SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
☐
|
Preliminary Proxy Statement
|
☐
|
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
|
☐
|
Definitive Proxy Statement
|
☐
|
Definitive Additional Materials
|
☒
|
Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12
|
☒
|
No fee required
|
☐
|
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
|
☐ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11
|
![]() |
About the Transaction
|
|||
1.
|
What was announced?
|
||
●
|
On May 9, 2025, we announced that the Company entered into an agreement under which our co-founders Bryce Maddock and Jaspar Weir, in partnership with Blackstone, will acquire TaskUs and operate it as a
private company.
|
||
●
|
We expect the transaction will close in the second half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, including the receipt of required regulatory and stockholder approvals.
|
||
2.
|
What does it mean to become a private company?
|
||
●
|
Following completion of the transaction, our common stock will no longer be publicly traded on a stock exchange.
|
||
●
|
Until the transaction is completed, which we expect to occur in the second half of 2025, TaskUs remains a publicly traded company, and we are operating as usual.
|
||
3.
|
Why is TaskUs going private?
|
||
●
|
Being private will allow us to invest and reposition the business for what’s to come given the changing landscape and rise of AI.
|
||
●
|
This strategic transaction with the buyer group will enable TaskUs to make long-term investments to better support both our own business and our clients as we scale and adapt in the AI age.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
4.
|
Who is Blackstone and what will their role be moving forward?
|
||
●
|
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager and seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests.
|
||
●
|
Blackstone first invested in TaskUs in 2018, and, following the close of the transaction, Blackstone’s partnership will equip TaskUs with additional flexibility and resources to make the long-term
investments in AI capabilities that will be needed to enhance the customer value proposition in the fast-changing environment brought upon by AI.
|
||
5.
|
Will there be changes to TaskUs’ name or brand?
|
||
●
|
We will continue to operate under the TaskUs name and brand.
|
||
Impact on Employees
|
|||
6.
|
What does this transaction mean for teammates?
|
||
●
|
While this will be a change in the Company’s ownership structure, our frontline-first culture and focus on serving clients won’t change.
|
||
●
|
We believe this transaction will provide the Company and teammates with greater flexibility to support and deliver for our clients.
|
||
●
|
We remain business as usual, and our focus should be on serving our clients and living up to our core values.
|
||
7.
|
Will there be changes to my day-to-day responsibilities?
|
||
●
|
This news has no impact on day-to-day responsibilities or reporting structure.
|
||
●
|
As always, our focus should be on serving our clients.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
8.
|
Will there be any changes to employee salaries, compensation or benefits as a result of this transaction? Will the bonus program for 2025 change?
|
||
●
|
As always, our goal is to reward and retain our leaders and teammates.
|
||
●
|
Nothing is changing as a result of this announcement.
|
||
●
|
There will be no change to the 2025 bonus program.
|
||
●
|
We will continue to operate under our current compensation and benefits programs.
|
||
9.
|
What is the new compensation plan going to look like after we are private?
|
||
●
|
We don’t know if, or when, the transaction will close, and the buyer group has not yet determined the terms of any post-closing compensation arrangements. As such, we do not expect to announce the terms of
any post-closing compensation arrangements prior to the closing.
|
||
10.
|
Will there be layoffs as a result of this transaction?
|
||
●
|
No layoffs are planned as a result of this announcement.
|
||
●
|
As always, we will continue to evaluate the needs of our business to ensure that TaskUs is positioned to best serve our clients.
|
||
11.
|
What will Bryce and Jaspar’s roles be? What does this mean for the management team?
|
||
●
|
Following the close of the transaction, Bryce and Jaspar will continue to serve in their roles as Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively.
|
||
●
|
There are no changes to management planned as a result of this announcement.
|
||
Treatment of Equity - at Closing
|
|||
12.
|
Can I continue to buy and sell TaskUs stock until the transaction closes?
|
||
●
|
Yes, you can continue to trade TaskUs stock, subject to the restrictions that are already in place. Please refer to the Company’s Securities Trading Policy and
resources available regarding equity. If you are a restricted person, you can use this form to request pre-clearance to trade.
