S-8

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

As filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 2021

Registration No. 333-

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

MeridianLink, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Delaware		33-0849406
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

1600 Sunflower Avenue, #200

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714) 708-6950

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan

2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

(Full title of the plans)

Nicolaas Vlok

Chief Executive Officer

MeridianLink, Inc.

1600 Sunflower Avenue, #200

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Bradley C. Weber

Joseph C. Theis, Jr.

Natalie T. Martirossian

Goodwin Procter LLP

601 Marshall Street

Redwood City, CA 94063

(650) 752-3100

Kayla Dailey

General Counsel

MeridianLink, Inc.

1600 Sunflower Avenue, #200

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☒

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE



Title of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered⁽¹⁾	Proposed Maximum Offering Price per Share	Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price	Amount of Registration Fee
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share	13,171,588 shares⁽²⁾	$26.00⁽³⁾	$342,461,288.00	$37,362.53
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share	810,345 shares⁽⁴⁾	$22.10⁽⁵⁾	$17,908,624.50	$1,953.84
Total	13,981,933 shares		$360,369,912.50	$39,316.37

(1)

Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) which become issuable under the under the 2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”) and the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “2021 ESPP”) by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration which results in an increase in the number of the Registrant’s outstanding shares of Common Stock.

(2)

Represents 13,171,588 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan. To the extent that any awards outstanding under the 2021 Plan are forfeited, canceled, held back upon exercise or settlement of an award to satisfy the exercise price or tax withholding, reacquired by the Registrant prior to vesting, satisfied without any issuance of stock, expire or are otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement, the shares reserved for issuance pursuant to such awards will become available for issuance as shares of Common Stock under the 2021 Plan.

(3)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act, and based on $26.00, the initial public offering price of the Registrant’s Common Stock set forth on the cover page of the Registrant’s prospectus dated July 27, 2021 relating to its initial public offering.

(4)	Represents 810,345 shares of Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the 2021 ESPP.

(5)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) of the Securities Act, and based on 85% of $26.00, the initial public offering price of the Registrant’s Common Stock set forth on the cover page of the Registrant’s prospectus dated July 27, 2021 relating to its initial public offering.

Part I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1. Plan Information.

The information called for in Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is not being filed with or included in this Registration Statement (by incorporation by reference or otherwise) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be delivered to the participants in the equity benefit plans covered by this Registration Statement as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act.

Item 2. Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

The documents containing the information specified in this Item 2 will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. In accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and the instructions to Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the Commission either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.

Part II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed with the Commission by the Registrant are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

(a)

Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Commission on July 19, 2021, as amended (File No. 333-255680), which contains the Registrant’s audited financial statements for the latest fiscal year for which such statements have been filed; and

(b)

The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-40680), filed by the Registrant with the Commission under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on July 27, 2021, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents; provided, however, that documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with the rules of the Commission shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

Item 4. Description of Securities.

Not applicable.

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

None.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) authorizes a corporation to indemnify its directors and officers against liabilities arising out of actions, suits and proceedings to which they are made or threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that they have served or are currently serving as a director or officer to a corporation. The indemnity may cover expenses (including attorneys’ fees) judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the director or officer in connection with any such action, suit or proceeding. Section 145 permits corporations to pay expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by directors and officers in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding. In addition, Section 145 provides that a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of its directors and officers against any liability asserted against them and incurred by them in their capacity as a director or officer, or arising out of their status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the director or officer against such liability under Section 145.

The Registrant has adopted provisions in the Registrant’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of the Registrant’s directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended. Consequently, a director or executive officer will not be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages or breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability in limited circumstances.

These limitations of liability do not alter director liability under the federal securities laws and do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as an injunction or rescission.

In addition, the Registrant’s bylaws provide that:

•

the Registrant will indemnify its directors and executive officers and, in the discretion of its board of directors, certain employees and agents to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as it now exists or may in the future be amended; and

•

the Registrant will advance reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, to its directors and executive officers, and in the discretion of its board of directors, to certain employees and agents, in connection with legal proceedings relating to their service for or on behalf of the Registrant, subject to limited exceptions.

The Registrant has or will enter into indemnification agreements with each of its directors, executive officers and certain other officers. These agreements provide that the Registrant will indemnify each of its directors, executive officers, certain other officers and, at times, their affiliates, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

The Registrant also maintains general liability insurance which covers certain liabilities of its directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.

Item 8. Exhibits.

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit Number		Description

4.1		Form of Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-255680), filed on May 19, 2021).

4.2		Form of Bylaws (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-255680), filed on April 30, 2021).

4.3		Specimen Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-255680), filed on April 30, 2021).

5.1*		Opinion of Goodwin Procter LLP.



23.1*		Consent of BDO USA, LLP.

23.2*		Consent of Goodwin Procter LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1*		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).

99.1		2021 Stock Option and Incentive Plan, and forms of award agreements thereunder (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-255680), filed on July 19, 2021).

99.2		2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Number 333-255680), filed on July 19, 2021).

*	Filed herewith.

Item 9 Undertakings

(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act.

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement.

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement.

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) herein do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)) that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the

successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe

that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Costa Mesa, State of California, on July 27, 2021.


MeridianLink, Inc.

By:		/s/ Nicolaas Vlok
		Nicolaas Vlok
		Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Nicolaas Vlok, Chad Martin and Kayla Dailey, and each of them singly, as such person’s true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including any post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact, and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, and agent, or any substitute or substitutes of any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.


Signature	Title	Date

/s/ Nicolaas Vlok Nicolaas Vlok	Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	July 27, 2021

/s/ Chad Martin Chad Martin	Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	July 27, 2021

/s/ Paul Zuber Paul Zuber	Chairman of the Board of Directors	July 27, 2021

/s/ A.J. Rohde A.J. Rohde	Director	July 27, 2021

/s/ A.J. Jangalapalli A.J. Jangalapalli	Director	July 27, 2021

/s/ James Lines James Lines	Director	July 27, 2021

/s/ Pam Murphy Pam Murphy	Director	July 27, 2021

/s/ Timothy Nguyen Timothy Nguyen	Chief Strategy Officer and Director	July 27, 2021