Item 1.01. Entry into Material Definitive Agreement

Agreement and Plan of Merger

On December 5, 2021, GCP Applied Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with Cyclades Parent, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), Cyclades Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), and solely for the purposes of Section 8.13 thereof, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain S.A., a société anonyme organized under the laws of France (the "Guarantor"). Parent and Merger Sub are controlled by the Guarantor.

The Merger Agreement provides, among other things and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, that Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "Merger"). At the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), and as a result of the Merger:





        •    Each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company
             (the "Company Common Stock"), that is issued and outstanding
             immediately prior to the Effective Time, other than shares to be
             cancelled pursuant to Section 2.1(b) of the Merger Agreement and
             Dissenting Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) shall be
             automatically converted into the right to receive $32.00 in cash,
             without interest (the "Merger Consideration");




        •    Each option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock (each, a
             "Company Option"), whether vested or unvested, that is outstanding
             shall automatically and without any required action on the part of the
             holder thereof or the Company, be cancelled and be converted into the
             right to receive (without interest) an amount in cash equal to the
             product of (x) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock
             underlying the Company Option multiplied by (y) the excess, if any, of
             the Merger Consideration over the exercise price of such Company
             Option; provided that any Company Option with respect to which the
             exercise price subject thereto is equal to or greater than the Merger
             Consideration shall be canceled for no consideration;




        •    Each outstanding award of Company restricted stock ("Company
             Restricted Stock") and each outstanding award of Company restricted
             stock units ("Company RSUs"), in each case, that is vested at the
             Effective Time or is subject solely to service-based vesting
             conditions shall become fully vested and shall, automatically and
             without any required action on the part of the holder thereof or the
             Company, be cancelled and be converted into the right to receive
             (without interest) an amount in cash equal to (x) the total number of
             shares of Company Common Stock underlying such award of Company
             Restricted Stock or Company RSUs, as applicable, multiplied by (y) the
             Merger Consideration;




        •    Each outstanding award of Company performance based stock units
             ("Company PBUs") that is subject to performance-based vesting
             conditions shall become vested as to the greater of the number of
             shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company PBUs that would
             vest based on (1) the target level of achievement or (2) the Company's
             actual level of achievement of the performance goals set forth in the
             applicable award agreement as of the Effective Time, as determined by
             the Board or its Compensation Committee prior to the closing, and
             shall, after giving effect to such vesting, automatically and without
             any required action on the part of the holder thereof or the Company,
             be cancelled and be converted into the right to receive (without
             interest) an amount in cash equal to (x) the number of vested shares
             of Company Common Stock underlying such Company PBUs, multiplied by
             (y) the Merger Consideration. Any outstanding Company PBUs (or portion
             thereof) that are not vested as of immediately prior to the Effective
             Time shall be canceled for no consideration; and




        •    All Rights (as defined below), together with the associated Series A
             Junior Participating Preferred Stock, outstanding immediately prior to
             the Effective Time shall expire in their entirety without any payment
             being made in respect thereof in accordance with the Second Amendment
             (as defined below).

The board of directors of the Company (the "Board") has unanimously (i) determined that the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the Voting Agreements (as defined below) are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved, adopted and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Voting Agreements and the transactions contemplated by the foregoing agreements, including the Merger, (iii) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for its adoption and (iv) recommended that the Company's stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement.

Assuming the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Company expects the Merger to close by year-end 2022. The stockholders of the Company will be asked to vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement at a special stockholder meeting that will be held on a date, and at the time and place, to be announced when finalized.

The closing of the Merger is subject to various conditions, including (i) the adoption of the Merger Agreement by holders of a majority of the Company Common Stock issued and outstanding (the "Company Stockholder Approval"); (ii) the absence of any order, injunction or other legal or regulatory restraint making illegal, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the closing of the Merger ("Legal Restraint Condition"); (iii) (a) the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (the "HSR Act") (including any timing agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice or Federal Trade Commission) with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement shall have been obtained and remain in full force and effect, and (b) all waivers, consents, clearances, approvals and authorizations under other applicable competition laws and foreign investment laws shall have been obtained and

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

remain in full force and effect (the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), the "Antitrust Conditions"); and (iv) the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement, subject to customary materiality qualifications, and compliance in all material respects with the covenants and agreements contained in the Merger Agreement as of the Closing of the Merger. In addition, the obligation of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger is subject to the absence, since the date of the Merger Agreement, of a Company Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Merger Agreement). The closing of the Merger is not subject to a financing condition.

The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants by the Company, including, among others, covenants by the Company to conduct its business in the ordinary course between the date of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the Merger, not to engage in certain kinds of material transactions during such period, to convene and hold a special meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval, to obtain regulatory approvals and, subject to certain customary exceptions, for the Board to recommend that the stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of Parent and Merger Sub, including, among others, covenants by Parent and Merger Sub to use their best efforts (including, if necessary, through litigation or the sale, divestiture or disposition of assets) to obtain regulatory approval for the Merger under applicable competition laws, including the HSR Act, and foreign investment laws.

The Merger Agreement provides that the Company will promptly cease and cause to be terminated any activities, discussions or negotiations with any third party conducted prior to the date of the Merger Agreement with respect to any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement). In addition, the Company has agreed that it will not, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit, propose or knowingly facilitate, encourage or induce the making, the submission or the announcement, of any Acquisition Proposal, or (i) conduct or engage in any discussions or negotiations with, disclose any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any third party, or afford to any third party access to the business, properties, assets, books, records or other non-public information of the Company or its subsidiaries, in each case, that could reasonably be expected to lead to an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) except where the Board makes a good faith determination that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with the directors' fiduciary duties under applicable law, amend or grant any waiver or release under any standstill or . . .

