UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE TO
Tender Offer Statement Pursuant to Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
HOME POINT CAPITAL INC.
(Name of Subject Company)
HEISMAN MERGER SUB, INC.
(Offeror)
MR. COOPER GROUP INC.
(Parent of Offeror)
(Names of Filing Persons)
Common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
43734L 106
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
Carlos M. Pelayo, Esq.
Mr. Cooper Group Inc.
Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
8950 Cypress Waters Blvd
Coppell, TX 75019
(469) 549-2000
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications on Behalf of Filing Persons)
With a copy to:
David E. Shapiro, Esq.
Mark F. Veblen, Esq.
Jenna E. Levine, Esq.
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 403-1000
☐ | Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. |
Amount Previously Paid: N/A | Filing Party: N/A | |
Form or Registration No.: N/A | Date Filed: N/A |
☐ | Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer. |
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:
☒ | third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1. |
☐ | issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. |
☐ | going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3. |
☐ | amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2. |
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: ☐
If applicable, check the appropriate box(es) below to designate the appropriate rule provision(s) relied upon:
☐ | Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) |
☐ | Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) |
This Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (this Schedule TO) relates to the tender offer by Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (Mr. Cooper), for all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation (Home Point), at a price of $2.33 per share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, and subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated May 26, 2023 (the Offer to Purchase), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (a)(1)(A), and in the related letter of transmittal (the Letter of Transmittal), a copy of which is attached as Exhibit (a)(1)(B), which, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, collectively constitute the Offer.
All the information set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including Schedule I thereto, is incorporated by reference herein in response to Items 1 through 9 and Item 11 of this Schedule TO, and is supplemented by the information specifically provided in this Schedule TO.
Item 1. | Summary Term Sheet. |
Regulation M-A Item 1001
The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the caption SUMMARY TERM SHEET is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. | Subject Company Information. |
Regulation M-A Item 1002
(a) Name and Address. The name, address, and telephone number of the subject companys principal executive offices are as follows:
Home Point Capital Inc.
2211 Old Earhart Road, Suite 250
Ann Arbor, Michigan
(888) 616-6866
(b)-(c) Securities; Trading Market and Price. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
INTRODUCTION
THE TENDER OFFER Section 6 (Price Range of Shares; Dividends)
Item 3. | Identity and Background of Filing Person. |
Regulation M-A Item 1003
(a)-(c) Name and Address; Business and Background of Entities; and Business and Background of Natural Persons. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 8 (Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser)
SCHEDULE I Information Relating to Mr. Cooper and Purchaser
Item 4. | Terms of the Transaction. |
Regulation M-A Item 1004
(a) Material Terms. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5. | Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements. |
Regulation M-A Item 1005
(a) Transactions. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 8 (Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 10 (Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point)
(b) Significant Corporate Events. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 8 (Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 10 (Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 11 (The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 12 (Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point)
Item 6. | Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals. |
Regulation M-A Item 1006
(a) Purposes. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
THE TENDER OFFER Section 12 (Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point)
(c) (1)-(7) Plans. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 9 (Source and Amount of Funds)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 10 (Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 11 (The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements)
-2-
THE TENDER OFFER Section 12 (Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 13 (Certain Effects of the Offer)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 14 (Dividends and Distributions)
Item 7. | Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration. |
Regulation M-A Item 1007
(a) Source of Funds. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 9 (Source and Amount of Funds)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 10 (Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point)
(b) Conditions. The Offer is not subject to a financing condition.
(d) Borrowed Funds. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 9 (Source and Amount of Funds)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 10 (Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 11 (The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 15 (Conditions of the Offer)
Item 8. | Interest in Securities of the Subject Company. |
Regulation M-A Item 1008
(a) Securities Ownership. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
THE TENDER OFFER Section 8 (Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 11 (The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 12 (Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point)
SCHEDULE I Information Relating to Mr. Cooper and Purchaser
(b) Securities Transactions. None.
-3-
Item 9. | Persons/Assets Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used. |
Regulation M-A Item 1009
(a) Solicitations or Recommendations. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 3 (Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 10 (Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 18 (Fees and Expenses)
Item 10. | Financial Statements. |
Regulation M-A Item 1010
(a) Financial Information. Not Applicable.
(b) Pro Forma Information. Not Applicable.
Item 11. | Additional Information. |
Regulation M-A Item 1011
(a) Agreements, Regulatory Requirements and Legal Proceedings. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase under the following captions is incorporated herein by reference:
SUMMARY TERM SHEET
THE TENDER OFFER Section 10 (Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 11 (The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 12 (Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 13 (Certain Effects of the Offer)
THE TENDER OFFER Section 16 (Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals)
(c) Other Material Information. The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal is incorporated herein by reference.
-4-
Item 12. | Exhibits. |
Regulation M-A Item 1016
* | Filed herewith. |
** | Certain exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The registrant hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted exhibits upon request by the SEC; provided, however, that the parties may request confidential treatment pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act for any document so furnished. |
Item 13. | Information Required by Schedule 13E-3. |
Not applicable.
-5-
SIGNATURES
After due inquiry and to the best of their knowledge and belief, each of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: May 26, 2023
HEISMAN MERGER SUB, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Kurt Johnson | |
Name: | Kurt Johnson | |
Title: | President and Treasurer | |
MR. COOPER GROUP INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Kurt Johnson | |
Name: | Kurt Johnson | |
Title: | Executive Vice President, | |
Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit (a)(1)(A)
Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
of
Home Point Capital Inc.
at
$2.33 Net Per Share
by
Heisman Merger Sub, Inc.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
Mr. Cooper Group Inc.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT
5:00 P.M. EASTERN TIME
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2023, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.
Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Purchaser) and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Mr. Cooper), is offering to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined below, any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (which we refer to as the Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Home Point or the Company), at a price of $2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes (which we refer to as the Offer Price), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase (which we refer to as this Offer to Purchase) and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which we refer to as the Letter of Transmittal and which, together with this Offer to Purchase and other related materials, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes, and we refer to as, the Offer).
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 10, 2023 (which, as it may be amended from time to time, we refer to as the Merger Agreement), by and among Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that if the Offer is consummated, as soon as practicable after the consummation of the Offer and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, Purchaser will be merged with and into Home Point (which we refer to as the Merger) without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (which we refer to as the DGCL), with Home Point continuing as the surviving corporation (which we refer to as the Surviving Corporation) in the Merger. In the Merger, each Share outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than any Shares held by Home Point, Mr. Cooper or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or by any person who is entitled to, and has properly exercised and perfected their demand for, statutory appraisal of his or her Shares) will be converted into the right to receive $2.33 per Share in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes. As a result of the Merger, Home Point will cease to be a publicly traded company and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the purchase price for Shares, regardless of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making payment for Shares.
The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (A) the Merger Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms (which we refer to as the Termination Condition) and (B) the satisfaction of (i) the Minimum Condition (as defined below), (ii) the
Regulatory Conditions to the Offer (as defined below); and (iii) the Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer (as defined below). The Minimum Condition requires that the number of Shares validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Offer, and not validly withdrawn, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 (which we refer to as the Expiration Date, unless Purchaser has extended the period during which the Offer is open, in which event Expiration Date will mean the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended by Purchaser, will expire), together with all other Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Mr. Cooper and its affiliates, represent at least one more Share than 50% of the sum of (x) the total number of Shares outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer, plus (y) the total number of Shares that Home Point would be required to issue upon conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise of all options, warrants, rights or securities outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Shares (whether then outstanding or for which the conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise date has already occurred, but in any event without duplication). The Regulatory Conditions to the Offer requires (i) that any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the Offer or the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (which we refer to as the HSR Act), has expired or been terminated, (ii) there is not in effect any voluntary agreement with a governmental authority not to consummate the Offer or the Merger, and (iii) all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable. The Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer requires that no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in any jurisdiction in which Mr. Cooper, Home Point or any of their respective affiliates have any business operations has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect and has the effect of restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the acquisition of or payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the consummation of the Merger. The Offer is also subject to other conditions as described in this Offer to Purchase. See Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain Home Point stockholders (which we refer to as the Principal Stockholders) have entered into a Tender and Support Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2023, with Mr. Cooper and Purchaser (as it may be amended from time to time, the Support Agreement). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Support Agreement, each Principal Stockholder has agreed, among other things, (i) to tender all of its Shares to Purchaser in the Offer, subject to certain exceptions (including the valid termination of the Merger Agreement), (ii) to vote against other proposals to acquire Home Point and in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and (iii) to certain other restrictions on its ability to take actions with respect to Home Point and its Shares, including transferring its Shares. The Principal Stockholders beneficially owned approximately 92% of the outstanding Shares as of May 10, 2023. The Principal Stockholders beneficially own a sufficient number of Shares such that the Minimum Condition will be satisfied as a result of the tender by the Principal Stockholders of their Shares to Purchaser in accordance with the Support Agreement.
The Board of Directors of Home Point has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interest of, Home Point and its stockholders, (ii) declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Home Point of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, (iv) resolved that the Merger shall be effected under Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and (v) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Home Point tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer (the Home Point Board Recommendation).
A summary of the principal terms of the Offer appears under the heading Summary Term Sheet. You should read this entire Offer to Purchase carefully before deciding whether to tender your Shares pursuant to the Offer.
May 26, 2023
IMPORTANT
If you desire to tender all or any portion of your Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, you should either (a) complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal for the Offer, which is enclosed with this Offer to Purchase, in accordance with the instructions contained in the Letter of Transmittal, with any required signature guarantees if the Letter of Transmittal so requires, and mail or deliver the Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents to Equiniti Trust Company, in its capacity as depository and paying agent for the Offer (which we refer to as the Depository), and either deliver the certificates for your Shares to the Depository along with the Letter of Transmittal or tender your Shares by book-entry transfer by following the procedures described in Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares, in each case prior to the Expiration Date, or (b) request that your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee effect the transaction for you. If you hold Shares registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact that institution in order to tender your Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer.
* * * * *
Questions and requests for assistance should be directed to the Information Agent (as defined herein) at its addresses and telephone numbers set forth below and on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other materials related to the Offer may also be obtained for free from the Information Agent. Additionally, copies of this Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and any other material related to the Offer may be obtained at the website maintained by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which we refer to as the SEC) at www.sec.gov. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance.
This Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal contain important information and you should read both carefully and in their entirety before making a decision with respect to the Offer.
The Offer has not been approved or disapproved by the SEC or any state securities commission, nor has the SEC or any state securities commission passed upon the fairness or merits of or upon the accuracy or adequacy of the information contained in this Offer to Purchase. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10005
Stockholders may call toll free: (866) 864-7964
Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 269-5550
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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9. | 24 | |||||
10. | Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point. |
24 | ||||
11. | 29 | |||||
12. | 52 | |||||
13. | 53 | |||||
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18. | 59 | |||||
19. | 60 |
The information contained in this summary term sheet is a summary only and is not meant to be a substitute for the more detailed description and information contained in the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other related materials. You are urged to read carefully the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other related materials in their entirety. Mr. Cooper and Purchaser have included cross-references in this summary term sheet to other sections of the Offer to Purchase where you will find more complete descriptions of the topics mentioned below. The information concerning Home Point contained herein and elsewhere in the Offer to Purchase has been provided to Mr. Cooper and Purchaser by Home Point or has been taken from or is based upon publicly available documents or records of Home Point on file with the SEC or other public sources at the time of the Offer. Mr. Cooper and Purchaser have not independently verified the accuracy and completeness of such information.
Securities Sought |
Subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined below, any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share, of Home Point Capital Inc. Unless the context otherwise requires, in this Offer to Purchase, the term Shares refers to shares of Home Point common stock. |
Price Offered Per Share |
$2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes (which we refer to as the Offer Price). |
Scheduled Expiration of Offer |
At 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, unless the Offer is extended or terminated. See Section 1 Terms of the Offer. |
Purchaser |
Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation. |
Who is offering to purchase my shares?
Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., or Purchaser, a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., is offering to purchase for cash, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, any and all of the outstanding Shares. Purchaser is a Delaware corporation that was formed for the sole purpose of making the Offer and completing the process by which Purchaser will be merged with and into Home Point. See the Introduction and Section 8 Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser.
Unless the context indicates otherwise, in this Offer to Purchase, we use the terms us, we and our to refer to Purchaser and, where appropriate, Mr. Cooper. We use the term Mr. Cooper to refer to Mr. Cooper Group Inc. alone, the term Purchaser to refer to Heisman Merger Sub, Inc. alone and the terms Home Point and the Company to refer to Home Point Capital Inc. alone.
What are the classes and amounts of securities sought in the Offer?
We are offering to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, any and all of the outstanding Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase. Unless the context otherwise requires, in this Offer to Purchase we use the term Offer to refer to this offer.
See the Introduction to this Offer to Purchase and Section 1 Terms of the Offer.
1
Why are you making the Offer?
We are making the Offer because we want to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, Home Point. If the Offer is consummated, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Mr. Cooper intends as soon as practicable following (but in any event on the same date as) the Offer Acceptance Time (as defined below) to cause Purchaser to consummate the Merger (as defined below). Upon consummation of the Merger (as defined below), Home Point would cease to be a publicly traded company and would be a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper.
How much are you offering to pay and what is the form of payment? Will I have to pay any fees or commissions?
We are offering to pay $2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes. If you are the record owner of your Shares and you tender your Shares to us in the Offer, you will not have to pay brokerage fees, commissions or similar expenses. If you own your Shares through a broker or other nominee and your broker or other nominee tenders your Shares on your behalf, your broker or nominee may charge you a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker or nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.
See the Introduction, Section 1 Terms of the Offer and Section 2 Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares.
Is there an agreement governing the Offer?
Yes. Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 10, 2023 (which, as it may be amended from time to time, we refer to as the Merger Agreement). The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, for the terms and conditions of the Offer and the subsequent merger of Purchaser with and into Home Point (which we refer to as the Merger). If the conditions to the Offer (including the Minimum Condition) are satisfied and we consummate the Offer, we intend to effect the Merger without any vote or other action by the stockholders of Home Point pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL.
See Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements and Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
Will you have the financial resources to make payment?
Yes. Consummation of the Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The total amount of funds required by Mr. Cooper and Purchaser to consummate the Offer and purchase all outstanding Shares in the Offer, to provide funding for the payment in respect of outstanding (i) in-the-money stock options and (ii) restricted stock units, and to provide funding for the Merger (including related fees and expenses) is approximately $324 million. In addition, the total amount of funds required by MSR Purchaser (as defined below) to consummate the MSR Purchase (as defined below) is approximately $347 million. The proceeds received by MSR Seller (as defined below) in connection with the MSR Purchase are expected to be utilized by Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point in connection with consummating the Offer and the Merger. Mr. Cooper and Purchaser currently have, and will have, available to them, through a variety of sources, including cash on hand, funds necessary for the payment of the aggregate Offer Price and the aggregate Merger Consideration (as defined below) and to satisfy all of their payment obligations under the Merger Agreement and resulting from the transactions contemplated thereby. Neither Mr. Cooper nor Purchaser has entered into any financing commitment in connection with the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.
See Section 9 Source and Amount of Funds. and Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements MSR Purchase Agreement.
2
Is your financial condition relevant to my decision to tender my Shares in the Offer?
No, we do not think our financial condition is relevant to your decision whether to tender Shares and accept the Offer because:
| the Offer is being made for all outstanding Shares solely for cash; |
| the Offer is not subject to any financing condition; |
| Mr. Cooper has and will have sufficient funds to purchase all Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer; and |
| if we consummate the Offer, we will acquire all remaining Shares for the same cash price in the Merger as was paid in the Offer (i.e., the Offer Price). |
How long do I have to decide whether to tender my Shares in the Offer?
You will have until 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, unless we extend the Offer pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement (we refer to such date and time, as it may be extended in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, as the Expiration Date) or the Offer is earlier terminated. Please give your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee instructions with sufficient time to permit such nominee to tender your Shares by the Expiration Date.
The date and time at which Purchaser accepts for payment all Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer is referred to as the Offer Acceptance Time. The date and time at which the Merger becomes effective is referred to as the Effective Time.
See Section 1 Terms of the Offer and Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares.
Can the Offer be extended and under what circumstances?
Yes, the Offer can be extended.
If, as of the then-scheduled Expiration Date, any Offer Condition (as defined below, other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being satisfied) is not satisfied and has not been waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, to the extent waivable by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, Purchaser may, in its discretion (and without the consent of Home Point or any other person), subject to applicable law, extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days, or such longer period as Purchaser, Mr. Cooper and Home Point agree, per extension, to permit such Offer Condition to be satisfied.
Purchaser must, and Mr. Cooper must cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer from time to time for: (A) any period required by any applicable law, any interpretation or position of the SEC, the staff thereof or The Nasdaq Stock Market (which we refer to as Nasdaq) applicable to the Offer; and, unless the applicable Offer Condition is waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, (B) periods of up to ten (10) business days per extension, until (x) any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer, under the HSR Act and any other antitrust laws has expired or been terminated and (y) all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable.
If, as of the scheduled Expiration Date, any Offer Condition (other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being satisfied) is not satisfied and has not been waived, at the request of Home Point, Purchaser must, and Mr. Cooper must cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer on one or more occasions for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days per extension, to permit such Offer Condition to be satisfied.
3
However, in no event will Purchaser be required to extend the Offer beyond the earlier to occur of (x) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement and (y) 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on May 10, 2024 (which we refer to as the Termination Date).
See Section 1 Terms of the Offer and Section 11 The Merger Agreement of this Offer to Purchase for more details on our obligation and ability to extend the Offer.
How will I be notified if the Offer is extended?
If we extend the Offer, we will inform Equiniti Trust Company, which is the depository and paying agent for the Offer (which we refer to as the Depository), of any extension and will issue a press release announcing the extension not later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
See Section 1 Terms of the Offer.
What are the conditions to the Offer?
The Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions (which we refer to as the Offer Conditions):
| there have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Shares that, considered together with all other Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Mr. Cooper and its affiliates, represent at least one more Share than 50% of the sum of (x) the total number of Shares outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer, plus (y) the total number of Shares that Home Point would be required to issue upon conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise of all options, warrants, rights or securities outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Shares (whether then outstanding or for which the conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise date has already occurred, but in any event without duplication) (which we refer to as the Minimum Condition); |
| any waiting period (or any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer, under the HSR Act has expired or been terminated, and there is not in effect any voluntary agreement with a governmental authority not to consummate the Offer or the Merger; |
| all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable (which we refer to, together with the condition in the previous bullet point, the Regulatory Conditions to the Offer); |
| no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in any jurisdiction in which Mr. Cooper, Home Point or any of their respective affiliates have any business operations has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect and has the effect of restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the acquisition of or payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the consummation of the Merger (which we refer to as the Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer); |
| the representations and warranties made by Home Point in the Merger Agreement are true and correct, subject to the materiality and other qualifications set forth in the Merger Agreement (which we refer to as the Representations Condition); |
| Home Point has complied with or performed in all material respects with its obligations required under the Merger Agreement to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Offer Acceptance Time (which we refer to as the Obligations Condition); |
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| from the date of the Merger Agreement until the Offer Acceptance Time, no Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) has occurred (which we refer to as, collectively, the Material Adverse Effect Condition); |
| Home Point has delivered a certificate to Mr. Cooper, dated as of the date of the Offer Acceptance Time and duly executed by a senior executive officer (or similar authorized person) of Home Point, certifying to the effect that the Representations Condition, Obligations Condition and Material Adverse Effect Condition have been satisfied; |
| the purchase and sale of the servicing rights included in the MSR Purchase Agreement (as defined below), pursuant to and in accordance with the MSR Purchase Agreement, has been consummated at least two (2) business days prior to the Expiration Date; and |
| the Merger Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms (which we refer to as the Termination Condition). |
Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, Purchaser expressly reserves the right to (i) increase the Offer Price, (ii) waive any Offer Condition and (iii) make any other changes in the terms and conditions of the Offer not inconsistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement. Without the prior written consent of Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser are not permitted to:
| decrease the Offer Price; |
| change the form of consideration payable in the Offer; |
| decrease the maximum number of Shares sought to be purchased in the Offer; |
| impose conditions to the Offer other than the conditions described in Section 15 Conditions to the Offer. |
| amend, modify, supplement or waive the Minimum Condition or the Termination Condition; |
| amend, modify or supplement any of the other terms of the Offer in a manner that adversely affects, or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect, any holder of Shares in its capacity as such; |
| terminate the Offer or accelerate, extend or otherwise change the Expiration Date of the Offer, except as otherwise required or expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with an Offer Termination); or |
| provide any subsequent offering period (or any extension thereof) in accordance with Rule 14d-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which we refer to as the Exchange Act); |
See Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
How do I tender my Shares?
If you hold your Shares directly as the registered owner, you can (i) tender your Shares in the Offer by delivering the certificates representing your Shares, together with a completed and signed Letter of Transmittal, any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the Depository or (ii) tender your Shares by following the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth in Section 3 of this Offer to Purchase, no later than the Expiration Date. See Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares for further details. The Letter of Transmittal is enclosed with this Offer to Purchase.
If you hold your Shares in street name through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact the institution that holds your Shares and give instructions that your Shares be tendered. You should contact the institution that holds your Shares for more details.
See Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares.
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Until what time may I withdraw previously tendered Shares?
You may withdraw your previously tendered Shares at any time until the Expiration Date. Pursuant to Section 14(d)(5) of the Exchange Act, Shares may be withdrawn at any time after July 25, 2023, which is the 60th day after the date of the commencement of the Offer, unless prior to that date Purchaser has accepted for purchase the Shares validly tendered in the Offer.
See Section 4 Withdrawal Rights.
How do I withdraw previously tendered Shares?
To withdraw previously tendered Shares, you must deliver a written notice of withdrawal with the required information to the Depository while you still have the right to withdraw Shares. If you tendered Shares by giving instructions to a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must instruct the broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to arrange for the withdrawal of your Shares.
See Section 4 Withdrawal Rights.
What does the Home Point Board of Directors think of the Offer?
The Board of Directors of Home Point has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interest of, Home Point and its stockholders, (ii) declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Home Point of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, (iv) resolved that the Merger shall be effected under Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and (v) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Home Point tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer (which we refer to as the Home Point Board Recommendation).
See the Introduction and Section 10 Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point. We expect that a more complete description of the reasons for the Home Point Board of Directors approval of the Offer and the Merger will be set forth in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 to be prepared by Home Point and filed with the SEC and mailed to all Home Point stockholders.
Have any Home Point stockholders entered into agreements with Mr. Cooper or any of its affiliates requiring them to tender their Shares?
Yes. In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain Home Point stockholders (which we refer to as the Principal Stockholders) have entered into a Tender and Support Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2023, with Mr. Cooper and Purchaser (as it may be amended from time to time, the Support Agreement). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Support Agreement, each Principal Stockholder has agreed, among other things, (i) to tender all of its Shares to Purchaser in the Offer, subject to certain exceptions (including the valid termination of the Merger Agreement), (ii) to vote against other proposals to acquire Home Point and in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and (iii) to certain other restrictions on its ability to take actions with respect to Home Point and its Shares, including transferring its Shares. The Principal Stockholders beneficially owned approximately 92% of the outstanding Shares as of May 10, 2023. The Principal Stockholders beneficially own a sufficient number of Shares such that the Minimum Condition will be satisfied as a result of the tender by the Principal Stockholders of their Shares to Purchaser in accordance with the Support Agreement.
The Support Agreement will terminate upon the first to occur of (a) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (b) the Effective Time, (c) the date of any modification, waiver or
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amendment to any provision of the Merger Agreement without the prior written consent of such Principal Stockholder that reduces the amount of consideration or changes the form of consideration payable to all stockholders of Home Point pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and (d) the mutual written consent of Home Point, the Principal Stockholders, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser.
See Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements Support Agreement in this Offer to Purchase for a more detailed description of the Support Agreement.
What is the MSR Purchase Agreement?
On May 10, 2023, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper (which we refer to as MSR Purchaser), and, solely for the purposes set forth therein, Mr. Cooper, entered into an Agreement for the Bulk Purchase and Sale of Mortgage Servicing Rights (which we refer to as the MSR Purchase Agreement) with Home Point Financial Corporation, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Home Point (which we refer to as MSR Seller). Pursuant to the MSR Purchase Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions therein, MSR Seller has agreed to sell, and MSR Purchaser has agreed to purchase, certain mortgage servicing rights held by MSR Seller two (2) business days prior to the expiration date of the Offer (which we refer to as the MSR Purchase).
The MSR Purchase Agreement will terminate if the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.
See Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements MSR Purchase Agreement.
If the Offer is consummated, will Home Point continue as a public company?
No. Promptly following consummation of the Offer (in any event on the same date as the consummation of the Offer), we expect to complete the Merger pursuant to applicable provisions of the DGCL, after which the Surviving Corporation will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper and the Shares will no longer be publicly traded.
See Section 13 Certain Effects of the Offer.
Will the Offer be followed by the Merger if all of the Shares are not tendered in the Offer?
If we consummate the Offer, and accordingly acquire a number of Shares that satisfies the Minimum Condition, then, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, we will complete the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, if the Minimum Condition is not satisfied, we are not required (nor are we permitted) to accept the Shares for purchase in the Offer, nor will we consummate the Merger. The Principal Stockholders beneficially own a sufficient number of Shares such that the Minimum Condition will be satisfied as a result of the tender by the Principal Stockholders of their Shares to Purchaser in accordance with the Support Agreement.
Under the applicable provisions of the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the DGCL, stockholders of Home Point will not be required to vote on the Merger and, if the Merger is consummated, will, if they did not otherwise tender their shares and do not otherwise properly demand appraisal rights under the DGCL, receive the same cash consideration, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, for their Shares as was payable in the Offer (which we refer to as the Merger Consideration). Home Point stockholders will be entitled to appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the Merger with respect to any Shares not tendered in the Offer.
See Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements, Section 12 Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point Merger Without a Stockholder Vote and Section 17 Appraisal Rights.
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What is the market value of my Shares as of a recent date?
On May 10, 2023, the last trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, the reported closing sales price of the Shares on Nasdaq was $1.91. On May 25, 2023, the last full trading day before the commencement of the Offer, the reported closing sales price of the Shares on Nasdaq was $2.28. The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately 22% over the trading price at which the Shares closed on May 10, 2023, which was the last trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement.
See Section 6 Price Range of Shares; Dividends.
Will I be paid a dividend on my Shares during the pendency of the Offer?
No. The Merger Agreement provides that from the date of the Merger Agreement to the date of the Effective Time, except as otherwise required or expressly permitted in the Merger Agreement, Home Point will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of its capital stock (including the Shares).
See Section 6 Price Range of Shares; Dividends.
Will I have appraisal rights in connection with the Offer?
No appraisal rights will be available to you in connection with the Offer. However, if we accept Shares in the Offer and the Merger is completed, stockholders will be entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the Merger if they did not tender Shares in the Offer, subject to and in accordance with the DGCL. Stockholders must properly perfect their right to seek appraisal under the DGCL in connection with the Merger in order to exercise appraisal rights.
See Section 17 Appraisal Rights.
What will happen to Home Point equity compensation awards in the Offer?
The Offer is being made only for Shares, and not for outstanding stock options, restricted stock units or performance stock units of Home Point. Holders of outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and performance stock units of Home Point may participate in the Offer only if they first exercise such stock options or become vested in such stock units and such vested stock units are settled in Shares in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity incentive plan and other applicable agreements of Home Point and tender the Shares, if any, issued upon such exercise or in connection with such vesting and settlement. Any such exercise or settlement must be completed sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to assure the holder of such stock options or stock units that the holder will have sufficient time to comply with the procedures for tendering Shares described below in Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares.
Stock Options. The Merger Agreement provides that each vested stock option or unvested stock option subject solely to time-based vesting conditions that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of (A) the excess (if any) of the Offer Price over the applicable per Share exercise price and (B) the number of Shares subject to such stock option. Each unvested stock option subject to performance-based vesting conditions that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of (A) the excess (if any) of the Offer Price over the applicable per Share exercise price and (B) the number of Shares subject to such stock option (with such number, if any, determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity plan and award agreement).
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Restricted Stock Units. The Merger Agreement provides that each restricted stock unit that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of the Offer Price and the number of Shares subject to such restricted stock unit.
Performance Stock Units. The Merger Agreement provides that each performance stock unit that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of the Offer Price and the number of Shares subject to such performance stock unit (with such number determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity plan and award agreement).
See Section 11 The Merger Agreement Treatment of Equity Awards.
What will happen to my right to purchase shares under Home Points 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan?
As soon as practicable following the date of the Merger Agreement, Home Point must take all actions as may be required to provide that (i) the Offering Period (as defined in Home Points 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, which we refer to as Home Points ESPP) in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement will be the final Offering Period (we refer to such period as the Final Offering Period) and that no further Offering Period will commence pursuant to Home Points ESPP, (ii) no new participants may elect to participate in Home Points ESPP during the Final Offering Period, and (iii) each individual participating in the Final Offering Period on the date of the Merger Agreement will not be permitted to (A) increase his or her payroll contribution rate pursuant to Home Points ESPP from the rate in effect when the Final Offering Period commenced or (B) make separate non-payroll contributions to Home Points ESPP on or following the date of the Merger Agreement. Prior to the Effective Time, Home Point will take all actions that may be necessary to (x) cause the Final Offering Period, to the extent that it would otherwise be outstanding at the Effective Time, to be terminated no later than ten (10) business days prior to the date on which the Effective Time occurs; (y) make any pro rata adjustments that may be necessary to reflect the Final Offering Period, but otherwise treat the Final Offering Period as a fully effective and completed Offering Period for all purposes pursuant to Home Points ESPP; and (z) cause the exercise (as of no later than ten (10) business days prior to the date on which the Effective Time occurs) of each outstanding purchase right pursuant to Home Points ESPP. On such exercise date, Home Point will apply the funds credited as of such date pursuant to Home Points ESPP within each participants payroll withholding account to the purchase of whole shares of Home Point common stock in accordance with the terms of Home Points ESPP, and such shares of Home Point common stock will be entitled to the Merger Consideration. Immediately prior to and effective as of the Effective Time (but subject to the consummation of the Merger), Home Point will terminate its ESPP.
What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of tendering Shares?
The exchange of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder (as defined in Section 5 Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences) who exchanges Shares for cash in the Offer or the Merger generally will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received with respect to such Shares and such U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in such Shares.
We urge you to consult your own tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences to you of the Offer and the Merger.
See Section 5 Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences for a more detailed discussion of the tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger.
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Whom should I call if I have questions about the Offer?
You may call D.F. King & Co., Inc. toll-free at (866) 864-7964. Banks and brokerage firms may call collect at (212) 269-5550. D.F. King & Co., Inc. is acting as the information agent (the Information Agent) for the Offer. See the back cover of this Offer to Purchase for additional contact information.
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To the Holders of Shares of Common Stock of Home Point:
Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Mr. Cooper), is offering to purchase, subject to the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined below, any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (which we refer to as the Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Home Point or the Company), at a price of $2.33 per Share, to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes (which we refer to as the Offer Price), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase (which we refer to as this Offer to Purchase) and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which we refer to as the Letter of Transmittal and which, together with this Offer to Purchase and other related materials, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes, and we refer to as, the Offer).
We are making the Offer pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 10, 2023 (which, as it may be amended from time to time, we refer to as the Merger Agreement), by and among Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that if the Offer is consummated, as soon as practicable after the consummation of the Offer and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, Purchaser will be merged with and into Home Point (which we refer to as the Merger) without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (which we refer to as the DGCL), with Home Point continuing as the surviving corporation (which we refer to as the Surviving Corporation) in the Merger. In the Merger, each Share outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than any Shares held by Home Point, Mr. Cooper or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or by any person who is entitled to, and has properly exercised and perfected their demand for, statutory appraisal of his or her Shares) will be converted into the right to receive $2.33 per Share in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes. As a result of the Merger, Home Point will cease to be a publicly traded company and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the purchase price for Shares, regardless of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making payment for Shares.
The Merger Agreement is more fully described in Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements, which also contains a discussion of the treatment of Home Point compensatory stock options and stock units in the Merger.
Tendering stockholders who are record owners of their Shares and who tender directly to Equiniti Trust Company, the depository and paying agent for the Offer (which we refer to as the Depository), will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions or, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes with respect to the purchase of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. Tendering stockholders who hold their Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee should consult such institution as to whether it charges any service fees or commissions.
The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (A) the Merger Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms (the Termination Condition) and (B) the satisfaction of (i) the Minimum Condition (as defined below), (ii) the Regulatory Conditions to the Offer (as defined below) and (iii) the Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer (as defined below). The Minimum Condition requires that the number of Shares validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Offer, and not validly withdrawn at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 (which we refer to as the Expiration Date, unless Purchaser has extended the period during which the Offer is open, in which event Expiration Date will mean the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended by Purchaser, will expire), together with all other Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Mr. Cooper and its
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affiliates, represent at least one more Share than 50% of the sum of (x) the total number of Shares outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer, plus (y) the total number of Shares that Home Point would be required to issue upon conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise of all options, warrants, rights or securities outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Shares (whether then outstanding or for which the conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise date has already occurred, but in any event without duplication). The Regulatory Conditions to the Offer requires (i) that any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the Offer or the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, has expired or been terminated, (ii) there is not in effect any voluntary agreement with a governmental authority not to consummate the Offer or the Merger, and (iii) all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable. The Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer requires that no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in any jurisdiction in which Mr. Cooper, Home Point or any of their respective affiliates have any business operations has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect and has the effect of restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the acquisition of or payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the consummation of the Merger. The Offer is also subject to other conditions as described in this Offer to Purchase. See Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
The Board of Directors of Home Point has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interest of, Home Point and its stockholders, (ii) declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Home Point of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, (iv) resolved that the Merger shall be effected under Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and (v) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Home Point tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer (the Home Point Board Recommendation).
A more complete description of the Home Point Board of Directors reasons for authorizing and approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, will be set forth in the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 of Home Point (which, together with any exhibits and annexes attached thereto, we refer to as the Schedule 14D-9), that will be furnished by Home Point to stockholders in connection with the Offer. Stockholders should carefully read the information set forth in the Schedule 14D-9, including the information to be set forth under the subheadings Background of the Offer and the Merger and Reasons for the Recommendation.
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, certain Home Point stockholders (the Principal Stockholders) have entered into a Tender and Support Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2023, with Mr. Cooper and Purchaser (as it may be amended from time to time, the Support Agreement). Subject to the terms and conditions of the Support Agreement, each Principal Stockholder has agreed, among other things, (i) to tender all of its Shares to Purchaser in the Offer, subject to certain exceptions (including the valid termination of the Merger Agreement), (ii) to vote against other proposals to acquire Home Point and in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and (iii) to certain other restrictions on its ability to take actions with respect to Home Point and its Shares, including transferring its Shares. The Principal Stockholders beneficially owned approximately 92% of the outstanding Shares as of May 10, 2023. The Principal Stockholders beneficially own a sufficient number of Shares such that the Minimum Condition will be satisfied as a result of the tender by the Principal Stockholders of their Shares to Purchaser in accordance with the Support Agreement. See Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements Support Agreement in this Offer to Purchase for a more detailed description of the Support Agreement.
Home Point has advised Mr. Cooper that, as of the close of business on May 25, 2023, there were (i) 138,551,796 issued and outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) 2,139,223 shares of common stock subject to issuance pursuant to stock options, 152,262 shares of common stock underlying time-vesting restricted stock
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units and 128,921 shares of common stock underlying performance-vesting restricted stock units measured at the maximum level of performance granted by Home Point pursuant to the Home Point 2021 Incentive Plan (the 2021 Plan), (iii) 19,093,791 shares of common stock reserved and available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan, (iv) 1,388,601 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Home Points ESPP, (v) no shares of common stock held by Home Point as treasury stock and (vi) no shares of Home Points preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued or outstanding.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the directors of Purchaser as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and the officers of Home Point as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.
This Offer to Purchase does not constitute a solicitation of proxies, and Purchaser is not soliciting proxies in connection with the Offer or the Merger. If the conditions to the Offer (including the Minimum Condition) are satisfied and Purchaser consummates the Offer, Purchaser will consummate the Merger pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL without the vote of the stockholders of Home Point.
Certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the exchange of Shares pursuant to the Merger are described in Section 5 Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.
Under the applicable provisions of the Merger Agreement, the Offer and the DGCL, stockholders of Home Point will be entitled to appraisal rights under the DGCL in connection with the Merger if they do not tender Shares in the Offer, subject to and in accordance with the DGCL. Stockholders must properly perfect their right to seek appraisal under the DGCL in connection with the Merger in order to exercise appraisal rights. See Section 17 Appraisal Rights.
This Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal contain important information that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer.
1. | Terms of the Offer. |
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment), we will (i) promptly after (and in any event no later than the first business day after) the Expiration Date of the Offer, accept for payment all Shares tendered (and not validly withdrawn, as permitted under Section 4 Withdrawal Rights) pursuant to the Offer and (ii) promptly after (and in any event no later than the second (2nd) business day after) the Offer Acceptance Time (as defined below) pay for such Shares.
The date and time at which Purchaser accepts for payment all Shares tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer is referred to as the Offer Acceptance Time. The date and time at which the Merger becomes effective is referred to as the Effective Time.
The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (A) the Merger Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms and (B) the satisfaction of (i) the Minimum Condition, (ii) the Regulatory Conditions to the Offer and (iii) the Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer. We refer to these conditions and the other conditions described in Section 15 Conditions to the Offer as the Offer Conditions.
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We have agreed in the Merger Agreement that if, as of the then-scheduled Expiration Date, any Offer Condition (other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being satisfied) is not satisfied and has not been waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, to the extent waivable by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, Purchaser may, in its discretion (and without the consent of Home Point or any other person), subject to applicable law, extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days, or such longer period as Purchaser, Mr. Cooper and Home Point agree, per extension, to permit such Offer Condition to be satisfied.
We have also agreed in the Merger Agreement that Purchaser must, and Mr. Cooper must cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer from time to time for: (A) any period required by any applicable law, any interpretation or position of the SEC, the staff thereof or Nasdaq applicable to the Offer; and, unless the applicable Offer Condition is waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper and (B) periods of up to ten (10) business days per extension, until (x) any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer, under the HSR Act and any other antitrust laws has expired or been terminated and (y) all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable.
