UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A
Proxy
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed
by the Registrant ☒
Filed
by a Party other than the Registrant ☐
Check
the appropriate box:
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Preliminary
Proxy Statement |
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive
Proxy Statement |
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Definitive
Additional Materials |
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Soliciting
Material under §240.14a-12 |
Sonim
Technologies, Inc.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name
of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check all boxes that apply):
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials |
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Fee
computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
The
following e-mail was distributed to Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) on July 5, 2025:
Responses
below from the Sonim team:
What
are the deficiencies in the financing commitment provided by Orbic/Capstone?
Sonim
believes the deficiencies of the letter relate to the fact that the letter is, at best, highly conditional as to whether debt financing
can actually be arranged, and at worst, is not at all credible. The letter imposes no penalty on the placement agent if it later deems
the offering not feasible, nor does the agent act as an underwriter with a binding obligation to purchase securities irrespective of
resale prospects. There is no evidence that the referenced placement agent has a history of completing such transactions.
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How
did Sonim identify them as just a “placement agent”? |
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Is
there a risk that the $50 million will not be funded? If so, will Sonim elaborate? |
While
Capstone has indicated its commitment to fund the notes, its role is not that of a direct capital provider. Instead, Capstone is identified
as the “Lead Arranger,” defined as the exclusive structuring agent, manager, bookrunner, and placement agent, entitled to
“left” and “highest” placement in all marketing materials relating to the first lien notes.
This
structure means that even if Capstone determines the financing conditions are satisfied, it will not itself fund the notes. Rather, it
will initiate a solicitation process to identify third-party investors willing to commit to the debt financing, with Capstone serving
solely as placement agent—an outcome that remains uncertain and beyond the control of Sonim.
Accordingly,
unlike a committed bank credit facility, the financing remains subject to the success of a debt offering following execution of a definitive
agreement with Orbic. As a result, there is a significant risk that the contemplated $50 million will not ultimately be funded even if
all financing conditions are satisfied.
To
the contrary, Sonim is certain that Social Mobile can unilaterally fund the transaction without condition.
How
is the value of the Social Mobile deal superior to the Orbic proposal?
What
liabilities are being assumed by Social Mobile that would not be assumed by Orbic?
Orbic’s
publicly disclosed proposal provides that “Sonim would retain all liabilities other than those under contracts agreed by Orbic.”
By contrast, the arrangement contemplated under the Social Mobile LOI states that “the Company’s consolidated current liabilities
other than the current portion of indebtedness (including capitalized leases, accrued interest, and prepayment premiums), in each case
to the extent included as an ‘assumed liability’ under the Definitive Agreements, each determined in accordance with GAAP,”
would be assumed.
While
the Company acknowledges that the definitive agreement will ultimately govern the scope of assumed liabilities, the fundamental premise
— that Social Mobile would assume a significant portion of the Company’s liabilities — renders its proposal substantially
more favorable in terms of economic value.
What
are the other conditions besides completing due diligence that makes the Orbic offer “conditional”?
In
addition to the completion of due diligence, the commitment letter directly and indirectly includes several other conditions, including
but not limited to the following:
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Pledge
of collateral, including a pledge of 100% of the equity interests of the target. Sonim believes this condition cannot be satisfied
in an asset sale structure. Sonim assumes this provision may later be substituted with a pledge of 100% of the assets of the target |
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Execution
and delivery of the Financial Documentation |
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“certificate
of pro-forma financial covenant compliance” |
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Payment
of fees by Orbic pursuant to a fee letter referenced in the commitment, to which Sonim has not been given access |
Most
critically, the primary “condition” to funding remains the successful placement of the debt financing: a process that is
entirely outside of Sonim’s control.
Important
Information and Where to Find It
This
press release may be considered to be a soliciting material in connection with the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Sonim has filed
with the SEC a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, containing a form of WHITE proxy card, with respect to its solicitation
of proxies for the 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Sonim’s
stockholders are strongly encouraged to read Sonim’s definitive proxy statement (including any amendments or supplements thereto)
and any other documents to be filed with the SEC carefully and in their entirety when they become available because they will contain
important information.
Stockholders
may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement, any amendments or supplements to the proxy statement, and other documents that
Sonim files with the SEC at no charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge
on Sonim’s website at https://ir.sonimtech.com/sec-filings/all-sec-filings.
