (other than former service provider options (defined below)) shall be assumed by Tesla and converted into and become an option to acquire shares of Tesla common stock (each, an “adjusted option”), on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the Maxwell option as of immediately prior to the effective time, except that: (x) the number of shares of Tesla common stock subject to the adjusted option as of the effective time will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the corresponding Maxwell option immediately prior to the effective time, by the offer consideration, with any fractional shares in the resulting product rounded down to the nearest whole share, and (y) the per share exercise price for each share of Tesla common stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the adjusted option as of the effective time will be determined by dividing the per share exercise price of the Maxwell option as in effect immediately prior to the effective time, by the offer consideration, with any fractional cent in the resulting quotient rounded up to the nearest whole cent. Each adjusted option otherwise shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Maxwell option under the applicable Maxwell Equity Plan (defined below in the immediately following question and answer) and the agreements evidencing the Maxwell options thereunder, including vesting terms.

Each Maxwell option that (i) is outstanding, unexercised and unexpired as of immediately prior to the effective time, (ii) either is vested as of immediately prior to the effective time or by its terms accelerates vesting as a result of the merger and (iii) is held by a former service provider of Maxwell or any Maxwell subsidiary as of immediately prior to the effective time (each, a “former service provider option”) shall not be treated in the same manner. At the effective time, without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or the holder of the former service provider option, each former service provider option shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Tesla common stock determined as: (i) (A) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the former service provider option immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the offer consideration, minus (ii) (A) the aggregate exercise or purchase price for all shares of Maxwell common stock subject to such former service provider option divided by (B) the Tesla trading price, with any resulting fractional share rounded down to the nearest whole share.

See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Treatment of Maxwell Equity Awards.”

What will happen to my Maxwell restricted stock units?

Any restricted stock unit award granted under the 2005 Plan and 2013 Plan (together, the “Maxwell Equity Plans”), whether vesting thereof is based on service, performance, stock performance or other conditions (each such restricted stock unit award and any Inducement RSUs, as defined further below, a “Maxwell RSU award”) that remains outstanding as of the effective time of the merger will be treated in accordance with the merger agreement.

At the effective time, each Maxwell RSU award (other than any former service provider RSUs (defined below)) that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time, without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or

 

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the holder thereof, shall be assumed by Tesla and converted automatically into and become a restricted stock unit covering shares of Tesla common stock (each, an “adjusted RSU”), on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the Maxwell RSU award as of immediately prior to the effective time, except that the number of shares of Tesla common stock subject to the adjusted RSU as of the effective time will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the corresponding Maxwell RSU award immediately prior to the effective time, by the offer consideration, with any fractional shares in the resulting product rounded down to the nearest whole share. Each adjusted RSU otherwise shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Maxwell RSU award under the applicable Maxwell Equity Plan and any agreements evidencing the Maxwell RSU awards thereunder, including vesting terms.

Each Maxwell RSU award that (i) is outstanding, unexercised, and unexpired as of immediately prior to the effective time, (ii) either is vested as of immediately prior to the effective time or by its terms accelerates vesting as a result of the merger and (ii) is held by a former service provider of Maxwell or any Maxwell subsidiary as of immediately prior to the effective time (each, a “former service provider RSU, and together with a former service provider option, a “former service provider award”) shall not be treated in the same manner. At the effective time, without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or the holder of the former service provider RSU, each former service provider RSU shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Tesla common stock determined as: (i) (A) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the former service provider RSU immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the offer consideration, with any resulting fractional share rounded down to the nearest whole share.

See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Treatment of Maxwell Equity Awards.”

What will happen to the Maxwell Employee Stock Purchase Plan?

Maxwell shall take all actions with respect to the Maxwell 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) that are necessary to provide that: (i) with respect to any offering periods in effect as of February 3, 2019 (the “Current ESPP Offering Period”), no employee who is not a participant in the ESPP as of the date hereof may become a participant in the ESPP and no participant may increase his or her contributions or payroll deductions under the ESPP after the date hereof; (ii) subject to the consummation of the merger, the ESPP shall terminate effective immediately prior to the effective time; (iii) if the Current ESPP Offering Period terminates prior to the effective time, then the ESPP shall be suspended and no new offering period shall be commenced under the ESPP prior to the termination of the merger agreement; and (iv) if any Current ESPP Offering Period is still in effect at the effective time, then the last day of such Current ESPP Offering Period shall be accelerated to a date before the effective date as specified by the Maxwell board of directors or its designated committee.

See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Treatment of Maxwell Equity Awards.”

Will I have to pay any fee or commission to exchange my shares of Maxwell common stock?

If you are the record owner of your shares of Maxwell common stock and you tender these shares in the offer, you will not have to pay any brokerage fees, commissions or similar expenses. If you own your shares of Maxwell common stock through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee tenders your Maxwell shares on your behalf, your broker or such other nominee may charge a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.

Why is Tesla making this offer?

The purpose of the offer is for Tesla to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, Maxwell. The offer is the first step in Tesla’s plan to acquire all of the outstanding Maxwell shares, and the merger is the second step in such plan.

 

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In the offer, if a sufficient number of Maxwell shares are tendered into the offer prior to the expiration time of the offer such that Tesla and the Offeror will own at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding immediately after the consummation of the offer, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions to the offer, Tesla and the Offeror will accept for exchange, and exchange, the shares tendered in the offer. Then, thereafter and as the second step in Tesla’s plan to acquire all of the outstanding Maxwell shares, Tesla intends to promptly consummate a merger of the Offeror with and into Maxwell, with Maxwell surviving the merger (the “merger”), subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement. The purpose of the merger is for Tesla to acquire all remaining Maxwell shares that it did not acquire in the offer. Upon consummation of the merger, the Maxwell business will be held in a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla, and the former stockholders of Maxwell will no longer have any direct ownership interest in the surviving corporation. If the offer is completed, the merger will be consummated pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and accordingly no stockholder vote will be required to consummate the merger.

What does the Maxwell board of directors recommend?

The board of directors of Maxwell unanimously: (i) determined that the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer, the merger and the issuance of Tesla shares in connection therewith, are fair to, and in the best interests of, Maxwell and its stockholders; (ii) determined that it is in the best interests of Maxwell and its stockholders and declared it advisable to enter into the merger agreement; and (iii) approved the execution and delivery by Maxwell of the merger agreement, the performance by Maxwell of its covenants and agreements contained in the merger agreement and the consummation of the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the merger agreement. The board of directors of Maxwell has also resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Maxwell accept the offer and tender their shares of Maxwell common stock to the Offeror pursuant to the offer.

See the section entitled “The Offer—Maxwell’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the Maxwell Board of Directors” for more information. A description of the reasons for this recommendation is also set forth in Maxwell’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the “Schedule 14D-9”), which has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is being mailed to you and other stockholders of Maxwell together with this document.

What are the most significant conditions of the offer?

The offer is conditioned upon, among other things, the following:

 

   

Minimum Tender Condition—Maxwell stockholders having validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the offer and prior to the expiration of the offer a number of shares of Maxwell common stock that, upon the consummation of the offer, together with any shares of Maxwell common stock then owned by Tesla and the Offeror, would represent at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding immediately after the consummation of the offer (the “minimum tender condition”);

 

   

Regulatory Approvals—Any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) and the approval of the competition authority of the Federal Republic of Germany (the “Bundeskartellamt”) having been granted or the relevant waiting period having expired;

 

   

Effectiveness of Form S-4—The registration statement on Form S-4, of which this document is a part, having become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and not being the subject of any stop order or proceeding seeking a stop order;

 

   

No Legal Prohibition—No governmental entity of competent jurisdiction having (i) enacted, issued or promulgated any law that is in effect as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer or (ii) issued

 

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or granted any order or injunctions (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer, which, in each case, has the effect of restraining or enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the offer or the merger;

 

   

Listing of Tesla Shares—The Tesla shares to be issued in the offer and the merger having been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance;

 

   

No Maxwell Material Adverse Effect—There not having occurred any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, fact, state of facts, event or occurrence since the date of the merger agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, assets or operations of Maxwell and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described in the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”), and that is continuing as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer;

 

   

Accuracy of Maxwell’s Representations and Warranties—The representations and warranties of Maxwell contained in the merger agreement being true and correct as of the expiration date of the offer, subject to specified materiality standards; and

 

   

Maxwell’s Compliance with Covenants—Maxwell having performed or complied in all material respects with the covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by it under the merger agreement prior to the expiration of the offer.

The offer is subject to certain other conditions set forth below in the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.” The conditions to the offer are for the sole benefit of Tesla and the Offeror and may be asserted by Tesla or the Offeror regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by Tesla or the Offeror, by express and specific action to that effect, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, in each case, prior to the expiration of the offer. However, certain specified conditions (including all the conditions noted above other than the conditions related to a material adverse effect of Maxwell, accuracy of Maxwell’s representations and Maxwell’s compliance with covenants) may not be waived by Tesla or the Offeror without the consent of Maxwell (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion). There is no financing condition to the offer.

How long will it take to complete the proposed transaction?

The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of Tesla’s fiscal year 2019, ending June 30, 2019, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions described in the sections entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” and “Merger Agreement—Conditions of the Merger.”

How long do I have to decide whether to tender my Maxwell shares in the offer?

The offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, at the end of April 10, 2019, unless extended or terminated in accordance with the merger agreement. Any extension, delay, termination, waiver or amendment of the offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof to be made no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. During any such extension, all Maxwell shares previously tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the offer, subject to the rights of a tendering stockholder to withdraw such stockholder’s shares. “Expiration date” means 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, at the end of April 10, 2019, unless and until the Offeror has extended the period during which the offer is open, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, in which event the term “expiration date” means the latest time and date at which the offer, as so extended by the Offeror, will expire.

Under the merger agreement, unless Maxwell consents otherwise (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion) or the merger agreement is terminated:

 

   

the Offeror must extend the offer for any period required by any law, or any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”)

 

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applicable to the offer, or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer or the offer documents or the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part;

 

   

in the event that any of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer) have not been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer, the Offeror must extend the offer for successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (or for such longer period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell) in order to permit the satisfaction or valid waiver of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition); however, if any then-scheduled expiration of the offer occurs on or before July 3, 2019, then the Offeror may not extend the offer beyond 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on July 3, 2019; and

 

   

if as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer each condition to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer (if such conditions would be satisfied or validly waived were the expiration of the offer to occur at such time)) has been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied, the Offeror may, and at the request in writing of Maxwell must, extend the offer for up to four successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (with the length of each such period being determined in good faith by Tesla) (or for such longer period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell); however, in no event will the Offeror be required to extend the expiration of the offer for more than 40 business days in the aggregate for these reasons, or July 3, 2019, whichever is earlier.

The Offeror is not required to extend the offer beyond July 3, 2019, which we refer to as the “outside date.”

Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the offer (including, if the offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any extension or amendment), promptly after the expiration of the offer, the Offeror will accept for payment, and will pay for, all Maxwell shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the offer.

Any decision to extend the offer will be made public by an announcement regarding such extension as described under the section entitled “The Offer—Extension, Termination and Amendment of Offer.”

How do I tender my Maxwell shares?

To validly tender your Maxwell shares represented by physical certificates into the offer, stockholders must deliver the certificates representing such shares, together with a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, along with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents for Maxwell shares, to Computershare Trust Company, N.A., the depositary and exchange agent (the “exchange agent”) for the offer and the merger, not later than the expiration date. The letter of transmittal is enclosed with this document.

To validly tender Maxwell shares in electronic book-entry form, Maxwell stockholders must deliver an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer and any other required documents for tendered Maxwell shares to the exchange agent, not later than the expiration date.

If your shares of Maxwell common stock are held in “street name” (i.e., through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee), these shares of Maxwell common stock may be tendered by your nominee by book-entry transfer through The Depository Trust Company. To validly tender such shares held in street name, Maxwell stockholders should instruct such nominee to do so prior to the expiration of the offer.

We are not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and therefore you must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of The Depository Trust Company

 

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prior to the expiration date. Tenders received by the exchange agent after the expiration date will be disregarded and of no effect. In all cases, you will receive your consideration for your tendered Maxwell shares only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates for such Maxwell shares (or of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such shares) and a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, together with any other required documents.

For a complete discussion of the procedures for tendering your Maxwell shares, see the section entitled “The Offer—Procedure for Tendering.”

Until what time can I withdraw tendered Maxwell shares?

You may withdraw your previously tendered Maxwell shares at any time until the offer has expired and, if the Offeror has not accepted your Maxwell shares for payment by April 10, 2019, you may withdraw them at any time on or after that date until the Offeror accepts shares for payment. If you validly withdraw your previously tendered Maxwell shares, you will receive shares of the same class of Maxwell common stock that you tendered. Once the Offeror accepts your tendered Maxwell shares for payment upon or after expiration of the offer, however, you will no longer be able to withdraw them. For a complete discussion of the procedures for withdrawing your Maxwell shares, see the section entitled “The Offer—Withdrawal Rights.”

How do I withdraw previously tendered Maxwell shares?

To withdraw previously tendered Maxwell shares, you must deliver a written notice of withdrawal with the required information to the exchange agent at any time at which you have the right to withdraw shares. If you tendered Maxwell shares by giving instructions to a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must instruct such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to arrange for the withdrawal of your Maxwell shares and such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must effectively withdraw such Maxwell shares at any time at which you have the right to withdraw shares. If you validly withdraw your previously tendered Maxwell shares, you will receive shares of the same class of Maxwell common stock that you tendered. For a discussion of the procedures for withdrawing your Maxwell shares, including the applicable deadlines for effecting withdrawals, see the section entitled “The Offer—Withdrawal Rights.”

When and how will I receive the offer consideration in exchange for my tendered Maxwell shares?

The Offeror will exchange all validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Maxwell shares promptly after the expiration date of the offer, subject to the terms thereof and the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to the offer, as set forth in the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.” The Offeror will deliver the consideration for your validly tendered and not validly withdrawn shares through the exchange agent, which will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving the offer consideration from the Offeror and transmitting such consideration to you. In all cases, you will receive your consideration for your tendered Maxwell shares only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates for such Maxwell shares (or of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such shares) (as described in the section entitled “The Offer—Procedure for Tendering”) and a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, together with any other required documents.

Why does the cover page to this document state that this offer is preliminary and subject to change, and that the registration statement filed with the SEC is not yet effective? Does this mean that the offer has not commenced?

No. Completion of this document and effectiveness of the registration statement are not necessary to commence this offer. The offer was commenced on the date of the initial filing of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part. Tesla and the Offeror cannot, however, accept for exchange any Maxwell shares tendered in the offer or exchange any shares until the registration statement is declared effective by the SEC and the other conditions to the offer have been satisfied or waived (subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement).

 

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What happens if I do not tender my Maxwell shares?

If, after consummation of the offer, Tesla and the Offeror own a majority of the aggregate voting power of the outstanding Maxwell shares, Tesla intends to promptly complete the merger after the consummation of the offer, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement.

Upon consummation of the merger, each Maxwell share that has not been tendered and accepted for exchange in the offer will be converted in the merger into the right to receive the offer consideration. See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Exchange of Maxwell Certificates or Book-Entry Shares for the Offer Consideration.”

Does Tesla have the financial resources to complete the offer and the merger?

Yes. The offer consideration will consist of Tesla shares. Tesla will pay cash for any fractional shares from cash on-hand and currently available to Tesla. The offer and the merger are not conditioned upon any financing arrangements or contingencies.

If the offer is completed, will Maxwell continue as a public company?

No. Tesla is required, on the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the merger agreement, to consummate the merger promptly following the acceptance of Maxwell shares in the offer. If the merger takes place, Maxwell will no longer be publicly traded. Even if for some reason the merger does not take place, if Tesla and the Offeror purchase all Maxwell shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, there may be so few remaining stockholders and publicly held shares that Maxwell shares will no longer be eligible to be traded through the Nasdaq Global Market or other securities exchanges, there may not be an active public trading market for Maxwell shares and Maxwell may no longer be required to make filings with the SEC or otherwise comply with the SEC rules relating to publicly held companies.

Will the offer be followed by a merger if all Maxwell shares are not tendered in the offer?

Yes, unless the conditions to the merger are not satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement. If the Offeror accepts for payment all Maxwell shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the offer, and the other conditions to the merger are satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement, the merger will take place promptly thereafter. If the merger takes place, Tesla will own 100% of the equity of Maxwell, and all of the remaining Maxwell stockholders, will have the right to receive the offer consideration.

Since the merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL, no stockholder vote will be required to consummate the merger in the event that the offer is consummated. Tesla is required, on the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in the merger agreement, to consummate the merger as promptly as practicable following the consummation of the offer. As such, Tesla does not expect there to be a significant period of time between the consummation of the offer and the consummation of the merger.

Have any stockholders of Maxwell already agreed to tender their shares in the Offer?

Yes, concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, on February 3, 2019, (i) Maxwell board members Richard Bergman, Steven Bilodeau, Jörg Buchheim, Franz Fink, Burkhard Göschel, Ilya Golubovich, John Mutch and I2BF Energy Limited and (ii) Maxwell officers Franz Fink, David Lyle and Emily Lough ((i)-(ii) collectively the “supporting stockholders”) entered into a tender and support agreements with Tesla and the Offeror (the “support agreement”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the support agreement, the supporting stockholders agreed, among other things, to:

 

   

cause all of such supporting stockholder’s Maxwell shares to be validly and irrevocably tendered into the offer as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than five (5) business days after the commencement (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) of the offer, or, where

 

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permissible, waived by the Offeror, assuming that all Maxwell shares to be tendered by the supporting stockholders are in fact validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer; and

 

   

certain restrictions on encumbering or transferring such Maxwell shares.

The support agreement terminates upon certain events, including the termination of the merger agreement in accordance with its terms.

The shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the support agreement represent approximately 7.65% of the shares of Maxwell common stock outstanding as of February 3, 2019.

For more information regarding the support agreement, see the section entitled “Other Transaction Agreements—Support Agreement,” and the support agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.6 to this document.

Do the officers and directors of Maxwell have interests in the offer and the merger that are different from stockholders generally?

You should be aware that some of the officers and directors of Maxwell may be deemed to have interests in the offer and the merger that are different from, or in addition to, your interests as a Maxwell stockholder. These interests may include, among others, Maxwell option agreements and Maxwell RSU award agreements that certain officers and directors have entered into with Maxwell under the applicable Maxwell Equity Plan that provide for vesting acceleration in connection with the completion of the merger, agreements that certain officers have entered into with Maxwell that provide for the vesting acceleration of Maxwell options and Maxwell RSU awards in the event the executive officer experiences a qualifying termination of employment within a specified period in connection with a change in control of Maxwell, payments of severance benefits to certain officers under Maxwell’s Severance and Change in Control Plan or pursuant to employment agreements that certain officers have entered into with Maxwell, and certain indemnification obligations. See the sections entitled “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger” and “Merger Agreement—Employee Matters” below for more information.

As of February 11, 2019, the directors and executive officers of Maxwell and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 3,897,048 Maxwell shares, representing approximately 8.41% of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding as of February 11, 2019.

Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, on February 3, 2019, (i) Maxwell board members Richard Bergman, Steven Bilodeau, Jörg Buchheim, Franz Fink, Burkhard Göschel, Ilya Golubovich, John Mutch and I2BF Energy Limited and (ii) Maxwell officers Franz Fink, David Lyle and Emily Lough, entered into a tender and support agreement with Tesla and the Offeror, solely in their capacities as stockholders of Maxwell. For more information regarding the support agreement, see the section entitled “Other Transaction Agreements—Support Agreement,” and such support agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.6 to this document.

See also the section entitled “Item 3—Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements” in the Schedule 14D-9, which has been filed with the SEC and is being mailed to you and other stockholders of Maxwell together with this document.

What are the U.S. federal income tax consequences of receiving Tesla stock in exchange for my Maxwell shares in the offer or the merger?

Each of Tesla and Maxwell intends the offer and the merger, taken together, to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). However, completion of the offer and the merger is not conditioned upon receipt of an opinion from counsel that the offer and the merger qualify as a reorganization, and the offer and merger will occur even if they do not so qualify.

 

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Assuming the offer and the merger, taken together, qualify as a reorganization, in general, the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders (as defined herein) of Maxwell shares are expected to be as follows:

 

   

Each Maxwell stockholder should not generally recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of Maxwell shares for Tesla shares pursuant to the offer and merger, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Tesla common stock as described below;

 

   

The holding period of the shares of Tesla common stock received by Maxwell stockholders in the offer and merger will include the holding period of the Maxwell shares surrendered in exchange therefor; and

 

   

Each Maxwell stockholder should recognize gain or loss to the extent any cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Tesla common stock exceeds or is less than the basis of such fractional share.

Tax matters are very complicated, and the tax consequences of the offer and merger to a particular Maxwell stockholder will depend on such stockholder’s circumstances. Accordingly, you should consult your tax advisor for a full understanding of the tax consequences of the offer and merger to you, including the applicability and effect of U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. income and other tax laws. For more information, please see the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page 127.

Whom should I call if I have questions about the offer?

You may call Georgeson LLC, the information agent, toll free at (888) 643-8150.

Where can I find more information about Tesla and Maxwell?

You can find more information about Tesla and Maxwell from various sources described in the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information.”

 

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SUMMARY

This section summarizes material information presented in greater detail elsewhere in this document. However, this summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to Maxwell stockholders. You are urged to carefully read the remainder of this document and the related letter of transmittal, the annexes to this document and the other information referred to or incorporated by reference in this document because the information in this section and in the section entitled “Questions and Answers About the Offer and the Merger” section is not complete. See the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information.”

The Offer (Page 30)

Tesla, through the Offeror, which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla, is offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this document and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, to exchange each outstanding share of Maxwell common stock that has been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer for a fraction of a share of Tesla common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $4.75 by the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second trading day prior to the date of the expiration of the offer (the “Tesla trading price”), subject to the minimum. For the avoidance of doubt, if the offer were to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on a Tuesday, then the five (5) consecutive trading days would be the preceding Monday through Friday assuming each day prior to the Tuesday expiration date was a trading day (other than Saturday or Sunday). In the event that the Tesla trading price is equal to or less than $245.90, the minimum will apply and each share of Maxwell common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer will be exchanged for 0.0193 of a share of Tesla common stock.

Maxwell stockholders will not receive any fractional shares of Tesla common stock in the offer or the merger, and each Maxwell stockholder who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Tesla common stock pursuant to the offer or the merger will be paid an amount in cash (without interest) equal to such fractional part of a share of Tesla common stock multiplied by the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending on and including the second trading day immediately preceding the expiration of the offer. See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Fractional Shares.”

The initial expiration date for the offer was March 19, 2019. On March 15, 2019, the Offeror extended the expiration date to April 2, 2019 and on March 28, 2019, the Offeror further extended the expiration date to April 10, 2019. In certain circumstances, the Offeror is required to or may extend the offer beyond this date.

Purpose of the Offer and the Merger (Page 52)

The purpose of the offer is for Tesla to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, Maxwell. The offer is the first step in Tesla’s plan to acquire all of the outstanding Maxwell shares, and the merger is the second step in such plan. If the offer is completed, tendered Maxwell shares will be exchanged for the offer consideration, and if the merger is completed, any remaining Maxwell shares that were not tendered in the offer will be converted into the right to receive the offer consideration. The purpose of the merger is for Tesla to acquire all Maxwell shares that it did not acquire in the offer.

Upon the consummation of the merger, the Maxwell business will be held in a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla, and the former Maxwell stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in such entity.

Tesla expects to consummate the merger promptly after the consummation of the offer in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and no stockholder vote to adopt the merger agreement or any other action by the



 

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Maxwell stockholders will be required in connection with the merger. See the section entitled “The Offer—Purpose of the Offer and the Merger.”

Support Agreement (Page 93)

Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, on February 3, 2019, (i) Maxwell board members Richard Bergman, Steven Bilodeau, Jörg Buchheim, Franz Fink, Burkhard Göschel, Ilya Golubovich, John Mutch and I2BF Energy Limited and (ii) Maxwell officers Franz Fink, David Lyle and Emily Lough ((i)-(ii) collectively, the “supporting stockholders”) entered into a tender and support agreement with Tesla and the Offeror (the “support agreement”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the support agreement, the supporting stockholders agreed, among other things, to:

 

   

cause all of such supporting stockholder’s Maxwell shares to be validly and irrevocably tendered into the offer as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than five (5) business days after the commencement (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) of the offer, or, where permissible, waived by the Offeror, assuming that all Maxwell shares to be tendered by the supporting stockholders are in fact validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer; and

 

   

certain restrictions on encumbering or transferring such Maxwell shares.

The support agreement terminates upon certain events, including the termination of the merger agreement in accordance with its terms.

The shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the support agreement represent approximately 7.65% of the shares of Maxwell common stock outstanding as of February 11, 2019.

For more information regarding the support agreement, see the section entitled “Other Transaction Agreements—Support Agreement,” and the support agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.6 to this document.

The Companies (Page 29)

Tesla, Inc.

Tesla, Inc.

3500 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, leases and sells high-performance fully electric vehicles, solar energy generation systems and energy storage products. Tesla also offers maintenance, installation, operation and other services related to its products. Tesla’s production vehicle fleet includes its Model S premium sedan and its Model X sport utility vehicle, which are its highest-performance vehicles, and its Model 3, a lower priced sedan designed for the mass market. Tesla continues to enhance its vehicle offerings with enhanced Autopilot options, Internet connectivity and free over-the-air software updates to provide additional safety, convenience and performance features. In addition, Tesla has several future electric vehicles in its product pipeline, including Model Y, Tesla Semi, a pickup truck and a new version of the Tesla Roadster. Tesla leases and sells retrofit solar energy systems and sells renewable energy and energy storage products to its customers, and is ramping its Solar Roof product that combines solar energy generation with attractive, integrated styling. Tesla’s energy storage products, which it manufactures at Gigafactory 1, consist of Powerwall, mostly for residential applications, and Powerpack, for commercial, industrial and utility-scale applications.



 

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The Offeror

Cambria Acquisition Corp.

c/o Tesla, Inc.

3500 Deer Creek Road

Palo Alto, California 94304

The Offeror, a Delaware corporation, is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla. The Offeror is newly formed, and was organized for the purpose of making the offer and consummating the merger. The Offeror has engaged in no business activities to date and it has no material assets or liabilities of any kind, other than those that are incidental to its formation and that are those incurred in connection with the offer and the merger. The Offeror’s address is c/o Tesla, 3500 Deer Creek Road, California 94304.

Maxwell Technologies, Inc.

Maxwell Technologies, Inc.

3888 Calle Fortunada

San Diego, California 92123

Maxwell Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing energy storage and power delivery products for transportation, industrial and other applications. Maxwell’s products are designed and manufactured to perform reliably with minimal maintenance for the life of the applications into which they are integrated, which Maxwell believes gives its products a key competitive advantage. Maxwell has one commercialized product line: energy storage, which consists primarily of ultracapacitors, with applications in multiple industries, including transportation and grid energy storage. In addition to Maxwell’s existing energy storage product line, Maxwell is focused on developing its dry battery electrode technology, which leverages its core dry electrode process technology that it has used to manufacture its ultracapacitors for many years, and which Maxwell believes could be a ground breaking technology for lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the electric vehicle market.

Tesla’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger (Page 37)

The purpose of the offer is for Tesla to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, Maxwell. The Offeror is making the offer and Tesla plans to complete the merger because it believes that the acquisition of Maxwell by Tesla will provide significant long-term growth prospects and increased stockholder value for the combined company, including as a result of the substantial anticipated synergies resulting from the acquisition.

Opinion of Maxwell’s Financial Advisor (Page 38)

Maxwell retained Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”), to act as its financial advisor in connection with the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Barclays delivered its oral opinion to the Maxwell board of directors that, as of the date of the written fairness opinion and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the offer consideration per share to be paid to the holders (other than Tesla and its affiliates) of Maxwell shares, taken in the aggregate, pursuant to the merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to such holders.

The full text of the written opinion of Barclays, dated February 3, 2019, which sets forth assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached as Annex B to this document and is incorporated into this document by reference. You should read the opinion carefully in its entirety.



 

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The Barclays opinion was provided to the Maxwell board of directors and addresses only, as of the date of the opinion, based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth therein, the fairness from a financial point of view of the offer consideration per share to be paid to the Maxwell stockholders (other than Tesla and its affiliates), taken in the aggregate, pursuant to the merger agreement. The Barclays opinion does not constitute a recommendation as to whether or not any holder of Maxwell shares should tender such Maxwell shares in connection with the offer or any other matter.

Barclays provided advisory services and its opinion for the information and assistance of the Maxwell board of directors in connection with its consideration of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. Pursuant to an engagement letter between Maxwell and Barclays, Maxwell has paid Barclays an opinion fee of $500,000 and has agreed to pay Barclays an additional transaction fee, currently estimated at approximately $4.37 million, which will be payable by Maxwell upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

Expiration of the Offer (Page 46)

The offer commenced on February 20, 2019 and is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, at the end of April 10, 2019, unless extended or terminated in accordance with the merger agreement. “Expiration date” means 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, at the end of April 10, 2019 unless and until the Offeror has extended the period during which the offer is open, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, in which event the term “expiration date” means the latest time and date at which the offer, as so extended by the Offeror, will expire.

Extension, Termination and Amendment of Offer (Page 46)

Subject to the provisions of the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and unless Maxwell consents otherwise (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion) or the merger agreement is otherwise terminated:

 

   

the Offeror must extend the offer for any period required by any law, or any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or Nasdaq applicable to the offer, or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer or the offer documents or the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part;

 

   

in the event that any of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer) have not been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer, the Offeror must extend the offer for successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (or for such longer period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell) in order to permit the satisfaction or valid waiver of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition); however, if any then-scheduled expiration of the offer occurs on or before July 3, 2019, then the Offeror may not extend the offer beyond 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on July 3, 2019 (subject to the six-business day maximum extension in certain circumstances described under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement”); and

 

   

if as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer each condition to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer (if such conditions would be satisfied or validly waived were the expiration of the offer to occur at such time)) has been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied, the Offeror may, and at the request in writing of Maxwell must, extend the offer for up to four successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (with the length of each such period being determined in good faith by Tesla) (or for such longer



 

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period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell); however, in no event will the Offeror be required to extend the expiration of the offer for more than 40 business days in the aggregate for these reasons or July 3, 2019, whichever is earlier.

The Offeror may not terminate or withdraw the offer prior to the then-scheduled expiration of the offer unless the merger agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms, in which case the Offeror will terminate the offer promptly (but in no event more than one business day) after such termination. Among other circumstances, the merger agreement may be terminated by either Tesla or Maxwell if the offer shall have terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (subject to the rights and obligations of Tesla or the Offeror to extend the offer pursuant to the merger agreement) without the Offeror having accepted for payment any Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer, or if the acceptance for exchange of Maxwell shares tendered in the offer has not occurred on or before July 3, 2019, which we refer to as the “outside date.” See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement.”

The Offeror will effect any extension, termination, amendment or delay by giving oral or written notice to the exchange agent and by making a public announcement as promptly as practicable thereafter as described under the section entitled “The Offer—Extension, Termination and Amendment of Offer.” In the case of an extension, any such announcement will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next business day following the previously scheduled expiration date. Subject to applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(c) and 14d-6(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which require that any material change in the information published, sent or given to stockholders in connection with the offer be promptly disseminated to stockholders in a manner reasonably designed to inform them of such change) and without limiting the manner in which the Offeror may choose to make any public announcement, the Offeror assumes no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement of this type other than by issuing (or having Tesla issue) a press release. During any extension, Maxwell shares previously tendered and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the offer, subject to the right of each Maxwell stockholder to withdraw previously tendered Maxwell shares.

No subsequent offering period will be available following the expiration of the offer without the prior written consent of Maxwell, other than in accordance with the extension provisions set forth in the merger agreement.

Conditions of the Offer (Page 55)

The offer is subject to certain conditions, including, among others:

 

   

satisfaction of the minimum tender condition (which requires that, prior to the expiration of the offer, there have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn a number of Maxwell shares that, upon the consummation of the offer, would represent at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding immediately after the consummation of the offer);

 

   

expiration or termination of the waiting period applicable to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement under the HSR Act and the approval of the competition authority of the Federal Republic of Germany (the “Bundeskartellamt”) or the expiration of the waiting period under German competition law;

 

   

lack of legal prohibitions;

 

   

the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part;

 

   

the listing of the Tesla shares to be issued in the offer and the merger on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance;

 

   

the accuracy of Maxwell’s representations and warranties made in the merger agreement, subject to specified materiality standards;



 

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Maxwell being in compliance in all material respects with its covenants under the merger agreement;

 

   

no material adverse effect (as described in the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) having occurred with respect to Maxwell since the date of the merger agreement that is continuing as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer;

 

   

the delivery of a certificate to Tesla and the Offeror, signed by Maxwell’s chief executive officer or chief financial officer, certifying the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the three bullet points immediately above; and

 

   

the merger agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.

The offer is subject to certain other conditions set forth in the section below entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.” Subject to applicable SEC rules and regulations, the Offeror also reserves the right prior to the expiration of the offer, in its sole discretion, at any time or from time to time to waive any condition identified as subject to waiver in the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” by giving oral or written notice of such waiver to the exchange agent. However, certain specified conditions (including the first five conditions in the immediately preceding list) may only be waived by Tesla or the Offeror with the prior written consent of Maxwell (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion).

Withdrawal Rights (Page 48)

Tendered Maxwell shares may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration of the offer. Additionally, if the Offeror has not agreed to accept the shares for exchange on or prior to April 10, 2019, Maxwell stockholders may thereafter withdraw their shares from the offer at any time after such date until the Offeror accepts the shares for exchange. Any Maxwell stockholder that validly withdraws previously tendered Maxwell shares will receive shares of the same class of Maxwell common stock that were tendered. Once the Offeror accepts shares for exchange pursuant to the offer, all tenders not previously withdrawn become irrevocable.

Procedure for Tendering (Page 49)

To validly tender Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer, Maxwell stockholders must:

 

   

if such shares are in certificated form or direct registration form, deliver a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, along with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, and certificates for tendered Maxwell shares to the exchange agent at its address set forth elsewhere in this document, all of which must be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration of the offer; or

 

   

if such shares are in electronic book-entry form, deliver an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other required documents, to the exchange agent, at its address set forth elsewhere in this document, and follow the other procedures for book-entry tender set forth herein (and a confirmation of receipt of that tender received), all of which must be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration of the offer.

Maxwell stockholders who hold shares of Maxwell common stock in “street name” through a bank, broker or other nominee holder, and desire to tender their shares of Maxwell common stock pursuant to the offer, should instruct the nominee holder to do so prior to the expiration of the offer.

Exchange of Shares; Delivery of Tesla Shares (Page 48)

Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the offer (including, if the offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any extension or amendment), promptly after the expiration of the offer, the Offeror will accept for exchange, and will exchange, all Maxwell shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the offer.



 

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Certain Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals (Page 56)

The completion of the offer is subject to the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act and the approval of the competition authority of the Bundeskartellamt or the expiration of the waiting period under German competition law. On February 14, 2019, the FTC notified Tesla and Maxwell that early termination of the 30-day waiting period had been granted. On March 7, 2019, the Bundeskartellamt notified Tesla and Maxwell that the offer had been approved. This requirement is discussed under the section entitled “The Offer—Certain Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals.”

Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger (Page 58)

You should be aware that some of the officers and directors of Maxwell may be deemed to have interests in the offer and the merger that are different from, or in addition to, your interests as a Maxwell stockholder. These interests may include, among others, Maxwell option agreements and Maxwell RSU award agreements that certain officers and directors have entered into with Maxwell under the applicable Maxwell Equity Plan that provide for vesting acceleration in connection with the completion of the merger, agreements that certain officers have entered into with Maxwell that provide for the vesting acceleration of Maxwell options and Maxwell RSU awards in the event the executive officer experiences a qualifying termination of employment within a specified period in connection with a change in control of Maxwell, payments of severance benefits to certain officers under Maxwell’s Severance and Change in Control Plan or pursuant to employment agreements that certain officers have entered into with Maxwell, and certain indemnification obligations. See the sections entitled “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger” and “Merger Agreement—Employee Matters” below for more information. As of February 11, 2019, the directors and executive officers of Maxwell and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 3,897,048 Maxwell shares, representing approximately 8.41% of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding as of February 11, 2019.

Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, on February 3, 2019, (i) Maxwell board members Richard Bergman, Steven Bilodeau, Jörg Buchheim, Franz Fink, Burkhard Göschel, Ilya Golubovich, John Mutch and I2BF Energy, Limited and (ii) Maxwell officers Franz Fink, David Lyle and Emily Lough, entered into a tender and support agreement with Tesla and the Offeror, solely in their capacities as stockholders of Maxwell. For more information regarding the support agreement, see the section entitled “Other Transaction Agreements—Support Agreement,” and such support agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.6 to this document.

See also the section entitled “Item 3—Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements” in the Schedule 14D-9, which has been filed with the SEC and is being mailed to you and other stockholders of Maxwell together with this document.

Comparative Market Price (Page 95)

Tesla common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TSLA” and Maxwell common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “MXWL”.

The parties announced the execution of the merger agreement prior to the commencement of trading on February 4, 2019. On February 1, 2019, the trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the merger agreement, the trading price per share of Maxwell common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $3.07, and the trading price per share of Tesla common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $312.21. On March 27, 2019, the most recent practicable trading date prior to the filing of this document, the trading price per share of Maxwell common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $4.61, and the trading price per share of Tesla common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $274.83.



 

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Maxwell stockholders should obtain current market quotations for Maxwell shares and Tesla shares before deciding whether to tender their Maxwell shares in the offer. See the section entitled “Comparative Market Price.”

Ownership of Tesla Shares After the Offer and the Merger (Page 53)

Tesla estimates that former Maxwell stockholders would own, in the aggregate, approximately 0.47% of the outstanding Tesla shares immediately following the completion of the offer and the merger based upon the number of outstanding Maxwell shares as of March 22, 2019.

For a detailed discussion of the assumptions on which this estimate is based, see the section entitled “The Offer—Ownership of Tesla Shares After the Offer and the Merger.”

Comparison of Stockholders’ Rights (Page 134)

The rights of Tesla stockholders are different in some respects from the rights of Maxwell stockholders. Therefore, Maxwell stockholders will have different rights as stockholders once they become Tesla stockholders. The differences are described in more detail under the section entitled “Comparison of Stockholders’ Rights.”

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences (Page 127)

Each of Tesla and Maxwell intends the offer and the merger, taken together, to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, in which case a Maxwell stockholder should not generally recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of Maxwell shares for Tesla shares pursuant to the offer and merger, except to the extent of cash received in lieu of a fractional share of Tesla common stock. Each Maxwell stockholder should read the discussion under the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” for a more complete discussion of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the offer and the merger. Tax matters can be complicated, and the tax consequences of the offer and the merger to a particular Maxwell stockholder will depend on such stockholder’s particular facts and circumstances. Maxwell stockholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the specific consequences to them of exchanging their shares of Maxwell common stock for the offer consideration pursuant to the offer or the merger.

