UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 25, 2014

 

 

STERIS Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Ohio		1-14643		34-1482024
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

5960 Heisley Road, Mentor, Ohio		44060-1834
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (440) 354-2600

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

þ	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 

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ITEM 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

In connection with the proposed transactions previously announced by STERIS Corporation (“STERIS”) which, if completed, will result in both STERIS and Synergy Health plc becoming direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of a newly formed U.K. corporation (the “Combination”), STERIS has adopted a compensatory arrangement intended to provide “make-whole” payments to its executive officers and directors who will be subject to a 15% excise tax imposed under Section 4985 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, on their outstanding stock options, restricted stock and career restricted stock units, solely because of the closing of the Combination. These make-whole payments will not be paid if the Combination is not completed.

The amount of the 15% excise tax that will be payable by each affected individual, and consequently the amount of the make-whole payments to be paid by STERIS to each affected individual, will depend on the timing of the closing of the Combination, as well as the fair market value of STERIS’s common stock and the awards held by each affected individual at the closing of the Combination. Estimated payment amounts and the assumptions used to calculate such amounts are included in the Form S-4 Registration Statement filed by New STERIS Limited (“New STERIS”) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 26, 2014 (the “Registration Statement”).

Any individual who receives a make-whole payment and within one year after the closing of the Combination (1) leaves the employ of STERIS and all of its affiliates (or resigns from service on the board of New STERIS and all affiliates in the case of a director) due to a voluntary resignation will be required to repay STERIS the full amount of his or her make-whole payment; and/or (2) voluntarily engages in specific types of transactions involving equity awards in respect of which the make-whole payment is made will be required to repay STERIS a portion or all of his or her make-whole payment.

ITEM 8.01. Other Events.

On November 26, 2014, New STERIS filed with the SEC the Registration Statement, which includes a preliminary proxy statement of STERIS and also constitutes a preliminary prospectus of New STERIS. The Registration Statement has not yet been declared effective by the SEC.

 

Enquiries:
STERIS
Investor Contact: Julie Winter, Director, Investor Relations				Tel: +1 440 392 7245
Media Contact:
Stephen Norton, Senior Director, Corporate Communications				Tel: +1 440 392 7482
Lazard & Co., Limited (Financial Adviser to STERIS and New STERIS)
Stephen Sands				Tel: +44 20 7187 2000
Nicholas Shott
Al Garner				Tel: +1 212 632 6000
Andrew Dickinson				Tel: +1 415 623 5000

Lazard & Co., Limited, which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively as financial adviser to STERIS and New STERIS and no one else in connection with the Combination and will not be responsible to anyone other than STERIS and New STERIS for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard & Co., Limited nor for providing advice in relation to the Combination or any other matters referred to in this Announcement. Neither Lazard & Co., Limited nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard & Co., Limited in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein, the Combination or otherwise.

 

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Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any securities exchange offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a securities exchange offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any securities exchange offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person’s interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any securities exchange offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a securities exchange offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

No Offer or Solicitation

This document is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, or an invitation to subscribe for, purchase or exchange, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance, exchange or transfer of the securities referred to in this document in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