Additional
Information and Where to Find It
This
communication relates to the proposed transaction involving Sonim. This communication does not constitute a solicitation of any vote
or approval. In connection with the proposed transaction, Sonim plans to file with the SEC a proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”)
relating to a special meeting of its stockholders and may file other documents with the SEC relating to the proposed transaction, including
a prospectus. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Sonim may file with the SEC or
send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. Before making any voting decision, stockholders of Sonim are
urged to read the Proxy Statement in its entirety when it becomes available and any other relevant documents filed or to be filed with
the SEC and any amendments or supplements thereto and any documents incorporated by reference therein, because they will contain important
information about the proposed transaction and the parties to the proposed Transaction. Any vote in respect of resolutions to be
proposed at a stockholder meeting of Sonim to approve the proposed transaction or related matters, or other responses in relation to
the proposed transaction, should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Proxy Statement. Investors and security
holders will be able to obtain the Proxy Statement and other documents Sonim files with the SEC (when available) free of charge at the
SEC’s website (http://www.sec.gov) or at Sonim’s investor relations website (https:// https://ir.sonimtech.com/)
or by e-mailing Sonim to [email protected].
Participants
in the Solicitation
Sonim
and its respective directors, executive officers, and other members of their management and employees, including Peter Liu (Chief Executive
Officer and a director), Clay Crolius (Chief Financial Officer), and Sonim’s directors-James Cassano, Mike Mulica, Jack Steenstra,
and Jeffrey Wang-under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Sonim’s stockholders in connection
with the proposed Transaction.
Stockholders
may obtain more detailed information regarding Sonim’s directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct
or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, under the captions “Directors,
Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance,” “Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management,” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions”
of Sonim’s definitive proxy statement for the 2025 Annual Meeting filed with the SEC on June 18, 2025.
Any
subsequent updates following the date hereof to the information regarding the identity of potential participants, and their direct or
indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement and other materials to be filed with
the SEC in connection with the proposed Transaction, if and when they become available. These documents will be available free of charge
as described above.
Forward-Looking
statements
This
communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
These statements relate to, among other things, the anticipated effects of the proposed transaction and the strategy of Sonim in connection
with strategic alternatives, the anticipated terms of the proposed transaction, potential benefits of the proposed transaction to Sonim’s
stockholders, and anticipated difficulties in connection with certain aspects of Orbic’s offer. These forward-looking statements
are based on Sonim’s current expectations, estimates and projections, and certain assumptions made by Sonim, all of which are subject
to change. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “achieve,”
“aim,” “ambitions,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “committed,” “continue,”
“could,” “designed,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,”
“goals,” “grow,” “guidance,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “milestone,”
“objective,” “on track,” “opportunity,” “outlook,” “pending,” “plan,”
“poised,” “position,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “progress,”
“promises,” “roadmap,” “seek,” “should,” “strive,” “targets,”
“to be,” “upcoming,” “will,” “would,” and variations of such words and similar expressions
or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary
materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially
include, but are not limited to, the following: the ability of Sonim to meet expectations regarding the timing and completion of the
proposed transaction; the possibility that the LOI will not result in the definitive agreement; the possibility that the conditions to
the closing of the proposed transaction are not satisfied, including the risk that the required approvals are not obtained, the Sonim
Legacy Business Sale does not close, and that Sonim’s stockholders do not approve the proposed transaction; the challenges of maintaining
Nasdaq listing and the potential necessity to implement a reverse stock-split in order to remain listed on Nasdaq; the occurrence of
any event, change or other circumstances that could result in the definitive agreement (if ever executed) being terminated or the proposed
transaction not being completed on the terms reflected in the definitive agreement, or at all; potential litigation relating to the proposed
transaction; the risk that the proposed transaction and its announcement could have adverse effects on the market price of Sonim’s
common stock; the risk that the current board of directors of Sonim loses the proxy contest and the new directors’ slate determines
to terminate the proposed transaction (whether at the state of LOI or definitive agreement); the effect of the announcement of the proposed
transaction on the ability of Sonim to retain key personnel and maintain relationships with customers and business partners; the risk
of unexpected costs or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction and the LOI; and other risks and uncertainties, including those
described under “Risk Factors” included in Sonim’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly
filings on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (available at www.sec.gov). Sonim cautions you not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Sonim assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking
statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release, except as required by law.