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Contract analysis / email-bauer-to-whitman-jun1-debrief.eml
email-bauer-to-whitman-jun1-debrief.eml
High · 3
Medium · 5
Standard · 2
From: Christy Bauer <cbauer@calderwoodharkness.com>
From: Christy Bauer <cbauer@calderwoodharkness.com> To: Colette Whitman <cwhitman@calderwoodharkness.com> Cc: Garrett Simmons <gsimmons@calderwoodharkness.com> Date: Thu, 01 Jun 2023 07:42:00 -0000 Subject: Debrief — Northgate/Cedarpoint Negotiation Session (Matter No. 1022-00008)
Thank you for joining and leading the session today at our offices (600 Lexington, 30th Fl
Thank you for joining and leading the session today at our offices (600 Lexington, 30th Floor). We ran about five hours, but it was well worth it. For the record, attendees were as follows:
- **Northgate side:** Colette Whitman and Christy Bauer (Calderwood & Harkness); Deirdre K
- **Northgate side:** Colette Whitman and Christy Bauer (Calderwood & Harkness); Deirdre Kwan (VP of Procurement, Northgate Americas); Katrina Bosch (VP of Network Operations, Northgate Americas). - **Cedarpoint side:** Douglas Fenn and Simone Alvarez (Whitfield Graves & Morrow LLP); Nadia Okafor (General Counsel, Cedarpoint); Philip Hargreaves (CFO, Cedarpoint).
The good news is that all major open issues have been resolved and the parties reached agr
The good news is that all major open issues have been resolved and the parties reached agreement on final terms across the board. Below is a detailed summary for the record and to guide my preparation of the execution version. I'll also update the negotiation issues tracker accordingly.
**1. Most Favored Nation Pricing — Resolved**
**1. Most Favored Nation Pricing — Resolved**
Cedarpoint accepted the MFN pricing provision as proposed. The key parameters are:
Cedarpoint accepted the MFN pricing provision as proposed. The key parameters are:
- **Comparable customer volume threshold:** customers with ≥200 managed nodes.
Medium
⚑ Notice / time limit to track
- **Comparable customer volume threshold:** customers with ≥200 managed nodes. - **Benchmark comparison period:** trailing 12 months. - **Pricing differential trigger:** >3%. If an MFN audit reveals that Cedarpoint's per-unit pricing to Northgate exceeds the lowest comparable-customer pricing by more than 3%, Cedarpoint must issue a retroactive credit within 45 days of the determination and adjust prospective pricing
Cedarpoint's earlier request for a mutual MFN (raised in their May 19 counter-redline) was
Cedarpoint's earlier request for a mutual MFN (raised in their May 19 counter-redline) was definitively rejected. Deirdre was firm on this point and WGM did not push back further.
- **Cedarpoint's aggregate indemnification cap:** 200% of aggregate fees paid during the 1
High
⚑ Indemnity / guarantee obligation
- **Cedarpoint's aggregate indemnification cap:** 200% of aggregate fees paid during the 12 months preceding the claim (Year 1 cap = $30,000,000, based on 2 × $15,000,000 ACV). Cedarpoint had proposed in their May 19 counter-redline to reduce this to 150%. After discussion, Nadia Okafor agreed to retain the 200% cap, largely because we agreed to keep Northgate's reciprocal cap at 100% of trailing 12-month fees ($15,0
- **Carve-outs from the cap** (i.e., uncapped categories): IP infringement, willful miscon
Medium
⚑ Confidentiality undertaking
- **Carve-outs from the cap** (i.e., uncapped categories): IP infringement, willful misconduct, data breach, and confidentiality breach — all confirmed. These apply to Cedarpoint's obligations only.
- **Cedarpoint's indemnification obligations cover:**
High
⚑ Penalty / liquidated damages
- **Cedarpoint's indemnification obligations cover:** - (a) Third-party IP infringement claims arising from the ArcMesh platform; - (b) Data breaches caused by Cedarpoint's negligence or willful misconduct; - (c) Bodily injury or property damage from Cedarpoint personnel on Northgate premises; and - (d) Regulatory penalties arising from Cedarpoint's failure to comply with applicable telecom regulations.
- **Northgate's indemnification obligations cover:**
High
⚑ Indemnity / guarantee obligation
- **Northgate's indemnification obligations cover:** - (a) Misuse of ArcMesh outside the licensed scope; and - (b) Third-party claims relating to Northgate-provided data or content transmitted over the managed network.
- **Insurance requirements** confirmed as drafted in Exhibit F: cyber liability at $25,000
- **Insurance requirements** confirmed as drafted in Exhibit F: cyber liability at $25,000,000 per occurrence / $50,000,000 aggregate; technology E&O at $20,000,000 per occurrence / $40,000,000 aggregate; CGL at $5,000,000 per occurrence / $10,000,000 aggregate. Philip Hargreaves confirmed that Cedarpoint's carrier, Braeburn Mutual Insurance Company, can deliver certificates within the closing timeline.