|
||
●
|
This announcement does not impose any additional restrictions on your ability to buy or sell TaskUs stock.
|
||
●
|
We will continue to operate as a public company and employees are subject to all trading windows and restrictions until the transaction closes.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
13.
|
At closing, what happens to Company stock I received from my vested RSUs or exercised stock options?
|
||
●
|
Your shares are still valid, and you remain a shareholder in the company
|
||
●
|
All shares of TaskUs stock will be purchased in the transaction in exchange for the per-share sale transaction price ($16.50).
|
||
●
|
As such, upon closing of the transaction, you will be entitled to receive $16.50 cash per share of Company stock you own.
|
||
●
|
The tax treatment of this cash-out when the transaction closes is no different from the tax treatment of selling your shares on the open market. Please see the VestUs FAQ
for your geography.
|
||
14.
|
At closing, what happens to my vested RSUs that have not settled into Company shares?
|
||
●
|
If you hold vested RSUs that have not settled into Company shares at the time of closing of the transaction, these RSUs will be cancelled and you will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the
transaction consideration of $16.50 per share, multiplied by the number of RSUs.
|
||
●
|
For example, if you have 100 vested but unsettled RSUs, your RSUs will be canceled and you will receive $16.50 per RSU, or $1,650.
|
||
●
|
Payment for vested but unsettled RSUs will be made through payroll shortly following closing.
|
||
●
|
The tax treatment of this cash-out when the transaction closes is no different than if your RSUs settled today. Please see the VestUs FAQ for your geography.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
15.
|
At closing, what happens to my vested and unexercised stock options?
|
||
●
|
If you hold vested and unexercised stock options at the time of closing of the transaction, these options will be cancelled and you will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the transaction
consideration of $16.50 per share, less the applicable stock option exercise price per share, multiplied by the number of shares subject to such option.
|
||
●
|
For example, if you have 100 vested and unexercised stock options and your exercise price is $10.00, your options will be canceled and you will receive $6.50 per share (i.e., $16.50-$10.00), or $650.
|
||
●
|
Payment for vested and unexercised stock options will be made through payroll shortly following closing.
|
||
●
|
The tax treatment of this cash-out when the transaction closes is no different than if you were to exercise your options today. Please see the VestUs FAQ for
your geography.
|
||
16.
|
What happens to my “underwater” stock options?
|
||
●
|
Any stock options (whether vested or unvested) that you hold at the time of closing that are underwater based on the transaction consideration of $16.50 per share will be cancelled for no consideration.
|
||
●
|
These “underwater” stock options will be cancelled as they have no value because the exercise price equals or exceeds the transaction price per share.
|
||
17.
|
Upon closing, what happens to my LTIP stock options?
|
||
●
|
The LTIP program concluded on the third anniversary of the IPO, so no additional LTIP stock options remain unvested. If you hold vested and unexercised stock options as of immediately prior to the closing
of the transaction, such options will be cancelled and you will become entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the transaction consideration of $16.50 per share, less the exercise price per share, multiplied by the number of shares
subject to such option, which will be made through payroll shortly following closing.
|
||
18.
|
If we wait for TaskUs to buy our vested stocks at USD $16.50, will they also cover the broker fees and wire fees or will it be the usual that it will be automatically
deducted on the proceeds of the sale?
|
||
●
|
With respect to vested shares of TaskUs stock that you hold through a brokerage account, we recommend you contact your broker for details of the fees they charge upon a merger or other so-called “corporate
actions”. The payments for your vested but unsettled RSUs or vested and unexercised stock options will be processed via payroll, so broker fees and wiring fees should not apply.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
19.
|
What happens to my 10b5-1 plan? Am I required to terminate it or can I continue to sell shares under that plan?
|
||
●
|
Between signing and closing, your 10b5-1 plan can continue to trade. After closing, your 10b5-1 plan will terminate.
|
||
Treatment of Equity - after Closing
|
|||
20.
|
What happens to my unvested RSUs after closing?
