prem14a0114_patientsafety.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant ý
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨
Check the appropriate box:
ý 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 Rule 14a-12
Patient Safety Technologies, Inc.
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
¨ No fee required.
ý Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
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(1)
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Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share and Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share.
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(2)
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Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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38,861,508 shares of Common Stock, 10,950 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and 70,425 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding as of December 31, 2013, plus 5,095,672 shares of Common Stock subject to options to purchase shares of Common Stock with exercise prices less than the merger consideration of $2.22 per share of Common Stock.
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(3)
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Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
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The proposed maximum aggregate value of the transaction for purposes of calculating the filing fee is $14,732.02. The maximum aggregate value of the transaction was calculated based on the sum of (a) 38,861,508 shares of Common Stock multiplied by $2.22 per share, (b) 5,095,672 shares of Common Stock underlying outstanding vested stock options with exercise prices less than $2.22 per share multiplied by $1.21 (which is the difference between $2.22 and the weighted average exercise price per share of the outstanding vested stock options), (c) 10,950 shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock multiplied by $100.00 per share and (d) 70,425 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock multiplied by $296.00 per share. The filing fee was determined by multiplying the maximum aggregate value of the transaction by 0.0001288.
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(4)
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Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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$114,379,111.00
$14,732.02
¨ Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
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Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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(1)
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Amount Previously Paid:
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(2)
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Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED JANUARY 22, 2014
15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150
Irvine, California 92618
, 2014
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of the stockholders of Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Patient Safety,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), which we will hold at a.m., local time, on , 2014, at .
On December 31, 2013, we entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”) with Stryker Corporation, a Michigan corporation (“Stryker”), and PS Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker (“Merger Sub”), providing for the Merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Merger”).
Also on December 31, 2013, certain directors of the Company entered into voting agreements with Stryker pursuant to which each of them has agreed to grant Stryker an irrevocable proxy and, among other things, to vote all of their shares of capital stock for adoption of the Merger Agreement, representing in the aggregate 7,721,596 shares of our Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and 10,750 of our shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”), or approximately 19.08% of the outstanding voting power of our shares entitled to vote at the special meeting.
At the special meeting, we will ask you to adopt the Merger Agreement. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock and our Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, is required to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement.
If the Merger is completed, each share of Common Stock outstanding at the effective time of the Merger (other than dissenting shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries) will be canceled and converted into the right to receive $2.22 in cash, without interest, but subject to any applicable withholding taxes, each share of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the effective time of the Merger (other than dissenting shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries) will be canceled and converted into the right to receive $100.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding taxes, and each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series B Preferred Stock”) outstanding at the effective time of the Merger (other than dissenting shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries) will be canceled and converted into the right to receive $296.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding taxes.
After careful consideration, our board of directors has unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement and the Merger are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger. The Patient Safety board of directors unanimously recommends that the stockholders of the Company vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. In addition, the board unanimously recommends that the stockholders of the Company vote “FOR” the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies.
The enclosed proxy statement describes the Merger Agreement and the Merger and provides specific information concerning the special meeting. In addition, you may obtain information about us from documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We urge you to, and you should, read the entire proxy statement carefully, as it sets forth the details of the Merger Agreement and other important information related to the Merger.
Your vote is very important. If you fail to vote on the Merger Agreement or fail to instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote, the effect will be the same as a vote against the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement.
While stockholders may exercise their right to vote their shares in person, we recognize that many stockholders may not be able to attend the special meeting. Accordingly, we have enclosed a proxy that will enable your shares of capital stock to be voted on the matters to be considered at the special meeting even if you are unable to attend. If you desire your shares of capital stock to be voted in accordance with our board’s recommendation on all proposals, you need only sign, date and return the proxy in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Otherwise, please mark the proxy to indicate your voting instructions, sign and date the proxy, and return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. You also may submit a proxy by using a toll-free telephone number or the Internet. We have provided instructions on the proxy card for using these convenient services. Submitting a proxy will not prevent you from voting your shares of capital stock in person if you subsequently choose to attend the special meeting.
If you hold your shares of capital stock in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee, you should follow the directions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee regarding how to instruct your broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares of capital stock. Without those instructions, your shares of capital stock will not be voted, which will have the same effect as voting against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
If you have any questions or need assistance in voting your shares, please contact our proxy solicitor, . at .
Thank you for your continued support.
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Sincerely,
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Brian E. Stewart
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved the Merger, passed upon the merits or fairness of the Merger, the Merger Agreement or the other transactions contemplated thereby or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This proxy statement is dated , 2014 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about , 2014.
PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT — SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 22, 2014
PATIENT SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150
Irvine, California 92618
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
OF PATIENT SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To the Stockholders of Patient Safety Technologies, Inc.:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of the Stockholders of Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Patient Safety,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), will be held at a.m., local time, on , 2014, at , to consider and vote upon the following proposals:
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1.
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to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Merger Agreement”), dated as of December 31, 2013, by and among Stryker Corporation, a Michigan corporation (“Stryker”), PS Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker (“Merger Sub”), and the Company;
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to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, specified compensation that may become payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger;
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to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement; and
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to act upon other business as may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof by or at the direction of our board of directors.
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The holders of record of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”), and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Series A Preferred Stock”), at the close of business on , 2014 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. All stockholders of record are cordially invited to attend the special meeting in person.
Our board of directors has unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement and the Merger are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger. The Patient Safety board unanimously recommends that the stockholders of the Company vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Patient Safety board unanimously recommends that stockholders of the Company vote “FOR” the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies.
Your vote is important, regardless of the number of shares of capital stock you own. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock and our Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, is required to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement. Each of the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, present at the meeting and entitled to vote thereon. Even if you plan to attend the special meeting in person, we request that you complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy and thus ensure that any shares of capital stock will be represented at the special meeting if you are unable to attend.
You also may submit your proxy by using a toll-free telephone number or the Internet. We have provided instructions on the proxy card for using these convenient services.
If you sign, date and return your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies. If you fail to vote or submit your proxy, the effect will be that your shares of capital stock may not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the special meeting and will have the same effect as a vote against the adoption of the Merger Agreement, but will not affect the advisory vote to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies.
Under Delaware law, stockholders who do not vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement will have the right to seek appraisal of the fair value of their shares of capital stock of the Company as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery if the Merger is completed, but only if they submit a written demand for such an appraisal before the vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and comply with the other Delaware law procedures explained in the accompanying proxy statement.
You may revoke your proxy at any time before the vote at the special meeting by following the procedures outlined in the accompanying proxy statement. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy by attending the meeting and voting in person.
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By Order of the Board of Directors
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Brian E. Stewart
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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Page
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1
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MERGER
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9
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
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15
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THE COMPANIES
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Patient Safety Technologies, Inc.
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Stryker Corporation
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PS Merger Sub Inc.
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THE SPECIAL MEETING
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17
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Date, Time and Place of the Special Meeting
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17
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Purposes of the Special Meeting
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Record Date and Quorum
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17
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Required Vote
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18
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Voting by the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers
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18
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Voting; Proxies; Revocation
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18
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Abstentions
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20
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Adjournments and Postponements
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20
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Solicitation of Proxies
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21
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Other Information
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21
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THE MERGER (PROPOSAL 1)
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22
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Certain Effects of the Merger
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22
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Background of the Merger
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22
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Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Patient Safety Board of Directors
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27
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Opinion of Patient Safety’s Financial Advisor
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31
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Financing
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36
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Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger
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36
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Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger
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40
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Regulatory Approvals
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41
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Litigation
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42
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Deregistration of Company Common Stock
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42
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THE MERGER AGREEMENT
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43
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Explanatory Note Regarding the Merger Agreement
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43
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Structure of the Merger; Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws; Directors and Officers
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43
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When the Merger Becomes Effective
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43
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Effect of the Merger on the Company’s Shares
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44
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Treatment of Company Equity Awards and Warrants
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44
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Payment for Common Stock, Company Equity Awards and Warrants in the Merger
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45
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Representations and Warranties
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45
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Conduct of Business Pending the Merger
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49
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Other Covenants and Agreements
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50
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Conditions to the Merger
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57
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Termination
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58
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Termination Fee
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58
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Expenses
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59
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Specific Performance
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59
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Amendments; Waiver
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59
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Governing Law and Jurisdiction
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59
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ADVISORY VOTE ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER MERGER-RELATED COMPENSATION (PROPOSAL 2)
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60
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VOTE ON ADJOURNMENT (PROPOSAL 3)
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61
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MARKET PRICE OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK
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62
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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63
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APPRAISAL RIGHTS
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64
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MULTIPLE STOCKHOLDERS SHARING ONE ADDRESS
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69
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SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
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69
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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70
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SUMMARY
This summary discusses the material information contained in this proxy statement, including with respect to the Merger Agreement and the Merger. We encourage you to, and you should, read carefully this entire proxy statement, its annexes and the documents referred to or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement, as this summary may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. We have included page references to direct you to a more complete description of the topics presented in this summary. In this proxy statement, unless the context requires otherwise, the terms “Patient Safety,” “Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly owned operating subsidiary, SurgiCount Medical, Inc., a California corporation.
Patient Safety Technologies, Inc.
Patient Safety is a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices located at 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, telephone number (949) 387-2277. Patient Safety’s wholly owned operating subsidiary, SurgiCount Medical, Inc., a California corporation (“SurgiCount”), is a medical device company that markets its Safety-Sponge® System, a patented solution clinically proven to improve patient safety and reduce healthcare costs by helping to eliminate one of the most common errors in surgery, retained surgical sponges. With an estimated incidence rate of one in every 8,000 surgical procedures (one in every 1,000 to 1,500 abdominal operations), retained surgical sponges are the most commonly reported surgical adverse event in the United States and lead to significant, avoidable patient morbidity and cost ramifications. With approximately 32 million surgical procedures annually in the United States, there are an estimated 4,000 retained sponge incidents each year, which equates to approximately 11 every day. The Safety-Sponge® System is the market leading retained sponge prevention solution, with more than an estimated 160 million Safety-Sponges® used in over 8 million successful procedures in a rapidly expanding customer base that currently includes over 300 hospitals across the United States.
Additional information about Patient Safety is contained in its public filings, which are incorporated by reference herein. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” on page 70.
Stryker Corporation
Stryker Corporation, referred to as “Stryker,” is a Michigan corporation with principal executive offices located at 2825 Airview Boulevard, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002, telephone number (269) 385-2600. Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and is dedicated to helping healthcare professionals perform their jobs more efficiently while enhancing patient care. Stryker offers a diverse array of innovative medical technologies including reconstructive implants, medical and surgical equipment, and neurotechnology and spine products to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. Stryker trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SYK.” See “The Companies — Stryker Corporation” on page 16.
PS Merger Sub Inc.
PS Merger Sub Inc., referred to as “Merger Sub,” is a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker with principal executive offices located at 2825 Airview Boulevard, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002, telephone number (269) 385-2600. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (the “Transactions”). See “The Companies — PS Merger Sub Inc.” on page 16.
The Merger Proposal (page 22)
You will be asked to consider and vote upon the proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 31, 2013, by and among the Company, Stryker and Merger Sub, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Merger Agreement”). The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that at the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company, and (i) each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) other than dissenting shares (the “Dissenting Shares”) and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries will be converted into the right to receive $2.22 in cash, without interest, but subject to any applicable withholding tax (the “Common Consideration”), (ii) each outstanding share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), other than dissenting shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries will be converted into the right to receive $100.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding tax and (iii) each outstanding share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), other than dissenting shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries will be converted into the right to receive $296.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding tax (the “Merger”).
The Company will thereby become a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker, the Common Stock will no longer be publicly traded and the Company’s existing stockholders will cease to have any ownership interest in the Company.
The Special Meeting (page 17)
The special meeting will be held at a.m. local time, on , 2014, at .
Record Date and Quorum (page 17)
The holders of record of the Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock as of the close of business on , 2014 (the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting) are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special meeting.
The presence at the special meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of record of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date will constitute a quorum, permitting the Company to conduct its business at the special meeting.
Required Vote for the Merger (page 18)
Each share of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date is entitled to one vote at the special meeting.
For the Company to complete the Merger, stockholders holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, outstanding at the close of business on the record date must vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement (the “Stockholder Vote”). A failure to vote your shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock or an abstention from voting for the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
As of the record date, there were approximately shares of Common Stock and 10,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
Certain directors of the Company have entered into voting agreements with Stryker pursuant to which each of them has agreed to grant Stryker an irrevocable proxy and, among other things, to vote all of their shares for adoption of the Merger Agreement, representing in the aggregate 7,721,596 shares of our Common Stock and 10,750 of our shares of Series A Preferred Stock or approximately 19.08% of the outstanding voting power of our shares entitled to vote at the special meeting.
Conditions to the Merger (page 57)
Each party’s obligation to complete the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
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the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the required vote of the Company’s stockholders;
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the absence of any newly enacted law, injunction or order that prohibits the consummation of the Merger; and
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the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) and any other antirust or competition law.
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The respective obligations of Stryker and Merger Sub to complete the Merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:
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the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company (except in most, but not all, cases, for inaccuracies that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, as defined under “The Merger Agreement — Representations and Warranties”);
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the Company’s performance of and compliance with its agreements and covenants under the Merger Agreement in all material respects; and
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the delivery of an officer’s certificate by the Company certifying that the conditions described in the two preceding bullet points have been satisfied.
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The obligation of the Company to complete the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:
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the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Stryker and Merger Sub (generally subject to a material adverse effect qualification);
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Stryker’s and Merger Sub’s performance of and compliance with their agreements and covenants under the Merger Agreement in all material respects; and
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the delivery of an officer’s certificate by Stryker and Merger Sub certifying that the conditions described in the two preceding bullet points have been satisfied.
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When the Merger Becomes Effective (page 43)
The completion of the Merger is subject to the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Company’s stockholders and the satisfaction of the other closing conditions. We anticipate completing the Merger on , 2014.
Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Patient Safety Board of Directors (page 27)
The Patient Safety Board of Directors (the “Patient Safety board”) unanimously recommends that the stockholders of the Company vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. For a description of the reasons considered by the Patient Safety board in deciding to recommend adoption of the Merger Agreement, see “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Patient Safety Board of Directors” on page 27.
Opinion of Patient Safety’s Financial Advisor (page 31)
In connection with the Merger, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“BofA Merrill Lynch”), Patient Safety’s financial advisor, delivered to the Patient Safety board a written opinion, dated December 30, 2013, as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of the date of the opinion, of the Common Consideration to be received by holders of Common Stock (other than Patient Safety, Stryker, Merger Sub, their respective affiliates and holders of Dissenting Shares). The full text of the written opinion, dated December 30, 2013, of BofA Merrill Lynch, which describes, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, factors considered and limitations on the review undertaken, is attached as Annex B to this document and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. BofA Merrill Lynch provided its opinion to the Patient Safety board (in its capacity as such) for the benefit and use of the Patient Safety board in connection with and for purposes of its evaluation of the Common Consideration from a financial point of view. BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion does not address any other aspect of the Merger and no opinion or view was expressed as to the relative merits of the Merger in comparison to other strategies or transactions that might be available to Patient Safety or in which Patient Safety might engage or as to the underlying business decision of Patient Safety to proceed with or effect the Merger. BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion does not address any other aspect of the Merger, including, without limitation, any opinion or view with regard to the consideration received by holders of Series A Preferred Stock or Series B Preferred Stock, and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how to vote or act in connection with the proposed Merger or any related matter.
Treatment of Company Equity Awards and Warrants (page 44)
Under the Merger Agreement, the Company’s equity awards outstanding as of the Effective Time will be treated at the Effective Time as follows:
Options. Fifteen days prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding, unvested and unexercised option to purchase shares of Common Stock will become immediately vested and exercisable in full, and with respect to each option to purchase shares of Common Stock that is outstanding and unexercised immediately before the Effective Time, all such options will be canceled and converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive (subject to any applicable withholding taxes) an amount in cash equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the total number of shares of Common Stock for which such Company option remains outstanding and unexercised prior to the Effective Time and (b) the excess (if any) of the Common Consideration over the exercise price of such Company option.
Restricted Stock. Each award of shares of restricted common stock that is outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will, as of the Effective Time, become fully vested and will be cancelled in exchange for the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Common Consideration (subject to any applicable withholding taxes).
Under the Merger Agreement, except for certain warrants scheduled in the disclosure schedules delivered in connection with the Merger Agreement, each unexercised Company warrant that was outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will no longer be exercisable for any capital stock of the surviving corporation, but will be exercisable solely for the Common Consideration, if any, that would have been payable to the holders thereof if such holders had exercised such Company warrants immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger (page 36)
In considering the recommendation of the Patient Safety board with respect to the Merger Agreement, you should be aware that some of the Company’s directors and executive officers have interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of the Company’s stockholders generally. Interests of officers and directors that may be different from or in addition to the interests of the Company’s stockholders include, among other things:
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The Merger Agreement provides for the acceleration of the vesting and cash-out of all Company stock options and for acceleration of the vesting of all Company restricted stock awards, as described above under “Summary — Treatment of Company Equity Awards and Warrants.”
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The Company’s executive officers are parties to employment agreements with the Company, which provide for severance benefits in the event of certain qualifying terminations of employment. In addition, the Company’s executive officers have entered into offer letter agreements providing for their employment by Stryker following the completion of the Merger.
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The Company’s directors and executive officers are entitled to continued indemnification and insurance coverage under indemnification agreements and the Merger Agreement.
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These interests are discussed in more detail in the section entitled “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger” beginning on page 36. The Patient Safety board was aware of the different or additional interests set forth herein and considered such interests along with other matters in approving the Merger Agreement and the Transactions, including the Merger.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Merger (page 40)
If you are a U.S. holder, the receipt of cash in exchange for shares of capital stock pursuant to the Merger will generally be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the particular tax consequences to you of the exchange of shares of capital stock for cash pursuant to the Merger in light of your particular circumstances (including the application and effect of any state, local or foreign income and other tax laws).
Regulatory Approvals (page 41)
Under the HSR Act and related rules, certain transactions, including the Merger, may not be completed until notifications have been given and information furnished to the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (“Antitrust Division”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and all statutory waiting period requirements have been satisfied. On January 22, 2014, both the Company and Stryker filed their respective Notification and Report Forms with the Antitrust Division and the FTC. As a result, assuming the Notification and Report Forms are deemed complete, the required waiting period will expire on February 21, 2014, unless earlier terminated or extended by a request for additional information and documentary material.
Appraisal Rights (page 64)
Under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”), Patient Safety’s stockholders who do not vote for the adoption of the Merger Agreement have the right to seek appraisal of the fair value of their shares of capital stock in cash as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, but only if they comply fully with all of the applicable requirements of the DGCL, which are summarized in this proxy statement. Any appraisal amount determined by the court could be more than, the same as, or less than the value of the merger consideration. Any stockholder intending to exercise appraisal rights must, among other things, submit a written demand for appraisal to the Company before the vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement and must not vote or otherwise submit a proxy in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement. Failure to follow exactly the procedures specified under the DGCL will result in the loss of appraisal rights. Because of the complexity of the DGCL relating to appraisal rights, if you are considering exercising your appraisal rights, we encourage you to seek the advice of your own legal counsel.
Since the announcement on December 31, 2013 of the execution of the Merger Agreement, Patient Safety, Stryker, Merger Sub and the members of the Patient Safety board have been named as defendants in a putative class action on behalf of an alleged class of Patient Safety stockholders in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, captioned Hofman v. Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 30-2014-00698513-CU-SL-CXC.
Deregistration of Company Common Stock (page 42)
If the Merger is completed, the Common Stock of the Company will cease trading on the OTC Bulletin Board (the “OTCBB”) and the OTCQB marketplace (the “OTCQB”), and will be deregistered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As such, we would no longer file periodic reports with the SEC on account of our Common Stock.
Alternative Proposals; No Solicitation (page 51)
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, neither the Company (nor its subsidiary) nor its directors, officers, employees, consultants, financial advisors, accountants, legal counsel, investment bankers, and other agents, advisors and representatives (collectively, “Representatives”) may:
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solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or encourage the submission of any Competing Proposal or knowingly take any other action designed to facilitate any inquiry with respect to, or the making, submission or announcement of, any Competing Proposal as described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement — Other Covenants and Agreements — Alternative Proposals; No Solicitation,” beginning on page 51;
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enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations with any person relating to a Competing Proposal;
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approve or recommend any Competing Proposal;
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withdraw, change, amend or modify any statement or proposal, in a manner adverse to Stryker or Merger Sub, inconsistent with the Patient Safety board’s recommendation concerning the Merger;
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enter into any letter of intent or similar document or any agreement providing for a Competing Proposal; or
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furnish any information to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any person relating to a Competing Proposal.
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However, if before obtaining the Required Stockholder Approval the Company receives an unsolicited bona fide written Competing Proposal that did not arise or result from a breach of the non-solicitation provisions of the Merger Agreement and the Patient Safety board determines in good faith, after consultation with its financial advisers and outside legal counsel, that the acquisition proposal is or would reasonably be expected to result in a “Superior Proposal,” as described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement — Other Covenants and Agreements — Alternative Proposals; No Solicitation,” beginning on page 51, the Company may:
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furnish nonpublic information to the third party making such Competing Proposal pursuant to a confidentiality agreement having confidentiality and other provisions substantially similar to, and not less restrictive than, the comparable provisions of the confidentiality agreement previously entered into by the Company and Stryker (a copy of which must be provided to Stryker after its execution); and
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engage in discussions or negotiations with the third party with respect to the Competing Proposal.
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Except as discussed below, neither the Patient Safety board nor any committee of the Patient Safety board is permitted to (i) withdraw, modify or qualify in any manner adverse to Stryker or Merger Sub, or resolve to or publicly propose to withdraw, modify or qualify in a manner adverse to Stryker or Merger Sub, the Patient Safety board’s recommendation that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement, (ii) approve, endorse or recommend, or resolve to or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend, any alternative proposal (any of the actions described in clause (i) or (ii), a “Change of Recommendation”) or (iii) adopt, or publicly propose to adopt, or allow the Company to execute or enter into, any binding or non-binding letter of intent, agreement in principle, memorandum of understanding, merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement, commitment, arrangement or understanding contemplating or otherwise in connection with, or that is intended to or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any alternative proposal (other than confidentiality agreements permitted under the previous paragraph).
However, before obtaining the Required Stockholder Approval the Patient Safety board is permitted, in response to a Superior Proposal received by the Company after December 31, 2013 on an unsolicited basis that did not arise or result from a breach of the non-solicitation provisions of the Merger Agreement, to:
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make a Change of Recommendation; or
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cause the Company to terminate the Merger Agreement and concurrently with such termination enter into a definitive agreement providing for the Superior Proposal.
