UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE TO
TENDER OFFER STATEMENT
UNDER
SECTION 14(D)(1) OR SECTION 13(E)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
VNUS MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES,
INC.
(Name Of Subject Company (Issuer))
COVIDIEN GROUP S.A.R.L.
COVIDIEN DELAWARE CORP.
(Names of Filing Persons (Offerors))
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
928566108
(CUSIP Number of Common
Stock)
Michelangelo Stefani
Covidien Group
S.a.r.l.
36 Bld Prince Henri
L-1724, Luxembourg
Telephone: +352 266 379 31
(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized
to receive notices
and communications on behalf of filing persons)
with copies to:
Paul Kinsella
Ropes & Gray LLP
One International Place
Boston,
Massachusetts 02110
Telephone: (617) 951-7000
CALCULATION OF FILING FEE
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Transaction Valuation
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Amount Of Filing Fee
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Not Applicable*
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Not Applicable*
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*
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A filing fee is not required in connection with this filing as it relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.
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Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the
previous filing by registration statement number or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Amount Previously Paid:
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N/A
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Form or Registration No.:
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N/A
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Filing Party:
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Date Filed:
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N/A
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x
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Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the commencement of a tender offer.
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Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:
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third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1.
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issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4.
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going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3.
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amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2.
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Check the following box
if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer:
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Covidien Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc.
Dublin, Ireland, and San Jose, CA May 8, 2009 Covidien (NYSE: COV) and VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: VNUS) today announced that Covidien
has reached a definitive agreement to acquire VNUS, a developer of medical devices for minimally invasive treatment of venous reflux disease.
VNUS had
2008 revenues of $101 million and is based in San Jose, CA. The Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved the transaction, pursuant to which a wholly owned subsidiary of Covidien will pay $29.00 in cash per VNUS share for a
total of approximately $440 million, net of cash acquired. The transaction, which will take the form of an all cash tender offer followed by a second-step merger, is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of certain regulatory
approvals, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2009.
Venous reflux disease is an
underlying cause of varicose veins that can result in symptoms including leg pain, swelling, fatigue and skin ulcers. VNUSs proprietary products include the VNUS Closure
®
system,
which employs a disposable radiofrequency catheter that controllably heats and closes diseased veins. In a randomized clinical trial, the system was proven to be as effective as vein stripping, an open surgical procedure that has been the historical
standard for treatment for venous reflux disease, but with fewer side effects and faster recovery.
The acquisition of VNUS will allow Covidien to
expand its presence in the vascular market and is in line with our strategy of becoming a leading partner with vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists, said Joe Almeida, President, Medical Devices, Covidien. The VNUS product
line will be an important addition to our innovative portfolio of vascular intervention products.
By joining Covidien, VNUS gains access to
extended global resources to further drive the growth of VNUS products around the world, said Brian Farley, President and Chief Executive Officer, VNUS. To date, approximately 500,000 patients suffering from painful varicose veins and
venous reflux have been treated with the VNUS Closure catheter, and we look forward to seeing this transaction facilitate expanding the access to this beneficial therapy for many more patients.
Assuming a second calendar quarter closing, Covidien expects this transaction to dilute fiscal 2009 GAAP earnings per share, primarily due to a one-time charge for
in-process research and development (IPR&D). On a non-GAAP basis, excluding IPR&D, the transaction is expected to be slightly dilutive to 2009 earnings per share; however, the underlying strength of Covidiens existing businesses is
expected to offset this dilution. As a result, Covidien does not anticipate this transaction will have a material impact on its fiscal 2009 sales or operating margin outlook.
Once the transaction has been completed, Covidien will report the VNUS business as part of its Vascular product line in the Medical Devices segment.
ABOUT COVIDIEN
Covidien is a leading global healthcare products company that creates innovative medical solutions for better patient outcomes and delivers value through clinical leadership and excellence. Covidien manufactures, distributes and services a
diverse range of industry-leading product lines in four segments: Medical Devices, Imaging Solutions, Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Supplies. With 2008 revenue of nearly $10 billion, Covidien has more than 41,000 employees worldwide in 59
countries, and its products are sold in over 140 countries. Please visit www.covidien.com to learn more about our business.