We have also agreed in the Merger Agreement that if, as of the scheduled Expiration Date, any Offer Condition (other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being satisfied) is not satisfied and has not been waived, at the request of Home Point, Purchaser must, and Mr. Cooper must cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer on one or more occasions for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days per extension, to permit such Offer Condition to be satisfied.
However, in no event will Purchaser be required to extend the Offer beyond the earlier to occur of (x) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement and (y) 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on May 10, 2024 (which we refer to as the Termination Date).
Either Home Point or Mr. Cooper may terminate the Merger Agreement, at any time prior to the Effective Time (i) by mutual written consent, (ii) if, at any time prior to the Offer Acceptance Time, the Merger has not been consummated on or before the Termination Date, provided, however, that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement as described in this clause (ii) is not be available to any party if the failure of such party, and in the case of Mr. Cooper, including the failure of Purchaser, to perform or comply with any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement has been the principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Offer to be consummated on or before such date, and (iii) if any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction enacts, issues, promulgates, enforces or enters any law or order or takes any other action permanently restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and such law or order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate the Merger Agreement as described in this clause (iii) will not be available to a party if the issuance of such law or order or taking of such action was primarily due to the failure of such party, and in the case of Mr. Cooper, including the failure of Purchase, to perform any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement.
Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, Purchaser expressly reserves the right to waive any of the Offer Conditions and to make any change in the terms of or conditions to the Offer, except that, without the prior written consent of Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser are not permitted to (i) decrease the Offer Price, (ii) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer, (iii) decrease the maximum number of Shares sought to be purchased in the Offer, (iv) impose conditions to the Offer other than the conditions described in Section 15 Conditions to the Offer, (v) amend, modify, supplement or waive the Minimum Condition or the Termination Condition, (vi) amend, modify or supplement any of the other terms of the Offer in a manner that adversely affects, or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect, any holder of Shares in its capacity as such, (vii) terminate the Offer or accelerate, extend or otherwise change the Expiration Date, except as otherwise required or expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement, or (viii) provide any subsequent offering period (or any extension thereof) in accordance with Rule 14d-11 of the Exchange Act.
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Any extension, delay, termination or amendment of the Offer will be followed as promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof, and such announcement in the case of an extension will be made no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date. Without limiting the manner in which Purchaser may choose to make any public announcement, Purchaser currently intends to make announcements regarding the Offer by issuing a press release and making any appropriate filing with the SEC.
If we extend the Offer, are delayed in our acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares (whether before or after our acceptance for payment for Shares) or are unable to accept Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to our rights under the Offer and the Merger Agreement, the Depository may retain tendered Shares on our behalf, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that tendering stockholders are entitled to withdrawal rights as described herein under Section 4 Withdrawal Rights. However, our ability to delay the payment for Shares that we have accepted for purchase is limited by Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, which requires us to pay the consideration offered or return the securities deposited by or on behalf of stockholders promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer.
If we make a material change in the terms of the Offer or the information concerning the Offer or if we waive a material condition of the Offer, we will disseminate additional tender offer materials and extend the Offer if and to the extent required by Rules 14d-4(d)(1), 14d-6(c) and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act. The minimum period during which an offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the Offer or information concerning the Offer, other than a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought, will depend upon the facts and circumstances, including the relative materiality of the terms or information changes. We understand that in the SECs view, an offer should remain open for a minimum of five (5) business days from the date the material change is first published, sent or given to stockholders, and with respect to a change in price or a change in percentage of securities sought, a minimum ten (10) business day period generally is required to allow for adequate dissemination to stockholders and investor response.
If, on or before the Expiration Date, we increase the consideration being paid for Shares accepted for purchase in the Offer, such increased consideration will be paid to all stockholders whose Shares are purchased in the Offer, whether or not such Shares were tendered before the announcement of the increase in consideration.
The Merger Agreement does not contemplate a subsequent offering period for the Offer.
We expressly reserve the right, in our sole discretion, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, not to accept for payment any Shares if, at the Expiration Date, any of the Offer Conditions have not been satisfied. See Section 15 Conditions to the Offer. Under certain circumstances, we may terminate the Merger Agreement and the Offer. See Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements Termination.
As soon as practicable following (but in any event on the same date as) the Offer Acceptance Time and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, Purchaser will complete the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.
Home Point has provided us with its stockholder list and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating this Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other related materials to holders of Shares. This Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal will be mailed to record holders of Shares whose names appear on the stockholder list of Home Point and will be furnished, for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares, to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agencys security position listing for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares.
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2. | Acceptance for Payment and Payment for Shares. |
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions to the Offer set forth in Section 15 Conditions to the Offer, we will promptly after (and in any event no later than the first business day after) the Expiration Date accept for payment all Shares tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer (we refer to the time of such acceptance as the Offer Acceptance Time) and (ii) promptly after (and in any event no later than the second business day after) the Offer Acceptance Time pay for such Shares.
Subject to compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, we expressly reserve the right to delay payment for Shares in order to comply in whole or in part with any applicable law, including, without limitation, the HSR Act if required. See Section 16 Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals.
In all cases, we will promptly pay for Shares tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer only after timely receipt by the Depository of (i) the certificates evidencing such Shares (which we refer to as the Certificates) or confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares (which we refer to as a Book-Entry Confirmation) into the Depositorys account at The Depository Trust Company (which we refer to as DTC) pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares, (ii) the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agents Message (as defined below) in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal and (iii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering stockholders may be paid at different times depending upon when Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmations with respect to Shares are actually received by the Depository.
The term Agents Message means a message, transmitted by DTC to and received by the Depository and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, that states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC 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 Purchaser may enforce such agreement against such participant.
For purposes of the Offer, we will be deemed to have accepted for payment, and thereby purchased, Shares validly tendered and not validly withdrawn if and when we give written notice to the Depository of our acceptance for purchase of such Shares pursuant to the Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, payment for Shares accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer will be made by deposit of the Offer Price for such Shares with the Depository, which will act as paying agent for tendering stockholders for the purpose of receiving payments from us and transmitting such payments to tendering stockholders whose Shares have been accepted for purchase. If we extend the Offer, are delayed in our acceptance for payment of Shares or are unable to accept Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to our rights under the Offer and the Merger Agreement, the Depository may retain tendered Shares on our behalf, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that tendering stockholders are entitled to withdrawal rights as described herein under Section 4 Withdrawal Rights and as otherwise required by Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act. Under no circumstances will we pay interest on the purchase price for Shares by reason of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making such payment for Shares.
If any tendered Shares are not accepted for purchase for any reason pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Offer, or if Certificates are submitted evidencing more Shares than are tendered, a book entry statement evidencing unpurchased Shares will be returned, without expense to the tendering stockholder (or, in the case of Shares tendered by book-entry transfer into the Depositorys account at DTC pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares, such Shares will be credited to an account maintained at DTC), promptly following the expiration or termination of the Offer.
3. | Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares. |
Valid Tenders. In order for a stockholder to validly tender Shares pursuant to the Offer, the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, together with any required signature guarantees (or, in the
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case of a book-entry transfer, an Agents Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal) and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal must be received by the Depository at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase and either (a) the Certificates evidencing tendered Shares must be received by the Depository at such address or (b) such Shares must be tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described below and a Book-Entry Confirmation must be received by the Depository, in each case prior to the Expiration Date.
Book-Entry Transfer. The Depository will establish an account with respect to the Shares at DTC for purposes of the Offer within five (5) business days after the date of this Offer to Purchase. Any financial institution that is a participant in the system of DTC may make a book-entry delivery of Shares by causing DTC to transfer such Shares into the Depositorys account at DTC in accordance with DTCs procedures for such transfer. Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Depository.
Guarantee of Signatures. No signature guarantee is required on the Letter of Transmittal if:
| the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered therewith, unless such registered holder has completed the box entitled Special Payment Instructions on the Letter of Transmittal; or |
| the Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or any other eligible guarantor institution, as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 of the Exchange Act (each of which we refer to as an Eligible Institution). |
In all other cases, all signatures on a Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1 of the Letter of Transmittal. If a Certificate is registered in the name of a person or persons other than the signer of the Letter of Transmittal, or if payment is to be made to, or a Certificate not accepted for purchase or not tendered is to be issued in, the name of a person other than the registered holder, then the Certificate must be endorsed or accompanied by duly executed stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name of the registered holder appears on the Certificate, with the signature on such Certificate or stock powers guaranteed by an Eligible Institution as provided in the Letter of Transmittal. See Instructions 1 and 5 of the Letter of Transmittal.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer, payment for Shares accepted pursuant to the Offer will in all cases only be made after timely receipt by the Depository of (i) Certificates evidencing such Shares or a Book-Entry Confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositorys account at DTC pursuant to the procedures set forth in this Section 3, (ii) the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agents Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal and (iii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering stockholders may be paid at different times depending upon when Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmations with respect to Shares are actually received by the Depository.
The method of delivery of Certificates, the Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the option and risk of the tendering stockholder, and the delivery of all such documents will be deemed made (and the risk of loss and the title of Certificates will pass) only when actually received by the Depository (including, in the case of a book-entry transfer, receipt of a Book-Entry Confirmation). If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery prior to the Expiration Date.
Irregularities. The tender of Shares pursuant to any one of the procedures described above will constitute the tendering stockholders acceptance of the Offer, as well as the tendering stockholders representation and
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warranty that such stockholder has the full power and authority to tender and assign the Shares tendered, as specified in the Letter of Transmittal. Our acceptance for payment of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering stockholder and us upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms of or the conditions to any such extension or amendment).
Determination of Validity. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares will be determined by us, in our sole discretion. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by us not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of which may, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Shares of any particular stockholder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other stockholders. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been waived or cured within such time as Purchaser has determined. None of Mr. Cooper, Purchaser, the Depository, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notice. Interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be determined by us in our sole discretion.
Appointment. By executing the Letter of Transmittal as set forth above, the tendering stockholder will irrevocably appoint designees of Purchaser as such stockholders attorneys-in-fact and proxies in the manner set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such stockholders rights with respect to the Shares tendered by such stockholder and accepted for purchase by Purchaser and with respect to any and all other Shares or other securities or rights issued or issuable in respect of such Shares. All such powers of attorney and proxies will be considered irrevocable and coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares. Such appointment will be effective when, and only to the extent that, we accept for payment Shares tendered by such stockholder as provided herein. Upon such appointment, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents given by such stockholder with respect to such Shares or other securities or rights will, without further action, be revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations may be given by such stockholder (and, if given, will not be deemed effective). The designees of Purchaser will thereby be empowered to exercise all voting and other rights with respect to such Shares and other securities or rights, including, without limitation, in respect of any annual, special or adjourned meeting of Home Points stockholders, actions by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise, as they in their sole discretion deem proper. We reserve the right to require that, in order for Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon our acceptance for payment of such Shares, Purchaser or its designees must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights with respect to such Shares and other related securities or rights, including voting at any meeting of Home Points stockholders.
4. | Withdrawal Rights. |
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time until the Expiration Date and, unless theretofore accepted for payment by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, may also be withdrawn at any time after July 25, 2023, which is the 60th day after the date of the commencement of the Offer.
For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depository at one of its addresses set forth in this Offer to Purchase. Any such notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of such Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If Certificates evidencing Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depository, then, prior to the physical release of such Certificates, the serial numbers shown on such Certificates must be submitted to the Depository and the signature(s) on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution, unless such Shares have been tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer as set forth in Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and
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Tendering Shares, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn Shares.
Withdrawals of Shares may not be rescinded. Any Shares validly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn Shares may be re-tendered by again following one of the procedures described in Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
We will determine, in our sole discretion, all questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal and our determination will be final and binding. None of Mr. Cooper, Purchaser, the Depository, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
5. | Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences. |
The following is a general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger to U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose Shares are tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer or whose Shares are converted into the right to receive cash in the Merger. This summary is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (which we refer to as the Code), the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth in this discussion. We have not sought, and do not intend to seek, any ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following summary, and no assurance can be given that the IRS will agree with the views expressed herein, or that a court will not sustain any challenge by the IRS in the event of litigation.
This summary applies only to U.S. Holders who hold Shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This summary does not address any tax consequences arising under the unearned income Medicare contribution tax pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, nor does it address any foreign, state or local tax consequences of the Offer or the Merger. In addition, this summary does not address U.S. federal tax other than the income tax or any applicable state, local, or foreign tax laws. Further, this discussion does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a holder in light of its, his or her particular circumstances, or that may apply to a holder that is subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws (including, for example, foreign taxpayers, small business investment companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, S corporations, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, cooperatives, banks and other financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations (including private foundations), retirement plans, holders that are, or hold Shares through, partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, U.S. persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, dealers in securities or foreign currency, traders that use the mark-to-market method of accounting with respect to their securities, holders who are required to recognize income or gain with respect to the Offer or the Merger no later than such income or gain is required to be reported on an applicable financial statement, expatriates and former long-term residents of the United States, persons subject to any alternative minimum tax, holders holding Shares that are part of a straddle, hedging, constructive sale, conversion transaction or other integrated transaction, holders who receive cash pursuant to the exercise of appraisal rights, holders who received Shares pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options, or otherwise as compensation) and holders that hold, directly or constructively (or that held, directly or constructively, at any time during the five-year period ending on the date of the merger) 5% or more of the outstanding Shares. Also, this discussion does not address U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to a holder of Shares who exercises appraisal rights under the DGCL. This discussion does not address the impact of Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and administrative guidance promulgated thereunder and intergovernmental agreements entered into
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pursuant thereto or in connection therewith (commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act or FATCA). This discussion does not address the tax consequences of any transaction other than the Offer or the Merger.
For purposes of this summary, the term U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of Shares that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is: (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation, or an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust, if (A) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trusts administration and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all of the trusts substantial decisions or (B) the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. This discussion does not address the tax consequences to holders who are not U.S. Holders.
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds Shares, the tax treatment of a person treated as a partner in such partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the partnerships activities. Accordingly, entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes that hold Shares and persons treated as partners in such partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the specific U.S. federal income tax consequences to them of the Offer and the Merger.
Because individual circumstances may differ, all holders should consult their own tax advisor to determine the particular tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger to them, including the application and effect of any alternative minimum tax and any state, local and foreign tax laws and changes in any laws.
The exchange of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction to U.S. Holders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, a U.S. Holder who exchanges Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received and the U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the Shares exchanged. If a U.S. Holder acquired Shares by purchase, the U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in its Shares will generally equal the amount the U.S. Holder paid for the relevant Shares. Such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, as of the date of the exchange, a U.S. Holders holding period for such Shares is more than one (1) year. Long-term capital gain recognized by certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, is currently taxable at reduced rates, which rates are subject to change. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.
If a U.S. Holder acquired different blocks of Shares at different times and/or different prices, such U.S. Holder must determine its, his or her adjusted tax basis and holding period separately with respect to each block of Shares.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments of cash to a U.S. Holder pursuant to the Offer or the Merger may, under certain circumstances, be subject to information reporting and backup withholding, unless the U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or furnishes its correct taxpayer identification number, and otherwise complies with all applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. In addition, if the paying agent is not provided with a U.S. Holders correct taxpayer identification number or other adequate basis for exemption, the U.S. Holder may be subject to certain penalties imposed by the IRS. Certain U.S. Holders (such as corporations) are exempt from backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against a U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that such U.S. Holder furnishes the required information to the IRS in a timely manner.
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Holders of Shares should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences of the Offer and the Merger in their particular circumstances, including the applicability and effect of the alternative minimum tax and any state, local, non-U.S. or other tax laws and of changes in those laws.
6. | Price Range of Shares; Dividends. |
The Shares currently trade on Nasdaq under the symbol HMPT. Home Point has advised Mr. Cooper that, as of the close of business on May 25, 2023, there were (i) 138,551,796 issued and outstanding shares of common stock, (ii) 2,139,223 shares of common stock subject to issuance pursuant to stock options, 152,262 shares of common stock underlying time-vesting restricted stock units and 128,921 shares of common stock underlying performance-vesting restricted stock units measured at the maximum level of performance granted by Home Point pursuant to the 2021 Plan, (iii) 19,093,791 shares of common stock reserved and available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan, (iv) 1,388,601 shares of common stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Home Points ESPP, (v) no shares of common stock held by Home Point as treasury stock and (vi) no shares of Home Points preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, issued or outstanding.
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sale prices per Share for each quarterly period within the three (3) preceding fiscal years, as reported on Nasdaq, and the quarterly cash dividends declared per Share for each such quarterly period.
High | Low | Cash Dividends Declared |
||||||||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2020 |
||||||||||||
First Quarter |
N/A | N/A | $ | | ||||||||
Second Quarter |
N/A | N/A | $ | | ||||||||
Third Quarter |
N/A | N/A | $ | | ||||||||
Fourth Quarter |
N/A | N/A | $ | | ||||||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2021 |
||||||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 13.15 | $ | 9.05 | $ | | ||||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 10.33 | $ | 5.57 | $ | | ||||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 6.08 | $ | 3.75 | $ | 0.15 | ||||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 5.85 | $ | 3.60 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2022 |
$ | 13.15 | $ | 3.60 | ||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 5.04 | $ | 2.80 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||
Second Quarter |
$ | 4.65 | $ | 2.47 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||
Third Quarter |
$ | 4.10 | $ | 1.50 | $ | | ||||||
Fourth Quarter |
$ | 1.97 | $ | 0.99 | $ | | ||||||
Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023 |
$ | 5.04 | $ | 0.99 | ||||||||
First Quarter |
$ | 2.55 | $ | 1.24 | $ | | ||||||
Second Quarter (through May 25, 2023) |
$ | 2.30 | $ | 1.50 | $ | |
On May 10, 2023, the last trading day before the public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, the reported closing sales price of the Shares on Nasdaq was $1.91. On May 25, 2023, the last full trading day before the commencement of the Offer, the reported closing sales price of the Shares on Nasdaq was $2.28. The Offer Price represents a premium of approximately 22% over the trading price at which the Shares closed on May 10, 2023.
The Merger Agreement provides that from the date of the Merger Agreement to the Effective Time, except with the prior written consent of Mr. Cooper, Home Point will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock (including the Shares).
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7. | Certain Information Concerning Home Point. |
Except as specifically set forth herein, the information concerning Home Point contained in this Offer to Purchase has been taken from or is based upon information furnished by Home Point or its representatives or upon publicly available documents and records on file with the SEC and other public sources. The summary information set forth below is qualified in its entirety by reference to Home Points public filings with the SEC (which may be obtained and inspected as described below) and should be considered in conjunction with the more comprehensive financial and other information in such reports and other publicly available information.
General. The following description of Home Point and its business has been taken from Home Points Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2023 and Home Points Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such reports.
Home Point is a Delaware corporation. Home Points common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol HMPT. Home Points principal executive offices are located at 2211 Old Earhart Road, Suite 250, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105 and its telephone number is (888) 616-6866. Home Points internet address is www.investors.homepoint.com.
Home Point, through its subsidiaries, is a residential mortgage originator and servicer with a business model focused on growing originations by leveraging a network of partner relationships and its servicing operation. Home Points business operations were historically organized into the following two segments: (1) Origination and (2) Servicing. Home Point Financial Corporation, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Home Point, originated, sells, and services residential real estate mortgage loans throughout the U.S. and owns certain servicing assets. Home Point Corporation Insurance Agency LLC, a Michigan limited liability company, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Home Point that brokers home owner insurance policies.
In April 2023, Home Point announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell to The Loan Store, Inc. certain assets of Home Points wholesale originations channel. On May 1, 2023, Home Point completed this asset sale pursuant to the purchase agreement.
Available Information. The Shares are registered under the Exchange Act. Accordingly, Home Point is subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, is required to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. Information as of particular dates concerning Home Points directors and officers, their remuneration and stock options granted to them, the principal holders of Home Points securities, any material interests of such persons in transactions with Home Point and other matters is required to be disclosed in reports and proxy statements, the most recent report, Home Points Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, having been filed with the SEC on March 9, 2023. Such reports, proxy statements and other information are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
8. | Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser. |
Mr. Cooper and Purchaser. Mr. Cooper, collectively with its consolidated subsidiaries, provides servicing, origination and transaction-based services related to single family residences throughout the United States with operations under its primary brands: Mr. Cooper® and Xome®. Mr. Cooper is one of the largest home loan servicers and originators in the country focused on delivering a variety of servicing and lending products, services and technologies. Mr. Cooper was incorporated in the State of Delaware in 2015.
Purchaser is a Delaware corporation formed on May 5, 2023 solely for the purpose of effecting the Offer and the Merger and has conducted no business activities other than those related to the structuring and negotiation of the Offer and the Merger. Purchaser has no assets or liabilities other than the contractual rights and
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obligations related to the Merger Agreement and the Support Agreement. Upon the completion of the Merger, Purchasers separate corporate existence will cease and Home Point will continue as the Surviving Corporation. Until immediately prior to the time Purchaser purchases Shares pursuant to the Offer, it is not anticipated that Purchaser will have any assets or liabilities or engage in activities other than those incidental to its formation and capitalization and the transactions contemplated by the Offer and the Merger. Purchaser is a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper.
Mr. Coopers and Purchasers principal executive offices are located at 8950 Cypress Waters Boulevard, Coppell, Texas 75019, and their telephone number is (469) 549-2000. Mr. Coopers internet address is www.mrcoopergroup.com.
The name, citizenship, business address, present principal occupation or employment and five-year employment history of each of the directors and executive officers of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser are listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase.
During the last five years, none of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase (i) has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (ii) was a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining such person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of such laws.
Except as provided in the Merger Agreement or as otherwise described in this Offer to Purchase, (i) none of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase or any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser or any of the persons so listed beneficially owns or has any right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any Shares and (ii) none of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, any of the persons or entities referred to in Schedule I hereto nor any director, executive officer or subsidiary of any of the foregoing has effected any transaction in respect of any Shares during the past sixty (60) days. Except as provided in the Merger Agreement or as otherwise described in this Offer to Purchase, none of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of Home Point (including, but not limited to, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any such securities, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies, consents or authorizations).
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser or, to the best knowledge of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto, has had any business relationship or transaction with Home Point or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates that is required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to the Offer.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, there have been no contacts, negotiations or transactions between Mr. Cooper or any of its subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, on the one hand, and Home Point or its affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of securities, an election of directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets during the past two years.
Available Information. Pursuant to Rule 14d-3 under the Exchange Act, we have filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO (which we refer to as the Schedule TO), of which this Offer to Purchase forms a part, and exhibits to the Schedule TO. The Schedule TO and the exhibits thereto, as well as other information filed by Mr. Cooper and Purchaser with the SEC, are available on the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
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9. | Source and Amount of Funds. |
The Offer is not subject to a financing condition. Mr. Cooper and Purchaser currently have, and will have, available to them, through a variety of sources, including cash on hand, funds necessary for the payment of the aggregate Offer Price and the aggregate Merger Consideration and to satisfy all of their payment obligations under the Merger Agreement and resulting from the transactions contemplated thereby. Mr. Cooper has not entered into any financing commitment in connection with the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.
10. | Background of the Offer; Past Contacts or Negotiations with Home Point. |
The following chronology summarizes the key meetings and events between representatives of Mr. Cooper and representatives of Home Point that led to the signing of the Merger Agreement. The following chronology does not purport to catalogue every conversation among the representatives of Mr. Cooper and Home Point. For a review of Home Points additional activities relating to these contacts, please refer to Home Points Schedule 14D-9 being mailed to stockholders with this Offer to Purchase. The information set forth below regarding Home Point was provided by Home Point, and none of Mr. Cooper, Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates or representatives take any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any information regarding meetings or discussions in which Mr. Cooper or its affiliates or representatives did not participate.
In early September, 2022, Houlihan Lokey Capital Inc. (Houlihan Lokey), financial advisor to Home Point, contacted Mr. Cooper to explore its interest in a strategic transaction with Home Point. As a result of this outreach, Home Point entered into a confidentiality agreement with Mr. Cooper to facilitate discussion, which included a customary standstill provision. Mr. Cooper was provided with access to non-public information regarding Home Point and attended presentations by Home Points management regarding Home Points business.
On November 1, 2022, consistent with the direction of the Home Point Board, Houlihan Lokey distributed a letter to Mr. Cooper, which had expressed continued interest in a potential strategic transaction with Home Point, requesting a proposal for a strategic transaction (the November Letter). The November Letter requested, among other things, that any proposal be formulated in terms of a price per share of Home Point common stock and that Mr. Cooper indicate its remaining diligence and timing considerations. The November Letter further requested that proposals be submitted by November 11, 2022.
On November 14, Home Point received an indication of interest from Mr. Cooper contemplating a purchase of Home Points tangible assets, net of unrestricted cash paid out as a pre-closing dividend to Home Points existing stockholders, for $138.2 million with consideration in the form of Mr. Cooper stock (the November 14 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest). The November 14 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest contemplated an illustrative pre-closing dividend in the amount of $270.7 million and that the stock consideration would be in a variable amount based on the relative book values of Mr. Cooper and Home Point at the time of the closing of the proposed transaction. The November 14 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest did not express Mr. Coopers offer in terms of a price per share of Home Point common stock and was made subject to the completion of due diligence and other customary conditions.
On December 1, 2022, Mr. Cooper participated in a diligence call with Home Point and its advisors to discuss legal and structuring considerations with respect to an acquisition of Home Point, in particular due diligence on existing litigation involving Home Point and transaction structures permitting Home Points 5.0% Senior Notes due 2026 to be assumed by a buyer in a strategic transaction.
On December 9, 2022, consistent with the direction of the Home Point Board, Houlihan Lokey distributed a letter to Mr. Cooper requesting a revised proposal for a strategic transaction (the December Letter). The
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December Letter again requested that any proposal be formulated in terms of a specific price per share and that Mr. Cooper describe remaining due diligence requirements. The December Letter further requested that a revised proposal be submitted by December 16, 2022. In connection with the distribution of the December Letter, representatives of Houlihan Lokey spoke with representatives of Mr. Cooper. In the course of these discussions, representatives of Houlihan Lokey pressed Mr. Cooper to improve the value represented in the November 14 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest based on further due diligence information and indicated the Home Point Board would prefer if Mr. Cooper were to move quickly to a signing and minimize the sign-to-close period.
On December 19, 2022, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper valuing Home Point at $1 after giving effect to a contemplated pre-closing cash dividend of approximately $308 million to Home Points existing stockholders, with the amount estimated based on Home Points fourth quarter 2022 adjusted book value, with the acquisition of Home Point structured as an equity purchase (the December 19 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest). The December 19 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest did not express Mr. Coopers offer in terms of a price per share of Home Point common stock and was made subject to the completion of due diligence and other customary conditions.
On December 22, 2022, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper that reiterated the terms set forth in the December 19 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest, but added that Mr. Cooper would use reasonable best efforts to be in a position to sign definitive transaction agreements by January 15, 2023 and increased the amount of the contemplated pre-closing cash dividend to Home Points existing stockholders from approximately $308 million to $351 million (the Revised December 19 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest).
On December 29, 2022, representatives of Mr. Cooper, Home Point, Houlihan Lokey and Kirkland & Ellis LLP (Kirkland), legal advisor to Home Point, met to discuss transaction structure considerations with respect to the ability of Mr. Cooper to assume Home Points 5.0% Senior Notes due 2026 and regulatory licensing considerations.
On January 3, 2023, representatives of Houlihan Lokey distributed a term sheet to Mr. Cooper that contemplated, among other things, (i) a one-step reverse triangular merger structure, (ii) a fixed amount of consideration (in cash or stock) to be set at signing, (iii) a customary public company framework where the representations, warranties and covenants made by each party in the merger agreement would not survive the closing of the transaction, (iv) customary public company conditions to the closing of the transaction, (v) a customary no-shop covenant restricting Home Point from soliciting alternate proposals following signing, subject to the ability of Home Point to consider, respond to and accept unsolicited proposals for a period following signing and (vi) stockholder approval obtained by the Principal Stockholders acting by written consent (the Merger Agreement Term Sheet).
Shortly following Mr. Coopers receipt of the Merger Agreement Term Sheet, representatives of Mr. Cooper informed representatives of Houlihan Lokey that after diligence review, Mr. Cooper was not prepared to move forward with an equity purchase of Home Point. However, representatives of Mr. Cooper informed representatives of Houlihan Lokey that Mr. Cooper was open to considering a transaction whereby Mr. Cooper would acquire Home Points portfolio of mortgage servicing rights structured with limited representations and warranties related to such mortgage servicing rights and no repurchase liability exposure for Home Point following the closing of the transaction. Representatives of Houlihan Lokey encouraged representatives of Mr. Cooper to provide a proposal in writing for consideration by the Home Point Board.
On January 6, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper contemplating an asset acquisition of the portfolio of mortgage servicing rights owned by Home Point (rather than a stock purchase of Home Point) with the price for the portfolio of mortgage servicing rights valued at $1.0755 billion based on Home Points October 31, 2022 data tape (the January 6 MSR Indication of Interest).
On January 10, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper contemplating an acquisition of the portfolio of mortgage servicing rights owned by Home Point (rather than an acquisition of
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Home Point) with a cash purchase price calculated as 124.4148 basis points on the unpaid principal balance of Home Points mortgage servicing right portfolio (the January 10 MSR Indication of Interest). The January 10 MSR Indication of Interest stated that the transaction would be subject to terms and conditions, including post-closing indemnification, typically used in arms length sales of portfolios of mortgage servicing rights and that the January 10 MSR Indication of Interest was made subject to the completion of due diligence and other customary conditions. The January 10 MSR Indication of Interest did not express Mr. Coopers offer as an aggregate dollar figure or in terms of a price per share of Home Point common stock.
On January 20, 2023, Home Point shared with Mr. Cooper a markup of the January 10 MSR Indication of Interest, which provided comments on the terms and conditions of the potential transaction and reserved on the purchase price proposed by Mr. Cooper (the January 20 Home Point Markup).
On January 27, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper contemplating an acquisition of the portfolio of mortgage servicing rights owned by Home Point (rather than an acquisition of Home Point) with a cash purchase price calculated as 117.7000 basis points on the unpaid principal balance of Home Points mortgage servicing right portfolio (the January 27 MSR Indication of Interest). The January 27 MSR Indication of Interest also provided revised terms and conditions of the potential transaction in response to the January 20 Home Point Markup. The January 27 MSR Indication of Interest did not express Mr. Coopers offer as an aggregate dollar figure.
On February 13, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper updating the valuation of mortgage servicing rights set forth in the January 27 MSR Indication of Interest (the February 13 MSR Indication of Interest). The February 13 MSR Indication of Interest reflected a total asset value purchase price of approximately $1.1 billion based on a 5.0x multiple on Home Points portfolio of conventional mortgage servicing rights and a 3.18x multiple on Home Points portfolio of Government National Mortgage Association mortgage servicing rights. The February 13 MSR Indication of Interest also indicated that Mr. Cooper would receive early payoff protection in the form of a purchase price adjustment (the EPO) with respect to mortgage servicing rights that were paid off in the first three monthly payment cycles following the closing of the sale of mortgage servicing rights contemplated by the indication of interest.
On February 15, 2023, representatives of Houlihan Lokey provided Mr. Cooper with comments prepared by Home Point management with the assistance of Houlihan Lokey and Kirkland on the terms of the February 13 MSR Indication of Interest (the February 15 Counterproposal). The February 15 Counterproposal contemplated, among other things, only the sale of Home Points portfolio of conventional mortgage servicing rights (and not Home Points portfolio of Government National Mortgage Association mortgage servicing rights) and limitations on the conditions Home Point would need to satisfy to receive any portion of the held back purchase price. The February 15 Counterproposal also provided that Mr. Cooper would only receive EPO in respect of mortgage servicing rights that were paid off in the first two monthly payment cycles following the closing of the sale of Home Points portfolio of mortgage servicing rights contemplated by the indication of interest.
On February 17, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper updating the terms and conditions of the February 13 MSR Indication of Interest (the February 17 MSR Indication of Interest). In particular, the February 17 MSR Indication of Interest increased the period of time during which Mr. Cooper would receive EPO for three months (from two months in the February 15 Counterproposal) and increased the set of documents with respect to any given mortgage loan that Mr. Cooper would need to receive in order to release held back purchase price.
On March 20, 2023, Mr. Jay Bray, chairman and chief executive officer of Mr. Cooper, called representatives of Houlihan Lokey indicating Mr. Cooper was considering reengaging regarding a strategic
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transaction (as opposed to a purchase of mortgage servicing rights) with Home Point, subject to receiving and reviewing updated financial due diligence information. Representatives of Houlihan Lokey informed Mr. Bray that Home Point was considering a potential sale of Home Points origination business, which, if completed, would provide greater clarity on Home Points ongoing business and prospects. In light of that conversation, on March 23, 2023, representatives of Houlihan Lokey provided representatives of Mr. Cooper with updated financial due diligence information.
On April 10, 2023 and April 12, 2023, at the request of representatives of Mr. Cooper, representatives of Houlihan Lokey provided updated financial due diligence information to representatives of Mr. Cooper, including an analysis prepared by Home Point management with the assistance of Home Points tax advisors regarding tax structuring considerations.
On April 12, representatives of Mr. Cooper provided a financial analysis to representatives of Houlihan Lokey indicating that Mr. Cooper was prepared to make an offer based on a $306 million adjusted book value attributable to Home Point as a whole (rather than, as previously proposed by Mr. Cooper, a sale of mortgage servicing rights) (the April 12 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest). Representatives of Houlihan Lokey encouraged the representatives of Mr. Cooper to provide the April 12 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest in writing and in terms of a price per share of Home Point common stock for consideration by the Home Point Board.
On April 16, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper contemplating an acquisition of Home Point with consideration amounting to $2.25 in cash per share of Home Point common stock (the Initial April 16 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest). The Initial April 16 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest set forth certain other transaction terms, including Mr. Coopers expectation that Mr. Cooper would acquire a portion of Home Points mortgage servicing rights through a forward sale in connection with Mr. Coopers acquisition of Home Points equity to utilize certain deferred tax assets and that Mr. Cooper was prepared to complete its confirmatory diligence in 30 days. Following a discussion between representatives of Houlihan Lokey and representatives of Mr. Cooper, representatives of Mr. Cooper submitted a further revised indication of interest (the April 16 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest) clarifying that it was prepared to complete confirmatory diligence and be in a position to execute definitive transaction documentation before May 15, 2023, with the other terms of the Initial April 16 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest remaining unchanged.
On April 19, 2023 representatives of Houlihan Lokey provided updated assumptions regarding expenses associated with employee compensation payable in connection with a change of control of Home Point (the Updated Assumptions) to Mr. Cooper and recommended that Mr. Cooper update the April 16 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest in light of the Updated Assumptions.
On April 21, 2023, representatives of Kirkland sent a draft merger agreement (the Initial Draft Merger Agreement) to representatives of Wachtell, Lipton Rosen & Katz (Wachtell Lipton), legal counsel to Mr. Cooper. The Initial Draft Merger Agreement provided for (i) a one-step reverse triangular merger structure, (ii) a hell-or-high-water regulatory efforts covenant and (iii) a covenant restricting Home Points ability to consider alternative strategic transactions, subject to the Home Point Boards ability to change its recommendation or terminate the merger agreement under specified circumstances. The Initial Draft Merger Agreement also indicated that the Principal Stockholders would enter into a support agreement at signing obligating the Principal Stockholders to act by written consent to approve the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, which obligation would cease to be effective upon the Home Point Board changing its recommendation to Home Point stockholders in favor of the transaction contemplated by the merger agreement or Home Point terminating the merger agreement with Mr. Cooper.
Also on April 21, 2023, representatives of Mr. Cooper sent an extensive list of due diligence requests to representatives of Home Point (the April 21 Diligence Request).
On April 24, 2023, William Newman, president and chief executive officer of Home Point, and Mr. Bray met for breakfast to discuss the status of negotiations between Home Point and Mr. Cooper and agreed to target
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the weekend of May 6, 2023 for finalizing definitive transaction documents. Following the breakfast meeting, representatives of Home Point, Houlihan Lokey and Mr. Cooper met to discuss open due diligence points highlighted in the April 16 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest and the April 21 Diligence Request and to discuss tax structuring considerations. Representatives of Houlihan Lokey also encouraged Mr. Cooper to accelerate their due diligence work, conveying that the strength of Mr. Coopers offer lay in part in its ability to move quickly to a signing and provide a relatively short interim period. Later on April 24, 2023, representatives of Home Point participated in a due diligence call with representatives of Mr. Cooper to discuss existing litigation to which Home Point was subject and ongoing regulatory exams.
Also on April 24, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest from Mr. Cooper utilizing the Updated Assumptions, which contemplated an acquisition of Home Point with consideration amounting to $2.33 in cash per share of Home Point common stock (the April 24 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest).
During the week of April 24, 2023, representatives of Home Point participated in numerous due diligence calls with representatives of Mr. Cooper to discuss topics including regulatory matters, vendor management, human resources matters and existing litigation to which Home Point was subject.
On April 25, 2023, representatives of Mr. Cooper sent to representatives of Houlihan Lokey a draft purchase and sale agreement with respect to a portion of the Home Point mortgage servicing rights (the MSR Purchase Agreement).
On April 30, 2023, representatives of Wachtell Lipton delivered a revised merger agreement (the April 30 Draft Merger Agreement), which provided for (i) a two-step tender offer and merger governed by Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, (ii) a forward sale of a portion of Home Points mortgage servicing rights as a condition precedent to the closing of the tender offer, (iii) a condition precedent to the closing of the tender offer based on Home Points tangible book value exceeding an unspecified target at the closing of the tender offer and (iv) revisions to the Initial Draft Merger Agreements deal protection provisions including a termination fee amounting to 5% of Home Points total equity value and removing the ability of the Home Point Board to terminate the merger agreement to enter a superior transaction. In addition, the April 30 Draft Merger Agreement indicated that Mr. Cooper expected the Principal Stockholders obligation to tender their shares of Home Point common stock would only terminate upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement or the termination of the merger agreement.
On May 2, 2023, representatives of Kirkland delivered draft disclosure schedules to the merger agreement and a tender and support agreement to Wachtell Lipton.
On May 3, 2023, representatives of Kirkland delivered a revised merger agreement to Wachtell Lipton (the May 3 Draft Merger Agreement).