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However, the Patient Safety board is not permitted to take the actions described in the bullet points above until three full business days after providing Stryker with written notice that it intends to make a Change of Recommendation or terminate the Merger Agreement and specifying the reasons therefor and including certain additional information and documents (as described under “The Merger Agreement — Other Covenants and Agreements — Alternative Proposals; No Solicitation”). If the Superior Proposal is amended, the Patient Safety board is not permitted to make a Change of Recommendation or terminate the Merger Agreement based on the Superior Proposal, as so amended, until three full business days following written notice with respect to the Superior Proposal, as so amended. The Patient Safety board may not terminate the Merger Agreement in response to a Superior Proposal unless, before the effectiveness of the termination, the Patient Safety board, after considering the results of any negotiations with and any revised proposals made by Stryker, concludes that the Superior Proposal giving rise to the Superior Proposal Notice continues to constitute a Superior Proposal.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Merger Agreement to the contrary, before obtaining the Required Stockholder Approval, the Patient Safety board may, in response to an Intervening Event (as described under “The Merger Agreement — Other Covenants and Agreements — Alternative Proposals; No Solicitation”), make a change of recommendation if the Patient Safety board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal counsel, that the failure of the Patient Safety board to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
The Patient Safety board is not permitted to change its recommendation in response to an Intervening Event until three full business days after providing Stryker with written notice that it intends to effect a change of recommendation and specifying the reasons therefor. If a change to the facts or circumstances that are the basis of the Intervening Event occurs that is sufficiently material as to cause the Patient Safety board to convene a meeting to revisit its determination to make a change of recommendation, the Patient Safety board is not permitted to make the change of recommendation based on the Intervening Event until three full business days following written notice to Stryker with respect to the Intervening Event as so changed. The Patient Safety board may not make the change of recommendation in response to an Intervening Event unless the Patient Safety board, after considering the results of any negotiations with and any revised proposals made by Stryker, concludes that the Patient Safety board continues to meet the requirements set forth in the provisions of the Merger Agreement to make such a change of recommendation.
The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger and the Transactions may be abandoned at any time before the Effective Time, whether before or after the Company’s stockholders have adopted the Merger Agreement:
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by mutual written consent of Stryker and the Company;
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by either Stryker or the Company if:
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a final and non-appealable order or ruling has been issued by a court or other governmental entity which prohibits the Merger and the terminating party is in material compliance with its obligations related to antitrust approval;
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the Merger is not effected by May 15, 2014 (the “Outside Date”) and the terminating party’s failure to fulfill its obligations under the Agreement is not the reason;
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the Required Stockholder Approval has not been obtained upon voting; or
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the other party has breached the Merger Agreement in a manner that (i) in the case of the Company, results in the failure of its obligations to consummate the Merger being satisfied or (ii) in the case of Stryker, would prevent or materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under the Merger Agreement, and the terminating party has delivered written notice of such breach, and such breach is not capable of being cured within 30 days of notice to the party committing such breach;
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however, the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the conditions in the preceding two bullet points above will not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under the Merger Agreement has been the cause of the failure of the condition;
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by Stryker if the Patient Safety board makes a change of recommendation to stockholders with respect to the Merger Agreement or fails to include its recommendation in the proxy statement;
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by the Company, before the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders, if the Patient Safety board decides to accept a Superior Proposal following certain procedures and the Company pays Stryker the termination fee described below.
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Termination Fee (page 58)
The Company must pay to Stryker a termination fee of $4 million in the event that:
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(i) the Merger Agreement is terminated by either party because it has not been effected by the Outside Date or the Required Stockholder Approval has not been obtained upon voting or by Stryker because the Company breaches any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Merger Agreement (ii) a Competing Proposal was made and not publicly withdrawn prior to such termination and (iii) within 12 months of the termination, a competing transaction is entered into;
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the Company terminates the Merger Agreement in order to accept a Superior Proposal; or
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the Merger Agreement is terminated by Stryker because the Patient Safety board (i) withdraws or changes its recommendation to its stockholders of the Merger Agreement or (ii) fails to include its recommendation in the proxy statement.
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MERGER
The following questions and answers address briefly some questions you may have regarding the special meeting, the Merger Agreement and the Merger. These questions and answers may not address all of the questions that may be important to you as a stockholder of the Company. Please refer to the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement, the annexes to this proxy statement and the documents referred to or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement.
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Why am I receiving this proxy statement?
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On December 31, 2013, the Company entered into the Merger Agreement providing for the Merger of Merger Sub, a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker, with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker. You are receiving this proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Patient Safety board in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and to approve the other matters to be voted on at the special meeting.
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What is the proposed transaction?
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The proposed transaction is the acquisition of the Company by Stryker through the Merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company pursuant to the Merger Agreement. Following the Effective Time, the Company will be privately held as a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker, and you will no longer own shares in the Company, only the right to receive the merger consideration.
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What will I receive in the Merger?
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If the Merger is completed, you will be entitled to receive $2.22 in cash, without interest, but subject to any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of our Common Stock that you own, $100.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of our Series A Preferred Stock that you own and $296.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding taxes, for each share of our Series B Preferred Stock that you own. For example, if you own 100 shares of Common Stock, you will be entitled to receive $222.00 in cash in exchange for your shares of Common Stock (less any amount that may be withheld with respect to any applicable withholding taxes). You will not be entitled to receive shares in the surviving corporation or in Stryker.
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Where and when is the special meeting?
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The special meeting will take place at a.m., local time, on , 2014, at .
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What matters will be voted on at the special meeting?
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You will be asked to consider and vote on the following proposals:
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to adopt the Merger Agreement;
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to approve, on an advisory (non-binding) basis, specified compensation that may be payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger;
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to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to approve the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement; and
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to act upon other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof by or at the direction of the Patient Safety board.
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How many shares are needed to constitute a quorum?
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A quorum will be present if holders of record of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, together as a single class, outstanding on the close of business on the record date are present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting. If a quorum is not present at the special meeting, the special meeting may be adjourned or postponed from time to time until a quorum is obtained.
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If you submit a proxy but fail to provide voting instructions or abstain on any of the proposals listed on the proxy card, your shares will be counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at the special meeting.
If your shares are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or other nominee and you do not instruct the nominee how to vote your shares, these shares will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present for the transaction of business at the special meeting.
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What vote of our stockholders is required to adopt the Merger Agreement?
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Stockholders holding a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, outstanding at the close of business on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting must vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. A failure to vote your shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock or an abstention from voting will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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As of , 2014, the record date for the special meeting, there were shares of Common Stock and 10,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
Pursuant to voting agreements entered into on December 31, 2013, certain directors and stockholders of the Company agreed, among other things, to vote a total of 7,721,596 shares of our Common Stock and 10,750 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, or approximately 19.08% of the outstanding voting power of the shares entitled to vote at the special meeting.
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What vote of our stockholders is required to approve the other proposal to be discussed at the special meeting?
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The advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may be payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and the proposal regarding adjournment of the special meeting each requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
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How does the Patient Safety board recommend that I vote?
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The Patient Safety board unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. The Patient Safety board also unanimously recommends that our stockholders vote “FOR” the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and “FOR” the proposal regarding adjournment of the special meeting.
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What effects will the Merger have on the Company?
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Our common stock is currently registered under the Exchange Act, and is quoted on the OTCBB and the OTCQB, under the symbol “PSTX.” As a result of the Merger, the Company will cease to be a publicly traded company and will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker. Following the consummation of the Merger, our Common Stock will cease trading on the OTCBB and the OTCQB and will be deregistered under the Exchange Act, and the Company will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC.
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What happens if the Merger is not completed?
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If the Merger Agreement is not adopted by the Company’s stockholders, or if the Merger is not completed for any other reason, the Company’s stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares in connection with the Merger. Instead, the Company will remain a public company, and shares of our Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on the OTCBB and the OTCQB. See “The Merger Agreement — Termination Fee.”
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What will happen if stockholders do not approve the advisory proposal on executive compensation payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger?
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The approval of this proposal is not a condition to the completion of the Merger. The vote on this proposal is an advisory vote and will not be binding on the Company or Stryker. If the Merger Agreement is adopted by the Company’s stockholders and the Merger is completed, the Merger-related compensation may be paid to the Company’s named executive officers even if stockholders fail to approve this proposal.
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What do I need to do now? How do I vote my shares of capital stock?
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We urge you to, and you should, read this proxy statement carefully, including its annexes and the documents incorporated by reference in this proxy statement, and to consider how the Merger affects you. Your vote is important. If you are a stockholder of record, you can ensure that your shares are voted at the special meeting by submitting your proxy via:
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mail, using the enclosed postage-paid envelope;
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telephone, using the toll-free number listed on each proxy card; or
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the Internet, at the address provided on each proxy card.
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If you sign, date and return your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted in favor of each of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies.
If you hold your shares in “street name” through a broker, bank or other nominee, you should follow the directions provided by your broker, bank or other nominee regarding how to instruct your broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares. Without those instructions, your shares will not be voted, which will have the same effect as voting “AGAINST” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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Can I revoke my proxy?
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Yes. You can revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the special meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy by notifying Patient Safety in writing at Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by submitting a new proxy by telephone, the Internet or mail, in each case, dated after the date of the proxy being revoked. In addition, you may revoke your proxy by attending the special meeting and voting in person (simply attending the special meeting will not cause your proxy to be revoked). Please note that if you hold your shares in “street name” and you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares, the above-described options for revoking your voting instructions do not apply, and instead you must follow the instructions received from your broker, bank or other nominee to revoke your voting instructions.
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What happens if I do not vote?
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The vote to adopt the Merger Agreement is based on the total number of shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock outstanding on the record date, not just the shares that are voted. If you do not vote, it will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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Will my shares of capital stock held in “street name” or another form of record ownership be combined for voting purposes with shares I hold of record?
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No. Because any shares of capital stock you may hold in “street name” will be deemed to be held by a different stockholder than any shares of capital stock you hold of record, any shares of capital stock so held will not be combined for voting purposes with shares of stock you hold of record. Similarly, if you own shares of capital stock in various registered forms, such as jointly with your spouse, as trustee of a trust or as custodian for a minor, you will receive, and will need to sign and return, a separate proxy card for those shares of capital stock because they are held in a different form of record ownership. Shares of capital stock held by a corporation or business entity must be voted by an authorized officer of the entity. Shares of capital stock held in an individual retirement account must be voted under the rules governing the account.
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What happens if I sell my shares of capital stock before completion of the Merger?
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If you transfer your shares of capital stock, you will have transferred your right to receive the merger consideration in the Merger. In order to receive the merger consideration, you must hold your shares of capital stock through completion of the Merger.
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The record date for stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting is earlier than the consummation of the Merger. So, if you transfer your shares of capital stock after the record date but before the closing of the Merger, you will have transferred your right to receive the merger consideration in the Merger, but you will have retained the right to vote at the special meeting.
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Should I send in my stock certificates or other evidence of ownership now?
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No. After the Merger is completed, you will receive a letter of transmittal and related materials from the paying agent for the Merger with detailed written instructions for exchanging your shares of capital stock for the merger consideration. If your shares of capital stock are held in “street name” by your broker, bank or other nominee, you may receive instructions from your broker, bank or other nominee as to what action, if any, you need to take to effect the surrender of your “street name” shares in exchange for the merger consideration. Do not send in your certificates now.
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I do not know where my stock certificate is — how will I get the merger consideration for my shares?
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If the Merger is completed, the transmittal materials you will receive after the completion of the Merger will include the procedures that you must follow if you cannot locate your stock certificate. This will include an affidavit that you will need to sign attesting to the loss of your stock certificate. You may also be required to post a bond as indemnity against any potential loss.
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Am I entitled to exercise dissenters’ or appraisal rights instead of receiving the merger consideration for my shares of capital stock?
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Under the DGCL, stockholders who do not vote for the adoption of the Merger Agreement have the right to seek appraisal of the fair value of their shares of capital stock as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, but only if they comply fully with all applicable requirements of the DGCL, which are summarized in this proxy statement. Any appraisal amount determined by the court could be more than, the same as, or less than the value of the merger consideration. Any stockholder intending to exercise appraisal rights must, among other things, submit a written demand for appraisal to the Company before the vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement and must not vote or otherwise submit a proxy in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement. Failure to follow exactly the procedures specified under the DGCL will result in the loss of appraisal rights. Because of the complexity of the DGCL relating to appraisal rights, if you are considering exercising your appraisal rights we encourage you to seek the advice of your own legal counsel.
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Will I have to pay taxes on the merger consideration I receive?
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If you are a U.S. holder, the receipt of cash in exchange for shares of capital stock pursuant to the Merger will generally be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. You should consult your own tax advisors regarding the particular tax consequences to you of the exchange of shares of capital stock for cash pursuant to the Merger in light of your particular circumstances (including the application and effect of any state, local or foreign income and other tax laws).
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What does it mean if I get more than one proxy card or voting instruction card?
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If your shares of capital stock are registered differently or are held in more than one account, you will receive more than one proxy or voting instruction card. Please complete and return all of the proxy cards and voting instruction cards you receive (or submit each of your proxies by telephone or the Internet, if available to you) to ensure that all of your shares of capital stock are voted.
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What is householding and how does it affect me?
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The SEC permits companies to send a single set of proxy materials to any household at which two or more stockholders reside, unless contrary instructions have been received, but only if the company provides advance notice and follows certain procedures. In such cases, each stockholder continues to receive a separate notice of the meeting and proxy card. Certain brokerage firms may have instituted householding for beneficial owners of capital stock held through brokerage firms. If your family has multiple accounts holding capital stock, you may have already received householding notification from your broker. Please contact your broker directly if you have any questions or require additional copies of this proxy statement. The broker will arrange for delivery of a separate copy of this proxy statement promptly upon your written or oral request. You may decide at any time to revoke your decision to household, and thereby receive multiple copies.
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Who can help answer my other questions?
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If you have more questions about the Merger, or require assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares or need additional copies of the proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, please contact , which is acting as the proxy solicitation agent and information agent for the Company in connection with the Merger, or the Company.
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or
Patient Safety Technologies, Inc.
15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150
Irvine, California 92618
Attention: Controller
(949) 387-2277
If your broker, bank or other nominee holds your shares, you should also call your broker, bank or other nominee for additional information.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This proxy statement, and the documents incorporated by reference in this proxy statement, include “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to future events and financial performance; however, you should not put undue reliance on these statements. When used, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “future” and other similar expressions, without limitation, identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the expected benefits of the Merger and the expected closing date of the Merger. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include such factors as: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement, (2) the failure to obtain approval of the Company’s stockholders or the failure to satisfy any of the other closing conditions, (3) risks related to disruption of management's attention from the Company’s ongoing business operations due to the Merger and (4) the effect of the announcement of the Merger on the Company’s ability to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers and others with whom the Company does business, or on the Company’s operating results and business generally. These risks and uncertainties also include but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to implement in all hospitals within the larger hospital organizations with which it has agreements, the ability to implement in those hospitals with which it has scheduled implementations, the early stage of adoption of the Company’s Safety-Sponge® System and the need to expand adoption of the Safety-Sponge® System; the impact on future revenue and cash flows from the ordering patterns of the Company’s exclusive distributor Cardinal Health, Inc.; the need for additional financing to support the Company’s business; the Company’s reliance on third-party manufacturers, some of whom are sole-source suppliers, and on its exclusive distributor; and any inability to successfully protect the Company’s intellectual property portfolio. In light of the risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement will in fact prove to be correct.
Forward-looking statements can be affected by many other factors, including those described in the “Business,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Factors Affecting Future Results” sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2012, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other public filings. These documents are available online through the Security and Exchange Commission’s (the “SEC”) website, www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are based on information presently available to senior management, and the Company has not assumed any duty to update any forward-looking statements.
Patient Safety Technologies, Inc.
Patient Safety’s principal executive offices are located at 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, telephone number (949) 387-2277. Patient Safety’s operating focus is the development, marketing and sale of products and services focused in the medical patient safety markets of SurgiCount. The SurgiCount Safety-Sponge® System is a patented system of bar-coded surgical sponges, SurgiCounter™ scanners, and software applications integrated to form a comprehensive counting and documentation system. This system is designed to reduce the number of retained surgical sponges unintentionally left inside of patients during surgical procedures by allowing faster and more accurate counting of surgical sponges. With an estimated incidence rate of one in every 8,000 surgical procedures (one in every 1,000 to 1,500 abdominal operations), retained surgical sponges are the most commonly reported surgical adverse event in the United States and lead to significant, avoidable patient morbidity and cost ramifications. With approximately 32 million surgical procedures annually in the United States there are an estimated 4,000 retained sponge incidents each year, which equates to approximately 11 every day. The Safety-Sponge® System is the market leading retained sponge prevention solution, with more than an estimated 160 million Safety-Sponges® used in over 8 million successful procedures in a rapidly expanding customer base that currently includes over 300 hospitals across the United States. Patient Safety trades on the OTCBB and the OTCQB under the symbol “PSTX.”
Stryker Corporation
Stryker Corporation is a Michigan corporation with principal executive offices located at 2825 Airview Boulevard, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002, telephone number (269) 385-2600. Stryker is one of the world’s leading medical technology companies and is dedicated to helping healthcare professionals perform their jobs more efficiently while enhancing patient care. Stryker offers a diverse array of innovative medical technologies including reconstructive implants, medical and surgical equipment and neurotechnology and spine products to help people lead more active and more satisfying lives. Stryker trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SYK.”
PS Merger Sub Inc.
PS Merger Sub Inc., or Merger Sub, is a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Stryker with principal executive offices located at 2825 Airview Boulevard, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49002, telephone number (269) 385-2600. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and consummating the Transactions.
We are furnishing this proxy statement to the Company’s stockholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by the Patient Safety board for use at the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. This proxy statement provides the Company’s stockholders with the information they need to know to be able to vote or instruct their vote to be cast at the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Date, Time and Place of the Special Meeting
This proxy statement is being furnished to our stockholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by the Patient Safety board for use at the special meeting to be held at a.m., local time, on , 2014, at , or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
Purposes of the Special Meeting
One purpose of the special meeting is for our holders of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock to consider and vote together as a single class upon the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. If our holders of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, fail to adopt the Merger Agreement, the Merger will not occur. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A, and the material provisions of the Merger Agreement are described under “The Merger Agreement.”
In addition, in accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, the Company is providing its holders of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock with the opportunity to cast an advisory (non-binding) vote on the compensation that may be payable to its named executive officers in connection with the Merger, the value of which is disclosed in the table in the section of this proxy statement entitled “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Interests of the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger.” The vote on executive compensation payable in connection with the Merger is a vote separate and apart from the vote to adopt the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, a stockholder may vote to approve the executive compensation and vote not to adopt the Merger Agreement and vice versa. Because the vote on executive compensation is advisory in nature only, it will not be binding on either the Company or Stryker. Accordingly, because the Company is contractually obligated to pay the compensation, the compensation will be payable, subject only to the conditions applicable thereto, if the Merger Agreement is adopted and regardless of the outcome of the advisory vote. Our holders of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock are also being asked to approve the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement.
This proxy statement and the enclosed form of proxy are first being mailed to our stockholders on or about , 2014.
The holders of record of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock as of the close of business on , 2014, the record date for the special meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the special meeting. As of the record date, there were approximately shares of Common Stock and 10,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
The presence at the special meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of record of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, together as a single class, outstanding at the close of business on the record date will constitute a quorum, permitting the Company to conduct its business at the special meeting. Once a share is represented at the special meeting, it will be counted for the purpose of determining a quorum at the special meeting. However, if a new record date is set for an adjourned special meeting, then a new quorum will have to be established. Proxies received but marked as abstentions will be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the special meeting. Broker non-votes, described below under the sub-heading “— Voting; Proxies; Revocation — Providing Voting Instructions by Proxy,” will not be included in the calculation of the number of shares considered to be present at the special meeting.
Each share of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock outstanding at the close of business on the record date is entitled to one vote at the special meeting.
For the Company to complete the Merger, stockholders holding a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, outstanding at the close of business on the record date must vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. A failure to vote your shares of Common Stock or Series A Preferred Stock or an abstention from voting will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
Approval of each of the adjournment proposal and the advisory (non-binding) proposal on executive compensation payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, present or represented by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon. An abstention will have the same effect as a vote against this proposal, but the failure to vote your shares will have no effect on the outcome of this proposal.
As of the record date, there were shares of Common Stock and 10,950 shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding.
Voting by the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers
At the close of business on the record date, directors and executive officers of the Company and their subsidiaries were entitled to vote shares of Common Stock and shares of Preferred Stock, or approximately % of the shares of Common Stock and % of the Preferred Stock, respectively, issued and outstanding on that date. We currently expect that the Company’s directors and executive officers will vote their shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and the other proposals to be considered at the special meeting, although none of them is obligated to do so.
Certain directors of the Company have entered into separate voting agreements with Stryker pursuant to which each of them has agreed to grant Stryker an irrevocable proxy and, among other things, to vote all shares of capital stock held thereby for the adoption of the Merger Agreement, representing in the aggregate 7,721,596 shares of our Common Stock and 10,750 shares of our Series A Preferred Stock, or approximately 19.08% of the outstanding voting power of the shares entitled to vote at the special meeting. The directors and stockholders of the Company are not obligated to vote for the adoption of the Merger Agreement if, among other things, the Merger Agreement is terminated. A copy of the form of voting agreement executed by such directors and stockholders is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement.
Voting; Proxies; Revocation
Attendance
All holders of shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock as of the close of business on , 2014, the record date, including stockholders of record and beneficial owners of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock registered in the “street name” of a bank, broker or other nominee, are invited to attend the special meeting. If you are a stockholder of record, please be prepared to provide proper identification, such as a driver’s license. If you hold your shares in “street name,” you will need to provide proof of ownership, such as a recent account statement or voting instruction form provided by your bank, broker or other nominee or other similar evidence of ownership, along with proper identification.
Voting in Person
Stockholders of record will be able to vote in person at the special meeting. If you are not a stockholder of record, but instead hold your shares of capital stock in “street name” through a bank, broker or other nominee, you must provide a proxy executed in your favor from your bank, broker or other nominee in order to be able to vote in person at the special meeting.
Providing Voting Instructions by Proxy
To ensure that your shares of capital stock are voted at the special meeting, we recommend that you provide voting instructions promptly by proxy, even if you plan to attend the special meeting in person.
Shares of Capital Stock Held by Record Holder
If you are a stockholder of record, you may provide voting instructions by proxy using one of the methods described below.
Submit a Proxy by Telephone or via the Internet. This proxy statement is accompanied by a proxy card with instructions for submitting voting instructions. You may vote by telephone by calling the toll-free number or via the Internet by accessing the Internet address as specified on the enclosed proxy card. Your shares of capital stock will be voted as you direct in the same manner as if you had completed, signed, dated and returned your proxy card, as described below.
Submit a Proxy Card. If you complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card by mail so that it is received in time for the special meeting, your shares of capital stock will be voted in the manner directed by you on your proxy card.
If you sign, date and return your proxy card without indicating how you wish to vote, your proxy will be voted in favor of each of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger and the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies. If you fail to return your proxy card and you are a holder of record on the record date, unless you attend the special meeting and vote in person, the effect will be that your shares of capital stock will not be considered present at the special meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the special meeting, will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and will not affect the vote regarding the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies, or the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger.
Shares of Capital Stock Held in “Street Name”
If your shares of capital stock are held by a bank, broker or other nominee on your behalf in “street name,” your bank, broker or other nominee will send you instructions as to how to provide voting instructions for your shares. Many banks and brokerage firms have a process for their customers to provide voting instructions by telephone or via the Internet, in addition to providing voting instructions by a voting instruction form.
Banks, brokers and other nominees who hold shares of Common Stock in “street name” for their customers do not have discretionary authority to vote the shares with respect to the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, the adjournment of the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate to solicit additional proxies, and the advisory (non-binding) proposal to approve specified compensation that may become payable to the named executive officers of the Company in connection with the Merger. Accordingly, if banks, brokers or other nominees do not receive specific voting instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares, they may not vote such shares with respect to these proposals. Under such circumstance, a “broker non-vote” would arise. Broker non-votes, if any, will not be considered present at the special meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the special meeting, will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and will have no effect on the adjournment proposal or the advisory (non-binding) proposal on executive compensation payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger. For shares of capital stock held in “street name,” only shares of capital stock affirmatively voted “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement will be counted as a vote in favor of such proposal.