ABOUT VNUS MEDICAL
TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
VNUS is a leading provider of medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of venous reflux, a progressive condition caused
by incompetent vein valves in the leg. VNUS sells the Closure system, which consists of a proprietary radiofrequency (RF) generator and proprietary disposable endovenous catheters and devices to treat diseased veins through the application of
temperature-controlled RF energy. For more information, please visit the corporate website at http://www.vnus.com.
COVIDIEN CONTACTS
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Eric Kraus
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Coleman Lannum, CFA
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Senior Vice President
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Vice President
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Corporate Communications
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Investor Relations
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508-452-4343
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508-452-4343
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eric.kraus@covidien.com
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cole.lannum@covidien.com
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Bruce Farmer
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Brian Nameth
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Vice President
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Director
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Public Relations
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Investor Relations
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508-452-4372
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508-452-4363
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bruce.farmer@covidien.com
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brian.nameth@covidien.com
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VNUS CONTACT
Peter Osborne
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Finance and Administration
408-360-7499
ir@vnus.com
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any statements contained in this
communication that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This release contains forward-looking information about Covidiens
proposed acquisition of VNUS Medical Technologies, Inc., the timing of the anticipated transaction, the potential benefits of the anticipated transaction, VNUS clinical trials, products and product candidates and the potential benefits of such
products and product candidates, and expected dilutive effect. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on Covidiens and VNUS managements current beliefs and expectations, but are subject to a number of risks,
uncertainties and changes in circumstances, which
may cause actual results or actions to differ materially from what is expressed or implied by these statements. The factors that could cause actual future
results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, the satisfaction of conditions to closing the agreement; the ability to successfully integrate VNUS operations and programs with Covidiens and the
time and resources required to do so, the uncertainties inherent in commercial, research and development activities, decisions by regulatory authorities regarding whether and when to approve any applications for such product candidates and other
matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates; and competitive developments. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in Covidiens and VNUS filings with the SEC.
We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. We disclaim any obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.
NON-GAAP Financial Information
This release contains a non-GAAP
financial measure. This non-GAAP financial measure, which is used as measures of Covidiens performance, should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of Covidiens financial performance prepared in
accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to GAAP is provided in the text of this release. Covidiens non-GAAP measures may be defined differently than similar terms used by other companies, and accordingly, care
should be exercised in understanding how Covidien defines its non-GAAP financial measures. Specifically, any one-time charge for in-process research and development is excluded from the projected earnings per share dilution.
Management uses this non-GAAP financial measure to gain an understanding of Covidiens comparative operating performance (when comparing such results with previous
periods or forecasts) and future prospects. This non-GAAP financial measure is also used by Covidiens management in their financial and operating decision-making because management believes they reflect the underlying economics of
Covidiens ongoing business in a manner that allows meaningful period-to-period comparisons. Such comparisons may be more meaningful because operating results presented under GAAP may include, from time to time, items that are not necessarily
relevant to understand Covidiens business and may, in some cases, be difficult to forecast accurately for future periods. Covidiens management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful information to investors and
others in understanding and evaluating Covidiens current operating performance and future prospects in the same manner as management does if they so choose. Non-GAAP financial measures have limitations, however, because they do not include all
items of income and expense that affect Covidiens operations. Management compensates for this and other limitations by also considering Covidiens financial results as determined in accordance with GAAP.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TENDER OFFER
This press release is
neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of VNUS. Covidien Delaware Corp. (the Merger Sub), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Covidien, has not commenced the tender offer for the shares of VNUS
stock described in this press release.
Upon commencement of the tender offer, the Merger Sub will file with the SEC a tender offer statement on Schedule TO and
related exhibits, including the offer to purchase, letter of transmittal, and other related documents. Following commencement of the tender offer, VNUS will file with the SEC a tender offer solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9.
These documents will contain important information about Covidien, VNUS, the transaction and other related matters. Investors and security holders are urged to read each of these documents carefully when they are available.
Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the tender offer statement, the tender offer solicitation/recommendation statement and other
documents filed with the SEC by the Merger Sub and VNUS through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of these documents by contacting:
Covidien
Investor Relations
508-452-4650
investor.relations@covidien.com
or
VNUS Medical Technologies
Investor Relations
408-360-7499 Extension 7446
ir@vnus.com
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