|
||
●
|
For any of your outstanding RSUs that are not vested prior to the closing of the transaction, the awards will generally continue to vest on the same terms as your original award.
|
||
●
|
For example, if your RSU award provided that, subject to your continued employment with TaskUs at the time of the applicable vesting date, you would vest as follows:
|
||
33% on March 7, 2026
|
|||
33% on March 7, 2027
|
|||
34% on March 7, 2028
|
|||
Then, your outstanding RSU award will continue to vest on those same dates, subject to your continued employment with TaskUs at the time of each applicable vesting date.
|
|||
21.
|
If the company is private, will I have to pay taxes when my RSUs vest?
|
||
●
|
It is expected that, similar to how it works today, for countries with tax withholding, TaskUs will deduct and cancel shares for tax withholding and remit your tax withholding payment to the tax authority,
in which case you would receive the net shares.
|
||
22.
|
How will we know the value of TaskUs equity when it is a private company?
|
||
●
|
It is expected that we will undertake periodic valuations to determine the value of TaskUs equity, which will help us determine the value of your equity at the time of vesting.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
23.
|
What happens to my unvested stock options after closing?
|
||
●
|
For any of your outstanding stock options that are not vested prior to the closing of the transaction, so long as the stock option exercise price is less than the transaction price ($16.50), the stock
options will generally continue to vest on the same terms as your original award.
|
||
●
|
For example, if your stock option award has an exercise price of $10 and provided that, subject to your continued employment with TaskUs at the time of the applicable vesting date, your remaining stock
potions would vest as follows:
|
||
25% on August 1, 2026
|
|||
25% on August 1, 2027
|
|||
Then, your outstanding stock option award will continue to vest on those same dates, subject to your continued employment with TaskUs at the time of each applicable vesting date.
|
|||
24.
|
After closing, will I be able to sell my TaskUs shares I receive from vested RSUs and exercised stock options in the future?
|
||
●
|
Without a public market, you will not be able to sell your shares as they vest or are exercised in the private company.
|
||
●
|
If the transaction closes, we expect to establish an annual tender process that would allow anyone employed by the company to sell a portion of their shares at a pre-announced valuation (to be determined)
to the company.
|
||
●
|
This process is intended to provide partial liquidity to employee shareholders on an annual basis.
|
||
25.
|
If the Company is private and I leave, will my vested RSUs and stock options be cashed out?
|
||
●
|
If, following the closing, you have vested RSUs and you leave the company, you will continue to hold shares that you received from your vested RSUs as a non-employee.
|
||
●
|
If, following the closing, you have vested and unexercised stock options, in accordance with the terms of your stock option award agreement, you will have a period to exercise those options, after which
they will be cancelled if not exercised. If you exercise your vested stock options during the exercise period, you will continue to hold the underlying shares as a non-employee.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
Questions and Next Steps
|
|||
26.
|
What should I tell clients, vendors and suppliers if they ask me about this announcement?
|
||
●
|
If clients / vendors / suppliers ask, you can tell them that nothing is changing today and share our excitement about the future of TaskUs and the opportunities we have to advance the Company’s AI
capabilities and deliver even more powerful solutions.
|
||
27.
|
What do I do if I am approached by the media, an analyst or another third party?
|
||
●
|
If you are contacted by the press, investors or another third party, please forward any inquiries to Trent Thrash, [email protected] and Ramya Kumaraswamy, [email protected], who will handle on the
Company’s behalf.
|
||
28.
|
What happens next?
|
||
●
|
It’s important to note that we are not a private company today.
|
||
●
|
We expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, including the receipt of required regulatory and stockholder approvals.
|
||
●
|
In the meantime, we remain a publicly traded company and will continue operating as usual.
|
||
●
|
As always, our focus should be on serving our clients.
|
||
●
|
We are committed to making this a seamless transition. We will keep you informed throughout this process.
|
||
29.
|
Who can I contact if I have questions?
|
||
●
|
If you have additional questions, please reach out to your direct manager.
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|
CONFIDENTIAL
|
2025
|