Revocation of Proxies
Any person giving a proxy pursuant to this solicitation has the power to revoke and change it any time before it is voted. If you are a stockholder of record, you may revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the special meeting by:
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submitting a new proxy with a later date, by using the telephone or Internet proxy submission procedures described above, or by completing, signing, dating and returning a new proxy card by mail to the Company;
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attending the special meeting and voting in person; or
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delivering to the Corporate Secretary of the Company a written notice of revocation by mail to Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Controller.
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Please note, however, that only your last-dated proxy will count. Attending the special meeting without taking one of the actions described above will not in itself revoke your proxy. Please note that if you want to revoke your proxy by mailing a new proxy card to the Company or by sending a written notice of revocation to the Company, you should ensure that you send your new proxy card or written notice of revocation in sufficient time for it to be received by the Company before the special meeting.
If you hold your shares in “street name” through a bank, broker or other nominee, you will need to follow the instructions provided to you by your bank, broker or other nominee in order to revoke your proxy or submit new voting instructions.
Abstentions
An abstention occurs when a stockholder attends a meeting, either in person or by proxy, but abstains from voting. Abstentions will be included in the calculation of the number of shares of capital stock represented at the special meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum has been achieved. Abstaining from voting will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and a vote “AGAINST” the advisory (non-binding) proposal on executive compensation payable to the Company’s named executive officers in connection with the Merger and a vote “AGAINST” the adjournment proposal.
Adjournments and Postponements
Although it is not currently expected, the special meeting may be adjourned or postponed for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. In the event that there is present, in person or by proxy, sufficient favorable voting power to secure the vote of the stockholders of the Company necessary to adopt the Merger Agreement, the Company does not anticipate that it will adjourn or postpone the special meeting unless it is advised by counsel that failure to do so could reasonably be expected to result in a violation of applicable law.
The special meeting may be adjourned by the Patient Safety board or by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote at the special meeting. Any adjournment or postponement of the special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow the Company’s stockholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time before their use at the special meeting as adjourned or postponed.
Solicitation of Proxies
The Patient Safety board is soliciting your proxy, and we will bear the cost of this solicitation of proxies. This includes the charges and expenses of brokerage firms and others for forwarding solicitation material to beneficial owners of our outstanding common stock. We have retained , a proxy solicitation firm, to assist the Patient Safety board in the solicitation of proxies for the special meeting, and we will pay approximately $ , plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Proxies may be solicited by mail, personal interview, e-mail, telephone, or via the Internet by or, without additional compensation, by certain of the Company’s directors, officers and employees.
Other Information
You should not return your stock certificate or send documents representing capital stock with the proxy card. If the Merger is completed, the paying agent for the Merger will send you a letter of transmittal and related materials and instructions for exchanging your shares of capital stock for the merger consideration.
Certain Effects of the Merger
If the Merger Agreement is adopted by the Company’s stockholders and certain other conditions to the closing of the Merger are either satisfied or waived, Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company with the Company being the surviving corporation in the Merger.
At the Effective Time, (i) each outstanding share of Common Stock other than Dissenting Shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub, or any of their respective subsidiaries, will be converted into the right to receive $2.22 in cash, without interest, but subject to any applicable withholding tax, (ii) each outstanding share of Series A Preferred Stock, other than dissenting shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries will be converted into the right to receive $100.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding tax and (iii) each outstanding share of Series B Preferred Stock, other than dissenting shares and shares owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub or any of their subsidiaries will be converted into the right to receive $296.00 in cash, but subject to any applicable withholding tax.
Patient Safety trades on the OTCBB and the OTCQB under the symbol “PSTX.” As a result of the Merger, the Company will cease to be a publicly traded company and will be wholly owned by Stryker. Following the consummation of the Merger, our Common Stock will cease trading on the OTCBB and the OTCQB, and will be deregistered under the Exchange Act, and the Company will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC, in each case in accordance with applicable law, rules and regulations.
Background of the Merger
As a matter of course and in their ongoing effort to enhance stockholder value, the board and management of Patient Safety have regularly reviewed and evaluated Patient Safety’s business plan and strategy, including the review of a variety of strategic alternatives (including the acquisition of other businesses or assets, mergers and/or the sale of the business), taking into account developments and changing trends and conditions impacting the Patient Safety business.
In March 2012, Brian E. Stewart, Patient Safety’s President and Chief Executive Officer, was introduced to John Lauria, a Director of Business Development and Strategy at Stryker. Messrs. Lauria and Stewart discussed Patient Safety’s business generally in determining whether to pursue a potential strategic transaction or partnership between Patient Safety and Stryker. Messrs. Lauria and Stewart determined to schedule a conference call between Mr. Stewart and representatives of Stryker in the following weeks.
On April 20, 2012, Mr. Stewart spoke by telephone with representatives of Stryker. Mr. Stewart provided the representatives of Stryker an overview of Patient Safety’s business and products based on publicly available information.
On May 30, 2012, Mr. Stewart and another member of Patient Safety’s management team met with a larger group of representatives of Stryker at Stryker’s headquarters in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mr. Stewart again provided an overview of Patient Safety’s business and products based on publicly available information.
On August 2, 2012, Stryker and Patient Safety executed a mutual non-disclosure agreement.
On August 27, 2012, representatives of Stryker met with Patient Safety’s management team at Patient Safety’s headquarters in Irvine, California to discuss Patient Safety’s business. Following the meeting, representatives of Stryker informed Mr. Stewart that Stryker would send Patient Safety an indication of interest to acquire Patient Safety.
On November 7, 2012, Patient Safety engaged Latham & Watkins LLP (“Latham & Watkins”) to serve as its corporate counsel in connection with the exploration of strategic alternatives.
In November 2012, Mr. Stewart attended introductory meetings arranged by a financial advisor with two other potential strategic partners to explore possible strategic transactions and partnerships.
On November 21, 2012, Patient Safety received a preliminary, non-binding indication of interest from Stryker to acquire Patient Safety based on an enterprise value of Patient Safety (debt-free, cash-free and with a normal level of working capital) ranging from $90 million to $100 million, subject to the negotiation of definitive transaction documents, customary due diligence and approval by Stryker’s board of directors.
Following the receipt of the indication of interest, Mr. Stewart notified Cardinal Health, Inc. (“Cardinal”) that the right of first negotiation granted to Cardinal under Patient Safety’s supply and distribution agreement with Cardinal had been triggered.
Over the following week, Mr. Stewart had separate discussions with each member of the Patient Safety board. Each Patient Safety board member indicated it would be in the best interests of Patient Safety to seek an improved proposal from Stryker and to simultaneously contact other potential acquirers to see if another party would be willing to offer more for the business than Stryker. Mr. Stewart subsequently informed Mr. Lauria that Patient Safety was not prepared to accept the indication of interest, but it would allow Stryker to continue conducting due diligence on Patient Safety.
On December 10, 2012, Cardinal notified Mr. Stewart by email that it was exercising its right of first negotiation. In response to Cardinal’s notice, Patient Safety provided Cardinal with due diligence materials. Cardinal did not make an offer for Patient Safety, and the right of first negotiation expired pursuant to the terms of the supply and distribution agreement.
In early February 2013, Mr. Stewart notified representatives of Stryker that Patient Safety intended to hire a financial advisor to represent Patient Safety in connection with Patient Safety’s exploration of strategic transactions, including a potential sale of the Company. During this time, Patient Safety’s management team continued to provide due diligence materials and engage in discussions with representatives of Stryker, including an in person meeting in San Diego, California on March 5, 2013.
On May 7, 2013, the Patient Safety board approved, and Patient Safety entered into, an engagement letter with BofA Merrill Lynch to represent Patient Safety as financial advisor in connection with its exploration of strategic alternatives.
On May 10, 2013, at a regularly scheduled telephonic meeting, Mr. Stewart updated the Patient Safety board on continued discussions and diligence conducted by Stryker. Management also reviewed the Company’s strategic alternatives. The Patient Safety board discussed potential strategic transactions, including a sale of the business to Stryker, and authorized management to initiate a process to explore selling the business.
Over the following weeks, Patient Safety’s management team and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins prepared a summary fact sheet to provide to all potential acquirors contacted by BofA Merrill Lynch at the instruction of the Patient Safety board and a full confidential information memorandum for any potential acquirors that signed a non-disclosure agreement.
On June 4, 2013, the Patient Safety board held a special telephonic meeting, together with members of management and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins LLP. During the meeting, representatives of Latham & Watkins reviewed the fiduciary duties of the Patient Safety board in connection with its review of strategic alternatives and the sale process generally. Representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed with the Patient Safety board a financial analysis of Patient Safety, as well a summary of potential acquirors.
At the direction of Patient Safety, on June 5, 2013, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch began contacting potential acquirors of Patient Safety. In total, BofA Merrill Lynch contacted 22 potential strategic acquirors, six of whom, including Stryker, subsequently signed a non-disclosure agreement and received the confidential information memorandum regarding Patient Safety’s business.
On June 14, 2013, Stryker and Patient Safety executed a revised non-disclosure agreement, which amended and restated the non-disclosure agreement executed by the parties in August 2012 to provide for additional confidentiality obligations and impose an 18-month, standstill obligation that would terminate automatically if Patient Safety entered into or publicly announced a business combination with a third party.
On June 26, 2013, BofA Merrill Lynch, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, sent a process letter to each of Stryker, Company A, Company B, Company C and Company D outlining the procedures for submission of preliminary, nonbinding indications of interest for the acquisition of all of Patient Safety’s outstanding common stock and common stock equivalents and inviting them to submit these indications of interest by July 26, 2013.
On July 16, 2013, Company D informed BofA Merrill Lynch it was withdrawing from the process without ever submitting an indication of interest.
On July 23, 2013, Company B provided a verbal indication of interest in acquiring Patient Safety. As instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch discussed the process with representatives of Company B. Later that day, Company A contacted BofA Merrill Lynch and indicated it needed more time to review a strategic transaction with Patient Safety.
On July 24, 2013, representatives of Patient Safety met with representatives of Company C at Patient Safety’s headquarters in Irvine, California to discuss Patient Safety’s business.
On July 24, 2013, Stryker submitted to BofA Merrill Lynch a preliminary, non-binding indication of interest to acquire Patient Safety based on an enterprise value of Patient Safety (debt-free, cash-free and with a normal level of working capital) of $110 million, subject to negotiation of definitive transaction documents, customary due diligence and approval by Stryker’s board of directors. At this point, Stryker indicated it could provide only an estimate of the offer price per share of Common Stock implied by its proposed enterprise valuation, which estimate was $2.95 per share of Common Stock. The indication of interest referenced an incorrect number of fully diluted shares of Patient Safety stock.
On July 25, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch requested of representatives of Stryker that they revise its indication of interest to include a definitive per share purchase price and base their indication of interest on the correct number of shares.
On July 26, 2013, in response to the request by BofA Merrill Lynch, Stryker submitted a revised preliminary, non-binding indication of interest to acquire Patient Safety based on an enterprise valuation of $115 million, subject to negotiation of definitive transaction documents, customary due diligence and approval by Stryker’s board of directors. The indication of interest estimated that this would result in an offer price of $2.25 per share of Common Stock. The indication of interest again referenced an incorrect number of fully diluted shares of Patient Safety stock.
On July 30, 2013, Company C informed BofA Merrill Lynch it was withdrawing from the process without ever submitting an indication of interest.
On August 2, 2013, the Patient Safety board held a special telephonic meeting, together with members of management and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins. Mr. Stewart updated the Patient Safety board on the process to explore strategic alternatives, including the most recent indication of interest received from Stryker and the verbal indication of interest from Company B. Representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch provided a financial presentation regarding the indication of interest. At the direction of the Patient Safety Board, following the meeting, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch informed Company B that the verbal indication was insufficient to move forward in the process.
On August 6, 2013, the Patient Safety board held a special telephonic meeting, together with members of management and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins. Mr. Stewart and BofA Merrill Lynch updated the Patient Safety board on the process to explore strategic alternatives. The Patient Safety board directed management to continue to move forward to explore a potential transaction with Stryker.
Over the following weeks, Stryker continued to conduct diligence, and on August 29, 2013, Patient Safety held a management presentation with representatives of Stryker at Stryker’s headquarters in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
On August 16, 2013, Company A informed BofA Merrill Lynch it was withdrawing from the process without ever submitting an indication of interest.
On September 3, 2013, Mr. Stewart received an inbound inquiry from Company E about the potential sale of Patient Safety and communicated the inquiry to BofA Merrill Lynch. As instructed by the Patient Safety board, BofA Merrill Lynch sent Company E a non-disclosure agreement, which Company E never signed. On September 11, 2013, Company E indicated to BofA Merrill Lynch that it would not participate in the process.
On September 6, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, BofA Merrill Lynch sent a process letter to Stryker outlining the procedures for submission of firm and final proposal for the acquisition of all of Patient Safety’s equity interest and inviting Stryker to submit its proposal by October 11, 2013. The process letter indicated that Stryker shall have received all corporate approvals and completed all due diligence prior to the submission of the final proposal.
On September 27, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch sent a draft of the merger agreement by email to Stryker, requesting that Stryker provide any proposed revisions to the merger agreement and a final offer by October 11, 2013. As instructed by the Patient Safety board, BofA Merrill Lynch indicated in its email that the final offer should specify a definitive per share purchase price and include a statement that all required corporate approvals had been obtained.
On September 30, 2013, Mr. Stewart notified Cardinal that the right of first negotiation granted to Cardinal under Patient Safety’s supply and distribution agreement with Cardinal had again been triggered. Cardinal did not express an interest in negotiating a transaction with Patient Safety and the right of negotiation expired.
On October 8, 2013, Mr. Stewart met with certain members of Stryker’s management for dinner in Irvine, California.
On October 11, 2013, Stryker submitted to BofA Merrill Lynch a revised non-binding proposal to acquire Patient Safety based on an enterprise valuation of $115 million, along with a mark-up of the merger agreement prepared by Covington & Burling LLP (“Covington”), counsel to Stryker. Stryker’s proposal indicated that it estimated the valuation would result in an offer price of approximately $2.28 per share of Common Stock, assuming the Company had 50,535,000 shares of common stock and common stock equivalents on a fully diluted basis. The proposal was subject to the completion of remaining diligence, negotiation of transaction documents and approval by Stryker’s board of directors, which Stryker anticipated could be completed within 15 days of Stryker being designated the “winning bidder.” The proposal also assumed that holders of 40% of Patient Safety’s shares would enter into a customary voting and support agreement concurrently with delivery of the definitive documents.
On October 14, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch had a call with representatives of Stryker in which they requested Stryker submit a revised proposal with a definitive offer price per share rather than an enterprise valuation.
On October 16, 2013, Stryker submitted to BofA Merrill Lynch a revised non-binding proposal to acquire Patient Safety based on an enterprise value of $115 million. Stryker revised its previous bid to provide further information regarding its calculation of the estimated offer price per share, which was revised to $2.25 per share of Common Stock assuming a targeted cash balance. As instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch spoke by telephone with representatives of Stryker and requested that Stryker clarify certain adjustments referenced in the proposal and submit a revised bid with a definitive offer price per share.
On October 17, 2013, the Patient Safety Board had a special telephonic meeting, together with members of management and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins. Representatives of Latham & Watkins again reviewed the fiduciary duties of the Patient Safety board. Mr. Stewart and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch provided an update on their discussions with Stryker and discussed the most recent proposal received from Stryker. Mr. Stewart informed the Patient Safety board that he expected Stryker to submit a revised proposal, at which time the Patient Safety board would reconvene.
On October 18, 2013, Stryker submitted to BofA Merrill Lynch a revised non-binding proposal to acquire Patient Safety, which indicated that it would acquire the outstanding shares of capital stock of Patient Safety based on an offer price of $2.25 per share of Common Stock. The proposal continued to provide that it was subject to the completion of remaining diligence, negotiation of transaction documents and approval by Stryker’s board of directors, which Stryker continued to anticipate would be completed within 15 days of being designated the “winning bidder.”
On October 19, 2013, the Patient Safety board held a special telephonic meeting, together with members of management and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins. Mr. Stewart and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch provided an update regarding their discussions with Stryker. Mr. Stewart and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins reviewed the history of negotiations with Stryker and the terms of the proposal by Stryker and discussed the value of accepting Stryker’s proposal and moving to complete the transaction documents quickly. Representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch then provided an updated financial presentation regarding the revised proposal from Stryker, and representatives of Latham & Watkins reviewed the material provisions of Stryker’s mark-up of the draft merger agreement. Following extensive discussions, the Patient Safety board authorized management to negotiate a merger agreement with Stryker at a price of $2.25 per share of Common Stock.
On October 20, 2013, Latham & Watkins advised Covington that Patient Safety was willing to seek voting agreements only from members of the Patient Safety board.
On October 21, 2013, Covington sent a draft of the voting agreement to Latham & Watkins.
Later on October 21, 2013, representatives of Stryker contacted representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and indicated that, in the course of Stryker’s diligence of Patient Safety, Stryker had identified certain patents held by ClearCount Medical Solutions, Inc. (“ClearCount”) that Stryker believed for a variety of reasons would be beneficial to have certain rights to after the proposed acquisition, such benefits including the reduced likelihood of future litigation and broadened freedom to operate. Stryker indicated that it was conditioning its acquisition of Patient Safety on Patient Safety’s resolution of Stryker’s future litigation and freedom to operate concerns through the prior acquisition of the business, certain intellectual property or certain intellectual property rights of ClearCount.
On October 23, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch informed Stryker by telephone that Patient Safety had been aware of the ClearCount intellectual property for some time, and disagreed that an acquisition of ClearCount’s intellectual property rights should be treated as a condition precedent to a transaction with Stryker, and furthermore, strongly disagreed that these intellectual property rights had an impact on Stryker’s freedom to operate Patient Safety’s business. Further, they reminded Stryker that Patient Safety had an extensive portfolio of intellectual property and was confident in its ability to use that intellectual property to secure a cross-license to ClearCount intellectual property if needed. As instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch also pointed out to Stryker that the acquisition of the business or intellectual property of ClearCount was likely to cause significant delays in the transaction. Stryker indicated that resolution of the ClearCount issue was critical to Stryker’s interest in acquiring Patient Safety. Mr. Stewart agreed to approach ClearCount to discuss a potential transaction.
On October 28 and October 29, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch discussed the potential structure of a transaction between Patient Safety and ClearCount with Stryker. Stryker informed BofA Merrill Lynch that Stryker would only proceed to acquire Patient Safety if Patient Safety first licensed or acquired certain patents from ClearCount, and that it was not supportive of other structures such as the outright acquisition of ClearCount. Patient Safety attempted to negotiate that Stryker would license or acquire the ClearCount intellectual property on its own, or that the ClearCount transaction would be effected after the acquisition of Patient Safety, but Stryker rejected those alternatives. Stryker agreed to consider an increase in its valuation for Patient Safety in light of the anticipated costs that Patient Safety would incur to acquire or license the ClearCount intellectual property. Patient Safety stressed to Stryker that it would not enter into an intellectual property acquisition with ClearCount until Stryker was prepared to negotiate and execute the merger agreement.
On November 7, 2013, Stryker notified BofA Merrill Lynch by email that, following a meeting of the board of directors of Stryker, Stryker was revising its offer to acquire Patient Safety to one based on a preliminary enterprise valuation of Patient Safety (debt-free and cash-free) of $120 million, assuming that Patient Safety completed its acquisition of intellectual property from ClearCount. Stryker indicated that it estimated the offer price per share of Common Stock would be $2.29.
On November 12, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch had a telephone call with Stryker to convey the details of the proposed ClearCount intellectual property acquisition and license-back. As instructed by the Patient Safety board, BofA Merrill Lynch also reminded Stryker that Stryker would need to provide a definitive price per share before the Patient Safety board could approve the acquisition.
Over the following weeks, Patient Safety continued to negotiate the intellectual property acquisition and license-back with ClearCount. These terms included an upfront payment of $2.35 million for the purchase of certain patents, a license-back to ClearCount of the purchased patents, the license of additional Patient Safety patents to ClearCount and an agreement by Patient Safety not to sue ClearCount for patent infringement under certain circumstances. Patient Safety kept Stryker fully informed on the status of these negotiations and considered Stryker’s inputs on the terms thereof. Patient Safety continued to inform Stryker that it would enter into and close the ClearCount intellectual property transaction only if Stryker entered into a definitive merger agreement with Patient Safety.
On December 16, 2013, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, BofA Merrill Lynch spoke with representatives of Stryker by telephone to discuss process and timing and to remind Stryker that Patient Safety would need a definitive price per share of Common Stock.
On December 18, 2013, Latham & Watkins submitted to Covington proposed revisions to the merger agreement markup received from Covington on October 11, 2013.
From December 20, 2013 until December 22, 2013, Stryker and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch exchanged emails in which Stryker requested, and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch, as instructed by the Patient Safety board, provided, detailed information regarding the anticipated debt and cash of Patient Safety as of closing, taking into account completion of the ClearCount transaction and payment of all transaction expenses for the ClearCount transaction and the Patient Safety acquisition. Following review of the expenses, Stryker confirmed to Mr. Stewart by email on December 23, 2013 that Stryker proposed to acquire Patient Safety at an estimated price of $2.19 per share of Common Stock rather than $2.25 per share. Mr. Stewart requested that Stryker increase the proposed price and reminded Stryker that the Patient Safety board had authorized negotiation of a transaction where Stryker would pay $2.25 per share. During this period, Latham & Watkins and Covington continued to negotiate the merger agreement.
On December 26, 2013, representatives of Stryker informed Mr. Stewart by telephone that Stryker was submitting a revised proposal to acquire Patient Safety at $2.22 per share of Common Stock.
Shortly thereafter, in the early afternoon of December 26, 2013, the Patient Safety board held a special telephonic meeting, together with members of management and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins. Mr. Stewart and BofA Merrill Lynch provided an update to the Patient Safety board concerning the revised proposal. In addition, representatives of Latham & Watkins again reviewed the fiduciary duties of the Patient Safety board and provided an update regarding the terms of the draft merger agreement, including the terms that remained subject to further negotiation. The representatives of Latham & Watkins noted that the key issues to negotiate involved closing certainty risk, particularly in light of the ClearCount intellectual property acquisition. The Patient Safety board instructed management and the Company’s legal and financial advisors to continue to work on the transactions with Stryker and ClearCount.
Following the Patient Safety board meeting, Latham & Watkins and Covington continued to negotiate the merger agreement, including provisions related to the size of the termination fee and the ability of the Patient Safety board to change its recommendation to stockholders or terminate the merger agreement to accept a superior proposal. In addition, Latham & Watkins, with input from Stryker and Covington, continued to finalize the terms of the ClearCount intellectual property acquisition. The merger agreement with Stryker and the ClearCount intellectual property acquisition agreement were finalized on December 30, 2013.
During the evening of December 30, 2013, the Patient Safety board held a special telephonic meeting attended by management and representatives of BofA Merrill Lynch and Latham & Watkins. This meeting concluded during the morning of December 31, 2013. Representatives of Latham & Watkins reviewed with the members of the Patient Safety board the terms of the proposed merger agreement with Stryker and the proposed ClearCount intellectual property acquisition agreement. Also at this meeting, BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed with the Patient Safety board its financial analysis of the Common Consideration and delivered to the Patient Safety board an oral opinion, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated December 30, 2013, to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to various assumptions and limitations described in its opinion, the Common Consideration to be received by holders of Patient Safety’s Common Stock (other than Patient Safety, Stryker, Merger Sub, their respective affiliates and holders of Dissenting Shares), was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders. Following extensive discussion, all members of the Patient Safety board determined that the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement were advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Patient Safety and its stockholders, and approved the merger agreement, the merger and the other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, in the form presented to the Patient Safety board, recommended that Patient Safety’s stockholders approve the adoption of the merger agreement and approved the ClearCount intellectual property acquisition and license-back agreement.
