Supplemental Disclosures
As previously reported, on August 13, 2024, Kellanova, a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Kellanova”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Acquiror 10VB8, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Acquiror”), Merger Sub 10VB8, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (“Merger Sub”), and, solely for the limited purposes specified in the Merger Agreement, Mars, Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, pursuant to which, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Kellanova, with Kellanova surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Acquiror (the “Merger”). On September 26, 2024, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule DEFM14A (as such may be supplemented from time to time, the “Definitive Proxy Statement”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with the special meeting of the Company’s shareowners to, among other things, vote to adopt and approve the Merger Agreement scheduled to be held on November 1, 2024 (the “Special Meeting”).
Explanatory Note
In connection with the Merger, two complaints have been filed as individual actions in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York and are captioned Dan Smith v. Kellanova, et. al., Case No. TC241011-NY2 (filed October 11, 2024) (the “Smith Complaint”) and Steve Taylor vs. Kellanova, et. al. (filed October 11, 2024) (the “Taylor Complaint” and, together with the Smith Complaint, the “New York Complaints”). One complaint has been filed as an individual action in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Chancery Division and is captioned Dana L. Crosby vs. Kellanova, et. al., Case No. 202CH09367 (filed October 9, 2024) (the “Crosby Complaint”, and, together with the New York Complaints, the “Merger Actions”).
The Merger Actions generally allege that the Definitive Proxy Statement misrepresents and/or omits certain purportedly material information relating to the Company’s financial projections, the analyses performed by the financial advisors and certain conflict-related information, which the Merger Actions allege are critical to evaluating the Merger. The Crosby Complaint alleges that the Company and its directors breached their duty of disclosure under Delaware law. The Crosby Complaint also asserts a breach of fiduciary duties claim, and/or aiding and abetting the same, against the Company and the members of its board of directors (collectively, the “Director Defendants”) under Delaware law related to the adequacy of the Merger process and the agreed-upon sale price. The New York Complaints assert claims of negligent misrepresentation and concealment against the Company and all Director Defendants in violation of New York common law and negligence against all defendants in violation of New York common law, both with respect to the alleged misrepresentations and/or omissions in the Definitive Proxy Statement. The Merger Actions seek, among other things, an injunction enjoining the consummation of the Merger unless and until certain additional information is disclosed, or its rescinding or actual and punitive damages, and fees and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ and experts’ fees and expenses, and other relief the court may deem just and proper.
Additionally, the Company has received demand letters from 11 purported shareowners of the Company seeking additional disclosures in the Definitive Proxy Statement (collectively, the “Demand Letters”).
The Company believes the claims asserted in the Merger Actions and Demand Letters are without merit but cannot predict the outcome of any such claims. Additional lawsuits and demand letters arising out of the Merger may also be filed or received in the future. If additional similar lawsuits and demand letters are filed or received, absent new or significantly different allegations, the Company will not necessarily disclose such additional lawsuits or demand letters.
While the Company believes that the disclosures set forth in the Definitive Proxy Statement comply fully with all applicable laws and denies the allegations in the Merger Actions and Demand Letters, in order to moot the disclosure claims, and avoid nuisance and possible expense and business delays, the Company has determined voluntarily to supplement certain disclosures in the Definitive Proxy Statement related to the claims with the supplemental disclosures set forth below (the “Supplemental Disclosures”). Nothing in the Supplemental Disclosures shall be deemed an admission of the legal merit, necessity or materiality under applicable laws of any of the disclosures set forth herein. To the contrary, the Company specifically denies all allegations in the Merger Actions and Demand Letters that any additional disclosure was or is required or material.