Accounting Treatment (Page 72)

In accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (as “GAAP”), Tesla will account for the acquisition of shares through the offer and the merger under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations.

Questions about the Offer and the Merger

Questions or requests for assistance or additional copies of this document may be directed to the information agent at the telephone number and addresses set forth below. Maxwell stockholders may also contact their broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the offer.

The Information Agent for the Offer is:

 

 

LOGO

1290 Avenue of the Americas, 9th Floor

New York, NY 10104

Stockholders Call Toll Free: (888) 643-8150



 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF TESLA

The following table sets forth summary consolidated financial data for Tesla as of and for each of the five years ended December 31, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. All references to “fiscal years,” unless otherwise noted, refer to the 12-month fiscal year.

The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, were derived from Tesla’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2018, previously filed with the SEC on February 19, 2019 and incorporated by reference into this document. The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, and for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, were derived from Tesla’s audited consolidated financial statements not included or incorporated by reference into this document.

Such financial data should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Tesla’s historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” which are set forth in Tesla’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2018, previously filed with the SEC on February 19, 2019 and incorporated by reference into this document.

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2018(2)     2017     2016(1)     2015     2014  
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:

          

Total revenues

   $ 21,461,268     $ 11,758,751     $ 7,000,132     $ 4,046,025     $ 3,198,356  

Gross profit

   $ 4,042,021     $ 2,222,487     $ 1,599,257     $ 923,503     $ 881,671  

Loss from operations

   $ (388,073   $ (1,632,086   $ (667,340   $ (716,629   $ (186,689

Net loss

   $ (1,062,582   $ (2,240,578   $ (773,046   $ (888,663   $ (294,040

Net loss attributable to common stockholders

   $ (976,091   $ (1,961,400   $ (674,914   $ (888,663   $ (294,040

Net loss per share of common stock from continuing operations to common stockholders, basic and diluted(3)

   $ (5.72   $ (11.83   $ (4.68   $ (6.93   $ (2.36

Net loss per share of common stock attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted

   $ (5.72   $ (11.83   $ (4.68   $ (6.93   $ (2.36

Weighted average shares used in computing net loss per share of common stock, basic and diluted

     170,525       165,758       144,212       128,202       124,539  


 

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     As of December 31,  
     2018(2)     2017     2016(1)      2015     2014  
     (in thousands, except Book value per share)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

           

Working (deficit) capital

   $ (1,685,828   $ (1,104,150   $ 432,791      $ (29,029   $ 1,072,907  

Current assets

     8,306,308       6,570,520       6,259,796        2,782,006       3,180,073  

Noncurrent assets

     21,433,306       22,084,852       16,404,280        5,285,933       2,650,594  

Total assets

     29,739,614       28,655,372       22,664,076        8,067,939       5,830,667  

Current liabilities

     9,992,136       7,674,670       5,827,005        2,811,035       2,107,166  

Noncurrent liabilities

     13,433,874       15,348,310       10,923,162        4,125,915       2,753,595  

Book value per share

     28.52       25.10       29.42        8.25       7.25  

Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries

     834,397       997,346       785,175        —         —    

 

(1)

We acquired SolarCity Corporation (“SolarCity”) on November 21, 2016. SolarCity’s financial positions have been included in our financial positions from the acquisition date. See Note 3, Business Combinations, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding this transaction.

(2)

Includes the impact of the adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standard in 2018. Prior periods have not been revised. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, of the notes to the consolidated financial statements for further details.

(3)

We did not have discontinued operations for the periods presented.



 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF MAXWELL

The following table sets forth summary consolidated financial data for Maxwell as of and for each of the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017. All references to “fiscal years,” unless otherwise noted, refer to the 12-month fiscal year.

The summary consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 were derived from Maxwell’s audited consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2018, previously filed with the SEC on February 14, 2019 and incorporated by reference into this document.

Such financial data should be read together with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Maxwell’s historical consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes and the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” which are set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2018, previously filed with the SEC on February 14, 2019 and incorporated by reference into this document.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
               2018                          2017            
     (in thousands, except per share data)  

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data:

     

Revenue

   $ 90,459      $ 87,709  

Loss from operations from continuing operations

   $ (40,717    $ (51,698

Net loss from continuing operations

   $ (44,442    $ (53,862

Net loss per share from continuing operations:

     

Basic

   $ (1.08    $ (1.52

Diluted

   $ (1.08    $ (1.52
     As of December 31,  
     2018      2017  
     (in thousands, except shares)  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:

     

Total assets

   $ 163,731      $ 205,379  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 58,028      $ 46,192  

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

   $ 438        —    

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

   $ 37,969      $ 35,042  

Stockholders’ equity

   $ 90,591      $ 106,101  

Shares outstanding

     45,996,186        37,199,519  


 

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COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA

The following table reflects historical information about basic and diluted earnings per share, cash dividends per share and book value per share for Tesla and Maxwell for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 on a historical basis, and on an unaudited pro forma combined basis after giving effect to the offer and the merger.

This information is only a summary and should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes of Tesla and Maxwell contained in their respective Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and other information that each company has filed with the SEC which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. See the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information.”

The unaudited pro forma combined financial data presented below is based upon available information and certain assumptions that Tesla and Maxwell management believe are reasonable. The unaudited pro forma data, while helpful in illustrating the financial characteristics of the combined company under one set of assumptions, does not reflect the impact of factors that may result as a consequence of the merger or consider any potential impacts of current market conditions or the merger on revenues, expense efficiencies, debt refinancing or restructuring, among other factors, nor the impact of possible business model changes. As a result, the unaudited pro forma data is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an attempt to predict or suggest future results. Tesla and Maxwell may have performed differently had they always been combined. You should not rely on this information as indicating the historical results that would have been achieved had Tesla and Maxwell always been combined or the future results that the combined company will experience after the merger. Upon completion of the merger, the operating results of Maxwell will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements of Tesla on a prospective basis.

This pro forma information is subject to risks and uncertainties, including those discussed in “Risk Factors.”

 

     Tesla
Historical
     Maxwell
Historical
     Pro Forma
Combined
     Pro Forma
Equivalent
Maxwell
Share(1)
 

Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, basic and diluted:

   $ 5.72      $ 1.08      $ 6.08      $ 0.11  

Cash dividends declared per share for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018:

     —          —          —          —    

Book value per share as of December 31, 2018:

   $ 28.35      $ 1.95      $ 29.99      $ 0.53  

 

(1)

The Maxwell pro forma equivalent per share amounts were calculated by multiplying the pro forma combined amounts by the assumed exchange ratio of 0.0176.



 

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RISK FACTORS

Maxwell stockholders should carefully read this document and the other documents referred to or incorporated by reference into this document, including in particular the following risk factors, in deciding whether to tender Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer.

Risk Factors Relating to the Offer and the Merger

The offer remains subject to conditions that Tesla cannot control.

The offer is subject to conditions, including the minimum tender condition, receipt of required regulatory approvals, lack of legal prohibitions, no material adverse effect (as described in the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) having occurred with respect to Maxwell since the date of the merger agreement that is continuing as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer, the accuracy of Maxwell’s representations and warranties made in the merger agreement (subject to specified materiality standards), Maxwell being in compliance in all material respects with its covenants under the merger agreement, the listing of the Tesla shares to be issued in the offer and the merger being authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance, the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part becoming effective, and the merger agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms. There are no assurances that all of the conditions to the offer will be satisfied or that the conditions will be satisfied in the time frame expected. If the conditions to the offer are not met, then Tesla may, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, allow the offer to expire, or amend or extend the offer. See the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” for a discussion of the conditions to the offer.

The value of the Tesla common stock issuable in the offer and the merger is subject to change based on fluctuations in the value of Tesla common stock, and Maxwell’s stockholders may, in certain circumstances, receive stock consideration with a value that, is less than $4.75 per share of Maxwell common stock.

The market value of Tesla common stock will fluctuate during the offer period as well as thereafter. The consideration issuable in the offer and the merger is calculated by reference to the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second trading day prior to the date of the expiration of the offer (as adjusted as appropriate to reflect any stock splits, stock dividends, combinations, reorganizations, reclassifications or similar events) and subject to a minimum as described below. For the avoidance of doubt, if the offer were to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on a Tuesday, then the five (5) consecutive trading days would be the preceding Monday through Friday assuming each day prior to the Tuesday expiration date was a trading day (other than Saturday or Sunday). If the Tesla common stock price is greater than $245.90, the exchange ratio will be equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (1) $4.75 by (2) the Tesla trading price as calculated above. However, if the Tesla common stock price is equal to or less than $245.90, the minimum will apply and the exchange ratio will be fixed at 0.0193 and may result in less than $4.75 in value. Accordingly, the actual number of shares and the value of Tesla common stock delivered to participating Maxwell stockholders will depend on the Tesla stock price, and the value of the shares of Tesla common stock delivered for each such share of Maxwell common stock may be less than $4.75.

It is impossible to accurately predict the market price of Tesla common stock at the completion of the merger or during the 5-trading day period over which the Tesla common stock price is calculated and, therefore, impossible to accurately predict the number or value of the shares of Tesla common stock that Maxwell stockholders will receive in the merger. The market price for Tesla common stock may fluctuate both prior to completion of the merger and thereafter for a variety of reasons, including, among others, general market and economic conditions, the demand for Tesla’s or Maxwell’s products and services, changes in laws and regulations, other changes in Tesla’s and Maxwell’s respective businesses, operations, prospects and financial results of operations, market assessments of the likelihood that the merger will be completed, and the expected timing of the merger. Many of these factors are beyond Tesla’s and Maxwell’s control.

 

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If the transactions are completed, Maxwell stockholders will receive Tesla shares as part of the offer consideration and will accordingly become Tesla stockholders. Tesla common stock may be affected by different factors than Maxwell common stock, and Tesla stockholders will have different rights than Maxwell stockholders.

Upon consummation of the transactions, Maxwell stockholders will receive Tesla shares and will accordingly become Tesla stockholders. Tesla’s business differs from that of Maxwell, and Tesla’s results of operations and stock price may be adversely affected by factors different from those that would affect Maxwell’s results of operations and stock price.

In addition, holders of shares of Tesla common stock will have rights as Tesla stockholders that differ from the rights they had as Maxwell stockholders before the transactions. For a comparison of the rights of Tesla stockholders to the rights of Maxwell stockholders, see the section entitled “Comparison of Stockholders’ Rights.”

Maxwell stockholders who participate in the offer will be forfeiting all rights with respect to their Maxwell shares other than the right to receive the offer consideration, including the right to participate directly in any earnings or future growth of Maxwell.

If the offer and the merger are completed, Maxwell stockholders will cease to have any equity interest in Maxwell and will not participate in its earnings or any future growth, except indirectly through ownership of Tesla shares received in the offer and the merger.

Consummation of the offer may adversely affect the liquidity of the Maxwell shares not tendered in the offer.

If the offer is completed, you should expect the number of Maxwell stockholders and the number of publicly-traded Maxwell shares to be significantly reduced. As a result, the closing of the offer can be expected to adversely affect, in a material way, the liquidity of the remaining Maxwell shares held by the public pending the consummation of the merger. While Tesla currently expects the merger to occur on the day after the offer is completed, Tesla cannot assure you that all conditions to the merger will be satisfied at that time or at all.

Maxwell directors and officers potentially have interests in the transaction that differ from, or are in addition to the interests of the Maxwell stockholders generally.

You should be aware that some of the officers and directors of Maxwell may be deemed to have interests in the offer and the merger that are different from, or in addition to, your interests as a Maxwell stockholder. These interests may include, among others, agreements that certain officers have entered into with Maxwell that provide for the acceleration of stock options and restricted stock units in the event the officer experiences a qualifying termination of employment within 12 months following a change of control of Maxwell, payments of severance benefits under Maxwell’s broad-based severance plan to executive officers and certain indemnification obligations. See the sections entitled “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger” and “Merger Agreement—Employee Matters” below for more information.

As of February 11, 2019, the directors and executive officers of Maxwell and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 3,897,048 Maxwell shares, representing approximately 8.41% of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding as of February 11, 2019.

Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, on February 3, 2019, (i) Maxwell board members Richard Bergman, Steven Bilodeau, Jörg Buchheim, Franz Fink, Burkhard Göschel, Ilya Golubovich, John Mutch and I2BF Energy Limited and (ii) Maxwell officers Franz Fink, David Lyle and Emily Lough, entered into a tender and support agreement with Tesla and the Offeror, solely in their capacities as stockholders of Maxwell. For more information regarding the support agreement, see the section entitled “Other Transaction Agreements—Support Agreement,” and such support agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.6 to this document.

 

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Maxwell stockholders will have a reduced ownership and voting interest in Tesla as compared to their ownership and voting interest in Maxwell.

After consummation of the offer and merger, Maxwell stockholders will own approximately 0.47% of the outstanding Tesla shares, based upon the number of outstanding Maxwell shares as of March 22, 2019, disregarding stock options, restricted stock units and other rights to acquire shares that may be issued by Tesla or Maxwell pursuant to any employee stock plan. Consequently, former Maxwell stockholders will have less influence on the management and policies of the combined company than they currently exercise over Maxwell.

Sales of substantial amounts of Tesla shares in the open market by former Maxwell stockholders could depress its stock price.

Other than shares held by persons who will be affiliates of Tesla after the offer and the merger, Tesla shares that are issued to Maxwell stockholders, including those shares issued upon the exercise of outstanding stock options or restricted stock units, will be freely tradable without restrictions or further registration under the Securities Act. If the offer and the merger are completed and if former Maxwell stockholders and Maxwell employees sell substantial amounts of Tesla common stock in the public market following consummation of the offer and the merger, the market price of Tesla common stock may decrease.

Litigation relating to the offer or the merger could require Tesla to incur significant costs and suffer management distraction, as well as could delay and/or enjoin the merger.

In connection with the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, eight purported class action lawsuits have been filed. Five complaints, captioned Kip Leggett v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00377 (filed February 26, 2019), Shiva Stein v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00395 (filed February 26, 2019), Joel Rosenfeld IRA v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00413 (filed March 1, 2019), Franck Prissert v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00429 (filed March 4, 2019) and Jonathan Mantak v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et. al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00451 (filed March 7, 2019) were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. One complaint, captioned John Solak v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-00448 (filed March 4, 2019), was filed in the United States District Court District of Delaware. One complaint, captioned Davis Rodden v. Steven Bilodeau, et al., Case No. 2019-0176 (filed March 4, 2019), was filed in the Delaware Chancery Court. One complaint, captioned Jack Phillipps v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-01927 (filed February 28, 2019), was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

In general, the complaints assert claims against Maxwell and the Maxwell board of directors, with Tesla and the Offeror as additional defendants in the Kip Leggett v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al. and John Solak v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al. complaints. The complaints allege, among other things, that the defendants failed to make adequate disclosures in the Schedule 14D-9 filed by Maxwell on February 20, 2019. The complaints seek, among other things, to enjoin the proposed transaction, rescission of the proposed transaction should it be completed, and other equitable relief. Tesla and Maxwell believe the respective allegations in these complaints lack merit, and Tesla and Maxwell intend to vigorously defend the actions.

Tesla and Maxwell could be subject to additional demands or litigation related to the offer and the merger. Such actions may create uncertainty relating to the offer and the merger, and responding to such demands and defending such actions may be costly and distracting to management.

If the offer and the merger do not qualify as a tax-free reorganization, the receipt of Tesla common stock pursuant to the offer or merger could be fully taxable to all Maxwell stockholders.

Each of Tesla and Maxwell intends the merger to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. However, completion of the offer and merger are not conditioned upon receipt of an

 

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opinion from counsel dated as of the closing date that the offer and merger, taken together, qualify as a reorganization. The tax opinions received by Tesla and Maxwell as of the effective date of the registration statement are based on representation letters delivered as of such date by Tesla, the Offeror and Maxwell pertaining to factual matters and on certain factual assumptions. If any of these assumptions or representations proves incorrect, for example, if there is a change in applicable law, the offer and the merger could be fully taxable to all Maxwell stockholders. See the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning on page 127. Maxwell stockholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the specific tax consequences to them of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including any federal, state, local, foreign or other tax consequences, and any tax return filing or other reporting requirements.

Risk Factors Relating to Tesla and the Combined Company

Tesla may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the offer and the merger or those benefits may take longer to realize than expected.

Tesla believes there are benefits that may be realized through leveraging the products and technology of Maxwell. However, the efforts to realize these benefits and synergies will be a complex process and may disrupt both companies’ existing operations if not implemented in a timely and efficient manner. The full benefits of the transaction may not be realized as expected or may not be achieved within the anticipated time frame, or at all. Failure to achieve the anticipated benefits of the transactions could adversely affect Tesla’s results of operations or cash flows, cause dilution to the earnings per share of Tesla, decrease or delay any accretive effect of the transactions and negatively impact the price of Tesla common stock.

In addition, Tesla and Maxwell will be required to devote attention and resources prior to closing to prepare for the post-closing integration and operation of the combined company, and Tesla will be required post-closing to devote attention and resources to successfully align the business practices and operations of Tesla and Maxwell. This process may disrupt the businesses and, if ineffective, would limit the anticipated benefits of the transactions.

Tesla and Maxwell will incur direct and indirect costs as a result of the offer and the merger.

Tesla and Maxwell will incur expenses in connection with and as a result of completing the offer and the merger and, following the completion of the merger, Tesla expects to incur additional expenses in connection with combining the businesses and operations of Tesla and Maxwell. Factors beyond Tesla’s control could affect the total amount or timing of these expenses, many of which, by their nature, are difficult to estimate accurately. Moreover, diversion of management focus and resources from the day-to-day operation of the business to matters relating to the transactions could adversely affect each company’s business, regardless of whether the offer and the merger are completed.

Risks Related to Tesla’s Business

You should read and consider the risk factors specific to Tesla’s business that will also affect the combined company after the offer and the merger. These risks are described in Tesla’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which is incorporated by reference into this document, and in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this document. See the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information” for the location of information incorporated by reference in this document.

Risks Related to Maxwell’s Business

You should read and consider the risk factors specific to Maxwell’s business that will also affect the combined company after the offer and the merger. These risks are described in Maxwell’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which is incorporated by reference into this document, and in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this document. See the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information” for the location of information incorporated by reference in this document.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information both included and incorporated by reference in this document may contain forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our strategy, future operations, future financial position, future revenues, projected costs, profitability, expected cost reductions, capital adequacy, expectations regarding demand and acceptance for our technologies, growth opportunities and trends in the market in which we operate, prospects and plans and objectives of management. The words “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and forecasts, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of Tesla’s management, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including:

 

   

Tesla’s ability to consummate the proposed transaction on a timely basis or at all;

 

   

the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to consummation of the proposed transaction, including having a sufficient number of Maxwell shares being validly tendered into the offer to meet the minimum tender condition;

 

   

the parties’ ability to secure regulatory approvals on the terms expected, in a timely manner or at all;

 

   

Tesla’s ability to successfully integrate Maxwell operations;

 

   

Tesla’s ability to implement Tesla’s plans, forecasts and other expectations with respect to Maxwell business after the completion of the transaction and to realize expected synergies;

 

   

Tesla’s ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the transaction, including the possibility that the expected benefits from the transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period;

 

   

disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships;

 

   

the negative effects of the announcement or the consummation of the transaction on the market price of Tesla common stock or on Tesla’s operating results;

 

   

the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the offer and the merger;

 

   

unknown liabilities, including potential Superfund liability;

 

   

the risk of litigation or regulatory actions related to the transaction;

 

   

the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; and

 

   

other risks detailed in Tesla’s filings with the SEC (see the section entitled “Where to Obtain More Information”).

We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that we make. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the risks set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and in our other filings with the SEC. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

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THE COMPANIES

Tesla, Inc.

Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Tesla designs, develops, manufactures, leases and sells high-performance fully electric vehicles, solar energy generation systems and energy storage products. Tesla also offers maintenance, installation, operation and other services related to its products. Tesla’s production vehicle fleet includes its Model S premium sedan and its Model X sport utility vehicle, which are its highest-performance vehicles, and its Model 3, a lower priced sedan designed for the mass market. Tesla continues to enhance its vehicle offerings with enhanced Autopilot options, Internet connectivity and free over-the-air software updates to provide additional safety, convenience and performance features. In addition, Tesla has several future electric vehicles in its product pipeline, including Model Y, Tesla Semi, a pickup truck and a new version of the Tesla Roadster. Tesla leases and sells retrofit solar energy systems and sells renewable energy and energy storage products to its customers, and is ramping its Solar Roof product that combines solar energy generation with attractive, integrated styling. Tesla’s energy storage products, which it manufactures at Gigafactory 1, consist of Powerwall, mostly for residential applications, and Powerpack, for commercial, industrial and utility-scale applications. Tesla common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol “TSLA”.

The address of Tesla’s principal executive offices is 3500 Deer Creek Road, Palo Alto, California 94304. Tesla’s telephone number is (650) 681-5000. Tesla also maintains an Internet site at www.tesla.com. Tesla’s website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein, and you should not rely on any such information in making an investment decision.

The Offeror

The Offeror, a Delaware corporation, is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla. The Offeror is newly formed, and was organized for the purpose of making the offer and consummating the merger. The Offeror has engaged in no business activities to date and it has no material assets or liabilities of any kind, other than those incidental to its formation and those incurred in connection with the offer and the merger. The Offeror’s address is c/o Tesla, Inc., 3500 Deer Creek Road, Palo Alto, California 94304.

Maxwell Technologies, Inc.

Maxwell Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing energy storage and power delivery products for transportation, industrial and other applications. Maxwell’s products are designed and manufactured to perform reliably with minimal maintenance for the life of the applications into which they are integrated, which Maxwell believes gives its products a key competitive advantage. Maxwell has one commercialized product line: energy storage, which consists primarily of ultracapacitors, with applications in multiple industries, including transportation and grid energy storage. In addition to Maxwell’s existing energy storage product line, Maxwell is focused on developing its dry battery electrode technology, which leverages its core dry electrode process technology that it has used to manufacture its ultracapacitors for many years, and which Maxwell believes could be a ground breaking technology for lithium-ion batteries, particularly in the electric vehicle market.

Maxwell common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol “MXWL”.

The address of Maxwell’s principal executive offices is 3888 Calle Fortunada, San Diego, California 92123. Maxwell’s telephone number is (858) 503-3300. Maxwell also maintains an Internet site at www.maxwell.com. Maxwell’s website and the information contained therein or connected thereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein, and you should not rely on any such information in making an investment decision.

 

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THE OFFER

General

Tesla, through the Offeror, which is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla is offering, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this document and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, to exchange each outstanding share of Maxwell common stock that has been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer for a fraction of a share of Tesla common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $4.75 by the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second trading day prior to the date of the expiration of the offer (the “Tesla trading price”), subject to the minimum. For the avoidance of doubt, if the offer were to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on a Tuesday, then the five (5) consecutive trading days would be the preceding Monday through Friday assuming each day prior to the Tuesday expiration date was a trading day (other than Saturday or Sunday). In the event that the Tesla trading price is equal to or less than $245.90, the minimum will apply and the exchange ratio will be fixed at 0.0193. Such shares of Tesla common stock plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Tesla common stock is referred to herein as the “offer consideration,” and the offer consideration will be paid without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes.

Maxwell stockholders will not receive any fractional shares of Tesla common stock in the offer or the merger, and each Maxwell stockholder who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Tesla common stock pursuant to the offer or the merger will be paid an amount in cash (without interest) equal to such fractional part of a share of Tesla common stock multiplied by the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending on and including the second trading day immediately preceding the expiration of the offer. See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Fractional Shares.”

The purpose of the offer is for Tesla to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, Maxwell. The offer is the first step in Tesla’s plan to acquire all of the outstanding Maxwell shares, and the merger is the second step in such plan. If the offer is completed, validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Maxwell shares will be exchanged for the offer consideration, and if the merger is completed, any remaining Maxwell shares that were not tendered into the offer will be converted into the right to receive the offer consideration. If the offer is completed, Tesla intends to promptly consummate the merger as the second step in such plan, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement. The purpose of the merger is for Tesla to acquire all Maxwell shares that it did not acquire in the offer. Upon consummation of the merger, the Maxwell business will be held in a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla, and the former Maxwell stockholders will no longer have any direct ownership interest in the surviving corporation.

Background of the Offer and the Merger

The Schedule 14D-9 includes additional information on the background, deliberations and other activities involving Maxwell (see the section entitled “Background of the Offer and the Merger” in the Schedule 14 D-9, which has been filed with the SEC and is being mailed to you and other stockholders of Maxwell together with this document). You are encouraged to read that section in its entirety.

Over the past several years, Tesla and Maxwell have had periodic commercial related discussions in connection with potential opportunities between the two companies. In mid-2018, Tesla and Maxwell began a series of discussions in connection with a potential strategic commercial relationship. As part of their discussions regarding a potential strategic commercial relationship, Dr. Franz Fink, the President and Chief Executive Officer, and other representatives of Maxwell, on the one hand, and representatives of Tesla, on the other hand, have had discussions from time to time to better understand each other’s respective businesses, platforms and products, and to explore various ways in which they could collaborate in order to advance their shared business

 

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objectives. These discussions were related to commercial transactions and, at this time, did not involve discussions related to a potential acquisition of Maxwell by Tesla. No commercial agreement was entered into between the parties, and Maxwell never received any revenue from Tesla related to any commercial arrangements.

On December 12, 2018, Brian Scelfo of Tesla contacted Dr. Fink to convey Tesla’s interest in a potential acquisition of Maxwell rather than pursuing a strategic commercial relationship. Prior to December 12, 2018, none of the discussions between representatives of Maxwell and Tesla involved the possibility of an acquisition of Maxwell. Mr. Scelfo explained to Dr. Fink Tesla’s strategic rationale for a potential acquisition of Maxwell. Dr. Fink informed Mr. Scelfo that while Maxwell was not actively looking to sell the company, he would inform the Maxwell board of directors of Tesla’s current interest in a potential acquisition of Maxwell.

On December 13, 2018, Dr. Fink received a call from Mr. Scelfo, who called Dr. Fink as a follow up to his December 12 call, to express Tesla’s interest in conducting due diligence for a potential transaction. Following the call, Mr. Scelfo sent a mutual nondisclosure agreement to Dr. Fink so the parties could begin discussions and for preliminary diligence in connection with a potential transaction. On December 14, 2018, Tesla and Maxwell entered into the mutual nondisclosure agreement related to a possible negotiated transaction between Tesla and Maxwell.

On December 14, 2018, Tesla delivered a non-binding letter of intent to Dr. Fink proposing to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Maxwell for a per share purchase price of $2.35, which represented a premium of 15.2% from the closing price of Maxwell’s stock on December 14, 2018. The purchase price would be paid in shares of Tesla stock based on an exchange ratio to be fixed at the time of signing definitive transaction documents. In addition, Mr. Scelfo requested that Maxwell enter into an exclusivity agreement as it related to a proposed acquisition and delivered a draft to Dr. Fink. Dr. Fink then promptly informed the Maxwell board of directors of the letter of intent and interest from Tesla.

On December 16, 2018, Dr. Fink called Mr. Scelfo to inform him that the Maxwell board of directors would be holding a telephonic meeting on December 18, 2018, primarily for the purpose of approving a transaction unrelated to the Tesla non-binding letter of intent, and the Maxwell board of directors would also likely consider the Tesla offer at this meeting, but that based on Maxwell’s standalone plan and the moderate proposed premium to the Maxwell trading price represented by Tesla’s initial offer, the offer presented by Tesla would likely not be accepted by the Maxwell board of directors. Dr. Fink and Mr. Scelfo agreed that an in-person meeting between representatives of Tesla and Maxwell would be helpful for Tesla to further understand Maxwell’s products, technology and operations and the benefits of a potential acquisition transaction and allowing it to offer a higher valuation.

Between December 17 and December 19, 2018, Dr. Fink had numerous calls and email correspondence with Mr. Scelfo in order to prepare for an in-person meeting on December 20, 2018. Dr. Fink also informed Mr. Scelfo that the Maxwell board of directors declined Tesla’s offer, and that Tesla would need to increase its offer price to interest the Maxwell Board in a sale transaction.

On December 20, 2018, senior business development and engineering personnel and other members of Tesla management met with the CEO, CFO, senior operations personnel and other members of Maxwell management at Maxwell’s headquarters. Maxwell provided Tesla with further information regarding Maxwell’s products, technology and operations for the purpose of assisting Tesla with further analyzing the benefits of a potential acquisition transaction. Representatives of Tesla also provided information regarding Tesla’s programs and particular interest in Maxwell’s business, product lines and operations.

Following the meeting on December 20, 2018, Mr. Scelfo, on behalf of Tesla, delivered a revised non-binding letter of intent to Dr. Fink to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Maxwell for a per share purchase price of $3.10, which represented a premium of 56% from the closing price of Maxwell’s stock on

 

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December 20, 2018. Other terms of the offer remained the same as the initial letter of intent. Mr. Scelfo also indicated that a decision regarding a potential acquisition of Maxwell by Tesla would have to be reached quickly in order to not delay other important investment decisions at Tesla. Dr. Fink promptly provided the revised letter of intent to the Maxwell board of directors along with an update of his discussions with Mr. Scelfo.

After the December 22, 2018 Maxwell board of directors meeting, Dr. Fink informed Mr. Scelfo that Tesla’s revised offer was not accepted by the Maxwell board of directors and that the Maxwell board of directors would need a higher price in order to support a sale transaction with Tesla. Dr. Fink informed Mr. Scelfo, however, that he and his team were willing to work with Tesla through the holidays to help Tesla better understand the value that Tesla could realize through an acquisition of the company and further explain why the Maxwell board of directors was seeking a higher valuation.

Between December 23 and December 28, 2018, Dr. Fink had numerous email correspondences with Mr. Scelfo in order to conduct further diligence and discuss the benefits of a potential transaction. During this period, Mr. Scelfo also conveyed that Tesla was no longer interested in a potential strategic commercial arrangement with Maxwell and it would move in a different direction should Maxwell and Tesla be unable to reach an agreement regarding a potential acquisition of the entire capital stock of Maxwell.

After the December 28, 2018 Maxwell board of directors meeting, Dr. Fink contacted Mr. Scelfo via e-mail to discuss why the Maxwell board of directors felt a higher valuation was justified. Dr. Fink also provided Mr. Scelfo with a high-level summary of management’s net present value analysis, as reviewed by the Maxwell board of directors at the meeting earlier in the day. Dr. Fink also provided Mr. Scelfo with buy-in analysis of Maxwell’s larger institutional investors as previously previewed by the Maxwell board of directors. In addition, Dr. Fink reiterated that it was the view of the Maxwell board of directors that a higher value would likely be needed to gain the support of Maxwell’s largest institutional investors. At such time, Dr. Fink indicated to Mr. Scelfo that it was the Maxwell board of directors’ view that it would likely require at least $5.75—$6.00 per share to gain the support of Maxwell’s largest institutional investors.

Between January 3 and January 7, 2019, Dr. Fink had additional email and telephone correspondence with Mr. Scelfo.

On January 7, 2019, Mr. Scelfo, on behalf of Tesla, delivered a revised non-binding letter of intent to Dr. Fink to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Maxwell for a per share purchase price of $4.35, which represented a premium of 75% from the closing price of Maxwell’s stock on January 7, 2019. The other terms of the offer remained the same as Tesla’s initial letter of intent. Dr. Fink shared the revised non-binding letter of intent with Maxwell’s Strategic Transaction Committee on the morning of January 8, 2019.

In connection with the revised offer, Dr. Fink and Mr. Scelfo agreed to arrange an additional in-person meeting pursuant to which Tesla could meet additional members of the Maxwell team and learn more about Maxwell’s operations, technology and products.

Dr. Fink and Mr. Scelfo continued to communicate via email in between January 7, 2019 and January 10, 2019, and Dr. Fink indicated that Tesla’s latest offer was unlikely to be accepted by the Maxwell board of directors.

On January 11, 2019, senior business development and engineering personnel and other members of Tesla management met with the CEO, CFO, senior operations personnel and other members of Maxwell management and personnel at Maxwell’s headquarters in San Diego. During the meetings, Tesla indicated that members of its management team would be having a technical and business review on the following Monday and an update on negotiations with Maxwell would be provided to Tesla’s Chief Executive Officer and Audit Committee. Tesla made it clear that their latest offer was at the high end of the range in which approval from its Audit Committee had been given. Moreover, Mr. Scelfo indicated that, while Tesla may consider any counter-proposal from Maxwell, any higher proposal from Maxwell may cause Tesla to discontinue discussions and explore any and all

 

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alternative solutions available to Tesla, including alternatives that were simultaneously being considered or in development at Tesla.

On January 18, 2019, Mr. Scelfo, on behalf of Tesla, delivered a revised non-binding letter of intent to Dr. Fink. The offer continued to be an acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Maxwell. In the non-binding letter of intent, Tesla indicated a new per share purchase price of $4.75. While this was still lower than Maxwell’s initial request of $5.75—$6.00 per share that was discussed with Mr. Scelfo in December, it represented a premium of 66% from the closing price of Maxwell’s stock on January 17, 2019. Tesla indicated it would be amenable to discussing a fixed value construct, subject to a potential mutually agreed to price collar should Tesla share price move outside a certain percentage between signing and closing.

On January 20, 2019, Maxwell received a priority due diligence list from Tesla.

On January 23, 2019, Maxwell provided certain employees of Tesla with access to a virtual data room that contained materials regarding Maxwell’s business that were responsive to Tesla’s priority due diligence request list. Throughout the negotiation period, Maxwell continued to provide materials and Tesla continued to conduct due diligence on Maxwell.

From January 19 through January 22, 2019, Tesla and Maxwell continued to exchange revised drafts of the non-binding letter of intent and exclusivity agreement.

On January 23, 2019, Maxwell and Tesla entered into the non-binding letter of intent and an exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement with Tesla providing for exclusive negotiations through February 21, 2019. Later on January 23, 2019, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, Tesla’s outside legal advisors (“WSGR”), sent a draft of a proposed definitive merger agreement to representatives of DLA Piper LLP (US), Maxwell’s outside legal advisor (“DLA”). Neither the non-binding letter of intent nor the exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement included any standstill-related obligations on the part of Tesla relating to the potential acquisition or control of Maxwell.

Between January 23, 2019 and February 1, 2019, representatives of Maxwell held a number of lengthy management meetings in person and by conference call with various representatives of Tesla, during which in-depth financial, technological, legal and other due diligence was conducted, including meetings at Tesla’s offices on January 24 and 25, 2019, between members of Maxwell’s management and other employees of Tesla.

On January 24, 2019, representatives of DLA provided a revised draft of the definitive merger agreement to representatives of WSGR. Significant areas of negotiation included the scope and terms of the interim operating covenants, the timing of the closing and the outside date for the transaction, the structure of the transaction, the calculation of the Tesla trading price and collar terms, the terms upon which Maxwell could consider an alternative acquisition proposal and the process for dealing with any such proposal, and triggers for the possible payment of a termination fee and/or possible expense reimbursement.

On January 26, 2019, WSGR sent an initial draft of a form tender and support agreement in line with Tesla’s request to have certain Maxwell executive officers and all directors and their affiliated funds sign such an agreement. On January 27, 2019, representatives of DLA provided a revised draft of the form of tender and support agreement to representatives of WSGR, which was finalized over the course of the next several days.

On January 26, 2019, Tesla delivered a more extensive due diligence request list to Maxwell that supplemented the initial high priority due diligence request list. Maxwell continued to provide materials to Tesla in response to the due diligence request lists.

Between January 25 and February 2, 2019, representatives of DLA and representatives of WSGR exchanged drafts of the merger agreement and ancillary transaction documents and held telephonic discussions to progress negotiations between the parties on transaction terms.

 

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On January 31, 2019, members of Maxwell management, along with representatives of DLA, held a conference call with members of Tesla management regarding reverse legal and financial due diligence by Maxwell of Tesla and Tesla Common Stock.

After the close of market trading on February 1, 2019, representatives of Tesla visited Maxwell’s facility in Peoria, Arizona, to view the commercial production facility. Members of Maxwell’s senior management and engineering personnel were also present.

On February 3, 2019, the Tesla board of directors held a special meeting and approved the terms of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby.

Following the meeting, on February 3, 2019, Maxwell and Tesla signed the definitive merger agreement and, before the open of markets on February 4, 2019, Maxwell issued a press release announcing the transaction.

Maxwell’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger; Recommendation of the Maxwell Board of Directors

In evaluating the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer and the merger, the Maxwell board of directors consulted with Maxwell’s management, as well as Barclays, its external financial advisor, and DLA, its external legal counsel. In the course of reaching its determination that the offer and the merger are fair to, and in the best interests of Maxwell stockholders, and its recommendation that Maxwell stockholders accept the offer and tender their shares of Maxwell common stock in the offer, the Maxwell board of directors considered numerous reasons, including the following material reasons and benefits of the offer and merger, each of which the Maxwell board of directors believed supported its unanimous determination and recommendation:

 

   

Offer Price. The Maxwell board of directors considered the fact that the per share offer price of $4.75 per share of Maxwell common stock represents a significant premium over the market prices at which the Maxwell common stock had been trading, including representing a (i) 55% premium over the closing price of $3.07 per share of Maxwell common stock on the day before the date of the merger agreement and (ii) 74% premium over the volume weighted average trading price of $2.73 per share of Maxwell common stock during the one-month period prior to the date of the merger agreement.

 

   

Certainty of Value. The Maxwell board of directors considered the fact that the per share offer price of $4.75 per share of Maxwell common stock represented a fixed per share value, that would only decrease if Tesla’s stock price suffered a significant decrease.

 

   

Implied Valuation. The Maxwell board of directors considered the fact that the valuation of Maxwell implied by the offer price was at a premium to the comparable company and precedent transaction multiples identified by Maxwell and its advisors.

 

   

Combined Resources, Complementary Products, Execution Risks in Remaining Independent, Partnership with Tesla and Future Success. The Maxwell board of directors carefully considered the current and historical financial condition, results of operations, business, competitive position and prospects of Maxwell. Additionally, the Maxwell board of directors also considered a number of other reasons, including:

 

   

Combined Resources. The Maxwell board of directors’ belief that the transaction would provide Maxwell with the substantial resources necessary to develop and commercialize its technology.

 

   

Execution Risks in Remaining Independent. The Maxwell board of directors considered a number of the business challenges that Maxwell was facing, including the operational and business risks of operating as an independent company, liquidity, cash position and forecasted capital requirements, the current competitive environment in Maxwell’s industry as well as general uncertainty surrounding forecasted economic conditions, both in the near-term and long-term.

 

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Future Success. Given the consideration payable to Maxwell stockholders is Tesla common stock, Maxwell stockholders will continue to be able to meaningfully participate in the future growth of Tesla and, indirectly, Maxwell.