Later on May 3, 2023, representatives of Mr. Cooper provided representatives of Home Point with a list of key issues presented by the May 3 Draft Merger Agreement (the May 3 Issues List), including the following items: (i) the inclusion of a condition precedent to the closing of the tender offer based on Home Points tangible book value exceeding an unspecified target at the closing of the tender offer remained an open item and (ii) Mr. Coopers view that the Home Point Board should not be permitted to terminate a merger agreement with Mr. Cooper in order to enter into a superior transaction and that the Principal Stockholders commitment to tender their shares should only terminate upon the termination of the merger agreement and (iii) the precise timing of the forward sale of Home Points mortgage servicing rights required further discussion among Mr. Coopers and Home Points advisors.
Throughout the period from May 3 through May 7, representatives of Kirkland and Wachtell Lipton engaged in numerous calls to discuss topics raised in the May 3 Issues List and exchanged drafts of transaction documents, including the merger agreement, the tender and support agreement and the MSR Purchase Agreement.
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On May 4, 2023, Eric Rosenzweig, a Home Point director, met for breakfast with Mr. Bray, during which meeting Messrs. Rosenzweig and Bray discussed the topics raised in the May 3 Issues List.
On May 5, 2023, Home Point received a revised indication of interest (the May 5 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest) from Mr. Cooper, confirming Mr. Coopers proposal to acquire Home Point with consideration amounting to $2.33 in cash per share and reiterating that Mr. Cooper required a transaction where Home Point did not have the ability to terminate the transaction to accept a superior transaction and a transaction consistent with Mr. Coopers position on the timing of the forward sale of a portion of Home Points mortgage servicing rights. The May 5 Mr. Cooper Indication of Interest also indicated that the indication of interest was contingent on signing a merger agreement by 5 p.m. EST on May 7, 2023.
On May 7, 2023, representatives of Kirkland delivered a revised draft merger agreement to representatives of Wachtell Lipton (the May 7 Draft Merger Agreement) reflecting (i) a one-step merger, (ii) a commitment by the Principal Stockholders to act by written consent to approve the transaction immediately following signing and (iii) no right for the Home Point Board to terminate the merger agreement to enter into a superior transaction, along with related drafts of ancillary documents. Representatives of Kirkland concurrently delivered a revised draft of the MSR Purchase Agreement to representatives of Wachtell Lipton.
Later on May 7, 2023, Mr. Newman and Mr. Bray met telephonically to discuss transaction status and confirmed that both Home Point and Mr. Cooper were committed to moving quickly to a signing. Mr. Newman also encouraged Mr. Bray to enhance the value being offered by Mr. Cooper to Home Point stockholders.
Throughout the period from May 7 through May 10, representatives of Kirkland and Wachtell Lipton engaged in numerous calls to discuss topics related to the transaction documents and exchanged drafts of those transaction documents, including the merger agreement, the tender and support agreement and the MSR Purchase Agreement.
Following a meeting of the Home Point Board on May 9, 2023, each of Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Acquisition Sub executed and delivered the merger agreement on May 10, 2023.
On May 10, 2023, following market close, Mr. Cooper issued a press release announcing the proposed transaction.
Past Contacts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.
For more information on the Merger Agreement and the other agreements between Home Point and Purchaser and their respective related parties, see Section 8 Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, Section 9 Source and Amount of Funds and Section 11 The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements.
11. | The Merger Agreement; Other Agreements. |
The following summary of certain provisions of the Merger Agreement and all other provisions of the Merger Agreement discussed herein are qualified by reference to the Merger Agreement itself, which is incorporated herein by reference and filed as Exhibit (d)(1) to the Schedule TO. The Merger Agreement may be examined and copies may be obtained in the manner set forth in Section 8 Certain Information Concerning Mr. Cooper and Purchaser. Stockholders and other interested parties should read the Merger Agreement for a more complete description of the provisions summarized below. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.
This summary of the Merger Agreement has been included to provide investors with information regarding its terms. It is not intended to provide any other factual information about Mr. Cooper, Purchaser or Home Point,
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their respective businesses, or the actual conduct of their respective businesses during the period prior to the consummation of the Offer or the Merger. The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties that are the product of negotiations among the parties thereto and made to, and solely for the benefit of, each other as of specified dates. The assertions embodied in those representations and warranties are subject to qualifications and limitations agreed to by the respective parties and are also qualified in important part by a confidential disclosure schedule delivered by Home Point to Mr. Cooper in connection with the Merger Agreement. The representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement were made for the purpose of allocating contractual risk between the parties thereto and governing contractual rights and relationships between the parties thereto instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may be subject to standards of materiality applicable to the contracting parties that differ from those applicable to security holders of Mr. Cooper or Home Point. In reviewing the representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Merger Agreement or any descriptions thereof in this Section 11, it is important to bear in mind that such representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof were not intended by the parties to the Merger Agreement to be characterizations of the actual state of facts or conditions of Mr. Cooper, Purchaser, Home Point or their respective affiliates. Moreover, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may have changed since the date of the Merger Agreement and may change after the date of this summary, and such subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in public disclosures. For the foregoing reasons, such representations, warranties and covenants or descriptions thereof should not be read alone and should instead be read in conjunction with the other information contained in the reports, statements and filings that Mr. Cooper and Home Point publicly file.
The Offer. The Merger Agreement provides that Purchaser will commence the Offer as promptly as practicable after the date of the Merger Agreement (but in no event later than May 24, 2023, which date Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point agreed to extend to May 26, 2023). Purchasers obligation to accept for payment and pay for Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) in the Offer is subject to the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition and the other Offer Conditions that are described in Section 15 Conditions to the Offer. Subject to the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition and, to the extent waivable by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, waiver of the other Offer Conditions, the Merger Agreement provides that Purchaser will promptly after (and in any event no later than the first (1st) business day after) the Expiration Date accept for payment all Shares tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer and (ii) promptly after (and in any event no later than the second (2nd) business day after) the Offer Acceptance Time pay for such Shares. The date and time at which Purchaser accepts for payment all Shares tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Offer is referred to as the Offer Acceptance Time.
Purchaser expressly reserves the right to waive any Offer Condition or make any change in the terms of or conditions to the Offer, except that Home Points prior written consent is required for Purchaser to:
| decrease the Offer Price; |
| change the form of consideration payable in the Offer; |
| decrease the maximum number of Shares sought to be purchased in the Offer; |
| impose conditions to the Offer other than the conditions described in Section 15 Conditions to the Offer; |
| amend, modify, supplement or waive the Minimum Condition or the Termination Condition; |
| amend, modify or supplement any of the other terms of the Offer in a manner that adversely affects, or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect, any holder of Shares in its capacity as such; |
| terminate the Offer or accelerate, extend or otherwise change the Expiration Date of the Offer except as otherwise required or expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with an Offer Termination); or |
| provide any subsequent offering period (or any extension thereof) in accordance with Rule 14d-11 of the Exchange Act. |
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The Merger Agreement contains provisions to govern the circumstances in which Purchaser is required or permitted to extend the Offer. The Merger Agreement provides that Purchaser may, in its discretion (and without the consent of Home Point or any other person), extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an extension period of up to ten (10) business days per extension, if, as of the then-scheduled Expiration Date, any of the Offer Conditions is not satisfied and has not been waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, to the extent waivable by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper.
Subject to Purchasers right to terminate the Offer and pursue the Merger in connection with an Offer Termination, the Merger Agreement provides that Purchaser must, and Mr. Cooper must cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer from time to time for:
| any period required by any applicable law, any interpretation or position of the SEC, the staff thereof or Nasdaq applicable to the Offer; and, unless the applicable Offer Condition is waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper; |
| periods of up to ten (10) business days per extension, until (x) any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer, under the HSR Act and any other antitrust laws has expired or been terminated, (y) the consents required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained, and (z) the notices required by the Merger Agreement have been made; and |
| periods of up to ten (10) business days per extension at the request of Home Point if, as of the scheduled Expiration Date, any Offer Condition (other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being satisfied) is not satisfied and has not been waived. |
However, in no event will Purchaser be required to extend the Offer beyond the earlier to occur of (x) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement and (y) 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on the Termination Date.
Board of Directors and Officers. Under the Merger Agreement, Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point have agreed that the directors of Purchaser as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the directors of the Surviving Corporation and the officers of Home Point as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in each case until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.
The Merger Following the Offer Acceptance Time. The Merger Agreement provides that, if the Offer Acceptance Time occurs, following consummation of the Offer and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, Purchaser will be merged with and into Home Point, and, as a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Purchaser will cease, and Home Point will continue as the Surviving Corporation. If the Offer Acceptance Time occurs, the Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL. The Merger will be consummated as soon as practicable following (but in any event on the same date as) the Offer Acceptance Time upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Subject to compliance with the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation will be amended and restated to be identical to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Purchaser, until thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and the DGCL, except that (i) in each case, the name of the Surviving Corporation will be Home Point Capital Inc. and (ii) the indemnity provisions will be the same as those under Home Points certificate of incorporation and bylaws, respectively, in each case as in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement.
The obligations of Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser to complete the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent not prohibited by law) waiver at or prior to the Effective Time of each of the
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following conditions (which we refer to, together with the obligations of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, on the one hand, and Home Point, on the other hand, to effect the Merger, as described below, as the Conditions to the Merger):
| no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in any jurisdiction in which Home Point, Mr. Cooper or any of their respective affiliates have any business operations has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect and has the effect of restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the Merger; and |
| Purchaser (or Mr. Cooper on Purchasers behalf) has accepted for payment all of the Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not validly withdrawn. |
Conversion of Capital Stock at the Effective Time. Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Shares held by Home Point, Mr. Cooper or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or by any person who is entitled to, and has properly exercised and perfected their demand for, statutory appraisal of his or her Shares) will be converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
Each issued and outstanding share of the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of Purchaser prior to the Effective Time will be converted into one (1) fully paid, non-assessable share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Surviving Corporation.
Treatment of Equity Awards.
The Offer is being made only for Shares, and not for outstanding stock options, restricted stock units or performance stock units of Home Point. Holders of outstanding stock options, restricted stock units and performance stock units of Home Point may participate in the Offer only if they first exercise such stock options or become vested in such stock units and such vested stock units are settled in Shares in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity incentive plan and other applicable agreements of Home Point and tender the Shares, if any, issued upon such exercise or in connection with such vesting and settlement. Any such exercise or settlement must be completed sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to assure the holder of such stock options or stock units that the holder will have sufficient time to comply with the procedures for tendering Shares described above in Section 3 Procedures for Accepting the Offer and Tendering Shares.
| Stock Options. The Merger Agreement provides that each vested stock option or unvested stock option subject solely to time-based vesting conditions that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of (A) the excess (if any) of the Offer Price over the applicable per Share exercise price and (B) the number of Shares subject to such stock option. Each unvested stock option subject to performance-based vesting conditions that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, be cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of (A) the excess (if any) of the Offer Price over the applicable per Share exercise price and (B) the number of Shares subject to such stock option (with such number, if any, determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity plan and award agreement). |
| Restricted Stock Units. The Merger Agreement provides that each restricted stock unit that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of the Offer Price and the number of Shares subject to such restricted stock unit. |
| Performance Stock Units. The Merger Agreement provides that each performance stock unit that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will, at the Effective Time, be converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the product of the Offer Price and the number of Shares subject to such performance stock unit (with such number determined in accordance with the terms of the applicable equity plan and award agreement). |
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Treatment of Home Points ESPP. As soon as practicable following the date of the Merger Agreement, Home Point must take all actions as may be required to provide that (i) the Offering Period (as defined in Home Points 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time, which we refer to as Home Points ESPP) in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement will be the final Offering Period (we refer to such period as the Final Offering Period) and that no further Offering Period will commence pursuant to Home Points ESPP, (ii) no new participants may elect to participate in Home Points ESPP during the Final Offering Period; and (iii) each individual participating in the Final Offering Period on the date of the Merger Agreement will not be permitted to (A) increase his or her payroll contribution rate pursuant to Home Points ESPP from the rate in effect when the Final Offering Period commenced or (B) make separate non-payroll contributions to Home Points ESPP on or following the date of the Merger Agreement. Prior to the Effective Time, Home Point will take all actions that may be necessary to (x) cause the Final Offering Period, to the extent that it would otherwise be outstanding at the Effective Time, to be terminated no later than ten (10) business days prior to the date on which the Effective Time occurs; (y) make any pro rata adjustments that may be necessary to reflect the Final Offering Period, but otherwise treat the Final Offering Period as a fully effective and completed Offering Period for all purposes pursuant to Home Points ESPP; and (z) cause the exercise (as of no later than ten (10) business days prior to the date on which the Effective Time occurs) of each outstanding purchase right pursuant to Home Points ESPP. On such exercise date, Home Point will apply the funds credited as of such date pursuant to Home Points ESPP within each participants payroll withholding account to the purchase of whole shares of Home Point common stock in accordance with the terms of Home Points ESPP, and such shares of Home Point common stock will be entitled to the Merger Consideration. Immediately prior to and effective as of the Effective Time (but subject to the consummation of the Merger), Home Point will terminate its ESPP.
Representations and Warranties. In the Merger Agreement, Home Point has made representations and warranties to Mr. Cooper with respect to, among other things:
| corporate matters, such as organization, organizational documents, standing, qualification, power, authority and subsidiaries; |
| capitalization; |
| authority relative to the Merger Agreement; |
| required consents and approvals and no violations of organizational documents or applicable law; |
| compliance with laws and permits and regulatory matters; |
| financial statements and SEC filings; |
| information to be included in the Offer documents, the Schedule 14D-9 and other information required to be disseminated in connection with the Offer; |
| disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting; |
| the absence of certain changes; |
| the absence of undisclosed liabilities; |
| litigation; |
| employees and employee benefit plans, including ERISA and certain related matters; |
| labor and employment matters; |
| intellectual property; |
| tax matters; |
| material contracts; |
| real property; |
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| environmental matters; |
| no vote being necessary to consummate the Merger if the Minimum Condition is met; |
| brokers and certain fees; |
| the opinion of Home Points financial advisor; |
| insurance; |
| state takeover statutes; |
| compliance with anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws; |
| related party transactions; and |
| mortgage servicing practices. |
Some of the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement made by Home Point are qualified as to materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect or by knowledge or the ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Company Material Adverse Effect means any condition, fact, occurrence, development, change, event, effect or circumstance which, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the assets, properties, liabilities, operations, business, financial condition or results of operations of Home Point and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that conditions, facts, occurrences, developments, changes, events, effects or circumstances, to the extent they directly or indirectly relate to or result from the following, are excluded from the determination of a Company Material Adverse Effect:
(i) | any condition, fact, occurrence, development, change, event, effect or circumstance generally affecting any of the industries or markets in which Home Point or its subsidiaries operate; |
(ii) | any change in any law or Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (which we refer to as GAAP) (or changes in interpretations of any law or GAAP) and, to the extent relevant to the business of Home Point or its subsidiaries, in any legal or regulatory requirement or condition or the regulatory enforcement environment; |
(iii) | general economic, regulatory or political conditions (or changes therein) or conditions (or changes therein or disruptions thereof) in the financial, credit, banking or securities markets (including changes in interest or currency exchange rates) in any country or region in which Home Point or its subsidiaries conduct business; |
(iv) | any acts of God, natural disasters, force majeure events, terrorism, sabotage, armed hostilities, sabotage, declared or undeclared acts of war, epidemics, pandemics or disease outbreaks (including, for the avoidance of doubt, COVID-19 or COVID-19 Measures), or any escalation or worsening of any of the foregoing; |
(v) | the execution, announcement, consummation or existence of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including by reason of the identity of Mr. Cooper or any communication by Mr. Cooper or its subsidiaries regarding the plans or intentions of Mr. Cooper with respect to the conduct of the business or the operations or strategy of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries and including the impact of any of the foregoing on any relationships (contractual or otherwise) with customers, suppliers, landlords, vendors, collaboration or joint venture partners, employees or regulators (provided, that the exceptions set forth in this clause (v) do not apply in connection with any breach of any representation or warranty related to required consents and approvals and violations of organizational documents or applicable law); |
(vi) | any action taken that is expressly required by the terms of the Merger Agreement or with the prior written consent or at the written direction of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser (provided, that the exceptions set forth in this clause (vi) will not apply in connection with any breach of any representation or warranty |
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related to required consents and approvals and no violations of organizational documents or applicable law); |
(vii) | any changes in the market price or trading volume of Home Point common stock, any failure by Home Point or its subsidiaries to meet internal, analysts or other earnings estimates or financial projections or forecasts for any period, any changes in credit ratings and any changes in any analysts recommendations or ratings with respect to Home Point or any of its subsidiaries (provided that the facts or occurrences giving rise to or contributing to such changes or failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of Material Adverse Effect may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect); and |
(viii) | any action taken prior to the date the Merger Agreement expressly required by the terms of the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of April 6, 2023, by and between The Loan Store, Inc. and Home Point (the Originator Carveout Agreement); |
provided, further, that in the case of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), any such condition, fact, occurrence, development, change, event, effect or circumstance may be taken into account in determining whether or not there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect to the extent (and only to the extent) such condition, fact, occurrence, development, change, event, effect or circumstance has a disproportionate impact on Home Point and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as compared to other participants in the industry in which Home Point and its subsidiaries operate.
In the Merger Agreement, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser have made representations and warranties to Home Point with respect to:
| corporate matters, such as organization, standing, qualification, power and authority; |
| authority relative to the Merger Agreement; |
| required consents and approvals, and no violations of organizational documents, applicable laws or agreements; |
| litigation; |
| absence of certain agreements related to the Offer and Merger; |
| accuracy of information supplied for purposes of the Offer documents and the Schedule 14D-9; |
| capitalization of Purchaser; |
| availability of funds; |
| brokers and certain fees; |
| Home Point share ownership; and |
| absence of certain agreements with Home Point management and directors. |
Some of the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement made by Mr. Cooper are qualified as to materiality or Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent Material Adverse Effect means any change, event, effect or circumstance which, individually or in the aggregate has prevented or materially delayed or materially impaired or would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially delay or materially impair, the ability of Mr. Cooper to consummate the Merger, the Offer and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
None of the representations and warranties of the parties to the Merger Agreement contained in the Merger Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to the Merger Agreement will survive the Effective Time.
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Conduct of Business Pending the Merger. From the date of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of the Agreement, except as (a) may be required by law, (b) Home Point determines, in good faith, may be necessary or advisable in accordance with the COVID-19 Measures, (c) may be consented to in writing by Mr. Cooper (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), (d) may be expressly required or expressly contemplated pursuant to the Merger Agreement or (e) disclosed in the confidential disclosure letter delivered by Home Point to Mr. Cooper in connection with the Merger Agreement (which we refer to as the Home Point Disclosure Letter), (x) Home Point will use its reasonable best efforts to conduct the business of Home Point and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, and to the extent consistent therewith, Home Point will use its reasonable best efforts to preserve in all material respects its present relationships with key customers, suppliers, employees and other persons with which it has material business relations; and (y) Home Point will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to:
| amend or otherwise change, in any respect (other than immaterial or ministerial changes) Home Points charter or bylaws (or such equivalent organizational or governing documents of any of its subsidiaries); |
| split, combine, reclassify, redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire or amend the terms of any capital stock or other equity interests or rights of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries (other than repurchases of shares of Home Point company stock in connection with the exercise, vesting or settlement of Home Point equity awards that (A) are outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement in accordance with their terms as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement or (B) may be granted after the date of the Merger Agreement in compliance with the Merger Agreement); |
| issue, sell, pledge, dispose (or agree to issue, sell, pledge or dispose), encumber or grant any shares of its or its subsidiaries capital stock or other equity interests (including any Home Point securities), or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of its or its subsidiaries capital stock or other equity interests (including any Home Point securities), except for transactions among Home Point and its direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or among Home Points direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries; provided, however, that Home Point may issue shares of Home Point common stock upon the exercise, vesting or settlement of Home Point equity awards that (A) are outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement in accordance with their terms as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement or (B) may be granted after the date of the Merger Agreement in compliance with the Merger Agreement; |
| establish a record date for, authorize, declare, pay or make any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to Home Points or any of its subsidiaries capital stock or other equity interests, other than dividends paid by any wholly owned subsidiary of Home Point to Home Point or any wholly owned subsidiary of Home Point; |
| except as required under the terms of a Home Point benefit plan or to the extent required by law, (i) increase, or commit to increase, the compensation payable or to become payable or benefits provided or to be provided to any current or former director, officer or employee of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) establish, adopt, enter into or materially amend any Home Point benefit plan (or any arrangement which if in existence as of the date of the Merger Agreement would constitute a Home Point benefit plan), (iii) enter into any collective bargaining agreement with any labor union, (iv) take any action to accelerate the vesting or payment date of any compensation or benefits, or the funding of any compensation or benefits, payable, provided or to become payable or provided under a Company Benefit Plan, or otherwise, (v) hire or engage any employee, other than hiring or engaging employees in the ordinary course of business to replace departed employees or (vi) terminate, hire or engage any employee who is or upon hiring will become a Section 16 Officer, other than terminations for cause, as determined in Home Points reasonable discretion; |
| grant, commit to grant, confer or award any Home Point equity awards; |
| acquire (including by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets), except in respect of any merger, consolidation or business combination among Home Point and its wholly owned subsidiaries |
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or among Home Points wholly owned subsidiaries, any equity interest in or business of any person, except with respect to any such transactions pursuant to agreements in effect prior to the execution of the Merger Agreement and set forth in the Home Point Disclosure Letter; |
| incur, issue, or amend in any material respect the terms of, any indebtedness for borrowed money (including, for clarity, issuing or selling any debt securities or rights to acquire debt securities), or assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness for any person, in each case, greater than $1,000,000, except for indebtedness incurred under capital leases, purchase money financing, equipment financing and letters of credit, in each case, in the ordinary course of business or between or among Home Point or any of its wholly owned subsidiaries; |
| enter into, modify, amend or terminate (other than expiration in accordance with their terms) any Company Material Contract other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and in a manner that is not materially adverse to Home Point and its subsidiaries; |
| make any change to its methods of accounting in effect at December 31, 2022, except (i) as required by GAAP (or any interpretation thereof), Regulation S-X of the Exchange Act or a governmental authority or quasi-governmental authority (including the Financial Accounting Standards Board or any similar organization), (ii) to permit the audit of Home Points financial statements in compliance with GAAP or (iii) as required by a change in applicable law; |
| except as contemplated by the Merger Agreement, adopt or enter into a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than with respect to or among wholly owned subsidiaries of Home Point); |
| settle, release, waive or compromise any pending material litigation other than (i) settlements or compromises of litigation (x) other than litigation relating to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (y) the settlement, payment, discharge or satisfaction of which does not result in the imposition of equitable or other non-monetary relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, Home Point or any of its affiliates and (z) for solely monetary payments in the aggregate where the amount paid (less the amount reserved for such matters by Home Point or otherwise covered by insurance) in settlement or compromise, in each case, does not exceed, individually or in the aggregate, the amounts set forth in the Home Point Disclosure Letter or (ii) any litigation with respect to which an insurer (but neither Home Point nor any of its subsidiaries) has the right to control the decision to settle and results solely in a monetary obligation that is funded entirely by an insurance policy of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries; |
| (i) sell, assign, license (other than non-material licenses), abandon, transfer or otherwise dispose of any material intellectual property rights to any person other than Home Point or a subsidiary of Home Point, other than the expiration of such intellectual property rights at the end of its maximum statutory term or abandonment of registrations or applications for intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) disclose any material trade secrets or other material confidential information, other than (A) to Home Point or a subsidiary of Home Point or (B) pursuant to a written non-disclosure agreement (or similar obligation by operation of law) entered into in the ordinary course of business with reasonable confidentiality provisions (or similar protections) in favor of, Home Point; |
| incur or commit to incur any capital expenditures, or any obligations or liabilities in connection therewith that are in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate; |
| (i) make, change, revoke, rescind, or otherwise modify any material tax election; (ii) materially amend or otherwise materially modify any material tax return; (iii) adopt, change, or otherwise modify any tax accounting period or any material tax accounting method; or (iv) settle, consent to, or compromise (in whole or in part) any material claim, liability, assessment, audit, examination, proceeding, or other litigation related to income or other material taxes (including, without limitation, by entering into any closing or other settlement agreement with any taxing authority); |
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| sell, transfer or assign to any third party any material line of business of Home Point and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; |
| except for transactions among Home Point and its wholly owned subsidiaries or among Home Points wholly-owned subsidiaries, sell, lease, assign, license, sublicense, convey, transfer, exchange or swap, or subject to any lien (other than certain permitted liens) or otherwise dispose of or abandon any material right, property or asset (or material group of rights, properties or assets), other than such sales, leases, assignments, licenses, sublicenses, conveyances, transfers, exchanges, swaps or other dispositions of obsolete equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; |
| adopt or implement any stockholder rights plan or similar arrangement; |
| modify, amend or terminate, or waive any provision of or intentionally breach any provision or condition of, the Originator Carveout Agreement; or |
| authorize, agree or commit to take, or enter into any contract to do any of the foregoing. |
Access to Information. Subject to certain exceptions, Home Point will (and will cause each of its subsidiaries to) afford to Mr. Cooper and its representatives reasonable access, at Mr. Coopers sole cost and expense, in a manner not disruptive in any material respect to the operations of the business of Home Point and its subsidiaries, during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice throughout the period from the date of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of the Merger Agreement, to the properties, management personnel, contracts, books and records of Home Point and its subsidiaries and, during such period, will (and will cause each of its subsidiaries to) furnish promptly to such representatives all information (to the extent not publicly available) concerning the business, properties and personnel of Home Point and its subsidiaries as may reasonably be requested.
Directors and Officers Indemnification and Insurance. The Merger Agreement provides that all rights to exculpation, indemnification, contribution and advancement of expenses for facts, events, acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time (including any matters arising in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement), now existing in favor of the current or former directors, officers or employees of (or in a comparable role with) Home Point or its subsidiaries, or any person serving at the request of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries as a director, officer or employee of (or in a comparable role with) another person (which we refer to as the D&O Indemnified Parties), as the case may be, in each case, as provided in the respective organizational documents of Home Point or its subsidiaries or any indemnification or similar agreements as of the date of the Merger Agreement, will survive the acceptance of Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer and the Merger and will continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms (it being agreed that after the Closing such rights will be mandatory rather than permissive, if applicable), and Mr. Cooper will and will cause the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries to perform such obligations thereunder. Mr. Cooper will also cause the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents of the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries to contain provisions with respect to exculpation, indemnification, advancement of expenses and limitation of director, officer and employee (or comparable) liability that are no less favorable to the D&O Indemnified Parties than those set forth in Home Points and its subsidiaries organizational documents as of the date of the Merger Agreement, which provisions thereafter will not, for a period of at least six (6) years from the Effective Time, be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of the D&O Indemnified Parties except as required by applicable law.
Mr. Cooper has also agreed to (and Mr. Cooper will cause the Surviving Corporation to) (i) indemnify, defend, hold harmless and advance expenses to the D&O Indemnified Parties with respect to all facts, events, acts or omissions by them in their capacities as such at any time prior to and including the Effective Time (including any matters arising in connection with the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), to the fullest extent that Home Point or its subsidiaries would be permitted by applicable law; and (ii) pay in advance of the final disposition of any action against any D&O Indemnified Party the expenses
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(including reasonable attorneys fees) of any D&O Indemnified Party upon receipt, if required by the DGCL, the Surviving Corporations organizational documents or any applicable indemnification agreement, of a written undertaking by him or her or on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed if it is ultimately determined that such D&O Indemnified Party is not permitted to be indemnified under applicable law. Mr. Cooper will not (and will cause the Surviving Corporation not to) settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment or otherwise seek termination with respect to any action to which any D&O Indemnified Parties are parties, unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes an unconditional release of all of the D&O Indemnified Parties covered by the action from all liability arising out of such action.
For at least six (6) years after the Effective Time, Mr. Cooper will, and will cause the Surviving Corporation and its other subsidiaries to, maintain in full force and effect the coverage provided by the existing directors and officers liability insurance, employment practices liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance in effect as of the Closing Date and maintained by Home Point or any of its subsidiaries (which insurance coverage will be substantially the same as in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement), as applicable (which we refer to as the Existing D&O Insurance Policies), or provide substitute policies (with insurance carriers having an A.M. Best financial strength rating of least an A) for Home Point and the D&O Indemnified Parties who are covered by such Existing D&O Insurance Policies, in either case, with limits and on terms and conditions no less advantageous to the D&O Indemnified Parties than the Existing D&O Insurance Policies, covering claims arising from facts, events, acts or omissions that occurred at or prior to the Effective Time, including the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (provided that Mr. Cooper or the Surviving Corporation, as applicable, will not be required to pay an annual premium for such insurance in excess of three hundred fifty percent (350%) of the aggregate annual premium currently paid by Home Point or any of its subsidiaries for the Existing D&O Insurance Policies (which we refer to as the Maximum Amount), but in such case will purchase as much of such coverage as possible for such amount). In lieu of such insurance, prior to the Effective Time, Home Point may purchase prepaid, non-cancellable six (6)-year tail directors and officers liability insurance, employment practices liability insurance and fiduciary liability insurance (which we refer to as the Tail Coverage), effective as of the Effective Time, with limits and on terms and conditions no less advantageous to the D&O Indemnified Parties than the Existing D&O Insurance Policies, covering claims arising from facts, events, acts or omissions that occurred at or prior to the Effective Time, including the transactions contemplated hereby (provided that the premium for such Tail Coverage will not exceed the Maximum Amount), and Mr. Cooper will cause the Surviving Corporation (or its applicable subsidiaries) to maintain such Tail Coverage in full force and effect, without any modification, and continue to honor the obligations thereunder, in which event Mr. Cooper will cease to have any obligations as described in the first sentence of this paragraph.
Reasonable Best Efforts. Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point have agreed to use their respective reasonable best efforts to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and to cause the Conditions to the Merger to be satisfied as expeditiously as practicable (and in any event at least five (5) business days prior to the Termination Date), including using reasonable best efforts to accomplish the following:
| the obtaining of all necessary actions, waiting period expirations or terminations, consents and approvals from, and providing all necessary notices to, governmental authorities (including such actions, waiting period expirations or terminations, notices, surrenders, Consents and approvals contemplated by the Home Point Disclosure Letter and including abandoning or surrendering any license, registration, or approval prior to the Offer Acceptance Time if and to the extent required by any such governmental authorities) necessary in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the Offer, and the making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with governmental authorities, if any) and the taking of all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval from, or to avoid any action by, any governmental authority necessary in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger; |
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| the obtaining of all other necessary consents, approvals or waivers from third parties (provided that neither Mr. Cooper nor Home Point are required to make or agree to make any payment to such third parties or accept any material conditions or obligations with respect thereto); |
| the defending of any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative, challenging the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the Offer, including seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court or other governmental authority vacated or reversed; and |
| the execution and delivery of any additional instruments reasonably necessary to consummate the Merger and any other transactions to be performed or consummated by such party in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement and to carry out fully the purposes of the Merger Agreement. |
Each of Mr. Cooper and Home Point have agreed to promptly (and in no event later than ten (10) business days following the date of the Merger Agreement) make its filings under the HSR Act, to respond as promptly as practicable to any request under the HSR Act for additional information (including responding to any second request), documents or other materials received by such party from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice or by any other governmental authority under any antitrust laws in respect of any such filings with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, and to act in good faith and reasonably cooperate with the other party in connection with any such filings (including, if requested by the other party, to consider all reasonable material additions, deletions or changes suggested by the other party in connection therewith) and in connection with resolving any investigation or other inquiry of such agency or other governmental authority under any antitrust laws. In taking the foregoing actions, each of Mr. Cooper and Home Point have agreed to act reasonably and as promptly as practicable.
Neither of Mr. Cooper nor Home Point nor their respective affiliates will extend any waiting period or comparable period under the HSR Act or enter into any agreement with any governmental authority not to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, except with the prior written consent of the other parties to the Merger Agreement. Mr. Cooper and Purchaser have also agreed to use reasonable best efforts to take promptly any and all steps necessary or as may be required by any governmental authority to avoid or eliminate each and every impediment and obtain all consents under any antitrust laws that may be required by any governmental authority so as to enable the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, as expeditiously as practicable (and in any event at least five (5) business days prior to the Termination Date), including committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate order, trust or otherwise, (A) selling, divesting, licensing or otherwise disposing of, or holding separate and agreeing to sell, divest, license or otherwise dispose of, any assets of Home Point or its subsidiaries or of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser, (B) terminating, amending or assigning existing relationships and contractual rights and obligations of Home Point or its subsidiaries or of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser, (C) requiring Home Point or its subsidiaries or Mr. Cooper or Purchaser, to grant any right or other commercial accommodation to, or enter into any material commercial contractual or other commercial relationship with, any third party and (D) imposing limitations on Home Point or its subsidiaries or Mr. Cooper or Purchaser, with respect to how they own, retain, conduct or operate all or any portion of their respective businesses or assets.
Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in the Merger Agreement, neither Mr. Cooper nor any of its affiliates are required to, and none of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries will commit to (other than with the written consent of Mr. Cooper), take such actions that, individually or in the aggregate with all other such requirements, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Mr. Cooper or its affiliates (including Home Point and its subsidiaries) on a scale as measured against Home Point and its subsidiaries; and provided that any such action contemplated by the last sentence in the immediately preceding paragraph is conditioned upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
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Mr. Cooper and Home Point have agreed to each keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to providing the requisite notices to, and obtaining consents and approvals from, governmental authorities set forth in the Home Point Disclosure Letter, and Home Point has agreed to take such actions related thereto as set forth in the Home Point Disclosure Letter. Each of Mr. Cooper and Home Point will furnish to the other such necessary information and reasonable assistance as the other may reasonably request in connection with the preparation of any required governmental filings, notices or submissions and will cooperate in responding to any inquiry from a governmental authority, including (i) promptly informing the other party of such inquiry, (ii) consulting in advance before making any material presentations or submissions to a governmental authority, (iii) giving the other party the opportunity to attend and participate in any substantive meetings or discussions with any governmental authority, to the extent not prohibited by such governmental authority or by law, and (iv) supplying each other with copies of all material correspondence, submissions or written communications between either party and any governmental authority with respect to the Merger Agreement.
Mr. Cooper and Purchase have agreed to not (i) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a portion of the assets of or equity in, or by any other manner, any business of any person or other business organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any assets or equity interests or (ii) take or agree to take any other action (including entering into or agreeing to enter into any material license, joint venture or other transaction), in each case, other than in the ordinary course of business, that would reasonably be expected to (A) impose any material delay in the obtaining of, or materially increase the risk of not obtaining, approval from, or avoiding an action by, any governmental authority under antitrust laws necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period, (B) materially increase the risk of any governmental authority entering an order under antitrust laws prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or (C) otherwise materially delay or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Employee Matters. For twelve months following the Effective Time, Mr. Cooper has agreed to provide each Home Point employee who continues employment following the Effective Time (a Continuing Employee) with:
| at least the same base salary and base wage rate provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to Effective Time; |
| short-term cash incentive compensation opportunities (excluding any equity or equity-based, change in control, retention, transaction or similar incentive opportunities) that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to those provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time; |
| employee benefits (excluding equity or equity-based, defined benefit pension, severance, change in control, retention and nonqualified deferred compensation and retiree or post-termination health or welfare benefits) that are substantially comparable in the aggregate (including with respect to the proportion of employee cost) to those provided to such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time; and |
| severance payments and benefits that are no less favorable than those provided to such Continuing Employee under Home Points severance policy immediately prior to the Effective Time (or if greater, the severance payments and benefits that are provided to similarly situated Mr. Cooper employees). |
For purposes of determining eligibility to participate, vesting and, with respect to vacation and paid time off benefits only, level of benefits, where length of service is relevant under any benefit plan or arrangement of Mr. Cooper, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries in which a Continuing Employee participates immediately after the Effective Time (which we refer to collectively as the New Plans), such Continuing Employee will receive service credit for his or her years of service with Home Point and its subsidiaries (and any respective predecessors) prior to the Effective Time to the same extent and for the same purpose as such service credit was granted under the corresponding Home Point benefit plan in which such
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Continuing Employee participated prior to the Effective Time, except for purposes of benefit accrual under any defined benefit pension plan, for any purpose under any equity-based plan or to the extent any such service credit would result in the duplication of benefits or compensation. In addition: (i) each Continuing Employee will be immediately eligible to participate, without any waiting time or satisfaction of any other eligibility requirements, in any and all New Plans to the extent that (A) coverage under such New Plan replaces coverage under a Home Point benefit plan in which such Continuing Employee participated immediately before the Effective Time (which we refer to collectively as the Old Plans) and (B) such Continuing Employee has satisfied all waiting time and other eligibility requirements under the Old Plan being replaced by the New Plan and (ii) for purposes of each New Plan providing medical, dental, pharmaceutical and/or vision benefits to any Continuing Employee, Mr. Cooper will use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause (A) all pre-existing condition exclusions and actively-at-work requirements of such New Plan to be waived for such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents to the extent such conditions were inapplicable or waived under the comparable Old Plan in which such Continuing Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time and (B) any expenses incurred by any Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents during the portion of the plan year of the Old Plan ending on the date such Continuing Employees participation in the corresponding New Plan begins to be taken into account under such New Plan for purposes of satisfying all deductible, coinsurance and maximum out-of-pocket requirements applicable to such Continuing Employee and his or her covered dependents for the applicable plan year as if such amounts had been paid in accordance with such New Plan.
Unless otherwise requested by Mr. Cooper in writing not less than ten days prior to the Closing Date, Home Point will terminate the Home Point 401(k) plan, effective no later than the day immediately preceding the Closing Date (but contingent upon the Closing). If such 401(k) plan is so terminated, Mr. Cooper will establish or make available a replacement 401(k) plan for Continuing Employees to participate in effective as of the Closing Date, and such plan will accept a direct rollover of contributions from the Home Point 401(k) plan if so elected by the applicable Continuing Employee.
Repayment of Indebtedness. In connection with and conditioned upon the Effective Time, Mr. Cooper will (or will cause an Affiliate to) provide and make available to Home Point in immediately available funds in an amount equal to the amount necessary for Home Point and its subsidiaries to repay and discharge in full all amounts outstanding or otherwise due and owing pursuant to the terms of certain financing arrangements set forth on the Company Disclosure Letter (which we refer to as the Company Debt), including accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations (including penalties or other charges or amounts that become payable thereunder as a result of the prepayment thereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated at the Closing or that may become due and payable at the Effective Time) of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries thereunder (which we refer to collectively as the Debt Payoff Amount). Subject to Mr. Coopers compliance with the previous sentence, Home Point will pay the Debt Payoff Amount to the counterparties under the Company Debt as promptly as practicable following the date the Company receives such Debt Payoff Amount. Home Points 5.0% Senior Notes due 2026 do not constitute Company Debt and are expected to remain outstanding following the Closing.
Acquisition Proposals. From the execution of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of the Merger Agreement (except as otherwise permitted by the Merger Agreement), Home Point will, and will cause its subsidiaries and each of its and their respective directors and officers to, and will instruct and use its reasonable best efforts to cause its other representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing solicitation of, or discussions or negotiations with, any third party relating to any Competing Proposal (as defined below) or any inquiry, discussion or request that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal, and Home Point was required to promptly (and in any event within two (2) business days of the date of the Merger Agreement) request in writing that each third party that had previously executed a confidentiality or similar agreement promptly return to Home Point or destroy all non-public information previously furnished or made available to such third party or any of its representatives by or on behalf of Home Point or its representatives in accordance with the terms of such confidentiality agreement.
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Except as otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement, from the execution of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of the Merger Agreement, Home Point will not, and will cause its subsidiaries and each of its and their respective directors and officers not to, and will instruct and use its reasonable best efforts to cause its other representatives not to:
| initiate, solicit, propose, knowingly facilitate or knowingly encourage the making of any Competing Proposal or any inquiry or proposal that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal; |
| participate or engage in negotiations or discussions (other than informing persons of the provisions described in this subsection Acquisition Proposals in response to a bona fide, unsolicited inquiry) with, or furnish any nonpublic information to, any person relating to a Competing Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or request that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal; |
| grant access to the properties, books, records or personnel of Home Point or its subsidiaries to any person relating to any Competing Proposal or any inquiry or proposal that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal; |
| grant any waiver, amendment or release (to the extent not automatically waived, amended or released upon announcement of, or entering into, the Merger Agreement) of any third party under any standstill or confidentiality agreement; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, Home Point is permitted to grant a waiver of or terminate (to the extent not automatically waived or terminated upon the announcement of, or entry into, the Merger Agreement) any standstill or similar obligation of any third party with respect to Home Point or any of its subsidiaries to allow such third party to make a Competing Proposal if failure to so waive or terminate would be inconsistent with Home Points directors fiduciary duties to the stockholders of Home Point under applicable law; or |
| approve, endorse, recommend, or execute or enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, merger agreement, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement or contract relating to a Competing Proposal or any proposal or offer that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement, as defined below) (we refer to any such letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement or Contract as an Alternative Acquisition Agreement). |
From the execution of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time and the termination of the Merger Agreement, Home Point will, as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within one (1) calendar day of receipt by Home Point or any of its representatives of any Competing Proposal or any inquiry, proposal or request that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to any Competing Proposal, deliver to Mr. Cooper a written notice setting forth: (i) the identity of the third party making such Competing Proposal or inquiry, proposal or request and (ii) the material terms and conditions of any such Competing Proposal or such inquiry, proposal or request (including, if applicable, copies of any written requests, proposals or offers, including proposed term sheets and agreements relating thereto). Home Point will keep Mr. Cooper reasonably informed of the status and any material amendment or modification of (and supplementally provide the terms of) any such Competing Proposal, inquiry, proposal or request on a prompt basis, and the status of any discussions or negotiations, and in any event within one (1) calendar day following Home Points receipt in writing of such an amendment or modification.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Merger Agreement, but subject to compliance with the terms described in this subsection Acquisition Proposals, at any time prior to the Offer Acceptance Time, in the event that Home Point receives a bona fide, unsolicited Competing Proposal from any person which did not result from a material breach of the terms described in this subsection, (i) Home Point and its representatives may contact such person to clarify the terms and conditions thereof and (ii) Home Point and its Board of Directors and their respective representatives may engage in negotiations or discussions with, or furnish any information and
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other access to, any person making such Competing Proposal and its representatives or potential sources of financing if the Home Point Board of Directors determines in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors) that such Competing Proposal either constitutes a Superior Proposal (as defined below) or would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal; provided that (i) prior to furnishing any material nonpublic information concerning Home Point or its subsidiaries, Home Point receives from such person, to the extent such person is not already subject to a confidentiality agreement with Home Point, an executed confidentiality agreement with such person containing confidentiality terms that are not materially less favorable in the aggregate to Home Point than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (as defined below), it being understood that such confidentiality agreement need not contain a standstill provision or otherwise restrict the making, or amendment, of a Competing Proposal to Home Point or the Home Point Board of Directors (we refer to such confidentiality agreement as an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) and (ii) any such material nonpublic information so furnished in writing will be promptly made available to Mr. Cooper to the extent it was not previously made available to Mr. Cooper or its representatives.
For the purposes of the foregoing covenants and those contained in the terms described by the subsection Changes of Board Recommendation or other Adverse Actions below and for the purposes of the Support Agreement, please note the following definitions:
| Competing Proposal means a bona fide written proposal or offer made by any person (other than Mr. Cooper, Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates) or group of persons as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act (x) to purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, in one transaction or a series of transactions, (i) beneficial ownership (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) (or the right to acquire beneficial ownership) of more than twenty percent (20%) of the total outstanding equity securities of Home Point (by vote or value) pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other business combination, sale of shares of capital stock, tender offer (including a self-tender offer), exchange offer, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction or (ii) any one or more assets or businesses of Home Point and its subsidiaries that constitute more than twenty percent (20%) of the revenues, earnings or assets of Home Point and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (y) with respect to the issuance, sale or other disposition, directly or indirectly to any person (other than Mr. Cooper, Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates) or group of persons as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, of securities (or options, rights, or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, such securities) representing more than 20% of the voting power of Home Point, or (z) with respect to any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, reorganization, liquidation, dissolution or other transaction involving Home Point or its subsidiaries pursuant to which any person or group of persons would have beneficial ownership (as defined pursuant to Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) of securities representing more than 20% of the total outstanding equity securities of Home Point (by vote or value) after giving effect to the consummation of such transaction. |
| Superior Proposal means a Competing Proposal (with all percentages in the definition of Competing Proposal increased to fifty percent (50%)) made by a third party that the Home Point Board of Directors has determined in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors and considering all legal, regulatory and financing aspects of such Competing Proposal as the Home Point Board of Directors considers to be appropriate (including the identity of the third party), is reasonably likely to be consummated in accordance with its terms, and if consummated would be more favorable, from a financial point of view, to Home Points stockholders than the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (taking into account any changes to the terms of the Merger Agreement proposed by Mr. Cooper to Home Point in writing in response to such Competing Proposal). |
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Changes of Board Recommendation or Other Adverse Actions. Except as otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement, the Home Point Board of Directors will not:
| withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, or propose publicly or otherwise to withdraw, withhold, qualify or modify, in a manner adverse to Mr. Cooper or Purchaser, or fail to make, a Home Point Board Recommendation; |
| adopt, approve or recommend, or propose publicly to adopt, approve or recommend, to Home Points stockholders, or otherwise declare advisable, any Competing Proposal; |
| fail to publicly recommend against any Competing Proposal or fail to publicly reaffirm Home Point Board Recommendation, in each case, within five (5) business days after Mr. Cooper so requests in writing following a publicly announced Competing Proposal; |
| fail to recommend against any Competing Proposal subject to Regulation 14D under the Exchange Act in a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 within ten (10) business days after the commencement of such Competing Proposal or make any recommendation or public statement in connection with a tender or exchange offer that constitutes a Competing Proposal other than a recommendation against such offer or a stop, look and listen communication by the Home Point Board of Directors; |
| fail to include Home Point Board Recommendation in the Schedule 14D-9 (we refer to any action described in this and the preceding bullet points as an Adverse Recommendation Change); or |
| approve or recommend, or allow Home Point or any of its subsidiaries to execute, approve or enter into, any Alternative Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement). |
Notwithstanding anything in the Merger Agreement to the contrary, at any time prior to the Offer Acceptance Time, the Home Point Board of Directors may:
| make an Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an event, occurrence, change, effect, condition, development or state of facts or circumstances (other than related to a Competing Proposal or Superior Proposal, or any proposal which constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Competing Proposal or Superior Proposal) that was neither known to, nor reasonably foreseeable by, the Home Point Board of Directors as of the date of the Merger Agreement (or if known, the consequences of which were not known or reasonably foreseeable to the Home Point Board of Directors as of the date of the Merger Agreement) (which we refer to as an Intervening Event) (where, for the avoidance of doubt, (x) the fact in and of itself that Home Point meets or exceeds projections, forecasts or estimates (it being understood that the underlying causes of (or contributors to) such performance that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of Intervening Event may be taken into account) and (y) changes in and of themselves in the price of Home Point common stock or the trading volume thereof will be considered known and reasonably foreseeable occurrences (it being understood that the underlying causes of (or contributors to) such changes in price or trading volume that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of Intervening Event may be taken into account)), only if the Home Point Board of Directors has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors) that the failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with Home Points directors fiduciary duties under applicable Law; or |
| if Home Point has received a bona fide, unsolicited Competing Proposal which did not result from a material breach of the terms described by the subsection Acquisition Proposals and this subsection Changes of Board Recommendation or other Adverse Actions and that is not withdrawn, and the Home Point Board of Directors has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors) that such Competing Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal, make an Adverse Recommendation Change, if and only if, the Home Point Board of Directors has determined in good faith (after consultation with its outside legal counsel and financial advisors) that the failure to make an Adverse Recommendation Change would reasonably be expected |
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to be inconsistent with the directors fiduciary duties under applicable law and Home Point has complied in all material respects with the terms described by the subsection Acquisition Proposals and this subsection Changes of Board Recommendation or other Adverse Actions with respect to such Competing Proposal and the person making such Competing Proposal. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Adverse Recommendation Change may be made unless and until: (i) the fourth (4th) business day (which we refer to as the Notice Period) following Mr. Coopers receipt of a written notice from Home Point advising Mr. Cooper of the Home Point Board of Directors intent to make an Adverse Recommendation Change (which we refer to as a Notice of Adverse Recommendation), which Notice of Adverse Recommendation will specify in reasonable detail the applicable Intervening Event or Superior Proposal and will specify the terms and conditions (and include the most current version of each proposed contract providing for such Superior Proposal, including any contract relating to financing) of any such Competing Proposal which the Home Point Board of Directors has concluded constitutes a Superior Proposal and the identity of the person making such Competing Proposal, (ii) during the Notice Period, if requested by Mr. Cooper, Home Point and its representatives will negotiate with Mr. Cooper and its representatives in good faith (to the extent Mr. Cooper so desires to negotiate) to make adjustments to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement so that either the failure to make an Adverse Recommendation Change in response to such Intervening Event would no longer be reasonably expected to be inconsistent with the fiduciary duties of the Home Point Board of Directors under applicable Law or such Competing Proposal would cease to constitute a Superior Proposal, as appropriate, and (iii) in determining whether to make such Adverse Recommendation Change, the Home Point Board of Directors will take into account any changes to the terms of the Merger Agreement timely proposed by Mr. Cooper in response to a Notice of Adverse Recommendation during the Notice Period (as may be extended); any material revision to any Competing Proposal will require a new Notice of Adverse Recommendation and Home Point will be required to comply again with the requirements described by this subsection; provided that the new Notice Period will be three (3) business days (but in no event shorter than the original four (4) business day Notice Period).
Nothing in the Merger Agreement restricts Home Point or the Home Point Board of Directors from taking or disclosing a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise making disclosure to comply with applicable law with regard to a Competing Proposal, it being agreed that a stop, look and listen communication by the Home Point Board of Directors to Home Points stockholders pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act or a factually accurate public statement by Home Point that solely describes Home Points receipt of a Competing Proposal and the operation of the Merger Agreement with respect thereto will not be deemed to be an Adverse Recommendation Change or give rise to a Mr. Cooper termination right; provided that Home Point does not make any recommendation in connection therewith other than a recommendation against such offer.
Any breach of the terms described in the subsection Acquisition Proposals and this subsection Changes of Board Recommendation or Other Adverse Actions by any director, officer or representative of Home Point or any of its subsidiaries will be deemed to be a breach of the Merger Agreement by Home Point.
Termination. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Merger Agreement to the contrary, the Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, as follows:
| by mutual written consent of each of Mr. Cooper and Home Point at any time prior to the Offer Acceptance Time; |
| by either Mr. Cooper or Home Point if: |
| at any time prior to the Offer Acceptance Time, the Merger has not been consummated by the Termination Date; provided, however, that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement is not available to any party if the failure of such party, and in the case of Mr. Cooper, including the |
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failure of Purchaser, to perform or comply with any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement has been the principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Offer to be consummated on or before such date; or |
| prior to the Effective Time, any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and such law or order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement is not available to a party if the issuance of such law or order or taking of such action was primarily due to the failure of such party, and in the case of Mr. Cooper, including the failure of Purchaser, to perform any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement; |
| by Home Point, if: |
| at any time prior to the Offer Acceptance Time, Mr. Cooper or Purchaser has breached or failed to perform any of their respective representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would have a Parent Material Adverse Effect and (B) is not capable of being cured, or is not cured, by Mr. Cooper or Purchaser on or before the earlier of (x) the Termination Date and (y) the date that is thirty (30) calendar days following Home Points delivery of written notice to Mr. Cooper or Purchaser, as applicable, of such breach; provided, however, that Home Point will not have this right to terminate the Merger Agreement if Home Point is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under the Merger Agreement so as to not satisfy an Offer Condition; or |
| if following the expiration of the Offer, Purchaser has failed to accept for payment all Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer within the period specified by the Merger Agreement or, if following the Offer Acceptance Time, Purchaser has failed to purchase all Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer within the period specified by the Merger Agreement; |
| by Mr. Cooper, if: |
| any Principal Stockholder has breached (x) its covenant to tender its Shares under the Support Agreement, (y) any covenant set forth in the Support Agreement which breach would impede or reasonably be expected to impede its ability to fully comply with its covenant to tender its Shares under the Support Agreement or (z) any covenant set forth in the Support Agreement which breach would make or reasonably be expected to make the covenant requiring the Principal Stockholders to tender their Shares under the Support Agreement ineffective for its contemplated purposes (which we refer to as a Non-Tender Termination); |
| Home Point has breached or failed to perform any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (A) would give rise to the failure of an Offer Condition, and (B) is not capable of being cured, or is not cured, by Home Point on or before the earlier of (x) the Termination Date and (y) the date that is thirty (30) calendar days following Mr. Coopers delivery of written notice to Home Point of such breach (which we refer to as a Home Point Breach Termination); provided, however, that Mr. Cooper does not have this right to terminate the Merger Agreement if Mr. Cooper or Purchaser is then in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under the Merger Agreement so as to cause a Parent Material Adverse Effect; or |
| at any time prior to the Offer Acceptance Time, the Home Point Board of Directors has made an Adverse Recommendation Change (which we refer to as the Adverse Recommendation Change Termination). |
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Effect of Termination. Any valid termination of the Merger Agreement is effective immediately upon the delivery of written notice by the terminating party to the other parties. In the event of a valid termination, the Merger Agreement will be of no further force or effect without liability of any party (or any partner, member, stockholder, director, officer, employee, affiliate or representative of such party) to the other parties, as applicable, except that certain specified provisions of the Merger Agreement will survive, including those described in the subsection Home Point Termination Fee below. No termination of the Merger Agreement will relieve any party from any liability for fraud or any willful and material breach of the Merger Agreement by such party prior to termination. In addition to the foregoing, no termination of the Merger Agreement will affect the rights or obligations of any party pursuant to the Confidentiality Agreement, which rights, obligations and agreements will survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms.
Home Point Termination Fee. Home Point has agreed to pay Mr. Cooper a termination fee of $9,720,000 (which we refer to as the Termination Fee) if:
| (A) a third party has made to Home Point or directly to Home Points stockholders a Competing Proposal, or any Competing Proposal has been publicly made or disclosed, after the date of the Merger Agreement, (B) the Merger Agreement is subsequently terminated by Mr. Cooper or Home Point as a result of the Merger not being consummated by the Termination Date, as described above, or by Mr. Cooper pursuant to (x) a Non-Tender Termination or (y) a Home Point Breach Termination as a result of a knowing and intentional breach of any covenant or agreement under the Merger Agreement by Home Point, and any such Competing Proposal had not been withdrawn at least five (5) business days prior to the event giving rise to the termination of this Agreement, and (C) within twelve (12) months of such termination of the Merger Agreement, Home Point consummates a transaction involving a Competing Proposal or enters into an Alternative Acquisition Agreement providing for the consummation of a Competing Proposal (which is subsequently consummated); provided, however, that for purposes of the terms described by this subsection Home Point Termination Fee, the references to twenty percent (20%) in the definition of Competing Proposal are deemed to be references to fifty percent (50%); or |
| the Merger Agreement is terminated by Mr. Cooper pursuant to an Adverse Recommendation Change Termination. |
Specific Performance. Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point have agreed that irreparable damage for which monetary damages, even if available, would not be an adequate remedy would occur in the event that the parties do not perform their obligations under the provisions of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its specified terms or otherwise breach such provisions. The parties have further agreed that:
| they will be entitled, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity, to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief to prevent breaches (or threatened breaches) of the Merger Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement; |
| neither the ability of either party hereto to recover damages for fraud or any willful and material breach of the Merger Agreement nor the Termination Fee are intended to and do not adequately compensate Home Point, on the one hand, or Mr. Cooper or Purchaser, on the other hand, for the harm that would result from a breach of the Merger Agreement, and will not be construed to diminish or otherwise impair in any respect any partys right to an injunction, specific performance and other equitable relief; and |
| the right of specific enforcement is an integral part of the Merger and without that right, neither Mr. Cooper nor Home Point would have entered into the Agreement. |
Expenses. Except as expressly set forth in the Merger Agreement, all expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby will be paid by the party incurring such
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expenses, whether or not such transactions are consummated; provided that Mr. Cooper will pay all costs and expenses in connection with the filings of the notification and report forms under any antitrust laws in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Mr. Cooper will or, following the Effective Time, will cause the Surviving Corporation to, timely and duly pay one-half of all transfer, stamp and documentary taxes or fees that are imposed in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (which we refer to as Transfer Taxes), and the Principal Stockholders will pay one-half of all Transfer Taxes, provided that Home Point will bear any Transfer Taxes imposed on the transfer of Shares under the Merger Agreement by any stockholder other than the Principal Stockholders, provided, further, that if payment of the Merger Consideration is to be made to a person other than the person in whose name the book-entry evidence of Shares is registered, it shall be a condition precedent of payment that the person requesting such payment shall have paid any transfer, stamp and documentary taxes or fees required by reason of the payment of the Merger Consideration to such other person or shall have established to the satisfaction of Mr. Cooper that such tax either has been paid or is not required to be paid.
Offer Conditions. The Offer Conditions are described in Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
Support Agreement
In connection with entering into the Merger Agreement, Mr. Cooper and Home Point entered into a Tender and Support Agreement (as it may be amended from time to time, the Support Agreement), dated as of May 10, 2023 with Trident VI, L.P., Trident VI Parallel Fund, L.P., Trident VI DE Parallel Fund, L.P. and Trident VI Professionals Fund, L.P., each in its individual capacity as a stockholder of Home Point (each of which we refer to as a Principal Stockholder and, collectively, the Principal Stockholders), which together owned approximately 92% of the outstanding Shares as of May 10, 2023. The Principal Stockholders beneficially own a sufficient number of Shares such that the Minimum Condition will be satisfied as a result of the tender by the Principal Stockholders of their Shares to Purchaser in accordance with the Support Agreement.
Pursuant to and subject to the terms and conditions of the Support Agreement, each Principal Stockholder has agreed to validly tender or cause to be validly tendered in the Offer all Shares beneficially owned or owned of record by such Principal Stockholder as promptly as practicable after, but in no event later than five (5) business days after the commencement of the Offer. Each of the Principal Stockholders agrees that, once any of its Shares are tendered, such Principal Stockholder will not withdraw and will not cause or allow to be withdrawn any of such Shares from the Offer at any time, unless and until the Support Agreement is validly terminated.
In addition, each Principal Stockholder has agreed that, from the date of the Support Agreement until the Support Agreement Termination Date (as defined below), at every meeting of the stockholders of Home Point, and at every adjournment or postponement thereof, and on every action or approval proposed to be taken by written consent of the stockholders of Home Point, each of the Principal Stockholders will (x) appear at each such meeting or otherwise cause all of its Shares to be counted as present thereat for the purpose of determining a quorum, and (y) be present (in person or by proxy) and, unconditionally and irrevocably, vote (or deliver a written consent with respect to), or cause the holder of record on any applicable record date to vote (or deliver a written consent with respect to), all Shares that it is entitled to vote, or act by written consent:
| in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, and in favor of any other matters expressly contemplated by the Merger Agreement or necessary for or in reasonable furtherance of the timely consummation of the Offer, the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; |
| against any Competing Proposal, other than the Merger; |
| against any action, agreement or transaction that is intended or could reasonably be expected to (A) result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement |
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of Home Point contained in the Merger Agreement, or of any Principal Stockholder contained in the Support Agreement or (B) result in any Offer Conditions of the Merger Agreement not being timely satisfied; and |
| against any amendment to Home Points certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other action which is intended to, or would or could reasonably be expected to, impede, prevent, delay, adversely affect the consummation of or prevent the consummation of the Offer, the Merger or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. |
The Principal Stockholders further agreed to certain other restrictions on their ability to take actions with respect to Home Point and their Shares, including transferring their Shares and soliciting Competing Proposals.
The Support Agreement will terminate and have no further force or effect upon the first to occur of (a) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms, (b) the Effective Time, (c) the date of any modification, waiver or amendment to any provision of the Merger Agreement without the prior written consent of such Principal Stockholder that reduces the amount of consideration or changes the form of consideration payable to all stockholders of Home Point pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and (d) the mutual written consent of Home Point, the Principal Stockholders, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, termination will not relieve any party to the Support Agreement from liability, or otherwise limit the liability of any party to the Support Agreement, for any willful breach of the Support Agreement prior to such termination; provided that in no event will any Principal Stockholders liability for monetary damages exceed the value of the aggregate consideration to which such Principal Stockholder would be entitled pursuant to the Merger Agreement.
The foregoing description of the Support Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Support Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit (d)(3) of the Schedule TO of which this Offer to Purchase forms a part.
MSR Purchase Agreement
On March 10, 2023, concurrently with entering into the Merger Agreement, Nationstar Mortgage LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper (which we refer to as MSR Purchaser), and, solely for the purposes set forth therein, Mr. Cooper, entered into an Agreement for the Bulk Purchase and Sale of Mortgage Servicing Rights (which we refer to as the MSR Purchase Agreement) with Home Point Financial Corporation, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Home Point (which we refer to as MSR Seller). Pursuant to the terms of the MSR Purchase Agreement, MSR Seller has agreed to sell, and MSR Purchaser has agreed to purchase, certain mortgage servicing rights (which we refer to as Servicing Rights) held by MSR Seller two (2) business days prior to the Expiration Date.
The obligations of MSR Purchaser and MSR Seller under the MSR Purchase Agreement as of the Sale Date (as defined below) are subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent not prohibited by law) waiver by MSR Purchaser and MSR Seller of the following conditions:
| no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in any jurisdiction in which MSR Seller, MSR Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates have any business operations has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect and has the effect of restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the transfer and sale contemplated in the MSR Purchase Agreement of the Servicing Rights; |
| any waiting period (or any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the transfer and sale contemplated in the MSR Purchase Agreement of the Servicing Rights under the HSR Act has expired or been terminated or early termination thereof has been granted, and there is not in effect any voluntary agreement with a governmental authority not to consummate the transfer and sale contemplated herein of the Servicing Rights; and |
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| the consents of the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation have been obtained. |
The obligations of MSR Purchaser under the MSR Purchase Agreement as of the Sale Date are subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent not prohibited by law) waiver by MSR Purchaser of the following conditions:
| the satisfaction or (to the extent not prohibited by law) waiver by Mr. Cooper under the Merger Agreement of the Offer Conditions (other than (i) the MSR Purchase Condition (as defined below) and (ii) any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied only at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being timely satisfied); |
| MSR Seller has performed or complied with certain tax-related obligations; and |
| each of the representations and warranties of MSR Seller contained in the MSR Purchase Agreement related to ability to transfer the Servicing Rights, good title to the Servicing Rights and consents and waivers necessary to transfer the Servicing Rights, without giving effect to any materiality or similar qualifications therein, are true and correct in all material respects as of the Sale Date (except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties must be so true and correct as of such specific date only). |
Prior to the later of (x) the first (1st) business day after the satisfaction or waiver, to the extent not prohibited by law, of the Offer Conditions other than the MSR Purchase Condition and (y) the business day immediately prior to the Expiration Date (or such other date mutually agreed in writing by MSR Purchaser and MSR Seller, which we refer to as the Sale Date), MSR Purchaser or MSR Seller may immediately terminate the MSR Purchase Agreement if the Merger Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms.
Mr. Cooper has agreed to pay Home Point a termination fee of $34,576,900 under the MSR Purchase Agreement in the event that (i) the MSR Purchase has been consummated and (ii) the Merger Agreement has been validly terminated in accordance with its terms (other than as a result of a Non-Tender Termination, Home Point Breach Termination or Adverse Recommendation Change Termination).
The foregoing description of the MSR Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the MSR Purchase Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit (d)(4) of the Schedule TO of which this Offer to Purchase forms a part.
Confidentiality Agreement
On October 4, 2023, MSR Purchaser and Home Point entered into a confidentiality agreement (which we refer to as the Confidentiality Agreement) in connection with Mr. Coopers consideration of a potential strategic with Home Point. The Confidentiality Agreement included customary non-disclosure provisions that requires Mr. Cooper to keep confidential certain information relating to Home Point for a period of two (2) years from the date of the Confidentiality Agreement. The Confidentiality Agreement also included a customary standstill provision that prohibited Mr. Cooper, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the Confidentiality Agreement, from offering to acquire or acquiring Home Point, and from taking certain other actions, including soliciting proxies, without the prior written consent of Home Point. The Confidentiality Agreement provided for the termination of the standstill provision on customary terms, and also allowed Mr. Cooper to make confidential acquisition proposals to the Home Point Board at any time. The Confidentiality Agreement contained a non-solicitation provision prohibiting Mr. Cooper and any of its controlled affiliates, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of the Confidentiality Agreement, from soliciting for employment or hiring certain officers and employees of Home Point, subject to certain exceptions.
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The foregoing description of the Confidentiality Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Confidentiality Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit (d)(2) of the Schedule TO of which this Offer to Purchase forms a part.
12. Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point.
Purpose of the Offer. The purpose of the Offer is for Mr. Cooper, through Purchaser, to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, Home Point. The Offer, as the first step in the acquisition of Home Point, is intended to facilitate the acquisition of all outstanding Shares. The purpose of the Merger is to acquire all outstanding Shares not tendered and purchased pursuant to the Offer. If the Offer is successful, Purchaser intends to consummate the Merger as soon as practicable following (but in any event on the same date as) the Offer Acceptance Time, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the other conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
If you sell your Shares in the Offer, you will cease to have any equity interest in Home Point or any right to participate in its earnings and future growth. If you do not tender your Shares, but the Merger is consummated, you will also no longer have an equity interest in Home Point. Similarly, after selling your Shares in the Offer or the subsequent Merger, you will not bear the risk of any decrease in the value of Home Point.
Merger Without a Stockholder Vote. If the Offer is consummated, we will not seek a vote of the remaining public stockholders of Home Point before effecting the Merger. Section 251(h) of the DGCL provides that following consummation of a successful tender offer for a public corporation (the shares of which are listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders), and subject to certain statutory provisions, if the acquirer holds at least the amount of shares of each class of stock of the target corporation that would otherwise be required to approve a merger for 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 acquirer can effect a merger without the vote of the other stockholders of the target corporation. Accordingly, if we consummate the Offer, we will effect the closing of the Merger without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.
Plans for Home Point. If we accept Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer, we will obtain control over the management of Home Point and the Home Point Board of Directors shortly thereafter. Mr. Cooper and Purchaser are conducting a detailed review of Home Point and its assets, corporate structure, capitalization, operations, properties, policies, management and personnel, and will consider what changes would be desirable in light of the circumstances that exist upon completion of the Offer. Mr. Cooper and Purchaser will continue to evaluate the business and operations of Home Point during the pendency of the Offer and after the consummation of the Offer and the Merger and will take such actions as they deem appropriate under the circumstances then existing. Thereafter, Mr. Cooper intends to review such information as part of a comprehensive review of Home Points business, operations, capitalization and management with a view to optimizing development of Home Points potential in conjunction with Home Points and Mr. Coopers existing businesses. We expect that all aspects of Home Points business will be fully integrated into Mr. Cooper. Promptly following the consummation of the Offer and the Merger, Mr. Cooper intends to effectuate certain restructuring steps that will result in (i) the merger of Home Point with and into Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper (which we refer to as Nationstar), with Nationstar surviving such merger and (ii) the merger of MSR Seller with and into MSR Purchaser, with MSR Purchaser surviving such merger. In addition, following the onboarding of Home Point customers and the consummation of the Offer and the Merger, Mr. Cooper expects to shut down the remaining Home Point operations. However, plans may change based on further analysis, including changes in Home Points business, corporate structure, charter, bylaws, capitalization, Board of Directors and management.
Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, including as contemplated in this Section Purpose of the Offer; Plans for Home Point, and Section 13 Certain Effects of the Offer, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser have no present plans or proposals that would relate to or result in (i) any extraordinary corporate transaction
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involving Home Point (such as a merger, reorganization, liquidation, relocation of any operations or sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets), (ii) any sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of Home Point, (iii) any material change in Home Points capitalization or dividend policy, (iv) any other material change in Home Points corporate structure or business, (v) changes to the management of Home Point or the Home Point Board of Directors, (vi) a class of securities of Home Point being delisted from a national securities exchange or ceasing to be authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association or (vii) a class of equity securities of Home Point being eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
To the best knowledge of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, no employment, equity contribution, or other agreement, arrangement or understanding between any executive officer or director of Home Point, on the one hand, and Mr. Cooper, Purchaser or Home Point, on the other hand, existed as of the date of the Merger Agreement, and neither the Offer nor the Merger is conditioned upon any executive officer or director of Home Point entering into any such agreement, arrangement or understanding.
It is possible that certain members of Home Points current management team will enter into new employment arrangements with Mr. Cooper or the Surviving Corporation after the completion of the Offer and the Merger. Any such arrangements with the existing management team are currently expected to be entered into after the completion of the Offer and will not become effective until after the completion of the Merger, if at all. There can be no assurance that any parties will reach an agreement on any terms, or at all.
The Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation at and immediately following the Effective Time will consist of the members of the Board of Directors of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time. The officers of the Surviving Corporation at and immediately following the Effective Time will consist of the officers of Home Point immediately prior to the Effective Time.
At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation will be amended and restated to be identical to the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of Purchaser, until thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation and the DGCL, except that (i) in each case, the name of the Surviving Corporation will be Home Point Capital Inc. and (ii) the indemnity provisions will be the same as those under Home Points certificate of incorporation and bylaws, respectively, in each case as in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement.
13. Certain Effects of the Offer.
Market for the Shares. If the Offer is successful, there will be no market for the Shares because Purchaser intends to consummate the Merger as soon as practicable following (but in any event on the same date as) the Offer Acceptance Time and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Stock Quotation. The Shares are currently listed on Nasdaq. Immediately following the consummation of the Merger (which is expected to occur as soon as practicable following (but in any event on the same date as) the Offer Acceptance Time), the Shares will no longer meet the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq because the only stockholder will be Purchaser. Immediately following the consummation of the Merger, we intend and will cause Home Point to delist the Shares from Nasdaq.
Margin Regulations. The Shares are currently margin securities under the Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (which we refer to as the Federal Reserve Board), which has the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of the Shares. Depending upon factors similar to those described above regarding the market for the Shares and stock quotations, it is possible that, following the Offer, the Shares would no longer constitute margin securities for the purposes of the
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margin regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and, therefore, could no longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers.
Exchange Act Registration. The Shares are currently registered under the Exchange Act. Such registration may be terminated upon application of Home Point to the SEC if the Shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor held by 300 or more holders of record. Termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by Home Point to its stockholders and to the SEC and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act no longer applicable to Home Point, 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 stockholders meetings 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 Home Point and persons holding restricted securities of Home Point to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be impaired or eliminated. We intend and will cause Home Point to terminate the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as soon after consummation of the Merger as the requirements for termination of registration are met.
14. Dividends and Distributions.
The Merger Agreement provides that from the date of the Merger Agreement to the date of the Effective Time, except as otherwise required or expressly permitted in the Merger Agreement, Home Point will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, declare, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution in respect of its capital stock (including the Shares).
The obligation of Purchaser to accept for payment and pay for Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in clauses (A) through (J) below. Accordingly, notwithstanding any other provision of the Offer or the Merger Agreement to the contrary, Purchaser is not required to accept for payment or (subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act) pay for, and may delay the acceptance for payment of, or (subject to any such rules and regulations) the payment for, any tendered Shares, and, to the extent permitted by the Merger Agreement, may terminate the Offer: (i) upon termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms; and (ii) at any scheduled Expiration Date (subject to any extensions of the Offer pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement), if: (i) the Minimum Condition and the Termination Condition are not be satisfied by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the Expiration Date; or (B) any of the additional conditions set forth below are not satisfied or waived in writing by Mr. Cooper:
(A) | there have been validly tendered and not validly withdrawn Shares that, considered together with all other Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Mr. Cooper and its affiliates, represent at least one more Share than 50% of the sum of (x) the total number of Shares outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer, plus (y) the total number of Shares that Home Point would be required to issue upon conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise of all options, warrants, rights or securities outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Shares (whether then outstanding or for which the conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise date has already occurred, but in any event without duplication) (which we refer to as the Minimum Condition); provided, however, that for purposes of determining whether the Minimum Condition has been satisfied, Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point will exclude Shares tendered in the Offer pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not yet been received (as such term is defined in Section 251(h)(6)(f) of the DGCL); |
(B) | each of the representations and warranties of Home Point contained in the Merger Agreement, without giving effect to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect or similar qualifications therein, |
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is true and correct as of the Offer Acceptance Time, except for such failures to be true and correct as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect (except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties must be so true and correct as of such specific date only); provided, however, that the representations and warranties contained in (i) Sections 4.1 (Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries), 4.3 (Authority Relative to Agreement), Section 4.20 (Brokers), 4.21 (Opinion of Financial Advisor) and 4.23 (Takeover Statutes) of the Merger Agreement without giving effect to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect or similar qualifications therein, are required to be true and correct in all material respects as of the Offer Acceptance Time (except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties must be so true and correct as of such specific date only), (ii) Sections 4.2(a) (Capitalization), 4.2(d)(ii) (on an aggregate basis and not with respect to any individual Company Equity Award) and 4.2(d)(iii) (on an aggregate basis and not with respect to any individual Home Point equity award) of the Merger Agreement are required to be true and correct in all respects as of the Offer Acceptance Time (except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties must be so true and correct as of such specific date only) other than for inaccuracies that individually or in the aggregate are de minimis relative to the total fully diluted equity capitalization of Home Point and (iii) Section 4.9(ii) of the Merger Agreement (Absence of Certain Changes) is required to be true and correct in all respects as of the Offer Acceptance Time (except to the extent such representations and warranties are expressly made as of a specific date, in which case such representations and warranties must be so true and correct as of such specific date only); |
(C) | from the date of the Merger Agreement until the Offer Acceptance Time, no Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred; |
(D) | Home Point has performed or complied in all material respects with its obligations required under the Merger Agreement to be performed or complied with on or prior to the Offer Acceptance Time; |
(E) | any waiting period (or any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer, under the HSR Act has expired or been terminated or early termination thereof has been granted, and there are not in effect any voluntary agreement with a governmental authority not to consummate the Offer or the Merger; |
(F) | all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable. The Merger Agreement provides that consents are required from the Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Federal National Mortgage Association and New York, Virginia, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri and Nevada state mortgage regulators and that notices are required to the Federal Housing Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and certain state mortgage lender, collection agency and similar regulators; |
(G) | Home Point has delivered a certificate to Mr. Cooper, dated as of the date of the Offer Acceptance Time and duly executed by a senior executive officer (or similar authorized person) of Home Point, certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in the foregoing clauses (B), (C) and (D) have been satisfied; |
(H) | no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in any jurisdiction in which Home Point, Mr. Cooper or any of their respective affiliates have any business operations has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect and has the effect of restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the acquisition of or payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the consummation of the Merger; |
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(I) | the purchase and sale of the Servicing Rights pursuant to and in accordance with the MSR Purchase Agreement has been consummated at least two (2) business days prior to the Expiration Date (which we refer to as the MSR Purchase Condition); and |
(J) | the Merger Agreement has not been terminated in accordance with its terms (which we refer to as the Termination Condition). |
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser and (except for the Minimum Condition and the Termination Condition) may be waived by Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, in whole or in part at any time and from time to time, in the sole discretion of Mr. Cooper and Purchaser.
16. Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals.
General. Except as described in this Section 16, based on our examination of publicly available information filed by Home Point with the SEC and other information concerning Home Point, we are not aware of any governmental license or regulatory permit that appears to be material to Home Points business that might be adversely affected by our acquisition of Shares as contemplated herein or of any approval or other action by any governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, that would be required for the acquisition or ownership of Shares by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper as contemplated herein. Should any such approval or other action be required, we currently contemplate that, except as described below under State Takeover Laws, such approval or other action will be sought. While we do not currently intend to delay acceptance for payment of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter, there can be no assurance that any such approval or other action, if needed, would be obtained or would be obtained without substantial conditions or that if such approvals were not obtained or such other actions were not taken, adverse consequences might not result to Home Points business, any of which under certain conditions specified in the Merger Agreement, could cause us to elect to terminate the Offer without the purchase of Shares thereunder under certain conditions. See Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
Compliance with the HSR Act. Under the HSR Act, and the related rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, certain transactions, including the Offer and the MSR Purchase, may not be consummated until notifications have been given and information has been furnished to the FTC and the DOJ and all statutory waiting period requirements have been satisfied. On May 24, 2023, each of Mr. Cooper and Home Point filed Notification and Report Forms under the HSR Act with the FTC and the DOJ in connection with the purchase of Shares in the Offer and the MSR Purchase. The initial waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the Offer will expire at 11:59 pm on June 8, 2023. The initial waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the MSR Purchase will expire at 11:59 pm on June 23, 2023. This period may be lengthened if Mr. Cooper voluntarily withdraws and refiles to allow for a second fifteen (15)-day waiting period, in the case of the Offer, or a second thirty (30)-day waiting period, in the case of the MSR Purchase, or if the reviewing agency issues a request for additional information and documentary material, in which case the waiting period will expire ten (10) days after the date Mr. Cooper has certified its substantial compliance with such request.
