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NEOGEN CORP — Regulatory Filings 2021
Dec 14, 2021
32081_rns_2021-12-14_bed9e65d-4796-4dfd-91d8-9ee3cccd1947.zip
Regulatory Filings
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Filed by Neogen Corporation pursuant to Rule 425 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and deemed
filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Subject Company: Neogen Corporation
Commission File No.: 000-17988
The following communication was sent to the employees of Neogen Corporation (Neogen) on December 14, 2021, in connection with the proposed business combination between Neogen, Garden SpinCo Corporation and 3M Companys Food Safety business.
Dear all,
At NEOGEN, our number one goal is to protect the worlds food supply, and since our founding in 1982 we have celebrated many significant milestones in pursuit of this important ambition. From developing the first rapid tests for mycotoxins and food allergens, to expanding our product portfolio and geographic footprint through continuous growth and innovation, we have consistently grown to meet increasing demand from our global customer base for best-in-class food and animal safety solutions. Today, were excited to celebrate another major milestone as we announce that we have reached an agreement to combine 3Ms Food Safety business with our existing operations.
This combination creates a pure-play food security company and places NEOGEN at the forefront of a new era in food security, with the resources, capabilities, and solutions to be a truly global provider. I hope you are as energized as I am about the exciting opportunities that will be created by this combination.
We will bring together two incredible businesses with this announcement: NEOGEN, a leading pure-play food and animal safety business, with established genomics, analytics, and blockchain capabilities; and 3M Food Safety, a leader in food safety solutions, with a globally recognized indicator testing brand (PetrifilmTM), a diversified customer base, and a highly attractive financial profile.
With a more than 35-year track record of innovation, 3Ms Food Safety business has built a broad global presence, with products used in more than 60 countries by a diverse customer base including multinational food processors and contract laboratories. 3M Food Safety products support multiple industries within food and beverage, helping producers to prevent and protect consumers from food-borne illnesses.
The combined company will have an enhanced geographic footprint, innovative product offerings, digitization capabilities, and financial flexibility to capitalize on robust growth trends in sustainability, food safety, and supply chain integrity. Together we will be well-positioned to accelerate growth and drive significant, additional value for customers, employees, and shareholders. Our customers know they can count on NEOGEN whenever they have food security issues or to prevent issues and this combination will give us more products in our portfolio to help them meet more of the needs and challenges they face as part of the changing food security landscape.
Together, we will also possess the digital capabilities to lead the growth and digitization of the food and animal safety industry. The complementary product offerings, combined with NEOGENs data-driven analytics approach, will create a compelling solution as customers seek innovative partners to increase efficiency and enhance food safety protocols.
Following the closing of the transaction, which we expect will occur by the end of the third calendar quarter in 2022, our enhanced product range will mean that we will have an expanded offering in food safety, particularly in indicator testing and pathogen detection areas, which complement NEOGENs existing microbiology lines. NEOGEN will also be able to offer 3M Food Safety customers its genomics services, which deliver innovative DNA testing a new offering to 3M Food Safety customers. This expanded product range, along with NEOGENs complementary animal safety business, increases the solutions with which we can help customers protect the worlds food supply from the farm gate to the dinner plate.
The complementary cultures of NEOGEN and 3M Food Safety, our collective dedication to work that protects the worlds food supply, and our shared values of serving our customers and creating environments in which our employees can thrive, make this transaction a great fit for both of our organizations. I am delighted to welcome 3M Food Safety employees to the NEOGEN team upon closing. Their expertise puts us in an even better position to deliver quality, safety, and value to customers around the world.
Finally, I want to stress that todays announcement does not affect your roles and responsibilities, or day-to-day work, and ask that you remain focused on delivering for our customers. We will communicate any further updates, as appropriate. In the meantime, please reach out to your manager with any questions.
I want to close by thanking all of you. Our success driven by your hard work and dedication has made todays announcement possible. Im looking forward to embarking on this exciting new chapter with you and I cant wait to see what we achieve together.