 

   

Opinion of Maxwell’s Financial Advisor. The Maxwell board of directors considered Barclays’ oral opinion and analysis as of February 3, 2019, subsequently confirmed in writing, to the Maxwell board of directors to the effect that, subject to the reasons and assumptions set forth therein, from a financial point of view, the offer consideration to be offered to the holders (other than Tesla and its affiliates) of shares of Maxwell common stock pursuant to the merger agreement was fair to such holders. The Maxwell board of directors was aware that Barclays became entitled to certain fees upon the announcement of the merger agreement and delivery of their written opinion and will become entitled to additional fees upon consummation of the merger. See “Opinion of Maxwell’s Financial Advisor.”

 

   

Certainty of Liquidity; Potential Participation in Growth. The Maxwell board of directors considered the form of the consideration payable to Maxwell stockholders. The stock consideration will offer the ability to participate in the future growth of Tesla and, indirectly, Maxwell and to benefit from any potential appreciation that may be reflected in the value of Tesla common stock (which future earnings growth rate may represent a different growth rate than Maxwell’s business on a standalone basis), as well as the ability to attain liquidity should any of the Maxwell stockholders choose not to retain their shares of Tesla common stock.

 

   

Likelihood of Completion. The Maxwell board of directors considered its belief that the offer and the merger will likely be consummated, based on, among other reasons:

 

   

the absence of any financing condition to consummation of the offer or the merger;

 

   

the reputation and financial condition of Tesla; and

 

   

Maxwell’s ability to request the Delaware Court of Chancery to specifically enforce the merger agreement, including the consummation of the offer and the merger, subject to the terms and conditions therein.

 

   

Certain Management Projections. The Maxwell board of directors considered certain financial projections for Maxwell prepared by Maxwell management, which reflected certain assumptions of Maxwell’s senior management. The financial projections are set forth in “Item 4—The Solicitation or Recommendation” in the Schedule 14D-9.

 

   

Competing Offers. The Maxwell board of directors considered the fact that Maxwell, together with management and its financial advisor, contacted several potential acquirors regarding a sale of Maxwell and did not receive a more compelling offer. In fact, neither Maxwell not its advisors received any formal offers or indications of interest from any third party that it would be interested in acquiring the company.

 

   

Other Terms of the Merger Agreement. The Maxwell board of directors considered other terms of the merger agreement, which are more fully described in the section entitled “Merger Agreement.” Certain provisions of the merger agreement that the Maxwell board of directors considered important included:

 

   

Ability to Respond to Certain Unsolicited Acquisition Proposals. The merger agreement permits the Maxwell board of directors, in furtherance of the exercise of its fiduciary duties under Delaware law, to consider and engage in negotiations or discussions with third parties regarding alternative transactions under certain circumstances (see the section entitled “Merger Agreement—No Solicitation of Other Offers by Maxwell”);

 

   

Fiduciary Termination Right. The Maxwell board of directors may terminate the merger agreement to accept a superior proposal if certain conditions are met, including providing Tesla an opportunity to match such proposal and the payment of the termination fee to Tesla (see the

 

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section entitled “Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement—Termination by Maxwell”);

 

   

Termination Fee. Although Maxwell must pay a termination fee as a condition to terminating the merger agreement to accept a superior proposal in the circumstances described above, the termination fee of 3.5% of the equity value of the transaction is comparable to other selected transactions;

 

   

Conditions to Consummation of the Offer and the Merger; Likelihood of Closing. The fact that the Offeror’s obligations to purchase (and Tesla’s obligation to cause the Offeror to purchase) shares of Maxwell common stock in the offer and to close the merger are subject to limited and customary conditions, and the resulting belief of the Maxwell board of directors that the offer and the merger are reasonably likely to be consummated; and

 

   

Extension of Offer Period. The fact that in the event that the conditions of the offer, with the exception of certain conditions, have not been satisfied or waived at the scheduled expiration of the offer, the Offeror must extend the offer for up to four (4) successive extension periods of up to ten (10) business days each until such conditions have been satisfied or waived, subject to the outside date provided in the merger agreement and the other terms and conditions of the merger agreement.

 

   

Tax Consequences of the Receipt of Tesla Common Stock. The Maxwell board of directors considered the fact that each of Maxwell and Tesla intends that the receipt of shares of Tesla common stock in exchange for the shares of Maxwell common stock pursuant to the offer and the merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to the Maxwell stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

In reaching its determinations and recommendations described above, the Maxwell board of directors also considered the following potentially negative reasons:

 

   

Announcement. The Maxwell board of directors considered the fact that the announcement of the offer could result in a disruption of Maxwell’s business and relationships with certain customers, suppliers, vendors and employees.

 

   

Interim Operating Covenants. The Maxwell board of directors considered that the merger agreement imposes certain restrictions on the conduct of Maxwell’s business prior to the consummation of the merger (see the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Conduct of Business Before Completion of the Merger—Restrictions on Maxwell’s Operations”).

 

   

Risks the Offer and the Merger May Not Be Completed. The Maxwell board of directors considered the risk that the conditions to the offer may not be satisfied and that, therefore, the offer and the merger may not be consummated. The Maxwell board of directors also considered the impact on Maxwell if the offer and the merger were not consummated, including the likely negative impact on Maxwell’s near-term stock price, potential loss of net operating loss based on the change of ownership of stock after announcement, diversion of management and employee attention, potential employee attrition and the potential negative effect on business relationships.

 

   

Interests of Directors and Executive Officers. The Maxwell board of directors considered the potential conflict of interest created by the fact that Maxwell’s executive officers and directors have financial interests in the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer and the merger. See the section entitled “The Offer—Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger.”

 

   

No Appraisal Rights. The Maxwell board of directors considered the absence of statutory appraisal rights under Delaware law in connection with the merger for Maxwell stockholders.

The foregoing discussion of the reasons considered by the Maxwell board of directors is intended to be a summary and is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather includes the material reasons considered by the

 

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Maxwell board of directors. After considering these reasons, the Maxwell board of directors concluded that the positive reasons relating to the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer and the merger, substantially outweighed the potential negative reasons. The Maxwell board of directors collectively reached the unanimous conclusion to approve the merger agreement and the related transactions, including the offer and the merger, in light of the various reasons described above and other reasons that the members of the Maxwell board of directors believed were appropriate. In view of the wide variety of reasons considered by the Maxwell board of directors in connection with its evaluation of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the offer and the merger, and the complexity of these matters, the Maxwell board of directors did not consider it practical, and did not attempt, to quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific reasons it considered in reaching its decision, and it did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any reasons, or any particular aspect of any reasons, supported or did not support its ultimate determination. Rather, the Maxwell board of directors made its recommendation based on the totality of information it received and the investigation it conducted. In considering the reasons discussed above, individual directors may have given different weights to different factors.

Tesla’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger

In reaching its decision to approve the merger agreement, the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, Tesla’s board of directors consulted with Tesla’s management, as well as Tesla’s legal advisors, and considered a number of factors, including the following factors which it viewed as supporting its decision to approve the merger agreement, the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement (not in any relative order of importance):

 

   

the view that the merger will generate cost savings and improvements;

 

   

the strength of Maxwell’s management team, engineering and manufacturing teams, and the cultural similarities between the two companies;

 

   

the view that the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated therein, including the representations, warranties, covenants, closing conditions and termination provisions, are comprehensive and favorable to completing the proposed transactions;

 

   

the anticipated short time period from announcement to completion achievable through the exchange offer structure and the expectation that the conditions to the consummation of the offer and the merger will be satisfied on a timely basis;

 

   

the amount and form of consideration to be paid in the transaction, including the fact that there is a floor on the exchange ratio favorable to Tesla, and the other financial terms of the transactions;

 

   

current financial market conditions and the current and historical market prices and volatility of, and trading information with respect to, shares of Tesla common stock and Maxwell common stock;

 

   

the Tesla’s board of directors and Tesla’s management’s familiarity with the business operations, strategy, earnings and prospects of each of Tesla and Maxwell and the scope and results of the due diligence investigation of Maxwell conducted by Tesla;

 

   

the entry into the support agreements by certain of Maxwell’s directors, officers and largest stockholders, whose shares in the aggregate represent approximately 7.65% of the voting power of all outstanding Maxwell shares as of February 11, 2019; and

 

   

Maxwell’s management’s recommendation in favor of the offer and the merger.

Tesla’s board of directors also considered a variety of uncertainties and risks and other potentially negative factors concerning the transactions, including the following (not in any relative order of importance):

 

   

the risk that the potential benefits of the acquisition may not be fully or even partially achieved, or may not be achieved within the expected timeframe;

 

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costs associated with the transactions;

 

   

the risk that the transactions may not be consummated despite the parties’ efforts or that the closing of the transactions may be unduly delayed;

 

   

the risks associated with the occurrence of events which may materially and adversely affect the operations or financial condition of Maxwell and its subsidiaries, which may not entitle Tesla to terminate the merger agreement;

 

   

the challenges and difficulties relating to combining the operations of Tesla and Maxwell;

 

   

the risk of diverting Tesla’s management focus and resources from other strategic opportunities and from operational matters while working to implement the acquisition of Maxwell, and other potential disruption associated with combining the two companies;

 

   

the effects of general competitive, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations on Tesla, Maxwell or the combined company; and

 

   

various other risks associated with the acquisition and the businesses of Tesla, Maxwell and the combined company, some of which are described under the section entitled “Risk Factors.”

Tesla’s board of directors concluded that the potential negative factors associated with the acquisition were outweighed by the potential benefits of completing the offer and the merger. Accordingly, Tesla’s board of directors approved the merger agreement, the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement.

The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Tesla board of directors is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes the material positive and negative factors considered. The Tesla board of directors did not undertake to make any specific determination as to whether any factor, or any particular aspect of any factor, supported or did not support its ultimate determination. The Tesla board of directors based its determination on the totality of the information presented.

The financial projections prepared by Maxwell’s management referred to herein are set forth in “Item 4—The Solicitation or Recommendation” in the Schedule 14D-9.

Opinion of Maxwell’s Financial Advisor

Maxwell engaged Barclays Capital Inc. (“Barclays”) to act as its financial advisor with respect to pursuing strategic alternatives for Maxwell, including a possible sale of Maxwell, pursuant to an engagement letter dated January 24, 2017. On February 3, 2019, Barclays rendered its oral opinion (which was subsequently confirmed in writing) to Maxwell’s board of directors that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the qualifications, limitations and assumptions stated in its opinion, the consideration to be offered to the holders of Maxwell common stock (other than holders of cancelled shares and converted awards following the merger) pursuant to the merger agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to such stockholders.

The full text of Barclays’ written opinion, dated as of February 3, 2019, is attached as Annex B. Barclays’ written opinion sets forth, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, factors considered and qualifications and limitations upon the review undertaken by Barclays in rendering its opinion. You are encouraged to read the opinion carefully in its entirety. The following is a summary of Barclays’ opinion and the methodology that Barclays used to render its opinion. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion.

Barclays’ opinion, the issuance of which was approved by Barclays’ Valuation and Fairness Opinion Committee, is addressed to the board of directors of Maxwell, addresses only the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be offered to the holders of Maxwell common stock (other than holders of converted awards

 

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and cancelled shares following the merger) pursuant to the merger agreement and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of Maxwell as to whether or not such stockholder should tender the shares of Maxwell common stock pursuant to the offer or how such stockholder should vote or act with respect to the proposed transaction or any other matter. The terms of the proposed transaction were determined through arm’s-length negotiations between Maxwell and Tesla and were unanimously approved by Maxwell’s board of directors. Barclays did not recommend any specific form of consideration to Maxwell or that any specific form of consideration constituted the only appropriate consideration for the proposed transaction. Barclays was not requested to address, and its opinion does not in any manner address, Maxwell’s underlying business decision to proceed with or effect the proposed transaction, the likelihood of the consummation of the proposed transaction, or the relative merits of the proposed transaction as compared to any other transaction in which Maxwell may engage. In addition, Barclays expressed no opinion on, and its opinion does not in any manner address, the fairness of the amount or the nature of any compensation to any officers, directors or employees of any parties to the proposed transaction, or any class of such persons, relative to the consideration to be offered to the stockholders of Maxwell in the proposed transaction. No limitations were imposed by Maxwell’s board of directors upon Barclays with respect to the investigations made or procedures followed by it in rendering its opinion.

In arriving at its opinion, Barclays, among other things:

 

   

reviewed and analyzed a draft of the merger agreement, dated as of February 3, 2019, and the specific terms of the proposed transaction;

 

   

reviewed and analyzed publicly available information concerning Maxwell that Barclays believed to be relevant to its analysis, including Maxwell’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2017 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2018, June 30, 2018 and September 30, 2018;

 

   

reviewed and analyzed financial and operating information with respect to the business, operations and prospects of Maxwell furnished to Barclays by Maxwell, including financial projections prepared by Maxwell’s management;

 

   

reviewed and analyzed a trading history of Maxwell common stock from January 31, 2016 to January 31, 2019;

 

   

reviewed and analyzed a comparison of the historical financial results and present financial condition of Maxwell and certain multiples of financial metrics based on financial metrics of Maxwell with those of other companies that Barclays deemed relevant;

 

   

reviewed and analyzed a comparison of the financial terms of the proposed transaction with the financial terms of certain other transactions that Barclays deemed relevant;

 

   

the results of Barclays’ efforts to solicit indications of interest from third parties with respect to a sale of Maxwell;

 

   

had discussions with the management of Maxwell concerning its business, operations, assets, liabilities, financial condition and prospects; and

 

   

has undertaken such other studies, analyses and investigations as Barclays deemed appropriate.

In arriving at its opinion, Barclays assumed and relied upon the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information used by Barclays without any independent verification of such information (and had not assumed responsibility or liability for any independent verification of such information). Barclays also relied upon the assurances of management of Maxwell that they were not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information inaccurate or misleading. With respect to the financial projections of Maxwell, upon advice of Maxwell, Barclays assumed that such projections were reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of Maxwell as to Maxwell’s future

 

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financial performance and that Maxwell will perform substantially in accordance with such projections. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays assumed no responsibility for and expressed no view as to any such projections or estimates or the assumptions on which they were based. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not conduct a physical inspection of the properties and facilities of Maxwell and did not make or obtain any evaluations or appraisals of the assets or liabilities of Maxwell. Barclays’ opinion was necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions as they existed on, and could be evaluated as of, February 3, 2019. Barclays assumed no responsibility for updating or revising its opinion based on events or circumstances that may have occurred after February 3, 2019. Barclays expressed no opinion as to the: (i) prices at which shares of Maxwell common stock would trade following the announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction or (ii) prices at which Tesla common stock would trade following the announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction, including whether the price of Tesla common stock will trade at a level at or below the floor price or any adjustment to the offer consideration resulting therefrom. Barclays’ opinion should not be viewed as providing any assurance that the market value of the shares of Tesla common stock to be held by the stockholders of Maxwell after the consummation of the proposed transaction will be in excess of the market value of Maxwell common stock owned by such stockholders at any time prior to the announcement or consummation of the proposed transaction.

Barclays assumed that the executed merger agreement would conform in all material respects to the last draft reviewed by Barclays. Additionally, Barclays assumed the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement and all the agreements related thereto. Barclays also assumed, upon the advice of Maxwell, that all material governmental, regulatory and third party approvals, consents and releases for the proposed transaction would be obtained within the constraints contemplated by the merger agreement and that the proposed transaction will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the agreement without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement thereof. Barclays did not express any opinion as to any tax or other consequences that might result from the proposed transaction, nor did Barclays’ opinion address any legal, tax, regulatory or accounting matters, as to which Barclays understood Maxwell had obtained such advice as it deemed necessary from qualified professionals.

In connection with rendering its opinion, Barclays performed certain financial, comparative and other analyses as summarized below. In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not ascribe a specific range of values to the shares of Maxwell common stock but rather made its determination as to fairness, from a financial point of view, to the holders of Maxwell common stock (other than holders of cancelled shares and converted awards following the merger) of the consideration to be offered to such stockholders pursuant to the merger agreement on the basis of various financial and comparative analyses. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and involves various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial and comparative analyses and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances. Therefore, a fairness opinion is not readily susceptible to summary description.

In arriving at its opinion, Barclays did not attribute any particular weight to any single analysis or factor considered by it but rather made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor relative to all other analyses and factors performed and considered by it and in the context of the circumstances of the particular transaction. Accordingly, Barclays believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole, as considering any portion of such analyses and factors, without considering all analyses and factors as a whole, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying its opinion.

Summary of Material Financial Analyses

The following is a summary of the material financial analyses used by Barclays in preparing its opinion to Maxwell’s board of directors. The summary of Barclays’ analyses and reviews provided below is not a complete description of the analyses and reviews underlying Barclays’ opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of analysis and review and the application of those methods to particular circumstances, and, therefore, is not readily susceptible to summary description.

 

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For the purposes of its analyses and reviews, Barclays made numerous assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Maxwell or any other parties to the proposed transaction. No company, business or transaction considered in Barclays’ analyses and reviews is identical to Maxwell, Tesla, the Offeror or the proposed transaction, and an evaluation of the results of those analyses and reviews is not entirely mathematical. Rather, the analyses and reviews involve complex considerations and judgments concerning financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the acquisition, public trading or other values of the companies, businesses or transactions considered in Barclays’ analyses and reviews. None of Maxwell, Tesla, the Offeror, Barclays or any other person assumes responsibility if future results are materially different from those discussed. Any estimates contained in these analyses and reviews and the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis or review are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than as set forth below. In addition, analyses relating to the value of companies, businesses or securities do not purport to be appraisals or reflect the prices at which the companies, businesses or securities may actually be sold. Accordingly, the estimates used in, and the results derived from, Barclays’ analyses and reviews are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty.

In connection with its analysis described below, per the instructions of Maxwell management, Barclays assumed (i) Maxwell total indebtedness of approximately $46 million, (ii) Maxwell total cash and investments of approximately $58 million, (iii) Maxwell shares of common stock of 46,008,549 outstanding on a fully diluted basis using the treasury stock method, (iv) Maxwell options of 356,117 outstanding with exercise prices ranging from $4.72 per share to $17.71 per share and (v) Maxwell restricted share units of 3,887,884.

The summary of the financial analyses and reviews summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses and reviews used by Barclays, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary, as the tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses and reviews. Considering the data in the tables below without considering the full description of the analyses and reviews, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses and reviews, could create a misleading or incomplete view of Barclays’ analyses and reviews.

Selected Comparable Company Analysis

In order to assess how the public market values shares of similar publicly traded companies and to provide a range of relative implied equity values per share of Maxwell by reference to those companies, which could then be used to calculate implied equity value per share ranges, Barclays reviewed and compared specific financial and operating data relating to Maxwell with selected companies that Barclays, based on its experience in the energy storage and related industries, deemed comparable to Maxwell. The selected comparable companies were:

 

   

Arotech Corporation

 

   

Camel Group Co. Ltd.

 

   

EnerSys

 

   

FuelCell Energy Inc.

 

   

GS Yuasa Corporation

 

   

Highpower International, Inc.

 

   

Plug Power Inc.

 

   

Ultralife Corporation

Barclays calculated and compared various financial multiples and ratios of Maxwell and the selected comparable companies. As part of its selected comparable company analysis, Barclays calculated and analyzed each company’s ratio of its enterprise value to its 2018, 2019 and 2020 estimated revenue. Revenue estimates were not

 

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available for Highpower International, Inc. or Ultralife Corporation. The enterprise value (“EV”) of each company was calculated as (i) the sum of (a) the market value of its fully diluted equity value, using the treasury stock method, based on closing stock prices on February 1, 2019, (b) the amount of its short- and long-term debt, (c) the value of any preferred stock (at liquidation value), (d) the value of any pension liabilities and (e) the book value of any minority interest, less (ii) the value of its cash, cash equivalents and short and long-term liquid investments. All of these calculations for the comparable companies were performed, and, in the case of Maxwell were based on the financial and operating information and financial projections provided to Barclays by Maxwell management, and in the case of the selected comparable companies were based on publicly available financial data and closing prices, as of February 1, 2019, the last trading date prior to the delivery of Barclays’ opinion. The results of this selected comparable company analysis are summarized below:

 

     EV/Revenue Multiples  

Comparable Companies

           2018E                      2019E                      2020E          

Arotech Corporation

     1.02x        0.93x        0.85x  

Camel Group Co. Ltd.

     1.02x        0.75x        0.62x  

EnerSys*

     1.64x        1.39x        1.29x  

FuelCell Energy Inc.**

     2.20x        2.03x        1.45x  

GS Yuasa Corporation

     0.55x        0.53x        0.52x  

Highpower International, Inc.

     N/A        N/A        N/A  

Plug Power Inc.

     3.31x        2.55x        1.98x  

Ultralife Corporation

     N/A        N/A        N/A  

 

 

Low

     0.55x        0.53x        0.52x  

Median

     1.33x        1.16x        1.07x  

High

     3.31x        2.55x        1.98x  

 

*

EnerSys pro forma for acquisition of Alpha Technologies for $750mm completed 12/10/2018.

**

FuelCell pro forma for acquisition of Bridgeport Fuel Cell Park for $36.6mm expected to close by early 2019.

Barclays selected the comparable companies listed above because of similarities in one or more business or operating characteristics with Maxwell. However, because of the inherent differences between the business, operations and prospects of Maxwell and those of the selected comparable companies, Barclays believed that it was inappropriate to, and therefore did not, rely solely on the quantitative results of the selected comparable company analysis. Accordingly, Barclays also made qualitative judgments concerning differences between the business, financial and operating characteristics and prospects of Maxwell and the selected comparable companies that could affect its public trading values in order to provide a context in which to consider the results of the quantitative analysis. These qualitative judgments related primarily to the differing sizes, growth prospects, profitability levels and degree of operational risk between Maxwell and the companies included in the selected company analysis. Based upon these judgments, Barclays selected a range of 1.25x to 1.75x to 2018 estimated EV / Revenue, 1.00x to 1.50x to 2019 estimated EV / Revenue, 1.00x to 1.50x to 2020 estimated EV / Revenue for Maxwell and applied such ranges to the management projections to calculate a range of implied equity values per share of Maxwell. The following summarizes the result of these calculations:

 

     Multiple Range      Indicative Equity Values Per Share of Maxwell
Common Stock
 

EV / 2018E Revenue

     1.25x – 1.75x      $ 2.51 – $3.41  

EV / 2019E Revenue

     1.00x – 1.50x      $ 2.26 – $3.28  

EV / 2020E Revenue

     1.00x – 1.50x      $ 2.95 – $4.30  

Barclays noted that on the basis of the selected comparable company analysis, the offer consideration of $4.75 per share, payable in Tesla common stock, based on the closing prices of Tesla and Maxwell common stock on February 1, 2019, was above the range of implied equity values per share calculated pursuant to the foregoing analysis.

 

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Selected Precedent Transaction Analysis

Barclays reviewed and compared the purchase prices paid and implied financial multiples in selected other transactions that Barclays, based on its experience with merger and acquisition transactions in the energy storage and battery industry, deemed relevant. Barclays chose such transactions based on, among other things, the similarity of the applicable target companies in the transactions to Maxwell with respect to the size, mix, margins and other characteristics of their businesses. Using publicly available information, Barclays calculated and analyzed multiples of the EV to Revenue for the last twelve-months (“LTM Revenue”) implied by the prices paid in the selected precedent transactions.

The following table sets forth the transactions analyzed based on such characteristics and the results of such analysis ($ in millions):

Selected Precedent Transactions

 

Date
Announced

   Date
Closed
    

Acquiror

  

Target

   Enterprise
Value
     EV/LTM
Revenue
Multiples
 
11/13/2018      Pending      Brookfield Business Partners    Johnson Controls International Plc (Power Solutions)    $ 13,200        1.65x  
8/3/2018      Pending      Envision Energy USA Ltd.    Nissan Motor Co., Ltd (Electric Battery Operations)    $ 1,000        N/A  
2/28/2017      4/28/2017      Maxwell    Nesscap Energy, Inc.    $ 25        1.27x  
2/23/2017      4/19/2017      KEMET Corp.    NEC TOKIN Corp.    $ 522        1.74x  
5/9/2016      7/21/2016      Total SA    Saft Groupe SA    $ 1,171        1.35x  
1/13/2016      1/13/2016      Ultralife Corporation    Accutronics Ltd.    $ 11        0.88x  
10/28/2013      11/1/2013      EnerSys    Quallion LLC    $ 30        3.00x  
6/14/2011      6/13/2011      KEMET Corp.    Cornell Dubilier Foil LLC    $ 15        N/A  
12/23/2009      2/1/2010      OM Group, Inc.    EaglePicher Technologies LLC    $ 172        1.38x  
7/27/2009      7/27/2009      TransDigm Group, Inc.    Acme Aerospace, Inc.    $ 40        2.22x  
              High        3.00x  
              Mean        1.69x  
              Median        1.51x  
              Low        0.88x  

The reasons for and the circumstances surrounding each of the selected precedent transactions analyzed were diverse and there are inherent differences in the business, operations, financial conditions and prospects of Maxwell and the companies included in the selected precedent transaction analysis. Accordingly, Barclays believed that a purely quantitative selected precedent transaction analysis would not be particularly meaningful in the context of considering the proposed transaction. Barclays therefore made qualitative judgments concerning differences between the characteristics of the selected precedent transactions and the proposed transaction which would affect the acquisition values of the selected target companies and Maxwell.

Based upon these judgments, Barclays selected a range of 1.25x to 2.00x to EV / LTM Revenue and applied such range to the LTM Revenue (for the 12-months period ending on December 31, 2018), per Maxwell management’s financial projections for Maxwell, to calculate a range of implied prices per share of Maxwell. Barclays’ selected precedent transactions analysis yielded a reference equity value range for Maxwell common stock of $2.51 to $3.87 per share.

Barclays noted that on the basis of the selected precedent transaction analysis, the offer consideration of $4.75 per share, payable in Tesla common stock, based on the closing prices of Tesla and Maxwell common

 

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stock on February 1, 2019, was above the range of implied equity values per share calculated pursuant to the foregoing analysis.

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

In order to estimate the present value of Maxwell common stock, Barclays performed a discounted cash flow analysis of Maxwell. A discounted cash flow analysis is a traditional valuation methodology used to derive a valuation of an asset by calculating the “present value” of estimated future cash flows of the asset. “Present value” refers to the current value of future cash flows or amounts and is obtained by discounting those future cash flows or amounts by a discount rate that takes into account macroeconomic assumptions and estimates of risk, the opportunity cost of capital, expected returns and other appropriate factors.

To calculate the estimated EV of Maxwell using the discounted cash flow method, Barclays assessed (i) Maxwell’s projected after-tax unlevered free cash flows for calendar years 2019 through 2025 based on management projections (see the section entitled “Item 4—The Solicitation or Recommendation” in the Schedule 14D-9) and (ii) the “terminal value” of Maxwell as of December 31, 2025, their present values assuming a mid-year convention for free cash flows for 2019—2025 and applying 6% tax rate (per Maxwell’s management) to the 2025 cash flow for the “terminal value” calculation purpose and using a range of selected discount rates and added such discounted amounts together. The after-tax unlevered free cash flows were calculated by taking the tax-effected EBIT (see the discussion in the section entitled “Item 4—The Solicitation or Recommendation” in the Schedule 14D-9), adding depreciation and subtracting capital expenditures and adjusting for changes in net working capital. The residual value of Maxwell at the end of the forecast period, or “terminal value,” was estimated by selecting a range of perpetuity growth rates of 3% to 5%, which was derived by Barclays utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account Maxwell’s financial forecasts and market expectations and applying such range to Maxwell’s projections for the calendar year ending December 31, 2025.

Barclays analyzed the weighted average cost of capital for Maxwell, utilizing a risk-free rate of return based on the twenty year government bond yield as of February 1, 2019, a 5-year unadjusted beta for each of Maxwell and such selected comparable companies (outlined in the “Selected Comparable Companies Analysis”) per Bloomberg, normalized statutory tax rates, size premium for Maxwell based on the companies with $88 million - $166 million in equity value per Duff and Phelps, and historical long term equity risk premium per Duff and Phelps. This analysis indicated an approximately 18.41% weighted average cost of capital for Maxwell based on its current capital structure, a weighted average cost of capital for Maxwell of approximately 18.38% assuming Maxwell’s capital structure was comparable to the median of the comparable companies described above and a weighted average cost of capital of 15.33% for Maxwell based on the median of the unlevered beta and the median of the capital structure for such selected comparable companies. Based on the foregoing analysis, Barclays selected a range of discount rates of 14.0% to 18.0% was selected based on an analysis of the weighted average cost of capital of Maxwell and the selected comparable companies used in the “Selected Comparable Companies Analysis” described above. Barclays then calculated a range of implied prices per share of Maxwell by subtracting estimated net debt (including assumed make-whole payments under Maxwell’s convertible debt) as of December 31, 2018 from Maxwell’s estimated EV calculated using the discounted cash flow method and dividing such amount by the fully diluted number of shares of Maxwell, calculated using the treasury stock method, and using the number of Maxwell shares, options to purchase Maxwell shares and Maxwell restricted units outstanding as of January 31, 2019, per Maxwell management. The range of implied equity values per share of Maxwell common stock resulting from Barclays’ discounted cash flow analysis was $2.78—$5.74.

Barclays noted that on the basis of the discounted cash flow analysis, the offer consideration of $4.75 per share, payable in Tesla common stock, based on the closing prices of Tesla and Maxwell common stock on February 1, 2019, was within the range of implied equity values per share calculated pursuant to the foregoing analysis.

 

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Other Factors

Barclays also reviewed and considered other factors, which were not considered part of its financial analyses in connection with rendering its advice, but were reviewed and provided for the Maxwell board of directors for informational purposes, including, among other things, the Historical Share Price Analysis and Transaction Premium Analysis described below.

Historical Share Price Analysis

In order to provide background information and perspective to the Maxwell board of directors with respect to, and to illustrate the trend in the historical trading prices of Maxwell common stock, Barclays considered historical data with regard to the trading prices of Maxwell common stock for the period from February 1, 2018 to February 1, 2019. Barclays noted that during the 52-week period preceding the date of Barclays’ fairness opinion, the closing price of Maxwell common stock ranged from $1.80 to $6.14.

Transaction Premium Analysis

In order to provide background information and perspective to the Maxwell board of directors with respect to, and to assess the implied premium offered to the holders of Maxwell common stock in the proposed transaction relative to the premiums offered to stockholders in other transactions, Barclays reviewed the 1-day and 30-day premiums paid in 280 global public technology M&A transactions greater than $25 million in value from February 1, 2016 to February 1, 2019 using publicly available information. The results of this transaction premium analysis are summarized below:

 

     Public Technology M&A Premiums  
     1st Quartile     Median     Mean     3rd Quartile  

1-Day Premium

     12     24     35     43

30-Day Premium

     15     28     37     44

General

Barclays is an internationally recognized investment banking firm and, as part of its investment banking activities, is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, investments for passive and control purposes, negotiated underwritings, competitive bids, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for estate, corporate and other purposes. Maxwell’s board of directors selected Barclays because of its qualifications, reputation and experience in the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions generally, as well as substantial experience in transactions comparable to the proposed transaction.

Barclays is acting as financial advisor to Maxwell in connection with the proposed transaction. As compensation for its services in connection with the proposed transaction, Maxwell has paid Barclays an opinion fee of $500,000 and has agreed to pay Barclays an additional transaction fee, currently estimated at approximately $4.37 million, which will be payable by Maxwell upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement. In addition, Maxwell has agreed to reimburse Barclays for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with the proposed transaction and to indemnify Barclays for certain liabilities that may arise out of its engagement by Maxwell and the rendering of Barclays’ opinion. Barclays has performed various investment banking and financial services for Maxwell, Tesla and their affiliates in the past, and expect to perform such services in the future, and have received, and expect to receive, customary fees for such services. During the past two years, Barclays has received fees for investment banking and financial services unrelated to the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement of approximately $4.9 million from Maxwell. In the past two years, Barclays has performed the following investment banking and financial services: (i) acted as bookrunner in connection with Tesla’s offering of $1.0 billion convertible notes in March 2017; (ii) acted as an

 

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underwriter in connection with Tesla’s $402.5 million follow-on offering in March 2017; (iii) acted as financial advisor in connection with Maxwell’s Defense Advisory Settlement entered into in April 2017; (iv) acted as joint bookrunner in connection with Tesla’s inaugural high yield offering of $1.80 billion senior notes due 2025 in August 2017; (v) acted as an underwriter in connection with the Maxwell’s $46.0 million senior unsecured convertible notes offering in October 2017; (vi) acted as an underwriter in connection with the Maxwell’s $23.0 million follow-on offering in August 2018; and (vii) acted as financial advisor in connection with the Maxwell’s divestiture of its high voltage capacitors business in December 2018. In addition, (i) Barclays is currently engaged by the Maxwell to advise on certain corporate defensive advisory matters should they arise and we would receive customary fees in connection therewith; (ii) an affiliate of Barclays acts as a lender under Tesla’s $1.2 billion revolving credit facility which expires in June 2020; (iii) in addition to the lending relationship with Tesla specified in the preceding clause, an affiliate of Barclays also acts as a lender in connection with two other facilities with different entities affiliated with Tesla, both of which expire in August 2019; and (iv) Barclays remains in contact with Tesla concerning the possible future provision of investment banking and financial services.

Barclays, its subsidiaries and its affiliates engage in a wide range of businesses from investment and commercial banking, lending, asset management and other financial and non-financial services. In the ordinary course of its business, Barclays and affiliates may actively trade and effect transactions in the equity, debt and/or other securities (and any derivatives thereof) and financial instruments (including loans and other obligations) of Maxwell and Tesla and their respective affiliates for its own account and for the accounts of its customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold long or short positions and investments in such securities and financial instruments.

Distribution of Offering Materials

This document, the related letter of transmittal and other relevant materials will be delivered to record holders of Maxwell shares and to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on Maxwell’s stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency’s security position listing, so that they can in turn send these materials to beneficial owners of Maxwell shares.

Expiration of the Offer

The offer commenced on February 20, 2019 and is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, at the end of April 10, 2019, unless extended or terminated in accordance with the merger agreement. “Expiration date” means 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, at the end of April 10, 2019 unless and until the Offeror has extended the period during which the offer is open, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, in which event the term “expiration date” means the latest time and date at which the offer, as so extended by the Offeror, will expire.

Extension, Termination and Amendment of Offer

Subject to the provisions of the merger agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, and unless Maxwell consents otherwise (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion) or the merger agreement is otherwise terminated:

 

   

the Offeror must extend the offer for any period required by any law, or any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or Nasdaq applicable to the offer, or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer or the offer documents or the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part;

 

   

in the event that any of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer) have not been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement as of any then-scheduled expiration

 

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of the offer, the Offeror must extend the offer for successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (or for such longer period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell) in order to permit the satisfaction or valid waiver of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition); however, if any then-scheduled expiration of the offer occurs on or before July 3, 2019, then the Offeror may not extend the offer beyond 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on July 3, 2019; and

 

   

if as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer each condition to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer (if such conditions would be satisfied or validly waived were the expiration of the offer to occur at such time)) has been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied, the Offeror may, and at the request in writing of Maxwell must, extend the offer for up to four successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (with the length of each such period being determined in good faith by Tesla) (or for such longer period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell); however, in no event will the Offeror be required to extend the expiration of the offer for more than 40 business days in the aggregate for these reasons or July 3, 2019, whichever is earlier.

No extension will impair, limit or otherwise restrict the right of the parties to terminate the merger agreement pursuant to its terms.

The Offeror may not terminate or withdraw the offer prior to the then-scheduled expiration of the offer unless the merger agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms, in which case the Offeror will terminate the offer promptly (but in no event more than one business day) after such termination. Among other circumstances, the merger agreement may be terminated by either Tesla or Maxwell if the offer shall have terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (subject to the rights and obligations of Tesla or the Offeror to extend the offer pursuant to the merger agreement) without the Offeror having accepted for payment any Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer, or if the acceptance for exchange of Maxwell shares tendered in the offer has not occurred on or before July 3, 2019, which we refer to as the “outside date.” See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement.”

The Offeror expressly reserves the right to waive any offer condition or modify the terms of the offer, except that the Offeror may not make certain changes to the offer or waive certain conditions to the offer without the prior written consent of Maxwell (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion). Changes to the offer that require the prior written consent of Maxwell include changes (i) that change the form of consideration to be paid in the offer, (ii) that decrease the consideration in the offer or the number of Maxwell shares sought in the offer, (iii) that extend the offer (other than in a manner required or permitted by the merger agreement), (iv) that impose conditions to the offer not included in the merger agreement, (v) that amend or modify any of the conditions to the offer or (vi) that amend or modify any other term of or condition to the offer in any manner that is adverse to the holders of Maxwell shares.

Conditions to the offer that the Offeror and Tesla may not amend, modify or waive without the prior written consent of Maxwell (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion) include (i) the minimum tender condition, (ii) the receipt of required regulatory approvals, (iii) lack of legal prohibitions, (iv) the effectiveness of the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part and (v) the approval for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market of the Tesla shares to be issued in the offer and the merger.

The Offeror will effect any extension, termination, amendment or delay of the offer by giving oral or written notice to the exchange agent and by making a public announcement as promptly as practicable thereafter. In the case of an extension, any such announcement will be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next business day following the previously scheduled expiration date. Subject to applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(c) and 14d-6(d) under the Exchange Act, which require that any material change in the information published, sent or given to stockholders in connection with the offer be promptly disseminated to stockholders in a manner reasonably

 

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designed to inform them of such change) and without limiting the manner in which the Offeror may choose to make any public announcement, the Offeror assumes no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement of this type other than by issuing a press release.

If the Offeror materially changes the terms of the offer or the information concerning the offer, or if the Offeror waives a material condition of the offer, in each case, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, the Offeror will extend the offer to the extent legally required under the Exchange Act.

For purposes of the offer, a “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday and any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of California or New York or is a day on which banking institutions located in such states are authorized or required by applicable law or other governmental action to close.

No subsequent offering period will be available following the expiration of the offer without the prior written consent of Maxwell, other than in accordance with the extension provisions set forth in the merger agreement.

Exchange of Shares; Delivery of Tesla Shares

Tesla has retained Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as the depositary and exchange agent for the offer and the merger (the “exchange agent”) to handle the exchange of Maxwell shares for the offer consideration in the offer and the merger.

Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the offer (including, if the offer is extended or amended in accordance with the merger agreement, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the Offeror will accept for exchange, and will exchange, Maxwell shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer, promptly after the expiration of the offer. In all cases, a Maxwell stockholder will receive consideration for Maxwell shares tendered in the offer only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates for those shares (or of a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such shares into the exchange agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) (as described in “—Procedure for Tendering”) and a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal (or an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer), together with any other required documents.

For purposes of the offer, the Offeror will be deemed to have accepted for exchange Maxwell shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn if and when it notifies the exchange agent of its acceptance of those Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer. The exchange agent will deliver to the applicable Maxwell stockholders any Tesla shares issuable in exchange for Maxwell shares validly tendered and accepted pursuant to the offer promptly after receipt of such notice. The exchange agent will act as the agent for tendering Maxwell stockholders for the purpose of receiving Tesla shares from the Offeror and transmitting such Tesla shares to the tendering Maxwell stockholders.

