Item 1.01. Entry Into A Material Definitive Agreement
On October 6, 2009, Gen-Probe Incorporated ("Gen-Probe") entered into a
merger agreement with Prodesse, Inc., a privately-held Wisconsin corporation
("Prodesse"). Under the terms of the merger agreement, Gen-Probe will acquire
Prodesse for approximately $60 million payable at closing, plus additional cash
payments of up to an aggregate of $25 million in the event certain milestones
set forth in the merger agreement are achieved. Upon consummation of the merger,
Prodesse will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Gen-Probe.
A portion of Gen-Probe's closing payment will be set aside in an escrow fund.
Subject to certain limitations, the escrow fund will be available for 18 months
following the closing of the merger to indemnify Gen-Probe for various matters,
including for breaches of representations and warranties and covenants by
Prodesse included in the merger agreement. Gen-Probe also has the right to
offset any indemnification claims against the milestone payments otherwise
payable pursuant to the merger agreement.
The merger agreement contains customary representations and warranties,
covenants and termination rights. The transaction is subject to customary
closing conditions.
The merger has been approved by the boards of directors of both Gen-Probe and
Prodesse. No vote of Gen-Probe stockholders is required in connection with the
merger. The requisite Prodesse stockholder approval necessary to approve the
merger has been obtained.
Forward Looking Statements
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements in this
report regarding the proposed acquisition of Prodesse and Gen-Probe's business
that are not historical facts may be considered "forward-looking statements,"
including statements regarding the expected closing of the merger with Prodesse
and Gen-Probe's ability to satisfy any indemnification claims it may have out of
the escrow fund or as a set-off to the milestone payments, if any.
Forward-looking statements are based on management's current preliminary
expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause
Gen-Probe's results to differ materially and adversely from the statements
contained herein. Some of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions include but
are not limited to: (i) the risks that the closing conditions of the acquisition
may not be satisfied, that closing will not occur, or that the closing
conditions may take longer to satisfy than anticipated, (ii) the risk that
Gen-Probe will not successfully integrate Prodesse or achieve expected strategic
or financial benefits, and (iii) facts relating to Prodesse that may affect
timing, or strategic and other benefits of the proposed acquisition, are unknown
to Gen-Probe. The foregoing list sets forth some, but not all, of the factors
that could affect Gen-Probe's ability to achieve results described in any
forward-looking statements. For additional information about risks and
uncertainties Gen-Probe faces and a discussion of its financial statements and
related footnotes, see documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K and all
subsequent periodic reports. Undue reliance should not be placed on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.
Gen-Probe undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to
reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made,
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
2.
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