John Adent
President & Chief Executive Officer
Cautionary Notes on Forward Looking Statements
This communication includes forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the proposed transaction between NEOGEN ( NEOGEN ), 3M ( 3M ) and Garden SpinCo Corporation ( SpinCo ). These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words believe, project, expect, anticipate, estimate, forecast, outlook, target, endeavor, seek, predict, intend, strategy, plan, may, could, should, will, would, will be, will continue, will likely result, or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than historical facts, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the expected timing and structure of the proposed transaction, the ability of the parties to complete the proposed transaction, the expected benefits of the proposed transaction, including future financial and operating results and strategic benefits, the tax consequences of the proposed transaction, and the combined NEOGEN-SpinCo companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, legal, economic and regulatory conditions, and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are forward looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on NEOGEN and 3Ms current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from NEOGEN and 3Ms current expectations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those
indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) that one or more closing conditions to the transaction, including certain regulatory approvals, may not be satisfied or waived, on a timely basis or otherwise, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the proposed transaction, may require conditions, limitations or restrictions in connection with such approvals or that the required approval by the stockholders of NEOGEN may not be obtained; (2) the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed on the terms or in the time frame expected by NEOGEN, 3M and SpinCo, or at all; (3) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the proposed transaction; (4) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the combined NEOGEN SpinCo company following completion of the proposed transaction; (5) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction, including as a result of delay in completing the proposed transaction or integrating the businesses of NEOGEN and SpinCo, on the expected timeframe or at all; (6) the ability of the combined NEOGEN-SpinCo company to implement its business strategy; (7) difficulties and delays in the combined NEOGEN-SpinCo company achieving revenue and cost synergies; (8) inability of the combined company to retain and hire key personnel; (9) the occurrence of any event that could give rise to termination of the proposed transaction; (10) the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the proposed transaction or other litigation, settlements or investigations may affect the timing or occurrence of the proposed transaction or result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; (11) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (12) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (13) actions by third parties, including government agencies; (14) the risks that the anticipated tax treatment of the proposed transaction is not obtained; (15) the risk of greater than expected difficulty in separating the business of SpinCo from the other businesses of 3M; (16) risks related to the disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the pendency of the proposed transaction, or other effects of the pendency of the proposed transaction on the relationship of any of the parties to the transaction with their employees, customers, suppliers, or other counterparties; and (17) other risk factors detailed from time to time in NEOGEN and 3Ms reports filed with the SEC, including NEOGEN and 3Ms annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed with the SEC, including documents that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.
Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this communication. None of NEOGEN, 3M or SpinCo undertakes, and each party expressly disclaims, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or development, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.
Important Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, NEOGEN and SpinCo intend to file relevant materials with the SEC, including a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a proxy statement/prospectus relating to the proposed transaction. In addition, SpinCo expects to file a registration statement in connection with its separation from 3M. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENTS, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT NEOGEN, 3M, SPINCO AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The proxy statement, prospectus and/or information statement and other documents relating to the proposed transaction (when they become available) can also be obtained
free of charge from the SECs website at www.sec.gov. These documents, once available, and each of the companies other filings with the SEC, also will be available free of charge on NEOGENs website at http://www.NEOGEN.com/investor-relations or on 3Ms website at http://www.investors.3M.
Participants in the Solicitation
This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any investor or security holder. However, NEOGEN, 3M and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of NEOGEN in connection with the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Information regarding the persons who are, under the rules of the SEC, participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of NEOGEN in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus when it is filed with the SEC. Information about the directors and executive officers of NEOGEN may be found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on July 30, 2021, and its definitive proxy statement relating to its 2021 Annual Meeting of Shareholders filed with the SEC on August 31, 2021. Information about the directors and executive officers of 3M may be found in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 4, 2021, and its definitive proxy statement relating to its 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on March 24, 2021. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. 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 registration statements, prospectuses and proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, 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 offer 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.