If the Offeror does not accept any tendered Maxwell shares for exchange pursuant to the terms and conditions of the offer for any reason, or if certificates are submitted representing more shares than are tendered for, the Offeror will cause to be returned certificates for such unexchanged shares without expense to the tendering stockholder or, in the case of shares tendered by book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedures set forth below in “—Procedure for Tendering,” the Maxwell shares to be returned will be credited to an account maintained with DTC or otherwise credited to the tendering stockholder as soon as practicable following expiration or termination of the offer.

Withdrawal Rights

Maxwell stockholders can withdraw tendered Maxwell shares at any time until the expiration of the offer and, if the Offeror has not agreed to accept the shares for exchange on or prior to April 10, 2019, Maxwell stockholders can thereafter withdraw their shares from tender at any time after such date until the Offeror accepts shares for exchange. Any Maxwell stockholder that validly withdraws previously validly tendered Maxwell shares will receive shares of the same class of Maxwell common stock that were tendered.

 

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For the withdrawal of Maxwell shares to be effective, the exchange agent must receive a written notice of withdrawal from the Maxwell stockholder at one of the addresses set forth elsewhere in this document prior to the expiration of the offer. The notice must include the Maxwell stockholder’s name, address, social security number (or tax identification number in the case of entities), the certificate number(s), if any, the number of shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder, if it is different from that of the person who tendered those shares, and any other information required pursuant to the offer or the procedures of DTC, if applicable.

A financial institution must guarantee all signatures on the notice of withdrawal, unless the shares to be withdrawn were tendered for the account of an eligible institution. Most banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses are able to provide signature guarantees. An “eligible institution” is a financial institution that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program.

If shares have been tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer discussed under the section entitled “—Procedure for Tendering,” any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn shares and must otherwise comply with DTC’s procedures. If certificates have been delivered or otherwise identified to the exchange agent, the name of the registered holder and the serial numbers of the particular certificates evidencing the shares withdrawn must also be furnished to the exchange agent, as stated above, prior to the physical release of such certificates.

The Offeror will decide all questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal in its sole discretion, and its decision will be final and binding, subject to any judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction. None of the Offeror, Tesla, Maxwell, the exchange agent, the information agent or any other person is under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any tender or notice of withdrawal or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. Any shares validly withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the offer. However, a Maxwell stockholder may re-tender withdrawn shares by following the applicable procedures discussed under the section “—Procedure for Tendering” at any time prior to the expiration of the offer.

Procedure for Tendering

To validly tender Maxwell shares held of record, Maxwell stockholders must:

 

   

if such shares are in certificated form or direct registration form, deliver a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, along with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, and certificates, for tendered Maxwell shares to the exchange agent, at its address set forth elsewhere in this document, all of which must be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration of the offer; or

 

   

if such shares are in electronic book-entry form, deliver an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer, and any other required documents, to the exchange agent, at its address set forth elsewhere in this document, and follow the other procedures for book-entry tender set forth herein (and a confirmation of receipt of that tender received), all of which must be received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration of the offer.

If Maxwell shares of common stock are held in “street name” (i.e., through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee), those shares of common stock may be tendered by the nominee holding such shares by book-entry transfer through DTC. To validly tender such shares held in street name, Maxwell stockholders should instruct such nominee to do so prior to the expiration of the offer.

The exchange agent has established an account with respect to the Maxwell shares at DTC in connection with the offer, and any financial institution that is a participant in DTC may make book-entry delivery of Maxwell shares by causing DTC to transfer such shares prior to the expiration date into the exchange agent’s account in

 

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accordance with DTC’s procedure for such transfer. However, although delivery of Maxwell shares may be effected through book-entry transfer at DTC, the letter of transmittal with any required signature guarantees, or an agent’s message, along with any other required documents, must, in any case, be received by the exchange agent at its address set forth elsewhere in this document prior to the expiration date. The term “agent’s message” means a message transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the exchange agent and forming a part of a book-entry confirmation, which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the DTC participant tendering the shares that are the subject of such book-entry confirmation, that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal and that the Offeror may enforce that agreement against such participant.

The Offeror is not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures and therefore Maxwell stockholders who hold their shares through a DTC participant must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of DTC prior to the expiration date. Tenders received by the exchange agent after the expiration date will be disregarded and of no effect.

Signatures on all letters of transmittal must be guaranteed by an eligible institution, except in cases in which shares are tendered either by a registered holder of Maxwell shares who has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” on the letter of transmittal or for the account of an eligible institution.

If the Maxwell certificates for shares are registered in the name of a person other than the person who signs the letter of transmittal, or if payment is to be made or delivered to, or a share certificate not accepted for exchange or not tendered (including any certificate for unexchanged shares) is to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s), the certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered owner or owners appear on the certificates, with the signature or signatures on the stock powers guaranteed by an eligible institution.

The method of delivery of Maxwell certificates and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the option and risk of the tendering Maxwell stockholder, and delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the exchange agent. If delivery is by mail, the Offeror recommends registered mail with return receipt requested and properly insured. In all cases, Maxwell stockholders should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery.

To prevent U.S. federal backup withholding, each Maxwell stockholder that is a U.S. person (as defined in the Code), other than a stockholder exempt from backup withholding as described elsewhere in this document, must provide the exchange agent with its correct taxpayer identification number and certify that it is not subject to U.S. federal backup withholding by timely completing the IRS Form W-9 included in the letter of transmittal. Certain stockholders (including, among others, certain foreign persons) are not subject to these backup withholding requirements. In order for a Maxwell stockholder that is a foreign person to qualify as an exempt recipient for purposes of U.S. federal backup withholding, the stockholder must timely submit an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other applicable IRS Form W-8, signed under penalty of perjury, attesting to such person’s exempt status.

The acceptance for payment by the Offeror of Maxwell shares pursuant to any of the procedures described above will constitute a binding agreement between the Offeror and the tendering Maxwell stockholder upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the offer (including, if the offer is extended or amended in accordance with the merger agreement, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment).

No Guaranteed Delivery

The Offeror is not providing for guaranteed delivery procedures, and therefore Maxwell stockholders must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed prior to the expiration

 

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date. If Maxwell stockholders hold shares through a DTC participant, such stockholders must allow sufficient time for the necessary tender procedures to be completed during normal business hours of DTC prior to the expiration date. Maxwell stockholders must tender their Maxwell shares in accordance with the procedures set forth in this document. In all cases, the Offeror will exchange Maxwell shares tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the offer only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of certificates for shares (or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such shares into the exchange agent’s account at DTC (as described in “—Procedure for Tendering”), a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal (or an agent’s message in connection with a book-entry transfer), together with any other required documents.

Grant of Proxy

By executing a letter of transmittal, subject to and effective upon acceptance for exchange of Maxwell shares tendered thereby, a Maxwell stockholder will irrevocably appoint the Offeror’s designees as such Maxwell stockholder’s attorneys-in-fact and proxies, each with full power of substitution, to exercise to the full extent such stockholder’s rights with respect to its Maxwell shares tendered and accepted for exchange by the Offeror and with respect to any and all other shares and other securities issued or issuable in respect of those Maxwell shares. That appointment is effective, and voting rights will be effected, when and only to the extent that the Offeror accepts tendered Maxwell shares for exchange pursuant to the offer and deposits with the exchange agent the offer consideration for such Maxwell shares. Furthermore, the letter of transmittal will not constitute a binding agreement between the signatory thereto and the Offeror until the Offeror accepts tendered Maxwell shares for exchange pursuant to the offer and deposits with the exchange agent the offer consideration for such Maxwell shares.

All such proxies, when effective, will be considered coupled with an interest in the tendered Maxwell shares and therefore will not be revocable. Upon the effectiveness of such appointment, all prior powers of attorney and proxies that the Maxwell stockholder has given will be revoked, and such stockholder may not give any subsequent powers of attorney or proxies (and, if given, they will not be deemed effective). The Offeror’s designees will, with respect to the Maxwell shares for which the appointment is effective, be empowered, among other things, to exercise all of such stockholder’s voting and other rights as they, in their sole discretion, deem proper at any annual, special or adjourned meeting of Maxwell’s stockholders or otherwise.

The Offeror reserves the right to require that, in order for Maxwell shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the Offeror’s acceptance of such shares for exchange, the Offeror must be able to exercise full voting rights with respect to such shares. However, prior to acceptance for exchange by the Offeror in accordance with terms of the offer, the appointment will not be effective, and the Offeror will have no voting rights as a result of the tender of Maxwell shares.

Fees and Commissions

Tendering registered Maxwell stockholders who tender Maxwell shares directly to the exchange agent will not be obligated to pay any charges or expenses of the exchange agent or any brokerage commissions. Tendering Maxwell stockholders who hold Maxwell shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee should consult that institution as to whether or not such institution will charge the Maxwell stockholder any service fees in connection with tendering Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer.

Matters Concerning Validity and Eligibility

The Offeror will determine questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any tender of Maxwell shares, in its sole discretion, and its determination will be final and binding to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to any judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction. The Offeror reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders of Maxwell shares that it determines is not in the proper form or the acceptance of or exchange for which may be unlawful. The Offeror

 

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also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Maxwell shares. No tender of Maxwell shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities in tenders of such shares have been cured or waived. None of the Offeror, Tesla, Maxwell or any of their affiliates or assigns, the exchange agent, the information agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the tender of any Maxwell shares or will incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. The Offeror’s interpretation of the terms and conditions of the offer (including the letter of transmittal and instructions thereto) will be final and binding to the fullest extent permitted by law, subject to any judgment of any court of competent jurisdiction.

Maxwell stockholders who have any questions about the procedure for tendering Maxwell shares in the offer should contact the information agent at the address and telephone number set forth elsewhere in this document.

Announcement of Results of the Offer

The exchange ratio will be fixed at the close of business on the second trading day prior to the expiration date of the offer. Tesla will announce the number of shares of Tesla common stock to be exchanged for each Maxwell share by issuing a press release no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the trading day prior to the final expiration date. If the offer is extended, Tesla will recalculate this information based on the later expected final expiration date and announce the new exchange ratio in a similar manner. Maxwell stockholders can call Georgeson LLC, the information agent, at (888) 643-8150 for answers to questions regarding the calculation of the exchange ratio.

Tesla will announce the final results of the offer, including whether all of the conditions to the offer have been satisfied or waived and whether the Offeror will accept the tendered Maxwell shares for exchange, as promptly as practicable following the expiration date. The announcement will be made by a press release in accordance with applicable securities laws and stock exchange requirements.

Purpose of the Offer and the Merger

The purpose of the offer is for Tesla to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire equity interest in, Maxwell. The offer, as the first step in the acquisition of Maxwell, is intended to facilitate the acquisition of Maxwell. Accordingly, if the offer is completed and as a second step in such plan, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of the merger agreement, Tesla intends to promptly consummate a merger of the Offeror with and into Maxwell, with Maxwell surviving the merger, subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement. The purpose of the merger is for Tesla to acquire all Maxwell shares that it did not acquire in the offer. In the merger, each outstanding Maxwell share that was not acquired by Tesla or the Offeror in the offer will be converted into the right to receive the offer consideration. Upon consummation of the merger, the Maxwell business will be held in a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla, and the former stockholders of Maxwell will no longer have any direct ownership interest in the surviving corporation.

No Stockholder Approval

If the offer is consummated, Tesla is not required to and will not seek the approval of Maxwell’s remaining public stockholders before effecting the merger. Section 251(h) of the DGCL provides that following consummation of a successful tender offer for a public corporation, and subject to certain statutory provisions, if the acquiring corporation owns at least the amount of shares of each class of stock of the target corporation that would otherwise be required to approve a merger involving the target corporation, and the other stockholders receive the same consideration for their stock in the merger as was payable in the tender offer, the acquiring corporation can effect a merger without the action of the other stockholders of the target corporation. Accordingly, if the offer is completed, it will mean that the minimum tender condition has been satisfied, and if the minimum tender condition has been satisfied, it will mean that the merger will be subject to Section 251(h) of

 

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the DGCL. Accordingly, if the offer is completed, Tesla intends to effect the closing of the merger without a vote of the Maxwell stockholders in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.

Non-Applicability of Rules Regarding “Going Private” Transactions

The SEC has adopted Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act, which is applicable to certain “going private” transactions, and which may under certain circumstances be applicable to the merger or another business combination following the acceptance of shares pursuant to the offer in which the Offeror seeks to acquire the remaining shares not held by it. The Offeror believes that Rule 13e-3 will not be applicable to the merger because it is anticipated that the merger will be effected within one year following the consummation of the offer and, in the merger, stockholders will receive the same consideration as that paid in the offer.

Plans for Maxwell

In connection with the offer, Tesla has reviewed and will continue to review various possible business strategies that it might consider in the event that the Offeror acquires control of Maxwell, whether pursuant to the offer, the merger or otherwise. Following a review of additional information regarding Maxwell, these changes could include, among other things, changes in Maxwell’s business, operations, personnel, employee benefit plans, corporate structure, capitalization and management. See also the section entitled “The Offer—Tesla’s Reasons for the Offer and the Merger.”

Delisting and Termination of Registration

Following consummation of the transactions, shares of Maxwell common stock will no longer be eligible for inclusion on the Nasdaq Global Market and will be withdrawn from listing. Assuming that Maxwell qualifies for termination of registration under the Exchange Act after the transactions are consummated, Tesla also intends to seek to terminate the registration of shares of Maxwell common stock under the Exchange Act. See “—Effect of the Offer on the Market for Maxwell Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations.”

Board of Directors and Management; Organizational Documents

Upon consummation of the merger, the directors of the Offeror immediately prior to the consummation of the merger will be the directors of Maxwell, as the surviving corporation in the merger, and the officers of Maxwell immediately prior to the consummation of the merger will be the officers of Maxwell, as the surviving corporation in the merger. Upon consummation of the merger, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Offeror as in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the merger will be the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Maxwell, as the surviving corporation in the merger. Upon closing and after completion of Tesla’s review of Maxwell and its corporate structure, management and personnel, Tesla will determine what changes, if any, are desirable.

Ownership of Tesla Shares after the Offer and the Merger

Tesla estimates that former Maxwell stockholders would own, in the aggregate, approximately 0.47% of the outstanding Tesla shares immediately following consummation of the offer and the merger, assuming that:

 

   

Tesla acquires through the offer and the merger 100% of the outstanding Maxwell shares;

 

   

in the offer and the merger, Tesla issues 818,427 Tesla shares as offer consideration (disregarding for this purpose stock options, restricted stock units and other rights to acquire shares that may be issued by Tesla or Maxwell pursuant to any employee stock plan) based on an assumed exchange ratio of 0.0176; and

 

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immediately following completion of the transactions, there are 174,479,024 Tesla shares outstanding (calculated by adding 173,660,597, the number of Tesla shares outstanding as of February 12, 2019 (excluding treasury shares), plus 818,427, the number of Tesla shares estimated to be issued as part of the offer consideration).

Each Tesla share has one vote.

Effect of the Offer on the Market for Maxwell Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations

Effect of the Offer on the Market for Maxwell Shares

The purchase of shares of Maxwell common stock by the Offeror pursuant to the offer will reduce the number of holders of shares of Maxwell common stock and the number of shares of Maxwell common stock that might otherwise trade publicly and could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining shares of Maxwell common stock held by the public. The extent of the public market for shares of Maxwell common stock after consummation of the offer and the availability of quotations for such shares will depend upon a number of factors, including the number of stockholders holding shares of Maxwell common stock, the aggregate market value of the shares of Maxwell common stock held by the public at such time, the interest of maintaining a market in the shares of Maxwell common stock, analyst coverage of Maxwell on the part of any securities firms and other factors. However, under the merger agreement, the closing of the merger must occur promptly, and in any case no later than the second business day, after the acceptance of tendered Maxwell shares in the offer and the satisfaction of the other condition to the merger, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing (see the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Conditions to the Merger”). If the merger is completed, shares of Maxwell common stock will no longer qualify for inclusion on the Nasdaq Global Market and will be withdrawn from listing.

Nasdaq Listing

Shares of Maxwell common stock are currently listed on the Nasdaq Global Market. However, the rules of Nasdaq establish certain criteria that, if not met, could lead to the discontinuance of listing of shares of Maxwell common stock from Nasdaq. Among such criteria are the number of stockholders, the number of shares publicly held and the aggregate market value of the shares publicly held. If, as a result of the purchase of shares of Maxwell common stock pursuant to the offer or otherwise, shares of Maxwell common stock no longer meet the requirements of Nasdaq for continued listing and the shares of Maxwell common stock are delisted, the market for such shares would be adversely affected.

Following the consummation of the offer, if the merger is for some reason not consummated, it is possible that shares of Maxwell common stock could be traded on other securities exchanges (with trades published by such exchanges), the OTC Bulletin Board or in a local or regional over-the-counter market. The extent of the public market for such shares would, however, depend upon the number of Maxwell stockholders and the aggregate market value of shares of Maxwell common stock remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in such shares on the part of securities firms, the possible termination of registration of shares of Maxwell common stock under the Exchange Act and other factors. If the merger is completed, shares of Maxwell common stock will no longer qualify for inclusion on Nasdaq and will be withdrawn from listing.

Registration under the Exchange Act

Shares of Maxwell common stock are currently registered under the Exchange Act. Such registration may be terminated upon application by Maxwell to the SEC if shares of Maxwell common stock are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor held by 300 or more holders of record. Termination of registration of shares of Maxwell common stock under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be

 

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furnished by Maxwell to its stockholders and to the SEC and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act no longer applicable to Maxwell, such as the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the requirement of furnishing a proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with meetings of stockholders and the related requirement of furnishing an annual report to stockholders, and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to “going private” transactions. Furthermore, the ability of “affiliates” of Maxwell and persons holding “restricted securities” of Maxwell to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act may be impaired. If registration of shares of Maxwell common stock under the Exchange Act were terminated, such shares would no longer be “margin securities” or be eligible for quotation on Nasdaq. After consummation of the offer, Tesla and the Offeror currently intend to cause Maxwell to terminate the registration of shares of Maxwell common stock under the Exchange Act as soon as the requirements for termination of registration are met.

Conditions of the Offer

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the offer and in addition to Tesla’s and the Offeror’s rights to extend, amend or terminate the offer in accordance with the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and applicable law, and in addition to the obligations of the Offeror to extend the offer pursuant to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement and applicable law, the Offeror and Tesla are not required to accept for exchange or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC (including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act), exchange the offer consideration for any Maxwell shares validly tendered in the offer and not validly withdrawn prior to the expiration of the offer, if at the expiration of the offer any of the following conditions have not been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement:

 

   

Minimum Tender Condition—Maxwell stockholders having validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the offer and prior to the expiration of the offer a number of shares of Maxwell common stock that upon the consummation of the offer, together with any shares of Maxwell common stock then owned by Tesla and the Offeror, would represent at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding immediately after the consummation of the offer (which we refer to as the “minimum tender condition”);

 

   

Regulatory Approvals—Any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act having expired or been terminated and the approval of the competition authority of the Federal Republic of Germany (the “Bundeskartellamt”) or the expiration of the waiting period under German competition law;

 

   

Effectiveness of Form S-4—The registration statement on Form S-4, of which this document is a part, having become effective under the Securities Act, and not being the subject of any stop order or proceeding seeking a stop order;

 

   

No Legal Prohibition—No governmental entity of competent jurisdiction having (i) enacted, issued or promulgated any law that is in effect as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer or (ii) issued or granted any order or injunctions (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer, which, in each case, has the effect of restraining or enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the offer or the merger;

 

   

Listing of Tesla Shares—The Tesla shares to be issued in the offer and the merger having been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance;

 

   

No Maxwell Material Adverse Effect—There not having occurred any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, fact, state of facts, event or occurrence since the date of the merger agreement that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, assets or operations of Maxwell and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described under “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”), and that is continuing as of immediately prior to the expiration of the offer;

 

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Accuracy of Maxwell’s Representations and Warranties—The representations and warranties of Maxwell in the merger agreement (without giving effect to any qualification as to materiality or material adverse effect) being true and correct as of February 3, 2019 and as of the expiration of the offer as though made on and as of the expiration of the offer (except for representations and warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of another date, in which case as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any qualification as to materiality or material adverse effect) have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Maxwell (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described in the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”), except that (1) certain of Maxwell’s representations and warranties related to its qualification, organization and subsidiaries, its authority to enter into the merger agreement, the enforceability of the merger agreement, the opinion of Maxwell’s financial advisor, anti-takeover laws and finders and brokers fees must be true and correct in all material respects, (2) Maxwell’s representation and warranty that no material adverse effect on Maxwell (with such term as defined in the merger agreement and described in the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Material Adverse Effect”) has occurred from December 31, 2018 through February 3, 2019 (the date of the merger agreement) must be true and correct in all respects and (3) Maxwell’s representations and warranties related to its capitalization and voting agreements must be true and correct in all respects, except for any de minimis inaccuracies;

 

   

Maxwell’s Compliance with Covenants—Maxwell having performed or complied in all material respects with the covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by it under the merger agreement at or prior to the expiration of the offer;

 

   

Receipt of Maxwell Officer’s Certificate—Tesla and the Offeror having received from Maxwell a certificate, dated the date of the expiration of the offer and signed by its chief executive officer or chief financial officer, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in the three bullet points immediately above have been satisfied; or

 

   

No Termination of the Merger Agreement—The merger agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.

Except as expressly set forth in the merger agreement, the foregoing conditions to the offer are for the sole benefit of Tesla and the Offeror and may be asserted by Tesla or the Offeror regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such conditions or may be waived by Tesla or the Offeror, by express and specific action to that effect, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, in each case, prior to the expiration of the offer. However, certain specified conditions may only be waived by Tesla or the Offeror with the prior written consent of Maxwell (which may be granted or withheld in its sole discretion). These conditions are the minimum tender condition, the receipt of required regulatory approvals, lack of legal prohibitions, the Tesla shares to be issued in the offer and the merger having been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, subject to official notice of issuance, and the registration statement on Form S-4, of which this document is a part, having become effective. There is no financing condition to the offer.

Certain Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals

General

Tesla is not aware of any governmental license or regulatory permit that appears to be material to Maxwell’s business that might be adversely affected by the acquisition of Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer or the merger or, except as described below, of any approval or other action by any government or governmental administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, that would be required for the acquisition or ownership of Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer or the merger. Should any of these approvals or other actions be required, Tesla and the Offeror currently contemplate that these approvals or other actions will be sought. There can be no assurance that (a) any of these approvals or other actions, if needed, will be obtained (with or without substantial

 

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conditions), (b) if these approvals were not obtained or these other actions were not taken, adverse consequences would not result to Maxwell’s business or (c) certain parts of Maxwell’s or any of its subsidiaries’ businesses would not have to be disposed of or held separate. The Offeror’s obligation under the offer to accept for exchange and pay for shares is subject to certain conditions. See the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.”

Subject to the terms and conditions of the merger agreement, Tesla and Maxwell have agreed to use their reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable law to consummate the offer and the merger as soon as practicable after the date of the merger agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Tesla, the Offeror or any of their respective subsidiaries is required to, and Maxwell may not and may not permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Tesla, become subject to, consent to or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order to (a) sell, license, assign, transfer, divest, hold separate or otherwise dispose of any assets, business or portion of business of Maxwell, Tesla or their respective subsidiaries, (b) conduct, restrict, operate, invest or otherwise change the assets, the business or portion of the business of Maxwell, Tesla or their respective subsidiaries or (c) impose any restriction, requirement or limitation on the operation of the business or portion of the business of Maxwell, Tesla or their respective subsidiaries. However, if requested by Tesla, Maxwell or its subsidiaries will become subject to, consent to or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order so long as such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order is only binding on Maxwell or its subsidiaries in the event the merger is completed.

HSR Act

Under the HSR Act and the rules that have been promulgated thereunder, the offer may not be completed until Tesla files a Notification and Report Form with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) under the HSR Act, and the applicable waiting period has expired or been terminated, which is also a condition to the consummation of the Offer. The HSR Act also requires Maxwell to file a Notification and Report Form with the FTC and DOJ.

Pursuant to the requirements of the HSR Act, Tesla and Maxwell each filed a Notification and Report Form with respect to the offer and the merger with the Antitrust Division of the DOJ and the FTC on February 4, 2019. The 30-day waiting period under the HSR Act would have expired at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on March 6, 2019, unless terminated early or extended by a request for additional information and documentary materials. On February 14, 2019, the FTC notified Tesla and Maxwell that early termination of the 30-day waiting period had been granted.

At any time before or after consummation of the transactions, notwithstanding the termination or expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act, the FTC or the DOJ could take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems necessary under the applicable statutes, including seeking to enjoin the completion of the offer or the merger, seeking divestiture of substantial assets of the parties, or requiring the parties to license, or hold separate, assets or terminate existing relationships and contractual rights. At any time before or after the completion of the transactions, and notwithstanding the termination or expiration of the waiting period under the HSR Act, any state could take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems necessary. Such action could include seeking to enjoin the completion of the offer or the merger or seeking divestiture of substantial assets of the parties, or requiring the parties to license, or hold separate, assets or terminate existing relationships and contractual rights. Private parties may also seek to take legal action under the antitrust laws under certain circumstances.

There can be no assurance that a challenge to the transactions on antitrust grounds will not be made, or if such a challenge is made, what the result will be. See the section entitled “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer” for certain conditions to the offer, including conditions with respect to the HSR Act.

 

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German ARC

The German Act Against Restraints of Competition of 1958 (the “German ARC”) imposes a pre-merger notification requirement on all transactions that qualify as concentrations and meet certain specified financial thresholds, which the merger meets. Accordingly, consummation of the merger is conditional upon the merger being cleared by the Bundeskartellamt. Clearance can be granted explicitly or is also considered granted if, after a transaction has been notified, the applicable waiting periods expire without any decision by the Bundeskartellamt. Tesla notified the Bundeskartellamt of the proposed transaction to on February 7, 2019, and the Bundeskartellamt notified Tesla and Maxwell that clearance of the offer had been approved on March 7, 2019.

Certain Legal Proceedings

In connection with the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, eight purported class action lawsuits have been filed. Five complaints, captioned Kip Leggett v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00377 (filed February 26, 2019), Shiva Stein v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00395 (filed February 26, 2019), Joel Rosenfeld IRA v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00413 (filed March 1, 2019), Franck Prissert v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00429 (filed March 4, 2019) and Jonathan Mantak v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et. al., Case No. 3:19-cv-00451 (filed March 7, 2019) were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. One complaint, captioned John Solak v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-00448 (filed March 4, 2019), was filed in the United States District Court District of Delaware. One complaint, captioned Davis Rodden v. Steven Bilodeau, et al., Case No. 2019-0176 (filed March 4, 2019), was filed in the Delaware Chancery Court. One complaint, captioned Jack Phillipps v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:19-cv-01927 (filed February 28, 2019), was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

In general, the complaints assert claims against Maxwell and the Maxwell board of directors, with Tesla and the Offeror as additional defendants in the Kip Leggett v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al. and John Solak v. Maxwell Technologies, Inc., et al. complaints. The complaints allege, among other things, that the defendants failed to make adequate disclosures in the Schedule 14D-9 filed by Maxwell on February 20, 2019. The complaints seek, among other things, to enjoin the proposed transaction, rescission of the proposed transaction should it be completed, and other equitable relief.

Tesla and Maxwell believe the respective allegations in these complaints lack merit, and Tesla and Maxwell intend to vigorously defend the actions.

Interests of Certain Persons in the Offer and the Merger

Maxwell’s directors and executive officers may have interests in the offer, the merger, and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of the Maxwell stockholders generally. These interests may create potential conflicts of interest. The Maxwell board of directors was aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in approving the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, as more fully discussed in the section entitled “The Offer—Maxwell’s Reasons for the Offer and Merger; Recommendation of the Maxwell Board of Directors.”

 

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Current Executive Officers and Directors

Maxwell’s current directors and executive officers are:

 

Name

  

Position

Richard Bergman    Director
Steve Bilodeau    Chairman of the Board
Jörg Buchheim    Director
Dr. Franz J. Fink    President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Burkhard Goeschel    Director
Ilya Golubovich    Director
Emily Lough    Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
David Lyle    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
John Mutch    Director
Everett Wiggins    Vice President, Operations

Arrangements with Tesla

As of the date of this document, none of Maxwell’s executive officers has entered into any agreement with Tesla or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates regarding employment with Tesla or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. Prior to and following the closing of the merger, however, certain of our executive officers may have discussions, and following the closing of the merger, may enter into agreements with, Tesla or its subsidiaries or affiliates regarding employment with Tesla or its subsidiaries or affiliates.

Effect of the Offer and the Merger on Maxwell Common Stock and Equity Awards

Consideration for Maxwell Common Stock in the Merger

The following table sets forth the number of shares of Maxwell common stock beneficially owned as of February 11, 2019 by each of our executive officers and directors, excluding shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards (as defined below) not vesting within 60 days of February 11, 2019, or Maxwell MSUs (as defined below) or Maxwell PSUs (as defined below) and the aggregate offer consideration payable for such shares. Each holder of shares of Maxwell common stock who otherwise would be entitled to receive a fraction of a share of Tesla common stock under the merger agreement will receive cash, without interest, in an amount equal to such fractional part of a share of Tesla common stock multiplied by the volume weighted average of the daily volume weighted average of the trading price of one (1) share of Tesla common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market for the five (5) consecutive trading days immediately preceding the second trading day prior to the date of the expiration of the offer (the “Tesla trading price”), subject to the minimum. For the avoidance of doubt, if the offer were to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time on a Tuesday, then the five (5) consecutive trading days would be the preceding Monday through Friday assuming each day prior to the Tuesday expiration date was a trading day (other than Saturday or Sunday). In the event that the Tesla trading price is equal to or less than $245.90, the minimum will apply and each share of Maxwell common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn will be exchanged for 0.0193 of a share of Tesla common stock. The amounts in this table assume the merger occurred on February 11, 2019, and that the offer consideration was 0.0152 shares of Tesla common stock for each share of Maxwell common stock which is calculated by dividing $4.75 by $312.84 (which is the closing price of Tesla common stock on February 11, 2019). This information is based on the number of shares of Maxwell common stock held by Maxwell’s directors and executive officers as of February 11, 2019 (and includes the deferred, fully vested restricted stock units pursuant to Maxwell’s non-employee director deferred compensation program, which will be settled immediately prior to the merger as described below, restricted stock units vesting within 60 days of February 11, 2019 and the shares payable pursuant to Maxwell’s 2018 annual

 

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incentive bonus plan described in footnote 1 to the table below). The amounts set forth in the table below are as calculated before any taxes that may be due on such amounts are paid.

 

Name

   Number of Shares
of Maxwell
Common Stock
Beneficially
Owned(1)
    Number of
Shares of
Tesla Common
Stock for Shares
     Total Value of
Shares(2)
 

Richard Bergman

     72,918       1,107        346,361  

Steve Bilodeau

     46,990       713        223,203  

Jörg Buchheim

     534,870       8,121        2,540,633  

Dr. Franz J. Fink

     1,226,256 (3)       18,148        5,677,609  

Burkhard Goeschel

     204,150       3,099        969,713  

Ilya Golubovich

     1,491,891       22,652        7,086,482  

Emily Lough

     36,938 (4)       560        175,456  

David Lyle

     264,754 (5)       4,019        1,257,582  

John Mutch

     15,370       233        73,008  

Everett Wiggins

     36,201 (6)       549        171,955  

 

(1)

Includes shares payable to executive officers related to amounts earned under Maxwell’s 2018 annual incentive bonus plan, which Maxwell intends to settle with shares of Maxwell common stock in February 2019 after certification by the Compensation Committee of the Maxwell board of directors. The number of shares of Maxwell common stock calculated for purposes of the payouts under the 2018 annual incentive bonus plan is based on a price per share equal to $4.69 (which is the closing price of Maxwell common stock on February 11, 2019).

(2)

Includes cash for fractional shares of Tesla common stock, calculated based on the Tesla trading price.

(3)

Includes 78,277 shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards and 30,970 shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell PSUs settling within 60 days of February 11, 2019.

(4)

Includes 9,326 shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards settling within 60 days of February 11, 2019.

(5)

Includes 67,130 shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards settling within 60 days of February 11, 2019.

(6)

Includes 18,531 shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards settling within 60 days of February 11, 2019.

Consideration for Maxwell Options in the Merger—Generally

At the effective time of the merger, each option to purchase shares of Maxwell common stock that was granted under the 2005 Plan or the 2013 Plan (each such option or any Inducement Option (as defined below), a “Maxwell option”), that is outstanding, unexercised and unexpired as of immediately prior to the effective time (other than any Former Service Provider Options) shall be automatically assumed by Tesla and converted into and become an option to acquire Tesla common stock, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such Maxwell option as of immediately prior to the effective time (a “Converted Option”), except that: (x) the number of shares of Tesla common stock subject to the Converted Option will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the corresponding Maxwell option by the offer consideration and (y) the per share exercise price for each share of Tesla common stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the Maxwell option will be determined by dividing the per share exercise price of the Maxwell option by the offer consideration, with any fractional cent in the resulting quotient rounded up to the nearest whole cent. Each Converted Option otherwise shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Maxwell option and the agreement evidencing the Maxwell option thereunder, including vesting terms.

 

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Each Former Service Provider Option shall not be treated in the same manner. At the effective time, without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or the holder of the Former Service Provider Option, each Former Service Provider Option shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Tesla common stock determined as: (i) (A) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the Former Service Provider Option immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the offer consideration, minus (ii) (A) the aggregate exercise or purchase price for all shares of Maxwell common stock subject to such Former Service Provider Option divided by (B) the Tesla trading price, with any resulting fractional share rounded down to the nearest whole share.

In addition, the option to purchase shares of Maxwell common stock granted pursuant to the non-plan stock option agreement by and between Maxwell and David Lyle dated May 11, 2015 (the “Inducement Option”), will be treated in the same manner as a Maxwell option at the effective time, as described above.

Consideration for Maxwell Restricted Stock Units in the Merger—Generally

At the effective time, each Maxwell RSU award that was granted under the 2005 Plan or 2013 Plan, whether vesting thereof is based on service, performance, stock performance or other conditions, or any Inducement RSU (as defined below) that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time (other than any Former Service Provider RSUs), shall be assumed by Tesla and converted automatically into and become a restricted stock unit covering shares of Tesla common stock, on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the Maxwell RSU award as of immediately prior to the effective time, except that the number of shares of Tesla common stock subject to such converted Maxwell RSU award will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the corresponding Maxwell RSU award immediately prior to the effective time, by the offer consideration, with any fractional shares in the resulting product rounded down to the nearest whole share (the “Converted RSUs” and, together with the Converted Options, the “Converted Awards”). Each Converted RSU otherwise shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Maxwell RSU award under the applicable Maxwell Equity Plan and any agreement evidencing the Maxwell RSU award thereunder, including vesting terms.

Each Former Service Provider RSU shall not be treated in the same manner. At the effective time, without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or the holder of the Former Service Provider RSU, each Former Service Provider RSU shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Tesla common stock determined as: (i) (A) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the Former Service Provider RSU immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the offer consideration, minus (ii) (A) the aggregate exercise or purchase price for all shares of Maxwell common stock subject to such Former Service Provider RSU divided by (B) the Tesla trading price, with any resulting fractional share rounded down to the nearest whole share.

In addition, the RSU awards granted pursuant to the non-plan restricted stock unit award by and between Maxwell and David Lyle dated May 11, 2015 (the “Inducement RSUs”) will be treated in the same manner as a Maxwell RSU award at the effective time, as described above.

Consideration for Maxwell Options and Maxwell RSU Awards Held by Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger

Treatment of Director Equity Awards

As of February 11, 2019, Maxwell’s non-employee directors held Maxwell options to purchase an aggregate of 60,000 shares of Maxwell common stock, with per share exercise prices ranging from $5.37 to $5.33. As of the same date, Maxwell’s non-employee directors held Maxwell RSU awards covering an aggregate of 234,241 shares. Of these awards, 115,531 were vested Maxwell RSU awards with deferred settlement (“Deferred RSUs”). The unvested Maxwell RSU awards held by non-employee directors vest based solely on continued service with Maxwell through the applicable vesting dates (“Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards”).

 

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At the effective time, each Maxwell option and Maxwell Time-based RSU Award that is outstanding and held by a current or former non-employee director of Maxwell will vest and be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Tesla common stock determined as: (i) (A) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the Maxwell option immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the offer consideration, minus (ii) (A) the aggregate exercise or purchase price for all shares of Maxwell common stock subject per share to such Maxwell option divided by (B) the Tesla trading price, with any resulting fractional share rounded down to the nearest whole share.

In early 2017, the Maxwell board of directors approved a non-employee director deferred compensation program pursuant to which participating non-employee directors may make irrevocable elections on an annual basis to take fully vested restricted stock units in lieu of their cash-based non-employee director fees (including, as applicable, any annual retainer fee, committee fee and any other compensation payable with respect to their service as a member of the Maxwell board of directors) and to defer the settlement upon the vesting of all or a portion of their equity awards granted in the applicable calendar year. In the event that a director makes such an election, Maxwell will grant fully vested restricted stock units in lieu of cash, with an initial value equal to the cash fees, which will be settled immediately after grant or at a future date elected by the respective non-employee director through the issuance of Maxwell common stock. This program was implemented with the intention of further aligning the interests of directors with those of Maxwell’s stockholders by enabling non-employee directors a vehicle to increase their equity stake by receiving payment in the form of equity instead of cash. The participation in this program is optional for non-employee directors. In 2017, the first year of the program, non-employee directors were able to make elections regarding their compensation for the second through the fourth quarter. With the program fully implemented prior to the end of the calendar year, all non-employee directors were able to make elections for 2018 and 2019 compensation for the entirety of the calendar year.

The non-employee director compensation program provides that, in the event of our change in control, each outstanding award of Deferred RSUs held by a non-employee director will be settled in shares of Maxwell common stock as of immediately prior to the effective time. Accordingly, shares of Maxwell common stock issued pursuant to Deferred RSUs will be treated in the same manner as other shares of Maxwell common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effective time, as described further above. Under the non-employee director deferred compensation program, “change in control” will include the merger and generally has the meaning set forth below with respect to the other Maxwell RSU awards described below.

Please see “—Table of Estimated Consideration for Equity Awards” below for additional information.

Treatment of Executive Officer Equity Awards

As of February 11, 2019, Maxwell’s executive officers held Maxwell options to purchase an aggregate of 150,599 shares of Maxwell common stock, with per share exercise prices ranging from $6.03 to $15.71. As of the same date, Maxwell’s executive officers held Maxwell RSU awards covering 990,969 shares of Maxwell common stock. Of these awards, an aggregate of 361,955 shares of Maxwell common stock are subject to Maxwell RSU awards that were granted with service-based vesting. Maxwell RSU awards that were granted with vesting contingent in part on achievement of performance goals based on relative total stockholder return (“Maxwell MSUs”) cover an aggregate of 558,044 shares of Maxwell common stock (based on target achievement of the applicable performance goals). Maxwell RSU awards that were granted with vesting contingent in part on achievement of performance goals relating other than to relative total stockholder return (“Maxwell PSUs”) cover an aggregate of 70,970 shares of Maxwell common stock (based on target achievement of the applicable performance goals).