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The foregoing discussion of the Amendment to Rights Agreement under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

* * *

About GCP Applied Technologies

GCP Applied Technologies Inc. (NYSE: GCP) is a leading global provider of construction products technologies that include admixtures and additives for concrete and cement, the Verifi® in-transit concrete management system, high-performance waterproofing products, and specialty construction products. GCP products have been used to build some of the world's most renowned structures.

For more information, visit GCP's website at www.gcpat.com.

Additional Information About the Acquisition and Where to Find It

This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving GCP, Parent, Merger Sub and Guarantor. A special meeting of the stockholders of GCP will be announced as promptly as practicable to seek stockholder approval in connection with the proposed Merger. GCP expects to file with the SEC a proxy statement and other relevant documents in connection with the proposed Merger. The definitive proxy statement will be sent or given to the stockholders of GCP and will contain important information about the proposed transaction and related matters. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF GCP ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GCP, PARENT, MERGER SUB, GUARANTOR AND THE MERGER. Investors may obtain a free copy of these materials (when they are available) and other documents filed by GCP with the SEC at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov, at GCP's website at www.gcpat.com or by sending a written request to GCP Applied Technologies Inc., Attn: GCP Shareholder Services, 2325 Lakeview Parkway, Alpharetta Georgia, 30009.

Participants in the Solicitation

GCP and its directors, executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in soliciting proxies from its stockholders in connection with the Merger. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be participants in the solicitation of GCP's stockholders in connection with the Merger will be set forth in GCP's definitive proxy statement for its special stockholder meeting. Additional information regarding these individuals and any direct or indirect interests they may have in the Merger will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement when it is filed with the SEC in connection with the Merger. Information relating to the foregoing can also be found in GCP's definitive proxy statement for its 2021 Annual Meeting of

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting Proxy Statement"), which was filed with the SEC on March 26, 2021. To the extent that holdings of GCP's securities have changed since the amounts set forth in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC.

Forward Looking Statements

This announcement contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the context of the statement and generally arise when GCP or its management is discussing its beliefs, estimates or expectations. Such statements generally include the words "believes," "plans," "intends," "targets," "will," "expects," "estimates," "suggests," "anticipates," "outlook," "continues," or similar expressions. These statements are not historical facts or guarantees of future performance but instead represent only the beliefs of GCP and its management at the time the statements were made regarding future events which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside GCP's control. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is contained in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: (1) the inability to consummate the Merger within the anticipated time period, or at all, due to any reason, including the failure to obtain stockholder approval to adopt the Merger Agreement, the failure to obtain required regulatory approvals or the failure to satisfy the other conditions to the consummation of the Merger; (2) the risk that the Merger Agreement may be terminated in circumstances requiring GCP to pay a termination fee of $71 million; (3) the risk that the Merger disrupts GCP's current plans and operations or diverts management's attention from its ongoing business; (4) the effect of the announcement of the Merger on the ability of GCP to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business; (5) the effect of the announcement of the Merger on GCP's operating results and business generally; (6) the amount of costs, fees and expenses related to the Merger; (7) the risk that GCP's stock price may decline significantly if the Merger is not consummated; (8) the nature, cost and outcome of any litigation and other legal proceedings, including any such proceedings related to the Merger and instituted against GCP and others; (9) other factors that could affect GPC's business such as, without limitation, cyclical and seasonal nature of the industries that GCP serves; foreign operations, especially in emerging regions; changes in currency exchange rates; business disruptions due to public health or safety emergencies, such as the novel strain of coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic; the cost and availability of raw materials and energy; the effectiveness of GCP's research and development, new product introductions and growth investments; acquisitions and divestitures of assets and gains and losses from dispositions; developments affecting GCP's outstanding liquidity and indebtedness, including debt covenants and interest rate exposure; developments affecting GCP's funded and unfunded pension obligations; warranty and product liability claims; legal proceedings; the inability to establish or maintain certain business relationships and relationships with customers and suppliers or the inability to retain key personnel; the handling of hazardous materials and the costs of compliance with environmental regulations; extreme weather events and natural disasters; and (10) other risks to consummation of the proposed Merger, including the risk that the proposed Merger will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all.

If the proposed transaction is consummated, GCP's stockholders will cease to have any equity interest in GCP and will have no right to participate in its earnings and future growth. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in GCP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 as well as GCP's subsequent filings and quarterly reports and is available online at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on GCP's projections and other forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. Except as required by applicable law, GCP undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



* * *


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits






(d) Exhibits




Exhibit
  No.                                    Description

2.1           Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 5, 2021, by and
            among the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, and Guarantor.*

4.1           Second Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2021,
            between the Company and Equiniti Trust Company.

99.1          Voting and Support Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2021, entered
            into by Starboard Value LP and certain of its affiliates .

99.2          Voting and Support Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2021, entered
            into by certain affiliates of Standard Investments (formerly known as
            40 North) / Standard Industries .

104         The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K, formatted as
            Inline XBRL.



* Schedules have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) of Regulation S-K. The

Company hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of any of the omitted

schedules upon request by the SEC.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© Edgar Online, source Glimpses