UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 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 April 10, 2024

 i STERIS plc

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

+ i 353  i 1 232 2000

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

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

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

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

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. ☐

On April 10, 2024, STERIS Corporation (“Seller”), a wholly owned subsidiary of STERIS plc (“STERIS”), and certain affiliates, entered into an Equity Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with HuFriedy Group Holding LLC (the “Purchaser”), an affiliate of Peak Rock Capital LLC. The Purchase Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, STERIS, through the Seller, will sell STERIS’s Dental business segment to the Purchaser (the “Transaction”).

The purchase price for the Transaction consists of $787.5 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments, and up to an additional $12.5 million in contingent payment payable to Seller if the Dental business achieves certain revenue targets in fiscal year 2025.

The Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and agreements. The Purchase Agreement also contains certain termination rights that may be exercised by the Purchaser and the Seller, including, among others, that either the Purchaser or the Seller may terminate the Purchase Agreement if the Transaction has not occurred on or prior to July 10, 2024, which date may be extended under certain circumstances to August 10, 2024 by either the Purchaser or the Seller. The completion of the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including receipt of requisite Hart-Scott-Rodino Act approvals. In connection with a termination of the Purchase Agreement under specified circumstances, the Purchaser will be required to pay Seller a termination fee of $35 million.

On April 11, 2024, STERIS issued a press release announcing the signing of the Purchase Agreement. The press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The information contained in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that Section. Furthermore, the information contained in this Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933.

(d) Exhibits:

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K may contain statements concerning certain trends, expectations, forecasts, estimates, or other forward-looking information affecting or relating to STERIS or its industry, products or activities that are intended to qualify for the protections afforded “forward-looking statements” under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other laws and regulations. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date the statement is made and may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “outlook,” “impact,” “potential,” “confidence,” “improve,” “optimistic,” “deliver,” “orders,” “backlog,” “comfortable,” “trend” and “seeks,” or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Many important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements including, without limitation, disruption of production or supplies, changes in market conditions, political events, pending or future claims or litigation, competitive factors, technology advances, actions of regulatory agencies, and changes in laws, government regulations, labeling or product approvals or the application or interpretation thereof. Other risk factors are described in STERIS’s other securities filings, including Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2023. Many of these important factors are outside of STERIS’s control. No assurances can be provided as to any result or the timing of any outcome regarding matters described in STERIS’s securities filings or otherwise with respect to any regulatory action, administrative proceedings, government investigations, litigation, warning letters, cost reductions, business strategies, earnings or revenue trends or future financial results. References to products are

summaries only and should not be considered the specific terms of the product clearance or literature. Unless legally required, STERIS does not undertake to update or revise any forward-looking statements even if events make clear that any projected results, express or implied, will not be realized. Other potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, (a) the ability to consummate the Transaction on the expected terms and within the anticipated time period, or at all, which is dependent on the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, some of which are outside of STERIS’s control, (b) STERIS’s ability to realize the expected benefits of the Transaction, including the earnout payment, (c) the risk that regulatory approvals that are required to complete the Transaction may not be received, may take longer than expected or may impose adverse conditions, (d) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or similar public health crises on STERIS’s operations, supply chain, material and labor costs, performance, results, prospects, or value, (e) STERIS’s ability to achieve the expected benefits regarding the accounting and tax treatments of the redomiciliation to Ireland, (f) operating costs, Customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, Customers, clients or suppliers) being greater than expected, (g) STERIS’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses into its existing businesses, including unknown or inestimable liabilities, impairments, or increases in expected integration costs or difficulties in connection with the integration of such businesses, (h) uncertainties related to tax treatments under the TCJA and the IRA, (i) the possibility that Pillar Two Model Rules could increase tax uncertainty and adversely impact STERIS’s provision for income taxes and effective tax rate and subject STERIS to additional income tax in jurisdictions who adopt Pillar Two Model Rules, (j) STERIS’s ability to continue to qualify for benefits under certain income tax treaties in light of ratification of more strict income tax treaty rules (through the MLI) in many jurisdictions where STERIS has operations, (k) changes in tax laws or interpretations that could increase our consolidated tax liabilities, including changes in tax laws that would result in STERIS being treated as a domestic corporation for United States federal tax purposes, (l) the potential for increased pressure on pricing or costs that leads to erosion of profit margins, including as a result of inflation, (m) the possibility that market demand will not develop for new technologies, products or applications or services, or business initiatives will take longer, cost more or produce lower benefits than anticipated, (n) the possibility that application of or compliance with laws, court rulings, certifications, regulations, or regulatory actions, including without limitation any of the same relating to FDA, EPA or other regulatory authorities, government investigations, the outcome of any pending or threatened FDA, EPA or other regulatory warning notices, actions, requests, inspections or submissions, the outcome of any pending or threatened litigation brought by private parties, or other requirements or standards may delay, limit or prevent new product or service introductions, affect the production, supply and/or marketing of existing products or services, result in costs to STERIS that may not be covered by insurance, or otherwise affect STERIS’s performance, results, prospects or value, (o) the potential of international unrest, including the Russia-Ukraine or Israel-Hamas military conflicts, economic downturn or effects of currencies, tax assessments, tariffs and/or other trade barriers, adjustments or anticipated rates, raw material costs or availability, benefit or retirement plan costs, or other regulatory compliance costs, (p) the possibility of reduced demand, or reductions in the rate of growth in demand, for STERIS’s products and services, (q) the possibility of delays in receipt of orders, order cancellations, or delays in the manufacture or shipment of ordered products, due to supply chain issues or otherwise, or in the provision of services, (r) the possibility that anticipated growth, cost savings, new product acceptance, performance or approvals, or other results may not be achieved, or that transition, labor, competition, timing, execution, impairments, regulatory, governmental, or other issues or risks associated with STERIS’s businesses, industry or initiatives including, without limitation, those matters described in STERIS’s various securities filings, may adversely impact STERIS’s performance, results, prospects or value, (s) the impact on STERIS and its operations, or tax liabilities, of Brexit or the exit of other member countries from the EU, and the Company’s ability to respond to such impacts, (t) the impact on STERIS and its operations of any legislation, regulations or orders, including but not limited to any new trade or tax legislation (including CAMT and excise tax on stock buybacks), regulations or orders, that may be implemented by the U.S. administration or Congress, or of any responses thereto, (u) the possibility that anticipated financial results or benefits of recent acquisitions, of STERIS’s restructuring efforts, or of recent divestitures, including anticipated revenue, productivity improvement, cost savings, growth synergies and other anticipated benefits, will not be realized or will be other than anticipated, (v) the level of STERIS’s indebtedness limiting financial flexibility or increasing future borrowing costs, (w) rating agency actions or other occurrences that could affect STERIS’s existing debt or future ability to borrow funds at rates favorable to STERIS or at all, and (x) the effects of changes in credit availability and pricing, as well as the ability of STERIS’s Customers and suppliers to adequately access the credit markets, on favorable terms or at all, when needed.

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.

Dated: April 11, 2024