Assuming continued employment through the effective time, all Maxwell options and Maxwell RSU awards that are outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time held by Maxwell’s executive officers will be assumed and converted into awards covering shares of Tesla common stock, as discussed above.

 

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Pursuant to the terms of the equity award agreements governing each of the Maxwell options and Maxwell RSU awards held by each of the executive officers, if, within thirty (30) days prior to or two years following the date of a change in control of Maxwell, which will include the merger, the executive officer’s employment is terminated by Maxwell without cause (as such term is defined in the applicable equity award agreement) or the executive officer resigns for good reason (as such term is defined in the applicable equity award agreement), then vesting with respect to 100% of the then unvested shares subject to the Maxwell option or Maxwell Time-based RSU Award will accelerate. With respect to Dr. Fink’s Maxwell PSUs granted on February 18, 2016, this grant will vest based on actual achievement of applicable performance conditions in connection with the signing of the merger agreement on February 3, 2019, which certification is expected to occur prior to the merger. With respect to Mr. Lyle’s Maxwell PSUs granted on February 18, 2016, this grant will be treated in the same manner as his outstanding Maxwell options and Maxwell RSU awards but is subject to earlier vesting based on actual achievement of applicable performance conditions as of December 31, 2018, which certification is expected to occur prior to the merger. With respect to the Maxwell MSUs, up to 100% of the Maxwell MSUs will vest based on target levels on the effective date of the change in control, provided that such acceleration will not result in the cumulative vesting of more than 100% of such Maxwell MSUs.

For purposes of the Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards, Maxwell PSUs and Maxwell MSUs, “cause” generally means a grantee’s unauthorized use or disclosure of the Maxwell’s confidential information or trade secrets; breach of any agreement between the grantee and Maxwell; grantee’s material failure to comply with Maxwell’s written policies or rules; grantee’s conviction of, or your plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony; grantee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; grantee’s continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification from Maxwell; or grantee’s failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation.

For purposes of the Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards, Maxwell PSUs and Maxwell MSUs, “change in control” will include the merger and generally means any person acquiring beneficial ownership of more than 50% of Maxwell’s total voting power; the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of Maxwell’s assets; or any merger or consolidation of Maxwell where Maxwell’s voting securities represent 50% or less of the total voting power of the surviving entity or its parent.

For purposes of the Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards, Maxwell PSUs, and Maxwell MSUs “good reason” generally means a change in grantee’s position that materially reduces his or her level of authority or responsibility or the assignment of reduced authority and responsibilities; a reduction in grantee’s base salary or target bonus by more than 10%; or a workplace relocation of more than 50 miles from grantee’s then-present work location, all subject to a notice requirement by the executive officer to Maxwell and a cure period by Maxwell.

Please see “—Table of Estimated Consideration for Equity Awards” below for additional information.

 

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Table of Estimated Consideration for Equity Awards

Directors

The table below sets forth, for each of our non-employee directors, the aggregate number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell options and Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards that are held by our non-employee directors as of February 11, 2019.

 

Name

  Vested
Maxwell
Options
(#)(1)
    Unvested
Maxwell
Options
(#)(2)
    Value of
Maxwell
Options
($)(3)
    Maxwell
Unvested
RSU Awards
(#)(4)
    Value of
Unvested
Maxwell
RSU Awards
($)(5)
    Maxwell
Vested and
Deferred
RSU Awards
(#)
    Value of
Maxwell
Vested and
Deferred
RSU Awards
($)(5)
    Total
($)
 

Richard Bergman

    5,000       5,000       —         19,785       93,979       44,923       213,384       307,363  

Steve Bilodeau

    5,000       5,000       —         19,785       93,979       30,421       144,500       238,479  

Jörg Buchheim

    5,000       5,000       —         19,785       93,979       —         —         93,979  

Burkhard Goeschel

    5,000       5,000       —         19,785       93,979       —         —         93,979  

Ilya Golubovich

    5,000       5,000       —         19,785       93,979       40,187       190,888       284,867  

John Mutch

    5,000       5,000       —         19,785       93,979       —         —         93,979  

 

(1)

Represents the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell options that are outstanding and vested in accordance with their terms as of February 11, 2019, assuming that the effective time occurs on February 11, 2019, but without giving effect to any vesting acceleration that may occur in connection with a change in control or a qualifying termination of employment.

(2)

Represents the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell options that will vest immediately prior to the effective time in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity award agreement governing the terms of the Maxwell option, assuming the effective time occurs on February 11, 2019.

(3)

Equals (i) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to outstanding Maxwell options as of February 11, 2019 (that is, the sum of the number of shares shown in the “Vested Maxwell Options” and the “Unvested Maxwell Options” columns), multiplied by (ii) (a) $4.75 reduced by (b) the exercise price of the Maxwell option. These Maxwell options are all underwater based on a price of $4.75 per share of Maxwell common stock.

(4)

Represents the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to unvested Maxwell RSU awards that will vest immediately prior to the effective time in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity award agreement governing the terms of the Maxwell RSU award, assuming the effective time occurs on February 11, 2019.

(5)

Equals (i) the number of Maxwell RSU awards, multiplied by (ii) $4.75.

 

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Executive Officers

The table below sets forth, for each of our executive officers, the aggregate number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to vested Maxwell options that are held by our executive officers as of February 11, 2019, and the aggregate number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to unvested Maxwell options and unvested Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards, Maxwell MSUs, and Maxwell PSUs held by our executive officers as of February 11, 2019, that would accelerate upon a qualifying termination (which includes a termination without cause and other than due to the executive officer’s death or disability, or a resignation by the executive officer for good reason during a specified period, as discussed under “—Golden Parachute Compensation” further below).

 

Name

   Vested
Maxwell
Options
(#)(1)
     Value of
Vested
Maxwell
Options
($)(2)
     Accelerated
Unvested
Maxwell
Options
Upon a
Qualifying
Termination
(#)(3)
     Value of
Accelerated
Unvested
Maxwell
Options
Upon a
Qualifying
Termination
($)(4)
     Accelerated
Maxwell
RSU Awards
Upon a
Qualifying
Termination
(#)(5)
     Value of
Accelerated
Maxwell
RSU Awards
Upon a
Qualifying
Termination
($)(6)
     Total
($)(7)
 

Dr. Franz J. Fink

     73,626        —          24,541        —          551,189        2,618,148        2,618,148  

David Lyle

     25,160        —          8,386        —          243,328        1,155,808        1,155,808  

Everett Wiggins

     10,602        —          3,534        —          113,003        536,764        536,764  

Emily Lough

     4,750        —          —          —          83,449        396,383        396,383  

 

(1)

Represents the number of Maxwell options that are outstanding and vested in accordance with their terms as of February 11, 2019, assuming such date occurs prior to the effective time.

(2)

Equals (i) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock shown in the “Vested Maxwell Options” column, multiplied by (ii) (a) $4.75 reduced by (b) the exercise price of the Maxwell option. These Maxwell options are all underwater based on a price of $4.75 per share of Maxwell common stock.

(3)

Represents the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell options that would vest upon a qualifying termination of employment immediately following the effective time, assuming the termination and effective time occurs on February 11, 2019. For each executive officer, this number represents 100% of the unvested shares subject to the executive officer’s Maxwell options.

(4)

Equals (i) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock shown in the “Accelerated Unvested Maxwell Options Upon a Qualifying Termination” column, multiplied by (ii) (a) $4.75 reduced by (b) the exercise price of the Maxwell option. These Maxwell options are all underwater based on a price of $4.75 per share of Maxwell common stock.

(5)

Represents the number of Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards, Maxwell MSUs and Maxwell PSUs that would vest upon a qualifying termination of employment immediately following the effective time, assuming the termination and effective time occurs on February 11, 2019. For executive officers, this number represents 100% of the unvested shares subject to the executive officer’s Maxwell RSU awards. The table below sets forth, for each of our executive officers, the aggregate number of unvested Maxwell Time-

 

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  based RSU Awards, Maxwell MSUs, and Maxwell PSUs held by our executive officers as of February 11, 2019 that would accelerate vesting upon a qualifying termination.

 

    Maxwell RSU
Awards Subject
Only to
Service-based
Vesting
That Accelerate
Vesting Upon
Qualifying
Termination
    Value of
Maxwell RSUs
Subject Only to
Service-based
Vesting
That Accelerate
Vesting Upon
Qualifying
Termination
    Maxwell MSUs
That Remain
Subject to
Performance
Achievement
That Accelerate
Vesting Upon
Qualifying
Termination
    Value of
Maxwell MSUs
That Remain
Subject to
Performance
Achievement
That Accelerate
Vesting Upon
Qualifying
Termination
    Maxwell PSUs
That Remains
Subject to
Performance
Achievement
That Accelerate
Vesting Upon
Qualifying
Termination
    Value of
Maxwell PSUs
That Remain
Subject to
Performance
Achievement
That Accelerate
Vesting Upon
Qualifying
Termination
    Total Value
of Maxwell
RSU
Awards That
Accelerate
Vesting
Upon
Qualifying
Termination
 

Name

  (#)     ($)     (#)(a)     ($)     (#)     ($)     ($)(6)  

Dr. Franz J. Fink

    182,402       866,410       337,817       1,604,631       30,970 (b)       147,108       2,618,148  

David Lyle

    82,633       392,507       120,695       573,301       40,000 (c)       190,000       1,155,808  

Everett Wiggins

    47,906       227,554       65,097       309,211       —         —         536,764  

Emily Lough

    49,014       232,817       34,435       163,566       —         —         396,383  

 

  (a)

Includes 90,467, 37,695, 18,847 and 11,309 shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell MSUs for Dr. Fink, Messrs. Lyle and Wiggins and Ms. Lough, respectively, for which performance criteria was not achieved and are expected to be cancelled prior to the effective time.

  (b)

Represents Maxwell PSUs subject to vesting based on actual achievement of applicable performance conditions as of February 3, 2019, which certification is expected to occur prior to the merger.

  (c)

Represents Maxwell PSUs subject to earlier vesting based on actual achievement of applicable performance conditions as of December 31, 2018, which certification is expected to occur prior to the merger.

(6)

Equals (i) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to Maxwell RSU awards shown in the “Accelerated Maxwell RSU Awards Upon a Qualifying Termination” column, multiplied by (ii) $4.75.

(7)

Equals the sum of amounts shown in the “Value of Vested Maxwell Options,” “Value of Accelerated Unvested Maxwell Options Upon a Qualifying Termination” and the “Value of Accelerated Maxwell RSU Awards Upon a Qualifying Termination” columns.

Maxwell Severance

Employment Agreements

In connection with each of Dr. Fink and Mr. Lyle joining Maxwell in 2014 and 2015, respectively, we entered into an employment agreement with each of them that provides for certain benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations of employment. Each of the employment agreements were amended in January 2016. Pursuant to their employment agreements, as amended, upon a termination of employment without cause other than within 30 days prior to a change in control or within 24 months after a change in control, Dr. Fink is entitled to 18 months, and Mr. Lyle to 12 months, of base salary and target bonus (payable in equal monthly installments), and each is entitled to a prorated annual incentive bonus based on actual performance, payable at the same time as similar bonuses paid to other executive officers, and to 12 months of health, dental and vision insurance of continued monthly premium reimbursements. Upon a termination of employment without cause or a resignation for good reason in each case either within 30 days prior to a change in control or within 24 months after a change in control, subject to certain notice and cure periods, Dr. Fink is entitled to a lump sum payment of 24 months, and Mr. Lyle to a lump sum payment of 18 months, of base salary and target bonus, Dr. Fink is entitled to 24 months, and Mr. Lyle to 12 months, of health, dental and vision of continued monthly premium reimbursements, and each is entitled to a prorated annual incentive bonus paid at target levels. The severance benefits under the employment agreements are conditioned on the executive officer’s agreement to a release of claims in favor of Maxwell. With respect to outstanding equity awards, each employment agreement provides for pro rata vesting of service-based awards in the event of an involuntary termination outside of the change in control period described above, and 100% vesting of the then unvested service and performance-based awards (at target) in the event of an involuntary termination during the change in control period described above. Dr. Fink’s employment agreement includes a so-called “better of” provision with respect to payments upon a change in control meaning that if any of the payments or benefits provided to him would not be deductible to Maxwell pursuant to Section 280G, then the payments will be reduced by the amount required to avoid the excise tax

 

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imposed under Section 4999, provided that the after-tax amount of such payments and benefits as so reduced is greater than or equal to the after-tax amount of such payments and benefits without such reduction.

For purposes of Dr. Fink’s and Mr. Lyle’s employment agreements, “cause” generally means the executive’s (a) unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential information or trade secrets, (b) breach of any agreement between him and Maxwell, (c) material failure to comply with Maxwell’s written policies or rules that have been provided, (d) conviction of, or plea of “guilty” or “no contest” to, a felony under the laws of the United States or any State, (e) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with his duties and responsibilities, (f) willful continuing failure to perform assigned duties after receiving written notification of the failure from the Maxwell board of directors or (g) failure to cooperate in good faith with a governmental or internal investigation of the Maxwell or its directors, officers or employees, subject to certain notice and cure periods.

For purposes of Dr. Fink’s and Mr. Lyle’s employment agreements, “good reason” generally means (a) a change in the executive’s position with Maxwell that materially reduces his level of authority or responsibility or the assignment reduced authority and responsibilities; (b) a reduction in the executive’s base salary or target bonus level in effect immediately prior to such reduction (unless such reduction is in connection with a general across the board reduction in the compensation of the Maxwell’s management team and in such case not to exceed 10%); or (c) a relocation of the executive’s office to a location more than 50 miles from his then-present work location, subject to certain notice and cure periods.

For purposes of Dr. Fink’s and Mr. Lyle’s employment agreements, “change in control” will include the merger and generally means any person acquiring beneficial ownership of more than 50% of Maxwell’s total voting power; the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of Maxwell’s assets; or any merger or consolidation of Maxwell where Maxwell’s voting securities represent 50% or less of the total voting power of the surviving entity or its parent.

Severance and Change in Control Plan

Mr. Wiggins and Ms. Lough, who do not have an employment agreement providing similar benefits, are entitled to severance payments and benefits under the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan adopted in January 2016, which provides for severance arrangements for executive officers who do not otherwise have severance arrangements. Maxwell’s Severance and Change in Control Plan provides severance payments and benefits to eligible employees who do not have employment agreements, if such employees have a termination of employment without cause or a resignation for good reason (in each case as defined in the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan and which definition is summarized below), subject to certain notice and cure periods, and enhanced severance payments and benefits if such a qualifying termination of employment occurs within 30 days prior to or within 24 months following the effective date of a change in control. Upon a termination of employment without cause or a resignation for good reason during such a change in control period, an executive is entitled to a lump sum payment equal to one year of base salary and target bonus, prorated annual incentive bonus paid at target achievement, if any, for the year of termination, and 12 months of health, dental and vision insurance coverage reimbursements, and outplacement services. Upon termination of employment without cause outside of such a change in control period, the executive is entitled to 6 months of base salary and target bonus payable in monthly installments, payment of prorated annual incentive bonus based on actual performance, 12 months of health, dental and vision insurance coverage reimbursement, and outplacement services. The severance benefits under the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan are conditioned on the executive officer’s agreement to a release of claims in favor of Maxwell and nondisparagement obligations in favor of Maxwell.

For purposes of the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan, “cause” and “good reason” generally have the same meanings as “cause” and “good reason” as set forth in Dr. Fink’s and Mr. Lyle’s employment agreements.

 

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For purposes of the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan, “change in control” will include the merger and generally means any merger or consolidation in which we are not the surviving entity; the sale of all or substantially all of our assets to any other person or entity; the acquisition of beneficial ownership of a controlling (more than 50%) interest in the outstanding shares of our common stock by any person or entity; or an election of Maxwell directors as a result of which or in connection with which the persons who were directors before such election or their nominees cease to constitute a majority of the Maxwell board of directors.

Golden Parachute Compensation

In accordance with Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K, the table below sets forth the compensation that is based on or otherwise relates to the merger that will or may become payable to each of Dr. Fink, Mr. Lyle, and Mr. Wiggins, who constitute Maxwell’s named executive officers, in connection with the merger. Please see the previous portions of this section for further information regarding this compensation.

The amounts indicated in the table below are estimates of the amounts that would be payable assuming, solely for purposes of this table, that (1) the merger is consummated on March 31, 2019; (2) the employment of each of the named executive officers is terminated other than for “cause” or the named executive officer resigns for “good reason” at the effective time (as such terms are defined in his applicable employment agreement or applicable equity award agreement, in each case on that date); (3) the price per share of consideration that holders of shares of Maxwell common stock would receive in the merger is equal to $4.75, (4) the named executive officer’s base salary rate and performance bonus target amount remain unchanged from that in effect as of February 11, 2019; (5) no named executive officer receives any additional equity grants on or prior to the effective time that will vest on or prior to the effective time; and (6) no named executive officer enters into a new agreement or is otherwise legally entitled to, prior to the effective time, additional compensation or benefits. All of the payments in the table below are “double trigger” payments that require the named executive offers to terminate employment except as noted.

For a narrative description of the terms and conditions applicable to the payments quantified in the table below, see the preceding subsections. The amounts shown in the table do not include the payments or benefits that would have been earned on or prior to the effective time; or the value of payments or benefits that are not based on or otherwise related to the merger. In the footnotes to the table below, we refer to payments that are conditioned on the occurrence of both the merger as well as the termination of the named executive officer’s employment without “cause” or on account of “good reason”, if applicable, as being payable on a “double-trigger” basis.

Maxwell’s executive officers will not receive pension payments, nonqualified deferred compensation benefits or tax reimbursements in connection with the merger.

In addition to the assumptions regarding the date of completion of the merger and the termination of employment, these estimates are based on certain other assumptions that are described in the footnotes accompanying the table below. Accordingly, the ultimate values to be received by a named executive officer in connection with the merger may differ from the amounts set forth below.

 

Name

   Cash ($)(1)      Equity ($)(2)      Perquisites/
Benefits
($)(3)
     Other
($)(4)
     Total
($)
 

Dr. Franz J. Fink

   $ 2,123,288      $ 1,779,289      $ 33,898        —        $ 3,936,475  

David Lyle

   $ 955,479      $ 703,633      $ 18,506        —        $ 1,677,618  

Everett Wiggins

   $ 413,938      $ 382,091      $ 22,847      $ 30,000      $ 818,876  

 

(1)

The amount listed in this column represents the pre-tax value of the cash severance payments that would be paid pursuant to a termination of employment without “cause” or on account of “good reason”, if applicable, under Dr. Fink or Mr. Lyle’s employment agreement or Maxwell’s Severance and Change in Control Plan

 

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  with respect to Mr. Wiggins as described in more detail above under “—Employment Agreements.” These amounts reflect the amounts and benefits that would be paid on a “double trigger” basis. For purposes of valuing the severance payments in the table above, the computation is based on each executive’s base salary in effect as of February 11, 2019. If Dr. Fink’s employment is terminated without cause or should Dr. Fink resign his employment for good reason, in each case either within 30 days prior to a change in control or within 24 months after a change in control, he will receive a lump sum payment equal to two times his base salary (equal to $500,000) and target bonus (equal to $500,000). If Mr. Lyle’s employment is terminated without cause or should Mr. Lyle resign his employment for good reason, in each case either within 30 days prior to a change in control or within 24 months after a change in control, he will receive a lump sum payment equal to 150% times his base salary (equal to $375,000) and target bonus (equal to $225,000). If Mr. Wiggins’s employment is terminated without cause or should Mr. Wiggins resign his employment for good reason, in each case either within 30 days prior to a change in control or within 24 months after a change in control, he will receive a lump sum payment equal to 100% times his base salary (equal to $255,000) and target bonus (equal to $127,500) in connection with his participation in the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan. All named executive officers would also be entitled to a lump sum payment of prorated bonus in the year of termination, at target amounts, in connection with the merger (equal to $123,288, $55,479 and $31,438 for Dr. Fink, Mr. Lyle and Mr. Wiggins, respectively) pursuant to his employment agreement or the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan, as applicable, if a termination without cause or on account of a good reason termination occurs within the change in control period. With respect to Dr. Fink’s cash severance amount, such amount may be subject to reduction based on the Section 280G cutback provision in his employment agreement, as described above under “—Employment Arrangements.” A good faith, estimated amount of such cutback assuming his termination without cause or for good reason occurred at the effective time would be approximately $645,717 assuming a combined effective tax rate of 52.65%.
(2)

This amount reflects the value of the Maxwell MSUs and Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards to each executive based on an estimated merger consideration price of $4.75 and accelerated vesting of all awards. This amount for Dr. Fink includes (i) “single trigger” vesting of his Maxwell MSUs with a full value of $1,174,913 for the accelerated shares (equal to 247,350 shares), and (ii) Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards valued at $604,376 at full value for the accelerated shares (equal to 127,237 shares), which accelerate on a “double trigger” basis. The amount reflected for Mr. Lyle includes (i) Maxwell MSUs with a full value of $394,250 for the accelerated shares (equal to 83,000 shares) and (ii) Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards with a full value of $309,382 for the accelerated shares (equal to 65,133 shares). The amount for Mr. Wiggins includes Maxwell MSUs with a full value of $219,688 for the accelerated shares (equal to 46,250 shares) and Time-based RSU Awards with a full value of $162,403 for the accelerated shares (equal to 34,190 shares). With respect to Mr. Lyle’s and Mr. Wiggins’ Maxwell MSUs, 100% of the Maxwell MSUs outstanding as of immediately prior to the effective time will vest 100% on a “single trigger” basis, on the date of the merger. Their Maxwell Time-based RSU Awards vest on a “double-trigger” basis. All Maxwell options are underwater based on the merger consideration set forth above.

(3)

The amount reflects the 2018 COBRA rate (cost to Maxwell) of the individual’s group health/welfare benefits multiplied by the applicable multiple pursuant to either the individual’s employment agreement or the Maxwell Severance and Change in Control Plan, as applicable, each as described in more detail above. These benefits are “double trigger” in that they require both the occurrence of the merger and a termination of employment in order to be payable.

(4)

The amount listed represents the value of up to nine months of outplacement services that Maxwell may provide upon involuntary termination on a “double trigger” basis.

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Any Maxwell employee who is not a participant in Maxwell’s 2004 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) as of the date of the merger agreement may not become a participant in any offering periods in effect under the ESPP as of the date of the merger agreement. No participant may increase his or her contributions or payroll deductions under the ESPP after the date of the merger agreement. If the offering periods in effect as of the date

 

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of the merger agreement terminate prior to the effective time, then the ESPP will be suspended and no new offering period will commence under the ESPP prior to the termination of the merger agreement. If any current ESPP offering period is still in effect at the effective time, then the last day of such current ESPP offering period will be accelerated to a date before the closing date as specified by the Maxwell board of directors or its designated committee. Subject to the consummation of the merger, the ESPP will terminate effective immediately prior to the effective time.

Rule 14d-10(d) Matters

The merger agreement provides that, prior to the acceptance time (as defined below), the compensation committee of the Maxwell board of directors will take certain actions with respect to compensation matters. The compensation committee of the Maxwell board of directors duly adopted at a meeting of the Maxwell board of directors on February 14, 2019, resolutions approving as an “employment compensation, severance or other employee benefit arrangement” within the meaning of Rule 14d-10(d)(1) under the Exchange Act (i) each arrangement related to certain payments made or to be made and certain benefits granted or to be granted according to employment compensation, severance and other employee benefit plans of Maxwell, including the Maxwell Equity Plans, to certain holders of Maxwell shares, Maxwell options, Maxwell RSU awards, (ii) the treatment of Maxwell options, Maxwell RSU awards in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement and (iii) certain provisions of the merger agreement relating to indemnification, insurance and other compensation and benefits provided to Maxwell’s directors, executive officers and employees. In addition, the compensation committee of the Maxwell board of directors will take all other actions necessary to satisfy the requirements of the non-exclusive safe harbor under Rule 14d-10(d)(2) under the Exchange Act with respect to the foregoing arrangements.

Indemnification and Insurance

Under the merger agreement, for a period of not less than six years after the effective time of the merger, Tesla must, and must cause the surviving corporation in the merger to, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and the organizational documents of Maxwell or its subsidiaries, or any indemnification agreements in existence as of the date of the merger agreement that were provided to Tesla, each current and former director and executive officer of Maxwell and its subsidiaries against any costs and expenses in connection with any actual or threatened claims in respect of acts or omissions occurring or alleged to have occurred at or prior to the effective time of the merger, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the effective time of the merger, in connection with such person serving as an executive officer, director, employee or other fiduciary of Maxwell, any of its subsidiaries or any other person if such service was at the request or for the benefit of Maxwell or any of its subsidiaries.

In addition, for a period of six years following the effective time of the merger, Tesla is required to maintain in effect the provisions in the organizational documents of Maxwell and any indemnification agreements in existence as of the date of the merger agreement that were provided to Tesla (except to the extent such agreement provides for an earlier termination) regarding elimination of liability, indemnification of executive officers, directors and employees and advancement of expenses that are in existence as of the date of the merger agreement.

At or prior to the effective time of the merger, Maxwell is required to purchase a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance “tail” insurance policy for a period of six years after the effective time of the merger with respect to matters arising at or prior to the effective time of the merger, with a one-time cost not in excess of 250% of the last aggregate annual premium paid by Maxwell for its directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance prior to the date of the merger agreement, and if the cost of such “tail” insurance policy would otherwise exceed such amount, Maxwell may purchase as much coverage as reasonably practicable for such amount. See the section entitled “Merger Agreement—Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.”

 

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Section 16 Matters

Pursuant to the merger agreement, prior to the effective time of the merger, Maxwell and Tesla have agreed to, as applicable, take all such steps as may be reasonably necessary or advisable hereto to cause any dispositions of equity securities of Maxwell (including derivative securities) and acquisitions of equity securities of Tesla pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement by each individual who is a director or executive officer of Maxwell subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Maxwell to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Maxwell Shares Held by Maxwell Officers and Directors

As of February 11, 2019, the directors and executive officers of Maxwell and their affiliates beneficially owned approximately 3,897,048 Maxwell shares, representing approximately 8.41% of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding as of February 11, 2019.

Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, on February 3, 2019, (i) Maxwell board members Richard Bergman, Steven Bilodeau, Jörg Buchheim, Franz Fink, Burkhard Göschel, Ilya Golubovich, John Mutch and I2BF Energy Limited and (ii) Maxwell officers Franz Fink, David Lyle and Emily Lough, entered into a tender and support agreement with Tesla and the Offeror, solely in their capacities as stockholders of Maxwell. For more information regarding the support agreement, see the section entitled “Other Transaction Agreements—Support Agreement,” and such support agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.6 to this document.

Certain Relationships with Maxwell

As of the date of this document, Tesla does not own any shares of Maxwell common stock. Neither Tesla nor the Offeror has effected any transaction in securities of Maxwell in the past 60 days. To the best of Tesla’s and the Offeror’s knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, none of the persons listed on Annex C hereto, nor any of their respective associates or majority-owned subsidiaries, beneficially owns or has the right to acquire any securities of Maxwell or has effected any transaction in securities of Maxwell during the past 60 days.

Tesla and Maxwell entered into a confidentiality agreement, dated December 14, 2018, in connection with their consideration of the possible negotiated transaction that resulted in the execution of the merger agreement. Pursuant to the confidentiality agreement, subject to certain customary exceptions, Tesla and Maxwell agreed to keep confidential all non-public information received from the other party. Tesla and Maxwell also agreed that the non-public information furnished by the other party pursuant to the confidentiality agreement would be used solely for the purpose of evaluating, negotiating, executing and implementing the possible negotiated transaction. See the section entitled “Other Transaction Agreements—Confidentiality Agreement” and the confidentiality agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.7 to this document.

Tesla and Maxwell entered into an exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement, dated January 22, 2019, in connection with their evaluation of the potential business combination that resulted in the execution of the merger agreement. The exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement set forth certain terms on which Tesla and Maxwell would conduct negotiations regarding the potential business combination that resulted in the execution of the merger agreement. See “Other Transaction Agreements—Exclusivity and Non-Solicitation Agreement” and the exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 99.8 to this document.

Fees and Expenses

Tesla has retained Georgeson LLC as information agent in connection with the offer and the merger. The information agent may contact holders of shares by mail, email, telephone, facsimile and personal interview and may request brokers, dealers and other nominee stockholders to forward material relating to the offer and the merger to beneficial owners of shares. Tesla will pay the information agent reasonable and customary

 

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compensation for these services in addition to reimbursing the information agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. Tesla agreed to indemnify the information agent against certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws.

In addition, Tesla has retained Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as exchange agent in connection with the offer and the merger. Tesla will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary compensation for its services in connection with the offer and the merger, will reimburse the exchange agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will indemnify the exchange agent against certain liabilities and expenses, including certain liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws.

Tesla will reimburse brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies and other nominees, upon request, for customary and reasonable clerical and mailing expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers. Except as set forth above, neither Tesla nor the Offeror will pay any fees or commissions to any broker, dealer or other person for soliciting tenders of Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer.

Accounting Treatment

In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, Tesla will account for the acquisition of shares through the offer and the merger under the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations.

Stock Exchange Listing

Tesla shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TSLA”. Tesla intends to submit a listing of additional shares notification form to list on the Nasdaq Global Select Market the Tesla shares that Tesla will issue in the offer and merger as part of the offer consideration. Such listing is a condition to completion of the offer.

Resale of Tesla Common Stock

All Tesla shares received by Maxwell stockholders as part of the offer consideration in the offer and the merger will be freely tradable for purposes of the Securities Act, except for Tesla shares received by any person who is deemed an “affiliate” of Tesla at the time of the closing of the merger. Tesla shares held by an affiliate of Tesla may be resold or otherwise transferred without registration in compliance with the volume limitations, manner of sale requirements, notice requirements and other requirements under Rule 144 or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act. This document does not cover resales of Tesla shares received upon completion of the offer or the merger by any person, and no person is authorized to make any use of this document in connection with any such resale.

Exchange Agent Contact Information

The contact information for the exchange agent for the offer and the merger is:

 

 

LOGO

 

By Mail:   By Express Mail or Overnight Delivery:
Computershare   Computershare
C/O Voluntary Corporate Actions   C/O Voluntary Corporate Actions
P.O. Box 43011   250 Royall Street, Suite V
Providence, RI 02940-3011   Canton, MA 02021

 

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MERGER AGREEMENT

The following summary describes certain material provisions of the merger agreement entered into by Tesla, the Offeror and Maxwell, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A. This summary may not contain all of the information about the merger agreement that is important to Maxwell stockholders, and Maxwell stockholders are encouraged to read the merger agreement carefully in its entirety. The legal rights and obligations of the parties are governed by the specific language of the merger agreement and not this summary.

The Offer

The Offeror is offering to exchange each outstanding share of Maxwell common stock that has been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer for a fraction of a share of Tesla common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing $4.75 by the Tesla trading price, subject to the minimum. In the event that the Tesla trading price is equal to or less than $245.90, then each share of Maxwell common stock validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer will be exchanged for 0.0193 of a share of Tesla common stock. Such shares of Tesla common stock plus cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Tesla common stock is referred to herein as the “offer consideration,” and the offer consideration will be paid without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes.

The Offeror’s obligation to accept for exchange Maxwell shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Offeror of certain conditions, including the condition that, prior to the expiration of the offer, there have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn a number of Maxwell shares that, upon the consummation of the offer, together with Maxwell shares then owned by Tesla and the Offeror (if any), would represent at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Maxwell shares outstanding immediately after the consummation of the offer (the “minimum tender condition”), as more fully described under “The Offer—Conditions of the Offer.”

Under the merger agreement, unless Maxwell consents otherwise or the merger agreement is terminated:

 

   

the Offeror must extend the offer for any period required by any law, or any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or its staff or Nasdaq applicable to the offer, or to the extent necessary to resolve any comments of the SEC or its staff applicable to the offer or the offer documents or the registration statement on Form S-4 of which this document is a part;

 

   

in the event that any of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer) have not been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer, the Offeror must extend the offer for up to four successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (or for such longer period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell) in order to permit the satisfaction or valid waiver of the conditions to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition); however, the Offeror will not be required (and Tesla will not be required to cause the Offeror) to extend the offer beyond 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on July 3, 2019; and

 

   

if as of any then-scheduled expiration of the offer each condition to the offer (other than the minimum tender condition, and other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the offer (if such conditions would be satisfied or validly waived were the expiration of the offer to occur at such time)) has been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement and the minimum tender condition has not been satisfied, the Offeror may, and at the request in writing of Maxwell must, extend the offer for successive extension periods of up to 10 business days each (with the length of each such period being determined in good faith by Tesla) (or for such longer period as may be agreed by Tesla and Maxwell); however, in no event will the Offeror be required to extend the expiration of the offer for more than 40 business days in the aggregate for these reasons; however, the Offeror will not be required (and Tesla will not be required to cause the Offeror) to extend the offer beyond 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on July 3, 2019.

 

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No extension will impair, limit or otherwise restrict the right of the parties to terminate the merger agreement pursuant to its terms.

The Offeror may not terminate or withdraw the offer prior to the then-scheduled expiration of the offer unless the merger agreement is validly terminated in accordance with its terms, in which case the Offeror will terminate the offer promptly (but in no event more than one business day) after such termination. Among other circumstances, the merger agreement may be terminated by either Tesla or Maxwell if the offer shall have terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (subject to the rights and obligations of Tesla and the Offeror to extend the offer pursuant to the merger agreement) without the Offeror having accepted for payment any Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer, or if the acceptance for exchange of Maxwell shares tendered in the offer has not occurred on or before July 3, 2019 (subject to the six-business day maximum extension in certain circumstances described under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement”), which we refer to as the “outside date.” See “—Termination of the Merger Agreement.”

For a more complete description of the offer, see the section entitled “The Offer.”

The Merger

The merger agreement provides that, if the offer is completed, the parties will effect the merger of the Offeror with and into Maxwell, with Maxwell continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger, and the former Maxwell stockholders will not have any direct equity ownership interest in the surviving corporation.

Completion and Effectiveness of the Merger

Under the merger agreement, the closing of the merger must occur promptly, and in any case no later than the second business day, after the acceptance of tendered Maxwell shares in the offer and the satisfaction of the other condition to the merger, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing (see “—Conditions to the Merger”). The merger will become effective upon the filing of a certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware unless a later date is specified therein.

Offer Consideration Payable Pursuant to the Merger

In the merger, except as provided below, each outstanding Maxwell share that was not acquired by the Offeror in the offer will be converted into the right to receive the offer consideration, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes.

In the merger, Maxwell shares that are owned or held in treasury by Maxwell or owned by Tesla or the Offeror will be cancelled without any consideration being delivered. In the merger, Maxwell shares that are owned by any wholly-owned subsidiary of Tesla (other than the Offeror) or of Maxwell will be converted into shares of common stock of the surviving corporation based on a formula described in the merger agreement.

Fractional Shares

Tesla will not issue fractional shares of Tesla common stock in the offer or the merger. Instead, each holder of Maxwell shares who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares of Tesla common stock will be entitled to an amount of cash (without interest) equal to such fractional part of a share of Tesla common stock multiplied by the Tesla trading price, rounded down to the nearest cent; however, if the Tesla trading price is equal to or less than $245.90, each holder of Maxwell common stock who otherwise would be entitled to receive fractional shares of Tesla common stock will be entitled to an amount of cash (without interest) equal to such fractional part of a share of Tesla common stock multiplied by $245.90. rounded down to the nearest cent.

 

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Exchange of Maxwell Stock Certificates or Book-Entry Shares for the Offer Consideration

Tesla has retained Computershare Trust Company, N.A. as the depositary and exchange agent for the offer and the merger to handle the exchange of Maxwell shares for the offer consideration.

To effect the exchange of Maxwell shares that were converted into the right to receive the offer consideration, within two business days after the effective time of the merger, the exchange agent will mail to each record holder of Maxwell shares a form of transmittal and instructions for surrendering the stock certificates or book-entry shares that formerly represented Maxwell shares for the offer consideration. No holder of book-entry Maxwell shares will be required to deliver a certificate or letter of transmittal or surrender such book-entry Maxwell shares to the exchange agent to receive the offer consideration in the merger. Each record holder of Maxwell shares will be entitled to receive the offer consideration (including cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Tesla common stock), and the payment of any dividends or other distributions, without interest,

 

   

if such shares are in certificated form, only after surrender to the exchange agent of certificates, together with a duly completed and validly executed letter of transmittal, and any other documents as may customarily be required by the exchange agent, or

 

   

if such shares are in electronic book-entry form, automatically on the completion of the merger, and Tesla will cause the exchange agent to pay and deliver in exchange therefor as promptly as reasonably practicable, but no later than two business days, after the effective time of the merger,

in each case, which prior to proper exchange of such Maxwell shares had become payable with respect to the Tesla common stock issuable as stock consideration in respect of such Maxwell shares.

No interest will be paid or will accrue on any portion of the offer consideration payable in respect of any Maxwell share.

After the effective time of the merger, each stock certificate or book-entry share formerly representing shares of Maxwell common stock that has not been surrendered will represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the offer consideration to which such holder is entitled by virtue of the merger and any dividends or other distributions payable to such holder upon such surrender.

Conditions to the Merger

If the offer is completed, the respective obligations of each party to effect the merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following two conditions:

 

   

Completion of Offer—The Offeror has accepted for payment all of the Maxwell shares validly tendered in the offer and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the offer.

 

   

No Legal Prohibition—No governmental entity of competent jurisdiction has (i) enacted, issued or promulgated any law that is in effect as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger or (ii) issued or granted any order or injunctions (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect as of immediately prior to the effective time of the merger, which, in each case, has the effect of restraining or enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the merger.

Representations and Warranties

The merger agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties. These include representations and warranties of Maxwell with respect to:

 

   

qualification, organization, subsidiaries, etc.;

 

   

capitalization;

 

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corporate authority relative to the merger agreement, and due execution, delivery and enforceability of the merger agreement;

 

   

governmental consents, and no violations;

 

   

SEC reports and financial statements;

 

   

internal controls and procedures;

 

   

absence of undisclosed liabilities;

 

   

absence of certain changes or events;

 

   

compliance with applicable laws and permits;

 

   

employee benefit plans;

 

   

labor matters;

 

   

tax matters;

 

   

litigation and orders;

 

   

intellectual property;

 

   

privacy and data protection;

 

   

real property and assets;

 

   

material contracts;

 

   

environmental matters;

 

   

customers and suppliers;

 

   

insurance;

 

   

information supplied for SEC filings;

 

   

opinion of the financial advisor to Maxwell;

 

   

state takeover statutes and anti-takeover laws;

 

   

related party transactions;

 

   

product warranties and recalls;

 

   

finders and brokers; and

 

   

the outstanding convertible notes of Maxwell.