Following the Patient Safety board meeting, Patient Safety and ClearCount executed the intellectual property acquisition agreement and simultaneously closed that transaction. Patient Safety, Stryker and Merger Sub finalized and executed the merger agreement during the early morning of December 31, 2013. That same morning, Patient Safety announced the entry into the intellectual property acquisition and license-back agreement with ClearCount and each of Patient Safety and Stryker issued a press release announcing that they had entered into the merger agreement.
The Patient Safety board evaluated, with the assistance of its legal and financial advisors, the Merger Agreement and the Merger and unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the related transactions contemplated thereby are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of Patient Safety and its stockholders and unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and the Merger. The Patient Safety board has unanimously recommended that the stockholders of Patient Safety vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
In the course of reaching its unanimous recommendation, the Patient Safety board considered the following positive factors relating to the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the related transactions contemplated thereby, each of which the directors believed supported their decision:
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Attractive Value. The Patient Safety board considered the current and historical market prices of shares of Patient Safety’s Common Stock, including the market performance of Patient Safety’s Common Stock relative to those of other participants in Patient Safety’s industry and general market indices, and the fact that the merger consideration of $2.22 in cash per share of Common Stock represented a premium of approximately 28.8% to the average price of the Common Stock for the 90-day period ended December 26, 2013, approximately 32.7% to the average price of the Common Stock for the 60-day period ended December 26, 2013, approximately 43.4% to the average price of the Common Stock for the 30-day period ended December 26, 2013, approximately 48.1% to the volume-weighted average stock price of the Common Stock for the 30-day period ended December 26, 2013 and approximately 58.6% to the closing price of the Common Stock on December 26, 2013.
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Best Alternative for Maximizing Stockholder Value. The Patient Safety board considered that the merger consideration of $2.22 in cash per share of Common Stock was more favorable to Patient Safety’s stockholders than the potential value that might result from other alternatives reasonably available to Patient Safety, including, but not limited to, the continued operation of Patient Safety on a standalone basis, in light of a number of factors, including the following:
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the Patient Safety board’s assessment of Patient Safety’s business, assets and prospects, its competitive position and historical and projected financial performance, its short-term and long-term capital needs and the nature of the industry in which Patient Safety competes;
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the strategic and other alternatives reasonably available to Patient Safety, including the alternative of remaining a standalone public company, in light of a number of factors and the risks and uncertainty associated with those alternatives, none of which were deemed likely to result in value to Patient Safety’s stockholders that would exceed, on a present-value basis, the value of the merger consideration; and
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the course and history of the negotiations between Stryker and Patient Safety, which resulted in an increase in the merger consideration from Stryker’s initial proposal of acquiring the Company based on an estimated enterprise value (debt-free, cash-free and with a normal level of working capital) of $90 million to $100 million to the final proposal of $2.22 per share of Common Stock, which would represent an enterprise value of approximately $111.7 million, as described under “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Background of the Merger,” and that the Patient Safety board believed, based on Stryker’s positions during such negotiations, that the final merger consideration (with respect to all classes of shares of the capital stock, individually and in the aggregate) was at or very close to the maximum amount that Stryker would be willing to pay to acquire Patient Safety.
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Greater Certainty of Value. The Patient Safety board considered that the proposed merger consideration is a fixed amount payable in cash, so that the transaction provides stockholders certainty of value and liquidity for their shares, especially when viewed against the risks and uncertainties inherent in Patient Safety’s business, including the internal and external risks associated with Patient Safety’s standalone strategy, including the potential impact on Patient Safety that could result from competition with existing and new market participants, changing governmental regulation or taxation, changes affecting government and private-payor healthcare payment and reimbursement policies, unanticipated issues in complying with regulatory requirements related to Patient Safety’s current or future products or securing regulatory clearance or approvals for new products or upgrades or changes to Patient Safety’s current products, as well as the other risks and uncertainties discussed in Patient Safety’s public filings with the SEC.
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High Likelihood of Completion. The Patient Safety board considered the likelihood of completion of the Merger to be high, particularly in light of the terms of the Merger Agreement and the closing conditions, including:
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Stryker’s reputation in the medical device industry, its financial capacity to complete an acquisition of this size and its prior track record of successfully completing acquisitions;
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the absence of a financing condition in the Merger Agreement and the representation of Stryker in the Merger Agreement that it has, and as of the Effective Time will have, sufficient available funds to consummate the Merger; and
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the commitment of Stryker in the Merger Agreement to use its reasonable best efforts to make effective the Merger and to avoid or eliminate any impediment under antitrust laws that may be asserted by any governmental entity with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including a commitment to take certain specified actions to remove such impediments (subject to agreed limitations).
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Opportunity to Receive Alternative Proposals and to Terminate the Stryker Transaction in Order to Accept a Superior Proposal. The Patient Safety board considered the terms of the Merger Agreement permitting Patient Safety to receive unsolicited alternative proposals, and the other terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, including:
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Patient Safety’s right, subject to certain conditions, to respond to and negotiate unsolicited acquisition proposals made prior to the time Patient Safety’s stockholders approve the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement;
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the provision of the Merger Agreement allowing the Patient Safety board to terminate the Merger Agreement, in specified circumstances relating to a Superior Proposal or an Intervening Event, subject, in specified cases, to payment of a termination fee of $4 million, which amount the directors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances and taking into account the range of such termination fees in similar transactions, and the unlikelihood that a fee of such size would be a meaningful deterrent to alternative acquisition proposals; and
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the fact that as of , 2014 the date of this proxy statement, no person has made an unsolicited offer or proposal to acquire Patient Safety.
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Receipt of Fairness Opinion from BofA Merrill Lynch. The Patient Safety board considered the opinion of BofA Merrill Lynch, dated December 30, 2013, to the Patient Safety board as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of the date of such opinion, of the Common Consideration to be received by holders of Patient Safety Common Stock (other than Patient Safety, Stryker, Merger Sub, their respective affiliates and holders of Dissenting Shares), as more fully described below in the section entitled “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Opinion of Patient Safety’s Financial Advisor;”
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Other Factors. The Patient Safety board also considered:
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the fact that the consummation of the Merger would be subject to the adoption by the stockholders of Patient Safety, that such stockholders would be free to reject the Merger Agreement and that those holders who do not vote to adopt the Merger Agreement and who follow certain prescribed procedures are entitled to dissent from the Merger and receive the appraised fair value of their shares of capital stock, as and to the extent provided under Delaware law (provided that, the stockholders party to those certain voting agreements entered into between such stockholders and Stryker, dated December 31, 2013, must vote all of their shares of capital stock in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement);
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the fact that BofA Merrill Lynch, as directed by the Patient Safety board, approached 22 potential acquirors and that only Stryker submitted a final proposal to acquire Patient Safety, as more fully described in “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Background of the Merger;” and
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the fact that as a public company with a historically volatile stock price, Patient Safety faces continuing pressures from investors and financial analysts that may conflict with management’s long-term strategic plan, creating the risk of disruption and distraction that may reduce value for Patient Safety’s long-term stockholders.
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In the course of reaching the determinations and decisions and making the recommendation described above, the Patient Safety board also considered the following risks and potentially negative factors relating to the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby:
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that Patient Safety’s stockholders will have no ongoing equity participation in Patient Safety following the Merger, and that such stockholders will cease to participate in Patient Safety’s future earnings or growth, if any, or to benefit from increases, if any, in the value of the capital stock, and will not participate in any potential future sale of Patient Safety to a third party;
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the risks and costs to Patient Safety if the Merger does not close, including uncertainty about the effect of the proposed Merger on Patient Safety’s employees, customers, potential customers, suppliers and other parties, which may impair Patient Safety’s ability to attract, retain and motivate key personnel and could cause customers, potential customers, suppliers and others to seek to change or not enter into business relationships with Patient Safety, and the risk that the trading price of the Common Stock of Patient Safety could be materially adversely affected;
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that absent the expectation that Stryker would enter into the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the related transactions, Patient Safety would not have entered into that certain Patent Purchase and License Agreement, dated December 30, 2013, by and between the Company and ClearCount Medical Solutions, Inc.;
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the Merger Agreement’s restrictions on the conduct of Patient Safety’s business prior to the completion of the Merger, generally requiring Patient Safety to conduct its business only in the ordinary course and subject to specific limitations, which may delay or prevent Patient Safety from undertaking business opportunities that may arise pending completion of the Merger;
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the possibility that, under certain circumstances under the Merger Agreement, Patient Safety may be required to pay a termination fee of $4 million, as more fully described under “The Merger Agreement — Termination Fee;”
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the fact that the completion of the Merger would require the satisfaction of closing conditions that are not entirely within Patient Safety’s control, including that no Company Material Adverse Effect has occurred;
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the risk of incurring substantial expenses related to the Merger, including in connection with any litigation that may result from the announcement or pendency of the Merger; and
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that the receipt of cash by stockholders in exchange for shares of capital stock pursuant to the Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
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The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the Patient Safety board includes the material factors considered by the Patient Safety board. In view of the variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the Merger, the Patient Safety board did not find it practicable to, and did not, quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors considered in reaching its determination and recommendation. In addition, individual directors may have given different weights to different factors. After careful consideration, the Patient Safety board recommends that our Stockholders vote “FOR” the Merger Agreement and the Merger based upon the totality of the information it considered.
Patient Safety has retained BofA Merrill Lynch to act as Patient Safety’s financial advisor in connection with the Merger. BofA Merrill Lynch is an internationally recognized investment banking firm which is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes. Patient Safety selected BofA Merrill Lynch to act as Patient Safety’s financial advisor in connection with the Merger on the basis of BofA Merrill Lynch’s experience in transactions similar to the Merger, its reputation in the investment community and its familiarity with Patient Safety and its business.
On December 30, 2013, at a special meeting of the Patient Safety board held to evaluate the Merger, BofA Merrill Lynch delivered to the Patient Safety board an oral opinion, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated December 30, 2013, to the effect that, as of the date of the opinion and based on and subject to various assumptions and limitations described in its opinion, the Common Consideration to be received by holders of Common Stock (other than Patient Safety, Stryker, Merger Sub, their respective affiliates and holders of Dissenting Shares) was fair, from a financial point of view, to such holders.
The full text of BofA Merrill Lynch’s written opinion to the Patient Safety board, which describes, among other things, the assumptions made, procedures followed, factors considered and limitations on the review undertaken, is attached as Annex B to this proxy statement and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The following summary of BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion. BofA Merrill Lynch delivered its opinion to the Patient Safety board for the benefit and use of the Patient Safety board (in its capacity as such) in connection with and for purposes of its evaluation of the Common Consideration from a financial point of view. BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion does not address any other aspect of the Merger and no opinion or view was expressed as to the relative merits of the Merger in comparison to other strategies or transactions that might be available to Patient Safety or in which Patient Safety might engage or as to the underlying business decision of Patient Safety to proceed with or effect the Merger. BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion does not address any other aspect of the Merger, including, without limitation, any opinion or view with regard to the Preferred Consideration, and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how to vote or act in connection with the proposed Merger or any related matter.
In connection with rendering its opinion, BofA Merrill Lynch:
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reviewed certain publicly available business and financial information relating to Patient Safety;
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reviewed certain internal financial and operating information with respect to the business, operations and prospects of Patient Safety furnished to or discussed with BofA Merrill Lynch by the management of Patient Safety, including certain financial forecasts relating to Patient Safety prepared by the management of Patient Safety, referred to herein as “Patient Safety management forecasts;”
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discussed the past and current business, operations, financial condition and prospects of Patient Safety with members of senior management of Patient Safety;
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reviewed the trading history for Common Stock and a comparison of that trading history with the trading histories of other companies BofA Merrill Lynch deemed relevant;
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compared certain financial and stock market information of Patient Safety with similar information of other companies BofA Merrill Lynch deemed relevant;
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compared certain financial terms of the Merger to financial terms, to the extent publicly available, of other transactions BofA Merrill Lynch deemed relevant;
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considered the results of BofA Merrill Lynch’s efforts to solicit, at the direction of Patient Safety, indications of interest and definitive proposals from third parties with respect to a possible acquisition of Patient Safety;
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reviewed a draft of the Merger Agreement, referred to herein as the “Draft Agreement;” and
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performed such other analyses and studies and considered such other information and factors as BofA Merrill Lynch deemed appropriate.
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In arriving at its opinion, BofA Merrill Lynch assumed and relied upon, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of the financial and other information and data publicly available or provided to or otherwise reviewed by or discussed with it and relied upon the assurances of the management of Patient Safety that it was not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make such information or data inaccurate or misleading in any material respect. With respect to the Patient Safety management forecasts, BofA Merrill Lynch was advised by Patient Safety, and assumed, that they were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and good faith judgments of the management of Patient Safety as to the future financial performance of Patient Safety. BofA Merrill Lynch did not make or was not provided with any independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of Patient Safety, nor did it make any physical inspection of the properties or assets of Patient Safety. BofA Merrill Lynch did not evaluate the solvency or fair value of Patient Safety, Stryker or Merger Sub under any state, federal or other laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. BofA Merrill Lynch assumed, at the direction of Patient Safety, that the Merger would be consummated in accordance with its terms, without waiver, modification or amendment of any material term, condition or agreement and that, in the course of obtaining the necessary governmental, regulatory and other approvals, consents, releases and waivers for the Merger, no delay, limitation, restriction or condition, including any divestiture requirements or amendments or modifications, would be imposed that would have an adverse effect on Patient Safety or the contemplated benefits of the Merger. BofA Merrill Lynch also assumed, at the direction of Patient Safety, that the final executed Merger Agreement would not differ in any material respect from the Draft Agreement reviewed by BofA Merrill Lynch.
BofA Merrill Lynch expressed no view or opinion as to any terms or other aspects of the Merger (other than the Common Consideration to the extent expressly specified in its opinion), including, without limitation, the form or structure of the Merger. BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion was limited to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Common Consideration to be received by the holders of Common Stock (other than Patient Safety, Stryker, Merger Sub, their respective affiliates and holders of Dissenting Shares) and no opinion or view was expressed with respect to any consideration received in connection with the Merger by the holders of any other class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of any party, including, without limitation, any opinion or view with respect to the consideration to be received by holders of Patient Safety preferred stock. In addition, no opinion or view was expressed with respect to the fairness (financial or otherwise) of the amount, nature or any other aspect of any compensation to any of the officers, directors or employees of any party to the Merger, or class of such persons, relative to the Common Consideration. Furthermore, no opinion or view was expressed as to the relative merits of the Merger in comparison to other strategies or transactions that might be available to Patient Safety or in which Patient Safety might engage or as to the underlying business decision of Patient Safety to proceed with or effect the Merger. BofA Merrill Lynch did not express any opinion as to the prices at which Common Stock would trade at any time, including following announcement or consummation of the Merger. In addition, BofA Merrill Lynch expressed no opinion or recommendation as to how any stockholder should vote or act in connection with the Merger or any related matter. Except as described above, Patient Safety imposed no other limitations on the investigations made or procedures followed by BofA Merrill Lynch in rendering its opinion.
BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion was necessarily based on financial, economic, monetary, market and other conditions and circumstances as in effect on, and the information made available to BofA Merrill Lynch as of, the date of its opinion. It should be understood that subsequent developments may affect its opinion, and BofA Merrill Lynch does not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its opinion. The issuance of BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion was approved by BofA Merrill Lynch’s Americas Fairness Opinion Review Committee.
The following represents a brief summary of the material financial analyses presented by BofA Merrill Lynch to the Patient Safety board in connection with its opinion. The financial analyses summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand the financial analyses performed by BofA Merrill Lynch, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses performed by BofA Merrill Lynch. Considering the data set forth in the tables below without considering the full narrative description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the financial analyses performed by BofA Merrill Lynch.
Patient Safety Financial Analyses.
Selected Publicly Traded Companies Analysis. BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed publicly available financial and stock market information for Patient Safety and the following 10 publicly traded companies in the medical device industry:
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Baxano Surgical, Inc.
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Cantel Medical Corp.
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LeMaitre Vascular, Inc.
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Masimo Corporation
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Merit Medical Systems, Inc.
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Natus Medical Inc.
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The Spectranetics Corporation
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STERIS Corp.
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Vascular Solutions Inc.
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Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.
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BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed, among other things, enterprise values of the selected publicly traded companies (calculated as equity values based on closing stock prices on December 26, 2013, plus debt, preferred equity and minority interest, less cash and marketable securities) as a multiple of calendar years 2013 and 2014 estimated revenue. Based upon its professional judgment and experience and after taking into consideration, among other things, the observed data for the selected publicly traded companies and for Patient Safety, BofA Merrill Lynch then applied calendar year 2013 estimated revenue multiples of 2.50x to 3.50x derived from the selected publicly traded companies to Patient Safety’s calendar year 2013 estimated revenue and applied calendar year 2014 revenue multiples of 2.00x to 3.00x derived from the selected publicly traded companies to Patient Safety’s calendar year 2014 estimated revenue. Estimated financial data of the selected publicly traded companies were based on publicly available research analysts’ estimates, and estimated financial data of Patient Safety were based on the Patient Safety management forecasts. This analysis indicated the following approximate implied per share equity value reference ranges for Patient Safety (rounded to the nearest $0.10 per share), as compared to the Common Consideration:
Implied Per Share Equity Value Reference Ranges for Patient Safety
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Common Consideration
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2013E Revenue
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2014E Revenue
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$1.20 - $1.60
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$1.40 - $2.00
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$2.22
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No company used in this analysis is identical or directly comparable to Patient Safety. Accordingly, an evaluation of the results of this analysis is not entirely mathematical. Rather, this analysis involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the public trading or other values of the companies to which Patient Safety was compared.
Selected Precedent Transactions Analysis. BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed, to the extent publicly available, financial information relating to the following 17 selected transactions involving companies in the medical device industry:
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· December, 2013
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· Covidien plc
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· Given Imaging Ltd.
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· October, 2013
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· Teleflex Incorporated
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· Vidacare Corporation
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· September, 2013
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· C. R. Bard, Inc.
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· Rochester Medical Inc.
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· December, 2011
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· Baxter International Inc.
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· Synovis Life Technologies, Inc.
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· October, 2011
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· Getinge Group
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· Atrium Medical Inc.
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· August, 2011
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· Stryker Corporation
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· Concentric Medical, Inc.
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· July, 2011
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· Medtronic, Inc.
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· Salient Surgical Technologies, Inc.
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· July, 2011
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· Medtronic, Inc.
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· PEAK Surgical, Inc.
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· May, 2011
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· Shire plc
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· Advanced BioHealing, Inc.
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· May, 2011
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· Stryker Corporation
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· Orthovita, Inc.
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· July, 2010
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· Johnson & Johnson
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· Micrus Endovascular Corporation
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· June, 2010
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· Covidien plc
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· Somanetics Corporation
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· May, 2010
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· C. R. Bard, Inc.
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· SenoRx, Inc.
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· April, 2010
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· Medtronic, Inc.
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· ATS Medical, Inc.
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· March, 2010
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· Baxter International Inc.
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· ApaTech Limited
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· May, 2009
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· Covidien plc
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· VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc.
|
· December, 2008
|
|
· St. Jude Medical, Inc.
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|
· Radi Medical Systems AB
|
BofA Merrill Lynch reviewed transaction values, calculated as the enterprise value implied for the target company based on the consideration payable in the selected transaction, as a multiple of the target company’s one-year forward and two-year forward estimated sales. Based upon its professional judgment and experience and after taking into consideration, among other things, the observed data for the selected transactions and for Patient Safety, BofA Merrill Lynch then applied one-year forward and two-year forward revenue multiples of 3.00x to 4.00x and 2.50x to 3.50x, respectively, derived from the selected transactions to Patient Safety’s calendar year 2013 estimated revenue and calendar year 2014 estimated revenue. Estimated financial data of the selected transactions were based on publicly available information at the time of announcement of the relevant transaction. Estimated financial data of Patient Safety were based on the Patient Safety management forecasts. This analysis indicated the following approximate implied per share equity value reference ranges for Patient Safety (rounded to the nearest $0.10 per share), as compared to the Common Consideration:
Implied Per Share Equity Value Reference Ranges for Patient Safety
|
|
Common Consideration
|
2013E Revenue
|
|
2014E Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$1.40 - $1.80
|
|
$1.70 - $2.30
|
|
$2.22
|
No company, business or transaction used in this analysis is identical or directly comparable to Patient Safety or the Merger. Accordingly, an evaluation of the results of this analysis is not entirely mathematical. Rather, this analysis involves complex considerations and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the acquisition or other values of the companies, business segments or transactions to which Patient Safety and the Merger were compared.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. BofA Merrill Lynch performed a discounted cash flow analysis of Patient Safety to calculate the estimated present value of the standalone unlevered, after-tax free cash flows that Patient Safety was forecasted to generate during Patient Safety’s fiscal years 2014 through 2017 based on the Patient Safety management forecasts. BofA Merrill Lynch calculated terminal values for Patient Safety by applying a range of perpetuity growth rates of 3.0% to 4.0% (which range was selected based on BofA Merrill Lynch’s professional judgment and experience and after taking into consideration, among other things, the observed data for the selected publicly traded companies and for Patient Safety) to the calendar year 2017 estimated standalone unlevered, after-tax free cash flows that Patient Safety was forecasted to generate. BofA Merrill Lynch also calculated the estimated present value of the federal net operating losses (“NOLs”) forecasted to be available to Patient Safety on a standalone basis during fiscal years 2014 through 2029. In calculating the estimated present value of the NOLs, BofA Merrill Lynch relied on the Patient Safety management forecasts and the analysis of Patient Safety’s independent tax advisor. The cash flows, terminal values and NOLs were then discounted to present value as of December 31, 2013 using discount rates ranging from 17.5% to 19.5%, which were based on an estimate of Patient Safety’s weighted average cost of capital. This analysis indicated the following approximate implied per share equity value reference ranges for Patient Safety (rounded to the nearest $0.10 per share), as compared to the Common Consideration:
Implied Per Share Equity Value
Reference Range for Patient Safety
(not including estimated per share present value of NOLs)
|
|
Implied Per Share Equity Value
Reference Range for Patient Safety
(including estimated per share present value of NOLs)1
|
|
Common Consideration |
|
|
|
|
|
$1.60 - $2.00
|
|
$1.60 - $2.12
|
|
$2.22
|
(1) The additional $0.12 represents the midpoint of the range of estimated per share present value of the NOLs calculated by BofA Merrill Lynch.
Other Factors.
In rendering its opinion, BofA Merrill Lynch also reviewed and considered other factors, including:
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·
|
a publicly available research analyst report for Patient Safety;
|
|
·
|
the 58.6% implied premium of the Common Consideration to Patient Safety’s common stock price at the close of trading on December 26, 2013 of $1.40 and the 48.1% implied premium of the Common Consideration to the 30-day volume weighted average price of Patient Safety’s common stock of $1.50; and
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|
·
|
the implied transaction multiples of calendar year 2013 and 2014 estimated revenue of Patient Safety based on the Patient Safety management forecasts and the publicly available analyst report for Patient Safety.
|
Miscellaneous
As noted above, the discussion set forth above is a summary of the material financial analyses presented by BofA Merrill Lynch to the Patient Safety board in connection with its opinion and is not a comprehensive description of all analyses undertaken by BofA Merrill Lynch in connection with its opinion. The preparation of a financial opinion is a complex analytical process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances and, therefore, a financial opinion is not readily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. BofA Merrill Lynch believes that its analyses summarized above must be considered as a whole. BofA Merrill Lynch further believes that selecting portions of its analyses and the factors considered or focusing on information presented in tabular format, without considering all analyses and factors or the narrative description of the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying BofA Merrill Lynch’s analyses and opinion. The fact that any specific analysis has been referred to in the summary above is not meant to indicate that such analysis was given greater weight than any other analysis referred to in the summary.
