UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
 
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 17, 2022
 
ZENDESK, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
Delaware
 
001-36456
 
26-4411091
(State or Other Jurisdiction
 
(Commission
 
(I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)
 
File Number)
 
Identification No.)
 
989 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94103
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
(415) 418-7506
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
 
Trading Symbol(s)
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
 
ZEN
 
New York Stock Exchange
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
Emerging growth company
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐



Item 8.01
Other Events.
 
As previously announced, on June 24, 2022, Zendesk, Inc. (“Zendesk”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Zoro BidCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and Zoro Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into Zendesk (the “Merger”), with Zendesk surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.  Parent and Merger Sub are affiliates of funds advised by Hellman & Friedman LLC and Permira Advisers LLC (“Permira”).  Platinum Falcon B 2018 RSC Limited (“PF”) and an affiliate of GIC Private Limited will also be indirect investors in Parent.

In connection with the Merger, Zendesk, Permira and PF filed a joint voluntary notice under Section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended, with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (“CFIUS”).

On November 17, 2022, Zendesk received written notice from CFIUS that it had concluded its review and cleared the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

All required regulatory approvals to complete the Merger have now been received.  The closing of the Merger is expected to occur on November 22, 2022, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining customary closing conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing of the Merger.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This communication includes information that could constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include those that may be identified by words such as “will,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could” and similar expressions. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and events could differ materially from what presently is expected. Factors leading thereto may include, without limitation, the risks related to the Ukraine conflict or the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and financial markets; the uncertainties relating to the impact of the Ukraine conflict or the COVID-19 pandemic on Zendesk’s business; economic or other conditions in the markets Zendesk is engaged in; impacts of actions and behaviors of customers, suppliers and competitors; technological developments, as well as legal and regulatory rules and processes affecting Zendesk’s business; the terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the proposed acquisition of Zendesk by an investor group led by Permira and Hellman & Friedman LLC (the “proposed transaction”) that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement entered into pursuant to the proposed transaction; the risk that the parties to the merger agreement may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of Zendesk’s common stock; the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction; the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of Zendesk to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, stockholders and other business relationships and on its operating results and business generally; the risk the pending proposed transaction could distract management of Zendesk; and other specific risk factors that are outlined in Zendesk’s disclosure filings and materials, which can be found on www.zendesk.com, such as its Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports that have been filed with the SEC. Please consult these documents for a more complete understanding of these risks and uncertainties. This list of factors is not intended to be exhaustive. Such forward-looking statements only speak as of the date of these materials, and Zendesk assumes no obligation to update any written or oral forward-looking statement made by Zendesk or on its behalf as a result of new information, future events or other factors, except as required by law.


SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
   
ZENDESK, INC.
   
(Registrant)
     
Date: November 18, 2022
By:
/s/ Shanti Ariker
   
Shanti Ariker
   
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary