The following disclosures were included in a Current Report on Form8-K filed concurrently herewith:
Item 8.01 Other Events.
This Current Report on Form8-K is filed in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 12, 2019 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Versum Materials, Inc. (“Versum”), Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (“Parent”) and EMD Performance Materials Holding, Inc. (“Merger Sub”), pursuant to which Merger Sub will merge with and into Versum, with Versum surviving and continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (the “Merger”).
As previously disclosed, on May 13, 2019, Versum filed a definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the special meeting of its stockholders to be held on June 17, 2019 (the “Special Meeting”) to consider and vote on various proposals necessary to approve the Merger Agreement (the “proxy statement”).
Following the filing of the proxy statement a purported shareholder filed the putative class actionRobert v. Versum Materials, Inc. et al.,1;19-cv-00922 (filed May 17, 2019) (the “Action”) against Versum and the members of the Versum Board of Directors.The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that the proxy statement, misstates or fails to disclose certain material information in violation of federal securities laws. The lawsuit seeks, among other relief, either an order enjoining the merger or rescission if the merger is consummated.
Solely to avoid the costs, burden, nuisance and uncertainties inherent in litigation and to allow the Versum stockholders to vote on the Merger at the Special Meeting, without admitting any liability or wrongdoing, Versum hereby supplements the disclosures contained in the proxy statement (the “Supplemental Disclosures”). The Supplemental Disclosures are set forth below and should be read in conjunction with the proxy statement.
Versum vigorously denies that the proxy statement is deficient in any respect and that the Supplemental Disclosures are material or required. Versum believes that the Action is without merit and that no further disclosure is required to supplement the proxy statement under applicable laws. Nothing in this Current Report on Form8-K will be deemed an admission of the legal necessity or materiality under any applicable laws for any of the disclosures set forth herein.
SUPPLEMENT TO PROXY STATEMENT
In connection with the settlement of the Action, Versum has agreed to make these supplemental disclosures to the proxy statement. This supplemental information should be read in conjunction with the proxy statement, which should be read in its entirety. Defined terms used but not defined below have the meanings set forth in the proxy statement.
1. | The section of the proxy statement entitled “The Merger—Opinion of Versum’s Financial Advisors—Opinion of Lazard Frères & Co. LLC—Financial Analysis” is hereby supplemented as follows: |
| A. | The table on page 51 of the proxy statement under the heading “Precedent Transactions Valuation Analysis” is hereby amended and restated as follows: |
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Announcement Date | | Acquiror / Target | | EV / EBITDA (1) |
8/15/2018 | | Cabot Microelectronics / KMG Chemicals, Inc. | | 14.0x |
6/6/2018 | | Entegris / SAES Pure Gas business of SAES Getters S.p.A. | | 10.7x |
4/5/2017 | | Quaker Chemical Corporation / Houghton International Inc. | | 11.8x |
10/7/2016 | | The Carlyle Group L.P. / Atotech BV | | 11.9x |
6/17/2016 | | BASF SE / Chemetall Surface Treatment business of Albemarle Corporation | | 15.3x |