The four-prong definition of change of control was retained in full, which was an importan
The four-prong definition of change of control was retained in full, which was an important win:
- (i) Acquisition by any person or group of more than 50% of Cedarpoint's voting equity;
- (i) Acquisition by any person or group of more than 50% of Cedarpoint's voting equity; - (ii) Merger, consolidation, or reorganization in which Cedarpoint is not the surviving entity; - (iii) Sale of all or substantially all of Cedarpoint's assets; - (iv) Change in a majority of Cedarpoint's board of directors within any 12-month period (other than changes approved by existing directors).
Cedarpoint's May 19 counter-redline had proposed eliminating prong (iv) (board turnover).
Medium
⚑ Assignment / subcontracting
Cedarpoint's May 19 counter-redline had proposed eliminating prong (iv) (board turnover). Douglas Fenn argued it was overly broad, but we emphasized the significance given Ridgeline Capital Partners' 62% ownership stake — a private equity sponsor exit (whether by secondary sale, recapitalization, or IPO) could result in board reconstitution without a direct equity transfer, and Northgate needs protection against that
For reference, current Cedarpoint ownership: Ridgeline Capital Partners, LP — 62%; Rajiv S
For reference, current Cedarpoint ownership: Ridgeline Capital Partners, LP — 62%; Rajiv Sundaram — 18%; Teresa Cho — 12%; other employees/early investors — 8%.
- **90-day advance written notice** obligation on Cedarpoint for any anticipated change of
Medium
⚑ Assignment / subcontracting
- **90-day advance written notice** obligation on Cedarpoint for any anticipated change of control. - **60-day election period** for Northgate upon receipt of notice: either (a) consent to assignment (not to be unreasonably withheld) or (b) terminate the MSA with 180 days' notice. - **Upon termination for change of control:** Cedarpoint provides transition assistance at no additional cost, Northgate receives a pro-ra
- **Network availability SLA:** 99.95% monthly uptime, measured per node.
- **Network availability SLA:** 99.95% monthly uptime, measured per node. - **Tiered service credit structure:**
| Uptime | Credit | Monthly Amount |
Standard
⚑ Commercial term
| Uptime | Credit | Monthly Amount | |---|---|---| | 99.90%–99.94% | 5% of monthly managed services fee | $62,500 | | 99.50%–99.89% | 10% | $125,000 | | Below 99.50% | 20% | $250,000 |
- **Material breach trigger:** Three consecutive months below 99.50% constitutes a materia
Standard
⚑ Commercial term
- **Material breach trigger:** Three consecutive months below 99.50% constitutes a material breach entitling Northgate to terminate for cause. - **Annual SLA credit cap:** 30% of annual managed services fees = $3,150,000 (30% × $10,500,000). Cedarpoint had pushed for 20% in their counter-redline; we held at 30% and prevailed.
- **Annual wind-down escrow deposit:** $750,000 per year (5% of ACV of $15,000,000), funde
- **Annual wind-down escrow deposit:** $750,000 per year (5% of ACV of $15,000,000), funded over the 5-year initial term, for an aggregate escrow cap of $3,750,000. - **Escrow agent:** Dravello National Bank; escrow account reference FNB-ESC-2023-07742. - **Release conditions** (change of control termination, material breach termination, natural expiration) confirmed as drafted in the escrow agreement. - Cedarpoint h
For completeness, the following terms are confirmed without further changes:
For completeness, the following terms are confirmed without further changes:
- **TCV:** $75,000,000 over the 5-year initial term (June 9, 2023 through June 8, 2028).
Medium
⚑ Notice / time limit to track
- **TCV:** $75,000,000 over the 5-year initial term (June 9, 2023 through June 8, 2028). - **ACV:** $15,000,000; monthly run-rate $1,250,000. - **Fee breakdown:** managed network services $10,500,000/yr (70%); ArcMesh platform license and maintenance $3,000,000/yr (20%); professional services $1,500,000/yr (10%). - **Renewal:** Two automatic 2-year renewals unless either party provides 180 days' written notice of non
Garrett — note that the tax provisions (sales/use tax, Canadian GST/HST, gross-up and coop
Garrett — note that the tax provisions (sales/use tax, Canadian GST/HST, gross-up and cooperation clauses) were confirmed as drafted per your memorandum. No further changes from WGM.
- I will prepare the final execution version of the MSA incorporating all agreed changes a
- I will prepare the final execution version of the MSA incorporating all agreed changes and circulate to WGM by **Monday, June 5**. - **Target execution/signing date: June 9, 2023.** Signing and closing will be simultaneous per MSA Section 2.1, with services commencing on the same date. - **Closing deliverables to be tracked:** - Officer's certificates from both parties - Secretary's certificate from Cedarpoint (boa
Happy to walk through any of the above in more detail. I'm available over the weekend if n
Happy to walk through any of the above in more detail. I'm available over the weekend if needed to finalize the execution draft — just let me know.
**Christy Bauer**
**Christy Bauer** Associate Calderwood & Harkness LLP 600 Lexington Avenue, 30th Floor New York, NY 10022 T: (212) 554-7183 E: cbauer@calderwoodharkness.com