Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Director Appointments
On March 7, 2022, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Colfax Corporation (the “Company” or “Colfax”) appointed Angela S. Lalor, Dr. Christine Ortiz and Brady R. Shirley to serve as directors of the Company, effective upon consummation of the previously announced separation of the Company’s existing fabrication technology business, which will operate as ESAB Corporation (the “Separation”). Following the Separation, the Company will change its name to Enovis Corporation and continue to operate the Company’s specialty medical technology business.
On March 10, 2022, the Board appointed Barbara W. Bodem to serve as a director of the Company, effective upon consummation of the Separation.
Ms. Lalor will serve as a member of the Compensation and Human Capital Management Committee of the Board, Dr. Ortiz will serve as a member of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and Ms. Bodem will serve as a member of the Audit Committee of the Board.
Ms. Lalor, Dr. Ortiz and Ms. Bodem will participate in the Company’s director compensation package for non-employee directors described in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 1, 2021. Mr. Shirley will not receive any additional compensation for his service as a director.
Each of Ms. Lalor, Dr. Ortiz, Mr. Shirley and Ms. Bodem will also enter into an indemnification agreement with the Company, the form of which is disclosed as Exhibit 10.39 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 22, 2022 and is incorporated by reference herein.
The Board affirmatively determined that none of Ms. Lalor, Dr. Ortiz or Ms. Bodem has a material relationship with the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries (either directly or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company) and that each of Ms. Lalor, Dr. Ortiz and Ms. Bodem meets the requirements of an “independent director” as defined in Section 303A.02 of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual for purposes of service on the Board. In addition, none of Ms. Lalor, Dr. Ortiz or Ms. Bodem has been a participant in any related person transactions required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Mr. Shirley is an employee and an executive officer of the Company, and accordingly does not meet the requirements of an independent director.
Director Resignations and Retirements
On March 7, 2022, Patrick W. Allender, Didier Teirlinck and Rhonda L. Jordan each notified the Board of their intention to resign as directors of the Company, effective upon consummation of the Separation, and Thomas S. Gayner notified the Company of his intention to retire from the Board, effective as of March 31, 2022. None of such announced resignations and retirements is due to any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices. It is anticipated that Messrs. Allender and Teirlinck and Ms. Jordan will be appointed as directors of ESAB Corporation in connection with the Separation.
On March 11, 2022, the Company issued a press release regarding such director appointments, resignations and retirements, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Completion of the Separation is subject to, among other things, the satisfaction of closing conditions, including obtaining final approval from the Board, satisfactory completion of financing, receipt of tax opinions and steps necessary to qualify the separation as a tax-free transaction, and receipt of regulatory approvals.
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K includes forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to statements concerning the Company’s plans, objectives, outlook, expectations and intentions, including the planned Separation and anticipated appointments and resignations from the Board in connection with such Separation, and other statements that are not historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are based