The merger agreement also contains customary representations and warranties of Tesla and the Offeror, including among other things:

 

   

qualification, organization, etc.;

 

   

capitalization;

 

   

corporate authority relative to the merger agreement, and due execution, delivery and enforceability of the merger agreement;

 

   

required consents and approvals, no violations;

 

   

SEC reports and financial statements;

 

   

internal controls and procedures;

 

   

absence of undisclosed liabilities;

 

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absence of certain changes or events;

 

   

compliance with applicable laws;

 

   

litigation and orders;

 

   

information supplied for SEC filings;

 

   

valid issuance of Tesla common stock in the offer and the merger;

 

   

finders and brokers;

 

   

stock ownership; and

 

   

absence of activity of the Offeror.

Certain of the representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement are qualified by “material adverse effect” (as defined in the merger agreement and described below). The representations and warranties contained in the merger agreement will expire at the effective time of the merger. The representations, warranties and covenants made by Maxwell in the merger agreement are qualified by information contained in the confidential disclosure schedules delivered to Tesla in connection with the execution of the merger agreement and by filings that Maxwell has made with the SEC prior to the date of the merger agreement. The representations, warranties and covenants made by Tesla and the Offeror in the merger agreement are qualified by information contained in the confidential disclosure schedules delivered to Maxwell in connection with the execution of the merger agreement and by filings that Tesla has made with the SEC prior to the date of the merger agreement. Stockholders are not third-party beneficiaries of these representations, warranties and covenants under the merger agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of Maxwell or any of its affiliates or of Tesla or any of its affiliates.

Material Adverse Effect

A “material adverse effect” with respect to Tesla or Maxwell, means any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, fact, state of facts, event or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business, assets or operations of such party and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except that no such change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, fact, state of facts, event or occurrence resulting or arising from any of the following will be deemed to constitute a material adverse effect or will be taken into account when determining whether a material adverse effect exists or has occurred or is reasonably expected to exist or occur:

 

  (a)

any changes in general U.S. or global economic conditions, including any changes affecting financial, credit, foreign exchange or capital market conditions;

 

  (b)

any changes in general conditions in any industry or industries in which such party and its subsidiaries operate;

 

  (c)

any changes in general political conditions, including any prolonged federal government furlough, shutdown or lack of funding;

 

  (d)

any changes after the date of the merger agreement in GAAP or the interpretation thereof;

 

  (e)

any changes after the date of the merger agreement in applicable law or the interpretation thereof;

 

  (f)

any failure by such party to meet any internal or published projections, estimates or expectations of such party’s revenue, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations for any period, in and of itself, or any failure by such party to meet its internal budgets, plans or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations, in and of itself (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of a “material adverse effect” may be taken into account);

 

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  (g)

any changes in geopolitical conditions, acts of terrorism or sabotage, war (whether or not declared), the commencement, continuation or escalation of a war, acts of armed hostility, weather conditions, natural disasters or other force majeure events, including any material worsening of such conditions threatened or existing as of the date of the merger agreement;

 

  (h)

the execution and delivery of the merger agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, or the public announcement of the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including any litigation arising out of or relating to the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, the identity of Tesla (in the case of Maxwell) or the identity of Maxwell (in the case of Tesla), departures of officers or employees, changes in relationships with suppliers or customers or other business relations, resulting from the execution and delivery of the merger agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, or the public announcement of the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement (except that this clause (h) will not apply to any representation or warranty to the extent the purpose of such representation or warranty is to address the consequences resulting from the execution and delivery of the merger agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or to address the consequences of litigation); and

 

  (i)

any action or failure to take any action which action or failure to act is requested in writing by the other party or any action expressly required by, or the failure to take any action expressly prohibited by, the terms of the merger agreement;

provided that with respect to the exceptions in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) above, if such change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, fact, state of facts, event or occurrence has had a disproportionate adverse impact on such party relative to other companies operating in the industry or industries in which such party operates, then the incremental disproportionate adverse impact of such change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, fact, state of facts, event or occurrence will be taken into account for the purpose of determining whether a “material adverse effect” exists or has occurred.

No Solicitation of Other Offers by Maxwell

Under the terms of the merger agreement, subject to certain exceptions described below, Maxwell has agreed that, from the date of the merger agreement until the earlier of the acceptance time or the date (if any) the merger agreement is terminated, Maxwell and its board of directors (including any committee of its board of directors) will not and Maxwell will not and will cause its controlled affiliates not to, and Maxwell will not authorize or permit its and its controlled affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees and other representatives to, directly or indirectly:

 

  (a)

solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage or knowingly facilitate (including by way of providing information or taking any other action) any inquiry, proposal or offer, or the making, submission or announcement of any inquiry, proposal or offer, in each case which constitutes or could be reasonably expected to lead to an acquisition proposal (as defined below);

 

  (b)

participate in any negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any non-public information relating to Maxwell or any subsidiary of Maxwell in connection with, an acquisition proposal;

 

  (c)

adopt, approve, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose to adopt, approve, endorse or recommend, any acquisition proposal;

 

  (d)

withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, or otherwise propose to withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Tesla, the Maxwell board of directors’ recommendation that Maxwell stockholders accept the offer and tender their Maxwell shares into the offer, or commit or agree to take any such action;

 

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  (e)

if an acquisition proposal has been publicly disclosed, fail to publicly recommend against any such acquisition proposal within 10 business days after the public disclosure of such acquisition proposal (or subsequently withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Tesla, such rejection of such acquisition proposal) and reaffirm the Maxwell board of directors’ recommendation that Maxwell stockholders accept the offer and tender their Maxwell shares into the offer within such 10 business day period (or, with respect to any material amendments, revisions or changes to the terms of any such previously publicly disclosed acquisition proposal that are publicly disclosed within the last five business days’ prior to the then-scheduled expiration of the offer, fail to take the actions referred to in this clause (e), with references to the applicable 10 business day period being replaced with three business days);

 

  (f)

fail to include the Maxwell board of directors’ recommendation that Maxwell stockholders accept the offer and tender their Maxwell shares into the offer in the Schedule 14D-9;

 

  (g)

approve, or authorize, or cause or permit Maxwell or any Maxwell subsidiary to enter into, any merger agreement, acquisition agreement, reorganization agreement, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or similar agreement or document relating to, or any other agreement or commitment providing for, any acquisition proposal (other than certain confidentiality agreements described in the merger agreement); or

 

  (h)

commit or agree to do any of the foregoing.

We refer to the actions set forth in clauses (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) (to the extent related to the foregoing clauses (c), (d), (e), (f) or (g)) above as a “change of recommendation.”

In addition, under the merger agreement, Maxwell has agreed that:

 

   

it and its board of directors (including any committee of its board of directors) will and will cause its controlled affiliates to, and Maxwell will cause its and its controlled affiliates’ respective directors, officers, employees and other representatives to, immediately cease any and all existing solicitation, encouragement, discussions or negotiations with any persons, or provision of any non-public information to any persons, with respect to any inquiry, proposal or offer that constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an acquisition proposal;

 

   

it will promptly (and in any event prior to February 6, 2019) request that each person (other than Tesla) that previously executed a confidentiality agreement with Maxwell in connection with its consideration of an acquisition proposal or a potential acquisition proposal promptly destroy or return to Maxwell all non-public information previously furnished by Maxwell or any of its representatives to such person or any of its representatives in accordance with the terms of such confidentiality agreement; and

 

   

it will terminate access to any physical or electronic data rooms relating to a possible acquisition proposal by any such person and its representatives.

Under the merger agreement, Maxwell has agreed to enforce, and not waive, terminate or modify without Tesla’s prior written consent, any confidentiality, standstill or similar provision in any confidentiality, standstill or other agreement; provided that, if the Maxwell board of directors determines in good faith after consultation with Maxwell’s outside legal counsel that the failure to waive a particular standstill provision would reasonably be expected to be a breach of the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law, Maxwell may, with prior written notice to Tesla, waive such standstill solely to the extent necessary to permit the applicable person (if Maxwell has not breached its non-solicitation obligations) to make, on a confidential basis to the Maxwell board of directors, an acquisition proposal, conditioned upon such person agreeing to disclosure of such acquisition proposal to Tesla, in each case as contemplated by the merger agreement.

Notwithstanding the prohibitions described above, if Maxwell receives, prior to the acceptance time, a bona fide written acquisition proposal that did not result from a breach of Maxwell’s non-solicitation obligations, Maxwell

 

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is permitted to furnish non-public information to such person and engage in discussions or negotiations with such person and its representatives with respect to the acquisition proposal, as long as:

 

   

the Maxwell board of directors determines in good faith, after consulting with Maxwell’s outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that such proposal constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a superior proposal (as defined below);

 

   

the Maxwell board of directors determines in good faith, after consulting with Maxwell’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be a breach of the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law; and

 

   

prior to providing any such non-public information, (x) the person making the acquisition proposal enters into a confidentiality agreement after the date of the merger agreement that contains terms that are no less favorable in the aggregate to Maxwell than those contained in the confidentiality agreement between Tesla and Maxwell (provided that the confidentiality agreement is not required to include a standstill or similar provision) and that does not in any way restrict Maxwell or its representatives from complying with its disclosure obligations under the merger agreement), and (y) Maxwell also provides Tesla, prior to or substantially concurrently with the time such information is provided or made available to such person or its representatives, any non-public information furnished to such other person or its representatives that was not previously furnished to Tesla.

Under the merger agreement, Maxwell is obligated to notify Tesla promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) of any receipt by any director or officer of Maxwell or by any of Maxwell’s controlled affiliates or its or their respective representatives of any acquisition proposal or any proposals or inquiries that could reasonably be expected to lead to an acquisition proposal, or any inquiry or request for non-public information relating to Maxwell or any Maxwell subsidiary by any person who has made or could reasonably be expected to make any acquisition proposal (or of becoming aware of any of its or their other affiliates having received any such acquisition proposal, proposal, inquiry or request). The notice must include the identity of the person making the acquisition proposal, inquiry or request (unless prohibited by the terms of an existing confidentiality agreement), and the material terms and conditions of any such proposal or offer or the nature of the information requested pursuant to any such inquiry or request, including unredacted copies of all written requests, proposals or offers (including any proposed agreements received by Maxwell) or, if such acquisition proposal is not in writing, a reasonably detailed written description of the material terms and conditions thereof (provided that Maxwell may withhold the identity of the person making the acquisition proposal if prohibited by the terms of an existing confidentiality agreement). Maxwell also must keep Tesla reasonably informed on a prompt and timely basis of the status and material terms (including any amendments or proposed amendments to such material terms) of any such acquisition proposal or potential acquisition proposal, and as to the nature of any information requested of Maxwell with respect thereto. Maxwell also has agreed to promptly provide (and in any event within the earlier of 48 hours and one business day) Tesla with any material non-public information concerning Maxwell provided to any other person in connection with any acquisition proposal that was not previously provided to Tesla. Without limiting the foregoing, Maxwell has agreed to promptly (and in any event within 24 hours after such determination) inform Tesla in writing if Maxwell determines to begin providing information or to engage in discussions or negotiations concerning an acquisition proposal to the extent otherwise permitted by the merger agreement.

The “acceptance time” for purposes of the merger agreement is the time that the Offeror accepts for payment all Maxwell shares that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the offer promptly after the expiration of the offer (as it may be extended pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement) or, at Tesla’s election, concurrently with the expiration of the offer if all conditions to the offer have been satisfied or waived in accordance with the merger agreement.

An “acquisition proposal” for purposes of the merger agreement means any offer, proposal or indication of interest from any person or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a proposal or

 

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offer by Tesla or a subsidiary of Tesla, at any time relating to any transaction or series of related transactions involving:

 

   

any acquisition or purchase by any person, directly or indirectly, of more than 15% of any class of outstanding Maxwell voting or equity securities (whether by voting power or number of shares);

 

   

any tender offer (including a self-tender offer) or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any person or group beneficially owning more than 15% of any class of outstanding Maxwell voting or equity securities (whether by voting power or number of shares);

 

   

any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business combination, joint venture, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar transaction, in each case involving Maxwell and any other person or group, pursuant to which the Maxwell stockholders immediately prior to such transaction hold less than 85% of the equity interests in the surviving or resulting entity of such transaction (whether by voting power or number of shares); or

 

   

any sale, lease, exchange, transfer or other disposition to any person or group of more than 15% of the consolidated assets of Maxwell and its subsidiaries (measured by fair market value).

A “superior proposal” for purposes of the merger agreement means a bona fide, written acquisition proposal by a third party which the Maxwell board of directors determines in good faith (after consultation with Maxwell’s outside legal counsel and financial advisors) to be more favorable to Maxwell’s stockholders from a financial point of view than the offer and the merger, taking into account all relevant factors, including all the terms and conditions of such proposal or offer (including conditionality, offer consideration, timing, certainty of financing and/or regulatory approvals and likelihood of consummation) and the merger agreement, as well as any changes to the terms of the merger agreement proposed by Tesla in response to any acquisition proposal. However, in determining whether an acquisition proposal constitutes a superior proposal, the Maxwell board of directors is not entitled to take into account the difference, in and of itself, of the form of consideration between Tesla common stock and any cash offered in any such acquisition proposal, but may take into account the difference in value between Tesla common stock and any cash offered in any such acquisition proposal. When determining whether an offer constitutes a superior proposal, references in the term “acquisition proposal” to “15%” or “85%” will be replaced with references to “100%” and “0%”, respectively.

Change of Recommendation; Match Rights

The merger agreement requires the Maxwell board of directors to recommend that Maxwell stockholders accept the offer and tender their Maxwell shares into the offer. However, prior to the acceptance time:

 

   

the Maxwell board of directors may make certain types of a change of recommendation in response to an intervening event (as defined below) if the Maxwell board of directors has determined in good faith, after consultation with Maxwell’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be a breach of the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law; or

 

   

the Maxwell board of directors may, so long as Maxwell has not breached its non-solicitation obligations, make a change of recommendation and cause Maxwell to terminate the merger agreement in order to enter into a definitive agreement providing for an acquisition proposal (subject to payment by Maxwell to Tesla of the termination fee described under “—Termination Fee and Expenses”) which the Maxwell board of directors has determined in good faith after consultation with Maxwell’s outside legal counsel and financial advisors is a superior proposal, but only if the Maxwell board of directors has determined in good faith after consultation with Maxwell’s outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would be a breach of the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law.

Prior to making a change of recommendation for any reason set forth above, Maxwell must provide Tesla five business days’ prior written notice advising Tesla that it intends to make a change of recommendation. The notice must specify in reasonable detail the reasons for such change of recommendation due to an intervening

 

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event (as defined below), or the material terms and conditions of the acquisition proposal (including a copy of any proposed definitive agreement) for any change of recommendation due to a superior proposal. In each case, Maxwell must cause its representatives (including its executive officers) to be available during such five business day period to negotiate in good faith (to the extent Tesla desires to negotiate) any proposal by Tesla to amend the merger agreement in a manner that would eliminate the need for the Maxwell board of directors to make a change of recommendation in the case of an intervening event or that would cause such acquisition proposal to no longer be a superior proposal in the case of a superior proposal, and the Maxwell board of directors must again make the required determination regarding its fiduciary duties at the end of such five business day negotiation period (after in good faith taking into account the amendments to the merger agreement proposed by Tesla). With respect to any change of recommendation in response to a superior proposal, if there is any material amendment, revision or change to the terms of the then-existing superior proposal (including any revision to the amount, form or mix of consideration proposed to be received by Maxwell’s stockholders as a result of such superior proposal), Maxwell must again comply with the obligations described in this paragraph.

An “intervening event” for purposes of the merger agreement is any event, change or development first occurring or arising after the date of the merger agreement that is material to Maxwell and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and was not known by or reasonably foreseeable to the Maxwell board of directors as of or prior to the date of the merger agreement, except that in no event will the following events, changes or developments constitute an “intervening event”: (a) the receipt, existence or terms of an acquisition proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof; (b) changes in the market price or trading volume of the Maxwell common stock, the Tesla common stock or any other securities of Maxwell, Tesla or their respective subsidiaries, or any change in credit rating or the fact that Maxwell meets or exceeds (or that Tesla fails to meet or exceed) internal or published estimates, projections, forecasts or predictions for any period; (c) changes in general economic, political or financial conditions or markets (including changes in interest rates, exchange rates, stock, bond and/or debt prices); (d) changes in GAAP, other applicable accounting rules or applicable law or, in any such case, changes in the interpretation thereof; (e) general changes or developments in any of the industries in which Maxwell or its subsidiaries operate; (f) natural disasters or calamities; (g) any outbreak or escalation of armed hostilities, any acts of war or terrorism; (h) the announcement or pendency of the merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby; or (i) any litigation brought by or on behalf of any current or former Maxwell stockholder (in its capacity as such) arising from allegations of any breach of fiduciary duty relating to the merger agreement (or the transactions contemplated thereby) or violation of securities law related to the Schedule TO, the other offer documents, the Schedule 14D-9 or any other document required to be filed with the SEC by the Maxwell or required to be distributed or otherwise disseminated to the Maxwell’s stockholders in connection with the offer and the merger.

Nothing in the merger agreement prohibits Maxwell or the Maxwell board of directors from disclosing to Maxwell’s stockholders a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or making any “stop, look and listen” communication to Maxwell’s stockholders pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any similar statement in response to any publicly disclosed acquisition proposal, provided that any such “stop, look and listen” statement, or any such similar statement, also includes an express reaffirmation of the Maxwell board of directors’ recommendation that Maxwell stockholders accept the offer and tender their Maxwell shares into the offer.

Conduct of Business Before Completion of the Merger

Restrictions on Maxwell’s Operations

The merger agreement provides for certain restrictions on Maxwell’s and its subsidiaries’ activities until the earlier of the effective time of the merger or the date (if any) the merger agreement is terminated. In general, except as specifically permitted or required by the merger agreement, as required by applicable law or as consented to in writing by Tesla (which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), subject to specified exceptions set forth in the merger agreement, Maxwell and each of its subsidiaries is required to

 

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conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve intact its and their present business organizations, goodwill and ongoing business, keep available the services of its and their present officers and other key employees (except other than where such termination is for cause) and preserve its and their present relationships with customers, suppliers, vendors, licensors, licensees, governmental entities, employees and other persons with whom it and they have material business relations. In addition, except as specifically permitted or required by the merger agreement, as required by applicable law or the rules and regulations of the SEC or Nasdaq or as consented to in writing by Tesla (which, in certain cases, may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), subject to specified exceptions set forth in the merger agreement, Maxwell must not and must not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

   

amend, modify, waive, rescind or otherwise change Maxwell’s or any of its subsidiaries’ certificate of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents;

 

   

authorize, declare, set aside, make or pay any dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests (whether in cash, assets, shares or other securities of Maxwell or any of its subsidiaries), or enter into any agreement or arrangement with respect to the voting or registration of its capital stock or other equity interests or securities;

 

   

split, combine, subdivide, reduce or reclassify any of its capital stock or other equity interests, or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock or other equity interests, or issue or authorize the issuance of any of its capital stock or other equity interests or any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for, shares of its capital stock or other equity interests, except for any such transaction involving only wholly-owned subsidiaries of Maxwell;

 

   

issue, deliver, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize the issuance, delivery, grant, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any shares in the capital stock, voting securities or other equity interest in Maxwell or any of its subsidiaries or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such shares, voting securities or equity interest, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares, voting securities or equity interest or any “phantom” stock, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights or stock based performance units other than (a) issuances of Maxwell common stock in respect of any exercise of Maxwell options, the vesting or settlement of Maxwell equity awards outstanding as of the date of the merger agreement, (b) the issuances of Maxwell common stock pursuant to the terms of the ESPP in respect of the current offering periods thereunder, (c) transactions solely between Maxwell and its wholly owned subsidiaries or solely between Maxwell wholly owned subsidiaries; (d) the grant of Maxwell equity awards in accordance with the terms agreed with Tesla or (e) as otherwise provided in the merger agreement;

 

   

(a) increase the compensation or benefits payable or to become payable to any directors, executive officers or employees; (b) grant to any directors, executive officers or employees any increase in severance or termination pay, subject to limited exceptions described in the merger agreement; (c) pay or award, or commit to pay or award, any bonuses, retention or incentive compensation to any of its directors, executive officers or employees, subject to certain exceptions described in the merger agreement; (d) establish, adopt, enter into, amend or terminate any collective bargaining agreement or Maxwell benefit plan, except for limited exceptions described in the merger agreement; (e) take any action to amend or waive any performance or vesting criteria or accelerate vesting, exercisability or funding under any Maxwell benefit plan; (f) terminate the employment of any employee at the level of vice president or above, other than for cause; (g) hire any new employees at the level of vice president or above; or (h) promote, demote, transfer, or change the title, job position, authority, responsibilities or pay grade of any directors, executive officers or employees or consultants of Maxwell or its affiliates; or (i) provide any funding for any rabbi trust or similar arrangement;

 

   

acquire (including by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets or any other means) or authorize or announce an intention to so acquire, or enter into any agreements providing for any acquisitions of, (a) any equity interests in or assets of any person or any business or division thereof,

 

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(b) any assets above the amount described in the merger agreement, or (c) otherwise engage in any mergers, consolidations or business combinations, except for transactions solely between Maxwell and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or between such wholly-owned subsidiaries or acquisitions of supplies or equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

   

enter into any new line of business outside of its existing business;

 

   

take any actions or omit to take any actions that would or would be reasonably likely to (i) result in any of the conditions not being satisfied, (ii) result in new or additional required approvals from any governmental entity in connection with the merger or (iii) materially delay or impair the ability of Tesla, the Offeror or Maxwell to consummate the merger in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement or materially delay such consummation;

 

   

liquidate, dissolve, restructure, recapitalize or effect any other reorganization (including any reorganization or restructuring between or among any of Maxwell or any of its subsidiaries), or adopt any plan or resolution providing for any of the foregoing;

 

   

make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person, except for loans solely among Maxwell and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or solely among Maxwell’s wholly-owned subsidiaries or advances for reimbursable employee expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

   

sell, lease, license, assign, abandon, permit to lapse, transfer, exchange, swap or otherwise dispose of, or subject to any lien (other than certain permitted liens), any of its material properties, rights or assets (including shares in the capital of Maxwell or its subsidiaries), except (a) dispositions of obsolete or worthless equipment, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b) for transactions solely among Maxwell and its wholly-owned subsidiaries or solely among such wholly-owned subsidiaries, and (c) licenses to Maxwell’s intellectual property rights incidental to the sale of Maxwell’s products in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

enter into certain types of material contracts or materially modify, materially amend, extend or terminate certain types of material contract, or, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, waive, release or assign any material rights or claims thereunder;

 

   

make or change any material tax election, adopt or change any tax accounting period or material method of tax accounting, file any amended tax return, settle or compromise any material liability for taxes or any tax audit, claim or other proceeding relating to a material amount of taxes, enter into any “closing agreement” within the meaning of Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law), surrender any right to claim a material refund of taxes, or agree to an extension or waiver of the statute of limitations with respect to a material amount of taxes;

 

   

commence (other than any collection action in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or any action to enforce the provisions of the merger agreement), waive, release, assign, compromise or settle any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding, other than the compromise or settlement of claims, litigations, investigations or proceedings that are not brought by governmental entities and that (a) is for an amount (in excess of insurance proceeds) not to exceed, for any such compromise or settlement individually or in the aggregate, $1,500,000, (b) does not impose any injunctive relief on Maxwell or its subsidiaries and does not involve the admission of wrongdoing by Maxwell, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors or otherwise establish a materially adverse precedent for similar settlements by Tesla or any of its subsidiaries and (c) does not provide for the license of any material Maxwell intellectual property;

 

   

make any change in financial accounting policies, practices, principles or procedures or any of its methods of reporting income, deductions or other material items for financial accounting purposes, except as required by GAAP or applicable law;

 

   

amend or modify any privacy statement;

 

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redeem, repurchase, prepay, defease, incur, assume, endorse, guarantee or otherwise become liable for or modify in any material respects the terms of any indebtedness or any derivative financial instruments or arrangements (including swaps, caps, floors, futures, forward contracts and option agreements), or issue or sell any debt securities or calls, options, warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities (directly, contingently or otherwise), except for (A) any indebtedness solely among Maxwell and its subsidiaries or solely among wholly owned subsidiaries, (B) guarantees by Maxwell of indebtedness of subsidiaries or guarantees by subsidiaries of indebtedness of Maxwell or any other subsidiary, which indebtedness is incurred in compliance with this clause, (C) any amendment, supplement, restatement, or modification to the Maxwell Loan Agreement (as defined below) provided that such agreement remains terminable at the election of Maxwell, and (D) as may be required by the Maxwell Convertible Notes (defined below);

 

   

enter into any transactions or contracts with any affiliates or other person that would be required to be disclosed by Maxwell under Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the SEC;

 

   

cancel Maxwell’s insurance policies or fail to pay the premiums on Maxwell’s insurance policies such that such failure causes a cancellation of such policy, or fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in the ordinary course Maxwell’s insurance policies;

 

   

enter into any agreement to purchase or sell any interest in real property, grant any security interest in any real property, enter into any lease or sublease of real property (whether as a lessor, sublessor, lessee or sublessee), materially modify or amend or exercise any right to renew any lease or sublease of real property, or waive any term or condition thereof or grant any consents thereunder, grant or otherwise create or consent to the creation of any easement, covenant, restriction, assessment or charge affecting any real property leased by Maxwell, or any interest therein or part thereof, commit any waste or nuisance on any such property or make any material changes in the construction or condition of any such property, in each case other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

   

convene any special meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) of Maxwell’s stockholders;

 

   

terminate or modify or waive in any material respect any right under any permit;

 

   

otherwise grant to any party any present, past or future license, covenant, waiver or other right under, or lien in respect of, any Company Intellectual Property or Company Technology (each, as defined in the merger agreement);

 

   

adopt or otherwise implement any stockholder rights plan, “poison-pill” or other comparable agreement;

 

   

take any action that would result in an adjustment (other than an adjustment as a result of the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby) to the conversion rate of the Maxwell Convertible Notes as described in the merger agreement; or

 

   

agree or authorize, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions.

Restrictions on Tesla’s Operations

The merger agreement provides for certain restrictions on Tesla’s and its subsidiaries’ activities until the earlier of the effective time of the merger or the date (if any) the merger agreement is terminated. Except as specifically permitted or required by the merger agreement, as required by applicable law or as consented to in writing by Maxwell (which may not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), subject to specified exceptions set forth in the merger agreement, Tesla must not and must not permit any of its subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

 

   

amend the organizational documents of Tesla in a manner that would be material and disproportionately adverse to the holders of Maxwell common stock relative to the treatment of existing holders of Tesla common stock except as may be required by law or the rules and regulations of the SEC or Nasdaq;

 

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authorize, declare, set aside, make or pay any dividends on or make any distribution with respect to its outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests (whether in cash, assets, stock or other securities of Tesla or any of its subsidiaries), except (a) dividends and distributions paid or made in the ordinary course of business by Tesla’s subsidiaries and (b) for transactions that would require an adjustment to the offer consideration as described in the merger agreement;

 

   

split, combine, subdivide, reduce or reclassify any of its capital stock, except for (a) any such transaction involving only wholly-owned subsidiaries of Tesla and (b) any transactions that would require an adjustment to the offer consideration as described in the merger agreement;

 

   

adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation or dissolution with respect to Tesla; or

 

   

agree or authorize, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the foregoing actions.

Access

The merger agreement provides that during the period prior to the earlier of the effective time of the merger or the date (if any) the merger agreement is terminated, to the extent permitted by applicable law, Maxwell and its subsidiaries will give Tesla and its representatives reasonable access during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice to Maxwell’s and its subsidiaries’ offices, properties, contracts, personnel, books and records, and will furnish reasonably promptly to Tesla all information in existence concerning Maxwell’s business, properties and personnel available to Maxwell or its subsidiaries as Tesla reasonably requests. However, Maxwell is not required to disclose information that may not be disclosed pursuant to contractual or legal restrictions or that is subject to attorney-client, attorney work product or other legal privilege, provided that Maxwell will use commercially reasonable efforts to make alternative arrangements for disclosure that do not violate such restrictions or privileges.

Additional Agreements

Under the merger agreement, Tesla and Maxwell are required to use reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable law to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement as soon as practicable, including:

 

   

preparing and filing or otherwise providing, in consultation with the other party and as promptly as practicable and advisable, all documentation to effect all necessary applications, notices, petitions, filings, and other documents and to obtain as promptly as practicable all waiting period expirations or terminations, consents, clearances, waivers, licenses, orders, registrations, approvals, permits and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any governmental entity in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement; and

 

   

taking all steps as may be necessary, subject to the limitations in the merger agreement, to obtain all such waiting period expirations or terminations, consents, clearances, waivers, licenses, registrations, permits, authorizations, orders and approvals.

Under the merger agreement, Tesla and Maxwell are required to:

 

   

make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act with respect to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement as promptly as practicable, and in any event within 3 business days after the date of the merger agreement, which filing was made on February 4, 2019, and to take all other actions necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act as soon as practicable, which early termination of the applicable waiting period was granted by the FTC on February 14, 2019;

 

   

make an appropriate filing with the Bundeskartellamt in the Federal Republic of Germany with respect to the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement as may be required and as promptly as

 

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practicable, and in any event within 3 business days after the date of the merger agreement, which filing was made on February 7, 2019, and such approval was granted by the Bundeskartellamt on March 7, 2019; and

 

   

make all other necessary filings as promptly as practicable after the date of the merger agreement and take all other actions necessary to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under any applicable other supranational, national, federal, state, county, local or foreign antitrust, competition or trade regulation laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or lessening competition through merger or acquisition, including the HSR Act, the Sherman Act, the Clayton Act and the Federal Trade Commission Act, in each case, as amended, and other similar antitrust, competition or trade regulation laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States (“antitrust laws”).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of Tesla, the Offeror or any of their respective subsidiaries is required to, and Maxwell may not and may not permit any of its subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Tesla, become subject to, consent to or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order to (a) sell, license, assign, transfer, divest, hold separate or otherwise dispose of any assets, business or portion of business of Maxwell, Tesla or their respective subsidiaries, (b) conduct, restrict, operate, invest or otherwise change the assets, the business or portion of the business of Maxwell, Tesla or their respective subsidiaries or (c) impose any restriction, requirement or limitation on the operation of the business or portion of the business of Maxwell, Tesla or their respective subsidiaries. However, if requested by Tesla, Maxwell or its subsidiaries will become subject to, consent to or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order so long as such requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or order is only binding on Maxwell or its subsidiaries in the event the merger is completed.

Under the merger agreement, Tesla and Maxwell also agree to:

 

   

cooperate in all respects and consult with each other in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private party in connection with the HSR Act or other antitrust laws;

 

   

promptly inform the other party of any communication with the DOJ, the FTC or any other governmental entity, by promptly providing copies to the other party of any such written communications, and of any material communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private party; and

 

   

permit the other party to review in advance any communication that it gives to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting, substantive telephone call or conference with, the DOJ, the FTC or any other applicable governmental entity, or, in connection with any proceeding by a private party, with any other person, and to the extent permitted by the DOJ, the FTC or other applicable governmental entity or other person, give the other party the opportunity to attend and participate in any in-person meetings, substantive telephone calls or conferences with the DOJ, the FTC or any other governmental entity or other person.

Treatment of Maxwell Equity Awards

Pursuant to the merger agreement, at the effective time, each Maxwell option that is outstanding, unexercised and unexpired as of immediately prior to the effective time (other than any Former Service Provider Options), without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or the holder thereof, will be assumed by Tesla and converted into and become an option covering shares of Tesla common stock (each, an “adjusted option”), on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the Maxwell option as of immediately prior to the effective time, except that: (x) the number of shares of Tesla common stock subject to the adjusted option as of the effective time will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the

 

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corresponding Maxwell option immediately prior to the effective time, by the offer consideration, with any fractional shares in the resulting product rounded down to the nearest whole share, and (y) the per share exercise price for each share of Tesla common stock that may be acquired upon exercise of the adjusted option as of the effective time will be determined by dividing the per share exercise price of the Maxwell option as in effect immediately prior to the effective time, by the offer consideration, with any fractional cent in the resulting quotient rounded up to the nearest whole cent. Each adjusted option otherwise shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Maxwell option under the applicable Maxwell Equity Plan and any agreement evidencing the Maxwell option thereunder, including vesting terms.

Pursuant to the merger agreement, at the effective time, each Maxwell RSU award (other than any Former Service Provider RSUs) that is outstanding immediately prior to the effective time, without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or the holder thereof, shall be assumed by Tesla and converted automatically into and become a restricted stock unit covering shares of Tesla common stock (each, an “adjusted RSU”), on the same terms and conditions as were applicable under the Maxwell RSU award as of immediately prior to the effective time, except that the number of shares of Tesla common stock subject to the adjusted RSU as of the effective time will be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the corresponding Maxwell RSU award immediately prior to the effective time, by the offer consideration, with any fractional shares in the resulting product rounded down to the nearest whole share. Each adjusted RSU otherwise shall be subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Maxwell RSU award under the applicable Maxwell Equity Plan and any agreement evidencing the Maxwell RSU award thereunder, including vesting terms.

Pursuant to the merger agreement, each former service provider award shall at the effective time, without any action on the part of Tesla, Maxwell or the holder thereof, be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Tesla common stock determined as: (i) (A) the number of shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the former service provider award immediately prior to the effective time, multiplied by (B) the offer consideration, minus (ii) (A) the aggregate exercise or purchase price for all shares of Maxwell common stock subject to such former service provider award divided by (B) the Tesla trading price, with any resulting fractional share rounded down to the nearest whole share. For the avoidance of doubt (x) if the resulting difference between clause (i) minus clause (ii) in the immediately preceding sentence is less than or equal to zero, then the former service provider award will be terminated as of the effective time without any consideration therefor and (y) each Maxwell option or Maxwell RSU award held by a former service provider of Maxwell as of immediately prior to the effective time that does not constitute a former service provider award will be terminated as of the effective time without any consideration therefor.

Termination of the 2005 Plan, the 2013 Plan and the Maxwell’s 401(k) Plans

Maxwell shall terminate the 2005 Plan, the 2013 Plan and any and all 401(k) plans effective as of the day immediately preceding the day on which the effective time occurs. Maxwell shall provide Tesla with evidence reasonably satisfactory to Tesla that such 401(k) plan(s) have been terminated pursuant to resolution of the Maxwell board of directors at least two business days prior to the day on which the effective time occurs; provided that prior to terminating Maxwell’s 401(k) plans, Maxwell shall provide Tesla with the form and substance of any applicable resolutions for review and approval (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). Prior to the date of termination of Maxwell’s 401(k) plans, Maxwell will take any and all actions with respect to the 401(k) plans as Tesla may reasonably request, including without limitation, making any amendments to Maxwell’s 401(k) plans or any loan policy or other arrangements under Maxwell’s 401(k) plans to provide for and enable appropriate in-kind rollover of outstanding participant loans under Maxwell’s 401(k) plans to Tesla’s 401(k) plans.

Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance

Under the merger agreement, for a period of not less than six years after the effective time, Tesla must, and must cause the surviving corporation in the merger to, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted

 

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under applicable law and the organizational documents of Maxwell or its subsidiaries, or any indemnification agreements in existence as of the date of the merger agreement that were provided to Tesla, each current and former director and officer of Maxwell and its subsidiaries against any costs and expenses in connection with any actual or threatened claims in respect of acts or omissions occurring or alleged to have occurred at or prior to the effective time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the effective time, in connection with such person serving as an officer, director, employee or other fiduciary of Maxwell, any of its subsidiaries or any other person if such service was at the request or for the benefit of Maxwell or any of its subsidiaries.

In addition, for a period of six years following the effective time, Tesla is required to maintain in effect, and not amend, modify or repeal, the provisions in the organizational documents of Maxwell and any indemnification agreements in existence as of the date of the merger agreement that were provided to Tesla (except to the extent such agreement provides for an earlier termination) regarding elimination of liability, indemnification of officers, directors and employees and advancement of expenses that are in existence as of the date of the merger agreement.

At or prior to the effective time, Maxwell is required to purchase a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance “tail” insurance policy for a period of six years after the effective time of the merger with respect to matters arising at or prior to the effective time, with a one-time cost not in excess of 250% of the last aggregate annual premium paid by Maxwell for its directors’ and officers’ liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance prior to the date of the merger agreement, and if the cost of such “tail” insurance policy would otherwise exceed such amount, Maxwell may purchase as much coverage as reasonably practicable for such amount.

Treatment of Existing Credit Agreement and Convertible Notes

Maxwell Loan Agreement

Maxwell is party to that certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2018, by and between East West Bank and Maxwell (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Maxwell Loan Agreement”). The merger agreement requires Maxwell to (i) obtain and deliver to Tesla no later than five business days prior to the effective time of the merger a draft of a customary payoff letter with respect to (a) the satisfaction and discharge of all of Maxwell’s and its subsidiaries’ liabilities and obligations (other than contingent indemnification obligations and other obligations which survive termination pursuant to the terms thereof) under the Maxwell Loan Agreement and any documents related thereto (collectively, the “Credit Documents”), (b) the termination of the Credit Documents and (c) the release of all liens granted by Maxwell and/or its subsidiaries pursuant to or in connection with the Credit Documents, (ii) obtain and deliver to Tesla no later than two business days prior to the effective time of the merger an executed copy of such payoff letter, and (iii) take such other actions as Tesla may reasonably request to ensure the release of all liens granted by Maxwell and/or its subsidiaries pursuant to or in connection with the Credit Documents upon the payment in full of all payoff amounts set forth in such payoff letter. Tesla expects that all amounts, if any, under the Maxwell Loan Agreement will be repaid by Maxwell at or prior to the effective time.

Maxwell Convertible Notes

Maxwell previously issued $46 million aggregate principal amount of 5.50% Senior Convertible Notes due 2022 (the “Maxwell Convertible Notes”) pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated September 25, 2017 (the “Maxwell Indenture”), by and between Maxwell and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Pursuant to the Maxwell Indenture, upon the effective time, the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Maxwell Convertible Notes will be changed into a right to convert such principal amount of Maxwell Convertible Notes into the number of shares of Tesla common stock that a holder of Maxwell common stock equal to the applicable conversion rate in effect immediately prior to such merger would have owned or been entitled to receive upon the consummation of the merger. The Maxwell Indenture further requires Maxwell, prior to or at the effective time, to execute with the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing for such change in the right to convert each $1,000 principal amount of Maxwell Convertible Notes.

