Filed by Broadcom Limited
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Qualcomm Incorporated
(Commission File No. 000-19528)
Broadcom Files Preliminary Proxy Materials in Connection with
Qualcomm’s 2018 Annual Meeting and Files Hart-Scott-Rodino Notification Regarding Proposed
Acquisition of Qualcomm
SAN JOSE, Calif. – December 11, 2017 – Broadcom Limited (NASDAQ: AVGO) (“Broadcom”) today announced that it has filed preliminary proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with its planned solicitation of proxies to elect 11 independent, highly qualified nominees to the Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) (“Qualcomm”) Board of Directors at Qualcomm’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which Qualcomm has announced will be held on March 6, 2018.
Broadcom also announced that it has filed a premerger notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR”) with the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission regarding its proposed acquisition of Qualcomm.
Hock Tan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Broadcom, stated, “Our Board and management team are committed to consummating this transaction as soon as possible. We continue to receive positive feedback from stockholders and customers, and we have made clear to Qualcomm that it remains our strong preference to engage in constructive dialogue regarding the value-enhancing proposal we put forward more than a month ago. We are seeking the election of the 11 independent, highly qualified nominees to the Qualcomm Board because we believe that Qualcomm stockholders would be better served by these candidates than the current directors of Qualcomm who have refused to engage with us on a compelling, value-enhancing opportunity for Qualcomm stockholders.”
As previously announced, Broadcom is seeking to have the following nominees elected to the Qualcomm Board: Samih Elhage, Raul J. Fernandez, Michael S. Geltzeiler, Stephen J. Girsky, David G. Golden, Veronica M. Hagen, Julie A. Hill, John H. Kispert, Gregorio Reyes, Thomas S. Volpe and Harry L. You. The 11 new, independent nominees bring significant technology sector, financial and operational experience.
To ensure continuity, Broadcom would support a decision by the 11 new directors, upon their election to the Qualcomm Board, to increase the size of the Board and reappoint Mark D. McLaughlin, Anthony J. “Tony” Vinciquerra and Jeffrey W. Henderson as directors.
On November 6, 2017, Broadcom proposed to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Qualcomm for per share consideration of $70.00 in cash and stock, consisting of $60.00 in cash and $10.00 in Broadcom shares. Broadcom’s offer represents a 28% premium over the closing price of Qualcomm’s common stock on November 2, 2017, the last unaffected trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a premium of 33% to Qualcomm’s unaffected 30-day volume-weighted average price. The Broadcom proposal stands whether Qualcomm’s pending acquisition of NXP
Semiconductors N.V. (“NXP”) is consummated on the currently disclosed terms of $110 per NXP share or is terminated. Broadcom expects that the proposed transaction would be completed within approximately 12 months following the signing of a definitive agreement.
Moelis & Company LLC, Citi, Deutsche Bank, J.P. Morgan, BofA Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as financial advisors to Broadcom. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Latham & Watkins LLP are acting as legal counsel.
More information regarding Broadcom’s proposal for Qualcomm can be found by visiting www.AVGO-QCOM.com.
About Broadcom Limited
Broadcom Limited (NASDAQ:AVGO) is a leading designer, developer and global supplier of a broad range of digital and analog semiconductor connectivity solutions. Broadcom Limited’s extensive product portfolio serves four primary end markets: wired infrastructure, wireless communications, enterprise storage and industrial & other. Applications for our products in these end markets include: data center networking, home connectivity, set-top box, broadband access, telecommunications equipment, smartphones and base stations, data center servers and storage, factory automation, power generation and alternative energy systems, and electronic displays.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning Broadcom. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements that address our expected future business and financial performance and statements about (i) the proposed transaction involving Broadcom and Qualcomm and the expected benefits of the proposed transaction, (ii) the expected benefits of acquisitions, (iii) our plans, objectives and intentions with respect to future operations and products, (iv) our competitive position and opportunities, (v) the impact of acquisitions on the market for our products, and (vi) other statements identified by words such as “will”, “expect”, “believe”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “should”, “intend”, “plan”, “potential”, “predict”, “project”, “aim”, and similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and beliefs of the management of Broadcom, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, such management, current market trends and market conditions and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside Broadcom’s and management’s control, and which may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on such statements.