In performing its analyses, BofA Merrill Lynch considered industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Patient Safety and Stryker. The estimates of the future performance of Patient Safety and Stryker in or underlying BofA Merrill Lynch’s analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those estimates or those suggested by BofA Merrill Lynch’s analyses. These analyses were prepared solely as part of BofA Merrill Lynch’s analysis of the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Common Consideration and were provided to the Patient Safety board in connection with the delivery of BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion. The analyses do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which a company might actually be sold or the prices at which any securities have traded or may trade at any time in the future. Accordingly, the estimates used in, and the ranges of valuations resulting from, any particular analysis described above are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty and should not be taken to be BofA Merrill Lynch’s view of the actual values of Patient Safety, Merger Sub or Stryker.
The type and amount of consideration payable in the Merger was determined through negotiations between Patient Safety and Stryker, rather than by any financial advisor, and was approved by the Patient Safety board. The decision to enter into the Merger Agreement was solely that of the Patient Safety board. As described above, BofA Merrill Lynch’s opinion and analyses were only one of many factors considered by the Patient Safety board in its evaluation of the proposed Merger and should not be viewed as determinative of the views of the Patient Safety board or management with respect to the Merger or the Common Consideration.
Patient Safety has agreed to pay BofA Merrill Lynch for its services in connection with the Merger an aggregate fee currently estimated to be approximately $2.4 million, $750,000 of which was payable upon rendering its opinion and the remainder of which is contingent upon the completion of the Merger. Patient Safety also has agreed to reimburse BofA Merrill Lynch for its expenses incurred in connection with BofA Merrill Lynch’s engagement and to indemnify BofA Merrill Lynch, any controlling person of BofA Merrill Lynch and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the federal securities laws.
BofA Merrill Lynch and its affiliates comprise a full service securities firm and commercial bank engaged in securities, commodities and derivatives trading, foreign exchange and other brokerage activities, and principal investing as well as providing investment, corporate and private banking, asset and investment management, financing and financial advisory services and other commercial services and products to a wide range of companies, governments and individuals. In the ordinary course of their businesses, BofA Merrill Lynch and its affiliates invest on a principal basis or on behalf of customers or manage funds that invest, make or hold long or short positions, finance positions or trade or otherwise effect transactions in the equity, debt or other securities or financial instruments (including derivatives, bank loans or other obligations) of Patient Safety, Stryker and certain of their respective affiliates.
BofA Merrill Lynch and its affiliates in the past have provided, currently are providing, and in the future may provide, investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services to Stryker and have received or in the future may receive compensation for the rendering of these services, including (1) having acted or acting as (i) financial advisor in connection with certain mergers and acquisitions transactions, (ii) book-running manager for various debt offerings, (iii) book-running manager, lead arranger and/or agent bank for certain credit facilities and (iv) lender under certain credit facilities and (2) having provided or providing (i) certain fixed income and foreign exchange trading services and (ii) certain treasury and management services and products. From January 1, 2011 through November 30, 2013, BofA Merrill Lynch and its affiliates received or derived, directly or indirectly, aggregate revenues of approximately $17.5 million from Stryker for commercial, corporate or investment banking services unrelated to the Merger.
Financing
The Merger is not conditioned upon receipt of financing by Stryker. We understand that Stryker expects to use cash on hand and other funds available to it to fund the acquisition of the Company.
In considering the recommendation of the Patient Safety board that you vote to adopt the Merger Agreement, you should be aware that aside from their interests as stockholders of the Company, the Company’s directors and executive officers may have interests in the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, those of other stockholders of the Company generally. Members of the Patient Safety board were aware of and considered these interests, among other matters, in evaluating and negotiating the Merger Agreement and the Merger, and in recommending to the stockholders of the Company that the Merger Agreement be adopted. See the section entitled “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Background of the Merger” and the section entitled “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Patient Safety Board of Directors.” The Company’s stockholders should take these interests into account in deciding whether to vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. These interests are described in more detail below, and certain of them are quantified in the narrative and the table below.
Treatment of Company Equity Awards
Under the Merger Agreement, the Company’s equity-based awards held by the Company’s directors and executive officers as of the Effective Time will be treated at the Effective Time as follows:
Options. Fifteen days prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding, unvested and unexercised option to purchase shares of Common Stock will become immediately vested and exercisable in full, and with respect to each option to purchase shares of Common Stock that is outstanding and unexercised immediately before the Effective Time, all such options will be canceled and converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive an amount in cash (subject to any applicable withholding taxes) equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the total number of shares of Common Stock for which such Company option remains outstanding and unexercised prior to the Effective Time and (b) the excess (if any) of the Common Consideration over the exercise price of such Company option.
Restricted Stock. Each award of shares of restricted common stock that is outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will, as of the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Common Consideration (subject to any applicable withholding taxes).
Quantification of Payments. For an estimate of the amounts that would be payable to each of the Company’s named executive officers, who are the Company’s sole executive officers, on settlement of their unvested equity-based awards, see “— Quantification of Payments and Benefits to the Company’s Named Executive Officers” on page 39. We estimate that there would be no aggregate amount that would be payable to the Company’s four non-employee directors for their unvested equity-based awards due to the Merger.
The following table sets forth, for each of our directors and executive officers holding stock options as of January 20, 2014, the aggregate number of shares of Company common stock subject to vested or unvested options that have a per share exercise price lower than the merger consideration and the aggregate amount payable in the Merger with respect to such stock options. None of our directors or executive officers hold restricted stock.
|
|
Vested Stock Options
|
|
Unvested Stock Options
|
|
Name
|
|
Company
Shares
|
|
Value
|
|
Company
Shares
|
|
Value
|
|
Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian E. Stewart
|
|
1,869,346
|
|
$
|
2,635,305
|
|
230,654
|
|
$
|
306,695
|
|
David C. Dreyer
|
|
411,112
|
|
$
|
582,772
|
|
138,888
|
|
$
|
180,728
|
|
Non-Employee Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John P. Francis
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Louis Glazer, M.D. Ph.G.
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Lynne Silverstein
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Wenchen Lin
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
-
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Employment Agreements
Each of the Company’s executive officers, including all of the named executive officers, are party to employment agreements that provide for severance benefits in the event of a termination of employment by the Company without cause, or by the executive officer for good reason (a “qualifying termination”).
In consideration of the payments and benefits under their employment agreements, each executive officer who is party to an employment agreement is restricted from soliciting the Company’s employees for a specified period of time after termination of employment, and all of the executive officers are prohibited from disclosing the Company’s confidential information.
Brian E. Stewart
The employment agreement with Brian E. Stewart, our President and Chief Executive Officer, provides that if Mr. Stewart is terminated by us with or without “cause,” including for “disability,” or if he resigns for any reason, including “good reason” (each as defined in the agreement), then upon compliance with customary post-employment conditions, such as non-solicitation of employees or independent contractors for one year following the date of termination and non-disclosure covenants, he will be entitled, in addition to typical earned but unpaid compensation and benefits, to: (i) 12 months of his annual base salary then in effect and (ii) monthly payments equal to the cost of COBRA coverage for him (and if applicable his spouse and dependents) until the earlier of his becoming an employee of another entity and the 12 month anniversary of his termination or resignation. Mr. Stewart is required to execute a release of claims against the Company in order to receive the severance payments.
Additionally, pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Stewart is entitled to receive a sale bonus equal to his current annual salary upon a change of control. The effectuation of the Merger will trigger Mr. Stewart’s receipt of such a sale bonus to be made post-closing of the Merger but no later than 5 days after the closing date.
If any payment or benefit Mr. Stewart would receive from the Company is subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code, such payments or benefits will be reduced to either (i) the largest portion of the payment that would result in no portion of the payment being subject to the excise tax or (ii) the largest portion of the payment, up to and including the total payment, whichever amount, after taking into account all taxes, including the excise tax, results in Mr. Stewart’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of payment.
David C. Dreyer
The employment agreement with David C. Dreyer, our Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, provides that if Mr. Dreyer is terminated by us without “cause” or if he resigns for “good reason” (each as defined in the agreement), then upon his compliance with customary post-employment conditions, such as non-solicitation of employees or independent contractors for one year following the date of termination and non-disclosure covenants, he will be entitled, in addition to typical earned but unpaid compensation and benefits, to: (i) six (6) months of severance payments based on his annual base salary at such time paid in equal installments and (ii) continued medical and welfare benefits and continued vesting of his stock options for the time period for which he is entitled to payment described in subsection (i).
Quantification of Payments
For an estimate of the value of the payments and benefits described above that would be payable to each of the Company’s named executive officers, who are the Company’s sole executive officers, see “— Quantification of Payments and Benefits to the Company’s Named Executive Officers” on page 39.
New Arrangements with Stryker
After the approval and announcement of the Merger, Stryker extended offers of employment to certain employees of the Company, including the Company’s executive officers.
Brian E. Stewart
Mr. Stewart entered into an offer letter with Stryker, dated January 17, 2014, pursuant to which he will become the General Manager of the Company after the completion of the Merger. The offer letter provides that Mr. Stewart’s employment with Stryker will be at-will with an annual base salary of $247,200. Mr. Stewart will also be eligible to participate in Stryker’s standard employee benefit plans. Mr. Stewart will also be eligible for an annual target bonus of 25% of his annual base salary for the year in which the consummation of the Merger occurs, subject to his continued employment through the end of such year; however, any bonus earned will be pro-rated for the portion of the applicable year that occurs following the Merger to the extent that Mr. Stewart received any bonus payments from the Company with respect to the portion of such year that occurred prior to the Merger. Mr. Stewart is also eligible to earn a cash bonus in the amount of $247,200 if he continues employment with Stryker through the one (1) year anniversary date of the Merger. If Stryker terminates his employment for reasons other than for Cause (as defined in his offer letter) prior to the one (1) year anniversary date of the Merger, Stryker shall pay the retention bonus in accordance with Stryker’s normal practices. Further, for 18 months following the first day of employment with Stryker, any termination of employment with Stryker will be governed by the termination provisions of Mr. Stewart’s employment agreement with the Company as described in “Employment Agreements — Brian E. Stewart” above; after the 18 month anniversary, any termination of employment with Stryker will be governed under Stryker’s executive plans and practices.
David C. Dreyer
Mr. Dreyer entered into an offer letter with Stryker, dated January 17, 2014, pursuant to which he will become the Chief Financial Officer of the Company after the completion of the Merger. The offer letter provides that Mr. Dreyer’s employment with Stryker will be at-will with an annual base salary of $247,200. Mr. Dreyer will also be eligible to participate in Stryker’s standard employee benefit plans. Mr. Dreyer will also be eligible for an annual target bonus of 25% of his annual base salary for the year in which the consummation of the Merger occurs, subject to his continued employment through the end of such year; however, any bonus earned will be pro-rated for the portion of the applicable year that occurs following the Merger to the extent that Mr. Dreyer received any bonus payments from the Company with respect to the portion of such year that occurred prior to the Merger. Mr. Dreyer is also eligible to earn a cash bonus in the amount of $100,000 if he continues employment with Stryker through the six (6) month anniversary date of the Merger. If Stryker terminates his employment for reasons other than for Cause (as defined in his offer letter) prior to the six (6) month anniversary date of the Merger, Stryker shall pay the retention bonus in accordance with Stryker’s normal practices. Further, for the one (1) year period following the first day of employment with Stryker, any termination of employment with Stryker will be governed by the termination provisions of Mr. Dreyer’s employment agreement with the Company as described in “Employment Agreements — David C. Dreyer” above; after the one (1) year anniversary, any termination of employment with Stryker will be governed under Stryker’s executive plans and practices.
Indemnification and Insurance
The Company is party to indemnification agreements with each of its directors and executive officers that require the Company, among other things, to indemnify the directors and executive officers against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company’s directors and executive officers will be entitled to certain ongoing indemnification from the surviving corporation and coverage under directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies for acts or omissions occurring before the Effective Time. Such indemnification and insurance coverage is further described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement — Other Covenants and Agreements — Indemnification of Directors and Officers; Insurance” beginning on page 56.
The table below sets forth the amount of payments and benefits that each of the Company’s named executive officers would receive in connection with the Merger, assuming that the Merger is completed and each such executive officer experiences a qualifying termination on January 20, 2014.
Golden Parachute Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Perquisites/
Benefits ($)(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brian E. Stewart
|
|
|
480,000 |
|
|
|
2,942,000 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
23,482 |
|
|
|
247,200 |
|
3,692,682 |
|
David C. Dreyer
|
|
|
120,000 |
|
|
|
763,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,741 |
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
995,241 |
|
(1)
|
Pursuant to each named executive officer’s employment agreement, upon a termination without cause or for good reason, Mr. Stewart is eligible to receive 12 months of his annual base salary paid in equal installments and Mr. Dreyer is eligible to receive six (6) months of his annual base salary paid in equal installments. All such payments are “double-trigger.” Further, pursuant to the employment agreement, Mr. Stewart is entitled to receive a sale bonus equal to his current annual salary upon a change of control.
|
(2)
|
As described above, all unvested equity-based awards held by the Company’s named executive officers will become vested and will be settled for the merger consideration upon the consummation of the Merger (i.e., “single-trigger” vesting).
|
(3)
|
The amounts above include the estimated value of health plan premiums for each named executive officer and his or her eligible dependents (a) in the case of Mr. Stewart, for twelve months following termination of employment and (b) in the case of Mr. Dreyer, for six months following termination of employment. All such benefits are “double-trigger.”
|
(4)
|
Pursuant to the terms of his offer letter with Stryker, Mr. Stewart is eligible to earn a cash bonus in the amount of $247,200 if he continues employment with Stryker through the one (1) year anniversary date of the Merger; however, in the event Stryker terminates his employment for reasons other than for Cause (as defined in his offer letter) prior to the one (1) year anniversary date of the Merger, Stryker shall pay the retention bonus in accordance with Stryker’s normal practices.
|
|
Pursuant to the terms of his offer letter with Stryker, Mr. Dreyer is eligible to earn a cash bonus in the amount of $100,000 if he continues employment with Stryker through the six (6) month anniversary date of the Merger; however, in the event Stryker terminates his employment for reasons other than for Cause (as defined in his offer letter) prior to the six (6) month anniversary date of the Merger, Stryker shall pay the retention bonus in accordance with Stryker’s normal practices.
|
The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger to U.S. holders (as defined below) of capital stock whose shares are exchanged for cash pursuant to the Merger. This discussion does not address U.S. federal income tax consequences with respect to non-U.S. holders. This discussion is based on the provisions of the Code, applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations, judicial opinions, and administrative rulings and published positions of the Internal Revenue Service, each as in effect as of the date hereof. These authorities are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, and any such change could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth in this discussion. This discussion does not address any tax consequences arising under the unearned income Medicare contribution tax pursuant to the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, nor does it address any tax considerations under state, local or foreign laws or U.S. federal laws other than those pertaining to the U.S. federal income tax. This discussion is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts and therefore could be subject to challenge, which could be sustained. No ruling is intended to be sought from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to the Merger.
For purposes of this discussion, the term “U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of capital stock that is:
|
·
|
a citizen or individual resident of the United States;
|
|
·
|
a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia;
|
|
·
|
a trust if (1) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust’s administration, and one or more U.S. persons are authorized to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) such trust has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person; or
|
|
·
|
an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source.
|
This discussion applies only to U.S. holders of shares of capital stock who hold such shares as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). Further, this discussion does not purport to consider all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a U.S. holder in light of its particular circumstances, or that may apply to a U.S. holder that is subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax laws (including, for example, insurance companies, dealers or brokers in securities or foreign currencies, traders in securities who elect the mark-to-market method of accounting, holders subject to the alternative minimum tax, U.S. holders that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, tax-exempt organizations, banks and certain other financial institutions, mutual funds, certain expatriates, partnerships, S corporations, or other pass-through entities or investors in partnerships or such other entities, U.S. holders who hold shares of capital stock as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction, U.S. holders who will hold, directly or indirectly, an equity interest in the surviving corporation, and U.S. holders who acquired their shares of Common Stock through the exercise of employee stock options or other compensation arrangements).
If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) holds shares of capital stock, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend on the status of the partners and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding shares of capital stock, you should consult your tax advisor.
This summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences is for general information purposes only and is not tax advice. Holders of capital stock are urged to consult their own tax advisors to determine the particular tax consequences to them of the Merger, including the applicability and effect of the alternative minimum tax, and any state, local, foreign or other tax laws.
The receipt of cash by U.S. holders in exchange for shares of capital stock pursuant to the Merger will be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In general, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. holder who receives cash in exchange for shares of capital stock pursuant to the Merger will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between (1) the amount of cash received and (2) the U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in such shares.
If a U.S. holder’s holding period in the shares of capital stock surrendered in the Merger is greater than one year as of the date of the Merger, the gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss. Long-term capital gains of certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, are generally subject to U.S. federal income tax at preferential rates. The deductibility of a capital loss recognized on the exchange is subject to limitations. If a U.S. holder acquired different blocks of capital stock at different times and different prices, such U.S. holder must determine its adjusted tax basis and holding period separately with respect to each block of capital stock.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Payments made in exchange for shares of capital stock pursuant to the Merger may be subject, under certain circumstances, to information reporting and backup withholding (currently at a rate of 28%). To avoid backup withholding, a U.S. holder that does not otherwise establish an exemption should complete and return Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, certifying that such U.S. holder is a U.S. person, that the taxpayer identification number provided is correct, and that such U.S. holder is not subject to backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that such holder furnishes the required information to the Internal Revenue Service in a timely manner.
Antitrust Approval in the United States
Under the HSR Act and related rules, certain transactions, including the Merger, may not be completed until notifications have been given and information furnished to the Antitrust Division and the FTC and all statutory waiting period requirements have been satisfied. On January 22, 2014 both the Company and Stryker filed their respective Notification and Report Forms with the Antitrust Division and the FTC. If early termination is not granted or if the Company and Stryker do not receive from the Antitrust Division or the FTC a Request for Additional Information and Documentary Material (referred to as a “Second Request”), the waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the proposed Merger will expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on February 21, 2014. If the Company and Stryker receive a Second Request, the waiting period under the HSR Act will be extended until 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 30th day after both the Company and Stryker have certified their substantial compliance with the Second Request (or the next business day if the 30th day is a weekend or U.S. federal holiday), unless earlier terminated by the Antitrust Division or the FTC.
At any time before or after the expiration of the statutory waiting periods under the HSR Act, or before or after the Effective Time, the Antitrust Division or the FTC may take action under the antitrust laws, including seeking to enjoin the completion of the Merger, to rescind the Merger or to conditionally permit completion of the Merger subject to regulatory conditions or other remedies. In addition, U.S. state attorneys general could take action under the antitrust laws as they deem necessary or desirable in the public interest, including, without limitation, seeking to enjoin the completion of the Merger or permitting completion subject to regulatory conditions. Private parties may also seek to take legal action under the antitrust laws under some circumstances. Although neither the Company nor Stryker believes that the Merger will violate federal antitrust laws, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Merger on antitrust grounds will not be made or, if such a challenge is made, that it would not be successful.
On January 13, 2014, a purported stockholder of Patient Safety filed a putative class action on behalf of an alleged class of Patient Safety stockholders in the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, captioned Hofman v. Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., et al., Case No. 30-2014-00698513-CU-SL-CXC. The complaint names as defendants Patient Safety, the Patient Safety board, Stryker and Merger Sub, and alleges that the Patient Safety board breached its fiduciary duties to Patient Safety’s stockholders, and that the Merger involves an unfair price, an inadequate sales process and unreasonable deal protection devices that purportedly preclude competing offers. The complaint further alleges that Patient Safety, Stryker and Merger Sub aided and abetted those alleged breaches of duty. The complaint seeks injunctive relief, including enjoining or rescinding the Merger and an award of other unspecified attorneys’ and other fees and costs, in addition to other relief. Patient Safety and Stryker management believe that these actions have no merit and intend to defend vigorously against them.
If the Merger is completed, the Common Stock of the Company will cease trading on the OTCBB and the OTCQB and will be deregistered under the Exchange Act. As such, we would no longer file periodic reports with the SEC.
THE MERGER AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A and which is incorporated by reference into this proxy statement. This summary may not contain all of the information about the Merger Agreement that is important to you. We encourage you to read carefully the Merger Agreement in its entirety, as the rights and obligations of the parties thereto are governed by the express terms of the Merger Agreement and not by this summary or any other information contained in this proxy statement.
Explanatory Note Regarding the Merger Agreement
The following summary of the Merger Agreement, and the copy of the Merger Agreement attached as Annex A to this proxy statement, are intended to provide information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement and are not intended to provide any factual information about the Company or modify or supplement any factual disclosures about the Company in its public reports filed with the SEC. In particular, the Merger Agreement and the related summary are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, disclosures regarding any facts and circumstances relating to the Company. The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties by the Company, Stryker and Merger Sub which were made only for purposes of that agreement and as of specified dates. The representations, warranties and covenants in the Merger Agreement were made solely for the benefit of the parties to the Merger Agreement, may be subject to limitations agreed upon by the contracting parties, including being qualified by confidential disclosures made for the purposes of allocating contractual risk between the parties to the Merger Agreement instead of establishing these matters as facts, and may apply contractual standards of materiality or material adverse effect that generally differ from those applicable to investors. In addition, information concerning the subject matter of the representations, warranties and covenants may change after the date of the Merger Agreement, which subsequent information may or may not be fully reflected in the Company’s public disclosures. Investors are not third-party beneficiaries under the Merger Agreement and should not rely on the representations, warranties and covenants or any descriptions thereof as characterizations of the actual state of facts or condition of the parties thereto or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. Moreover, the description of the Merger Agreement below does not purport to describe all of the terms of such agreement and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex A and is incorporated herein by reference.
Additional information about the Company may be found elsewhere in this proxy statement and the Company’s other public filings. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”
Structure of the Merger; Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws; Directors and Officers
At the Effective Time (as defined below), Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease. The Company will survive and will continue its corporate existence as a Delaware corporation after the Merger. At the Effective Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Company will be amended in its entirety as set forth in Annex II of the Merger Agreement and will be the certificate of incorporation of the surviving corporation until thereafter amended. At the Effective Time, the bylaws of the Company will be amended in their entirety as set forth in Annex III of the Merger Agreement and will be the bylaws of the surviving corporation until thereafter amended. The directors of Merger Sub immediately before the Effective Time will be the initial directors of, and the officers of Merger Sub immediately before the Effective Time will be the initial officers of, the surviving corporation and, in each case, will hold office until their respective successors are duly elected, designated or qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the surviving corporation’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws.
The closing of the Merger will take place at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 650 Town Center Drive, 20th Floor, Costa Mesa, California, 92626, on the second business day after the satisfaction or waiver of the last of the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement are satisfied or waived (other than any such conditions that by their nature will be satisfied by action taken at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing), unless another date or place is agreed to in writing by the Company and Stryker (the “Closing”). The date on which the Closing actually takes place is referred to as the “Closing Date.”
The Merger will become effective on the date and time the certificate of Merger is duly filed with, and accepted by, the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, which the parties will cause to be filed at the Closing, or such other date and time as is agreed upon by the parties and specified in the certificate of Merger.
Effect of the Merger on the Company’s Shares
At the Effective Time, each share of Company common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Common Stock held by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub and other than dissenting shares) will be converted into the right to receive $2.22 in cash, without interest, but subject to any applicable withholding taxes (the “Common Consideration”). From and after the Effective Time, all such Common Stock will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled and will cease to exist, and each holder of a share of Common Stock will cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Common Consideration without interest thereon.
At the Effective Time, each share of Company Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Series A Preferred Stock held by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub and other than dissenting shares) will be converted into the right to receive $100.00 in cash, subject to any applicable withholding taxes (the “Series A Preferred Consideration”). From and after the Effective Time, all such Series A Preferred Stock will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled and will cease to exist, and each holder of a share of Series A Preferred Stock will cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Series A Preferred Consideration without interest thereon.