At any time before or after the expiration of the statutory waiting periods under the HSR Act, or before or after the effective time, the DOJ or the FTC may take action under the antitrust laws, including seeking to enjoin the completion of the Offer or the MSR Purchase, to rescind the Offer or the MSR Purchase or to conditionally permit completion of the Offer or the MSR Purchase subject to regulatory conditions or other remedies. In addition, U.S. state attorneys general could take action under the antitrust laws as they deem necessary or desirable in the public interest, including, without limitation, seeking to enjoin the completion of the Offer or the MSR Purchase or permitting completion subject to regulatory conditions. Private parties may also seek to take legal action under the antitrust laws under some circumstances. Although neither Mr. Cooper or Home Point believes that the Offer or the MSR Purchase violates the antitrust laws, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Offer or the MSR Purchase on antitrust grounds will not be made or, if such a challenge is made, that it would not be successful.
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Other Regulatory Approvals. The Offer is conditioned on obtaining consents from state mortgage regulators in the following states for either the surrender of applicable licenses or the change of control of Home Point: New York, Virginia, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri and Nevada. In addition to the foregoing state-level consents, consents are required from the Government National Mortgage Association, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and Federal National Mortgage Association.
The Offer is further conditioned on Home Point providing notices to the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as to various regulatory authorities in forty-six (46) states, the District of Columbia and New York City, Yonkers, and Buffalo, New York.
As of May 25, 2023, each of the aforementioned federal agencies, state regulatory agencies, or government-sponsored enterprises have received notice regarding the transaction. Missouri and Virginia have confirmed that each will not require a formal change of control approval of the transaction.
See Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
State Takeover Laws. Home Point is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prevents a Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination (defined to include mergers and certain other actions) with an interested stockholder (including a person who owns or has the right to acquire 15% or more of a corporations outstanding voting stock) for a period of three (3) years following the date such person became an interested stockholder unless, among other things, the business combination is approved by the board of directors of such corporation before such person became an interested stockholder. The Home Point Board of Directors has taken all action necessary under the DGCL to ensure that no such restrictions apply to the Offer, Merger or any other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and has approved the Merger Agreement, the Support Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, for purposes of Section 203 of the DGCL.
Home Point has opted out of Section 203 and therefore provisions of Section 203 are inapplicable to Home Point. However, Home Points charter contains provisions that are similar to Section 203. Specifically, Home Points charter provides that Home Point shall not engage in any business combination (as defined below), at any point in time at which Home Point common stock is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, with any interested stockholder (as defined below) for a period of three (3) years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
| prior to such time, the Home Point Board approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, or |
| upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock (as defined below) of Home Point outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned by (i) persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or |
| at or subsequent to such time, the business combination is approved by the Home Point Board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 662⁄3% of the outstanding voting stock of Home Point which is not owned by the interested stockholder. |
In accordance with the provisions Home Points charter, the Home Point Board has approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger, as described above, and Mr. Cooper and Purchaser have represented and warranted
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to Home Point in the Merger Agreement that neither they nor any of their respective affiliates is or has been during the past three years an interested stockholder of Home Point. Therefore, and assuming the truth of that representation, the restrictions set forth in Home Points charter do not apply to the Offer or the Merger.
Home Point, directly or through subsidiaries, may be deemed to be conducting business in a number of states throughout the United States, some of which have enacted takeover laws. We do not know whether any of these laws will, by their terms, apply to the Offer or the Merger and have not attempted to comply with any such laws. Should any person seek to apply any state takeover law, we will take such action as then appears desirable, which may include challenging the validity or applicability of any such statute in appropriate court proceedings. In the event any person asserts that the takeover laws of any state are applicable to the Offer or the Merger, and an appropriate court does not determine that it is inapplicable or invalid as applied to the Offer or the Merger, we may be required to file certain information with, or receive approvals from, the relevant state authorities. In addition, if enjoined, we may be unable to accept for payment any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, or be delayed in continuing or consummating the Offer and the Merger. In such case, we may not be obligated to accept for payment any Shares tendered in the Offer. See Section 15 Conditions to the Offer.
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 other business combination following the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer in which we seek to acquire the remaining Shares not then held by us. We believe that Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act will not be applicable to the Merger because (i) we were not, at the time the Merger Agreement was executed, and are not, an affiliate of Home Point (for purposes of the Exchange Act); (ii) it is anticipated that the Merger will be effected as soon as practicable after the consummation of the Offer (and in any event within one (1) year following the consummation of the Offer); and (iii) in the Merger, stockholders will receive the same price per Share as the Offer Price.
Stockholder Approval Not Required. Section 251(h) of the DGCL provides that stockholder approval of a merger is not required if certain requirements are met, including that (1) the acquiring company consummates a tender offer for any and all of the outstanding common stock of Home Point to be acquired that, absent Section 251(h) of the DGCL, would be entitled to vote on the merger, and (2) following the consummation of such tender offer, the acquiring company owns at least such percentage of the stock of Home Point to be acquired that, absent Section 251(h) of the DGCL, would be required to adopt the merger. If the Minimum Condition is satisfied and we accept Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer, we will have received a sufficient number of Shares to ensure that Home Point will not be required to submit the adoption of the Merger Agreement to a vote of the stockholders of Home Point. If an Offer Termination has not occurred, following the consummation of the Offer and subject to the satisfaction of the remaining conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Mr. Cooper, Purchaser and Home Point will take all necessary and appropriate action to effect the Merger as soon as practicable after the Offer Acceptance Time, without a meeting of stockholders of Home Point in accordance with Section 251(h) of the DGCL.
No appraisal rights are available to the holders of Shares in connection with the Offer. If the Merger is consummated, appraisal rights will be available in connection with the Merger as further described below, but, although the availability of appraisal rights depends on the Merger being consummated, stockholders who wish to exercise such appraisal rights must do so no later than the time of the consummation of the Offer, even though the Merger will not have been consummated as of such time. If the Merger is consummated, the holders of Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time who (i) did not tender their Shares in the Offer; (ii) demand appraisal in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL; and (iii) do not thereafter withdraw their demand for appraisal of such Shares or otherwise lose their appraisal rights, in each case in accordance with the DGCL, will be entitled to have their Shares appraised by the Delaware Court of Chancery
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and receive payment of the fair value of such Shares, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with a fair rate of interest, as determined by such court.
The fair value of any Shares could be based upon considerations other than, or in addition to, the price paid in the Offer and the market value of such Shares. Holders of Shares should recognize that the value so determined could be higher or lower than, or the same as, the Offer Price or the consideration payable in the Merger (which is equivalent in amount to the Offer Price). Moreover, we may argue in an appraisal proceeding that, for purposes of such proceeding, the fair value of such Shares is less than such amount.
Under Section 262 of the DGCL, where a merger is approved under Section 251(h), either a constituent corporation before the effective date of the merger, or the surviving corporation within ten (10) days thereafter, shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of such constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of Section 262 of the DGCL. The Schedule 14D-9 will constitute the formal notice of appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL.
As will be described more fully in the Schedule 14D-9, if a stockholder elects to exercise appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL, such stockholder must do all of the following:
| by the later of the consummation of the Offer and twenty (20) days after the mailing of the Schedule 14D-9, deliver to Home Point a written demand for appraisal of Shares held, which demand must reasonably inform Home Point of the identity of the stockholder and that the stockholder is demanding appraisal; |
| not tender their Shares in the Offer; and |
| continuously hold of record the Shares from the date on which the written demand for appraisal is made through the Effective Time. |
The foregoing summary of the appraisal rights of stockholders under the DGCL does not purport to be a complete statement of the procedures to be followed by stockholders desiring to exercise any appraisal rights available thereunder and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Section 262 of the DGCL. The proper exercise of appraisal rights requires strict and timely adherence to the applicable provisions of the DGCL. A copy of Section 262 of the DGCL will be included as Annex B to the Schedule 14D-9.
The information provided above is for informational purposes only with respect to your alternatives if the Merger is consummated. If you tender your Shares pursuant to the Offer, you will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights with respect to your Shares but, instead, subject to the Offer Conditions, you will receive the Offer Price for your Shares.
Mr. Cooper has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. to be the Information Agent and Equiniti Trust Company to be the Depository in connection with the Offer. The Information Agent may contact holders of Shares by mail, telephone, telecopy, telegraph and personal interview and may request banks, brokers, dealers and other nominees to forward materials relating to the Offer to beneficial owners of Shares.
The Information Agent and the Depository will each receive reasonable and customary compensation for their respective services in connection with the Offer, will be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses in connection therewith, including certain liabilities under federal securities laws.
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Neither Mr. Cooper nor Purchaser will pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or to any other person (other than to the Depository and the Information Agent) in connection with the solicitation of tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies will, upon request, be reimbursed by Purchaser for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers. In those jurisdictions where applicable laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction to be designated by Purchaser.
The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where applicable laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction to be designated by Purchaser.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representation on behalf of Mr. Cooper or Purchaser not contained herein or in the Letter of Transmittal, and, if given or made, such information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized. No broker, dealer, bank, trust company, fiduciary or other person shall be deemed to be the agent of Purchaser, Depository or the Information Agent for the purpose of the Offer.
Purchaser has filed with the SEC a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO pursuant to Rule 14d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, together with exhibits furnishing certain additional information with respect to the Offer, and may file amendments thereto. Home Point has advised Purchaser that it will file with the SEC on the date on which Mr. Cooper and Purchaser file the Offer documents with the SEC its Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 setting forth the recommendation of the Home Point Board of Directors with respect to the Offer and the reasons for such recommendation and furnishing certain additional related information. Copies of such documents, and any amendments thereto, may, when filed, be obtained from the SEC in the manner set forth under Section 7 Certain Information Concerning Home Point above.
Heisman Merger Sub, Inc.
May 26, 2023
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SCHEDULE I INFORMATION RELATING TO MR. COOPER AND PURCHASER
Mr. Cooper
The following table sets forth information about Mr. Coopers directors and executive officers as of May 26, 2023. The current business address of each person is c/o Mr. Cooper Group Inc., 8950 Cypress Waters Boulevard, Coppell, Texas 75019, and the business telephone number is (469)-549-2000. Except as provided below, all directors and executive officers listed below are citizens of the United States.
Name |
Age | Position | ||||
Jay Bray |
56 | Chief Executive Officer, Chair of the Board and Director | ||||
Kurt Johnson |
53 | Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer | ||||
Chris Marshall |
63 | Vice Chairman, President | ||||
Carlos Pelayo |
55 | Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer | ||||
Michael Rawls |
53 | Chief Executive OfficerXome | ||||
Busy Burr |
61 | Director | ||||
Roy Gunthrie |
69 | Director | ||||
Daniela Jorge |
51 | Director | ||||
Michael Malone |
69 | Director | ||||
Shveta Mujumdar |
44 | Director | ||||
Tagar Olson |
45 | Director | ||||
Steve Scheiwe |
62 | Director |
Executive Officers of Mr. Cooper
Jay Bray
Mr. Bray has more than 30 years of experience in the mortgage servicing and originations industry, and played a critical role in leading the servicing market shift to non-banks following the financial crisis and led the growth of our portfolio from a start of $21 billion UPB in 2008 to more than $870 billion today, making us the largest non-bank servicer. Mr. Brays in-depth experience and understanding of financial services and Mr. Coopers business and operations qualify him to serve as a Mr. Cooper Group director.
Professional Experience:
| Chief Executive Officer of Mr. Cooper since July 2018 |
| Mr. Coopers President from July 2018 to June 2021 |
| Nationstars |
| Director since 2012 & CEO since February 2012 |
| President from June 2015 to June 2021 |
| EVP & Chief Financial Officer from May 2011 to February 2012 |
| Nationstars wholly-owned subsidiary, Nationstar Mortgage LLCs |
| Chief Executive Officer & Manager since October 2011 |
| President from July 2011 to June 2021 |
| Chief Financial Officer from May 2000 until September 2012 |
| Executive Chairman of Xome Holdings LLC since September 2015 |
| Various leadership roles at Bank of America and predecessor entities from 1994 to 2000 |
| Various roles at Arthur Andersen from 1988 to 1994 |
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| In addition to public company Boards noted below, serves on the Boards of: |
| Swell Financial, Inc., a privately-held financial technology company, since February 2022 |
| Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity since March 2022 |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current |
| Elevate Credit, Inc. |
| Past Five Years |
| Nationstar |
Kurt Johnson
Mr. Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage-banking industry.
Professional Experience:
| Mr. Coopers Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer since March 2023 |
| Executive Vice President & Chief Risk and Compliance Officer from April 2021 to March 2023 |
| Executive Vice President & Chief Credit and Risk Officer from February 2021 to April 2021 |
| Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer of Nationstar Mortgage LLC from July 2019 to February 2021 |
| Senior Vice President of Nationstar Mortgage LLC from November 2015 to July 2019 |
| Led Project Titan, Mr. Coopers initiative to enhance servicing technology |
| Senior leadership positions at OneWest Bank for six years |
| Assisted FDIC in developing a streamlined modification program, the template for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) |
Chris Marshall
Mr. Marshall has held key leadership positions in the banking and finance industry for more than 20 years.
Professional Experience:
| Mr. Coopers Vice Chairman since January 2019 |
| Mr. Coopers President since June 2021 |
| Mr. Coopers Chief Financial Officer from March 2019 to April 2022 |
| Vice Chairman of Nationstar and Nationstar Mortgage LLC since March 2019 |
| President of Nationstar and Nationstar Mortgage LLC since June 2021 |
| Chief Financial Officer of Nationstar and Nationstar Mortgage LLC from March 2019 to May 2022 |
| Executive Chairman at Tax Guard Inc., a leading provider of federal tax payment data to banks and specialty lenders in 2018 |
| Co-Founder and Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer at Capital Bank Financial Corp. from October 2009 to December 2017 |
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| Chief Restructuring Officer of GMAC, Inc. (now Ally Financial, Inc.) from May 2009 to October 2009 |
| Advisor to The Blackstone Group, L.P. from July 2008 to March 2009 |
| Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Fifth Third Bancorp from 2006 to 2008 |
| Various senior executive roles at Bank of America Corporation |
| Various senior-leadership roles at: |
| Honeywell International Inc. |
| AlliedSignal Technical Services Corporation |
| TRW, Inc. |
Carlos Pelayo
Mr. Pelayo has more than 20 years of experience in the legal field, and has extensive experience in financial services, regulatory compliance, litigation, capital markets and transactional work.
Professional Experience:
| Mr. Coopers Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer since February 2023 |
| Managing Director and Legal Executive for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, a division of Bank of America from December 2014 to February 2023 |
| Managing Director and General Counsel for Barclayss investment-driven private banking business in the Americas from May 2007 to December 2014 |
| Senior Vice President, Legal for Lehman Brothers (prior to its acquisition by Barclays) |
| Senior Associate for Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP from 2001 to May 2007 |
| Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Jan E. Dubois, United States Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 1999 to 2000 |
Michael Rawls
Mr. Rawls has more than 20 years of expertise in mortgage operations, concentrating in loss mitigation, foreclosure, bankruptcy and real estate owned portfolios.
Professional Experience:
| Chief Executive Officer of Xome Holdings LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper since January 2020 |
| Mr. Coopers Executive Vice President, Servicing from July 2018 to January 2020 |
| Executive Vice President, Servicing of Nationstar and Nationstar Mortgage LLC from June 2015 to January 2020 |
| President of Champion Mortgage from 2014 to June 2015 |
| Executive Vice President, Default at Nationstar from 2013 to 2014 |
| Senior Vice President, Loss Mitigation at Nationstar from 2008 to 2013 |
| Various key positions at Nationstar from 2000 to 2008 |
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Directors of Mr. Cooper
Busy Burr
Ms. Burr is a C-level, cross-industry, marketing, innovation, and strategy leader with a career driving customer-centric growth strategy from Fortune 100 global enterprises to high-growth start-ups. She has successes in financial services, technology and retail with depth in business development, branding, innovation, digital technology, and communications. Ms. Burr is a recognized expert in and frequent speaker on driving innovative growth in large corporations through customer-focused strategy and disciplined execution.
Professional Experience:
| Interim Chief Executive Officer of Rite Aid Corporation since January 2023 |
| President & Chief Commercial Officer of Carrot, Inc., a venture-backed digital health company, from November 2019 to August 2021 |
| Chief Innovation Officer & Vice President, Healthcare Trend at Humana, Inc., a for-profit health insurance company, from March 2015 to September 2018 |
| Founded Humana Health Ventures, the venture capital investing practice |
| Managing Director of Citi Ventures and Global Head of Business Incubation of Citigroup, Inc. from January 2011 to January 2015 |
| Entrepreneur-in-Residence at eBay, Inc. from January 2010 to January 2011 |
| Various senior-leadership roles at: |
| Credit Suisse Group AG (formerly Credit Suisse First Boston) |
| Homestead Technologies Inc. |
| Gap Inc. |
| Investment Banker for Morgan Stanley |
| In addition to the public company Boards of Directors noted below, serves on the Board of Directors of Satellite Healthcare Inc., a not-for-profit provider of kidney dialysis services, since December 2018 |
| Previously served as an investor in, and board observer of: |
| Omada Health, Inc. |
| Aspire Health, Inc. |
| Livongo Health, Inc. |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current: |
| Rite Aid Corporation |
| SVB Financial Group |
| Past Five Years: |
| None |
Roy Guthrie
Mr. Guthrie has valuable expertise in financial services as well as extensive experience as an executive officer and director of public companies.
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Professional Experience:
| Chairman of the Executive Committee of Renovate America, Inc. (a privately-held corporation), which provides an energy efficiency and renewable energy home improvement financing platform, since September 2018 |
| Served as Chief Executive Officer from October 2017 to September 2018 |
| Independent Lead Director: |
| Nationstar from July 2017 to July 2018 |
| Mr. Cooper from July 2018 to March 2021 |
| Executive Vice President of Discover Financial Services, a direct banking and payment services company, from 2005 to 2012 |
| Served as Chief Financial Officer from 2005 to 2011 |
| Served as Treasurer from 2009 to 2010 |
| President & Chief Executive Officer of CitiFinancial International, LTD, a consumer finance business of Citigroup Inc., from 2000 to 2004 |
| Served on Management Committee |
| Chief Financial Officer of Associates First Capital Corporation from 1996 to 2000, while a public company |
| Served as a member of its Board of Directors from 1998 to 2000 |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current: |
| OneMain Holdings, Inc. |
| Synchrony Financial |
| Past Five Years: |
| Cascade Acquisition Corp. |
| Lifelock, Inc. |
| Nationstar |
Daniela Jorge
Ms. Jorge is a consumer technology executive with experience leading product design at recognizable Fin-tech brands. She is an expert at deepening the customer experience through emerging technologies, and is noted for her customer-centricity and cross-functional leadership. Ms. Jorge is a transformational leader with success unlocking the business value of design to fuel profitable growth. She has deep expertise in customer success and using data to enhance customer relationships and broaden product offerings.
Professional Experience:
| Chief Design Officer at PayPal, a leading financial technology company and online payments system, since November 2020 |
| Previously served as Vice President of Design and Research from April 2016 to November 2020 |
| Vice President of Digital Design and User Experience at AT&T Inc. from April 2014 to April 2016 |
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| Various senior leadership roles at: |
| eBay Inc. |
| Intuit Inc. |
| Yahoo! |
| Kaiser Permanente |
| Kodak |
| Serves on the Board of Directors of BayBrazil, a non-profit technology community |
| Serves as a board advisor at Loft Brasil, Tecnologia LTDA, a privately-held Brazilian real estate technology company |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current: |
| None |
| Past Five Years: |
| None |
Michael Malone
Mr. Malone has extensive experience in financial services and real estate and has served on other public companies boards.
Professional Experience:
| Former Managing Director of Fortress Investment Group LLC, a global investment management group, from February 2008 until February 2012 |
| Led Charlotte, North Carolina office |
| Responsible for the business of the capital formation group in the southeast and southwest regions of the United States |
| Retired from Bank of America in November 2007, after nearly 24 years of service as Senior Executive Banker and Managing Director |
| Worked in and ran a number of investment banking businesses for the bank and its subsidiary, Banc of America Securities LLC, including real estate, gaming, lodging, leisure and the financial sponsors businesses |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current: |
| Walker & Dunlop, Inc. |
| Past Five Years: |
| Nationstar |
| New Senior Investment Group |
Shveta Mujumdar
Ms. Mujumdar has extensive strategy, mergers & acquisitions, and operational experience. Her career has spanned multiple industries including financial services, education, and technology, specifically software and
66
consumer internet. She is a transformational leader, and her financial acumen has helped her to scale businesses through strategy and mergers & acquisitions. She has experience in driving a customer-obsessed product innovation-oriented culture.
Professional Experience:
| Senior Vice President, Corporate Development for Intuit, Inc., a business and financial software company, since February 2022 |
| Head of Corporate Development for Block, Inc. (formerly Square, Inc.), a financial services and digital payments company from November 2021 to February 2022 |
| Vice President, Corporate Development for Intuit, Inc. from September 2016 to November 2021 |
| Vice President, Corporate Development for Lynda.com from February 2013 until its acquisition by LinkedIn in May 2015 |
| Continued as a consultant for LinkedIn until August 2015 |
| Various senior-leadership roles at: |
| QuinStreet |
| LiveNation/Ticketmaster |
| Goldman Sachs Group |
| Deloitte |
| Member of the Board of Trustees for Whittier College, a four-year liberal arts college in Southern California |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current: |
| None |
| Past Five Years: |
| None |
Tagar Olson
Mr. Olsons has extensive experience in corporate financings, mergers, acquisitions, investments and strategic transactions, relationships in the investment banking and private equity industries and experience in identifying potential merger and acquisition candidates.
Professional Experience:
| Founder of Integrum Holdings LP, an investment firm focused on partnering with technology-enabled services companies, since 2021 |
| Management Committee member |
| Investment Committee chair |
| Partner at KKR from 2002 to December 2019 |
| Served as head of financial services and hospitality and leisure industry teams |
| Served as member of: |
| Investment Committee (Americas Private Equity platform) |
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| Portfolio Management Committee (Americas Private Equity platform) |
| Global Investment, Markets and Distribution Committee |
| Played significant role in many other financial services sector investments |
| Previous role at Evercore Partners Inc. |
| Co-founder of the DHPS Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to the research and treatment of rare genetic diseases |
| Serves on the boards of directors of a number of privately-held companies |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current: |
| None |
| Past Five Years: |
| First Data Corporation (now known as Fiserv, Inc.) |
Steve Scheiwe
Mr. Scheiwe has a high level of financial literacy, broad experience serving as a board member of public and private companies, experience in mergers, acquisitions and financing, legal acumen and experience serving on audit committees.
Professional Experience:
| President of Ontrac Advisors, Inc., a privately-held company which offers analysis and management services to private equity groups, privately held companies and funds managing distressed corporate debt issues, since 2001 |
| In addition to the public company Boards of Directors noted below, he serves on the Board of Directors of Penn Treaty American Corporation, a privately-held company operating through three insurance company subsidiaries, since August 2022 |
| Previously served on the boards of directors of several other public and privately-held companies in the last ten (10) years |
Other Public Company Directorships:
| Current: |
| Atlas Financial Holdings, Inc. |
| F45 Training Holdings Inc. |
| Past Five Years: |
| Alimco Financial Corporation |
| Verso Corporation |
Purchaser
The following table sets forth information about Purchasers directors and executive officers as of May 26, 2023. The current business address of each person is c/o Mr. Cooper Group Inc., 8950 Cypress Waters
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Boulevard, Coppell, Texas 75019, and the business telephone number is (469)-549-2000. All directors and executive officers listed below are citizens of the United States.
Name |
Age | Position | ||||
Ethan Elzen |
43 | Director | ||||
Kurt Johnson |
53 | President and Treasurer | ||||
Elisabeth Gormley |
52 | Vice President and Secretary |
Directors and Executive Officers of Purchaser
Ethan Elzen
Mr. Elzen is a director of Purchaser. He has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Professional Experience
| Mr. Coopers EVP of Business Development and Operational Finance since 2022 |
| SVP and CFO of Mr. Cooper Originations Business and Xome from 2020 to 2022 |
| President of Colorado Federal Savings Bank from 2014 to 2020 |
| Director, Financial Institutions Group, at UBS Investment Bank from 2010 to 2014 |
| VP, Corporate Restructuring at Ally Financial from 2009 to2010 |
Kurt Johnson
Mr. Johnson is President and Treasurer of Purchaser. Mr. Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in the mortgage-banking industry.
Professional Experience:
| Mr. Coopers Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer since March 2023 |
| Executive Vice President & Chief Risk and Compliance Officer from April 2021 to March 2023 |
| Executive Vice President & Chief Credit and Risk Officer from February 2021 to April 2021 |
| Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer of Nationstar Mortgage LLC from July 2019 to February 2021 |
| Senior Vice President of Nationstar Mortgage LLC from November 2015 to July 2019 |
| Led Project Titan, Mr. Coopers initiative to enhance servicing technology |
| Senior leadership positions at OneWest Bank for six years |
| Assisted FDIC in developing a streamlined modification program, the template for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) |
Elisabeth Gormley
Ms. Gormley is the Vice President and Secretary of Purchaser. Ms. Gormley has over 20 years of experience in the legal field.
Professional Experience:
| Mr. Coopers Vice President & Associate General Counsel since 2013 and Corporate Secretary since 2019 |
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| Corporate Counsel of Dr. Pepper Snapple Group from 2005 to 2013 |
| Corporate Attorney at Weil, Gotshal & Manges from 2001 to 2005 |
The Letter of Transmittal and certificates evidencing Shares and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each stockholder or its, his or her broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depository at one of its addresses set forth below:
The Depository for the Offer is:
EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY
By Mail: | By Hand or Overnight Courier: | |
Equiniti Trust Company Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 64858 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0858 |
Equiniti Trust Company Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101 Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120 |
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its addresses and telephone numbers set forth below. Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other materials related to the Offer may be directed to the Information Agent. Such copies will be furnished promptly at Purchasers expense. Stockholders may also contact brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer. Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person (other than the Information Agent or the Depository) for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10005
Stockholders may call toll free: (866) 864-7964
Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 269-5550
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Exhibit (a)(1)(B)
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
To Tender Shares of Common Stock
of
HOME POINT CAPITAL INC.
a Delaware corporation
at
$2.33 NET PER SHARE (CUSIP #43734L106)
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase
Dated May 26, 2023
by
HEISMAN MERGER SUB, INC.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
MR. COOPER GROUP INC.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT
5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME,
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2023,
UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED
(SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS IT MAY BE EXTENDED, THE EXPIRATION DATE).
The Depository Agent for the Offer is:
EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY
By Mail: | By Hand or Overnight Courier: | |
Equiniti Trust Company Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 64858 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0858 |
Equiniti Trust Company Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101 Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120 |
Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal to an address other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery to the Depository (as defined below). You must sign this Letter of Transmittal in the appropriate space provided therefor below, with signature guaranteed, if required, and complete the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-9 included in this Letter of Transmittal or the appropriate IRS Form W-8, if required. The instructions set forth in this Letter of Transmittal should be read carefully before you tender any of your Shares (as defined below) into the Offer (as defined below).
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED | ||||||||
Name(s) and Address(es) of Registered Holder(s) (Please fill in, if blank, exactly as name(s) appear(s) on certificate(s)) (Attach additional signed list if necessary) |
Shares Tendered | |||||||
Certificate Number(s) |
Total Number of Shares Represented by Certificate(s) |
Book Entry Tendered |
Total Number of Shares Tendered* | |||||
Total Shares | ||||||||
* Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares described in the chart above are being tendered. See Instruction 4. |
The Offer is not being made to (and no tenders will be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be used by stockholders of Home Point Capital Inc. (Home Point) if certificates (the Certificates) for shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share, of Home Point
(the Shares) are to be forwarded herewith or, unless an Agents Message (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase) is utilized, if delivery of Shares is to be made by book-entry transfer to an account maintained by Equiniti Trust Company (the Depository) at The Depository Trust Company (DTC) (as described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase and pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase).
Additional Information if Certificates Have Been Lost, Destroyed or Stolen, or Are Being Delivered By Book-Entry Transfer
If Certificates you are tendering with this Letter of Transmittal have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, you should contact Equiniti Trust Company, in its capacity as transfer agent (the Transfer Agent), at 1-800-468-9716 to get the required paperwork to replace your certificate and participate in the Offer. You may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that the Certificates may be subsequently recirculated. You are urged to contact the Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instructions, for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation. See Instruction 11.
☐ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED HEREWITH. |
☐ | CHECK HERE IF YOU HAVE LOST YOUR CERTIFICATE(S) AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN OBTAINING REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE(S). BY CHECKING THIS BOX, YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MUST CONTACT THE TRANSFER AGENT TO OBTAIN INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPLACING LOST CERTIFICATES. SEE INSTRUCTION 11. |
☐ | CHECK HERE IF TENDERED SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO AN ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DEPOSITORY WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING (NOTE THAT ONLY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE SYSTEM OF DTC MAY DELIVER SHARES BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER): |
Name of Tendering Institution: | ||
DTC Account Number: | ||
Transaction Code Number: |
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NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.
PLEASE READ ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (Mr. Cooper), the above described shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (the Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation (Home Point), pursuant to Purchasers offer to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase, any and all of the outstanding Shares, at a price of $2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 26, 2023 (the Offer to Purchase), and in this Letter of Transmittal (the Letter of Transmittal which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended and supplemented from time to time, collectively constitute the Offer), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms of any such extension or amendment), and effective upon acceptance for payment of the Shares validly tendered herewith and not validly withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) in accordance with the terms of the Offer, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the order of Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all of the Shares that are being tendered hereby (and any and all dividends, distributions, rights, other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect thereof on or after the date hereof (collectively, Distributions)) and irrevocably constitutes and appoints Equiniti Trust Company (the Depositary) the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest in the Shares tendered by this Letter of Transmittal), to (i) deliver Certificates for such Shares (and any and all Distributions) or transfer ownership of such Shares (and any and all Distributions) on the account books maintained by The Depository Trust Company (DTC) or otherwise held in book-entry form, together, in any such case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Purchaser, (ii) present such Shares (and any and all Distributions) for transfer on the books of Home Point and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (and any and all Distributions), all in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
By executing this Letter of Transmittal (or taking action resulting in the delivery of an Agents Message, as defined in the Offer to Purchase), the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints each of the designees of Purchaser the attorneys-in-fact and proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, (i) to vote at any annual or special meeting of Home Point stockholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof or otherwise in such manner as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or its, his or her substitute shall in its, his or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to, (ii) to execute any written consent concerning any matter as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or its, his or her substitute shall in its, his or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to and (iii) to otherwise act as each such attorney-in-fact and proxy or its, his or her substitute shall in its, his or her sole discretion deem proper with respect to, all of the Shares (and any and all Distributions) tendered hereby and accepted for payment by Purchaser. This appointment will be effective if and when, and only to the extent that, Purchaser accepts such Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer. This power of attorney and proxy are irrevocable and are granted in consideration of the acceptance for payment of such Shares in accordance with the terms of the Offer. Such acceptance for payment shall, without further action, revoke any prior powers of attorney and proxies granted by the undersigned at any time with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations may be given by the undersigned with respect thereto (and, if given, will not be deemed effective). Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for the Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Purchasers acceptance for payment of such Shares, Purchaser or its designees must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights with respect to such Shares (and any and all Distributions), including voting at any meeting of Home Point stockholders.
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The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer any and all of the Shares tendered hereby (and any and all Distributions) and that, when the same are accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good and unencumbered title to such Shares (and such Distributions), free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and the same will not be subject to any adverse claims. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned is the registered owner of the Shares, or the Certificate(s) have been endorsed to the undersigned in blank, or the undersigned is a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares. The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Depository or Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares tendered hereby (and any and all Distributions). In addition, the undersigned shall remit and transfer promptly to the Depository for the account of Purchaser all Distributions in respect of any and all of the Shares tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, and, pending such remittance and transfer or appropriate assurance thereof, Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of each such Distribution and may withhold the entire purchase price of the Shares tendered hereby or deduct from such purchase price the amount or value of such Distribution as determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion.
All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall not be affected by, and shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned, and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that delivery of any Certificate shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to such Certificate shall pass, only upon the proper delivery of such Certificate to the Depository.
The undersigned understands that the valid tender of Shares pursuant to any of the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute the undersigneds acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. Purchasers acceptance of such Shares for payment will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (and if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment). The undersigned recognizes that under certain circumstances set forth in the Offer, Purchaser may not be required to accept for exchange any Shares tendered hereby.
Unless otherwise indicated under Special Payment Instructions, please issue a check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return a book entry statement for shares not tendered or accepted for payment in the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under Description of Shares Tendered. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under Special Delivery Instructions, please mail the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return a book entry statement for shares not tendered or not accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under Description of Shares Tendered. In the event that the boxes entitled Special Payment Instructions and Special Delivery Instructions are both completed, please issue the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and, if appropriate, return a book entry statement for shares not tendered or not accepted for payment (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) in the name(s) of, and deliver such check and, if appropriate, return a book entry statement for shares (and any accompanying documents, as appropriate) to, the person(s) so indicated. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled Special Payment Instructions, please credit any Shares tendered herewith by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for payment by crediting the account at DTC designated above. The undersigned recognizes that Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions, to transfer any Shares from the name of the registered holder thereof if Purchaser does not accept for payment any of the Shares so tendered.
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SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS (See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7) |
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS (See Instructions 1, 5, 6 and 7) | |||
To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of Shares accepted for payment and/or Certificates not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued in the name of someone other than the undersigned.
Issue check and/or certificates to:
Name: (Please Print)
Address:
(Include Zip Code)
(Taxpayer identification or Social Security No.)
(Also complete, as appropriate, Form W-9 included below)
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To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of Shares accepted for payment and/or Certificates evidencing Shares not tendered or not accepted are to be mailed to someone other than the undersigned or to the undersigned at an address other than that shown above.
Mail check and/or Certificates to:
Name: (Please Print)
Address:
(Include Zip Code) |
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IMPORTANT STOCKHOLDER: YOU MUST SIGN BELOW (U.S. Holders: Please complete and return the IRS Form W-9 included below) (Non-U.S. Holders: Please obtain, complete and return IRS Form W-8BEN or other IRS Form W-8) | ||
(Signature(s) of Holder(s) of Shares) | ||
Dated: |
| |
Name(s): |
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(Please Print) |
Capacity (full title) (See Instruction 5): |
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Address: |
| |
(Include Zip Code) |
Area Code and Telephone No.: |
| |
Tax Identification or Social Security No. (See IRS Form W-9 included below):
(Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Certificate(s) or on a security position listing or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by Certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, agent, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth full title and see Instruction 5.) |
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INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER
1. Guarantee of Signatures. No signature guarantee is required on this Letter of Transmittal (a) if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for purposes of this Instruction, includes any participant in DTCs systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of Shares tendered herewith, unless such registered holder has completed either the box entitled Special Payment Instructions or the box entitled Special Delivery Instructions on this Letter of Transmittal or (b) if such Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program or any other eligible guarantor institution, as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (each, an Eligible Institution). In all other cases, all signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5.
2. Requirements of Tender. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. In order for Shares to be validly tendered pursuant to the Offer, one of the following procedures must be followed:
For Shares held as physical certificates, the Certificates representing tendered Shares, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depository at one of its addresses set forth on the front page of this Letter of Transmittal before the Expiration Date.
For Shares held in book-entry form, either a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, together with any required signature guarantees, or an Agents Message in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal, and any other required documents, must be received by the Depository at the appropriate address set forth on the front page of this Letter of Transmittal, and such Shares must be delivered according to the book-entry transfer procedures (as set forth in Section 3 of the Offer to Purchase) and a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Shares into the Depositorys account at DTC (a Book-Entry Confirmation) must be received by the Depository, in each case before the Expiration Date.
The method of delivery of Shares, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the election and risk of the tendering stockholder. Shares will be deemed delivered (and the risk of loss of Certificates will pass) only when actually received by the Depository (including, in the case of a book-entry transfer, by Book-Entry Confirmation). If delivery is by mail, then registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.
No fractional Shares will be purchased. By executing this Letter of Transmittal, the tendering stockholder waives any right to receive any notice of the acceptance for payment of Shares.
3. Inadequate Space. If the space provided herein is inadequate, Certificate numbers, the number of Shares represented by such Certificates and/or the number of Shares tendered should be listed on a separate signed schedule attached hereto.
4. Partial Tenders (Not Applicable to Stockholders who Tender by Book-Entry Transfer). If fewer than all the Shares represented by any Certificate delivered to the Depository are to be tendered, fill in the number of Shares which are to be tendered in the box entitled Total Number of Shares Tendered. In such case, a book entry statement for shares for the remainder of the Shares represented by the old Certificate will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, as promptly as practicable following the expiration or termination of the Offer. All Shares represented by Certificates delivered to the Depository will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.
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5. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal; Stock Powers and Endorsements.
(a) Exact Signatures. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the Certificates without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.
(b) Joint Holders. If any of the Shares tendered hereby are held of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
(c) Different Names on Certificates. If any of the Shares tendered hereby are registered in different names on different Certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Certificates.
(d) Endorsements. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, no endorsements of Certificates or separate stock powers are required unless payment of the purchase price is to be made, or Shares not tendered or not purchased are to be returned, in the name of any person other than the registered holder(s). Signatures on any such Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
(e) Stock Powers. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Shares tendered hereby, Certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case, signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on the Certificates for such Shares. Signature(s) on any such Certificates or stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible institution. See Instruction 1.
(f) Evidence of Fiduciary or Representative Capacity. If this Letter of Transmittal or any Certificate or stock power is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other legal entity or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Depository of the authority of such person so to act must be submitted. Proper evidence of authority includes a power of attorney, a letter of testamentary or a letter of appointment.
