Zila Board Finds the Intelident Proposal Not Superior to Tolmar Offer
July 10 2009 - 10:40PM
Business Wire
Zila, Inc. (Nasdaq:ZILA) today announced that its Board of
Directors has carefully reviewed a non-binding contingent proposal
submitted by Intelident Solutions Inc. (Intelident) to Zila on July
7, 2009 to acquire all of Zila�s common stock for $0.42 per share.
The Board concluded that the Intelident proposal is not superior to
Zila�s existing agreement to be acquired by Tolmar Holding, Inc.
(Tolmar).
As previously announced on June 25, 2009, Zila entered into a
definitive merger agreement with Tolmar. Under terms of the
agreement, Tolmar agreed to acquire all of the outstanding shares
of common stock of Zila for a cash purchase price of $0.38 per
share, representing an approximate premium of 18% over the closing
price of Zila�s shares on June 24, 2009. Total consideration paid
by Tolmar includes the purchase of Zila�s existing $12 million
senior secured convertible debt from the note holders for $5
million pursuant to a Note Purchase Agreement entered into by
Tolmar and the note holders. Zila is not a party to the Note
Purchase Agreement. The note holders have been free to sell or
assign their notes since they were issued in 2006.
On July 2, 2009, Zila disclosed in its preliminary proxy
statement filing with the SEC that it received an unsolicited
letter a day earlier containing a non-binding merger acquisition
proposal from Intelident proposing the acquisition of Zila�s common
stock for $0.42 in cash per share. This letter and the July 7, 2009
proposal also stated that Intelident would require, as part of its
acquisition, to negotiate the purchase of the senior secured notes
and that consummation of the transaction was contingent upon its
ability to enter into a note purchase agreement with the note
holders on substantially similar terms as the current Note Purchase
Agreement with Tolmar.
However, Intelident has not informed Zila of any plan to cause
Tolmar and Zila�s note holders to terminate the Note Purchase
Agreement and cause the note holders to agree to enter into a new
note purchase agreement with Intelident.
The Board also considered the possibility that Intelident is
trying to prevent the Tolmar transaction from being consummated in
order for it to be able to acquire Zila�s assets out of bankruptcy
in a so-called Section 363 transaction as Intelident proposed to
Zila as late as June 25, 2009. In such a transaction, Zila�s
shareholders would likely receive no consideration for their
shares.
Even though, on its face, Intelident offered a nominally higher
per-share price for Zila�s common and preferred stock, Zila�s Board
of Directors concluded that Intelident�s contingent proposal is not
superior to Tolmar�s given Intelident�s failure to satisfy the
conditions in their proposal.
Zila�s Board of Directors also expressed concern regarding
Intelident�s public announcement on July 7, 2009 of its offer,
which did not mention the material contingency described above. The
absence of any disclosure by Intelident regarding the contingency
may have caused investors in Zila�s common stock to misunderstand
the viability of its proposal.
�It is disconcerting that Intelident sought to make investors
believe that it made a no-strings-attached offer to purchase Zila
for $0.42 per share when in fact their offer was subject to
conditions that cannot be satisfied by Zila and that Intelident
appears, at least at this point, unable or not prepared to
satisfy,� said Dave Bethune, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Zila. �Our note holders have always had the ability to sell or
assign their Zila notes without our knowledge or permission. The
Board continues to be prepared to review and act upon superior
offers for the benefit of its shareholders in accordance with the
exercise of its fiduciary duties.�
About Zila, Inc.
Zila, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a
diagnostic company dedicated to the prevention, detection and
treatment of oral cancer and periodontal disease. Zila manufactures
and markets ViziLite� Plus with TBlue� (�ViziLite� Plus�), the
company�s flagship product for the early detection of oral
abnormalities that could lead to cancer. ViziLite� Plus is an
adjunctive medical device cleared by the FDA for use in a
population at increased risk for oral cancer. In addition, Zila
designs, manufactures and markets a suite of proprietary products
sold exclusively and directly to dental professionals for
periodontal disease, including the Rotadent� Professional Powered
Brush, the Pro-Select Platinum� ultrasonic scaler and a portfolio
of oral pharmaceutical products for both in-office and home-care
use. All of Zila�s products are marketed and sold in the United
States and Canada primarily through the company�s direct field
sales force and telemarketing organization. The company�s products
are marketed and sold in other international markets through the
direct sales forces of third party distributors. Zila�s marketing
programs reach most U.S. dental offices.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These
forward-looking statements are based largely on Zila�s expectations
or forecasts of future events, can be affected by inaccurate
assumptions and are subject to various business risks and known and
unknown uncertainties, a number of which are beyond Zila�s control.
Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements about the proposed merger transaction involving Zila and
Tolmar, including the timing of the closing of the proposed merger
and other statements that are not historical facts. The following
factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ from
those set forth in the forward-looking statements: the failure of
Zila�s stockholders to approve the proposed merger transaction; the
failure of Zila or Tolmar to satisfy any other condition to the
completion of the proposed merger transaction; and the risk that
the transaction will be delayed. Additional factors that may affect
future results are discussed in Zila�s Form 10-K for its fiscal
year ended July 31, 2008 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April
30, 2009. Zila disclaims any obligation to update and/or revise
statements contained in these materials based on new information or
otherwise.
Additional Information Regarding the Merger
On July 2, 2009, Zila filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the �SEC�) a preliminary proxy statement relating to
the proposed merger with Tolmar. Zila intends to file a definitive
proxy statement and other relevant materials with the SEC in the
near future. These materials will also be mailed to Zila�s
stockholders. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT
AND RELATED MATERIALS IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
SUCH MATERIALS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ZILA,
TOLMAR AND THE PROPOSED MERGER TRANSACTION, AND STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD
CAREFULLY CONSIDER THEM BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT
DECISIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED MERGER TRANSACTION. The
proxy statement and related materials (when they become available),
and any other documents filed by Zila with the SEC, may be obtained
free of charge at the SEC�s web site, www.sec.gov. In addition,
Zila�s stockholders may obtain free copies of the documents filed
by Zila with the SEC by contacting the Company�s Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary at Zila, Inc., 16430 North Scottsdale
Road, Suite 450, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254-1770, or by calling
(602) 266-6700. This press release does not constitute an offer of
any securities for sale or the solicitation of any proxy.
Zila, its directors, executive officers and other members of its
management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from the company�s stockholders in favor of
the proposed merger transaction. Information regarding Zila�s
directors and executive officers and their respective interests in
the proposed merger transaction (which may be different from those
of Zila�s stockholders generally) is included in the proxy
statements and Annual Reports on Form 10-K that Zila has previously
filed with the SEC. When it becomes available, the proxy statement
relating to the proposed merger transaction will include
information regarding all of Zila�s participants in the
solicitation of proxies in favor of approving the merger.
Stockholders of Zila can obtain free copies of these documents by
using the contact information provided above.
For more information about the Company and its products, please
visit www.zila.com.
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