At the Effective Time, each share of Company Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock,” and together with the Series A Preferred Stock and the Common Stock, the “Capital Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than Series B Preferred Stock held by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub and other than dissenting shares) will be converted into the right to receive $296.00 in cash, subject to any applicable withholding taxes (the “Series B Preferred Consideration,” and together with the Series A Preferred Consideration, the “Preferred Consideration,” and together with the Common Consideration, the “merger consideration”). From and after the Effective Time, all such Series B Preferred Stock will no longer be outstanding and will automatically be cancelled and will cease to exist, and each holder of a share of Series B Preferred Stock will cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Series B Preferred Consideration without interest thereon.
At the Effective Time, any shares of Common Stock that are owned by the Company, Stryker or Merger Sub (but not any shares owned by any of their respective subsidiaries) will be cancelled and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in exchange for such shares.
The applicable merger consideration will be adjusted appropriately to reflect the effect of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into capital stock), cash dividend, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or other similar change with respect to capital stock occurring on or after the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to the Effective Time.
Under the Merger Agreement, the Company’s equity awards that are outstanding as of the Effective Time will be treated at the Effective Time as follows:
Options. Fifteen days prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding, unvested and unexercised option to purchase shares of Common Stock will become immediately vested and exercisable in full, and with respect to each option to purchase shares of Common Stock that is outstanding and unexercised immediately before the Effective Time, all such options will be canceled and converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive an amount in cash (subject to any applicable withholding taxes) equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the total number of shares of Common Stock for which such Company option remains outstanding and unexercised prior to the Effective Time and (b) the excess (if any) of the Common Consideration over the exercise price of such Company option.
Restricted Stock. Each award of shares of restricted common stock that is outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will, as of the Effective Time, become fully vested and be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the applicable amount of the Common Consideration (subject to any applicable withholding taxes).
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, except for the Company warrants listed on Schedule 2.6 of the Merger Agreement, each unexercised Company warrant that was outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will no longer be exercisable for any capital stock of the surviving corporation, but will be exercisable solely for the Common Consideration, if any, that would have been payable to the holders thereof if such holders had exercised such Company warrants immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Payment for Common Stock, Company Equity Awards and Warrants in the Merger
Prior to or at the Effective Time, Stryker or Merger Sub will deposit, or cause to be deposited, with a paying agent cash in an amount sufficient to pay the aggregate merger consideration required to be paid under the Merger Agreement (the “Exchange Fund”). In the event the Exchange Fund is insufficient to make the payments contemplated under the Merger Agreement, Stryker will, or will cause Merger Sub to, deposit additional funds with the paying agent in an amount which is equal to the deficiency in the amount required to make such payment. As promptly as practicable after the Effective Time (but in no event later than three business days after the Effective Time), Stryker will, and will cause the surviving corporation to, cause the paying agent to mail (and make available for collection by hand) to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares (the “Certificates”) or non-certificated shares represented by book-entry (“Book-Entry Shares”) and whose shares were converted into the right to receive the applicable merger consideration (i) a letter of transmittal, which will specify that delivery will be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates will pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) to the paying agent and will be in a form reasonably specified by Stryker and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of the Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) or Book-Entry Shares in exchange for payment of the applicable merger consideration and for submitting Form W-9 or the appropriate series of Form W-8. Upon surrender of a Certificate (or an affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) or a Book-Entry Share for cancellation to the paying agent or to such other agent or agents reasonably acceptable to the Company as may be appointed by Stryker or the surviving corporation, together with such letter of transmittal duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions thereto, and such other documents as may be required pursuant to such instructions, the holder of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share will be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the applicable merger consideration for each applicable share formerly represented by such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, to be mailed (or made available for collection by hand if elected by the surrendering holder) within five business days following the later to occur of (i) the Effective Time or (ii) the paying agent’s receipt of such Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) or such Book-Entry Share, and the Certificate (or affidavit of loss in lieu thereof) or the Book-Entry Share so surrendered will be cancelled. The paying agent will accept such Certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) or such Book-Entry Shares upon compliance with such reasonable terms and conditions as the paying agent may impose to effect an orderly exchange in accordance with normal exchange practices.
Representations and Warranties
The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of each of the Company, Stryker and Merger Sub, subject to certain exceptions in the Merger Agreement and the disclosure schedules delivered in connection with the Merger Agreement, as to, among other things:
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corporate organization, existence, good standing and authority to carry on its business as presently conducted;
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corporate power and authority to enter into the Merger Agreement, to perform its obligations thereunder and to complete the Transactions;
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required regulatory filings or actions and authorizations, consents or approvals of governmental entities and other persons;
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the absence of certain violations, defaults or consent requirements under certain contracts, organizational documents and law, in each case arising out of the execution, delivery or performance of, consummation of the Transactions, or compliance with any of the provisions of the Merger Agreement;
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the absence of certain litigation, orders and judgments and governmental proceedings and investigations related to Stryker and its subsidiaries or the Company;
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matters relating to information to be included in required filings with the SEC in connection with the Merger; and
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the absence of any fees owed to investment bankers or brokers in connection with the Merger, other than those specified in the Merger Agreement.
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The Merger Agreement also contains representations and warranties of the Company, subject to certain exceptions in the Merger Agreement and the disclosure schedules delivered in connection with the Merger Agreement, as to, among other things:
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the capitalization of the Company, including the absence of: (1) indebtedness having general voting rights; (2) outstanding options, warrants, calls, pre-emptive rights, subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any kind, including any stockholder rights plan relating to the issued or unissued capital stock of the Company, obligating the Company or any Company subsidiary to issue, transfer or sell (or cause to be issued, transferred or sold) any shares of capital stock or voting debt of, or other equity interest in (or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or equity interest in), the Company or any Company subsidiary; and (3) outstanding contractual obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares or any capital stock of, or other equity interest in, the Company or any Company subsidiary, or to provide funds to make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in the Company or any Company subsidiary;
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the absence of: any voting trusts or other agreements to which the Company or any Company subsidiary is a party with respect to the voting of the Company’s shares, capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any Company subsidiary, and the absence of any pre-emptive rights, anti-dilutive rights or rights of first refusal or similar rights with respect to any of its capital stock or other equity interests;
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the Company’s ownership of all shares of capital stock and equity interests of each Company subsidiary free and clear of all liens, pre-emptive rights and other obligations and being duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
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the absence of: direct or indirect ownership of equity interests in any person (except for interests in the Company subsidiaries) or obligations to acquire any such equity interest or to provide funds to or make any investment in any such person by the Company or any Company subsidiary;
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the absence of: outstanding obligations of the Company or any Company subsidiary restricting the transfer of or limiting the exercise of voting rights with respect to any equity interests in any Company subsidiary;
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the full payment of all dividends or distributions on securities of the Company that have been declared or authorized;
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the corporate actions required to be taken, and taken before the execution of the Merger Agreement, by the Company;
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the timeliness and accuracy of the Company’s filings with the SEC and of financial statements included in the SEC filings, and the compliance of filings and financial statements with SEC rules and (in the case of financial statements) with United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the applicable rules and regulations of the OTCBB and the OTCQB;
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the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting;
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the absence of certain changes since December 31, 2012, including the conduct of business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice;
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the absence of undisclosed liabilities of the Company;
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the Company’s employee benefit plans and other agreements with its employees;
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labor matters related to the Company;
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the payment of taxes, the filing of tax returns and other tax matters related to the Company;
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material contracts, customers and suppliers of the Company;
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real property leased by the Company and encumbrances;
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environmental matters and compliance with environmental laws by the Company and the Company subsidiaries;
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(1) the ownership of or rights with respect to the Company’s intellectual property, (2) the noninfringement by the Company of the intellectual property of third parties, (3) the steps taken to protect the Company’s trade secrets and other proprietary information, (4) the absence of certain litigation with respect to intellectual property, (5) the authority or ownership of intellectual property necessary to conduct the business of the Company as conducted prior to the Effective Time, (6) the maintenance and preservation of the Company’s intellectual property and (7) the absence of open source code or intellectual property subject to open source licenses or obligations within the Company’s material intellectual property; compliance with laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, regulations of the United States Food and Drug Administration, and possession of necessary permits, licenses and other authorizations by the Company;
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compliance with certain federal health care program laws;
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the receipt by the Patient Safety board of an opinion of BofA Merrill Lynch as to the fairness of the Common Consideration;
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insurance policies of the Company;
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the absence of related party transactions; and
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the absence of applicable anti-takeover laws.
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The Merger Agreement also contains representations and warranties of Stryker and Merger Sub, subject to certain exceptions in the Merger Agreement and the disclosure schedules delivered in connection with the Merger Agreement, as to, among other things:
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the absence during the last three years of any ownership by Stryker or Merger Sub, or any of their respective affiliates of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock;
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the availability to Stryker of sufficient funds to complete the Merger and to pay all fees and expenses incurred by Stryker, Merger Sub and the Company in connection with the Merger and the Transactions at both the date of the Merger Agreement and at the Effective Time;
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Stryker’s ownership (beneficially and of record) of all outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub; and
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the absence of any previous conduct of business by Merger Sub other than in connection with the Transactions.
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Some of the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement are qualified by materiality qualifications or a “Company Material Adverse Effect” clause. For purposes of the Merger Agreement, a “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any change, effect, development, circumstance, condition, state of facts, event or occurrence that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business or results of operations of the Company and the Company subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided however, that no effects resulting from the following will be deemed to constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect:
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conditions (or changes therein) in any industry or industries in which the Company operates;
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general legal, tax, economic, political and/or regulatory conditions (or changes therein), including any changes affecting financial, credit or capital market conditions and any generally applicable change in law or GAAP or interpretation of any law or GAAP;
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conditions arising out of acts of terrorism or sabotage, war (whether or not declared), the commencement, continuation or escalation of war, acts of armed hostility, weather conditions or other force majeure events, including any material worsening of such conditions threatened or existing as of the date of the Merger Agreement;
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the public announcement or pendency of the Merger or the Transactions or the identity of Stryker (including, without limitation, any legal proceeding related thereto);
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changes in the Common Stock price or the trading volume of the Common Stock, in and of itself (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such changes that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of a “Company Material Adverse Effect” may be taken into account);
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any failure by the Company to meet any published analyst estimates or expectations of the Company’s revenue, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations for any period, in and of itself, or any failure by the Company to meet its internal budgets, plans or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations, in and of itself (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of a “Company Material Adverse Effect” may be taken into account); and
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certain items referenced in the disclosure schedule;
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except, in the cases of the first, second and third bullets above, to the extent the Company is disproportionately affected thereby in relation to other companies in the medical device industry.
Conduct of Business Pending the Merger
The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to certain exceptions in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company in connection with the Merger Agreement, and except as may be expressly provided by the Merger Agreement, required by law or as consented to by Stryker in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement to the Effective Time (or the date, if any, on which the Merger Agreement is terminated), the Company, (i) will, and will cause the Company subsidiaries to, conduct its business in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) will use its commercially reasonable efforts to preserve the business organization of the Company and the Company subsidiaries intact and to maintain the existing relations and goodwill of the Company and the Company subsidiaries with governmental entities, customers, suppliers, distributors, employees and others having material business relationships with the Company and the Company subsidiaries and (iii) will not, and will not permit any Company subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, take the following actions:
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amend its certificate of incorporation or bylaws or equivalent organizational documents;
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create any subsidiaries;
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split, combine, subdivide or reclassify any Capital Stock;
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declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution with respect to the Capital Stock;
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redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire equity interests (other than (i) from holders of Company options or Company warrants in full or partial payment of any exercise price and any applicable taxes payable by such holder upon the exercise of such Company options or Company warrants or (ii) from holders of restricted shares in full or partial payment of any purchase price and any applicable taxes payable by such holder upon the lapse of restrictions on the restricted shares);
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issue, sell, pledge, deliver, transfer, dispose of or encumber any shares of its Capital Stock;
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acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) equity interests of any business, or division of any business, with a fair market value in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate, or any real estate;
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transfer, lease, license, sell, mortgage, pledge, dispose of, or encumber any of its material assets other than in the ordinary course consistent and with past practice;
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except for standard terms extended to customers in the ordinary course of business, (i) incur or assume any long-term or short-term indebtedness, (ii) assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable for the obligations of any third party (that is not the Company or a Company subsidiary) for borrowed money, (iii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to any third parties or (iv) cancel any material indebtedness or waive any claims or rights of substantial value;
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except for the exceptions listed in the Merger Agreement or as required by applicable law of any Company benefit plan in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement, increase the compensation or benefits payable to its officers, directors, employees, agents or consultants;
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negotiate, enter into, extend, amend or terminate any employment or similar agreement, except in the ordinary course of business to fill a vacant position by reason of the termination of employment of an employee or in connection with a new plan year (with the consent of Stryker, which may not be unreasonably withheld in the case of such action proposed to be taken in the ordinary course of business);
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make or forgive loans or advances to any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or consultants (other than making loans pursuant to the terms of any Company benefits plans in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement) or change its existing borrowing or lending arrangements for or on behalf of any such persons pursuant to a Company employee benefit plan or otherwise;
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accelerate any payment of benefits to any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or consultants;
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waive, release or condition any noncompete, nonsolicit, nondisclosure, confidentiality or other restrictive covenant owed to the Company or any Company subsidiary;
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hire any employee except with the consent of Stryker (which will not be unreasonably withheld in the case of such action proposed to be taken in the ordinary course of business to fill a vacant or soon-to-be vacant position by reason of the termination of employment of an employee) or terminate other than for cause the employment of any employee;
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except with respect to the purchase of hardware for customer installations in the ordinary course of business, make or incur any capital expenditures or any obligations or liabilities in excess of $50,000 in the aggregate,
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enter into any agreement restricting the Company or any Company subsidiary (or upon the Effective Time, Stryker or its subsidiaries or any of its or their successors) from competition in any line of business or in any geographic area;
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transfer, assign, license, abandon, permit to lapse, or dispose of or take any actions reasonably expected to impair any of the Company’s intellectual property, or disclose trade secrets, know-how or confidential or proprietary information to any third party (other than customary licenses to intellectual property granted to end users or third party manufacturers or service providers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice);
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change accounting methods used by it materially affecting its assets, liabilities or business (except for changes required by GAAP, applicable laws or any governmental entity);
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make any material tax election, file any amended tax return, change any annual tax accounting period, enter into any closing agreement of any material tax claim or assessment or settle or surrender any claim for a material tax refund;
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settle, compromise or otherwise resolve in whole or in part any litigation, suits, actual, potential or threatened claim, investigation, proceeding or other similar action, which settlement, compromise or other resolution would individually or in the aggregate result in (i) amounts payable to or by the Company or any Company subsidiary in excess of $50,000 (net of insurance proceeds) in the aggregate, (ii) any relief that is adverse to the Company, other than the payment by the Company or any Company subsidiary of an amount in cash, including debarment, corporate integrity agreements, any undertaking restricting the operations of the business of the Company or any Company subsidiary or the granting of licenses, deferred prosecution agreements, consent decrees, plea agreements or mandatory or permissive exclusion, seizure or detention of product, or notification, repair or replacement; or (iii) any other administrative action brought by, or civil settlements with, (A) the FDA or the United States Department of Justice arising under federal health care laws or comparable applicable laws; or (B) any foreign governmental entity arising under applicable laws comparable to the laws described in clause (A);
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except in the ordinary course of business, enter into, materially modify, amend, waive or terminate any material contract;
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adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization (other than the Merger);
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enter into, amend or cancel any insurance policies (other than (i) in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice or (ii) with respect to obtaining directors’ and officers’ liability insurance as required by the Merger Agreement);
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adopt or enter into a stockholder rights agreement or “poison pill;” or
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enter into any agreement, contract, commitment or arrangement to do any or authorize in writing the taking of any of the above actions.
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Other Covenants and Agreements
Access and Information
Subject to certain exceptions and limitations, the Company (upon reasonable prior notice) must afford the officers, and a reasonable number of the employees and authorized representatives of Stryker and Merger Sub reasonable access, during normal business hours, to its contracts, books, records, analysis, projections, plans, systems, senior management, commitments, offices and other facilities and properties.
From and after the date of the Merger Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or the date, if any, on which the Merger Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees that it will not (and will not permit its subsidiaries to), and that it will use its reasonable best efforts to cause its representatives not to, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly facilitate or encourage the submission of any Competing Proposal (as defined below), (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in any negotiations regarding, or furnish to any third party any information relating to the Company in connection with a Competing Proposal, (iii) engage in discussions with any third party with respect to any Competing Proposal, (iv) approve or recommend, or propose publicly to approve or recommend, any Competing Proposal, (v) withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, or otherwise propose publicly to withdraw, change, amend, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Stryker or Merger Sub, or otherwise make any statement or proposal inconsistent with, the Patient Safety board’s recommendation concerning the Merger, (vi) enter into any letter of intent or similar document or any agreement or commitment providing for any Competing Proposal, or (vii) resolve, propose or agree to do any of the foregoing (any act described in clauses (iv), (v) and (vi) above, a “Change of Recommendation”). The Company agrees that it will immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing discussions, negotiations and communications, if any, with any third parties with respect to any Competing Proposal and request that any such third party (and its representatives) in possession of confidential information about the Company return or destroy all such information promptly, subject to contractual retention rights of any such third party.
Notwithstanding the limitations in the preceding paragraph, if the Company receives at any time following the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to the adoption of the Merger Agreement through the Stockholder Vote an unsolicited, bona fide written Competing Proposal (a “Valid Alternate Proposal”) which (i) constitutes a Superior Proposal (as defined below) or (ii) the Patient Safety board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s outside legal and financial advisors, would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal, the Company may take the following actions prior to the adoption of the Merger Agreement through the Stockholder Vote (the “Required Stockholder Approval”): (x) furnish nonpublic information to the third party making such Competing Proposal, (provided such third party has executed an acceptable confidentiality agreement and (y) engage in discussions or negotiations with such third party with respect to such Competing Proposal. As promptly as reasonably practicable following the Company taking such actions as described in clauses (x) and (y) above, the Company will (A) provide written notice to Stryker of such Superior Proposal or the determination of the Patient Safety board as provided for in clause (ii) above, as applicable, and (B) provide to Stryker any material non-public information concerning the Company provided to such third party which was not previously provided to Stryker substantially concurrently with the time such information is provided to such third party, effective as of the Company’s taking any action described in clauses (x) or (y) above.
The Company will promptly (and in any event within 24 hours) orally and in writing notify Stryker if any inquiries, proposals or offers are received by, any information is requested from, or any negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated or continued with, the Company or any of its Representatives, in connection with, or which could reasonably be expected to result in, a Competing Proposal. Such notice will identify the name of the third party making such inquiry, proposal or request or seeking such negotiations or discussions and the material terms and conditions of such inquiry, proposal or request and include copies of all written materials provided to the Company or any of its representatives that describe any terms and conditions of any inquiry, proposal or request (and any subsequent changes to such terms and conditions). The Company will keep Stryker reasonably informed on a reasonably current basis (and in any event within 24 hours) of any material developments, discussions or negotiations regarding any Competing Proposals or any material change to the financial or other terms of any such Competing Proposal.
Notwithstanding the limitations set forth in the Merger Agreement, prior to the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Required Stockholder Approval, the Patient Safety board may, solely in response to an Intervening Event, effect a Change of Recommendation if the Patient Safety board has concluded in good faith after consultation with the Company’s outside legal and financial advisors that the failure of the Patient Safety board to effect a Change of Recommendation would be reasonably likely to be inconsistent with the exercise of the fiduciary duties of the Patient Safety board to the Company’s stockholders under applicable law; provided, however, that the Patient Safety board will not be entitled to effect such a Change of Recommendation until three full business days following delivery of written notice to Stryker from the Company advising Stryker that the Patient Safety board intends to effect such a Change of Recommendation and specifying the reasons therefor, which notice shall include a description of the applicable Intervening Event. In determining whether to make such a Change of Recommendation in response to an Intervening Event, the Patient Safety board will take into account any proposals made by Stryker to amend the terms of the Merger Agreement and will not make such a Change of Recommendation unless, prior to the effectiveness of such Change of Recommendation, Patient Safety board, after considering the results of any such negotiations and any revised proposals made by Stryker, concludes that the Patient Safety board continues to meet the requirements set forth in the Merger Agreement to make such a Change of Recommendation.
If the Patient Safety board concludes after consultation with the Company’s outside legal and financial advisors that a Valid Alternate Proposal received by the Company after the date of the Merger Agreement constitutes a Superior Proposal, then the Patient Safety board may, prior to the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Required Stockholder Approval, cause the Company to (i) make a Change of Recommendation or (ii) concurrently enter into a binding written agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal and terminate the Merger Agreement.
Neither the Company nor the Patient Safety board may take any of the actions described in the preceding paragraphs or terminate the Merger Agreement, in each case, unless (i) the Company complied in all material respects with its requirements in the preceding paragraphs, (ii) the Company gave Stryker and Merger Sub prompt written notice advising them of the decision of the Patient Safety board to take such action, detailing the terms and conditions of the Competing Proposal that serves as the basis of such action, the identity of the third party making the proposal, a copy of the proposed definitive agreement for such Superior Proposal and any related agreements in the form to be entered into (a “Superior Proposal Notice”) and (iii) (A) the Company gave Stryker and Merger Sub three full business days after delivery of a Superior Proposal Notice to propose revisions to the terms of the Merger Agreement and/or the related transactions (and/or make any other proposals) and during such time will have negotiated and caused its Representatives to negotiate (if Stryker and Merger Sub have notified the Company that they desire to negotiate), confidentially and in good faith with Stryker and Merger Sub so as to have such Competing Proposal cease to qualify as a Superior Proposal (it being understood and agreed that, in the event of an amendment to the terms of such Superior Proposal, the Patient Safety board will not be entitled to make a Change of Recommendation or terminate the Merger Agreement based on such Superior Proposal, as so amended, until three full business days following delivery to Stryker of a Superior Proposal Notice with respect to such Superior Proposal, as so amended) and (B) the Patient Safety board will have concluded, after consultation with its outside financial and legal advisors and considering the results of such negotiations and giving effect to any proposals, amendments or modifications offered by Stryker and Merger Sub, that such Competing Proposal nevertheless remains a Superior Proposal.
As used in the Merger Agreement, “Competing Proposal” means:
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any proposal made by a third party or group (other than a proposal or offer by Stryker or any of its subsidiaries) at any time which is structured to permit such third party or group to acquire beneficial ownership of at least 15% of the assets of, equity interest in, or businesses of, the Company (whether pursuant to a Merger, consolidation or other business combination, sale of shares of capital stock, sale of assets, tender offer or exchange offer or otherwise, including any single or multi-step transaction or series of related transactions), in each case other than the Merger.
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As used in the Merger Agreement, “Superior Proposal” means:
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a Competing Proposal for or in respect of at least 80% of the outstanding equity interests or assets of the Company, made by any person on terms that the Patient Safety board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Company’s financial and legal advisors, and considering such factors as the Patient Safety board considers to be appropriate (including the expected timing and likelihood of consummation, any governmental or other approval requirements, conditions to consummation and availability of necessary financing), are more favorable to the Company and its stockholders than the Merger and the Transactions.
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As used in the Merger Agreement, “Intervening Event” means:
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any material event, occurrence or development relating to the Company that is (a) unknown and not reasonably foreseeable to the Patient Safety board as of the date of the Merger Agreement, or if known and reasonably foreseeable to the Patient Safety board as of the date hereof, the material consequences of which were not known and reasonably foreseeable to the Patient Safety board as of the date hereof, and (b) and does not relate to (i) the Merger Agreement, the Merger or Transactions or (ii) any Competing Proposal.