6. Stock Transfer Taxes. If payment is to be made to, or if Certificate(s) for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be registered in the name of, any person(s) other than the registered holder(s), or if tendered Certificate(s) for Share(s) are registered in the name of any person(s) other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, no amounts shall be paid in respect of such Share(s) unless evidence satisfactory to Home Point (or any successor entity) of the payment of any stock transfer or similar taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s) or such other person(s) or otherwise) payable as a result of the transfer to such other person(s), or exemption therefrom, is submitted.
7. Special Payment and Delivery Instructions. If a check is to be issued for the purchase price of any Shares tendered by this Letter of Transmittal in the name of, and, if appropriate, Certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be issued or returned to, any person(s) other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or if a check and, if appropriate, such Shares are to be returned to any person(s) other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown in this Letter of Transmittal, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal must be completed.
8. Tax Withholding. Under U.S. federal income tax law, a tendering stockholder (and, if applicable, each other payee) that is a United States person as defined for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a U.S. Holder) is required to provide the Depository with a correct Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) on IRS Form W-9, which is included herein, and to certify, under penalties of perjury, that such number is correct and that such stockholder or payee is not subject to backup withholding of federal income tax or otherwise establish a basis for
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exemption from backup withholding. Failure to provide the information on the IRS Form W-9 may subject the tendering stockholder or payee to backup withholding at the applicable rate, and such stockholder or payee may be subject to a penalty imposed by the IRS. The tendering stockholder or payee should write Applied For in the space for the TIN if a TIN has not been issued and the stockholder or payee has applied for a number or intends to apply for a number in the near future. If a TIN has been applied for and the Depository is not provided with a TIN before payment is made, the tendering stockholder or payee will be subject to backup withholding at the applicable rate. See the enclosed IRS From W-9 and the instructions thereto for additional information.
Certain stockholders or payees (including, among others, corporations) may not be subject to backup withholding. Exempt stockholders or payees that are United States persons should furnish their TIN, check the appropriate box on the IRS Form W-9 and sign, date and return the IRS Form W-9 to the Depository in order to avoid backup withholding. A stockholder or other payee that is not a United States person may qualify as an exempt recipient by providing the Depository with a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or other appropriate IRS Form W-8, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to such stockholder or payees foreign status or by otherwise establishing an exemption. An appropriate IRS Form W-8 may be obtained from the Depository or the IRS website (www.irs.gov).
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the U.S. federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If backup withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund or credit may be obtained from the IRS, provided that the required information is timely provided to the IRS.
9. Irregularities. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares will be determined by Purchaser, in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties. However, stockholders may challenge Purchasers determinations in a court of competent jurisdiction. Purchaser reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of which may, in the opinion of its counsel, be unlawful. Purchaser also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Shares of any particular stockholder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other stockholders. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been waived or cured within such time as Purchaser shall determine. None of Mr. Cooper, Purchaser, the Depository, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notice. Purchasers interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be final and binding.
10. Questions and Requests for Additional Copies. The Information Agent may be contacted at the address and telephone number set forth on the last page of this Letter of Transmittal for questions and/or requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer materials. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance. Such copies will be furnished promptly at Purchasers expense.
11. Lost, Stolen Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. If any Certificate has been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, the stockholder should promptly notify the Transfer Agent at 1-800-468-9716. The stockholder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace such Certificates. You may be required to post a bond to secure against the risk that the Certificates(s) may be subsequently recirculated. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen certificates have been followed. You are urged to contact the Transfer Agent immediately in order to receive further instructions and for a determination of whether you will need to post a bond and to permit timely processing of this documentation. This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Certificates have been followed.
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Certificates evidencing tendered Shares, or a Book-Entry Confirmation into the Depositorys account at DTC, as well as this Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agents Message (if utilized in lieu of this Letter of Transmittal in connection with a book-entry transfer), and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received before the Expiration Date.
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Form W-9 (Rev. October 2018) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification u Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information.Give Form to therequester. Do not send to the IRS. Print or type.See Specific Instructions on page 3. 1 Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank. 2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above 3 Check appropriate box for federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of thefollowing seven boxes. 4 Exemptions (codes apply only tocertain entities, not individuals; seeinstructions on page 3): Exempt payee code (if any) Exemption from FATCA reportingcode (if any) (Applies to accounts maintained outside the U.S.) Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC C Corporation S Corporation Partnership Trust/estate Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C corporation, S=S corporation, P=Partnership) u Note: Check the appropriate box in the line above for the tax classification of the single-member owner. Do not check LLCif the LLC is classified as a single-member LLC that is disregarded from the owner unless the owner of the LLC is anotherLLC that is not disregarded from the owner for U.S. federal tax purposes. Otherwise, a single-member LLC that isdisregarded from the owner should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Other (see instructions) u 5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.) See instructions. Requesters name and address (optional) 6 City, state, and ZIP code 7 List account number(s) here (optional) Part I Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later. Social security number - - orNote: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. Also see What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter. Employer identification number - Part IICertificationUnder penalties of perjury, I certify that: 1.The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and 2.I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and 3.I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and 4.The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct. Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later. SignHere Signature of U.S. person uDate u General Instructions Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9. Purpose of Form An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following. " Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid) " Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds) " Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds) " Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers) " Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions) " Form 1099-K (merchant card and third party network transactions) " Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), 1098-T (tuition) " Form 1099-C (canceled debt) " Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property) Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN. If you do not return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding, later. Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) Page 2Form W-9 (Rev. October 2018) Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification u Go to www.irs.gov/FormW9 for instructions and the latest information.Give Form to therequester. Do not send to the IRS. Print or type.See Specific Instructions on page 3. 1 Name (as shown on your income tax return). Name is required on this line; do not leave this line blank. 2 Business name/disregarded entity name, if different from above 3 Check appropriate box for federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one of thefollowing seven boxes. 4 Exemptions (codes apply only tocertain entities, not individuals; seeinstructions on page 3): Exempt payee code (if any) Exemption from FATCA reportingcode (if any) (Applies to accounts maintained outside the U.S.) Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC C Corporation S Corporation Partnership Trust/estate Limited liability company. Enter the tax classification (C=C corporation, S=S corporation, P=Partnership) u Note: Check the appropriate box in the line above for the tax classification of the single-member owner. Do not check LLCif the LLC is classified as a single-member LLC that is disregarded from the owner unless the owner of the LLC is anotherLLC that is not disregarded from the owner for U.S. federal tax purposes. Otherwise, a single-member LLC that isdisregarded from the owner should check the appropriate box for the tax classification of its owner. Other (see instructions) u 5 Address (number, street, and apt. or suite no.) See instructions. Requesters name and address (optional) 6 City, state, and ZIP code 7 List account number(s) here (optional) Part I Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. The TIN provided must match the name given on line 1 to avoid backup withholding. For individuals, this is generally your social security number (SSN). However, for a resident alien, sole proprietor, or disregarded entity, see the instructions for Part I, later. For other entities, it is your employer identification number (EIN). If you do not have a number, see How to get a TIN, later. Social security number - - orNote: If the account is in more than one name, see the instructions for line 1. Also see What Name and Number To Give the Requester for guidelines on whose number to enter. Employer identification number - Part IICertificationUnder penalties of perjury, I certify that: 1.The number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me); and 2.I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding; and 3.I am a U.S. citizen or other U.S. person (defined below); and 4.The FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that I am exempt from FATCA reporting is correct. Certification instructions. You must cross out item 2 above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are currently subject to backup withholding because you have failed to report all interest and dividends on your tax return. For real estate transactions, item 2 does not apply. For mortgage interest paid, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, contributions to an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), and generally, payments other than interest and dividends, you are not required to sign the certification, but you must provide your correct TIN. See the instructions for Part II, later. SignHere Signature of U.S. person uDate u General Instructions Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code unless otherwise noted. Future developments. For the latest information about developments related to Form W-9 and its instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/FormW9. Purpose of Form An individual or entity (Form W-9 requester) who is required to file an information return with the IRS must obtain your correct taxpayer identification number (TIN) which may be your social security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), adoption taxpayer identification number (ATIN), or employer identification number (EIN), to report on an information return the amount paid to you, or other amount reportable on an information return. Examples of information returns include, but are not limited to, the following. " Form 1099-INT (interest earned or paid) " Form 1099-DIV (dividends, including those from stocks or mutual funds) " Form 1099-MISC (various types of income, prizes, awards, or gross proceeds) " Form 1099-B (stock or mutual fund sales and certain other transactions by brokers) " Form 1099-S (proceeds from real estate transactions) " Form 1099-K (merchant card and third party network transactions) " Form 1098 (home mortgage interest), 1098-E (student loan interest), 1098-T (tuition) " Form 1099-C (canceled debt) " Form 1099-A (acquisition or abandonment of secured property) Use Form W-9 only if you are a U.S. person (including a resident alien), to provide your correct TIN. If you do not return Form W-9 to the requester with a TIN, you might be subject to backup withholding. See What is backup withholding, later. Cat. No. 10231X Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018)
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) Page 2 By signing the filled-out form, you: 1. Certify that the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued), 2. Certify that you are not subject to backup withholding, or 3. Claim exemption from backup withholding if you are a U.S. exempt payee. If applicable, you are also certifying that as a U.S. person, your allocable share of any partnership income from a U.S. trade or business is not subject to the withholding tax on foreign partners share of effectively connected income, and 4. Certify that FATCA code(s) entered on this form (if any) indicating that you are exempt from the FATCA reporting, is correct. See What is FATCA reporting, later, for further information. Note: If you are a U.S. person and a requester gives you a form other than Form W-9 to request your TIN, you must use the requesters form if it is substantially similar to this Form W-9. Definition of a U.S. person. For federal tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. person if you are: " An individual who is a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien; " A partnership, corporation, company, or association created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States; " An estate (other than a foreign estate); or " A domestic trust (as defined in Regulations section 301.7701-7). Special rules for partnerships. Partnerships that conduct a trade or business in the United States are generally required to pay a withholding tax under section 1446 on any foreign partners share of effectively connected taxable income from such business. Further, in certain cases where a Form W-9 has not been received, the rules under section 1446 require a partnership to presume that a partner is a foreign person, and pay the section 1446 withholding tax. Therefore, if you are a U.S. person that is a partner in a partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States, provide Form W-9 to the partnership to establish your U.S. status and avoid section 1446 withholding on your share of partnership income. In the cases below, the following person must give Form W-9 to the partnership for purposes of establishing its U.S. status and avoiding withholding on its allocable share of net income from the partnership conducting a trade or business in the United States. " In the case of a disregarded entity with a U.S. owner, the U.S. owner of the disregarded entity and not the entity; " In the case of a grantor trust with a U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner, generally, the U.S. grantor or other U.S. owner of the grantor trust and not the trust; and " In the case of a U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust), the U.S. trust (other than a grantor trust) and not the beneficiaries of the trust. Foreign person. If you are a foreign person or the U.S. branch of a foreign bank that has elected to be treated as a U.S. person, do not use Form W-9. Instead, use the appropriate Form W-8 or Form 8233 (see Pub. 515, Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Entities). Nonresident alien who becomes a resident alien. Generally, only a nonresident alien individual may use the terms of a tax treaty to reduce or eliminate U.S. tax on certain types of income. However, most tax treaties contain a provision known as a saving clause. Exceptions specified in the saving clause may permit an exemption from tax to continue for certain types of income even after the payee has otherwise become a U.S. resident alien for tax purposes. If you are a U.S. resident alien who is relying on an exception contained in the saving clause of a tax treaty to claim an exemption from U.S. tax on certain types of income, you must attach a statement to Form W-9 that specifies the following five items. 1. The treaty country. Generally, this must be the same treaty under which you claimed exemption from tax as a nonresident alien. 2. The treaty article addressing the income. 3. The article number (or location) in the tax treaty that contains the saving clause and its exceptions. 4. The type and amount of income that qualifies for the exemption from tax. 5. Sufficient facts to justify the exemption from tax under the terms of the treaty article. Example. Article 20 of the U.S.-China income tax treaty allows an exemption from tax for scholarship income received by a Chinese student temporarily present in the United States. Under U.S. law, this student will become a resident alien for tax purposes if his or her stay in the United States exceeds 5 calendar years. However, paragraph 2 of the first Protocol to the U.S.-China treaty (dated April 30, 1984) allows the provisions of Article 20 to continue to apply even after the Chinese student becomes a resident alien of the United States. A Chinese student who qualifies for this exception (under paragraph 2 of the first protocol) and is relying on this exception to claim an exemption from tax on his or her scholarship or fellowship income would attach to Form W-9 a statement that includes the information described above to support that exemption. If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8 or Form 8233. Backup Withholding What is backup withholding? Persons making certain payments to you must under certain conditions withhold and pay to the IRS 24% of such payments. This is called backup withholding. Payments that may be subject to backup withholding include interest, tax-exempt interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding. You will not be subject to backup withholding on payments you receive if you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return. Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if: 1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester, 2. You do not certify your TIN when required (see the instructions for Part II for details), 3. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN, 4. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only), or 5. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 4 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only). Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding. See Exempt payee code, later, and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information. Also see Special rules for partnerships, earlier. What is FATCA Reporting? The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires a participating foreign financial institution to report all United States account holders that are specified United States persons. Certain payees are exempt from FATCA reporting. See Exemption from FATCA reporting code, later, and the Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 for more information. Updating Your Information You must provide updated information to any person to whom you claimed to be an exempt payee if you are no longer an exempt payee and anticipate receiving reportable payments in the future from this person. For example, you may need to provide updated information if you are a C corporation that elects to be an S corporation, or if you no longer are tax exempt. In addition, you must furnish a new Form W-9 if the name or TIN changes for the account; for example, if the grantor of a grantor trust dies. Penalties Failure to furnish TIN. If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. Civil penalty for false information with respect to withholding. If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) Page 3 Criminal penalty for falsifying information. Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment. Misuse of TINs. If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties. Specific Instructions Line 1 You must enter one of the following on this line; do not leave this line blank. The name should match the name on your tax return. If this Form W-9 is for a joint account (other than an account maintained by a foreign financial institution (FFI)), list first, and then circle, the name of the person or entity whose number you entered in Part I of Form W-9. If you are providing Form W-9 to an FFI to document a joint account, each holder of the account that is a U.S. person must provide a Form W-9. a. Individual. Generally, enter the name shown on your tax return. If you have changed your last name without informing the Social Security Administration (SSA) of the name change, enter your first name, the last name as shown on your social security card, and your new last name. Note: ITIN applicant: Enter your individual name as it was entered on your Form W-7 application, line 1a. This should also be the same as the name you entered on the Form 1040/1040A/1040EZ you filed with your application. b. Sole proprietor or single-member LLC. Enter your individual name as shown on your 1040/1040A/1040EZ on line 1. You may enter your business, trade, or doing business as (DBA) name on line 2. c. Partnership, LLC that is not a single-member LLC, C corporation, or S corporation. Enter the entitys name as shown on the entitys tax return on line 1 and any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2. d. Other entities. Enter your name as shown on required U.S. federal tax documents on line 1. This name should match the name shown on the charter or other legal document creating the entity. You may enter any business, trade, or DBA name on line 2. e. Disregarded entity. For U.S. federal tax purposes, an entity that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner is treated as a disregarded entity. See Regulations section 301.7701-2(c)(2)(iii). Enter the owners name on line 1. The name of the entity entered on line 1 should never be a disregarded entity. The name on line 1 should be the name shown on the income tax return on which the income should be reported. For example, if a foreign LLC that is treated as a disregarded entity for U.S. federal tax purposes has a single owner that is a U.S. person, the U.S. owner's name is required to be provided on line 1. If the direct owner of the entity is also a disregarded entity, enter the first owner that is not disregarded for federal tax purposes. Enter the disregarded entity's name on line 2, Business name/disregarded entity name. If the owner of the disregarded entity is a foreign person, the owner must complete an appropriate Form W-8 instead of a Form W-9. This is the case even if the foreign person has a U.S. TIN. Line 2 If you have a business name, trade name, DBA name, or disregarded entity name, you may enter it on line 2. Line 3 Check the appropriate box on line 3 for the U.S. federal tax classification of the person whose name is entered on line 1. Check only one box on line 3. IF the entity/person on line 1 isa(n) . . .THEN check the box for . . . " CorporationCorporation " Individual " Sole proprietorship, or " Single-member limited liability company (LLC) owned by an individual and disregarded for U.S. federal tax purposes.Individual/sole proprietor or single-member LLC " LLC treated as a partnership for U.S. federal tax purposes, " LLC that has filed Form 8832 or 2553 to be taxed as a corporation, or " LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner but the owner is another LLC that is not disregarded for U.S. federal tax purposes.Limited liability company and enter the appropriate tax classification. (P= Partnership; C= C corporation; or S= S corporation) " PartnershipPartnership " Trust/estateTrust/estateLine 4, Exemptions If you are exempt from backup withholding and/or FATCA reporting, enter in the appropriate space on line 4 any code(s) that may apply to you. Exempt payee code. " Generally, individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding. " Except as provided below, corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, including interest and dividends. " Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding for payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactions. " Corporations are not exempt from backup withholding with respect to attorneys fees or gross proceeds paid to attorneys, and corporations that provide medical or health care services are not exempt with respect to payments reportable on Form 1099-MISC. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from backup withholding. Enter the appropriate code in the space in line 4. 1An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), any IRA, or a custodial account under section 403(b)(7) if the account satisfies the requirements of section 401(f)(2) 2The United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities 3A state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities 4A foreign government or any of its political subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities 5A corporation 6A dealer in securities or commodities required to register in the United States, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. commonwealth or possession 7A futures commission merchant registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission 8A real estate investment trust 9An entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940 10A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a) 11A financial institution 12A middleman known in the investment community as a nominee or custodian 13A trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) Page 4 The following chart shows types of payments that may be exempt from backup withholding. The chart applies to the exempt payees listed above, 1 through 13. IF the payment is for . . .THEN the payment is exemptfor . . .Interest and dividend paymentsAll exempt payees except for 7Broker transactionsExempt payees 1 through 4 and 6 through 11 and all C corporations. S corporations must not enter an exempt payee code because they are exempt only for sales of noncovered securities acquired prior to 2012.Barter exchange transactions and patronage dividendsExempt payees 1 through 4Payments over $600 required to be reported and direct sales over $5,0001 Generally, exempt payees 1 through 52 Payments made in settlement of payment card or third party network transactionsExempt payees 1 through 41 See Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, and its instructions. 2 However, the following payments made to a corporation and reportable on Form 1099-MISC are not exempt from backup withholding: medical and health care payments, attorneys fees, gross proceeds paid to an attorney reportable under section 6045(f), and payments for services paid by a federal executive agency. Exemption from FATCA reporting code. The following codes identify payees that are exempt from reporting under FATCA. These codes apply to persons submitting this form for accounts maintained outside of the United States by certain foreign financial institutions. Therefore, if you are only submitting this form for an account you hold in the United States, you may leave this field blank. Consult with the person requesting this form if you are uncertain if the financial institution is subject to these requirements. A requester may indicate that a code is not required by providing you with a Form W-9 with Not Applicable (or any similar indication) written or printed on the line for a FATCA exemption code. AAn organization exempt from tax under section 501(a) or any individual retirement plan as defined in section 7701(a)(37) BThe United States or any of its agencies or instrumentalities CA state, the District of Columbia, a U.S. commonwealth or possession, or any of their political subdivisions or instrumentalities DA corporation the stock of which is regularly traded on one or more established securities markets, as described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i) EA corporation that is a member of the same expanded affiliated group as a corporation described in Regulations section 1.1472-1(c)(1)(i) FA dealer in securities, commodities, or derivative financial instruments (including notional principal contracts, futures, forwards, and options) that is registered as such under the laws of the United States or any state GA real estate investment trust HA regulated investment company as defined in section 851 or an entity registered at all times during the tax year under the Investment Company Act of 1940 IA common trust fund as defined in section 584(a) JA bank as defined in section 581 KA broker LA trust exempt from tax under section 664 or described in section 4947(a)(1) MA tax exempt trust under a section 403(b) plan or section 457(g) plan Note: You may wish to consult with the financial institution requesting this form to determine whether the FATCA code and/or exempt payee code should be completed. Line 5 Enter your address (number, street, and apartment or suite number). This is where the requester of this Form W-9 will mail your information returns. If this address differs from the one the requester already has on file, write NEW at the top. If a new address is provided, there is still a chance the old address will be used until the payor changes your address in their records. Line 6 Enter your city, state, and ZIP code. Part I. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a resident alien and you do not have and are not eligible to get an SSN, your TIN is your IRS individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). Enter it in the social security number box. If you do not have an ITIN, see How to get a TIN below. If you are a sole proprietor and you have an EIN, you may enter either your SSN or EIN. If you are a single-member LLC that is disregarded as an entity separate from its owner, enter the owners SSN (or EIN, if the owner has one). Do not enter the disregarded entitys EIN. If the LLC is classified as a corporation or partnership, enter the entitys EIN. Note: See What Name and Number To Give the Requester, later, for further clarification of name and TIN combinations. How to get a TIN. If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply for an SSN, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, from your local SSA office or get this form online at www.SSA.gov. You may also get this form by calling 1-800-772-1213. Use Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, to apply for an ITIN, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, to apply for an EIN. You can apply for an EIN online by accessing the IRS website at www.irs.gov/Businesses and clicking on Employer Identification Number (EIN) under Starting a Business. Go to www.irs.gov/Forms to view, download, or print Form W-7 and/or Form SS-4. Or, you can go to www.irs.gov/OrderForms to place an order and have Form W-7 and/or SS-4 mailed to you within 10 business days. If you are asked to complete Form W-9 but do not have a TIN, apply for a TIN and write Applied For in the space for the TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. For interest and dividend payments, and certain payments made with respect to readily tradable instruments, generally you will have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester before you are subject to backup withholding on payments. The 60-day rule does not apply to other types of payments. You will be subject to backup withholding on all such payments until you provide your TIN to the requester. Note: Entering Applied For means that you have already applied for a TIN or that you intend to apply for one soon. Caution: A disregarded U.S. entity that has a foreign owner must use the appropriate Form W-8. Part II. Certification To establish to the withholding agent that you are a U.S. person, or resident alien, sign Form W-9. You may be requested to sign by the withholding agent even if item 1, 4, or 5 below indicates otherwise. For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign (when required). In the case of a disregarded entity, the person identified on line 1 must sign. Exempt payees, see Exempt payee code, earlier. Signature requirements. Complete the certification as indicated in items 1 through 5 below.
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) Page 5 1. Interest, dividend, and barter exchange accounts opened before 1984 and broker accounts considered active during 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification. 2. Interest, dividend, broker, and barter exchange accounts opened after 1983 and broker accounts considered inactive during 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out item 2 in the certification before signing the form. 3. Real estate transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out item 2 of the certification. 4. Other payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified that you have previously given an incorrect TIN. Other payments include payments made in the course of the requesters trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services (including payments to corporations), payments to a nonemployee for services, payments made in settlement of payment card and third party network transactions, payments to certain fishing boat crew members and fishermen, and gross proceeds paid to attorneys (including payments to corporations). 5. Mortgage interest paid by you, acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, qualified tuition program payments (under section 529), ABLE accounts (under section 529A), IRA, Coverdell ESA, Archer MSA or HSA contributions or distributions, and pension distributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification. What Name and Number To Give the Requester For this type of account:Give name and SSN of:1.IndividualThe individual 2.Two or more individuals (joint account) other than an account maintained by an FFIThe actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, the first individual on the account1 3.Two or more U.S. persons(joint account maintained by an FFI)Each holder of the account 4.Custodialaccount of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)The minor2 5.a. The usual revocable savings trust (grantor is also trustee)The grantor-trustee1 b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state lawThe actual owner1 6.Sole proprietorship or disregarded entity owned by an individualThe owner3 7.Grantortrust filing under Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 1 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(A))The grantor* For this type of account:Give name and EIN of:8.Disregarded entity not owned by an individualThe owner 9.A valid trust, estate, or pension trustLegal entity4 10.Corporation or LLC electing corporate status on Form 8832 or Form 2553The corporation 11.Association, club, religious, charitable, educational, or other tax-exempt organizationThe organization 12.Partnership or multi-member LLCThe partnership 13.A broker or registered nomineeThe broker or nominee14.Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program paymentsThe public entity 15.Grantor trust filing under the Form 1041 Filing Method or the Optional Form 1099 Filing Method 2 (see Regulations section 1.671-4(b)(2)(i)(B))The trust1 List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. If only one person on a joint account has an SSN, that persons number must be furnished. 2 Circle the minors name and furnish the minors SSN. 3 You must show your individual name and you may also enter your business or DBA name on the Business name/disregarded entity name line. You may use either your SSN or EIN (if you have one), but the IRS encourages you to use your SSN. 4 List first and circle the name of the trust, estate, or pension trust. (Do not furnish the TIN of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.) Also see Special rules for partnerships, earlier. *Note: The grantor also must provide a Form W-9 to trustee of trust. Note: If no name is circled when more than one name is listed, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed. Secure Your Tax Records From Identity Theft Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information such as your name, SSN, or other identifying information, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. An identity thief may use your SSN to get a job or may file a tax return using your SSN to receive a refund. To reduce your risk: " Protect your SSN, " Ensure your employer is protecting your SSN, and " Be careful when choosing a tax preparer. If your tax records are affected by identity theft and you receive a notice from the IRS, respond right away to the name and phone number printed on the IRS notice or letter. If your tax records are not currently affected by identity theft but you think you are at risk due to a lost or stolen purse or wallet, questionable credit card activity or credit report, contact the IRS Identity Theft Hotline at 1-800-908-4490 or submit Form 14039. For more information, see Pub. 5027, Identity Theft Information for Taxpayers. Victims of identity theft who are experiencing economic harm or a systemic problem, or are seeking help in resolving tax problems that have not been resolved through normal channels, may be eligible for Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) assistance. You can reach TAS by calling the TAS toll-free case intake line at 1-877-777-4778 or TTY/TDD 1-800-829-4059. Protect yourself from suspicious emails or phishing schemes. Phishing is the creation and use of email and websites designed to mimic legitimate business emails and websites. The most common act is sending an email to a user falsely claiming to be an established legitimate enterprise in an attempt to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft.
Form W-9 (Rev. 10-2018) Page 6 The IRS does not initiate contacts with taxpayers via emails. Also, the IRS does not request personal detailed information through email or ask taxpayers for the PIN numbers, passwords, or similar secret access information for their credit card, bank, or other financial accounts. If you receive an unsolicited email claiming to be from the IRS, forward this message to phishing@irs.gov. You may also report misuse of the IRS name, logo, or other IRS property to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484. You can forward suspicious emails to the Federal Trade Commission at spam@uce.gov or report them at www.ftc.gov/complaint. You can contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov/idtheft or 877-IDTHEFT (877-438-4338). If you have been the victim of identity theft, see www.IdentityTheft.gov and Pub. 5027. Visit www.irs.gov/IdentityTheft to learn more about identity theft and how to reduce your risk. Privacy Act Notice Section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code requires you to provide your correct TIN to persons (including federal agencies) who are required to file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, or certain other income paid to you; mortgage interest you paid; the acquisition or abandonment of secured property; the cancellation of debt; or contributions you made to an IRA, Archer MSA, or HSA. The person collecting this form uses the information on the form to file information returns with the IRS, reporting the above information. Routine uses of this information include giving it to the Department of Justice for civil and criminal litigation and to cities, states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths and possessions for use in administering their laws. The information also may be disclosed to other countries under a treaty, to federal and state agencies to enforce civil and criminal laws, or to federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies to combat terrorism. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Under section 3406, payers must generally withhold a percentage of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to the payer. Certain penalties may also apply for providing false or fraudulent information.
The Depository for the Offer is:
EQUINITI TRUST COMPANY
By Mail: | By Hand or Overnight Courier: | |
Equiniti Trust Company Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions P.O. Box 64858 St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0858 |
Equiniti Trust Company Shareowner Services Voluntary Corporate Actions 1110 Centre Pointe Curve, Suite 101 Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120 |
The Information Agent may be contacted at its address and telephone number listed below for questions and/or requests for additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer materials. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance. Such copies will be furnished promptly at Purchasers expense.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10005
Stockholders may call toll free: (866) 864-7964
Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 269-5550
Exhibit (a)(1)(C)
Offer To Purchase For Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
of
HOME POINT CAPITAL INC.
a Delaware corporation
at
$2.33 NET PER SHARE
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated May 26, 2023
by
HEISMAN MERGER SUB, INC.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
MR. COOPER GROUP INC.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT
5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2023, UNLESS
THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED
(SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS IT MAY BE EXTENDED, THE EXPIRATION DATE).
May 26, 2023
To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees:
We have been engaged by Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Mr. Cooper), to act as Information Agent in connection with Purchasers offer to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase, any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (which we refer to as the Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Home Point), at a price of $2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 26, 2023 (which we refer to as the Offer to Purchase), and the related Letter of Transmittal (which we refer to as the Letter of Transmittal and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, each as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes, and we refer to as, the Offer) enclosed herewith. Please furnish copies of the enclosed materials to those of your clients for whom you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HOME POINT HAS RECOMMENDED THAT STOCKHOLDERS TENDER ALL OF THEIR SHARES TO PURCHASER PURSUANT TO THE OFFER.
The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The conditions to the Offer are described in Section 15 of the Offer to Purchase.
For your information and for forwarding to your clients for whom you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, we are enclosing the following documents:
1. | The Offer to Purchase; |
2. | The Letter of Transmittal for your use in accepting the Offer and tendering Shares and for the information of your clients, together with the included Internal Revenue Service Form W-9; and |
3. | A form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients instructions with regard to the Offer. |
We urge you to contact your clients as promptly as possible. Please note that the Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, unless the Offer is extended or earlier terminated.
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 10, 2023 (the Merger Agreement), among Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that as soon as practicable after (but in any event on the same date as) the consummation of the Offer and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, Purchaser will be merged with and into Home Point (the Merger) without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point, with Home Point continuing as the surviving corporation in the Merger and thereby becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper.
For Shares to be properly tendered pursuant to the Offer, the share certificates or confirmation of receipt of such Shares under the procedure for book-entry transfer, together in the case of book-entry transfer, an Agents Message (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase) in lieu of such Letter of Transmittal, and any other documents required in the Letter of Transmittal, must be timely received by Equiniti Trust Company (the Depository).
Except as set forth in the Offer to Purchase, Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or other person, other than to us, as the information agent and Equiniti Trust Company as the depository, for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. Purchaser will, however, upon request, reimburse brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding the offering material to their customers. Purchaser will pay all stock transfer taxes applicable to its purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer, subject to Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal.
Any inquiries you may have with respect to the Offer should be addressed to, and additional copies of the enclosed materials may be obtained from, the undersigned at the address and telephone numbers set forth below.
Very truly yours,
D.F. KING & CO., INC.
Nothing contained herein or in the enclosed documents shall render you the agent of Mr. Cooper, Purchaser, the Information Agent or the Depository or any affiliate of any of them or authorize you or any other person to use any document or make any statement on behalf of any of them in connection with the Offer other than the enclosed documents and the statements contained therein.
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10005
Stockholders may call toll free: (866) 864-7964
Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 269-5550
Exhibit (a)(1)(D)
Offer To Purchase For Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
of
HOME POINT CAPITAL INC.
a Delaware corporation
at
$2.33 NET PER SHARE
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated May 26, 2023
by
HEISMAN MERGER SUB, INC.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
MR. COOPER GROUP INC.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT
5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2023
UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED
(SUCH DATE AND TIME, AS IT MAY BE EXTENDED, THE EXPIRATION DATE).
May 26, 2023
To Our Clients:
Enclosed for your consideration are the Offer to Purchase, dated May 26, 2023 (which we refer to as the Offer to Purchase), and the related Letter of Transmittal (which we refer to as the Letter of Transmittal and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes, and we refer to as, the Offer) in connection with the offer by Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Mr. Cooper), to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase, any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (which we refer to as the Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Home Point), at a price of $2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF HOME POINT HAS RECOMMENDED THAT STOCKHOLDERS TENDER ALL OF THEIR SHARES TO PURCHASER PURSUANT TO THE OFFER.
We or our nominees are the holder of record of Shares held for your account. A tender of such Shares can be made only by us as the holder of record and pursuant to your instructions. The Letter of Transmittal accompanying this letter is furnished to you for your information only and cannot be used by you to tender Shares held by us for your account.
We request instructions as to whether you wish us to tender any or all of the Shares held by us for your account, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the enclosed Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal.
Please note carefully the following:
1. The offer price for the Offer is $2.33 per Share, net to you in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes.
2. The Offer is being made for all outstanding Shares.
3. The Offer is being made in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 10, 2023 (which, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, we refer to as the Merger Agreement), among Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser, pursuant to which, after the consummation of the Offer and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions and if the Merger Agreement has not been terminated, Purchaser will be merged with and into Home Point (which we refer to as the Merger) without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, with Home Point continuing as the surviving corporation and thereby becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper.
4. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, unless the Offer is extended by Purchaser or earlier terminated.
5. The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The Offer is subject to the conditions described in Section 15 of the Offer to Purchase.
6. Tendering stockholders who are record owners of their Shares and who tender directly to Equiniti Trust Company (the Depository) will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees, commissions or similar expenses or, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes with respect to the purchase of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer.
If you wish to have us tender any or all of your Shares, then please so instruct us by completing, executing, detaching and returning to us the Instruction Form on the detachable part hereof. An envelope to return your instructions to us is enclosed. If you authorize tender of your Shares, then all such Shares will be tendered unless otherwise specified on the Instruction Form.
Your prompt action is requested. Your Instruction Form should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit the tender on your behalf before the Expiration Date.
The Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where applicable laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction to be designated by Purchaser.
INSTRUCTION FORM
With Respect to the Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
of
HOME POINT CAPITAL INC.
a Delaware corporation
at
$2.33 NET PER SHARE
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated May 26, 2023
by
HEISMAN MERGER SUB, INC.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
MR. COOPER GROUP INC.
The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed Offer to Purchase, dated May 26, 2023 (which we refer to as the Offer to Purchase), and the related Letter of Transmittal (which we refer to as the Letter of Transmittal and which, together with the Offer to Purchase, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes, and we refer to as, the Offer), in connection with the offer by Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which we refer to as Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation, to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as defined in the Offer to Purchase, any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (which we refer to as the Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation, at a price of $2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer.
The undersigned hereby instruct(s) you to tender to Purchaser the number of Shares indicated below or, if no number is indicated, all Shares held by you for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer. The undersigned understands and acknowledges that all questions as to validity, form and eligibility of the surrender of any certificate representing Shares submitted on my behalf will be determined by Purchaser and such determination shall be final and binding.
ACCOUNT NUMBER: |
NUMBER OF SHARES BEING TENDERED HEREBY: SHARES* |
The method of delivery of this document is at the election and risk of the tendering stockholder. If delivery is by mail, then registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase).
Dated: | ||
Signature(s)
| ||
Please Print Name(s) |
Address: |
(Include Zip Code) |
Area code and Telephone no. |
Tax Identification or Social Security No. |
* | Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares held by us for your account are to be tendered. |
Exhibit (a)(1)(E)
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell Shares (as defined below), and the provisions herein are subject in their entirety to the provisions of the Offer (as defined below). The Offer is made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, dated May 26, 2023, and the related Letter of Transmittal and any amendments or supplements thereto, and is being made to all holders of Shares. The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where applicable laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Purchaser (as defined below) by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction to be designated by Purchaser.
Notice of Offer to Purchase for Cash
All Outstanding Shares of Common Stock
of
HOME POINT CAPITAL INC.
a Delaware corporation
at
$2.33 NET PER SHARE
Pursuant to the Offer to Purchase dated May 26, 2023
by
HEISMAN MERGER SUB, INC.
a wholly owned subsidiary of
MR. COOPER GROUP INC.
Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Purchaser) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (Mr. Cooper), is offering to purchase, subject to certain conditions, including the satisfaction of the Minimum Condition, as described below, any and all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.0000000072 per share (the Shares), of Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation (Home Point), at a price of $2.33 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes (the Offer Price), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 26, 2023 (the Offer to Purchase), and in the related Letter of Transmittal (the Letter of Transmittal which, together with the Offer to Purchase and other related materials, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitutes the Offer).
Tendering stockholders who are record owners of their Shares and who tender directly to Equiniti Trust Company (the Depository) will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions or, except as otherwise provided in the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes with respect to the purchase of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. Tendering stockholders who hold their Shares through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee should consult with such institution as to whether it charges any service fees or commissions.
THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2023, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED OR EARLIER TERMINATED.
The Offer is being made pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 10, 2023 (as it may be amended from time to time, the Merger Agreement), among Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser. The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that, if the Offer is consummated, as soon as practicable after the consummation of the Offer (but in any event on the same date as the consummation of the Offer) and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, Purchaser will be merged with and into Home Point (the
Merger) without a vote of the stockholders of Home Point in accordance with Section 251(h) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL), with Home Point continuing as the surviving corporation. In the Merger, each Share outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than any Shares held by Home Point, Mr. Cooper or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries or by any person who is entitled to, and has properly exercised and perfected their demand for, statutory appraisal of his or her Shares) will be converted into the right to receive $2.33 net per Share in cash, without interest, subject to any required withholding taxes. As a result of the Merger, Home Point will cease to be a publicly traded company and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Mr. Cooper. Under no circumstances will interest be paid on the purchase price for Shares, regardless of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making payment for Shares. The Merger Agreement is more fully described in the Offer to Purchase. On May 10, 2023, in connection with the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, certain stockholders of Home Point (the Principal Stockholders) entered into a tender and support agreement with the Mr. Cooper and Home Point pursuant to which each Principal Stockholder agreed, among other things, to tender all of its Shares to Purchaser in the Offer. As of the date of the tender and support agreement, the Principal Stockholders collectively owned approximately 92% of the outstanding Shares.