Particular uncertainties that could materially affect future results include risks associated with our proposal to acquire Qualcomm, including: (i) uncertainty regarding the ultimate outcome or terms of any possible transaction between Broadcom and Qualcomm, including as to whether Qualcomm will cooperate with us regarding the proposed transaction, (ii) the effects of the announcement of the proposed transaction on the ability of Broadcom and Qualcomm to retain customers, to retain and hire key personnel and to maintain favorable relationships with suppliers or customers, (iii) the timing of the proposed transaction, (iv) the ability to obtain regulatory approvals and satisfy other closing conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction (including shareholders approvals), and (v) other risks
related to the completion of the proposed transaction and actions related thereto; loss of our significant customers and fluctuations in the timing and volume of significant customer demand; our dependence on contract manufacturers and outsourced supply chain; our dependency on a limited number of suppliers; any acquisitions we may make, such as delays, challenges and expenses associated with receiving governmental and regulatory approvals and satisfying other closing conditions, and with integrating acquired companies with our existing businesses and our ability to achieve the benefits, growth prospects and synergies expected from such acquisitions, including our acquisition of Brocade; our ability to accurately estimate customers’ demand and adjust our manufacturing and supply chain accordingly; our significant indebtedness, including the need to generate sufficient cash flows to service and repay such debt; increased dependence on a small number of markets and the rate of growth in these markets; dependence on and risks associated with distributors of our products; dependence on senior management; quarterly and annual fluctuations in operating results; global economic conditions and concerns; our proposed redomiciliation of our ultimate parent company to the United States; our competitive performance and ability to continue achieving design wins with our customers, as well as the timing of those design wins; prolonged disruptions of our or our contract manufacturers’ manufacturing facilities or other significant operations; our ability to improve our manufacturing efficiency and quality; our dependence on outsourced service providers for certain key business services and their ability to execute to our requirements; our ability to maintain or improve gross margin; our effective tax rate, legislation that may impact our effective tax rate and our ability to maintain tax concessions in certain jurisdictions; our ability to protect our intellectual property and the unpredictability of any associated litigation expenses; any expenses or reputational damage associated with resolving customer product and warranty and indemnification claims; cyclicality in the semiconductor industry or in our target markets; our ability to sell to new types of customers and to keep pace with technological advances; market acceptance of the end products into which our products are designed; and other events and trends on a national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature.
Our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which you may obtain for free at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, discuss some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no intent or obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Additional Information
This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. This communication relates to a proposal which Broadcom has made for an acquisition of Qualcomm and Broadcom’s intention to solicit proxies for the election of Broadcom nominees to the Qualcomm Board and certain other proposals at Qualcomm’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. Broadcom has filed a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A with the SEC on December 11, 2017 in connection with the solicitation of proxies for Qualcomm’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. Broadcom expects to file a definitive proxy statement with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies for Qualcomm’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders and may file other proxy solicitation materials in connection therewith.
In addition, in furtherance of the acquisition proposal and subject to future developments, Broadcom (and, if a negotiated transaction is agreed, Qualcomm) may file one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender offer statements or other documents with the SEC. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, tender offer statement, prospectus or other document Broadcom and/or Qualcomm may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction.
Investors and security holders of Broadcom and Qualcomm are urged to read the proxy statement(s), registration statement(s), tender offer statement(s), prospectus(es) and/or other documents filed with the SEC carefully in their entirety if and when they become available as they will contain important information about the proposed transaction and solicitation. Any definitive proxy statement(s) or prospectus(es) (if and when available) will be mailed to stockholders of Broadcom and/or Qualcomm, as applicable. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents (if and when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by Broadcom through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Participants in Solicitation
Broadcom, certain of its subsidiaries, its directors and executive officers, other members of management and employees and the nominees described above may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction, including with respect to Qualcomm’s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders. You can find information about Broadcom’s executive officers and directors in Broadcom’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on February 17, 2017. Information about the Broadcom nominees is included in the preliminary proxy statement that Broadcom has filed with the SEC and will be included in the definitive proxy statement that Broadcom intends to file with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants is included or will be included in one or more registration statements, proxy statements, tender offer statements or other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC if and when they become available. These documents (if and when available) may be obtained free of charge from the SEC’s website http://www.sec.gov.
Investors:
Ashish Saran
Broadcom Limited
Investor Relations
408-433-8000
investor.relations@broadcom.com
Or
Tom Germinario / Rick Grubaugh
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
212-269-5550
Media:
Joele Frank / Steve Frankel / Andi Rose
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449