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The Merger Agreement provides that nothing in the Merger Agreement will prohibit the Company or the Patient Safety board from (i) disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a position contemplated by Rules 14d-9 and 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to its stockholders if the Patient Safety board has reasonably determined in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to do so would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under any applicable law; provided, however, that (A) in no event will the preceding sentence affect the obligations discussed above and (B) any such disclosure (other than issuance by the Company of a “stop, look and listen” or similar communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act) that addresses or relates to the approval, recommendation or declaration of advisability by the Patient Safety board with respect to this Agreement or a Competing Proposal will be deemed to be a Change of Recommendation unless the Patient Safety board in connection with such communication publicly states that its recommendation with respect to the Merger Agreement has not changed or refers to the prior recommendation of the Patient Safety board, without disclosing any Change of Recommendation.
Filings and Other Actions
The Company is required to, as soon as practicable following December 31, 2013, establish a record date for, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of the stockholders of the Company for the purpose of obtaining the Required Stockholder Approval, and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such special meeting to occur as soon as reasonably practicable. Unless there has been a Change of Recommendation in compliance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, the Company is required to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement. Unless the Merger Agreement has been terminated pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company will submit the Merger Agreement to its stockholders for adoption without regard to whether the Patient Safety board has withdrawn, modified or qualified, or has publicly proposed to withdraw, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Stryker or Merger Sub, the Patient Safety board’s recommendation concerning the Merger.
Employee Matters
For a period of no less than 12 months following the Effective Time, Stryker will provide, or will cause the surviving corporation to provide, to each Company employee who continues to be employed by the Company, the surviving corporation or any of their respective subsidiaries (a “Continuing Employee”):
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a base salary rate or regular hourly wage, whichever is applicable, that is not less than the base salary rate or regular hourly wage provided to such Continuing Employee by the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time;
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bonus opportunity, sales and service incentive award compensation opportunity, in each case, at levels provided to such Continuing Employee by the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time; and
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severance and employee benefits that are in the aggregate no less favorable than those provided to similarly-situated employees of Stryker.
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As of the Effective Time and thereafter, Stryker will provide (or will cause the surviving corporation to provide) that periods of employment with the Company (or any current or former affiliate of the Company or any predecessor of the Company) will be taken into account for purposes of determining the eligibility for participation and vesting (but not for benefit accrual, except to the extent required by any applicable contract or law) of any Continuing Employee under all employee benefit plans maintained by Stryker or an affiliate of Stryker for the benefit of the Continuing Employees, including, without limitation, vacation or other paid-time-off plans or arrangements, 401(k), pension or other retirement plans and any severance or health or welfare plans.
At the Effective Time and thereafter, Stryker will use its reasonable best efforts, and will cause the surviving corporation to use its reasonable best efforts, to (i) ensure that no eligibility waiting periods, actively-at-work requirements or pre-existing condition limitations or exclusions will apply with respect to the Continuing Employees under the applicable health and welfare benefits plan of Stryker or any affiliate of Stryker (except to the extent applicable under Company benefit plans immediately prior to the Effective Time), (ii) waive any and all evidence of insurability requirements with respect to such Continuing Employees to the extent such evidence of insurability requirements were not applicable to the Continuing Employees under the Company benefits plans immediately prior to the Effective Time, and (iii) credit each Continuing Employee with all deductible payments, out-of-pocket or other co-payments paid by such employee under the health benefit plans of the Company or its affiliates prior to the Closing Date during the year in which the Closing occurs for the purpose of determining the extent to which any such employee has satisfied his or her deductible and whether he or she has reached the out-of-pocket maximum under any health benefit plan of Stryker or an affiliate of Stryker for such year; provided that Stryker’s obligations under clause (iii) will be subject to its receipt of all necessary information, from either the Company or such Continuing Employee, related to such amounts paid by such Continuing Employee. The Merger will not affect any Continuing Employee’s accrual of, or right to use, in accordance with Company policy as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, any personal, sick, vacation or other paid-time-off accrued but unused by such Continuing Employee immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Efforts to Complete the Merger
The Company, Stryker and Merger Sub will each use its reasonable best efforts to (i) take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate action, and do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under any applicable law or otherwise to consummate and make effective the Merger Agreement and Transactions as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than the Outside Date (as defined below), (ii) obtain from any governmental entities any consents, licenses, permits, waivers, clearances, approvals, authorizations, waiting period expirations or terminations, or orders required to be obtained or made by Stryker, Merger Sub or the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or avoid any action or proceeding by any governmental entity (including, without limitation, those in connection with the HSR Act and any other antitrust or competition law or regulation (the “Required Governmental Approvals”), in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of Transactions, (iii) make or cause to be made as promptly as practicable the applications or filings required to be made by Stryker, Merger Sub or the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries under or with respect to the HSR Act, any other applicable Required Governmental Approvals or any other applicable laws in connection with the authorization, execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement and the consummation of the Transactions, (iv) comply at the earliest reasonably practicable date with any request under or with respect to the HSR Act, any other Required Governmental Approvals and any such other applicable laws for additional information, documents or other materials received by Stryker or the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries from the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice or any other governmental entity in connection with such applications or filings or the Merger or the Transactions, and (v) coordinate and cooperate with, and give due consideration to all reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested by, the other party in connection with, making (A) any filing under or with respect to the HSR Act, any other Required Governmental Approvals or any such other applicable laws and (B) any filings, conferences or other submissions related to resolving any investigation or other inquiry by any such governmental entity.
Stryker will take, or cause to be taken (including by its subsidiaries), any and all steps and to make, or cause to be made (including by its subsidiaries), any and all undertakings necessary to resolve such objections, if any, that a governmental entity may assert under the HSR Act and any other antitrust or competition law or regulation with respect to the Transactions, and to avoid or eliminate any impediment under the HSR Act and any other antitrust or competition law or regulation that may be asserted by any governmental entity with respect to such Transactions, in each case, to enable the Closing to occur as promptly as practicable and in any event no later than the Outside Date, including, without limitation, (i) proposing, negotiating, committing to and effecting, by consent decree, hold separate order, or otherwise, the sale, divestiture, disposition of, lease, license or other transfer of any businesses, tangible and intangible assets, equity interests, product lines or properties of the Company, (ii) creating, terminating, or divesting relationships, ventures, contractual rights or obligations of the Company, and (iii) otherwise taking or committing to take any action that would limit Stryker’s freedom of action with respect to, or its ability to retain or hold, directly or indirectly, any businesses, tangible or intangible assets, equity interests, product lines or properties of the Company, in each case as may be required in order to obtain all expirations or terminations of waiting periods required under the HSR Act or to obtain any other Required Governmental Approvals or to avoid the commencement of any action by a governmental entity to prohibit the Transactions under the HSR Act or any other antitrust or competition law, or, in the alternative, to avoid the entry of, or to effect the dissolution of, any injunction, temporary restraining order or other order in any action or proceeding seeking to prohibit the Transactions or delay the Closing beyond the Outside Date.
To assist Stryker, the Company will enter into any agreements requested by Stryker to be entered into prior to the Closing to divest, hold separate or otherwise take any action that limits the Company’s freedom of action, ownership or control with respect to, or ability to retain or hold, directly or indirectly, any of the businesses, assets, equity interests, product lines or properties of the Company (each, a “Divestiture Action”); provided, however, that the consummation of the transactions provided for in any such agreement for a Divestiture Action (a “Divestiture Agreement”) will be conditioned upon the Closing or satisfaction of all of the conditions to Closing in a case where the Closing will occur immediately following such Divestiture Action (and where Stryker has irrevocably committed to effect the Closing immediately following such Divestiture Action). In obtaining the Required Governmental Approvals, none of Stryker or any of its Affiliates will be required to agree to or offer to sell, divest, lease, license, transfer, dispose of, or otherwise encumber or impair Stryker’s or any of its affiliates’ ability to own or operate any assets or properties of Stryker or any of its affiliates or, except as would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect, any assets or properties of the Company (provided that none of Stryker or any of its Affiliates will be required to take any such action in connection with any action or proceeding by a third party other than a governmental entity).
The Company and Stryker each will, and will cause its respective subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to the other party all information necessary for any application or other filing to be made in connection with the Transactions. The Company and Stryker will each promptly inform the other of any material communication with, and any proposed understanding, undertaking or agreement with, any governmental entity regarding any such application or filing and permit the other to review and discuss in advance. If a party to the Merger Agreement intends to independently participate in any meeting or discussion with any governmental entity in respect of any such filings, investigation or other inquiry, then such party will give the other party reasonable prior notice of such meeting and invite representatives of the other party to participate in the meeting or discussion with the governmental entity unless prohibited by such governmental entity. The parties will coordinate and cooperate with one another in connection with any analyses, appearances, presentations, memoranda, briefs, arguments, opinions and proposals made or submitted by or on behalf of any party in connection with all meetings, actions and proceedings under or relating to any such application or filing.
The Company and Stryker will give (and Stryker will cause its subsidiaries to give) any notices to third parties, and use (and Stryker will cause its subsidiaries to use) their reasonable best efforts to obtain any third-party consents necessary to consummate the Transactions; provided, however, that, in connection with obtaining such third-party consents, no payment will be made to any third party, nor will any Company agreement or contract be amended to increase the amount payable by the Company or any of its affiliates thereunder or otherwise to be more burdensome in any material respect to the Company or any of its affiliates, unless mutually agreed in writing by the Company and Stryker, except for such items as would be de minimis.
Subject to specified exceptions, if any administrative or judicial action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened) by a governmental entity challenging the Transactions as violating any applicable law, each of the Company and Merger Sub will, and will cause their respective affiliates to, cooperate and use reasonable best efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding, including any action or proceeding that seeks a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction that would prohibit, prevent or restrict consummation of the Transactions.
Stryker will vote (or act by written consent with respect to) all of the shares of capital stock of Merger Sub beneficially owned by Stryker in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement in accordance with applicable law.
The Merger Agreement requires Stryker to honor and fulfill the obligations of the Company under the Company’s governing documents and under any indemnification or other similar agreements, in effect as of the date of the Merger Agreement. In addition, for a period of six years after the Effective Time, Stryker is required to guarantee and stand surety for advancement of expenses and exculpation provisions no less favorable than those contained in the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company as set forth on the date of the Merger Agreement.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the Company must, or if the Company is unable to do so, Stryker must cause the surviving corporation to, maintain a director’s and officer’s liability insurance “tail” or “runoff” program lasting for six years after the Effective Time for wrongful acts or omissions committed or allegedly committed at or prior to the Effective Time. The coverage must have an aggregate coverage limit over the term of such policy in an amount not to exceed the annual aggregate coverage limit and must be comparable in all material respects with the Company’s policy as of the date of the Merger Agreement. However, no party is obligated to pay in excess of 300% of the annual premiums paid by the Company as of the date of the Merger Agreement for such “tail” or “runoff” policy.
If the surviving corporation fails to obtain a “tail” or “runoff” policy as required by the Merger Agreement, Stryker must maintain in effect the existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policy as of the date of the Merger Agreement for a period of six years after the Effective Time. Stryker, however, may substitute any existing policies with alternate reputable and financially sound carriers with terms and conditions no less advantageous than those of the existing policies.
Other Covenants
The Merger Agreement contains additional agreements among the Company, Stryker and Merger Sub relating to, among other matters:
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the filing of this proxy statement with the SEC and cooperation in response to any comments from the SEC with respect to this proxy statement;
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antitakeover statutes that become applicable to the Transactions;
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stockholder litigation against the Company and/or its directors or executive officers relating to the Merger and the Transactions;
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the coordination of press releases and other public announcements or filings relating to the Transactions;
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the deregistration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act;
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dispositions of Company equity securities in connection with the Transactions by each individual who may be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act;
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delivery to Stryker of resignations executed by each director and officer of the Company and the Company subsidiaries in office immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than with respect to any directors or officers identified by Stryker in writing to the Company); and
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filing and recording with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (as applicable) of the releases of liens and UCC terminations statements delivered in connection with that certain Patent Purchase and License Agreement, dated December 30, 2013, by and between the Company and ClearCount Medical Solutions, Inc.
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The obligations of the Company, Stryker and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are subject to the satisfaction at or before the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company, Stryker and Merger Sub, as the case may be, to the extent permitted by law:
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the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the required vote of the stockholders of the Company;
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(i) no law being enacted or promulgated by any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction which prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of the Merger and (ii) no order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect preventing the consummation of the Merger; and
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the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting or review period under the HSR Act and any other antitrust or competition law and any approvals, clearances or waivers required thereunder will have been obtained.
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The obligations of Stryker and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction at or before the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by Stryker and Merger Sub:
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certain representations and warranties of the Company in the Merger Agreement made with respect to organization and qualification, capitalization (except for any de minimis inaccuracy), authorizations, Patient Safety board approvals, the Required Stockholder Approval, consents and approvals and no violations must be true in all respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the Effective Time (except that any such representation or warranty that is made as of a specified date must be true and correct as of such specified date); all other representations and warranties of the Company in the Merger Agreement (without giving effect to any materiality or Company Material Adverse Effect) must be true and correct in all respects as of the date of the Merger Agreement and as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the Effective Time (except that any such representation or warranty that is made as of a specified date must be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be true and correct, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have, a Company Material Adverse Effect;
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the Company must have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations required to be performed or complied with by it under the Merger Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time;
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Stryker must have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the Company certifying that each of the conditions set forth in the preceding two bullet points have been satisfied;
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The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction at or before the Effective Time of each of the following conditions, any and all of which may be waived in whole or in part by the Company:
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the representations and warranties of Stryker and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement must be true and correct as of December 31, 2013 and as of the Effective Time as if made at and as of the Effective Time (except that any such representation or warranty that is made as of a specified date must be true and correct as of such specified date), except where the failure to be true and correct would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, to prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the Merger Agreement and the Transactions; and the Company will have received a certificate signed on behalf of Stryker by a duly authorized executive officer of Stryker to the foregoing effect;
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Stryker and Merger Sub must have performed or complied in all material respects with all obligations required to be performed or complied with by them under the Merger Agreement at or prior to the Effective Time; and
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the Company will have received a certificate signed on behalf of Stryker by a duly authorized executive officer of Stryker certifying that each of the conditions set forth in the preceding two bullet points have been satisfied.
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The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger and the Transactions may be abandoned at any time before the Effective Time, whether before or after the Company’s stockholders have adopted the Merger Agreement:
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by mutual written consent of Stryker and the Company;
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by either Stryker or the Company if:
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a final and non-appealable order or ruling has been issued by a court or other governmental entity which prohibits the Merger and the terminating party is in material compliance with its obligations related to anti-trust approval;
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the Merger is not effected by May 15, 2014 (the “Outside Date”) and the terminating party’s failure to fulfill its obligations under the Agreement is not the reason;
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the Required Stockholder Approval has not been obtained upon voting; or
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the other party has breached the Merger Agreement in a manner that (i) in the case of the Company, results in the failure of its obligations to consummate the Merger being satisfied or (ii) in the case of Stryker, would prevent or materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under the Merger Agreement, and the terminating party has delivered written notice of such breach, and such breach is not capable of being cured within 30 days of notice to the party committing such breach;
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however, the right to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to the conditions in the preceding two bullet points above will not be available to any party whose failure to fulfill any obligation under the Merger Agreement has been the cause of the failure of the condition;
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by Stryker if the Patient Safety board makes a change of recommendation to stockholders with respect to the Merger Agreement or fails to include its recommendation in the proxy statement;
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by the Company, before the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders, if the Patient Safety board decides to accept a superior proposal following certain procedures and the Company pays Stryker the termination fee described below.
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The Company must pay to Stryker a termination fee of $4 million in the event that:
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(i) the Merger Agreement is terminated by either party because it has not been effected by the Outside Date or the Required Stockholder Approval has not been obtained upon voting or by Stryker because the Company breaches any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Merger Agreement, (ii) a Competing Proposal was made and not publicly withdrawn prior to such termination, and (iii) within 12 months of the termination, a competing transaction is entered into;
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the Company terminates the Merger Agreement in order to accept a Superior Proposal; or
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the Merger Agreement is terminated by Stryker because the Patient Safety board (i) withdraws or changes its recommendation to its stockholders of the Merger Agreement or (ii) fails to include its recommendation in the proxy statement.
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Expenses
Except as provided under the termination fee provision of the Merger Agreement, whether or not the Merger or any other transaction is consummated, all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, experts and consultants to a party to the Merger Agreement and its affiliates) incurred by a party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of the Merger Agreement, the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the this proxy statement, the solicitation of stockholder and stockholder approvals, the filing of any required notices under the HSR Act or other similar regulations, any filings with the SEC and all other matters related to the closing of the Merger and the Transactions (the “Expenses”), will be paid by the party incurring such Expenses, provided that Stryker will pay all Expenses incurred in connection with (i) any filing with antitrust authorities and (ii) the paying agent.
Specific Performance
The parties to the Merger Agreement are entitled (in addition to any other remedy that they may be entitled in law, equity or otherwise) to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of the Merger Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement.
Amendments; Waiver
At any time before the Effective Time, the Merger Agreement may be amended in any and all respects, whether before or after the Required Stockholder Approval, but, after the Required Stockholder Approval has been obtained, no amendment will be made that by law requires further adoption by the stockholders of the Company without obtaining such further adoption. The Merger Agreement may not be amended, except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties thereto.
At any time before the Effective Time, any party to the Merger Agreement may (1) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties thereto, (2) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant thereto and (3) subject to the requirements of applicable law, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained therein. Any agreement to any such extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of the applicable parties.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction
The Merger Agreement is governed by, and is to be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles that would result in the application of the law of any other state. Each party to the Merger Agreement has irrevocably and unconditionally agreed to submit, for itself and its property, to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the Delaware Court of Chancery and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if (and only if) the Delaware Court of Chancery lacks subject matter jurisdiction, the Federal Court of the United States of America sitting in the State of Delaware, and appellate court therefrom) in connection with all disputes arising out of or in connection with the Merger Agreement or the Transactions or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment relating thereto, and agreed not to commence any litigation relating thereto except in such court.
ADVISORY VOTE ON NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER MERGER-RELATED COMPENSATION (PROPOSAL 2)
As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the applicable SEC rules issued thereunder, the Company is required to submit a proposal to the Company’s stockholders for a non-binding, advisory vote to approve the payment by the Company of certain compensation to the named executive officers of the Company that is based on or otherwise relates to the Merger. This proposal, commonly known as “say-on-golden parachutes,” and which we refer to as the named executive officer Merger-related compensation proposal, gives the Company’s stockholders the opportunity to vote, on a non-binding, advisory basis, on the compensation that the named executive officers may be entitled to receive from the Company that is based on or otherwise relates to the Merger. This compensation is summarized in the table under “The Merger (Proposal 1) — Quantification of Payments and Benefits to the Company's Named Executive Officers,” including the footnotes to the table.
The Patient Safety board encourages you to review carefully the named executive officer Merger-related compensation information disclosed in this proxy statement.
The Patient Safety board unanimously recommends that the Company’s stockholders approve the following resolution:
“RESOLVED, that the stockholders of Patient Safety Technologies, Inc. hereby approve, on a non-binding, advisory basis, the compensation to be paid or become payable by Patient Safety Technologies, Inc. to its named executive officers that is based on or otherwise relates to the Merger as disclosed pursuant to Item 402(t) of Regulation S-K in the Golden Parachute Compensation table and the footnotes to that table.”
The vote on the named executive officer Merger-related compensation proposal is a vote separate and apart from the vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, you may vote to adopt the Merger Agreement and vote not to approve the named executive officer Merger-related compensation proposal and vice versa. Because the vote on the named executive officer Merger-related compensation proposal is advisory only, it will not be binding on either the Company or Stryker. Accordingly, if the Merger Agreement is adopted and the Merger is completed, the compensation will be payable, subject only to the conditions applicable thereto, regardless of the outcome of the non-binding, advisory vote of the Company’s stockholders.
The above resolution approving the Merger-related compensation of the Company’s named executive officers on an advisory basis requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
The Patient Safety board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the named executive officer Merger-related compensation proposal.
VOTE ON ADJOURNMENT (PROPOSAL 3)
The Company’s stockholders are being asked to approve a proposal that will give us authority to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, if there are not sufficient votes at the time of the special meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement. If this adjournment proposal is approved, the special meeting could be adjourned by the Patient Safety board to any date. In addition, the Patient Safety board could postpone the special meeting before it commences, whether for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies or for other reasons. If the special meeting is adjourned for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies, stockholders who have already submitted their proxies will be able to revoke them at any time prior to their use. If you sign and return a proxy and do not indicate how you wish to vote on any proposal, or if you sign and return a proxy and you indicate that you wish to vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement but do not indicate a choice on the adjournment proposal, your shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock will be voted in favor of the adjournment proposal. However, if you indicate that you wish to vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, your shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock will only be voted in favor of the adjournment proposal if you indicate that you wish to vote in favor of that proposal. The Company does not intend to call a vote on this proposal if Proposal 1 is approved at the special meeting.
The vote on the adjournment proposal is a vote separate and apart from the vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, you may vote to approve the proposal to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and vote not to approve the adjournment proposal and vice versa.
Approval of the adjournment proposal requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock and Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, present in person or represented by proxy at the special meeting and entitled to vote thereon.
The Patient Safety board unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” the adjournment proposal.
MARKET PRICE OF THE COMPANY’S COMMON STOCK
Our common stock is traded on the OTCBB and the OTCQB under the symbol “PSTX.”
The following table sets forth during the periods indicated the high and low closing prices of Common Stock:
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2013
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First Quarter
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$ |
1.85 |
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$ |
1.51 |
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Second Quarter
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$ |
1.84 |
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$ |
1.40 |
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Third Quarter
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$ |
2.26 |
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$ |
1.67 |
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Fourth Quarter (through December 30, 2013)
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$ |
2.00 |
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$ |
1.38 |
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2012
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First Quarter
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$ |
1.50 |
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$ |
1.10 |
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Second Quarter
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$ |
1.86 |
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$ |
1.40 |
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Third Quarter
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$ |
1.84 |
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$ |
1.60 |
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Fourth Quarter
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$ |
1.85 |
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$ |
1.57 |
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2011
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First Quarter
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$ |
0.94 |
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$ |
0.69 |
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Second Quarter
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$ |
1.48 |
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$ |
0.85 |
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Third Quarter
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$ |
1.46 |
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$ |
0.88 |
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Fourth Quarter
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$ |
1.41 |
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$ |
1.11 |
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The closing sale price of our Common Stock on December 30, 2013, which was the last trading day before the Merger was publicly announced, was $1.48 per share. On , 2014, the most recent practicable date before this proxy statement was mailed to our stockholders, the closing price for our Common Stock was $ per share. You are encouraged to obtain current market quotations for our Common Stock in connection with voting your shares of Common Stock.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of our capital stock as of December 31, 2013, based on 38,861,508 shares of Common Stock outstanding on that date, by: (i) each director and nominee; (ii) each of our named executive officers; (iii) all of our directors, nominees, and current executive officers as a group; and (iv) each person, or group of affiliated persons, known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our capital stock. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.
Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each director, nominee and executive officer. With respect to beneficial owners of more than 5% of our capital stock, information is based on information filed with the SEC. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities. In addition, the rules require inclusion of shares of capital stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options or warrants that are either immediately exercisable or exercisable within 60 days after December 31, 2013, which is March 1, 2014. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding the options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. Except as otherwise noted below, the address for each person or entity listed in the table is c/o Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618.
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
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Shares of Common Stock Beneficially Owned
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Percentage of Common Stock Beneficially Owned
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Shares of Series A Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned
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Percentage of Series A Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned
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Current Directors
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Brian E. Stewart
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2,792,291 |
1 |
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6.8 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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John P. Francis
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3,206,840 |
2 |
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8.2 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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Louis Glazer, M.D. Ph.G.
