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
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| Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o |
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| o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
| o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| o | Definitive Proxy Statement |
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| x | Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
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| VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC. |
| (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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| (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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[The following email was sent to investors of Varian Medical Systems, Inc. on August 2, 2020.]
IR Email
Subject: Varian and Siemens Healthineers to Combine in $16.4B All-Cash Transaction
I wanted to make sure you saw the announcement regarding our definitive agreement to be acquired by Siemens Healthineers in an all-cash transaction valued at $16.4 billion. Siemens Healthineers is hosting a conference call at 8:30 AM ET to discuss the transaction, which can be accessed on their investor relations website.
Here are some key highlights:
| · | Immediate and compelling value for our shareholders: Varian shareholders will receive $177.50 per share in cash, representing a premium of approximately 42% to the 30-day volume weighted average closing price of Varian’s common stock as of July 31, 2020, the last trading day prior to the announcement of the transaction, and a premium of approximately 24% to the closing price of Varian’s common stock on July 31, 2020 |
| · | Integrated platform of end-to-end solutions: Combination brings together highly complementary portfolios to empower clinicians and patients in the fight against cancer – from screening and diagnosis to care delivery and post-treatment survivorship |
| · | Creates leading digital healthcare platform: Combined company will leverage real-world evidence and AI to favorably disrupt oncology care with software, data and technology |
| · | Path to Close: Expect to close the transaction in the first half of calendar year 2021, subject to approval by Varian shareholders, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions |
We also announced Varian’s third quarter fiscal year 2020 financial results in a separate press release issued today. In light of the pending transaction, we are canceling our previously scheduled August 5th earnings call.
Best,
Dow R. Wilson
Chief Executive Officer
Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It
This communication relates to the proposed transaction involving Varian. This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In connection with the proposed transaction, Varian will file relevant materials with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Varian’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”). This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Varian may file with the SEC or send to its stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, STOCKHOLDERS OF VARIAN ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents (when available) free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, and Varian’s website, www.varian.com. In addition, the documents (when available) may be obtained free of charge by directing a request to Investor Relations by email at investors@varian.com or by calling (650) 424-5631.
Participants in the Solicitation
Varian and its directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the holders of Varian’s common stock in respect of the proposed transaction. Information about the directors and executive officers of Varian is set forth in the definitive proxy statement for Varian’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 20, 2019, or its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2019, and in other documents filed by Varian with the SEC. 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 Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC in respect of the proposed transaction when they become available.
Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements concerning Varian’s future orders and the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Varian’s business; and any statements using the terms “could,” “believe,” “expect,” “promising,” “outlook,” “should,” “well-positioned,” “will” or similar statements are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Varian’s actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include: (1) the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Varian’s business, including but not limited to, the impact on its workforce, operations, supply chain, demand for products and services, and Varian’s financial results and condition; (2) Varian’s ability to successfully manage the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) Varian’s ability to achieve expected synergies from acquisitions; (3) risks associated with integrating recent acquisitions; (4) global economic conditions and changes to trends for cancer treatment regionally; (5) currency exchange rates and tax rates; (5) the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; (6) the impact of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (including excise taxes on medical devices) and any further healthcare reforms (including changes to Medicare and Medicaid), and/or changes in third-party reimbursement levels; (7) recent and potential future tariffs or a global trade war; (8) demand for and delays in delivery of Varian’s products; (9) Varian’s ability to develop, commercialize and deploy new products; (10) Varian’s ability to meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory requirements, regulations or procedures; (11) changes in regulatory environments; (12) risks associated with Varian providing financing for the construction and start-up operations of particle therapy centers, challenges associated with commercializing Varian’s Proton Solutions business; (13) challenges to public tender awards and the loss of such awards or other orders; (14) the effect of adverse publicity; (15) Varian’s reliance on sole or limited-source suppliers; (16) Varian’s ability to maintain or increase margins; (17) the impact of competitive products and pricing; (18) the potential loss of key distributors or key personnel; (19) challenges related to entering into new business lines; (20) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the agreement; (21) the failure to obtain the approval of Varian’s stockholders, the failure to obtained certain required regulatory approvals or the failure to satisfy any of the other closing conditions to the completion of the transaction, (22) risks related to disruption of management’s attention from Varian’s ongoing business operations due to the transaction; (23) the effect of the announcement of the transaction on the ability of Varian to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its customers, suppliers and others with whom it does business, or on its operating results and business generally; (24) the ability to meet expectations regarding the timing and completion of the transaction; and (25) the other risks listed from time to time in Varian’s filings with the SEC. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected herein, please refer to Varian’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2019 and subsequent Current Reports on Form 8-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC. Varian assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this communication because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