The Offer is not subject to any financing condition. The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (A) the Merger Agreement not having been terminated in accordance with its terms (the Termination Condition) and (B) the satisfaction of (i) the Minimum Condition (as defined below), (ii) the Regulatory Conditions to the Offer (as defined below); and (iii) the Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer (as defined below). The Minimum Condition requires that the number of Shares validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Offer, and not validly withdrawn at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 (the Expiration Date, unless Purchaser shall have extended the period during which the Offer is open in accordance with the Merger Agreement, in which event Expiration Date will mean the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended by Purchaser, will expire), together with all other Shares (if any) beneficially owned by Mr. Cooper and its affiliates, represent at least one more Share than 50% of the sum of (x) the total number of Shares outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer, plus (y) the total number of Shares that Home Point would be required to issue upon conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise of all options, warrants, rights or securities outstanding at the time of the expiration of the Offer that are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into Shares (whether then outstanding or for which the conversion, settlement, exchange or exercise date has already occurred, but in any event without duplication). The Regulatory Conditions to the Offer require (i) that any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the Offer or the Merger under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, has expired or been terminated, (ii) there is not in effect any voluntary agreement with a governmental authority not to consummate the Offer or the Merger, and (iii) all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable. The Governmental Authority Condition to the Offer requires that no governmental authority of competent jurisdiction in any jurisdiction in which Mr. Cooper, Home Point or any of their respective affiliates have any business operations has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order which is then in effect and has the effect of restraining, enjoining, rendering illegal or otherwise prohibiting the acquisition of or payment for Shares pursuant to the Offer or the consummation of the Merger. The Offer is also subject to other conditions (each individually, an Offer Condition, and collectively, the Offer Conditions) as described in the Offer to Purchase.
The Board of Directors of Home Point has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interest of, Home Point and its stockholders, (ii) declared it advisable to enter into the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the execution, delivery and performance by Home Point of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Offer and the Merger, (iv) resolved that the Merger shall be effected under Section 251(h) of the DGCL, and (v) resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Home Point tender their Shares to Purchaser pursuant to the Offer (the Home Point Board Recommendation).
The Merger Agreement contains provisions to govern the circumstances in which Purchaser is required or permitted to extend the Offer. Specifically, the Merger Agreement provides that (i) if, as of the then-scheduled Expiration Date, any Offer Condition (other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being satisfied) is not satisfied and has not been waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, to the extent waivable by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper, Purchaser may, in its discretion (and without the consent of Home Point or any other person), subject to applicable law, extend the Offer on one or more occasions, for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days, or such longer period as Purchaser, Mr. Cooper and Home Point agree, per extension, to permit such Offer Condition to be satisfied; (ii) Purchaser must, and Mr. Cooper must cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer from time to time for: (A) any period required by any applicable law, any interpretation or position of the SEC, the staff thereof or The Nasdaq Stock Market (Nasdaq) applicable to the Offer; and, unless the applicable Offer Condition is waived by Purchaser or Mr. Cooper and (B) periods of up to ten (10) business days per extension, until (x) any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Offer, under the HSR Act and any other antitrust laws has expired or been terminated and (y) all consents from and notices to federal and state regulators and government-sponsored enterprises required by the Merger Agreement have been obtained or made, as applicable; and (iii) if, as of the scheduled Expiration Date, any Offer Condition (other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being satisfied) is not satisfied and has not been waived, at the request of Home Point, Purchaser must, and Mr. Cooper must cause Purchaser to, extend the Offer on one or more occasions for an additional period of up to ten (10) business days per extension, to permit such Offer Condition to be satisfied; provided, however, that in no event shall Purchaser be required to extend the Offer beyond the earlier to occur of (x) the valid termination of the Merger Agreement and (y) 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on May 10, 2024 (the Termination Date).
Pursuant to its terms, the Merger Agreement may be terminated by, among other things, (i) the mutual written consent of Mr. Cooper and Home Point and (ii) by either Mr. Cooper or Home Point if the Offer Acceptance Time has not occurred on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City Time, on May 10, 2024.
Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, Purchaser expressly reserves the right to (i) increase the Offer Price, (ii) waive any Offer Condition and (iii) make any other changes in the terms and conditions of the Offer not inconsistent with the terms of the Merger Agreement. Without the prior written consent of Home Point, Mr. Cooper and Purchaser are not permitted to: (i) decrease the Offer Price, (ii) change the form of consideration payable in the Offer, (iii) decrease the maximum number of Shares sought to be purchased in the Offer, (iv) impose conditions to the Offer other than the Offer Conditions, (v) amend, modify, supplement or waive the Minimum Condition or the Termination Condition, (vi) amend, modify or supplement any of the other terms of the Offer in a manner that adversely affects, or would reasonably be expected to adversely affect, any holder of Shares in its capacity as such, (vii) terminate the Offer or accelerate, extend or otherwise change the Expiration Date of the Offer, except as otherwise required or expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in connection with an Offer Termination), or (viii) provide any subsequent offering period (or any extension thereof) in accordance with Rule 14d-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act).
Because the Merger will be governed by Section 251(h) of the DGCL, Purchaser does not expect there to be a significant period of time between the consummation of the Offer and the consummation of the Merger. The parties to the Merger Agreement have agreed that subject to certain conditions specified in the Merger Agreement, the Merger will become effective as soon as practicable after the consummation of the Offer.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement and to the satisfaction or waiver of the Offer Conditions, Purchaser will (and Mr. Cooper will cause Purchaser to) (i) promptly after (and in any event no later than the first business day after) the Expiration Date of the Offer, accept for payment all Shares tendered (and not validly withdrawn, as permitted under the Offer to Purchase) pursuant to the Offer (the date and time of such acceptance, the Offer Acceptance Time) and (ii) promptly after (and in any event no later than the second (2nd) business day after) the Offer Acceptance Time pay for such Shares. For purposes of the Offer, Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for payment, and thereby purchased, Shares validly tendered and not
validly withdrawn if and when Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the Depository of its acceptance for purchase of such Shares pursuant to the Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made by deposit of the Offer Price for such Shares with the Depository, which will act as paying agent for tendering stockholders for the purpose of receiving payments from Purchaser and transmitting such payments to tendering stockholders whose Shares have been accepted for purchase. If Purchaser extends the Offer, is delayed in its acceptance for payment of Shares or is unable to accept Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to Purchasers rights under the Offer and the Merger Agreement, the Depository may retain tendered Shares on Purchasers behalf, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent that tendering stockholders are entitled to withdrawal rights as described in the Offer to Purchase and as otherwise required by Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act. Under no circumstances will Mr. Cooper or Purchaser pay interest on the purchase price for Shares by reason of any extension of the Offer or any delay in making such payment for Shares.
No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. In all cases, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will only be made after timely receipt by the Depository of (i) the certificates evidencing such Shares (the Certificates) or confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares (a Book-Entry Confirmation) into the Depositorys account at The Depository Trust Company (DTC) pursuant to the procedures set forth in the Offer to Purchase, (ii) the Letter of Transmittal, properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agents Message (as described in the Offer to Purchase) in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal and (iii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering stockholders may be paid at different times depending upon when Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmations with respect to Shares are actually received by the Depository.
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time until the Expiration Date and, unless theretofore accepted for payment by Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, pursuant to Section 14(d)(5) of the Exchange Act, may also be withdrawn at any time after Tuesday, July 25, 2023, which is the 60th day after the date of the commencement of the Offer, unless prior to that date Purchaser has accepted for purchase the Shares validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) pursuant to the Offer.
For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depository at one of its addresses set forth in the Offer to Purchase. Any such notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of such Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If Certificates evidencing Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depository, then, prior to the physical release of such Certificates, the serial numbers shown on such Certificates must be submitted to the Depository and the signature(s) on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution, unless such Shares have been tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer as set forth in the Offer to Purchase, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn Shares.
Withdrawals of Shares may not be rescinded. Any Shares validly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn Shares may be re-tendered by again following one of the procedures described in the Offer to Purchase at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
Purchaser will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal and Purchasers determination will be final and binding. None of Mr. Cooper, Purchaser, the Depository, the Information Agent (as defined below) or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.
The information required to be disclosed by paragraph (d)(1) of Rule 14d-6 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act is contained in the Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein by reference.
Home Point has provided Mr. Cooper with its stockholder list and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other related materials to holders of Shares. The Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal will be mailed to record holders of Shares whose names appear on the stockholder list of Home Point and will be furnished, for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares, to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the stockholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agencys security position listing for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares.
The exchange of Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction to U.S. Holders (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) for United States federal income tax purposes. See the Offer to Purchase for a more detailed discussion of the tax treatment of the Offer. Each holder of Shares should consult with its tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences to such holder of exchanging Shares for cash pursuant to the Offer or the Merger.
The Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal contain important information. Holders of Shares should carefully read both documents in their entirety before any decision is made with respect to the Offer.
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Information Agent at its addresses and telephone numbers set forth below. Requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and other tender offer materials may be directed to the Information Agent. Such copies will be furnished promptly at Purchasers expense. Stockholders may also contact brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies for assistance concerning the Offer. Except as set forth in the Offer to Purchase, neither Purchaser nor Mr. Cooper will pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer.
The Information Agent for the Offer is:
D.F. King & Co., Inc.
48 Wall Street, 22nd floor
New York, NY 10005
Stockholders may call toll free: (866) 864-7964
Banks and Brokers may call collect: (212) 269-5550
May 26, 2023
Exhibit (d)(2)
October 4, 2022
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Jay Bray
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
8950 Cypress Waters Blvd.
Coppell, TX 75019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the consideration by Nationstar Mortgage LLC (you or the Receiving Party) and Home Point Capital Inc. (the Company or the Disclosing Party, and collectively with you, the parties) of a potential negotiated strategic transaction between the Company and you (a Transaction), the Disclosing Party or its Representatives (as defined below) has furnished or may furnish to the Receiving Party certain information that is proprietary, non-public or confidential concerning the Disclosing Party or its affiliates, businesses, divisions or subsidiaries, including Non-Public Personal Information.
1. As a condition to furnishing such information to the Receiving Party, the Receiving Party agrees to treat confidentially any information, including Non-Public Personal Information, (whether prepared by the Disclosing Party, its Representatives or otherwise, and whether oral, written or electronic or by any other media, including by visual observation) that Disclosing Party or its Representatives (which term as used in this letter agreement shall mean the relevant partys affiliates and its and its affiliates respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and financial advisors and, with respect to you and subject to the requirements of Section 9, your permitted financing sources and permitted consultants), furnishes (or otherwise makes available) to the Receiving Party or its Representatives, together with all analyses, summaries, notes, forecasts, studies, data and other documents and materials in whatever form maintained, to the extent they contain or reflect, or are generated from, any such information (being collectively referred to herein as the Confidential Information), and to take or abstain from taking certain other actions set forth herein.
2. Except with respect to Non-Public Personal Information, the term Confidential Information does not include information that (A) is in the Receiving Partys possession prior to the date hereof, provided that such information is not known by the Receiving Party (after reasonable inquiry) to be subject to a fiduciary, contractual or other legally binding obligation that prohibits disclosure of such information, (B) is or becomes generally available to the public or widely known in the mortgage industry other than as a result of a disclosure, or any other act or omission, by the Receiving Party or its Representatives in violation of this letter agreement, (C) is or becomes available to the Receiving Party on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Disclosing Party or its Representatives, provided that such source is not known by the Receiving Party (after reasonable inquiry), to be bound by a fiduciary, contractual or other legally binding obligation that prohibits disclosure of such information or (D) is independently developed by the Receiving Party without any violation of the terms hereof and without use of any Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party.
3. The Receiving Party hereby agrees that the Confidential Information will be used by it and its Representatives solely for the purpose of evaluating, proposing, negotiating or, if applicable, consummating a possible Transaction and for no other purpose and will not be disclosed to any third parties and will be kept confidential by the Receiving Party and its Representatives; provided, that any Confidential Information may be disclosed to the Receiving Partys Representatives who need to know such information solely for the purpose of evaluating, proposing, negotiating or, if applicable, consummating any such
possible Transaction and who agree to keep such information confidential in accordance with the applicable terms hereof. The Receiving Party will be responsible for any breach of the applicable provisions of this letter agreement by its Representatives as if the Receiving Party had taken the action itself. The Receiving Party understands that the Disclosing Party reserves the right to adopt in writing, upon reasonable notice to the other party and prior to the furnishing of particular Confidential Information to the Receiving Party, additional specific procedures to protect the confidentiality of its Confidential Information, including requiring the Receiving Party to refrain from disclosing Confidential Information to certain of its Representatives or employees. The Confidential Information shall remain the property of the Disclosing Party, and disclosure to the Receiving Party shall not confer on the Receiving Party any rights with respect to such Confidential Information other than rights specifically set forth in this letter agreement.
4. You acknowledge that you may receive or have access to certain non-public personal information, records, files, or documents of individuals, including, but not limited to, an individuals name, address, email, financial data, IP address, telephone number, social security number, and/or account number (Non-Public Personal Information). Further, to the extent the Confidential Information provided by the Company includes any Non-Public Personal Information covered by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, 15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq. (the GLB Act), the implementing regulations of the Federal Trade Commission or other applicable federal regulatory agency issued thereunder, with the California Consumer Privacy Act and all other applicable state and federal privacy laws and regulations (collectively, the Privacy Laws), you represent and warrant to Company that you will, and cause all of your Representatives receiving Confidential Information to, comply with all provisions and requirements of the GLB Act and the Privacy Laws applicable to the Non-Public Personal Information. You further agree to implement and maintain appropriate measures designed to (i) ensure the security and confidentiality of Non-Public Personal Information; and (ii) to protect against unauthorized access to or use of Non-Public Personal Information.
5. The Receiving Party hereby acknowledges that it is aware, and agrees that it will advise its Representatives who are (or become) aware, of the matters that are the subject of this letter agreement, that applicable securities laws may prohibit certain actions by persons who are in possession of certain material, nonpublic information. The Receiving Party agrees that it and its Representatives will not use or communicate the Confidential Information or Transaction Information or take any other action in violation of these laws.
6. In the event that the Receiving Party or any of its Representatives are requested or required to disclose any Confidential Information pursuant to applicable law, rule (including stock exchange rules), regulation, judicial or legal process or administrative proceeding (including by subpoena or any order issued by a court or governmental or regulatory body of competent jurisdiction), the Receiving Party agrees to (A) except to the extent not reasonably practicable or prohibited by law, promptly (and in any event prior to making such disclosure) notify the Disclosing Party of the existence, terms and circumstances surrounding such request or requirement so that the Disclosing Party may seek an appropriate protective order (and, if the Disclosing Party seeks such an order, to provide such cooperation as the Disclosing Party shall reasonably request at the Disclosing Partys expense) and (B) if, following the failure of the Disclosing Party to obtain such protective order, disclosure of such information is required upon the advice of the Receiving Partys legal counsel, exercise commercially reasonable efforts to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such of the disclosed information which the Disclosing Party so designates. Following compliance with the foregoing, the Receiving Party or its applicable Representatives shall then be permitted to disclose only that portion of the Confidential Information that is legally required to be disclosed.
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7. Except as permitted herein, without the prior written consent of the Company, you will not, and will cause your Representatives not to, disclose to any person: (A) the fact that investigations, discussions or negotiations are taking place or have taken place concerning a possible Transaction, (B) any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to any such possible Transaction, including the status thereof, (C) that the Company or any of its affiliates is or has been considering or reviewing a strategic transaction or (D) that Confidential Information has been requested or made available to you or your Representatives (collectively, the Transaction Information). Your obligations in this Section 7 shall survive any return or destruction of the Confidential Information by you pursuant to the provisions hereof.
8. The Receiving Party understands that neither the Disclosing Party nor any of its Representatives have made or make any express or implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of the Confidential Information. Only those representations or warranties that are made in any definitive agreement between the parties with respect to any Transaction, when, as, and if it is executed and delivered, and subject to such limitations and restrictions as may be specified in such definitive agreement between the parties, will have any legal effect.
9. You acknowledge and agree that you shall not, and will direct your Representatives not to, disclose any Confidential Information or Transaction Information to, or make any contact of any nature regarding the potential Transaction or any other potential transaction between the parties with, any potential financing source (debt, equity or otherwise) in its capacity as such without the prior written consent of the Company (which may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion); it being understood that following any such written consent, such potential financing source will be deemed to be your Representative. In the event that the Company provides such prior written consent, you hereby agree that neither you nor your Representatives will enter into any exclusivity, lock-up, dry-up or other agreement, arrangement, or understanding with such potential financing source which could reasonably be expected to limit, restrict, restrain, or otherwise impair in any manner, directly or indirectly, the ability of such financing source to serve as a debt or equity financing source or to provide other assistance to any other party (including, without limitation, to the Company) in any transaction regarding the Company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, including a Transaction, or that could be an alternative to a Transaction. Furthermore, you represent that you have not entered into any such agreement, arrangement, or understanding prior to the date hereof, and you agree that to the extent you have done so prior to the date of this letter agreement, you are releasing any counterparty from such agreement, arrangement, or understanding. Without limiting the foregoing, you acknowledge and agree that you shall not, and will direct your Representatives not to, disclose any Confidential Information or Transaction Information to, or make any contact of any nature regarding the potential Transaction or any other potential transaction between the parties with, any potential consultant that provides or has provided services related to residential mortgage origination or residential mortgage servicing without the prior written consent of the Company (which may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion); it being understood that following any such written consent, such potential consultant will be deemed to be your Representative.
10. At the written request of the Disclosing Party, the Receiving Party and its Representatives shall promptly (and in any event within 5 business days of such notice), at the Receiving Partys election, either (A) redeliver to the Disclosing Party all written or electronic Confidential Information received from the Disclosing Party (including any copies thereof) or (B) destroy all such written or electronic Confidential Information then in the Receiving Partys or its Representatives possession. If requested by the Disclosing Party, all destruction or redelivery pursuant to this section shall be certified in writing to the Disclosing Party by an authorized officer supervising such destruction or redelivery. In such event, all oral Confidential Information shall remain subject to the terms of this letter agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the obligation to return or destroy Confidential Information shall not cover information to the extent that it is (x) maintained on routine computer system backup tapes, disks or other backup storage devices or (y) required to be retained by law, as long as such backed-up or otherwise retained information is not used, disclosed, or otherwise recovered from such backup devices, except as required by law. Notwithstanding such return, destruction, deletion or erasure, all oral Confidential Information and the information embodied in all Confidential Information and any Confidential Information retained pursuant to this Section 10 shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations of this letter agreement applicable to Confidential Information.
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11. It is further understood and agreed that no failure or delay by either party in exercising any right, power or privilege under this letter agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege hereunder. The Receiving Party acknowledges that certain Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party may be information to which attorney-client privilege and/or work product privilege attaches and agrees that access to such Confidential Information is being provided solely for the purposes set out in this letter agreement and that such access is not intended, and shall not constitute, a waiver of any privilege or any right to assert or claim privilege. To the extent that there is any waiver of privilege, it is intended to be a limited waiver in respect of the Receiving Party or its applicable Representative solely for the purpose, and on the terms and conditions, set out in this letter agreement. The Receiving Party shall (and shall direct its applicable Representative to), at the request and expense of the Disclosing Party, claim or assert (or cooperate in the claim or assertion of) privilege in respect of such Confidential Information of the Disclosing Party.
12. Each party agrees that unless and until a definitive agreement with respect to a Transaction has been executed and delivered by the parties, neither of the parties nor any of its affiliates or Representatives will be under any legal obligation of any kind whatsoever with respect to such a Transaction by virtue of this or any written or oral expression with respect to such Transaction by any of its directors, officers, employees, agents or any other Representatives, except for the rights and obligations specifically agreed to herein. No contract or agreement providing for a Transaction shall be deemed to exist unless and until a definitive agreement has been executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto, and each party hereby waives, in advance, any claims (including any breach of contract claims providing for a Transaction) in connection with such a Transaction unless and until a definitive agreement has been executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto. You further acknowledge and agree that the Company shall be free to conduct the process, if any, for a transaction involving it as it determines in its sole discretion, including that (A) the Company shall have no obligation to authorize or pursue any Transaction, (B) you understand that the Company has not, as of the date hereof, authorized or made any decision to pursue any such Transaction and (C) the Company reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion and without giving any reason therefor, to reject all proposals and to terminate discussions and negotiations or to enter into any alternative transaction, in each case, at any time. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term Definitive agreement does not include an executed letter of intent or any other preliminary written agreement (including this letter agreement), nor does it include any written or oral offer or bid or any written or oral acceptance thereof. This letter agreement does not constitute or create any obligation of the Company to provide any Confidential Information or other information to you, but merely defines the rights, duties and obligations of the parties with respect to Confidential Information to the extent it may be disclosed or made available.
13. You hereby agree that all (A) requests for additional information regarding the potential Transaction, (B) requests for facility tours or management meetings, (C) discussions or questions regarding procedures related to the potential Transaction and (D) all other communications regarding the potential Transaction shall be submitted or directed to [Houlihan Lokey] and such other persons specifically designated in writing by the Company (the Contact Persons). Without the Companys prior written consent (which may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion), and without limiting the foregoing, neither you nor any of your Representatives shall make any contact of any nature regarding the potential Transaction or any other potential transaction between the parties with (i) any director, officer or employee
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of the Company that is not a Contact Person or (ii) any supplier, customer, landlord, lessor, bank, other lender or any other person having a commercial relationship with the Company or any of its affiliates, in its capacity as such. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 13 shall not restrict either party or its Representatives from contacting or communicating with the other party or its Representatives in connection with matters arising in the ordinary course of business that do not relate to a possible Transaction.
14. (a) You agree that, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of this letter agreement (the Standstill Period), neither you nor any of your affiliates will, directly or indirectly, and will not instruct or direct others to, in each case, without the prior written invitation of the Company:
(1) | acquire or agree, offer, seek or propose to acquire, or cause to be acquired, directly or indirectly, ownership of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any option, forward contract, swap or other position with a value derived from securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or conveying the right to acquire or vote securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any rights or options to acquire any such ownership (including from a third party) (other than passive investments by an affiliated pension or employee benefit plan or trust, so long as the person engaging in such passive investment activities was not in possession of Confidential Information or made aware of this letter agreement or the possible Transaction), or |
(2) | make, or in any way participate in, any solicitation (as such term is used in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)) to vote or seek to advise or influence in any manner whatsoever any person with respect to the voting of any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or seek the consent of any person with respect to any voting securities or interests of the Company, or call or seek to call a meeting of the Companys shareholders or initiate any shareholder proposal for action by the Companys shareholders or seek election to or to place a representative on the board of directors of the Company (or other similar governing body) or seek the removal of any director from the board of directors of the Company, or |
(3) | form, join, or participate in a group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any voting securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or |
(4) | arrange, or in any way participate in, any financing for the purchase of any securities or assets or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for any securities or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or |
(5) | otherwise act, whether alone or with others, to seek to propose to the Company or any of its stockholders (in their capacity as such) any merger, joint venture, amalgamation, plan of arrangement, business combination, tender or exchange offer, restructuring, recapitalization, liquidation of or other similar transaction with or involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or otherwise act, whether alone or with others, to seek to control, change or influence the management, board of directors, governing bodies, or policies of the Company, or nominate any person as a director of the Company, or propose any matter to be voted upon by the stockholders of the Company, or |
(6) | advise, assist or knowingly encourage any other person in connection with any of the foregoing, or |
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(7) | take any action which would reasonably be expected to require the Company to make a public announcement regarding the types of matters set forth in this Section 14, or |
(8) | contest the validity or enforceability of this Section 14, or |
(9) | request any amendment or waiver of any provisions of this Section 14, or |
(10) | enter into any discussions, negotiations, arrangements or understandings with any third party with respect to any of the foregoing, or |
(11) | publicly disclose any intention, plan or arrangement inconsistent with the foregoing. |
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 14(a) (the Standstill Provisions), the Standstill Period shall automatically terminate upon the Companys entry into a definitive agreement providing for a transaction involving 50% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company and its subsidiaries or 50% or more of the voting securities of the Company (whether by purchase, tender or exchange offer, merger, amalgamation, plan of arrangement or other business combination). The expiration of the Standstill Period shall not terminate or otherwise affect any of the other provisions of this letter agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall be permitted to privately submit an acquisition proposal to the Board of Directors of the Company so long such submission would not reasonably be expected to require the Company to make a public announcement.
(c) You hereby represent and warrant, on behalf of yourself and your affiliates, that neither you nor any of your affiliates beneficially own any securities or indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any option, forward contract, swap or other position with a value derived from securities or indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
15. You agree that for a period of twelve (12) months from the date of this letter agreement, neither you nor any of your controlled affiliates, nor any of your or their Representatives acting on your or their behalf, shall directly or indirectly solicit for employment or hire (i) any officer of the Company or other employee of the Company or its controlled affiliates having a title of vice president or above or (ii) any other employee of the Company or its controlled affiliates who you become aware of as a result of your evaluation of the possible Transaction; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit any solicitation pursuant to a general advertisement or by any search firm, that is not targeted at the foregoing persons.
16. You acknowledge and agree that the Company would be irreparably injured by a breach of this letter agreement by you or your Representatives and that money damages are an inadequate remedy for an actual or threatened breach of this letter agreement because of the difficulty of ascertaining the amount of damage that will be suffered in the event that this letter agreement is so breached. Therefore, you agree to the granting of specific performance of this letter agreement and injunctive or other equitable relief in favor of the Company as a remedy for any such breach. You further waive any requirement for the securing or posting of any bond in connection with any such remedy. Such remedy shall not be deemed to be the exclusive remedy for your breach of this letter agreement, but shall be in addition to all other remedies available at law or equity to the Company. In the event of litigation relating to this letter agreement, if a court of competent jurisdiction issues a final, non-appealable (or which is not appealed) order in favor the Company, then you shall be liable for and pay to the Company the reasonable legal fees incurred by the Company in connection with such litigation, including any appeal therefrom. On the other hand, in the event the Company is not the prevailing party, the Company shall be liable for and pay to the Receiving Party reasonable legal fees incurred by the Receiving Party in connection with such litigation, including and appeal therefrom.
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17. This letter agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This letter agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous agreements, written or oral, between the parties or their respective affiliates relating to the subject matter hereof (including any previous agreements relating to the confidential treatment of information). No modifications of this letter agreement or waiver of the terms and conditions hereof will be binding unless approved in writing by both of the parties hereto (or, in the case of a waiver, by the waiving party). Neither party may assign this letter agreement, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the other party. Any purported assignment without such consent shall be null and void.
18. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this letter agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this letter agreement shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
19. This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law provisions thereof that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally consents to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery in and for New Castle County and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware, or in the event (but only in the event) that such Delaware Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction over such matter, any federal court located in the state of Delaware (as applicable, the Chosen Court), for any actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this letter agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and each party agrees not to commence any action, suit or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts, and further agrees that service of any process, summons, notice or document by registered mail to such partys address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or proceeding brought against it in any such court). Each party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this letter agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in the Chosen Court, and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
20. For purposes of this letter agreement, (A) the term affiliate means, when used with respect to any party, a person that directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such party; (B) the term subsidiary means, when used with respect to any party, (x) a person that is directly or indirectly controlled by such party, (y) a person of which such party beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities of such person, the total combined equity interests of such person or the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (z) a person of which such party has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body of such person; (C) the term control means, when used with respect to any specified person, the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, or otherwise and (D) the term person means an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, estate, joint stock company, limited liability company, governmental authority or any other organization or entity of any kind.
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21. This letter agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but both of which shall constitute the same agreement. Signatures to this letter agreement transmitted by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf) form, or by any other electronic means intended to preserve the original graphic and pictorial appearance of a document, will have the same effect as physical delivery of the paper document bearing the original signature.
22. The confidentiality obligations (including use restrictions) of the parties under this letter agreement shall survive for a period of two (2) years from the date hereof; provided, however, that no such termination of this letter agreement shall relieve any party from any liability relating to any breach of this letter agreement prior to such termination.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If you are in agreement with the foregoing, please so indicate by signing and returning one copy of this letter agreement, which will constitute our agreement with respect to the matters set forth herein.
Very truly yours, | ||
HOME POINT CAPITAL INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Jean Weng | |
Name: | Jean Weng | |
Title: | General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
Accepted, Confirmed and Agreed:
Nationstar Mortgage LLC | ||
By: | /s/ Jay Bray | |
Name: | Jay Bray, CEO |
Exhibit (d)(4)
EXECUTION VERSION
Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Purchaser
Home Point Financial Corporation
Seller
and solely for purposes of Section 9.03,
Mr. Cooper Group Inc.
Parent
AGREEMENT FOR THE BULK
PURCHASE AND SALE OF
MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS
Dated as of May 10, 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
ARTICLE I |
| |||||
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION |
| |||||
Section 1.01 |
Definitions | 1 | ||||
Section 1.02 |
General Interpretive Principles | 9 | ||||
ARTICLE II |
| |||||
SALE OF SERVICING RIGHTS AND RELATED MATTERS |
| |||||
Section 2.01 |
Items to be Sold, Transferred and Assigned | 9 | ||||
Section 2.02 |
Evidence of Sale | 10 | ||||
Section 2.03 |
Retention of Property by Seller in Trust | 10 | ||||
Section 2.04 |
Interim Servicing Obligations | 10 | ||||
ARTICLE III |
| |||||
PURCHASE PRICE AND RELATED MATTERS |
| |||||
Section 3.01 |
Purchase Price | 10 | ||||
Section 3.02 |
[Reserved] | 10 | ||||
Section 3.03 |
Payment of Purchase Price by the Purchaser | 10 | ||||
Section 3.04 |
Custodial Funds and Advances | 11 | ||||
Section 3.05 |
Certain Adjustments and Refunds | 11 | ||||
ARTICLE IV |
| |||||
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
| |||||
Section 4.01 |
Representations and Warranties of Seller | 12 | ||||
Section 4.02 |
Representations and Warranties of Seller Regarding Mortgage Loans and Servicing Rights | 14 | ||||
Section 4.03 |
Representations and Warranties of Purchaser | 22 | ||||
Section 4.04 |
Knowledge-Qualified Representations and Warranties | 23 | ||||
ARTICLE V |
| |||||
COVENANTS |
| |||||
Section 5.01 |
Document Custodian; Assignments and Related Matters | 24 | ||||
Section 5.02 |
Undertakings by Seller | 25 | ||||
Section 5.03 |
Non-Solicitation | 26 | ||||
Section 5.04 |
Payment of Costs | 27 |
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Section 5.05 |
Property Taxes and Charges | 27 | ||||
Section 5.06 |
Cooperation | 27 | ||||
Section 5.07 |
Custodial Account Verification | 28 | ||||
Section 5.08 |
Purchaser Due Diligence | 28 | ||||
Section 5.09 |
Servicing Transfer | 28 | ||||
Section 5.10 |
Forwarding of Payments and Other Items | 29 | ||||
Section 5.11 |
File Request | 29 | ||||
Section 5.12 |
Power of Attorney | 29 | ||||
Section 5.13 |
Imaging Fee | 29 | ||||
ARTICLE VI | ||||||
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS | ||||||
Section 6.01 |
Conditions of the Obligations of Each Party | 29 | ||||
Section 6.02 |
Conditions to the Obligation of Purchaser | 30 | ||||
ARTICLE VII | ||||||
[RESERVED] | ||||||
ARTICLE VIII | ||||||
INDEMNIFICATION AND REPURCHASES | ||||||
Section 8.01 |
Indemnification of Purchaser | 30 | ||||
Section 8.02 |
Indemnification of Seller | 31 | ||||
ARTICLE IX | ||||||
TERMINATION | ||||||
Section 9.01 |
Termination | 31 | ||||
Section 9.02 |
Effect of Termination | 32 | ||||
Section 9.03 |
Termination Fee | 32 | ||||
ARTICLE X | ||||||
MISCELLANEOUS | ||||||
Section 10.01 |
Supplementary Information | 32 | ||||
Section 10.02 |
Brokers Fees | 32 | ||||
Section 10.03 |
Further Assurances | 32 | ||||
Section 10.04 |
Survival | 33 | ||||
Section 10.05 |
Assignment | 33 | ||||
Section 10.06 |
Notices | 33 | ||||
Section 10.07 |
Entire Agreement | 34 |
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Section 10.08 |
Binding Effect; Third Parties | 34 | ||||
Section 10.09 |
Applicable Laws | 34 | ||||
Section 10.10 |
Counterparts | 34 | ||||
Section 10.11 |
No Remedy Exclusive | 35 | ||||
Section 10.12 |
Attorneys Fees and Expenses | 35 | ||||
Section 10.13 |
Waiver | 35 | ||||
Section 10.14 |
Announcements; Confidentiality | 35 | ||||
Section 10.15 |
Time of the Essence | 35 | ||||
Section 10.16 |
Accounting Treatment of Sales of Servicing Rights | 35 | ||||
Section 10.17 |
Protection of Consumer Information | 36 | ||||
Section 10.18 |
No Recourse | 36 | ||||
Section 10.19 |
Consent to Jurisdiction | 36 | ||||
Section 10.20 |
WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 37 |
EXHIBIT A MORTGAGE FILE CONTENTS
EXHIBIT B INTERIM SERVICING ADDENDUM
EXHIBIT C TRANSFER INSTRUCTIONS
EXHIBIT D DATA FIELDS CONTAINED IN SETTLEMENT REPORT
EXHIBIT E WIRE INSTRUCTIONS
EXHIBIT F REQUIRED CONSENTS
EXHIBIT G FORM OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT H MORTGAGE LOANS
EXHIBIT I ACKNOWLEDGMENT
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AGREEMENT FOR THE BULK PURCHASE AND SALE OF
MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS
This AGREEMENT FOR THE BULK PURCHASE AND SALE OF MORTGAGE SERVICING RIGHTS (the Agreement) is entered into as of May 10, 2023 (the Effective Date) by and among Nationstar Mortgage LLC (the Purchaser), Home Point Financial Corporation (the Seller) and solely for the purposes of Section 9.03, Mr. Cooper Group Inc. (Parent).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the Seller desires to sell, transfer and assign, and the Purchaser desires to purchase and assume all right, title and interest in and to the Servicing Rights described herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and conditions and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
Section 1.01 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings specified below:
Accepted Servicing Practices: With respect to each Mortgage Loan, those mortgage servicing standards, policies and practices that are in accordance with (i) the terms of the related Mortgage Loan Documents, (ii) Applicable Requirements, and (iv) to the extent not in conflict with the preceding clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), the standards and practices of prudent mortgage lending institutions that service mortgage loans of the same type as the Mortgage Loan for their own account in the jurisdiction where the related Mortgaged Property is located.
Actions: any claim, demand, charge, complaint, grievance, action, suit, summons, citation or subpoena, arbitration, or any audit, proceeding or investigation of any kind or nature, whether civil, criminal, regulatory or otherwise, at law or in equity by or before (or that could come before) any Governmental Authority.
Advances: With respect to each Mortgage Loan, the funds that as of the Sale Date have been advanced by the Seller in connection with the servicing of the Mortgage Loans (including, without limitation, advances for principal, interest, taxes, ground rents, assessments, insurance premiums and other costs, fees and expenses pertaining to the acquisition of title to and preservation and repair of Mortgaged Properties) (a) that are eligible for reimbursement (without curtailment) under the applicable Investors guidelines, and (b) which are determined recoverable by the Purchaser in accordance with the terms of the Agency Guidelines.
Affiliate: The meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Agencies: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as applicable.
Agency Guidelines: The Fannie Mae Guide and Freddie Mac Guide, as applicable, as such Agency Guidelines may be modified from time to time applicable as of the time of reference, and any other applicable agreements, rules, regulations, directives, announcements, bulletins and instructions of the applicable Agency relating to the servicing or subservicing of the Mortgage Loans applicable as of the time of reference, including any delegated authority and variances permitted by the related Agency.
Agreement: This Agreement for the Bulk Purchase and Sale of Mortgage Servicing Rights, including all amendments hereof and supplements hereto, and all Exhibits, Schedules and ancillary documents attached hereto or delivered pursuant hereto.
Ancillary Fees: Any late payment charges, charges for dishonored checks, pay-off fees, assumption fees, penalties, conversion fees, expedited payment or convenience fees, commissions and administrative fees on cross-selling and optional products, and similar fees and charges, as applicable, collected from or assessed against the Mortgagor in accordance with Applicable Requirements.
Applicable Privacy Laws: As defined in Section 10.17 of this Agreement.
Applicable Requirements: As of the time of reference and as applicable, (a) all contractual obligations of the Purchaser and/or the Seller, as applicable, and any Originators or Prior Servicers with respect to the Mortgage Loans and/or the Servicing Rights, including without limitation those contractual obligations contained in this Agreement, the Servicing Agreements, in any agreement with any Agency, Insurer, Investor or other Person or in the Mortgage Loan Documents for which the Purchaser and/or the Seller (as applicable), or any Originator or Prior Servicer, is responsible or at any time was responsible (as in effect at such time); (b) all federal, state and local laws, statutes, rules, regulations and ordinances applicable to the Purchaser as to the Purchaser or the Seller as to the Seller, any Originators or Prior Servicers as to the Seller, or to the Servicing Rights or the origination, servicing, purchase, sale, enforcement and insuring or guaranty of, or filing of claims in connection with, the Mortgage Loans, including without limitation the applicable requirements and guidelines of any Agency, Investor or Insurer, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or any other governmental agency, board, commission, instrumentality or other governmental or quasi-governmental body or office; (c) all other judicial and administrative judgments, orders, stipulations, awards, writs and injunctions applicable to the Purchaser as to the Purchaser or the Seller as to the Seller, any Originators or Prior Servicers as to the Seller, the Servicing Rights or the Mortgage Loans; (d) all Investor and Agency guides, manuals, handbooks, bulletins, circulars, announcements, issuances, releases, letters, correspondence and other instructions applicable to the Mortgage Loans and/or the Servicing Rights; and (e) the terms of the related Mortgage Instrument and Mortgage Note.
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Assignments of Mortgage Instruments: A written instrument that, when recorded in the appropriate office of the local jurisdiction in which the related Mortgaged Property is located, will reflect the transfer of the Mortgage Instrument identified therein from the transferor to the transferee named therein.
Acquisition Sub: Heisman Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Break Fee: $34,576,900.
Business Day: Any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, or (b) a day on which the Federal Reserve is closed or (c) a day on which banks located in the State of New York, or the State of Texas are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed.
Company: Home Point Capital Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Consumer Information: Any personally identifiable information in any form (written electronic or otherwise), including without limitation, any non-public personal information, as that term is defined in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, as amended from time to time, relating to a Mortgagor, including, but not limited to: a Mortgagors name, address, telephone number, Mortgage Loan number, Mortgage Loan payment history, delinquency status, insurance carrier or payment information, tax amount or payment information; the fact that the Mortgagor has a relationship with the Seller or the Originator of the related Mortgage Loan; and any other non-public personally identifiable information.