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1,086,752 |
3 |
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2.8 |
% |
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10,750 |
4 |
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98.2 |
% |
Lynne Silverstein
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91,330 |
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* |
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— |
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* |
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Wenchen Lin
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1,100,000 |
5 |
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2.8 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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Named Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors
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David Dreyer
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637,642 |
6 |
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1.6 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (6 persons)
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8,914,855 |
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21.5 |
% |
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10,750 |
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98.2 |
% |
Other Beneficial Owners
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Kinderhook Partners, LP
2 Executive DR
Suite 585
Fort Lee, NJ 07024
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7,359,435 |
7 |
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18.9 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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Compass Global Management, Ltd.
c/o M&C Corporate Services limited
P.O. Box 309 ST, Ugland House
South Church Street, Georgetown
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
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2,600,000 |
8 |
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6.7 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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Radisson Trading Company
RM: 1502-4, Righteous Centre
585 Nathan Rock, Mongkok,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
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3,029,333 |
9 |
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7.8 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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Francis Capital Management, LLC
1453 Third St., Suite 470
Santa Monica, CA 90401
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3,206,840 |
2 |
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8.2 |
% |
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— |
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* |
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*Less than 1% of the outstanding common stock.
1 Represents (i) 859,253 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Mr. Brian E. Stewart and (ii) 1,933,038 shares of Common Stock subject to options exercisable by Mr. Brian Stewart within 60 days of December 31, 2013.
2 Represents (i) 152,640 shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Francis Capital Management, LLC, a California limited liability company (“FCM”), (ii) 1,488,864 shares of Common Stock held of record by Catalysis Partners, LLC and (iii) 1,565,336 shares of Common Stock held of record by Catalysis Offshore Ltd. John P. Francis is the managing member of FCM, which is the managing member of Catalysis Partners, LLC and the investment manager of Catalysis Offshore Ltd. FCM has sole voting and investment power over the shares held of record by Catalysis Partners, LLC and Catalysis Offshore Ltd. Mr. Francis disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock held of record by each of Catalysis Partners, LLC, Catalysis Offshore Ltd. and FCM. The inclusion of disclaimed shares in this Report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership for purposes of Section 13 or for any other purpose. Mr. Francis owns 11,628 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, which is not taken into account for purposes of this table.
3 Represents (i) 906,752 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 180,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2013, beneficially owned jointly by Louis Glazer, M.D. Ph. G. and Melanie Glazer.
4 The shares of Series A Preferred Stock are beneficially owned jointly by Louis Glazer, M.D. Ph. G. and Melanie Glazer.
5 Mr. Lin owns 11,628 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, which is not taken into account for purposes of this table.
6 Represents (i) 205,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii) 432,642 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options, exercisable within 60 days of December 31, 2013.
7 Information is based on the Schedule 13D filed on May 21, 2012 by Kinderhook Partners, LP (the “Partnership”), Kinderhook GP, LLC, the general partner of the Partnership (the “General Partner”), Kinderhook Capital Management, LLC, the investment adviser to the Partnership (the “Advisor”), Stephen J. Clearman, the co-managing member of the General Partner and the Advisor, and Tushar Shah, the co-managing member of the General Partner and the Advisor. Mr. Clearman and Mr. Shah are the co-managing members of the General Partner and the Advisor responsible for making investment decisions with respect to the Partnership and, as a result, Mr. Clearman and Mr. Shah may be deemed to control such entities. Accordingly, each of Mr. Clearman and Mr. Shah may be deemed to have a beneficial interest in the shares of Common Stock by virtue of his indirect control of the Partnership, the General Partner and the Advisor and the General Partner’s and Advisor’s power to vote and/or dispose of the shares of Common Stock. Each of Mr. Clearman and Mr. Shah disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock except to the extent of his pecuniary interest, if any, therein.
8 Information is based on the Schedule 13D filed on April 16, 2010 by Compass Global Management, Ltd. and the other parties thereto.
9 Information is based on a Schedule 13D filed on April 16, 2010 and the Company’s knowledge of the issuance in March 2011 of 1,333,333 shares of Common Stock to Radisson Trading Company.
Under the DGCL, you have the right to dissent from the Merger and to receive payment in cash for the fair value of your shares of capital stock as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, together with interest, if any, as determined by the Court, in lieu of the consideration you would otherwise be entitled to pursuant to the Merger Agreement. These rights are known as appraisal rights. Stockholders electing to exercise appraisal rights must comply with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL in order to perfect their rights. Strict compliance with the statutory procedures is required to perfect appraisal rights under Delaware law.
The following is intended as a brief summary of the material provisions of the Delaware statutory procedures required to be followed by a stockholder in order to dissent from the Merger and perfect appraisal rights. This summary, however, is not a complete statement of all applicable requirements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Section 262 of the DGCL, the full text of which appears in Annex D to this proxy statement. Failure to precisely follow any of the statutory procedures set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL may result in the loss or waiver of your appraisal rights. All references in this summary to a “stockholder” are to the record holder of shares of capital stock of the Company unless otherwise indicated.
Beneficial owners of shares of capital stock of the Company who do not also hold such shares of record may have the registered owner, such as a broker, bank or other nominee, submit the required demand in respect of those shares. If shares of capital stock are owned of record in a fiduciary capacity, such as by a trustee, guardian or custodian, execution of a demand for appraisal should be made by or for the fiduciary, and if the shares of capital stock are owned of record by more than one person, as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, the demand should be executed by or for all joint owners. An authorized agent, including an authorized agent for two or more joint owners, may execute the demand for appraisal for a stockholder of record; however, the agent must identify the record owner or owners and expressly disclose the fact that, in executing the demand, he or she is acting as agent for the record owner. In the event a record owner, such as a broker, who holds shares of capital stock as a nominee for others, exercises his or her right of appraisal with respect to the shares of capital stock held for one or more beneficial owners, while not exercising this right for other beneficial owners, we recommend that the written demand state the number of shares of capital stock as to which appraisal is sought. Where no number of shares is expressly mentioned, we will presume that the demand covers all shares held in the name of the record owner. If you hold your shares of capital stock in a brokerage account or in other nominee form and you wish to exercise appraisal rights, you should consult with your broker or the other nominee to determine the appropriate procedures for the making of a demand for appraisal by the nominee.
Section 262 requires that stockholders for whom appraisal rights are available be notified not less than 20 days before the stockholders’ meeting to vote on the Merger in connection with which appraisal rights will be available. A copy of Section 262 must be included with such notice. This proxy statement constitutes our notice to the Company’s stockholders of the availability of appraisal rights in connection with the Merger in compliance with the requirements of Section 262 and a copy of the full text of Section 262 is attached hereto as Annex D. If you wish to consider exercising your appraisal rights, you should carefully review the text of Section 262 contained in Annex D to this proxy statement since failure to timely and properly comply with the requirements of Section 262 will result in the loss of your appraisal rights under the DGCL.
If you elect to demand appraisal of your shares, you must satisfy each of the following conditions:
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You must deliver to us a written demand for appraisal of your shares before the vote with respect to the Merger is taken. This written demand for appraisal must be in addition to and separate from any proxy or vote abstaining from or voting against the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger. Voting against or failing to vote for the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger by itself does not constitute a demand for appraisal within the meaning of Section 262. The demand must reasonably inform us of the identity of the stockholder and the intention of the stockholder to demand appraisal of his, her or its shares.
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You must not vote in favor of, or consent in writing to, the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger. A vote in favor of the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and Merger, by proxy submitted by mail, over the Internet, by telephone or in person, will constitute a waiver of your appraisal rights in respect of the shares so voted and will nullify any previously filed written demands for appraisal. A proxy which does not contain voting instructions will, unless revoked, be voted in favor of the adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger. Therefore, a stockholder who votes by proxy and who wishes to exercise appraisal rights must vote against the Merger Agreement and the Merger or abstain from voting on the Merger Agreement and the Merger.
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You must continue to hold your shares of capital stock through the Effective Time of the Merger. Therefore, a stockholder who is the record holder of shares of capital stock on the date the written demand for appraisal is made but who thereafter transfers the shares prior to the Effective Time of the Merger will lose any right to appraisal with respect to such shares.
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If you fail to comply with any of these conditions and the Merger is completed, you will be entitled to receive the aggregate consideration, but you will have no appraisal rights with respect to your shares of capital stock.
All demands for appraisal pursuant to Section 262 should be addressed to Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Corporate Secretary, and must be delivered before the vote on the Merger Agreement is taken at the special meeting and should be executed by, or on behalf of, the record holder of the shares of capital stock.
Within 10 days after the Effective Time of the Merger, the surviving corporation (Patient Safety) must give written notice that the Merger has become effective to each stockholder who has properly filed a written demand for appraisal and who did not vote in favor of the Merger Agreement and the Merger. At any time within 60 days after the Effective Time of the Merger, any stockholder who has demanded an appraisal, and who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party, has the right to withdraw such stockholder’s demand for appraisal and to accept the aggregate consideration specified by the Merger Agreement for his or her shares of capital stock; after this period, the stockholder may withdraw such demand for appraisal only with the consent of the surviving corporation. Within 120 days after the Effective Time of the Merger, any stockholder who has complied with Section 262 will, upon written request to the surviving corporation, be entitled to receive a written statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the Merger Agreement and the Merger and with respect to which demands for appraisal rights have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. A person who is the beneficial owner of shares of capital stock held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person may, in such person’s own name, request from the corporation the statement described in the previous sentence. Such written statement will be mailed to the requesting stockholder within 10 days after such written request is received by the surviving corporation or within 10 days after expiration of the period for delivery of demands for appraisal, whichever is later. Within 120 days after the Effective Time, either the surviving corporation or any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of Section 262 and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights may file a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the fair value of the shares held by all stockholders entitled to appraisal. A person who is the beneficial owner of shares of capital stock held in a voting trust or by a nominee on behalf of such person may, in such person’s own name, file the petition described in the previous sentence. Upon the filing of the petition by a stockholder, service of a copy of such petition will be made upon the Company, as the surviving corporation. The surviving corporation has no obligation to file such a petition in the event there are dissenting stockholders. Accordingly, the failure of a stockholder to file such a petition within the period specified could nullify the stockholder’s previously written demand for appraisal. There is no present intent on the part of the Company to file an appraisal petition, and stockholders seeking to exercise appraisal rights should not assume that the Company will file such a petition or that the Company will initiate any negotiations with respect to the fair value of such shares. Accordingly, stockholders who desire to have their shares appraised should initiate any petitions necessary for the perfection of their appraisal rights within the time periods and in the manner prescribed in Section 262.
If a petition for appraisal is duly filed by a stockholder and a copy of the petition is delivered to the surviving corporation, the surviving corporation will then be obligated, within 20 days after receiving service of a copy of the petition, to file in the office of the Register in Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by the surviving corporation. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the Delaware Court of Chancery, must give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated. Such notice must also be given by one or more publications at least one week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such publication as the Delaware Court of Chancery deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication must be approved by the Delaware Court of Chancery, and the costs thereof will be borne by the surviving corporation. At the hearing on such petition, the Delaware Court of Chancery will determine the stockholders who have complied with Section 262 and who have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Delaware Court of Chancery may require the stockholders who have demanded appraisal for their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to submit their stock certificates to the Register in Chancery for notation thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; if any stockholder fails to comply with that direction, the Delaware Court of Chancery may dismiss the proceedings as to that stockholder.
After determination of the stockholders entitled to appraisal of their shares of capital stock, the Delaware Court of Chancery will appraise the shares, determining their fair value exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with interest, if any. Unless the Delaware Court of Chancery in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause shown, interest from the Effective Time of the Merger through the date of payment of the judgment will be compounded quarterly and will accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time to time during the period between the Effective Time of the Merger and the date of payment of the judgment. Upon application by the surviving corporation or by any stockholder entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Delaware Court of Chancery may, in its discretion, proceed to trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the stockholders entitled to an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list filed by the surviving corporation and who has submitted such stockholder’s certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery, if such is required, may participate fully in all proceedings until it is finally determined that such stockholder is not entitled to appraisal rights under Section 262. When the fair value is determined, the Delaware Court of Chancery will direct the payment of such value, with interest thereon, if any, by the surviving corporation to the stockholders entitled to receive the same, in the case of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and in the case of holders of shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the surviving corporation of the certificates representing such stock.
In determining fair value, the Delaware Court of Chancery is required to take into account all relevant factors. In Weinberger v. UOP, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court discussed the factors that could be considered in determining fair value in an appraisal proceeding, stating that “proof of value by any techniques or methods which are generally considered acceptable in the financial community and otherwise admissible in court” should be considered, and that “[f]air price obviously requires consideration of all relevant factors involving the value of a company.”
The Delaware Supreme Court has stated that in making this determination of fair value, the court must consider market value, asset value, dividends, earnings prospects, the nature of the enterprise and any other facts that could be ascertained as of the date of the merger that throw any light on future prospects of the merged corporation. Section 262 provides that fair value is to be “exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger.” In Cede & Co. v. Technicolor, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court stated that such exclusion is a “narrow exclusion [that] does not encompass known elements of value,” but rather applies only to the speculative elements of value arising from such accomplishment or expectation. In Weinberger, the Delaware Supreme Court also stated that “elements of future value, including the nature of the enterprise, which are known or susceptible of proof as of the date of the merger and not the product of speculation, may be considered.”
You should be aware that the fair value of your shares of capital stock as determined under Section 262 could be more than, the same as, or less than the value that you are entitled to receive under the terms of the Merger Agreement.
Moreover, we do not anticipate offering more than the per share aggregate consideration to any stockholder exercising appraisal rights and reserve the right to assert, in any appraisal proceeding, that, for purposes of Section 262, the “fair value” of a share of capital stock of the Company is less than the per share aggregate consideration for such share of capital stock.
Costs of the appraisal proceeding may be imposed upon the surviving corporation and the stockholders participating in the appraisal proceeding by the Delaware Court of Chancery as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon the application of a stockholder, the Delaware Court of Chancery may order all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all shares entitled to appraisal. Any stockholder who had demanded appraisal rights will not, after the Effective Time, be entitled to vote shares subject to that demand for any purpose or to receive payments of dividends or any other distribution with respect to those shares, other than with respect to payment as of a record date prior to the Effective Time; however, if no petition for appraisal is filed within 120 days after the Effective Time, or if the stockholder delivers a written withdrawal of his or her demand for appraisal and an acceptance of the terms of the Merger within 60 days after the Effective Time or thereafter with the written approval of the Company, then the right of that stockholder to appraisal will cease. No appraisal proceeding in the Delaware Court of Chancery will be dismissed as to any stockholder without the prior approval of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the Delaware Court of Chancery deems just; provided, however, that any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined that proceeding as a named party will maintain the right to withdraw its demand for appraisal and to accept the aggregate consideration that such holder would have received pursuant to the Merger Agreement within 60 days after the Effective Time.
In view of the complexity of Section 262, stockholders who may wish to dissent from the Merger and pursue appraisal rights should consult their legal advisors.
MULTIPLE STOCKHOLDERS SHARING ONE ADDRESS
In accordance with Rule 14a-3(e)(1) under the Exchange Act, one proxy statement will be delivered to two or more stockholders who share an address, unless the Company has received contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders. The Company will deliver promptly upon written or oral request a separate copy of the proxy statement to a stockholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the proxy statement was delivered. Requests for additional copies of the proxy statement should be directed to Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or by calling (949) 387-2277. In addition, stockholders who share a single address, but receive multiple copies of the proxy statement, may request that in the future they receive a single copy by contacting the Company at the address and phone number set forth in the prior sentence.
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
If the Merger is completed, we will not hold an annual meeting of stockholders in 2014. If the Merger is not completed, you will continue to be entitled to attend and participate in our annual meetings of stockholders, and we will hold a 2014 annual meeting of stockholders, in which case we will provide notice of or otherwise publicly disclose the date on which such 2014 annual meeting will be held. If the 2014 meeting is held, stockholder proposals will be eligible for consideration for inclusion in the proxy statement and form of proxy for our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and our bylaws, as described below.
Any stockholder who meets the requirements of the proxy rules under the Exchange Act may submit to the Patient Safety board proposals to be considered for submission to the stockholders at, and included in the proxy materials for, our 2014 annual meeting of stockholders. In order to be considered for inclusion in the proxy materials to be disseminated by the Patient Safety board, your proposal must comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and be received at Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, a reasonable amount of time in advance of our beginning to print and send our proxy materials.
In addition, our bylaws also provide for separate procedures a stockholder must follow to recommend a person for nomination as a director or to propose business to be considered by stockholders at a meeting outside the processes of Rule 14a-8. To be considered timely under these bylaw provisions, the stockholder’s notice must be received by our corporate secretary at our principal executive offices at the address set forth above a reasonable amount of time in advance of our beginning to print and send our proxy materials. Our bylaws specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. If we do not receive the notice on a timely basis or if the notice does not otherwise comply with our bylaws, we will not be required to present the proposal at the 2014 annual meeting.
The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, proxy statements or other information that we file with the SEC at the following location of the SEC:
Public Reference Room
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Company’s public filings are also available to the public from document retrieval services and the Internet website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
The Company will make available a copy of its public reports, without charge, on its website at www.surgicountmedical.com as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company files the reports electronically with the SEC. In addition, you may obtain a copy of the reports, without charge, by contacting the Company at the following address and phone number: Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Corporate Secretary, telephone (949) 387-2277. Each such request must set forth a good faith representation that, as of the record date, the person making the request was a beneficial owner of capital stock entitled to vote at the special meeting. In order to ensure timely delivery of such documents before the special meeting, any such request should be made promptly to the Company. A copy of any exhibit to a filing may be obtained upon request by a stockholder (for a fee limited to the Company’s reasonable expenses in furnishing the exhibit) to Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., 15540 Laguna Canyon Road, Suite 150, Irvine, California 92618, Attention: Corporate Secretary, telephone (949) 387-2277.
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this proxy statement documents we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this proxy statement, and later information that we file with the SEC will update and supersede that information. Information in documents that is deemed, in accordance with SEC rules, to be furnished and not filed will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this proxy statement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any documents filed by us pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this proxy statement, and before the date of the special meeting:
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2013 (as amended by the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the same period);
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Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the Periods Ended March 31, 2013, June 30, 2013 and September 30, 2013; and
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Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 2, 2014.
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No persons have been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this proxy statement, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us or any other person. This proxy statement is dated , 2014. You should not assume that the information contained in this proxy statement is accurate as of any date other than that date, and the mailing of this proxy statement to stockholders does not and will not create any implication to the contrary.
Annex A
EXECUTION VERSION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
among
STRYKER CORPORATION,
PS MERGER SUB INC.
and
PATIENT SAFETY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
dated as of
December 31, 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I THE MERGER
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2
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Section 1.1
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The Merger
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2
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Section 1.2
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Closing
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2
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Section 1.3
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Effective Time
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2
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Section 1.4
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Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation
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3
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Section 1.5
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Subsequent Actions
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3
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ARTICLE II CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
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3
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Section 2.1
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Conversion of Capital Stock
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3
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Section 2.2
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Payment for Securities; Surrender of Certificates
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5
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Section 2.3
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Dissenting Shares
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7
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Section 2.4
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Treatment of Company Options and Restricted Shares.
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7
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Section 2.5
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Additional Benefits Matters; Withholding
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8
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Section 2.6
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Treatment of Warrants
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8
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ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
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9
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Section 3.1
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Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries
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9
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Section 3.2
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Capitalization
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10
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Section 3.3
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Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Company Action
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12
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Section 3.4
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Board Approval
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13
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Section 3.5
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Consents and Approvals; No Violations
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13
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Section 3.6
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Company SEC Documents and Financial Statements
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13
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Section 3.7
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Internal Controls; Sarbanes-Oxley Act
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14
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Section 3.8
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Absence of Certain Changes
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15
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Section 3.9
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No Undisclosed Liabilities
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16
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Section 3.10
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Litigation
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16
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Section 3.11
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Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA
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16
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Section 3.12
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Labor Matters
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18
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Section 3.13
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Taxes
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19
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Section 3.14
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Contracts; Customers and Suppliers
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20
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Section 3.15
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Title to Properties; Encumbrances
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23
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Section 3.16
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Environmental Matters
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23
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Section 3.17
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Intellectual Property
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24
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Section 3.18
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Compliance with Laws; Permits; Certain Business Practices
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26
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Section 3.19
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Health Care Regulatory Matters
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29
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Section 3.20
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Information in the Proxy Statement
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30
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Section 3.21
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Opinion of Financial Advisor
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30
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Section 3.22
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Insurance
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30
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Section 3.23
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Related Party Transactions
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31
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Section 3.24
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Brokers; Expenses
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31
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Section 3.25
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Takeover Statutes
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31
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Section 3.26
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No Other Representations or Warranties
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31
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER
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31
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Section 4.1
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Organization and Qualification
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31
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Section 4.2
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Authorization; Validity of Agreement; Necessary Action
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32
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Section 4.3
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Consents and Approvals; No Violations
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32
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Section 4.4
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Litigation
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32
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Section 4.5
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Information in the Proxy Statement
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33
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Section 4.6
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Ownership of Company Capital Stock
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33
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Section 4.7
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Sufficient Funds
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33
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Section 4.8
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Ownership and Operations of Purchaser
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33
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Section 4.9
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Brokers and Other Advisors
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33
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Section 4.10
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Disclaimer of Other Representations and Warranties
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33
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ARTICLE V CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
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34
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Section 5.1
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Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Closing
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34
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Section 5.2
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Solicitation
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37
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Section 5.3
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Proxy Statement
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40
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Section 5.4
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Stockholder Approval
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40
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Section 5.5
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Notification of Certain Matters
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41
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ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
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41
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Section 6.1
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Access; Confidentiality
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41
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Section 6.2
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Consents and Approvals
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42
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Section 6.3
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Publicity
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44
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Section 6.4
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Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance and Indemnification
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44
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Section 6.5
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State Takeover Laws
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46
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Section 6.6
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Obligations of Purchaser
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46
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Section 6.7
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Employee Benefits Matters
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46
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Section 6.8
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Rule 16b-3
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48
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Section 6.9
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Control of Operations
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48
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Section 6.10
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Securityholder Litigation
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48
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Section 6.11
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Deregistration
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48
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Section 6.12
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Director and Officer Resignations
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48
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Section 6.13
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Patent Acquisition
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48
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ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
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49
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Section 7.1
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Conditions to Each Party’s Obligations to Effect the Merger
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49
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Section 7.2
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Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Purchaser
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49
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Section 7.3
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Conditions to Obligations of the Company
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50
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ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION
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50
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Section 8.1
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Termination
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50
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Section 8.2
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Effect of Termination
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51
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ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS
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53
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Section 9.1
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Amendment and Modification; Waiver
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53
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Section 9.2
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Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties
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53
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Section 9.3
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Expenses
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53
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Section 9.4
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Notices
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54
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Section 9.5
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Certain Definitions
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55
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Section 9.6
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Terms Defined Elsewhere
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60
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Section 9.7
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Interpretation
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62
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Section 9.8
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Counterparts
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62
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Section 9.9
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Entire Agreement; Third-Party Beneficiaries
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62
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Section 9.10
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Severability
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63
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Section 9.11
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Governing Law; Jurisdiction
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63
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Section 9.12
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Waiver of Jury Trial
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64
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Section 9.13
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Assignment
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64
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Section 9.14
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Enforcement; Remedies
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64
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Section 9.15
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Costs; Attorneys’ Fees
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65
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Annex I
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Form of Voting Agreement
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Annex II
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Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Surviving Corporation
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Annex III
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Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of Surviving Corporation
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (hereinafter referred to as this “Agreement”), dated December 31, 2013, is