Coherent (COHR) 425Business combination disclosure

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 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): June 28, 2022

COHERENT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

5100 Patrick Henry Drive

Santa Clara,

California 95054

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(408) 764-4000

(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:

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

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

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

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

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 (17 CFR §230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ¨

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. ¨

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On June 28, 2022, Coherent, Inc. (“Coherent” or the “Company”) and II-VI Incorporated (“II-VI”) announced that antitrust clearance has been obtained from the People’s Republic of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) for the Company’s previously announced pending acquisition by II-VI pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 25, 2021 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, II-VI and Watson Merger Sub Inc. The Company expects the closing of its acquisition by II-VI pursuant to the Merger Agreement to occur on or about July 1, 2022. A copy of the joint press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)       Exhibits

Forward-looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements relating to future events and expectations that are based on certain assumptions and contingencies. The forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and relate to the Company’s performance on a going-forward basis. The forward-looking statements in this communication involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results, performance or trends to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements herein or in previous disclosures.

The Company believes that all forward-looking statements made by it in this communication have a reasonable basis, but there can be no assurance that the expectations, beliefs or projections as expressed in the forward-looking statements will actually occur or prove to be correct. In addition to general industry and global economic conditions, factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements in this communication include, but are not limited to: (i) the failure of any one or more of the assumptions stated above to prove to be correct; (ii) the risks relating to forward-looking statements and other “Risk Factors” discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 2, 2021 and additional risk factors that may be identified from time to time in future filings of the Company; (iii) the conditions to the completion of the Company’s pending business combination transaction with II-VI (the “Transaction”) and the remaining equity investment by Bain Capital, LP in II-VI, and the risks that those conditions will not be satisfied in a timely manner or at all; (iv) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to an amendment or termination of the merger agreement relating to the Transaction; (v) II-VI’s ability to finance the Transaction, the substantial indebtedness II-VI expects to incur in connection with the Transaction and the need to generate sufficient cash flows to service and repay such debt; (vi) the possibility that the combined company may be unable to achieve expected synergies, operating efficiencies and other benefits within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate the Company’s operations with those of the combined company; (vii) the possibility that such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected or that operating costs and business disruption (including, without limitation, disruptions in relationships with employees, customers or suppliers) may be greater than expected in connection with the Transaction; (viii) litigation and any unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from the Transaction; (ix) the risk that disruption from the Transaction materially and adversely affects the respective businesses and operations of the Company and II-VI; (x) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement, pendency or completion of the Transaction; (xi) the ability of the combined company to retain and hire key employees; (xii) the purchasing patterns of customers and end users; (xiii) the timely release of new products, and acceptance of such new products by the market; (xiv) the introduction of new products by competitors and other competitive responses; (xv) the combined company’s ability to assimilate recently acquired businesses, and realize synergies, cost savings, and opportunities for growth in connection therewith, together with the risks, costs, and uncertainties associated with such acquisitions; (xvi) the combined company’s ability to devise and execute strategies to respond to market conditions; (xvii) the risks to realizing the benefits of investments in R&D and commercialization of innovations; (xviii) the risks that the combined company’s stock price will not trade in line with industrial technology leaders; and (xix) the risks of business and economic disruption related to the currently ongoing COVID-19 outbreak and any other worldwide health epidemics or outbreaks that may arise. The Company disclaims any obligation to update information contained in these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or developments, or otherwise.

These risks, as well as other risks associated with the Transaction, are more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-255547) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (as amended on May 4, 2021 and supplemented by Coherent in its Form 8-K, as amended, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021), in connection with the Transaction (the “Form S-4”). While the list of factors discussed above and the list of factors presented in the Form S-4 are considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward looking statements. Neither the Company nor II-VI assumes any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

This communication does not constitute an offer to buy or solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. In connection with the Transaction, Coherent and II-VI filed with the SEC the Form S-4 on April 27, 2021 (as amended on May 4, 2021 and as supplemented by Coherent in its Form 8-K, as amended, filed with the SEC on June 15, 2021), which includes a joint proxy statement of Coherent and II-VI and also constitutes a prospectus with respect to shares of II-VI’s common stock to be issued in the Transaction. The Form S-4 was declared effective on May 6, 2021, and Coherent and II-VI commenced mailing to their respective stockholders on or about May 10, 2021. This communication is not a substitute for the Form S-4, the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus or any other document Coherent and/or II-VI may file with the SEC in connection with the Transaction. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF COHERENT AND II-VI ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, FORM S-4 AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY, AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders are able to obtain free copies of these documents and other documents filed with the SEC by Coherent and/or II-VI through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Coherent may be obtained free of charge on Coherent’s investor relations site at https://investors.coherent.com. Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by II-VI may be obtained free of charge on II-VI’s investor relations site at https://ii-vi.com/investor-relations.

No Offer or Solicitation

This communication is for informational purposes only and not intended to and does not constitute an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell, the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for, buy or sell or an invitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to or in connection with the Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. 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, and otherwise in accordance with applicable law.

SIGNATURE

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.