 

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The merger agreement requires Maxwell to (i) execute and deliver (or cause to be executed and delivered, as applicable) at the effective time, (a) a supplemental indenture to the Maxwell Indenture pursuant to Sections 14.07(a) and 10.01(g) of the Maxwell Indenture and (b) an officer’s certificate, opinion of counsel and any other documentation required to be provided pursuant to the Maxwell Indenture in connection with such supplemental indenture, in each case, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Tesla and (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to cause the trustee under the Maxwell Indenture to execute such supplemental indenture at the effective time. The merger agreement also requires Maxwell and its subsidiaries, within the time periods required by the terms of the Maxwell Indenture, to take all other actions required by the Maxwell Indenture to be performed by Maxwell or any of its subsidiaries prior to the effective time of the merger as a result of the merger, the offer, or the execution and delivery of the merger agreement. Such additional actions include, without limitation, the giving of any notices that may be required prior to the effective time of the merger and the delivery to the Trustee or the holders of any Maxwell Convertible Notes of any documents or instruments required to be delivered prior to the effective time of the merger to such Trustee or the holders of any Maxwell Convertible Notes, in each case, in connection with such transactions or as otherwise required pursuant to the Maxwell Indenture. Maxwell is further required to deliver to Tesla a copy of any notices or other documents required to be executed or delivered pursuant to the Maxwell Indenture at least three business days prior to delivering or entering into such notice or other document.

Termination of the Merger Agreement

Termination by Tesla or Maxwell

The merger agreement may be terminated at any time before the acceptance time:

 

   

by mutual written consent of Tesla and Maxwell; or

 

   

by either Tesla or Maxwell, if:

 

   

any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction has issued a final, non-appealable order, injunction, decree or ruling permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement;

 

   

the offer shall have terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (subject to the rights and obligations of Tesla or the Offeror to extend the offer pursuant to the merger agreement) without the Offeror having accepted for payment any Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer; except that this right to terminate the merger agreement will not be available to Tesla if Tesla or the Offeror has failed to comply in any material respect with its obligations under the merger agreement related to the extension of the offer; or

 

   

the acceptance time has not occurred by on or before July 3, 2019 (the “outside date”), unless the offer date is a date later than February 22, 2019, then the outside date will be automatically extended by the number of business days that equals the lesser of six and the actual number of business days elapsed between February 22, 2019 and the offer date, except that this right to terminate the merger agreement will not be available to any party whose action or failure to fulfill any obligation under the merger agreement has been a proximate cause of the failure to close the offer and such action or failure to act constitutes a material breach of the merger agreement.

Termination by Maxwell

The merger agreement may be terminated at any time before the acceptance time by Maxwell if:

 

   

the Maxwell board of directors effects a change of recommendation and Maxwell substantially concurrently enters into a definitive agreement providing for a superior proposal, as long as (a) Maxwell has complied with its non-solicitation and related covenants contained in the merger agreement and as described under “—Change of Recommendation; Match Rights” and (b) immediately prior to or substantially concurrently with (and as a condition to) such termination, Maxwell pays to Tesla the $8.295 million termination fee described below; or

 

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(1) Tesla and/or the Offeror has breached, failed to perform or violated in any material respect their respective covenants or agreements under the merger agreement or any of the representations and warranties of Tesla or the Offeror in the merger agreement have become inaccurate and such inaccuracy would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Tesla; (2) such breach, failure to perform, violation or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured by the outside date or, if capable of being cured by the outside date, is not cured before the earlier of the business day immediately prior to the outside date and the 30th calendar day following receipt of written notice from Maxwell of such breach, failure to perform, violation or inaccuracy; and (3) Maxwell is not then in material breach of the merger agreement.

Termination by Tesla

The merger agreement may be terminated at any time before the acceptance time by Tesla if:

 

   

the Maxwell board of directors has effected a change of recommendation or Maxwell has materially breached its non-solicitation and related covenants contained in the merger agreement and as described under “—No Solicitation of Other Offers by Maxwell” or “—Change of Recommendation; Match Rights”; or

 

   

(1) Maxwell has breached, failed to perform or violated its covenants or agreements under the merger agreement or any of the representations and warranties of Maxwell in the merger agreement have become inaccurate, in either case in a manner that would give rise to the right of Tesla and the Offeror not to accept for payment and pay for any shares of Maxwell common stock pursuant to the failure of any of the conditions to the consummation of the offer related to Maxwell’s compliance with its covenants and agreements or the accuracy of Maxwell’s representations and warranties; (2) such breach, failure to perform, violation or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured by the outside date or, if capable of being cured by the outside date, is not cured before the earlier of the business day immediately prior to the outside date and the 30th calendar day following receipt of written notice from Tesla of such breach, failure to perform, violation or inaccuracy; and (3) neither Tesla nor the Offeror is then in material breach of the merger agreement.

Termination Fee and Expenses

Expenses

Except as otherwise expressly provided in the merger agreement (including the termination fee described below), all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the merger agreement, the offer, the merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby will be paid by the party incurring the cost or expense.

Termination Fee

The merger agreement provides that Maxwell will pay Tesla a termination fee of $8.295 million if:

 

   

Tesla terminates the merger agreement prior to the acceptance time because the Maxwell board of directors has effected a change of recommendation or Maxwell has materially breached its non-solicitation and related covenants contained in the merger agreement and as described under “—No Solicitation of Other Offers by Maxwell” or “—Change of Recommendation; Match Rights”;

 

   

Maxwell terminates the merger agreement in order for the Maxwell board of directors to effect a change of recommendation and substantially concurrently enter into a definitive agreement providing for a superior proposal; or

 

   

(a) either Tesla or Maxwell terminates the merger agreement as a result of (i) the offer having terminated or expired in accordance with its terms (subject to the rights and obligations of Tesla or the Offeror to extend the offer pursuant to the merger agreement) without the Offeror having accepted for

 

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payment any Maxwell shares pursuant to the offer or (ii) the outside date having occurred prior to the acceptance time; (b) after the date of the merger agreement an acquisition proposal has been made to Maxwell or the Maxwell stockholders or otherwise becomes publicly disclosed (whether by Maxwell or a third party) and not withdrawn (and publicly withdrawn for any acquisition proposal that was publicly disclosed) at least three business days prior to such termination; and (c) within 12 months of such termination, (x) an acquisition proposal is consummated or (y) a definitive agreement providing for an acquisition proposal is entered into and such acquisition proposal is subsequently consummated.

In no event will Maxwell be obligated to pay the termination fee on more than one occasion. In the event that the termination fee is received by Tesla, none of Maxwell, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective former, current or future officers, directors, partners, stockholders, managers, members, affiliates or agents will have any further liability or obligation relating to or arising out of the merger agreement or the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, except for fraud or willful breach of the merger agreement. When determining whether Maxwell will pay Tesla a termination fee, the term “acquisition proposal” has the meaning assigned to such term above, except that all references to “15%” and “85%” will be replaced with references to “50%.”

Effect of Termination

In the event that the merger agreement is validly terminated in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, the merger agreement will become null and void (except that provisions relating to the effect of termination, payment of the termination fee and certain other miscellaneous provisions, together with the confidentiality agreement between Maxwell and Tesla, will survive any such termination), and there will be no liability on the part of any of the parties, provided that no party will be relieved of liability for any fraud or willful breach of the merger agreement prior to such termination.

Amendments, Enforcements and Remedies, Extensions and Waivers

Amendments

The merger agreement may be amended by the parties at any time by written agreement of the parties.

Enforcements and Remedies

Under the merger agreement, the parties have agreed that, prior to the termination of the merger agreement, each party will be entitled to:

 

   

an injunction or injunctions to prevent or remedy any breaches or threatened breaches of the merger agreement;

 

   

a decree or order of specific performance specifically enforcing the terms and provisions of the merger agreement; and

 

   

any further equitable relief.

Extensions and Waivers

Under the merger agreement, at any time prior to the effective time of the merger, any party may, in writing:

 

   

extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties;

 

   

waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other parties; and

 

   

waive compliance by the other parties with any of the agreements or conditions for the benefit of such party.

 

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OTHER TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS

Support Agreement

Concurrently with the execution of the merger agreement, on February 3, 2019, (i) Maxwell board members Richard Bergman, Steven Bilodeau, Jörg Buchheim, Franz Fink, Burkhard Göschel, Ilya Golubovich, John Mutch and I2BF Energy Limited and (ii) Maxwell officers Franz Fink, David Lyle and Emily Lough ((i)-(ii) collectively, the “supporting stockholders”) entered into a tender and support agreement with Tesla and the Offeror (the “support agreement”). Subject to the terms and conditions of the support agreement, the supporting stockholders agreed, among other things, to:

 

   

cause all of such supporting stockholder’s Maxwell shares to be validly and irrevocably tendered into the offer as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than five (5) business days after the commencement (within the meaning of Rule 14d-2 under the Exchange Act) of the offer, or, where permissible, waived by the Offeror, assuming that all Maxwell shares to be tendered by the supporting stockholders are in fact validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the offer; and

 

   

certain restrictions on encumbering or transferring such Maxwell shares.

The support agreement terminates automatically upon the earliest to occur of the following: (a) the valid termination of the merger agreement in accordance with its terms, (b) the consummation of the merger, and (c) the date on which such supporting stockholder and Tesla mutually agree to terminate the support agreement.

The shares of Maxwell common stock subject to the support agreement represent approximately 7.65% of the shares of Maxwell common stock outstanding as of February 11, 2019.

The foregoing summary of the support agreement does not purport to be a complete description of the terms and conditions of the support agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the support agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit 99.6 to this document, and incorporated herein by reference.

Confidentiality Agreement

Tesla and Maxwell entered into a confidentiality agreement, dated December 14, 2018, in connection with their evaluation of the possible negotiated transaction that resulted in the execution of the merger agreement. Pursuant to the confidentiality agreement, subject to certain customary exceptions, Tesla and Maxwell agreed to keep confidential all non-public information received from the other party. Tesla and Maxwell also agreed that the non-public information furnished by the other party pursuant to the confidentiality agreement would be used solely for the purpose of evaluating, negotiating, executing and implementing the possible negotiated transaction.

The above summary of the confidentiality agreement does not purport to be a complete description of the terms and conditions of the confidentiality agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the confidentiality agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit 99.7 to this document, and incorporated herein by reference.

Exclusivity and Non-Solicitation Agreement

Tesla and Maxwell entered into an exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement, dated January 22, 2019, which set forth certain terms on which Tesla and Maxwell would conduct negotiations regarding the potential business combination that resulted in the execution of the merger agreement. The exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement provided for an exclusivity period that would terminate at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time on February 21, 2019. The exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement required that Maxwell not, and not permit any Maxwell representative to, initiate contact with, solicit, seek, encourage, promote or support any inquiry from any person or entity (other than Tesla and its representatives) relating to an “Alternative Transaction” (as defined in the

 

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exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement), participate in any discussions or negotiations or enter into any agreement with, or provide any information to, any person or entity (other than Tesla and its representatives) relating to or in connection with a possible Alternative Transaction, or respond to, consider or accept any proposal or offer from any person or entity (other than Tesla and its representatives) relating to a possible Alternative Transaction.

The exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement provided that Maxwell would immediately terminate any ongoing discussions, communications or negotiations with other parties relating to any possible Alternative Transaction and provide Tesla with notice of any expression of interest, inquiry, proposal or offer relating to a possible Alternative Transaction received by a board member or executive officer of Maxwell or by any of Maxwell’s financial or legal advisors from any person or entity (other than Tesla or its representatives).

The exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement also provided for a non-solicitation period that would terminate on July 22, 2019 or, if Tesla in its sole discretion terminated negotiations, October 22, 2019. The exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement required that Tesla not solicit, or attempt to solicit, any Restricted Person (as defined in the exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement), other than general solicitations not specifically directed towards any Restricted Person.

The above summary of the exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement does not purport to be a complete description of the terms and conditions of the exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the exclusivity and non-solicitation agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit 99.8 to this document, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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COMPARATIVE MARKET PRICE

Tesla common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “TSLA” and Maxwell common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “MXWL”. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, as reported by Nasdaq, the per share high and low sales prices of Tesla common stock and Maxwell common stock.

 

     Tesla Common Stock      Maxwell Common Stock  
     High      Low      Dividend      High      Low      Dividend  

2016

                 

First Calendar Quarter

   $ 238.32      $ 143.67      $ 0.00      $ 7.39      $ 4.81      $ 0.00  

Second Calendar Quarter

   $ 265.42      $ 193.15      $ 0.00      $ 6.72      $ 4.75      $ 0.00  

Third Calendar Quarter

   $ 234.79      $ 194.47      $ 0.00      $ 5.67      $ 4.20      $ 0.00  

Fourth Calendar Quarter

   $ 219.74      $ 181.45      $ 0.00      $ 5.63      $ 4.39      $ 0.00  

2017

                 

First Calendar Quarter

   $ 280.98      $ 216.99      $ 0.00      $ 5.88      $ 4.63      $ 0.00  

Second Calendar Quarter

   $ 383.45      $ 295.00      $ 0.00      $ 6.48      $ 5.34      $ 0.00  

Third Calendar Quarter

   $ 385.00      $ 308.83      $ 0.00      $ 6.61      $ 4.77      $ 0.00  

Fourth Calendar Quarter

   $ 359.65      $ 299.26      $ 0.00      $ 6.15      $ 4.29      $ 0.00  

2018

                 

First Calendar Quarter

   $ 360.50      $ 248.21      $ 0.00      $ 6.27      $ 5.24      $ 0.00  

Second Calendar Quarter

   $ 373.73      $ 244.59      $ 0.00      $ 5.90      $ 5.07      $ 0.00  

Third Calendar Quarter

   $ 387.46      $ 252.25      $ 0.00      $ 5.35      $ 3.22      $ 0.00  

Fourth Calendar Quarter

   $ 379.49      $ 247.77      $ 0.00      $ 3.72      $ 1.77      $ 0.00  

On February 1, 2019, the trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the merger agreement, the trading price per share of Maxwell common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $3.07, and the trading price per share of Tesla common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $312.21. On March 27, 2019, the most recent practicable trading date prior to the filing of this document, the trading price per share of Maxwell common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market was $4.61, and the trading price per share of Tesla common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $274.83.

Maxwell stockholders should obtain current market quotations for shares of Maxwell common stock and shares of Tesla common stock before deciding whether to tender their Maxwell shares in the offer.

 

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MANAGEMENT OF TESLA

Information Regarding the Tesla Board of Directors

Background and Qualifications

The names of the members of the Board, their respective ages, their positions with Tesla and other biographical information as of March 28, 2019, are set forth below. Except for Messrs. Elon Musk and Kimbal Musk who are brothers, there are no other family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

 

Name

     Age    

Position

Elon Musk    47   Chief Executive Officer and Director
Brad Buss(1)(2)(3)(4)    55   Director
Robyn Denholm(1)(2)    55   Chair of the Board and Director
Ira Ehrenpreis(2)(3)    50   Director
Lawrence J. Ellison    74   Director
Antonio Gracias(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)    48   Director
Stephen Jurvetson(6)    52   Director
James Murdoch(1)(3)(4)    46   Director
Kimbal Musk    46   Director
Linda Johnson Rice(2)    61   Director
Kathleen Wilson-Thompson    51   Director

 

(1)

Member of Audit Committee.

(2)

Member of Compensation Committee.

(3)

Member of Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

(4)

Member of Disclosure Controls Committee.

(5)

Mr. Gracias is continuing to serve as Lead Independent Director until Ms. Denholm transitions from her current employment with Telstra Corporation Limited (“Telstra”) and assumes her role of Chair of the Board on a full-time basis.

(6)

Mr. Jurvetson has been on a leave of absence from the Board since November 2017.

Elon Musk has served as our Chief Executive Officer since October 2008 and as a member of our Board since April 2004. Mr. Musk has also served as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Technology Officer and Chairman of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, a company which is developing and launching advanced rockets for satellite, and eventually human, transportation (“SpaceX”), since May 2002, and served as Chairman of the Board of SolarCity Corporation, a solar installation company (“SolarCity”), from July 2006 until its acquisition by us in November 2016. Mr. Musk is also a founder of The Boring Company, an infrastructure company, and Neuralink Corp, a company focused on developing brain-machine interfaces. Prior to SpaceX, Mr. Musk co-founded PayPal, an electronic payment system, which was acquired by eBay in October 2002, and Zip2 Corporation, a provider of Internet enterprise software and services, which was acquired by Compaq in March 1999. Mr. Musk holds a B.A. in physics from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

We believe that Mr. Musk possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board, including the perspective and experience he brings as our Chief Executive Officer, one of our founders and our largest stockholder, which brings historic knowledge, operational expertise and continuity to our Board.

Brad Buss has been a member of our Board since November 2009. From August 2014 until his retirement in February 2016, Mr. Buss served as the Chief Financial Officer of SolarCity. Prior to joining SolarCity, from August 2005 to June 2014, Mr. Buss was the Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, a semiconductor design and manufacturing company. Mr. Buss served as Vice President of Finance at Altera Corp., a semiconductor design and manufacturing

 

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company, from March 2000 to March 2001 and from October 2001 to August 2005. From March 2001 to October 2001, Mr. Buss served as the Chief Financial Officer of Zaffire, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of optical networking equipment. Mr. Buss also serves as a director of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. and Marvell Technology Group Ltd., and served as a director of CafePress Inc. from October 2007 to July 2016 and of Cavium, Inc. from July 2016 until its acquisition by Marvell in July 2018. Mr. Buss holds a B.A. in economics from McMaster University and an honors business administration degree, majoring in finance and accounting, from the University of Windsor.

We believe that Mr. Buss possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board, including his executive experience and his financial and accounting expertise with both public and private companies in diverse industries.

Robyn Denholm has been a member of our Board since August 2014, including as the Chair of the Board since November 2018. Since October 2018, Ms. Denholm has been Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategy of Telstra, a telecommunications company, where she also served as its Chief Operations Officer from January 2017 to October 2018. Ms. Denholm is currently transitioning from her employment at Telstra, after which she expects to serve full-time in her capacity as a member and the Chair of our Board. Prior to Telstra, from August 2007 to February 2016, Ms. Denholm was with Juniper Networks, Inc., a manufacturer of networking equipment, serving in executive roles including Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer. Prior to joining Juniper Networks, Ms. Denholm served in various executive roles at Sun Microsystems, Inc. from January 1996 to August 2007. Ms. Denholm also served at Toyota Motor Corporation Australia for seven years and at Arthur Andersen & Company for five years in various finance assignments. Ms. Denholm previously served as a director of ABB Ltd. from 2016 to 2017 and of Echelon Corporation Inc. from 2008 to 2013. Ms. Denholm is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Sydney and a Master’s degree in Commerce from the University of New South Wales.

We believe that Ms. Denholm possesses specific attributes that qualify her to serve as a member of our Board and as its Chair, such as her executive leadership experience and her financial and accounting expertise with international companies, including in the technology and automotive industries.

Ira Ehrenpreis has been a member of our Board since May 2007. Mr. Ehrenpreis has been a venture capitalist since 1996. He is founder and managing partner of DBL Partners, a leading impact investing venture capital firm formed in 2015, and previously led the Energy Innovation practice at Technology Partners. In the venture capital industry, Mr. Ehrenpreis has served on the Board, Executive Committee, and as Annual Meeting Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). Mr. Ehrenpreis currently serves as the President of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists (WAVC) and as the Chairman of the VCNetwork, the largest and most active California venture capital organization. In the Cleantech sector, he has served on several industry boards, including the American Council on Renewable Energy and the Cleantech Venture Network (Past Chairman of Advisory Board), as the Chairman of the Clean-Tech Investor Summit for nine years, and on the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy (PIE) Advisory Council. Mr. Ehrenpreis also serves as Chairman of the World Energy Innovation Forum. Mr. Ehrenpreis was recently awarded the 2018 NACD Directorship 100 for his influential leadership in the boardroom and corporate governance community. Mr. Ehrenpreis holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. and M.B.A. from Stanford University.

We believe that Mr. Ehrenpreis possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board and to serve as chair of each of our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and our Compensation Committee, including his experience in the Cleantech and venture capital industries.

Lawrence J. Ellison has been a member of our Board since December 2018. Mr. Ellison is the founder of Oracle Corporation, a software and technology company, has served as its Chief Technical Officer since September 2014 and previously served as its Chief Executive Officer from June 1977 to September 2014. Mr. Ellison has

 

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also served on Oracle’s board of directors since June 1977, including as its Chairman since September 2014 and previously from May 1995 to January 2004.

We believe that Mr. Ellison possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board, including his long-term leadership of one of the most successful technology companies in the world and experience with technology product development and strategy.

Antonio Gracias has been a member of our Board since May 2007 and has served as our Lead Independent Director since September 2010. Since 2003, Mr. Gracias has been Chief Executive Officer of Valor Management Corp., a private equity firm (“VMC”). Mr. Gracias is a director of SpaceX, and was a director of SolarCity until its acquisition by us in November 2016. Mr. Gracias holds a joint B.S. and M.S. degree in international finance and economics from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

We believe that Mr. Gracias possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board, including his management experience with a nationally recognized private equity firm and his operations management and supply chain optimization expertise.

Stephen Jurvetson has been a member of our Board since June 2009. Mr. Jurvetson has been on a leave of absence from the Board since November 2017. Mr. Jurvetson is a co-founder of Future Ventures, a venture capital firm, and previously was a Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, a venture capital firm, from 1995 to 2017. Mr. Jurvetson is a director of SpaceX. Mr. Jurvetson holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Business School.

We believe that Mr. Jurvetson possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board, including his experience in the venture capital industry and his years of business and leadership experience.

James Murdoch has been a member of our Board since July 2017. Mr. Murdoch has been the Chief Executive Officer of Lupa Systems, a private investment company that he founded, since March 2019. Previously, Mr. Murdoch held a number of leadership roles at Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., a media company (“21CF”), over two decades, including its Chief Executive Officer from 2015 to March 2019, its Co-Chief Operating Officer from 2014 to 2015, its Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, International from 2011 to 2014 and its Chairman and Chief Executive, Europe and Asia from 2007 to 2011. Previously, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Sky plc from 2003 to 2007, and as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of STAR Group Limited, a subsidiary of 21CF, from 2000 to 2003. Mr. Murdoch also serves on the board of News Corporation, and formerly served on the boards of 21CF from 2017 to March 2019, of Sky plc from 2016 to 2018, of GlaxoSmithKline plc from 2009 to 2012 and of Sotheby’s from 2010 to 2012.

We believe that Mr. Murdoch possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board, including his lengthy executive and board experience across numerous companies, extensive knowledge of international markets and strategies, and experience with the adoption of new technologies.

Kimbal Musk has been a member of our Board since April 2004. Mr. Musk is a co-founder of The Kitchen, a growing family of businesses with the goal of providing all Americans with access to real food, and has also served as its Chief Executive Officer since its founding in 2004. In 2010, Mr. Musk became the Executive Director of Big Green (formerly The Kitchen Community), a non-profit organization that creates learning gardens in schools across the United States. Mr. Musk also co-founded Square Roots, an urban farming incubator program, in 2016. Previously, Mr. Musk was a co-founder of Zip2 Corporation, a provider of enterprise software and services, which was acquired by Compaq in March 1999. From 2012 to 2015, Mr. Musk was a director of the Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, a facility at the University of Colorado School of Medicine providing research, education and wellness services with the goal of achieving healthier lifestyles. Mr. Musk is a director of SpaceX. Mr. Musk is also a director of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., for which he has decided not to stand for

 

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re-election upon the expiration of his current term in 2019. Mr. Musk holds a B. Comm. in business from Queen’s University and is a graduate of The French Culinary Institute in New York City.

We believe that Mr. Musk possesses specific attributes that qualify him to serve as a member of our Board, including his business experience in retail and consumer markets, his experience on our Board, and his experience with technology companies.

Linda Johnson Rice has been a member of our Board since July 2017. Ms. Rice is currently the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Publishing Company, which owns Fashion Fair Cosmetics as well as extensive published works, where she has served in one or both capacities continuously since 1988 after joining in 1980. Ms. Rice is also a director and Chair Emeritus of EBONY Media Holdings, the parent company of EBONY Media Operations, which publishes EBONY and Jet magazines, and also served as Chief Executive Officer of EBONY Media Operations from March 2017 to March 2018. Ms. Rice also serves on the boards of the Omnicom Group and GrubHub Inc. Ms. Rice is a Trustee at the Art Institute of Chicago, President of the Chicago Public Library Board of Directors, Council Member of The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and board member of After School Matters and Northwestern Memorial Corporation. Ms. Rice holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School of Communication and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

We believe that Ms. Rice possesses specific attributes that qualify her to serve as a member of our Board, including her extensive corporate management and board experience and her understanding of consumer businesses.

Kathleen Wilson-Thompson has been a member of our Board since December 2018. Ms. Wilson-Thompson has served as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Human Resources Officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a global pharmacy and wellbeing company, since December 2014, and previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer from January 2010 to December 2014. Prior to Walgreens, Ms. Wilson-Thompson held various legal and operational roles at The Kellogg Company, a food manufacturing company, from July 2005 to December 2009, including most recently as its Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources. Ms. Wilson-Thompson also serves on the boards of directors of Ashland Global Holdings Inc. and Vulcan Materials Company. Ms. Wilson-Thompson holds an A.B. in English Literature from the University of Michigan and a J.D. and L.L.M. (Corporate and Finance Law) from Wayne State University.

We believe that Ms. Wilson-Thompson possesses specific attributes that qualify her to serve as a member of our Board, including her executive and board experience with both consumer-focused and industrial companies, as well as her expertise in managing human resources and other operations at mature companies with large workforces.

Additional Information

On October 16, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York entered a final judgment approving the terms of a settlement filed with the court on September 29, 2018, in connection with the actions taken by the SEC relating to Elon Musk’s August 7, 2018 Twitter post that he was considering taking Tesla private. Mr. Musk did not admit or deny any of the SEC’s allegations, and there is no restriction on Mr. Musk’s ability to serve as an officer or director on the Board (other than as its Chair).

Director Independence

Other than Elon Musk, no current director is or has ever been an employee of Tesla. In the course of determining whether each non-employee director is independent, the Board considers, among other things, the annual amount of Tesla’s sales to, or purchases from, any company where a non-employee director or his or her close family member serves as a partner, controlling stockholder or executive officer. In order to find that a director is

 

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independent, the Board must determine that any such sales or purchases were made in the ordinary course of business and the amount of such sales or purchases in each of the past three fiscal years was less than 5% of Tesla’s or the applicable company’s consolidated gross revenues for the applicable year. The Board undertook an analysis for each non-employee director and considered all other relevant facts and circumstances, including the director’s other commercial, accounting, legal, banking, consulting, charitable and familial relationships. The Board specifically reviewed the considerations described immediately below to the extent they were identified with respect to any of the non-employee directors. Pursuant to its review, the Board determined that with respect to each of its current members other than Elon Musk and Kimbal Musk, there are no disqualifying factors with respect to director independence enumerated in the listing standards of NASDAQ or any relationships that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director, and that each such member is an “independent director” as defined in the listing standards of NASDAQ.

With respect to Robyn Denholm, the following was among the relevant considerations:

 

   

Ms. Denholm is Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategy of Telstra, from which Tesla is a customer of connectivity services in Australia pursuant to an agreement that was fully negotiated through ordinary course contracting processes. During 2018, Tesla purchased approximately $608,110 in such services.

The Board has concluded that given that (i) Tesla is a customer of Telstra in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a business relationship in which Ms. Denholm was not involved in negotiating nor has any material interest, and (ii) Ms. Denholm does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any pertinent transaction or relationship described below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions,” there are no relationships that would impede the exercise of independent judgment by Ms. Denholm.

With respect to Ira Ehrenpreis, the following were among the relevant considerations:

 

   

Mr. Ehrenpreis is a co-owner and manager of DBL Partners. Each of Mr. Ehrenpreis and DBL Partners is a minority investor in SpaceX. Tesla and certain Tesla directors have relationships with SpaceX as set forth in this section and below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions—SpaceX.

 

   

Another co-owner of DBL Partners is a manager of DBL Investors, which is also an investor in SpaceX. Mr. Ehrenpreis has no direct or indirect investment control or pecuniary interest in DBL Investors.

The Board has concluded that given that (i) Mr. Ehrenpreis’ and DBL Partners’ interests in SpaceX are minority positions, (ii) Mr. Ehrenpreis has no direct or indirect interest in DBL Investors and (iii) Mr. Ehrenpreis does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any pertinent transaction or relationship described below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions,” there are no relationships that would impede the exercise of independent judgment by Mr. Ehrenpreis.

With respect to Lawrence J. Ellison, the following were among the relevant considerations:

 

   

In March 2017, an entity of which Mr. Ellison is a significant shareholder purchased a Tesla Energy microgrid system from us for a greenhouse farming project in Lanai, Hawaii for approximately $1.9 million. Such purchase was completed pursuant to an agreement that was fully negotiated through ordinary course contracting processes.

 

   

Mr. Ellison is Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Oracle Corporation, from which Tesla is a customer of software and database services. During 2018, Tesla purchased approximately $667,139 in such services pursuant to agreements that were fully negotiated through ordinary course contracting processes.

The Board has concluded that given that (i) Mr. Ellison is neither a director nor officer of the entity which purchased a Tesla Energy system, such purchase was fully negotiated pursuant to ordinary course sales channels without Mr. Ellison’s involvement, and such purchase was entered into well before Mr. Ellison’s appointment to the Board,

 

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(ii) Tesla has been since prior to Mr. Ellison’s appointment to the Board a customer of Oracle in the ordinary course of business pursuant to a business relationship in which Mr. Ellison was not involved in negotiating nor has any material interest, and (iii) Mr. Ellison does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any pertinent transaction or relationship described below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions,” there are no relationships that would impede the exercise of independent judgment by Mr. Ellison.

With respect to Antonio Gracias, the following were among the relevant considerations:

 

   

Mr. Gracias is the Chief Executive Officer, director and majority owner of VMC. Certain VMC-advised funds are minority investors in SpaceX, and Mr. Gracias is a director of SpaceX. Tesla and certain Tesla directors have relationships with SpaceX as set forth in this section and below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions—SpaceX.

 

   

VMC provided certain consulting services to Tesla relating to operational optimization in 2017 and costs of $34,347 were reimbursed to it as part of those services.

 

   

The Elon Musk Revocable Trust dated July 22, 2003, of which Elon Musk is the trustee, is a limited partner of Valor Equity Partners II, L.P., which is a fund advised by VMC.

 

   

Kimbal Musk is a limited partner of Valor Equity Partners II, L.P. and Valor Equity Partners III-A, L.P., which are funds advised by VMC.

 

   

Certain investment funds affiliated with Mr. Gracias are investors in the Kitchen Cafe, LLC, a business affiliated with Kimbal Musk.

The Board has concluded that given that (i) VMC funds’ interests in SpaceX are minority positions, (ii) Mr. Gracias has professional experience serving on the boards of and/or investing in multiple companies without conflict, (iii) VMC received only an immaterial amount of cost reimbursements in connection with the services that it provided in 2017 on an arm’s length basis to Tesla, (iv) investments in VMC funds by two other Tesla directors comprise small fractions of such funds, and (v) Mr. Gracias does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any pertinent transaction or relationship described below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions,” there are no relationships that would impede the exercise of independent judgment by Mr. Gracias.

With respect to Stephen Jurvetson, the following were among the relevant considerations:

 

   

Mr. Jurvetson is a director of SpaceX, and participates in certain investment funds that are stockholders of SpaceX. Tesla and certain Tesla directors have relationships with SpaceX as set forth in this section and in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions—SpaceX” below.

 

   

Mr. Jurvetson is an investor in the Kitchen Cafe, LLC, a business affiliated with Kimbal Musk.

The Board has concluded that given that (i) Mr. Jurvetson has professional experience serving on the boards of and/or investing in multiple companies without conflict, (ii) Mr. Jurvetson is an indirect investor in SpaceX through funds that he does not manage, and (iii) Mr. Jurvetson does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any pertinent transaction or relationship described below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions,” there are no relationships that would impede the exercise of independent judgment by Mr. Jurvetson.

With respect to James Murdoch, the following was among the relevant considerations:

 

   

In January 2019, James Murdoch purchased a Tesla Energy product from us pursuant to an agreement that was fully negotiated through ordinary course contracting processes, as described below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions—Other Transactions.”

 

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The Board has concluded that given that (i) the Tesla Energy purchase was negotiated and completed through ordinary course sales processes, and (ii) Mr. Murdoch does not have a direct or indirect material interest in any other pertinent transaction or relationship described below in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions,” there are no relationships that would impede the exercise of independent judgment by Mr. Murdoch.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Mr. Buss, Ms. Denholm, Mr. Ehrenpreis, Mr. Gracias and Ms. Johnson Rice served as members of the Compensation Committee during fiscal 2018. No member of the Compensation Committee is or was formerly an officer or an employee of Tesla. See “Management of Tesla—Director Independence” above and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions of Tesla—Related Party Transactions” below for certain transactions involving Tesla in which members of the Compensation Committee may be deemed to have an indirect interest.

No interlocking relationships existed between any member of Tesla’s Board or Compensation Committee and any member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any other company during the last fiscal year.

Executive Officers

The names of Tesla’s executive officers, their ages, their positions with Tesla and other biographical information as of March 28, 2019, are set forth below. Except for Messrs. Elon Musk and Kimbal Musk who are brothers, there are no other family relationships among any of our directors or executive officers.

 

Name

   Age   

Position

Elon Musk    47    Chief Executive Officer
Zachary Kirkhorn    34    Chief Financial Officer
Jeffrey B. Straubel    43    Chief Technology Officer
Jerome Guillen    46    President, Automotive

Elon Musk. For a brief biography of Mr. Musk, please see “Management of Tesla—Information Regarding the Tesla Board of Directors—Background and Qualifications” above.

Zachary Kirkhorn has served as our Chief Financial Officer since March 2019. Previously, Mr. Kirkhorn served in various finance positions continuously since joining Tesla in March 2010, other than between August 2011 and June 2013 during which he attended business school, including most recently as Vice President, Finance, Financial Planning and Business Operations from December 2018 to March 2019. Mr. Kirkhorn holds dual B.S.E. degrees in economics and mechanical engineering and applied mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.

Jeffrey B. Straubel has served as our Chief Technology Officer since May 2005 and previously served as our Principal Engineer, Drive Systems from March 2004 to May 2005. Prior to joining us, Mr. Straubel was the Chief Technical Officer and co-founder of Volacom Inc., an aerospace firm which designed a specialized high-altitude electric aircraft platform, from 2002 to 2004. Mr. Straubel holds a B.S. in energy systems engineering from Stanford University and a M.S. in engineering, with an emphasis on power electronics, microprocessor control and energy conversion, from Stanford University.

Jerome Guillen has served as our President of Automotive since September 2018 and previously served as our Vice President, Trucks and Other Programs from January 2016 to September 2018, our Vice President, Worldwide Sales & Service from April 2013 to August 2015 and our Model S Program Director from November 2010 to April 2013. Prior to joining us, Mr. Guillen served as Director, Business Innovation at Daimler AG, an

 

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automobile manufacturer, from September 2007 to November 2010. Mr. Guillen also served as Director, New Product Development at Freightliner LLC, a manufacturer of trucks and heavy duty vehicles, from September 2002 to September 2007. Mr. Guillen holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, in addition to a dual degree in energy technologies from Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales in Madrid and in mechanical engineering from Ecole Nationale Superieure de Techniques Avancees in Paris.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The following discussion and analysis of compensation arrangements of our named executive officers for 2018 should be read together with the compensation tables and related disclosures set forth below. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on our current considerations, expectations, and determinations regarding future compensation programs. The actual amount and form of compensation and the compensation programs that we adopt may differ materially from current or planned programs as summarized in this discussion.

The following discussion and analysis relates to the compensation arrangements for 2018 of (i) our principal executive officer, (ii) our former principal financial officer who served in such capacity during the entirety of 2018, and (iii) the two most highly compensated persons, other than our principal executive officer and former principal financial officer, who were serving as executive officers at the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 (our “named executive officers”). We had no other executive officers serving at the end of our fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. Our named executive officers for fiscal year 2018 were:

 

Name

  

Position

Elon Musk    Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey B. Straubel

   Chief Technology Officer

Jerome Guillen

   President, Automotive

Deepak Ahuja

   Former Chief Financial Officer

Zachary Kirkhorn is not a named executive officer for fiscal year 2018, as he began his service as our principal financial officer in March 2019 and did not serve in such capacity during 2018.

Compensation Philosophy—Introduction

As the world’s first vertically integrated sustainable energy company, our mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. We design, develop, manufacture and sell high-performance, fully electric vehicles and energy generation and storage systems, and also install and maintain such energy systems and sell solar electricity. To achieve our goals, we have designed, and intend to modify as necessary, our compensation and benefits program and philosophy, to attract, retain and incentivize talented, deeply qualified and committed executive officers who share our philosophy and desire to work toward these goals. We believe compensation incentives for such executive officers should promote the success of our company and motivate them to pursue corporate objectives, and there should be an emphasis on structuring them so as to reward clear, easily measured performance goals that closely align their incentives with the long-term interests of our stockholders. Further, we have sought to harmonize the compensation structures of our other employees to conform to our overall compensation philosophy.

Our current compensation programs reflect our startup origins in that they consist primarily of salary and equity awards. Consistent with our historical compensation philosophy, we do not currently provide our senior executive officers with any form of an annual cash bonus program or any severance provisions providing for continued cash payments or other benefits upon termination of an executive officer’s employment with us.

Additionally, as our needs evolve, we intend to continue to evaluate our philosophy and compensation programs as circumstances require, and, at a minimum, the Compensation Committee will review executive compensation annually. We may from time to time make new equity awards and adjustments to the components of our executive compensation program in connection with our periodic compensation review.

 

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Fiscal Year 2018 Company Highlights and Compensation Overview

Our financial and business highlights for fiscal year 2018 include the following:

 

   

We achieved total production of 254,530 vehicles and delivered 245,506 vehicles, representing year-over-year increases of approximately 152% and 138%, respectively.

 

   

Model 3 was the best-selling premium vehicle in the United States in 2018.

 

   

We deployed 1.04 gigawatt hours of energy storage products, nearly tripling our 358 megawatt hours of energy storage deployments in 2017.

 

   

We deployed 326 megawatts of solar energy generation.

 

   

Our product deliveries and deployments contributed to total revenues of $21.5 billion, a year-over-year increase of approximately 83%.

 

   

We achieved consecutive profitable quarters for the first time during the third and fourth quarters of 2018, with net income of approximately $311.5 million and $139.5 million, respectively.

 

   

We reached another milestone in the maturity of our automotive operations, as we completed our inaugural issuances of automotive lease asset-backed notes.

As described in more detail below and in the compensation tables that follow this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, our compensation structure applicable to our named executive officers did not change significantly during 2018:

 

   

The base salary for Elon Musk, our Chief Executive Officer, continues to reflect the current minimum wage requirements under applicable California law, and Mr. Musk still does not accept this salary.

 

   

The base salary rates of our other named executive officers did not increase during 2018.

 

   

We have no annual cash bonus program for any of our named executive officers.

 

   

Our compensation opportunities for our named executive officers are still predominantly delivered in the form of equity-based awards, including performance-based awards, which are designed to promote incentives that are aligned with long-term stockholder interests.

