UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

FORM  i 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  i December 5, 2022

 

 i Orthofix Medical Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

i Delaware		i 0-19961		i 98-1340767
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

i 3451 Plano Parkway,  i Lewisville,  i Texas				i 75056
(Address of principal executive offices)				(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  i (214)  i 937-2000

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company   i ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
i Common stock, $0.10 par value per share		i OFIX		i Nasdaq Global Select Market

 

 

 

Item 8.01

Other Events.

As previously disclosed, Orthofix Medical Inc. (“Orthofix”) recently received an unsolicited, non-binding indication of interest from two private equity fund sponsors to acquire all of the outstanding equity of Orthofix for $23.00 per share in cash. The non-binding indication of interest was subject to, among other things, the completion of due diligence, to the sole satisfaction of the sponsors, the arranging of debt financing to fund the purchase price, the completion of unspecified regulatory approvals, and internal approvals by the investment committees of the sponsors. Following a comprehensive and thorough review and evaluation, the Orthofix board unanimously determined that Orthofix’s pending stock-for-stock merger transaction with SeaSpine Holdings Corporation (“SeaSpine”) continued to be in the best interests of Orthofix and its stockholders and reaffirmed to stockholders its recommendation in favor of the SeaSpine merger transaction. The Orthofix board further unanimously determined that it was unable to conclude that the indication of interest is reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal under the terms of Orthofix’s merger agreement with SeaSpine.

On December 2, 2022, Orthofix received a follow-up, unsolicited and non-binding indication of interest letter from the same two private equity fund sponsors to acquire all of the outstanding equity of Orthofix for $24.00 per share in cash. The revised letter reiterated the same contingencies provided in the prior letter, but stated that the sponsors are willing to provide, at the time of execution of a definitive agreement, equity commitments from the sponsors that would backstop the full purchase price. The letter further stated that the sponsors seek to validate the assumptions underlying their proposal through their confirmatory due diligence review, and would consider further enhancing the value of the proposal if warranted by the outcome of that review.

On December 3, 2022, the Orthofix board held a meeting to review and evaluate the revised indication of interest, in consultation with legal and financial advisors. Following such review and evaluation, the Orthofix board unanimously determined that the SeaSpine merger transaction continues to be in the best interests of Orthofix and its stockholders. The Orthofix board further unanimously determined that it is unable to conclude that the revised indication of interest is reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal under the terms of Orthofix’s merger agreement with SeaSpine.

The Orthofix board reaffirms to stockholders its recommendation in favor of the SeaSpine merger transaction and remains fully committed to completing the transaction with SeaSpine.

A special meeting of Orthofix stockholders has been scheduled for January 4, 2023 to vote on a proposal to approve the issuance of Orthofix common stock in the proposed SeaSpine merger transaction.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains statements which, to the extent they are not statements of historical or present fact, constitute “forward-looking statements” under the securities laws. From time to time, oral or written forward-looking statements may also be included in other information released to the public. These forward-looking statements are intended to provide Orthofix’s and SeaSpine’s respective management’s current expectations or plans for our future operating and financial performance, based on assumptions currently believed to be valid. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “expectations,” “plans,” “strategy,” “prospects,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “anticipate,” “will,” “should,” “see,” “guidance,” “outlook,” “confident,” “on track” and other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements may include, among other things, statements relating to future sales, earnings, cash flow, results of operations, uses of cash, tax rates, R&D spend, other measures of financial performance, potential future plans, strategies or transactions, credit ratings and net indebtedness, other anticipated benefits of the proposed merger, including estimated synergies and cost savings resulting from the proposed merger, the expected timing of completion of the proposed merger, estimated costs associated with such transaction and other statements that are not historical facts. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such risks,

uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: (1) the effect of economic conditions in the industries and markets in which Orthofix and SeaSpine operate in the U.S. and globally and any changes therein, including financial market conditions, fluctuations in commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, and the levels of market demand in the health care segments in which our products are purchased and utilized; (2) challenges in the development, regulatory approval, commercialization, reimbursement, market acceptance, performance and realization of the anticipated benefits of new products of the combined company; (3) the scope, nature, impact or timing of the proposed merger, including among other things the integration of the businesses and realization of synergies and opportunities for growth and innovation and incurrence of related costs and expenses; (4) future levels of indebtedness, capital spending and research and development spending; (5) future availability of credit and factors that may affect such availability, including credit market conditions and our capital structure; (6) delays and disruption in delivery of materials and services from suppliers; (7) cost reduction efforts and restructuring costs and savings; (8) new business and investment opportunities; (9) the ability to realize the intended benefits of organizational changes; (10) the anticipated benefits of diversification and balance of operations across product lines, regions and industries; (11) the effect of changes in political conditions in the U.S. and other countries in which Orthofix, SeaSpine and the businesses of each operate, including the effect of changes in U.S. healthcare policies, on general market conditions in the near term and beyond; (12) the effect of changes in tax, regulatory and other laws and regulations in the U.S. and other countries in which Orthofix, SeaSpine and the businesses of each operate; (13) negative effects of the announcement or pendency of the proposed merger on the market price of Orthofix and/or SeaSpine’s respective common stock and/or on their respective financial performance; (14) the ability of the parties to receive the required regulatory approvals for the proposed merger (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction) and approvals of Orthofix’s and SeaSpine’s shareholders and to satisfy the other conditions to the closing of the merger on a timely basis or at all; (15) the occurrence of events that may give rise to a right of one or both of the parties to terminate the merger agreement; (16) risks relating to the value of the Orthofix shares to be issued in the proposed merger, significant transaction costs and/or unknown liabilities; (17) the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the proposed merger cannot be realized in full or at all or may take longer to realize than expected, including risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may be triggered by the proposed transaction; (18) risks associated with transaction-related litigation; (19) the possibility that costs or difficulties related to the integration of Orthofix’s and SeaSpine’s operations will be greater than expected; (20) the ability of the combined company to retain and hire key personnel; (21) the intended qualification of the merger as a tax-free reorganization to Orthofix and SeaSpine shareholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and (22) the impact of the proposed merger on the respective businesses of Orthofix and SeaSpine. There can be no assurance that the proposed merger will in fact be consummated in the manner described or at all. For additional information on identifying factors that may cause actual results to vary materially from those stated in forward-looking statements, see the reports of Orthofix and SeaSpine on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the SEC from time to time. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Orthofix and SeaSpine assume no obligation to update or revise such statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed SeaSpine merger transaction, on November 22, 2022, Orthofix filed with the SEC an amendment to the registration statement on Form S-4 originally filed on November 8, 2022, which includes a prospectus of Orthofix and a joint proxy statement of Orthofix and SeaSpine (the “joint proxy statement/prospectus”). The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on November 22, 2022, and Orthofix and SeaSpine commenced mailing the joint proxy statement/prospectus to stockholders of Orthofix and SeaSpine on or about November 23, 2022. Each party may also file other relevant documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and securityholders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus (if and when it becomes available) and other relevant documents filed by Orthofix and SeaSpine with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Orthofix with the SEC will be available free of charge on Orthofix’s website at http://ir.orthofix.com/ or by contacting Orthofix’s Investor Relations at (214) 937-3190. Copies of the documents filed by SeaSpine with the SEC will be available free of charge on SeaSpine’s website at http://investor.seaspine.com/ or by contacting SeaSpine’s Investor Relations at (415) 937-5402.

Orthofix and SeaSpine and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about directors and executive officers of Orthofix is available in the Orthofix proxy statement for its 2022 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on April 27, 2022. Information about directors and executive officers of SeaSpine is available in the SeaSpine proxy statement for its 2022 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on April 22, 2022. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction when they become available. Investors should read the joint proxy statement/prospectus carefully when it becomes available before making any voting or investment decisions. Investors may obtain free copies of these documents from Orthofix and SeaSpine as indicated above.

No Offer or Solicitation

This report and the information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

SIGNATURES

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

 

Date: December 5, 2022