Custodial Accounts: The accounts in which Custodial Funds are deposited and held by the Servicer.
Custodial Funds: All funds held by or on behalf of the Seller with respect to the Mortgage Loans, including, but not limited to, all principal and interest funds and any other funds due to any Investor, buydown funds, funds for the payment of taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, ground rents and similar charges, funds from hazard insurance loss drafts and other mortgage escrow and impound amounts (including interest accrued thereon for the benefit of the Mortgagors under the Mortgage Loans, if required by law or contract) maintained by or on behalf of the Seller relating to the Mortgage Loans.
Custodial Funds Schedule: As defined in Section 3.04 of this Agreement.
Custodian: With respect to each Mortgage Loan, the Person designated by the Purchaser to act as custodian of the Mortgage Loan Documents for such Mortgage Loan, pursuant to the terms of the Agency custodial agreement.
Delinquent Loan: A mortgage loan that, as of the Sale Date, is sixty (60) or more days past due.
Document Custodian: With respect to each Mortgage Loan, the party that acts in such capacity in relation to a Mortgage Loan as of the Sale Date.
Document Management Vendor: FileNet, or such other document management vendor engaged by the Purchaser under a document management agreement for the retention of the Imaged Mortgage File Documents.
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Effective Date: The date set forth in the introductory phrase of this Agreement.
Eligible Loan: A Fannie Mae Mortgage Loan or Freddie Mac Mortgage Loan that (a) was (i) originated directly by the Seller or (ii) purchased by the Seller through the Sellers broker or correspondent channels; and (b) is a Mortgage Loan that meets all the representations and warranties for Mortgage Loans and the attendant Servicing Rights under this Agreement.
Escrow Interest: An amount equal to the aggregate interest earned but not yet disbursed on funds maintained in the escrow account that is owed by the Seller to the Mortgagors as of the Sale Date.
Exceptions List: With respect to the sale of Servicing Rights and the related Sale Date, a list prepared by the Purchaser and delivered to the Seller for each Mortgage Loan that has a document exception, because the related Mortgage File is missing any loan document required to be included therein pursuant to Exhibit A attached hereto.
Expiration Date: As defined in the Merger Agreement.
Fannie Mae: The Federal National Mortgage Association, or any successor thereto.
Fannie Mae Guides: The Fannie Mae Single Family Servicing Guide, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Fannie Mae Mortgage Loan: A mortgage loan (fixed or ARM) (a) with respect to which Fannie Mae owns the beneficial interest therein, or (b) that serves as collateral for mortgage-backed securities on which the payment of principal and interest is guaranteed by Fannie Mae.
Foreclosure: The procedure pursuant to which a lienholder acquires title to a mortgaged property in a foreclosure sale, or a sale under power of sale, or other acquisition of title to the mortgaged property based upon a default by the mortgagor under the mortgage loan documents, under the laws of the state where such mortgaged property is located.
Freddie Mac: The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, or any successor thereto.
Freddie Mac Guide: The Freddie Mac Single Family Servicing Guide, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
Freddie Mac Mortgage Loan: A mortgage loan (fixed or ARM) (a) with respect to which Freddie Mac owns the beneficial interest therein, or (b) that serves as collateral for mortgage-backed securities on which the payment of principal and interest is guaranteed by Freddie Mac.
Governmental Authority: Any United States (federal, territorial, state or local) or foreign government, or any governmental, regulatory, judicial or administrative authority, agency, instrumentality, court, tribunal or commission, or any subdivision, department or branch of any of the foregoing, or body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, regulatory or taxing authority or power of any nature.
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High Cost Loan: A mortgage loan that is (a) a high cost mortgage loan under HOEPA, or (b) a high cost home, threshold, covered, high risk home, predatory, abusive, or similarly defined loan, including refinance loans, under any other applicable state, federal or local law or regulation (or a similarly classified loan using different terminology under a law imposing heightened regulatory scrutiny or additional legal liability for residential mortgage loans having high interest rates, points and/or fees). For avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that this definition shall apply to any law regardless of whether such law is presently, or in the future becomes, the subject of judicial review or litigation and that Higher Price Mortgage Loans shall not be considered as High Cost Loans for purposes of this Agreement.
Higher Priced Mortgage Loan: A Higher Priced Mortgage Loan as defined in 12 CFR 1026.35(a)(1).
HOEPA: The Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act of 1994, as amended and as implemented by Regulation Z.
HSR Act: The Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder
Imaged Mortgage File Documents: Those documents (in fully-indexed, electronically imaged format) described in part C of Exhibit A attached hereto, or as otherwise set forth in the Transfer Instructions, and which comprise part of the Mortgage File.
Insurer or Insurers: Any PMI company, pool insurer and any insurer or guarantor under any standard hazard insurance policy, any federal flood insurance policy, any title insurance policy, any earthquake insurance policy or other insurance policy, and any successor thereto, with respect to the Mortgage Loan or the Mortgaged Property.
Interim Servicing Addendum: The addendum attached hereto as Exhibit B.
Interim Servicing Period: The period commencing on the Sale Date and ending on the applicable Servicing Transfer Date or, if earlier, the transfer and assignment of the Subservicing Agreement to Purchaser.
Investor or Investors: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, as applicable.
Law: any and all domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign laws (including common law), acts, statutes, codes, rules, ordinances, regulations, or Orders, promulgated by any Governmental Authority (or under the authority of NASDAQ or another stock exchange).
Legal Documents: Those documents described in parts A and B of Exhibit A attached hereto and which comprise part of the Mortgage File.
Loss or Losses: Any and all actual losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, claims, actions, judgments, settlements, interest, awards, penalties, fines, out-of-pocket costs, or expenses of whatever kind, including reasonable outside counsel attorneys fees, fees and the out-of-pocket cost of enforcing any right to indemnification hereunder and the out-of-pocket cost of pursuing any insurance providers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Losses shall not include punitive, special, incidental, indirect (including lost profits), exemplary or consequential damages.
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Merger Agreement: The Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 10, 2023, by and among, Parent, Acquisition Sub and the Company.
MERS: The Mortgage Electronic Registration System.
MERS Mortgage Loan: Any Mortgage Loan as to which the related Mortgage Instrument, or an Assignment of Mortgage Instrument, has been recorded in the name of MERS, as nominee or agent for the holder from time to time of the Mortgage Note as of the Sale Date.
Mortgage Escrow Payments: The portion, if any, of the Mortgage Loan Payment in connection with a Mortgage Loan that relates to funds for the payment of taxes, assessments, insurance premiums and other customary mortgage escrow amounts required under the Mortgage Loan Documents.
Mortgage File: The Legal Documents and Imaged Mortgage File Documents.
Mortgage Instrument: Any deed of trust, security deed, mortgage, security agreement or any other instrument which constitutes a first lien on real estate (or shares of stock in the case of cooperatives) securing payment by a Mortgagor of a Mortgage Note.
Mortgage Loans: All loans set forth on Exhibit H that are Eligible Loans as of the Sale Date.
Mortgage Loan Documents: The Mortgage Instruments and Mortgage Notes.
Mortgage Loan Payment: With respect to a Mortgage Loan, the amount of each monthly installment on such Mortgage Loan, whether principal and interest or escrow or other payment, required or permitted to be paid by the Mortgagor in accordance with the terms of the Mortgage Loan Documents.
Mortgage Note: The promissory note executed by a Mortgagor and secured by a Mortgage Instrument evidencing the indebtedness of the Mortgagor under a Mortgage Loan.
Mortgaged Property: The residential real property that is encumbered by a Mortgage Instrument, including all buildings and fixtures thereon.
Mortgagor: Any obligor under a Mortgage Note and Mortgage Instrument.
Offer Conditions: As defined in the Merger Agreement, but excluding the Offer Condition set forth in clause (i) of Exhibit A to the Merger Agreement.
Order: any decree, writ, ruling, award, judgment, injunction or other order by or with any Governmental Authority.
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Originator: With respect to any Mortgage Loan, the Person(s) that: (a) took the loan application, (b) processed the loan application, (c) underwrote the loan application and/or (d) closed or funded the Mortgage Loan.
Parties: The Seller, the Purchaser and, solely for the purposes set forth herein, Parent.
Person: An individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, a joint venture, a trust, an unincorporated association or organization, a government body, agency or instrumentality or any other entity.
PMI: Private mortgage insurance.
PMI Companies: The insurance companies that have issued PMI policies insuring any of the Mortgage Loans.
Power of Attorney: The power of attorney executed by Seller in accordance with Section 5.12 hereof.
Prior Servicer: With respect to a Mortgage Loan, any Person that was a Servicer of such Mortgage Loan, or that administered any Mortgage Loan related service or program, before the Servicing Transfer Date.
Purchase Price Percentage: An amount, expressed as a percentage, equal to the product of (i) the Purchase Price Multiple and (ii) the net servicing fee as set forth on Exhibit H.
Purchase Price Multiple: 4.8058.
Purchaser: As defined in the introductory phrase of this Agreement.
Repurchase Alternative Agreement: As defined in Section 8.03(d).
Required Consents: As defined in Section 4.01(e).
Sale Date: (a) the later of (x) the first (1st) Business Day after the satisfaction or, to the extent not prohibited by Law, waiver by Parent under the Merger Agreement of all of the Offer Conditions (other than any such conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied only at the expiration of the Offer, but subject to such conditions remaining capable of being timely satisfied) and (y) the Business Day immediately prior to the then-scheduled Expiration Date, or (b) such other date mutually agreed in writing by the Parties.
Seller: As defined in the introductory phrase of this Agreement.
Seller Perpetuated Error: As defined in Section 8.02.
Servicer: The Person contractually obligated, at any time, to administer the Servicing Rights under the Servicing Agreements.
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Servicing Agreements: The contracts (including, without limitation, servicing agreement, custodial agreement or other agreement or arrangement), and all applicable rules, regulations, procedures, manuals and guidelines incorporated therein, defining the rights and obligations of the Servicer, with respect to Eligible Loans.
Servicing Fee: The annual aggregate amount payable to the Servicer under the applicable Servicing Agreement related to an Eligible Loan as consideration for servicing such Eligible Loan, which may be expressed as a percentage.
Servicing Rights: (a) The rights and obligations to service, administer, collect payments for the reduction of principal and application of interest, collect payments on account of taxes and insurance, collect all advances, deferred servicing fees, and fees or similar amounts related to each Mortgage Loan, pay taxes and insurance, remit collected payments, provide foreclosure services, and provide full escrow administration in connection with the Mortgage Loans, (b) any other obligations required by any Agency, Investor or Insurer in, of, for or in connection with the Mortgage Loans pursuant to the Servicing Agreements, (c) the right to use and possess any and all documents, files, records, Mortgage Files, servicing documents, servicing records, data tapes, computer records, or other information pertaining to the Mortgage Loans or pertaining to the past, present or prospective servicing of the Mortgage Loans, (d) the right to receive the Servicing Fee and any Ancillary Fees arising from or connected to the Mortgage Loans and the benefits derived from and obligations related to any accounts arising from or connected to such Mortgage Loans, (e) all rights to reimbursement and collection of Advances, (f) to the extent applicable, conveyance of rights to call or collapse related securitizations, (g) all rights and benefits relating to the direct solicitation of the related Mortgagors for refinance or modification of the Mortgage Loans and the attendant right, title and interest in and to the list of such Mortgagors and data relating to their respective Mortgage Loans, and (h) all rights, powers and privileges incident to any of the foregoing.
Servicing Transfer Date: With respect to each Mortgage Loan sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the first calendar day of the month following the Sale Date, or if the Sale Date is the first calendar day of the month, the Sale Date (or such other date as mutually agreed in writing by the Parties), which shall also be the date when (a) physical servicing of such Mortgage Loan is scheduled to be transferred to the Purchaser and (b) the Purchaser is legally obligated to service such Mortgage Loan.
State Agency: Any state or local agency with authority to (a) regulate the business of the Purchaser or the Seller or any Originator or Prior Servicer, including without limitation any state or local agency with authority to determine the investment or servicing requirements with regard to mortgage loans originated, purchased or serviced by the Purchaser or the Seller, or (b) originate, purchase or service mortgage loans, or otherwise promote mortgage lending, including without limitation state and local housing finance authorities.
Subservicing Agreement: The Subservicing Agreement dated February 7, 2022 by and between ServiceMac LLC and Home Point Financial Corporation.
Trailing Loan Documents: Each of the documents described in part B of Exhibit A attached hereto.
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Transfer Instructions: The transfer instructions as outlined in Exhibit C, which specify the manner in which the servicing of the Mortgage Loans shall be transferred to the Purchaser, as agreed upon by the Purchaser and the Seller in good faith.
Uncured Document Exception: a Mortgage Loan that continues to be subject to a document exception as set forth in the Exceptions Lists and such document exception is (i) expected by the Purchaser, as determined in its good faith and reasonable discretion, to have a material and adverse effect on the servicing of such Mortgage Loan.
Wire Instructions: As defined in Section 3.06 of this Agreement.
Section 1.02 General Interpretive Principles. For purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) Terms used in this Agreement have the meanings assigned to them in this Agreement, and include the plural as well as the singular, and the use of any gender herein shall be deemed to include the other gender.
(b) Accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) References herein to a Section, shall be to the specified section(s) of this Agreement and shall include all subsections of such section(s).
(d) The words herein, hereof, hereunder and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provisions.
(e) Section headings and other similar headings are not to be considered part of this Agreement, are solely for convenience of reference, and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any of its provisions.
(f) Each reference to any federal, state or local statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(g) References to days shall mean consecutive calendar days unless otherwise specified as Business Days.
ARTICLE II
SALE OF SERVICING RIGHTS AND RELATED MATTERS
Section 2.01 Items to be Sold, Transferred and Assigned. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and subject to Applicable Requirements, the Seller shall sell, transfer and assign to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase and assume from the Seller, on the Sale Date upon the terms specified herein, all of the Sellers legal and beneficial right, title, interest in and to the applicable (a) Servicing Rights, (b) Advances, (c) Custodial Funds, and (d) Mortgage Files for the Mortgage Loans (the MSR Closing).
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Section 2.02 Evidence of Sale. Prior to the Sale Date, the Purchaser and the Seller shall execute and deliver the documents required by each Investor in connection with the transfer of the Servicing Rights hereunder, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and the Seller and in compliance with Applicable Requirements.
Section 2.03 Retention of Property by Seller in Trust. From and after the Sale Date, the sole and exclusive ownership of the Servicing Rights shall vest in the Purchaser. Any possession or control of the Mortgage Files or other related books, records, accounts, funds or other property representing or relating to the Servicing Rights by the Seller following the Sale Date shall be possessed or held by the Seller solely in trust on behalf of, and in a fiduciary capacity for and at the will of, the Purchaser, except that the Seller may retain and maintain copies of documents and records from the Mortgage Files or its prior origination or servicing activities to the extent such documents and records are necessary or appropriate to comply with licensing or other laws applicable to its prior or ongoing business activities.
Section 2.04 Interim Servicing Obligations. During the Interim Servicing Period, Seller, through its subservicer, shall interim service the Mortgage Servicing Rights in accordance with the Interim Servicing Addendum. During the Interim Servicing Period, Seller shall at all times be in good standing and authorized to conduct business in each jurisdiction where Seller transacts business and each jurisdiction where a Mortgaged Property is located (to the extent such authorization is required to conduct business in such jurisdiction), except where the failure of Seller to possess such qualifications would not be material to the Mortgage Servicing Rights, and Seller shall maintain its approved status and good standing as a seller and servicer with each applicable Investor with the requisite financial criteria and adequate resources to carry out Sellers obligations herein and under the Interim Servicing Addendum.
ARTICLE III
PURCHASE PRICE AND RELATED MATTERS
Section 3.01 Purchase Price. In consideration for the transfer and sale contemplated herein of the Servicing Rights, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller in the manner and subject to the adjustments provided for in this Article III, an amount equal to the Purchase Price Percentage multiplied by the aggregate outstanding principal balance, as of the Sale Date, of the Mortgage Loans.
Section 3.02 [Reserved]
Section 3.03 Payment of Purchase Price by the Purchaser. Subject to the terms and conditions herein, on the Sale Date, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate Purchase Price applicable to the Servicing Rights to be sold to the Purchaser as of the Sale Date.
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Section 3.04 Custodial Funds and Advances.
(a) P&I and Escrow: All Custodial Funds and all other funds and collections held by or on behalf of the Seller in connection with the Mortgage Loans shall be deposited by the Seller in appropriate Custodial Accounts in accordance with all Applicable Requirements. On the Servicing Transfer Date, the Seller shall furnish the Purchaser with a schedule of all Custodial Funds (Custodial Funds Schedule) held by the Seller as of such Servicing Transfer Date. The Seller represents and warrants, on the Servicing Transfer Date, that the information contained in the Custodial Funds Schedule is true, correct and complete. Within five (5) Business Days following the Servicing Transfer Date, all Custodial Funds and all other funds and collections held by or on behalf of the Seller in connection with the Mortgage Loans shall be transferred to Purchaser.
(b) Advances: The Purchaser shall reimburse the Seller for any Advances for which the Seller is entitled to reimbursement within thirty (30) calendar days following receipt of (i) a loan level report reflecting such unreimbursed Advances (including a loan level and line-by-line description of the type of Advances, i.e., tax, insurance, attorneys fees, property inspection, disbursement date, etc.), and (ii) all reasonably necessary supporting documentation and invoices with respect to such Advances necessary for the Purchaser to determine that such Advances are reimbursable in accordance with Applicable Requirements. Purchaser shall have no obligation to reimburse Seller for Advances that were not made in accordance with Applicable Requirements or on loans that are current. The Seller shall forward to the Purchaser any recoveries of Advances received by it that are reimbursable to the Purchaser within ten (10) Business Days of receipt. Nothing contained herein shall limit the Purchasers right to reimbursement for Advances paid to Seller, to the extent such Advances are later deemed not reimbursable by the applicable Investor or Insurer.
Section 3.05 Certain Adjustments and Refunds.
(a) Purchase Price Reimbursement.
With respect to any Servicing Rights, if the servicing of the related Mortgage Loans is not transferred on the respective Servicing Transfer Date for any reason, including without limitation, if applicable, failure by the Seller to obtain the necessary Investor approval for such transfer, then the Seller shall reimburse the Purchaser the related Purchase Price paid by the Purchaser for such Servicing Rights within three (3) Business Days following such failed Servicing Transfer Date.
(b) Adjustments. During the period of six (6) months after the related Servicing Transfer Date, to correct errors relating to amounts calculated and paid hereunder in respect of the Purchase Price, transfer of the Custodial Funds, payment for the Advances, or payment or transfer of any other amounts due under this Agreement to either Party, either Party may, on a monthly basis, provide written notice to the other Party of any errors identified during the current calendar month. Within five (5) Business Days after the end of the calendar month in which receipt of information sufficient to provide notice that an error has occurred, the Party benefiting from the error shall (i) pay an amount sufficient to correct and reconcile the Purchase Price, Custodial Fund, Advances or such other amounts, and (ii) provide a reconciliation statement and such other documentation sufficient to satisfy the other Party (in such other Partys exercise of its reasonable discretion) concerning the accuracy of such reconciliation.
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(c) Advances. If at any time either of the Parties determines that any amounts paid by the Purchaser to the Seller for any Advances are not reimbursable by the applicable Investor or Insurer, the Seller shall promptly remit such amounts directly to the Purchaser within five (5) Business Days of such determination. Form of Payment to be Made. Unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties, all payments to be made by a Party to another Party, or such other Partys designee, shall be made by wiring immediately available funds in United States dollars to the accounts designated by the receiving Party in accordance with such Partys written instructions as set forth in Exhibit E attached hereto or such other instructions as a Party may require after reasonable written notice hereunder (Wire Instructions).
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 4.01 Representations and Warranties of Seller. As an inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Seller represents and warrants as follows (it being understood that, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, each such representation and warranty is made to the Purchaser as of the Effective Date, the Sale Date, and the applicable Servicing Transfer Date, and all of the representations, warranties and covenants of the Seller contained herein shall survive the Effective Date, Sale Date, the applicable Servicing Transfer Date and the termination of this Agreement):
(a) Due Organization and Good Standing. The Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the State of New Jersey. The Seller has, and at all relevant times has had, in full force and effect (without notice of possible suspension, revocation or impairment) all required qualifications, permits, approvals, licenses, and registrations to conduct all activities in all states in which its activities with respect to the Mortgage Loans or the Servicing Rights require it to be qualified or licensed, except where the failure of the Seller to possess such qualifications, licenses, permits, approvals and registrations would not have a material adverse effect on its ability to enforce any Mortgage Loan or to realize the full benefits of any Servicing Rights. The Seller is an approved seller, servicer, or issuer, as applicable, for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. No event has occurred, including but not limited to a change in insurance coverage, that would make the Seller unable to comply with the eligibility requirements set forth in the Applicable Requirements. The Seller has complied with, and is not in default under, any law, ordinance, requirement, regulation, rule, or order applicable to its business or properties, the violation of which might materially and adversely affect the operations or financial condition of the Seller or its ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
(b) Authority and Capacity. The Seller has all requisite corporate power, authority and capacity to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all of its obligations hereunder.
(c) Effective Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Seller and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been or will be duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action by the Seller; and this Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Seller; and this Agreement is a valid and legally binding agreement of the Seller and enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors rights and to general principles of equity.
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(d) No Conflict. Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance with its terms and conditions, shall (i) violate, conflict with, result in the breach of, constitute a default under, be prohibited by, or require any additional approval (except as shall have been obtained or made as of the Sale Date) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (A) the articles of incorporation, bylaws, or other organizational documents (as applicable) of the Seller or (B) of any mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Seller is now a party or by which the Seller is bound, or any law, ordinance, rule or regulation of any governmental authority applicable to the Seller, or any order, judgment or decree of any court or governmental authority applicable to the Seller; or (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature upon, the Servicing Rights or any of the Mortgage Loans.
(e) Consents and Waivers. There is no requirement applicable to the Seller to make any filing with, or to obtain any permit, authorization, consent, approval or waiver of, any Person as a condition to the lawful performance by the Seller of its obligations hereunder, other than such approvals, consents or waivers set forth on Exhibit F attached hereto, necessary to transfer the Servicing Rights (the Required Consents).
(f) Ability to Transfer. The transfer, assignment and conveyance of the Servicing Rights by the Seller pursuant to this Agreement is not subject to the bulk transfer or any similar statutory provisions in effect in any jurisdiction, the laws of which apply to such transfer, assignment and conveyance. The Seller has clear title to and full ownership of the Servicing Rights, and the right and ability to transfer all servicing information and all documentation, tapes, reports and other information required to be provided to the Purchaser or its designee, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and all such transfers shall be in compliance with Applicable Requirements.
(g) Insurance. Error and omissions and fidelity insurance coverage, in amounts as required by Applicable Requirements, is in effect with respect to the Seller and will be maintained until the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been consummated in accordance with the terms hereof.
(h) Litigation and Accrued Liabilities. There is no material litigation, claim, demand, proceeding or governmental investigation pending or threatened, or any material accrued liability outside of the ordinary course of Sellers business, or, order, injunction or decree outstanding, against or relating to the Seller that could materially adversely affect the Servicing Rights being purchased by the Purchaser hereunder, the Mortgage Loans, the performance by the Seller of its obligations (or by the Purchaser of its future obligations) under the Servicing Agreements or the performance by the Seller of its obligations under this Agreement.
(i) Accuracy of Information. The information provided by Seller in the Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement, or in any data tape provided by the Seller to the Purchaser is complete and accurate in all material respects.
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(j) Quality Control Program. The Seller maintains an internal quality control program designed to verify, on a regular basis, the existence and accuracy of the legal documents, credit documents and property appraisals relating to the Mortgage Loans that complies in all respects with Applicable Requirements. The program is designed to evaluate and monitor the overall quality of the loan origination and servicing activities of the Seller, the compliance of the Mortgage Loans with Applicable Requirements, and, as applicable, Originators and Prior Servicers. The program also is designed to detect and prevent dishonest, fraudulent or negligent acts, errors and omissions by officers, employees or other unauthorized persons.
(k) MERS Membership. The Seller is an approved member in good standing with MERS.
(l) Subservicing. There is no other subservicing agreement relating to the Mortgage Loans other than the Subservicing Agreement. The Subservicing Agreement is valid and enforceable and requires Sellers Subservicer to service the Mortgage Loans according to Applicable Requirements. Seller has implemented and maintained prudent practices to oversee and manage subservicing of the Mortgage Loans, and enforce its rights under the Subservicing Agreement. To the Sellers knowledge, the subservicer under the Subservicing Agreement has serviced the Mortgage Loans according to Applicable Requirements. Seller has disclosed any and all open claims for Losses or disputed amounts between Seller and its Subservicer.
Section 4.02 Representations and Warranties of Seller Regarding Mortgage Loans and Servicing Rights. As an inducement to the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, the Seller represents and warrants as follows (it being understood that, unless otherwise expressly provided herein, each such representation and warranty is made to the Purchaser as of the Sale Date, and to the extent expressly set forth herein, the related Servicing Transfer Date, and all of the representations, warranties and covenants of the Seller contained herein shall survive the Effective Date, the Sale Date, the Settlement Date, the related Servicing Transfer Date and the termination of this Agreement):
(a) General Compliance. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, each Mortgage Loan and Servicing Right conforms to Applicable Requirements in all material respects, and each Mortgage Loan was eligible for sale to, insurance by, or pooling to back securities issued or guaranteed by, or participation certificates issued by, the applicable Agency, Investor, Insurer or other Person upon such sale, issuance of insurance or pooling, if any. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, each Mortgage Loan has been originated, underwritten, serviced, pooled, and sold in compliance with all Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, all collection efforts by or on behalf of the Seller have been performed timely and in compliance with all Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, the Seller is not in default with respect to the Sellers obligations under Applicable Requirements. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, the Servicing Agreements do not contain any provisions that reasonably would be expected to impose upon the Purchaser any obligations in addition to those typically imposed upon servicers of standard Investor servicing rights. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, the Seller is not, nor is the Seller reasonably likely to be, in default under any agreement, contract or arrangement with any Person related to the Mortgage Loans and/or Servicing Rights, which default could result in any Loss to the Purchaser following the Sale Date.
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(b) Enforceability of Mortgage Loan. Each Mortgage Loan is evidenced by a Mortgage Note and is duly secured by a Mortgage Instrument, in each case, on such forms and with such terms as comply with all Applicable Requirements. Each Mortgage Note and the related Mortgage Instrument is genuine and each is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the maker thereof, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors rights and to general principles of equity. All parties to the Mortgage Note and the Mortgage Instrument had legal capacity to execute the Mortgage Note and the Mortgage Instrument and each Mortgage Note and Mortgage Instrument has been duly and properly executed by such parties. The Mortgage Loan is not subject to any rights of rescission, set-off, counterclaim or defense, including the defense of usury, nor will the operation of any of the terms of the Mortgage Note or the Mortgage Instrument, or the exercise of any right thereunder, render either the Mortgage Note or the Mortgage Instrument unenforceable by the Seller or the Purchaser, in whole or in part, or subject to any right of rescission, set-off, counterclaim or defense, including the defense of usury, and no such right of rescission, set-off, counterclaim, or defense has been asserted with respect thereto.
(c) Disbursement; Future Advances. The full original principal amount of each Mortgage Loan (net of any discounts) has been fully advanced or disbursed to the Mortgagor named therein, there is no requirement for future advances and any and all requirements as to completion of any on-site or off-site improvements and as to disbursements of any escrow funds therefor have been satisfied. All costs, fees and expenses incurred in making, closing or recording the Mortgage Loan were paid. Any future advances that were made in connection with a Mortgage Loan have been consolidated with the outstanding principal amount secured by the Mortgage Instrument, and the secured principal amount, as consolidated, bears a single interest rate and single repayment term. The lien of the Mortgage Instrument securing the consolidated principal amount is expressly insured as having first lien priority by a title insurance policy meeting the standards set forth in Section 4.02(e) hereof. The consolidated principal amount does not exceed the original principal amount of the Mortgage Loan.
(d) Priority of Lien. Each Mortgage Instrument has been duly acknowledged and recorded or sent for recordation and is a valid and subsisting first lien, and the Mortgaged Property is free and clear of all encumbrances and liens having priority over the lien of the Mortgage Instruments, except for (i) liens for real estate taxes and special assessments not yet due and payable, (ii) covenants, conditions and restrictions, rights of way, easements and other matters of the public record as of the date of recording, acceptable to mortgage lending institutions generally and (iii) other matters to which like properties are commonly subject which do not interfere with the benefits of the security intended to be provided by the Mortgage Instrument or the use, enjoyment, value or marketability of the related Mortgaged Property or its accompanying Servicing Right. There are no delinquent tax or any other form of assessment liens against any Mortgaged Property. All tax identifications and property descriptions in the Mortgage Instrument are legally sufficient.
(e) Title Insurance. Except for any Mortgage Loan secured by a Mortgaged Property as to which an opinion of counsel of the type customarily rendered in such state in lieu of title insurance has been received, a valid and enforceable title policy, or a commitment to issue such a policy (with respect to which a title policy will be received to replace such commitment), has been issued and is in full force and effect for such Mortgage Loan in the amount not less than
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the original principal amount of such Mortgage Loan, which title policy insures that the related Mortgage Instrument is a valid first lien on the Mortgage Property therein described and that the Mortgaged Property is free and clear of all liens having priority over the lien of the Mortgage Instrument (except for such exceptions specified in Section 4.02(d) hereof). All provisions of such insurance policy have been complied with, such policy is in full force and effect and all premiums due thereunder have been paid. As to each such policy, the Seller and any Originator and Prior Servicer have complied with all applicable provisions and all applicable statutes and regulations, there has been no act or omission which would or may invalidate any such policy, there has been no event or condition which may result in the revocation, cancellation or expiration of such policy, and the insurance is in full force and effect with respect to the related Mortgage Loan. There are no defenses, counterclaims, or rights of set-off against the Seller or any other Person affecting the validity or enforceability of any such policy.
(f) No Default/No Waiver. Other than with respect to Mortgage Loan Payments that have not yet caused a Mortgage Loan to become a Delinquent Loan, there is no default, breach, violation or event of acceleration existing under any Mortgage Loan, and no event has occurred that, with the passage of time or with notice and the expiration of any grace or cure period, would constitute a default, breach, violation or event of acceleration. Except in connection with Consolidation, Extension and Modification Agreements permitted under Delaware law or otherwise in accordance with Applicable Requirements, neither the Seller nor any Originator or Prior Servicer has (i) agreed to any material modification, extension or forbearance in connection with a Mortgage Note or Mortgage Instrument, (ii) released, satisfied or canceled any Mortgage Note or Mortgage Instrument in whole or in part, (iii) subordinated any Mortgage Instrument in whole or in part, or (iv) released any Mortgaged Property in whole or in part from the lien of any Mortgage Instrument.
(g) Application of Funds. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, all payments received by or on behalf of the Seller with respect to any Mortgage Loan have been remitted and properly accounted for in compliance with and as required by Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices.
(h) Mortgage Insurance. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, each Mortgage Loan which is required pursuant to Applicable Requirements to have mortgage insurance has such mortgage insurance, and has an accurate holder identification for purposes of filing claims. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, as to each mortgage insurance, the Seller and any Originator and Prior Servicer have complied with applicable provisions of the insurance contract and all applicable statutes and regulations, all premiums or other charges due in connection with such insurance have been paid, there has been no act or omission which would or may invalidate any such insurance with respect to the Seller or any Originator or Prior Servicer, there has been no event or condition which may result in the revocation, cancellation or expiration of such coverage, and the insurance is or, when issued, will be, and will remain in full force and effect with respect to each Mortgage Loan. There are no defenses, counterclaims, or rights of set-off against the Seller affecting the validity or enforceability of any mortgage insurance with respect to a Mortgage Loan. All appropriate disclosures related to such mortgage insurance were accurately prepared and have been timely provided to each Mortgagor in compliance with Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, all provisions of such insurance policies have been and are being complied with in all material respects, all premiums due thereunder have been paid and such policies are in full force and effect.
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(i) Compliance with Laws. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, The Seller and each Originator and Prior Servicer have complied with Applicable Requirements with respect to the applicable Mortgage Loan. All parties that have had any interest in the applicable Mortgage Loan, including any Originator or Prior Servicer, was qualified to do business, and had all requisite licenses, permits and approvals, in the jurisdictions in which the applicable Mortgaged Properties are located, except where the failure to possess such qualifications, licenses, permits and approvals would not materially and adversely affect the enforceability of the Mortgage Loan Documents by the Purchaser or would not result in any claim, demand, litigation, or Loss.
(j) Filing of Reports. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, the Seller has filed or will file in a timely manner all reports required by the Agencies, Investors, Insurers and other Applicable Requirements with respect to the Mortgage Loans and the Servicing Rights related to the period of time prior to the Servicing Transfer Date. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, the Seller has filed (or caused to be filed), and hereafter shall file (or cause to be filed), all IRS Forms, including but not limited to Forms 1041 K1, 1041, 1099 INT, 1099 MISC, 1099A and 1098, as appropriate, which are required to be filed with respect to the Servicing Rights for activity that occurred on or before the Sale Date.
(k) Custodial Accounts. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, all Custodial Accounts required to be maintained by the Seller have been established and continuously maintained in compliance with Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, custodial Funds received by or on behalf of the Seller have been credited to the appropriate Custodial Account in a timely manner and in compliance with Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices and have been retained in and disbursed from the Custodial Accounts in compliance with Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, with regard to Mortgage Loans that provide for Mortgage Escrow Payments, the Seller and each Originator and Prior Servicer have (i) computed the amount of such payments in compliance with Applicable Requirements, (ii) paid on a timely basis all charges and other items to be paid out of the Mortgage Escrow Payments in compliance with Applicable Requirements, and when required by the applicable Servicing Agreement has advanced its own funds to pay such charges and items, and (iii) timely delivered to the related Mortgagors the statements and notices required by Applicable Requirements in connection with Custodial Accounts, including without limitation statements of taxes and other items paid out of the Mortgage Escrow Payments and notices of adjustments to the amount of the Mortgage Escrow Payments. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, with respect to Mortgage Escrow Payments, there exist no deficiencies in connection therewith for which customary arrangements for repayment thereof have not been made in compliance with Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices, and no Mortgage Escrow Payments or other charges or prepayments due from a Mortgagor have been capitalized under any Mortgage Instrument or the related Mortgage Note.
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(l) Advances. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, all Advances paid for by Purchaser to Seller, or net against amounts paid over by Seller to Purchaser hereunder were made and are eligible for reimbursement in accordance with Applicable Requirements, are carried on the books of Seller at values determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, are not subject to any set-off or claim that could be asserted against Seller, or to Sellers knowledge, Purchaser, and Seller has not received any notice from any Investor, or any Insurer or other Person in which such Investor, Insurer or Person disputes or denies a claim by Seller for reimbursement in connection with an Advance. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, no Advance has been sold, transferred, assigned or pledged by Seller to any Person other than Purchaser. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, Seller has not taken any action that, or failed to take any action the omission of which, would materially impair the rights of Purchaser with respect to any such Advance.
(m) Investor Remittances and Reporting. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, the Seller and each Originator and Prior Servicer (i) have timely remitted or otherwise made available to each Investor (A) all principal and interest payments received to which the Investor is entitled under the applicable Servicing Agreements, including without limitation any guaranty fees, and (B) all advances of principal and interest payments required by such Servicing Agreements, and (ii) have properly prepared and timely submitted to each Investor all reports in connection with such payments required by Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices.
(n) Taxes and Charges. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, all taxes, governmental assessments, insurance premiums, water, sewer and municipal charges, leasehold payments and ground rents relating to the Mortgage Loans have been timely paid by the Seller or a Prior Servicer in compliance with Applicable Requirements and Accepted Servicing Practices to the extent such items are required to have been paid pursuant to Applicable Requirements. There are no delinquent taxes, delinquent assessments or other liens against any Mortgaged Property.
(o) Hazard and Related Insurance. All improvements upon the Mortgaged Property are insured against loss by fire, hazard (and, where required pursuant to Applicable Requirements, flood) and/or extended coverage insurance policies, in the required coverage amount, by an Insurer and otherwise in compliance with and in the manner as may be required by Applicable Requirements. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect to such policies have been paid, and all provisions of such insurance policies have been and are being complied with. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, there has been no act or omission of the Seller or any Prior Servicer that would or may invalidate any such insurance, there has been no event or condition which may result in the revocation, cancellation or expiration of such coverage, and the insurance is or, when issued, will be, in full force and effect with respect to each Mortgage Loan. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, there are no defenses, counterclaims, or rights of set-off against the Seller affecting the validity or enforceability of any such insurance.
(p) Damage, Condemnation, and Related Matters. There exists no physical damage to any Mortgaged Property from fire, flood, windstorm, earthquake, tornado, hurricane or any other similar casualty, which physical damage is not adequately insured against or would materially and adversely affect the value or marketability of any Mortgage Loan, the Servicing Rights, the Mortgaged Property or the eligibility of the Mortgage Loan for insurance benefits by
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any Insurer. There is no proceeding pending for the total or partial condemnation of, or eminent domain with respect to, the Mortgaged Property. To the Sellers knowledge, of the improvements that were included for the purpose of determining the appraised value of the Mortgaged Property for a Mortgage Loan lie wholly within the boundaries and building restriction lines of the Mortgaged Property, and no improvements on adjoining properties encroach upon the Mortgaged Property. With respect to any Mortgaged Property, to the Sellers knowledge, the related Mortgagor is not in and has not been in violation of, no prior owner of such property was in violation of, and the Mortgaged Property does not violate any standards under, all applicable statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders or decisions relating to pollution, protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata and natural resources), including, without limitation, all applicable statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, orders or decisions relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, petroleum and petroleum products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and lead and lead-containing materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of such items.
(q) Mortgage File. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, except for outstanding Trailing Loan Documents, each Mortgage File contains each of the documents and instruments specified in Exhibit A attached hereto and includes all documents necessary to demonstrate compliance with Applicable Requirements. As of the Sale Date and Servicing Transfer Date, all books, records and accounts of the Seller, the Sellers Servicer (if applicable), with respect to the Servicing Rights and the Mortgage Loans are true, complete, properly maintained, and accurately reflect the subject matter thereof in all material respects