 

   

None of our named executive officers has a compensation package that currently includes the right to payment or acceleration of any benefits upon a termination of employment or a change in control of Tesla, other than the vesting of the 2018 CEO Performance Award based solely upon the achievement of market capitalization milestones as measured at the time of a change in control of Tesla. See “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—2018 CEO Performance Award” below for more details on the 2018 CEO Performance Award.

Role of the Compensation Committee in Setting Executive Compensation

The Compensation Committee has overall responsibility for recommending to our Board the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer and determining the compensation of our other executive officers. Members of the Compensation Committee are appointed by our Board. Currently, the Compensation Committee consists of five members of our Board: Brad Buss, Robyn Denholm, Ira Ehrenpreis (Chair), Antonio Gracias and Linda Johnson Rice, none of whom is an executive officer of Tesla, and each of whom qualifies as an “independent director” under the NASDAQ Stock Market Rules. See “Management of Tesla—Director Independence” above.

Role of Compensation Consultant

The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage the services of outside consultants to assist in making decisions regarding the establishment of Tesla’s compensation programs and philosophy. For example, the

 

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Compensation Committee retained Compensia, Inc., a national compensation consulting firm (“Compensia”), as its compensation consultant in 2017 to advise the Compensation Committee with respect to the 2018 CEO Performance Award.

Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions

Historically, for executive officers other than our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee has sought and considered input from our Chief Executive Officer regarding such executive officers’ responsibilities, performance and compensation. Specifically, our Chief Executive Officer recommends base salary increases and equity award levels for our senior personnel, and advises the Compensation Committee regarding the compensation program’s ability to attract, retain and motivate executive talent. These recommendations reflect compensation levels that our Chief Executive Officer believes are qualitatively commensurate with an executive officer’s individual qualifications, experience, responsibility level, functional role, knowledge, skills, and individual performance, as well as Tesla’s performance. The Compensation Committee considers our Chief Executive Officer’s recommendations, but ultimately determines compensation in its judgment, and approves the specific compensation for all of our executive officers (other than for our Chief Executive Officer, which is approved by the Board). All such compensation determinations by our Compensation Committee are largely discretionary.

The Compensation Committee meets regularly in executive session. Our Chief Executive Officer is not present during Compensation Committee deliberations or votes on his compensation and also recuses himself from sessions of our Board where our Board acts on the Compensation Committee’s recommendations regarding his compensation. For example, this was the case with respect to the 2018 CEO Performance Award.

In addition, in December 2017, our Board established a management committee under the 2010 Plan (the “Equity Award Committee”) to grant and administer equity awards, subject to certain maximum limits on the seniority of personnel to whom the Equity Award Committee may grant awards and the value of any individual award. For example, the Equity Award Committee is not authorized to grant awards to executive officer-level employees. Moreover, pursuant to applicable law, the Equity Award Committee may not grant awards to its members, and the number of shares of our common stock underlying awards granted by it may not exceed amounts determined by our Board from time to time. Our Board has delegated to the Compensation Committee oversight authority over the Equity Award Committee.

The Role of Stockholder Say-on-Pay Votes

At the 2011, 2014 and 2017 annual meetings of our stockholders, we held triennial stockholder advisory (“say-on-pay”) votes on the compensation of our named executive officers for the 2010, 2013 and 2016 fiscal years, respectively. Each time, our stockholders overwhelmingly approved the compensation of our named executive officers, with over 94% of our stockholder votes cast in favor of our compensation policies for our named executive officers. Given these results, and following consideration of them, the Compensation Committee decided to retain our overall approach to executive compensation. Moreover, we are required to hold a vote at least every six years regarding how often to hold a stockholder advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers. We held our most recent such vote at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders, at which our stockholders indicated a preference for a triennial vote. Consequently, our Board determined that we will hold a triennial stockholder advisory vote on the compensation of our named executive officers until they consider the results of our next say-on-pay frequency vote, which will be held at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. In addition, in accordance with this triennial frequency, we will again hold a say-on-pay advisory vote at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders.

Clawback Policy

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines sets forth a compensation recovery (“clawback”) policy with respect to any annual incentive payment or long-term incentive payment that may be received by an executive officer,

 

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where such payment would be predicated upon achieving certain financial results that were subsequently the subject of a restatement of our financial statements, and a lower payment would have been made to the executive based upon the restated financial results. In such case, our Board has the authority to seek to recover from the executive officer the amount by which such officer’s incentive payments for the relevant period exceeded the lower payment that would have been made based on the restated financial results.

Moreover, the terms of the 2018 CEO Performance Award include a clawback provision in the event of a restatement of our financial statements previously filed with the SEC, as described in more detail below.

Stock Ownership by Board and Management

To align the interests at the highest level of our management with those of our stockholders, the Board has instituted the following requirements relating to stock ownership under our Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Each member of the Board and our Chief Executive Officer is subject to the following minimum stock ownership requirements: (i) each director shall own shares of Tesla stock equal in value to at least five times the annual cash retainer for directors (exclusive of retainer amounts for service as Lead Independent Director or as a member or chair of a Board committee), and (ii) our Chief Executive Officer shall own shares of Tesla stock equal in value to at least six times his/her base salary. Each individual shall have five years from the later of March 3, 2015 and the date such person assumed his or her relevant role at Tesla to come into compliance with these ownership requirements. Each person’s compliance with the minimum stock ownership level will be determined on the date when this compliance grace period expires, and then annually on each December 31, by multiplying the number of shares held by such person and the average closing price of those shares during the preceding month. Our Chief Executive Officer and each of our directors are currently in the applicable period to come into compliance with these requirements.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines also provide that no equity award as to which vesting or the lapse of a period of restriction occurs based solely on the passage of time that is granted to a named executive officer may vest, or have a period of restriction that lapses, earlier than six months from the date on which such vesting or lapse commences. Furthermore, our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that no named executive officer may sell, transfer, pledge, assign, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Tesla stock acquired pursuant to any stock option, restricted stock unit or other equity award granted by Tesla earlier than the date that is six months after the date on which such award vests or the period of restriction with respect to such award lapses, as applicable.

Share Pledging

The Board has a policy that limits pledging of Company stock by our directors and executive officers. Pursuant to this policy, directors and executive officers may pledge their Company stock (exclusive of options, warrants, restricted stock units or other rights to purchase stock) as collateral for loans and investments, provided that the maximum aggregate loan or investment amount collateralized by such pledged stock does not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total value of the pledged stock. Tesla management monitors compliance with this policy by reviewing and, if necessary, reporting to the Board or its committees the extent to which any officer or director has pledged shares of Company stock. Our Board believes this share pledging policy to be in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders by providing directors and executive officers flexibility in financial planning without having to rely on large cash compensation or the sale of Company shares, thus keeping their interests well aligned with those of our stockholders, while also mitigating risk exposure to the Company.

Chief Executive Officer Compensation

Overview

Historically, in developing compensation recommendations for our Chief Executive Officer, the Compensation Committee has sought both to appropriately reward our Chief Executive Officer’s previous and current

 

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contributions and to create incentives for our Chief Executive Officer to continue to contribute significantly to successful results in the future. Each of the 2012 CEO Performance Award (as defined below) and the 2018 CEO Performance Award is focused on this latter objective, as it solely rewards future performance.

In addition to serving as our Chief Executive Officer since October 2008, Mr. Musk has contributed significantly and actively to us since our earliest days in April 2004 by recruiting executives and engineers, contributing to vehicle engineering and design, raising capital for us and bringing investors to us, and raising public awareness of Tesla.

Cash Compensation

Mr. Musk’s base salary reflects the current applicable minimum wage requirements under applicable California law, and he is subject to income taxes based on such base salary. Mr. Musk, however, has never accepted and currently does not accept his salary.

Historical Equity Compensation

Prior to option grant awards made in December 2009, Mr. Musk did not receive any equity compensation for his services for a period of five years.

In 2010 and 2011, Mr. Musk did not receive any equity grants, because the Compensation Committee believed his existing grants made in December 2009 already provided sufficient motivation for Mr. Musk to perform his duties as Chief Executive Officer.

In August 2012, to create incentives for continued long-term success from the then-recently launched Model S program as well as from Tesla’s then-planned Model X and Model 3 programs, and to further align executive compensation with increases in stockholder value, the Board granted to Mr. Musk a stock option award to purchase 5,274,901 shares of Tesla’s common stock (the “2012 CEO Performance Award”), representing 5% of Tesla’s total issued and outstanding shares at the time of grant. The 2012 CEO Performance Award consists of 10 equal vesting tranches, each requiring that Tesla meet a combination of (i) the achievement of a specified operational milestone relating to development of Model X or Model 3, aggregate vehicle production, or a gross margin target, and (ii) a sustained incremental $4 billion increase in Tesla’s market capitalization from $3.2 billion, Tesla’s market capitalization at the time of grant. The market capitalization conditions for all of the 10 vesting tranches and 9 of the 10 operational milestones have been achieved, and therefore 9 of 10 tranches under the 2012 CEO Performance Award have vested. As of the date of this filing, only one operational milestone, requiring gross margin of 30% or more for four consecutive quarters, has not been achieved and remains outstanding.

Prior to 2018, the only additional equity awards received by Mr. Musk related to certain immaterial awards granted during 2013 pursuant to a patent incentive program that was available to our employees generally.

2018 CEO Performance Award

Early in 2017, with the 2012 CEO Performance Award heading to substantial completion after having helped Tesla grow its market capitalization to over $55 billion in just over five years, the independent members of the Board began preliminary discussions about how to continue to incentivize Mr. Musk to lead Tesla through the next phase of its development. In January 2018, following more than six months of careful analysis and development led by the Compensation Committee, with participation by every independent Board member, the help of Compensia, and engagement with and feedback from our largest institutional stockholders, the Board granted the 2018 CEO Performance Award to Mr. Musk, subject to approval by a majority of the total votes of Tesla common stock not owned by Mr. Musk or Kimbal Musk cast at a meeting of the stockholders to approve the 2018 CEO Performance Award. On March 21, 2018, such approval was obtained, with approximately 73% of the votes cast by such disinterested shares voting in favor of the 2018 CEO Performance Award.

 

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The 2018 CEO Performance Award is comprised of a 10-year maximum term stock option to purchase 20,264,042 shares of Tesla’s common stock, divided equally among 12 separate tranches that are each equivalent to 1% of the issued and outstanding shares of Tesla’s common stock at the time of grant, at an exercise price of $350.02 per share. Each of the 12 vesting tranches of the 2018 CEO Performance Award will vest upon certification by the Board that both (i) the market capitalization milestone for such tranche, which begins at $100 billion for the first tranche and increases by increments of $50 billion thereafter, and (ii) any one of the following 8 operational milestones focused on revenue or 8 operational milestones focused on profitability, have been met:

 

Total Revenue*

    (in billions)    

 

Adjusted EBITDA**

    (in billions)    

$20.0

  $1.5

$35.0

  $3.0

$55.0

  $4.5

$75.0

  $6.0

$100.0

  $8.0

$125.0

  $10.0

$150.0

  $12.0

$175.0

  $14.0

 

*

“Revenue” means total revenues as reported in Tesla’s financial statements on Forms 10-Q or 10-K filed with the SEC for the previous four consecutive fiscal quarters.

**

“Adjusted EBITDA” means (i) net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders before (ii) interest expense, (iii) (benefit) provision for income taxes, (iv) depreciation and amortization, and (v) stock-based compensation, as each such item is reported in Tesla’s financial statements on Forms 10-Q or 10-K filed with the SEC for the previous four consecutive fiscal quarters.

Any single operational milestone may only satisfy the vesting requirement of one tranche, together with the corresponding market capitalization milestone. Subject to any applicable clawback provisions, policies or other forfeiture terms, once a milestone is achieved, it is forever deemed achieved for determining the vesting of a tranche. Meeting more than 12 of the 16 operational milestones will not result in any additional vesting or other compensation to Mr. Musk under the 2018 CEO Performance Award. Except in a change in control situation, measurement of the market capitalization milestones will be based on both (i) a six calendar month trailing average of Tesla’s stock price as well as (ii) a 30 calendar day trailing average of Tesla’s stock price, in each case based on trading days only. Upon the consummation of certain acquisitions or split-up, spin-off or divestiture transactions, each then-unachieved market capitalization milestone and/or operational milestone will be adjusted to offset the impact of such transactions to the extent they could be considered material to the achievement of those milestones.

In establishing the Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA milestones, the Board carefully considered a variety of factors, including Tesla’s growth trajectory and internal growth plans and the historical performance of other high-growth and high-multiples companies in the technology space that have invested in new businesses and tangible assets. These benchmarks provided revenue/EBITDA to market capitalization multiples, which were then used to inform the specific operational targets that aligned with Tesla’s plans for future growth. Nevertheless, the Board considers each of the market capitalization and operational milestones to be challenging hurdles. For example, in order to meet all 12 market capitalization milestones, Tesla will have to add approximately $600 billion to its market capitalization at the time of the grant of the 2018 CEO Performance Award, and in order to satisfy all eight revenue-based operational milestones, Tesla would have to increase revenue by more than $163 billion from its annual revenue of approximately $11.8 billion in 2017, the last fiscal year completed prior to the grant of the 2018 CEO Performance Award.

In addition, Mr. Musk must continue to lead Tesla as our Chief Executive Officer or, alternatively, as our Chief Product Officer and Executive Chairman (with any other Chief Executive Officer reporting directly to him), at the time each milestone is met in order for the corresponding tranche to vest. With limited exceptions, Mr. Musk

 

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must hold any shares that he acquires upon exercise of the 2018 CEO Performance Award for at least five years post-exercise. There will be no acceleration of vesting of the 2018 CEO Performance award upon Mr. Musk’s termination, death or disability, or a change in control of Tesla. However, in a change in control situation, the achievement of the milestones will be based solely on the market capitalization milestones, with the measurement of Tesla’s market capitalization determined by the product of the total number of outstanding shares of Tesla common stock immediately before the change in control multiplied by the greater of the last closing price of a share of Tesla common stock before the effective time of the change in control or the per share price (plus the per share value of any other consideration) received by Tesla’s stockholders in the change in control.

In the event of a restatement of Tesla’s financial statements previously filed with the SEC, if a lesser portion of the 2018 CEO Performance Award would have vested based on the restated financial results, then Tesla will require forfeiture (or repayment, as applicable) of the portion of the 2018 CEO Performance Award that would not have vested based on the restated financial results (less any amounts Mr. Musk may have paid to Tesla in exercising any forfeited awards). The 2018 CEO Performance Award also will be subject, if more stringent than the foregoing, to any current or future Tesla clawback policy applicable to equity awards, provided that the policy does not discriminate solely against Mr. Musk except as required by applicable law.

As of the date of this filing, two operational milestones—relating to (i) $20.0 billion total revenue and (ii) $1.5 billion Adjusted EBITDA—have been achieved, subject to formal certification by our Board, and no market capitalization milestone has been achieved. Consequently, no shares subject to the 2018 CEO Performance Award have vested as of the date of this filing.

Realized Compensation

For purposes of the table in “Management of Tesla—Summary Compensation Table” below, we are required to report pursuant to applicable SEC rules any stock option grants to Mr. Musk at values determined as of their respective grant dates and which are driven by certain assumptions prescribed by Financial Accounting Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, “Compensation–Stock Compensation” (“ASC Topic 718”). Moreover, we are required to report in “Management of Tesla—Pay Ratio Disclosure” below (i) Mr. Musk’s annual total compensation, (ii) the median of the annual total compensation of all Tesla employees, other than Mr. Musk, in each case calculated pursuant to the methodology used for the table in “Management of Tesla—Summary Compensation Table,” and (iii) the ratio of the former to the latter.

In addition, we are required to report in “Management of Tesla—2018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” below an amount for the “value realized” upon: (i) any exercise by Mr. Musk of a stock option, which is based on the difference between the market price of the underlying shares at the time of exercise and the exercise price of the stock option, and (ii) any vesting of a restricted stock unit award, based on the market price of the award at the time of vesting. Such amount is required to be reported even if Mr. Musk does not actually receive any cash from such exercise or vesting, either because he does not also sell any shares or because he sells only a number of shares sufficient to cover the related tax liabilities resulting from the exercise or vesting.

As a result, there may be a significant disconnect between what is reported as compensation for Mr. Musk in a given year in such sections and the value actually realized as compensation in that year or over a period of time. Moreover, the vast majority of compensation in respect of past stock option grants to Mr. Musk, including the 2012 CEO Performance Award and the 2018 CEO Performance Award, were incentives for future performance and their value is realizable only if the Company’s stock price appreciates compared to the dates of the grants, and the Company achieves applicable vesting requirements.

To supplement the disclosures in “Management of Tesla —Summary Compensation Table,” “Management of Tesla —Pay Ratio Disclosure” and “Management of Tesla —2018 Option Exercises and Stock Vested” below, we have included the following table, which shows the total realized compensation of Mr. Musk for the periods

 

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presented in “Management of Tesla —Summary Compensation Table,” as well as the ratio of Mr. Musk’s realized compensation to the median of the annual total compensation of all other Tesla employees as reported in “Management of Tesla —Pay Ratio Disclosure.” Realized compensation is not a substitute for reported compensation in evaluating our compensation structure, but we believe that realized compensation is an important factor in understanding that the value of compensation that Mr. Musk ultimately realizes is dependent on a number of additional factors, including: (i) the vesting of certain of his option awards only upon the successful achievement of a number of market capitalization increase and operational milestone targets, including milestones that have not yet been achieved under each of the 2012 CEO Performance Award and the 2018 CEO Performance Award; (ii) the fact that Mr. Musk does not receive any cash if he does not actually sell shares and thereby reduce his investment in us, and does not receive any cash to the extent that he sells only shares sufficient to cover income taxes with respect to his awards (including stock options exercised solely to avoid their expiration in accordance with their terms); and (iii) the then-current market value of our common stock at the times at which Mr. Musk may elect to actually sell his shares.

 

Year

  “Total Compensation” of
CEO,
as Reported in Summary
Compensation Table
Below
($)
    “Value Realized on Exercise
or Vesting of Awards” of
CEO, as
Reported in Option Exercises
and Stock Vested Table
Below
($)
    Median Annual Total
Compensation of all
Non-CEO Employees,
as reported in Pay
Ratio Disclosure
Section Below
($)
    Total CEO Realized
Compensation
($)(1)(2)
    Ratio of Total CEO
Realized

Compensation to
Median Annual
Total
Compensation of
all Non-CEO
Employees
 

2018

    2,284,044,884 (3)       —         56,163       56,380       1.00:1  

2017

    49,920       —         54,816       49,920       0.91:1  

2016

    45,936       1,340,103,920 (4)       —   (5)       45,999          (5)  

 

(1)

“Total CEO realized compensation” for a given year is defined as (i) the amounts reported for Mr. Musk in “Management of Tesla —Summary Compensation Table” below under the columns “Salary,” “Bonus,” “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation” and “All Other Compensation,” plus (ii) with respect to any stock option exercised by Mr. Musk in such year in connection with which shares of stock were also sold other than to satisfy the resulting tax liability, if any, the difference between the market price of Tesla common stock at the time of exercise on the exercise date and the exercise price of the option, plus (iii) with respect to any restricted stock unit vested by Mr. Musk in such year in connection with which shares of stock were also sold other than automatic sales to satisfy the Company’s withholding obligations related to the vesting of such restricted stock unit, if any, the market price of Tesla common stock at the time of vesting, plus (iv) any cash actually received by Mr. Musk in respect of any shares sold to cover tax liabilities as described in (ii) and (iii) above, following the payment of such amounts.

(2)

Of the amounts noted, Mr. Musk has not accepted his salary in the amounts of $56,380, $49,920 and $45,936 for 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

(3)

Includes $2,283,988,504 attributed to the 2018 CEO Performance Award, which is intended to compensate Mr. Musk over its 10-year maximum term and will become vested as to all shares subject to it only if our market capitalization increases to $650.0 billion and 12 of 16 total operational milestones are achieved during such 10-year period. Each tranche of 1/12th of the total number of shares subject to the option will become vested and exercisable each time: (i) our market capitalization increases initially to $100.0 billion for the first tranche, and by an additional $50.0 billion for each tranche thereafter; and (ii) one of 16 specified operational milestones relating to total revenue or adjusted EBITDA (other than an operating milestone that previously counted towards the vesting of another tranche) is attained, subject to Mr. Musk’s continued service to us as either CEO or as both Executive Chairman and Chief Product Officer, with the CEO reporting to him, at each such vesting event. This award was designed to be entirely an incentive for future performance that would take many years, if at all, to be achieved. Further, each of the requirements underlying the performance milestones was selected to be very difficult to achieve. If any options have not vested by the end of the term of the option award, they will be forfeited and Mr. Musk will not realize the value of such options. As of the date of this filing, zero market capitalization milestones have been achieved and two operational milestones have been achieved (subject to Board certification) and consequently, no shares have vested under the 2018 CEO Performance Award. Following vesting, the actual receipt of any

 

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  shares by Mr. Musk will further be subject to his payment of the exercise price of $350.02 per share. See “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—2018 CEO Performance Award” above.
(4)

Reflects the exercise of stock options with respect to an aggregate 6,711,972 shares, which were scheduled to expire in 2016. Of these, (i) the exercise with respect to an aggregate 1,208,000 shares were not accompanied by a related sales of shares, and (ii) the exercise with respect to an aggregate 5,503,972 shares was accompanied by a related sale of 2,782,670 shares solely in order to pay $593 million in income taxes related to such exercise. Accordingly, this reported amount was not actually received in cash upon these exercises, nor has Mr. Musk subsequently sold any of the remaining shares received.

(5)

Median annual total compensation values for non-CEO employees and the corresponding ratios based on them are provided only for periods for which we have reported “Pay Ratio Disclosure” information.

Elements of Executive Compensation

In addition to specific elements of our Chief Executive Officer’s compensation discussed above, our current executive compensation program, which was developed and approved by the Compensation Committee, generally consists of the following components:

 

   

base salary;

 

   

equity-based incentives; and

 

   

other benefits.

We combine these elements in order to formulate compensation packages that provide competitive pay, reward achievement of financial, operational and strategic objectives and align the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders.

Base Salary

The Compensation Committee is responsible for reviewing our Chief Executive Officer’s and other executive officers’ base salaries. The base salaries of all executive officers are reviewed annually and adjusted when necessary to reflect individual roles, performance and the competitive market. The completion of key projects or technical milestones is also a factor in base salary determinations. Because we typically do not provide cash bonuses to our executive officers, we also view salary as a key motivation and reward for our executive officers’ overall performance. As of the date of this filing, the Compensation Committee has not increased the base salaries of our named executive officers in 2019, other than an increase to our Chief Executive Officer’s salary as required by applicable California minimum wage requirements, which he continues to decline to accept. Moreover, effective as of January 1, 2019, Jeffrey B. Straubel, our Chief Technical Officer, has requested that his base salary be reduced to reflect the applicable California minimum wage requirements.

We provide base salary to our named executive officers to compensate them for services rendered on a day-to-day basis during the fiscal year. The following table sets forth information regarding the annualized base salary amounts for fiscal 2019 and 2018 for our named executive officers, as well as the annualized base salary amount for fiscal 2019 for Zachary Kirkhorn, our current Chief Financial Officer:

 

Named Executive Officer

   Fiscal 2018
Base Salary ($)(1)
    Fiscal 2019
Base Salary ($)(1)
 

Elon Musk

     56,160       62,400  

Jeffrey B. Straubel

     249,600       62,400  

Jerome Guillen

     300,000       300,000  

Deepak Ahuja

     500,000       —   (2)  

Zachary Kirkhorn

     —   (3)       275,000  

 

(1)

Reflects an annualized rate assuming 52 weeks each comprised of five work days.

 

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(2)

Mr. Ahuja transitioned from his role as Chief Financial Officer effective March 2019.

(3)

Mr. Kirkhorn commenced his service as our Chief Financial Officer in March 2019.

Equity-based incentives—Overview

Our equity award program is the primary vehicle for offering long-term incentives to our named executive officers. Our equity-based incentives have historically been granted in the form of options to purchase shares of our common stock and restricted stock unit awards that are settled in shares of our common stock upon vesting, and we have granted to our named executive officers both awards that vest over a long-term period and awards that vest only upon the achievement of specified Tesla performance milestones, in each case, subject to continued service. We believe that equity awards more closely align the interests of our named executive officers with our stockholders, provide our named executive officers with incentives linked to long-term performance and create an ownership culture. In addition, the vesting features of our equity awards contributes to executive retention because this feature provides an incentive to our named executive officers to remain in our employ during the scheduled vesting period or until the achievement of the applicable performance milestones, which are expected to be achieved over the medium- to long-term. To date, we have not had an established set of criteria for granting equity awards; instead the Compensation Committee exercises its judgment and discretion, in consultation with our Chief Executive Officer and from time to time, a compensation consultant, and considers, among other things, the role and responsibility of the named executive officer, competitive factors, the amount of stock-based equity compensation already held by the named executive officer, and the cash-based compensation received by the named executive officer, to determine the level of equity awards that it approves. The Compensation Committee also considers such factors, among other things, in allocating among the types of equity awards to our executives from time to time. Accordingly, in 2018, the Compensation Committee decided to grant exclusively stock option awards to our named executive officers.

We do not have, nor do we plan to establish, any program, plan, or practice to time equity award grants in coordination with releasing material non-public information. The Compensation Committee meets periodically, including to approve equity award grants to our executives from time to time.

Equity award grants

We generally grant one-time new hire equity awards to our employees upon their commencement of employment with us, or upon their promotion to new positions. For example, we granted a promotion award to Jerome Guillen in October 2018 in connection with his promotion to President, Automotive, and will grant a promotion award to Zachary Kirkhorn in connection with his promotion to Chief Financial Officer.

Additionally, as part of our ongoing executive compensation review and alignment process, we periodically grant equity awards to our executives. In February 2018, we granted equity awards pursuant to our executive compensation review and alignment process to certain of our named executive officers. For details on such grants, see “Management of Tesla —Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2018” below.

Severance and Change in Control Benefits

No named executive officer has a severance or change in control arrangement with Tesla, other than the vesting of the 2018 CEO Performance Award based solely upon the achievement of market capitalization milestones as measured at the time of a change in control of Tesla. See “Management of Tesla—Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” below and “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—2018 CEO Performance Award” above.

Bonus

We do not currently have or have planned, and we typically have not historically entered into, any specific arrangements with our named executive officers providing for cash-based bonus awards.

 

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Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation

We did not provide any non-equity incentive plan compensation to any of our named executive officers in 2018, and we do not currently have or have planned any specific arrangements with our named executive officers providing for non-equity incentive plan compensation.

Perquisites

Generally, we do not provide any perquisites or other personal benefits to our named executive officers except in certain limited circumstances.

Health and Welfare Benefits

We provide the following benefits to our named executive officers on the same basis provided to all of our employees:

 

   

health, dental and vision insurance;

 

   

life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance;

 

   

a Section 401(k) plan for which no match by Tesla is provided;

 

   

an employee stock purchase plan;

 

   

short-and long-term disability insurance;

 

   

medical and dependent care flexible spending account; and

 

   

a health savings account.

Tax and Accounting Considerations

Sections 280G and 409A. We have not provided or committed to provide any executive officer or director with a gross-up or other reimbursement for tax amounts the executive might pay pursuant to Section 280G or Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). Section 280G and related Code sections provide that executive officers, directors who hold significant stockholder interests and certain other service providers could be subject to significant additional taxes if they receive payments or benefits in connection with a change in control of Tesla that exceeds certain limits, and that we or our successor could lose a deduction on the amounts subject to the additional tax. Section 409A also imposes additional significant taxes on the individual in the event that an executive officer, director or service provider of certain types receives “deferred compensation” that does not meet the requirements of Section 409A.

Tax Deduction Limit. Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax deduction to public corporations for compensation greater than $1,000,000 paid in any fiscal year to certain executive officers. However, prior to the enactment of U.S. tax legislation in December 2017 (the “Tax Act”), certain types of performance-based compensation were excluded from the $1,000,000 deduction limit if specific requirements were met. Under the Tax Act, this exclusion for performance-based compensation is not available with respect to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, unless the compensation is pursuant to a written binding contract which was in effect on or before November 2, 2017, and which is not modified in any material respect on or after such date. Pursuant to the Tax Act, for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, Section 162(m) of the Code was expanded to cover additional executive officers and other employees, including the chief financial officer, so that the compensation of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer (at any time during the fiscal year), the three next most highly compensated executive officers during the taxable year and any other individual who was considered a “covered employee” for any prior taxable year that begins after 2016, will be subject to the $1,000,000 deductibility limit under Section 162(m) of the Code. Commencing with our 2018 fiscal year, to the extent that the aggregate amount of any covered officer’s salary, bonus, any amount realized from certain option

 

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exercises and vesting of restricted stock units or other equity awards, and certain other compensation amounts that are recognized as taxable income by the officer exceeds $1,000,000, we will not be entitled to a U.S. federal income tax deduction for the amount over $1,000,000 in that year, unless the compensation qualifies for the transition relief applicable to certain written binding contracts in effect on or before November 2, 2017. The Compensation Committee has not adopted a formal policy regarding tax deductibility of compensation paid to our executive officers.

Accounting Implications. We follow ASC Topic 718 for our stock-based compensation awards. ASC Topic 718 requires companies to measure the compensation expense for all stock-based compensation awards made to employees and directors based on the grant date “fair value” of these awards. This calculation is performed for accounting purposes and reported in the compensation tables below, even though our named executive officers may never realize any value from their awards. ASC Topic 718 also requires companies to recognize the compensation cost of their stock-based compensation awards in their income statements over the period that an executive officer is required to render service in exchange for the option or other award.

Summary Compensation Table

The following table presents information concerning the total compensation of our named executive officers for each of the last three fiscal years. No disclosure is provided for fiscal years for which those persons were not named executive officers.

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary
($)
    Bonus
($)
    Stock
Awards
($)(1)
    Option
Awards
($)(2)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation

($)
    All Other
Compensation
($)
    Total
($)
 

Elon Musk

    2018       56,380       —         —         2,283,988,504 (3)       —         —         2,284,044,884  

Chief Executive Officer

    2017       49,920       —         —         —         —         —         49,920  
    2016       45,936       —         —         —         —         —         45,936  

Jeffrey B. Straubel

    2018       250,560       —         —         11,416,860       —         —         11,667,420  

Chief Technology Officer

    2017       249,600       —         —         —         —         —         249,600  
    2016       250,560       —         —         7,677,023       —         —         7,927,583  

Jerome Guillen

    2018       301,154       —         —         17,450,897       —         —         17,752,051  

President, Automotive

               

Deepak Ahuja

    2018       501,923       —         —         5,708,430       —         —         6,210,353  

Former Chief Financial Officer

    2017       428,846       —         10,501,859       4,567,304       —         —         15,498,009  

 

(1)

This column reflects the grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 of the restricted stock unit awards granted to the named executive officers, which is measured on the grant date based on the closing fair market value of our common stock. These amounts do not necessarily correspond to the actual value that may be recognized by the named executive officers, which depends, among other things, on the market value of our common stock.

(2)

This column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with ASC Topic 718 of the options to purchase shares of our common stock granted to the named executive officers. The assumptions used in the valuation of these awards are set forth in the notes to our consolidated financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2019. These amounts do not necessarily correspond to the actual value that may be recognized by the named executive officers, which depends, among other things, on the market value of our common stock appreciating from that on the grant date(s) of the option(s).

(3)

Reflects the 2018 CEO Performance Award, which is intended to compensate Mr. Musk over its 10-year maximum term and will become vested as to all shares subject to it only if our market capitalization increases to $650.0 billion and 12 of 16 total operational milestones are achieved during such 10-year period. Each tranche of 1/12th of the total number of shares subject to the option will become vested and

 

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  exercisable each time: (i) our market capitalization increases initially to $100.0 billion for the first tranche, and by an additional $50.0 billion for each tranche thereafter; and (ii) one of 16 specified operational milestones relating to total revenue or adjusted EBITDA (other than an operating milestone that previously counted towards the vesting of another tranche) is attained, subject to Mr. Musk’s continued service to us as either CEO or as both Executive Chairman and Chief Product Officer, with the CEO reporting to him, at each such vesting event. This award was designed to be entirely an incentive for future performance that would take many years, if at all, to be achieved. Further, each of the requirements underlying the performance milestones was selected to be very difficult to achieve. If any options have not vested by the end of the term of the option award, they will be forfeited and Mr. Musk will not realize the value of such options. As of the date of this filing, zero market capitalization milestones have been achieved and two operational milestones have been achieved (subject to Board certification) and consequently, no shares have vested under the 2018 CEO Performance Award. Following vesting, the actual receipt of any shares by Mr. Musk will further be subject to his payment of the exercise price of $350.02 per share. See “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—2018 CEO Performance Award” and “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—Realized Compensation” above.

Pay Ratio Disclosure

Tesla is committed to fair and competitive compensation for its employees. Moreover, Elon Musk, our Chief Executive Officer, has agreed to a compensation arrangement in the 2018 CEO Performance Award that is substantially tied to the appreciation of our market capitalization. Because all Tesla employees are provided equity awards, this also means that Mr. Musk’s compensation is tied to the success of all Tesla employees. We are providing a ratio of (i) Mr. Musk’s 2018 annual total compensation to (ii) the median of the 2018 annual total compensation of all Tesla employees, other than Mr. Musk, as if all of our employees were named executive officers, in each case calculated pursuant to the disclosure requirements of “Management of Tesla—Summary Compensation Table” above. However, these amounts rely on assumptions and projections made pursuant to accounting rules and which are not necessarily indicative of the actual value that was or may be realized. In particular, the vast majority of the 2018 annual total compensation for Mr. Musk reflects an accounting-driven valuation for the 2018 CEO Performance Award, as to which no shares have vested as of the date of this filing, and which is further subject to the payment of an exercise price of $350.02 per share following vesting. Please refer to “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—Realized Compensation” above for additional supplemental information.

Mr. Musk’s 2018 annual total compensation, as reported in “Management of Tesla—Summary Compensation Table,” was $2,284,044,884, and the median 2018 annual total compensation of all other employees, as determined pursuant to the methodology set forth below, was $56,163. Consequently, the applicable ratio of such amounts for 2018 was 40,668.14:1. However, using the “Total CEO realized compensation” for 2018 of $56,380 as described in “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—Realized Compensation” above, such ratio was 1.00:1.

Our methodology for identifying the median of the 2018 annual total compensation for each of our employees other than Mr. Musk was as follows:

 

   

We determined that as of December 31, 2018, Tesla and all of our subsidiaries had 42,992 qualifying individuals (full-time, part-time and temporary employees other than Mr. Musk), of which approximately 17% were based outside of the U.S. and approximately 32% were production line employees.

 

   

We did not include in the population of qualifying individuals any employees of staffing agencies whose compensation is determined by such agencies.

 

   

We applied the requirements and assumptions required for the table in “Management of Tesla—Summary Compensation Table” for each of such individuals as if he or she was a named executive

 

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officer to calculate the total annual compensation, including base salary or wages, performance-based commission payments, and equity awards based on their grant date fair values.

 

   

We converted any payment earned or paid in a foreign currency to U.S. dollar using the average of the prevailing conversion rates for the month of December 2018.

 

   

We selected the median of all total annual compensation amounts calculated in accordance with the foregoing.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2018

The following table presents information concerning each grant of an award made to a named executive officer in fiscal 2018 under any plan.

 

                                  All Other     All Other              
                                  Stock     Option     Exercise
or
       
                                  Awards:     Awards:     Base        
                Estimated Future Payouts Under     Number of     Number of     Price of     Grant Date Fair  
                Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards     Shares of     Securities     Option     Value of Stock  

Name

  Grant
Date(1)
    Board
Approval
Date
    Threshold
($)
    Target
($)
    Maximum
($)
    Stocks or
Units (#)
    Underlying
Options(#)
    Awards
($/Sh)
    and Option
Awards ($)
 

Elon Musk

    3/21/2018 (2)(3)       1/21/2018 (3)       —         —         —         —         20,264,042       350.02       2,283,988,504  

Jeffrey B. Straubel

    2/12/2018 (4)       —         —         —         —         —         90,000       315.73       11,416,860  

Jerome Guillen

    2/12/2018 (4)       —         —         —         —         —         45,000       315.73       5,708,430  
    10/16/2018 (5)       —         —         —         —         —         103,395       276.59       11,742,467  

Deepak Ahuja

    2/12/2018 (4)       —         —         —         —         —         45,000       315.73       5,708,430  

 

(1)

The vesting schedule applicable to each outstanding award is set forth in “Management of Tesla— Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End” below.

(2)

Reflects the 2018 CEO Performance Award, which is intended to compensate Mr. Musk over its 10-year maximum term and will become vested as to all shares subject to it only if our market capitalization increases to $650.0 billion and 12 of 16 total operational milestones are achieved during such 10-year period. Each tranche of 1/12th of the total number of shares subject to the option will become vested and exercisable each time: (i) our market capitalization increases initially to $100.0 billion for the first tranche, and by an additional $50.0 billion for each tranche thereafter; and (ii) one of 16 specified operational milestones relating to total revenue or adjusted EBITDA (other than an operating milestone that previously counted towards the vesting of another tranche) is attained, subject to Mr. Musk’s continued service to us as either CEO or as both Executive Chairman and Chief Product Officer, with the CEO reporting to him, at each such vesting event. This award was designed to be entirely an incentive for future performance that would take many years, if at all, to be achieved. Further, each of the requirements underlying the performance milestones was selected to be very difficult to achieve. If any options have not vested by the end of the term of the option award, they will be forfeited and Mr. Musk will not realize the value of such options. As of the date of this filing, zero market capitalization milestones have been achieved and two operational milestones have been achieved (subject to Board certification) and consequently, no shares have vested under the 2018 CEO Performance Award. Following vesting, the actual receipt of any shares by Mr. Musk will further be subject to his payment of the exercise price of $350.02 per share. See “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—2018 CEO Performance Award” and “Management of Tesla—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Chief Executive Officer Compensation—Realized Compensation” above.

(3)

The grant of the 2018 CEO Performance Award was approved by the Board on January 21, 2018 and subsequently approved by the stockholders of the Company on March 21, 2018, on which date it is deemed granted.

(4)

This award was granted as part of the 2018 executive compensation review and alignment process.

(5)

This award was granted in connection with Mr. Guillen’s promotion to President, Automotive.

 

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Table of Contents

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2018 Fiscal Year-End

The following table presents information concerning unexercised options and unvested restricted stock unit awards for each named executive officer outstanding as of the end of fiscal 2018.

 

    Option Awards     Stock Awards  

Name

  Grant Date     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
    Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options (#)
    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
    Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of Stock
That Have
Not Vested
($)(1)
 

Elon Musk

    3/21/2018 (2)       —         —         20,264,042       350.02       1/20/2028       —         —    
    6/10/2013 (3)       350       —         —         100.05       6/10/2023       —         —    
    4/8/2013 (3)       350       —         —         41.83       4/8/2023       —         —    
    8/13/2012 (4)       4,747,410       —         527,491       31.17       8/13/2022       —         —    

Jeffrey B. Straubel

    2/12/2018 (5)