This document may contain statements concerning certain trends, expectations, forecasts, estimates, or other forward-looking information affecting or relating to Synergy or STERIS or its industry, products or activities that are intended to qualify for the protections afforded “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other laws and regulations. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date of this document and may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “outlook,” “impact,” “potential,” “confidence,” “improve,” “optimistic,” “deliver,” “comfortable,” “trend”, and “seeks,” or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Many important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, disruption of production or supplies, changes in market conditions, political events, pending or future claims or litigation, competitive factors, technology advances, actions of regulatory agencies, and changes in laws, government regulations, labeling or product approvals or the application or interpretation thereof. Other risk factors are described herein and in STERIS and Synergy’s other securities filings, including Item 1A of STERIS’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2014 dated May 29, 2014 and in Synergy’s annual report and accounts for the year ended 30 March 2014 (section headed “principal risks and uncertainties”). Many of these important factors are outside of STERIS’s or Synergy’s control. No assurances can be provided as to any result or the timing of any outcome regarding matters described herein or otherwise with respect to any regulatory action, administrative proceedings, government investigations, litigation, warning letters, consent decree, cost reductions, business strategies, earnings or revenue trends or future financial results. References to products and the consent decree are summaries only and should not be considered the specific terms of the decree or product clearance or literature. Unless legally required, STERIS and Synergy do not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements even if events make clear that any projected results, express or implied, will not be realized. Other potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, (a) the receipt of approval of both STERIS’s shareholders and Synergy’s shareholders, (b) the regulatory approvals required for the transaction not being obtained on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule, (c) the parties’ ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the transaction, (d) the possibility that the parties may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in connection with the transaction within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate Synergy’s operations into those of STERIS, (e) the integration of Synergy’s operations into those of STERIS being more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, (f) operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) being greater than expected following the transaction, (g) the retention of certain key employees of Synergy being difficult, (h) changes in tax laws or interpretations that could increase our consolidated tax liabilities, including, if the transaction is consummated, changes in tax laws that would result in New STERIS being treated as a domestic corporation for United States federal tax purposes, (i) the potential for increased pressure on pricing or costs that leads to erosion of profit margins, (j) the possibility that market demand will not develop for new technologies, products or applications or services, or business initiatives will take longer, cost more or produce lower benefits than anticipated, (k) the possibility that application of or compliance with laws, court rulings, certifications, regulations, regulatory actions, including without limitation those relating to FDA warning notices or letters, government investigations, the outcome of any pending FDA requests, inspections or submissions, or other requirements or standards may delay, limit or prevent new product introductions, affect the production and marketing of existing products or services or otherwise affect Company performance, results, prospects or value, (l) the potential of international unrest, economic downturn or effects of currencies, tax assessments, adjustments or anticipated rates, raw material costs or availability, benefit or retirement plan costs, or other regulatory compliance costs, (m) the possibility of reduced demand, or reductions in the rate of growth in demand, for products and services, (n) the possibility that anticipated growth, cost savings, new product acceptance, performance or approvals, or other results may not be achieved, or that transition, labor, competition, timing, execution, regulatory, governmental, or other issues or risks associated with STERIS and Synergy’s businesses, industry or initiatives including, without limitation, the consent decree or those matters described in STERIS’s Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2014 and other securities filings, may adversely impact Company performance, results, prospects or value, (o) the possibility that anticipated financial results or benefits of recent acquisitions, or of STERIS’s restructuring efforts will not be realized or will be other than anticipated, (p) the effects of the contractions in credit availability, as well as the ability of STERIS and Synergy’s customers and suppliers to adequately access the credit markets when needed, and (q) those risks described in STERIS’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2014, and other securities filings.

Important Additional Information Regarding the Transaction Will Be Filed With The SEC

It is expected that the shares of New STERIS to be issued by New STERIS to Synergy Shareholders in the English law scheme of arrangement transaction that forms a part of the transaction will be issued in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, provided by Section 3(a)(10) thereof.

In connection with the issuance of New STERIS shares to STERIS shareholders pursuant to the merger that forms a part of the transaction, New STERIS filed with the SEC on November 26, 2014, a preliminary registration statement on Form S-4 that contains a prospectus of New STERIS as well as a proxy statement of STERIS relating to the merger that forms a part of the transaction, which we refer to together as the Form S-4/Proxy Statement.

 

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INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM S-4/PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION, THE PARTIES TO THE TRANSACTION AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSACTION. Those documents, if and when filed, as well as STERIS’s and New STERIS’s other public filings with the SEC may be obtained without charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, at STERIS’s website at www.steris-ir.com. Security holders and other interested parties will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the Form S-4/Proxy Statement and other relevant documents (when available) by directing a request by mail or telephone Julie_Winter@steris.com or (440) 392-7245. Security holders may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed with the SEC at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) 732-0330 or visit the SEC’s website for further information on its public reference room.

Synergy and New STERIS are each organized under the laws of England and Wales. Some of the officers and directors of Synergy and New STERIS are residents of countries other than the United States. As a result, it may not be possible to sue Synergy, New STERIS or such persons in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. It may be difficult to compel Synergy, New STERIS and their respective affiliates to subject themselves to the jurisdiction and judgment of a US court or for investors to enforce against them the judgments of US courts.

Participants in the Solicitation

STERIS, its directors and certain of its executive officers may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Form S-4/Proxy Statement. Information about the directors and executive officers of STERIS is set forth in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2014, which was filed with the SEC on May 29, 2014, and its proxy statement for its 2014 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on June 9, 2014. Other information regarding potential participants in the proxy solicitations and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the Form S-4/Proxy Statement.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: November 26, 2014

 

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