Filed by The Dow Chemical Company
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
Subject Company: The Dow Chemical Company;
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
Commission File No.: 001- 03433
The following is a joint press release issued by The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”) on June 10, 2016.
Dow and DuPont Announce
DowDuPont Inc. Form S-4 Registration Statement Declared Effective by SEC
Special Meetings of DuPont and Dow Stockholders
to Vote on Proposed Merger Scheduled for July 20, 2016
Wilmington, DE and Midland, MI, June 10, 2016 – DuPont (NYSE:DD) and The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced that the registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by DowDuPont Inc. (“DowDuPont”) on March 1, 2016, as amended, was declared effective on June 9, 2016. The registration statement was filed in connection with the proposed merger of equals of Dow and DuPont and includes a joint proxy statement of Dow and DuPont and a prospectus of DowDuPont.
The companies also announced that they have each scheduled special meetings of their respective stockholders to seek adoption of the merger agreement and approval of related matters from such stockholders, a key milestone in the process to merge and pursue the intended spins of three highly focused, independent companies.
| • | DuPont’s special meeting of stockholders will be held on July 20, 2016 at 10:00am, at 974 Centre Road, Chestnut Run Plaza Building 730, Wilmington, DE 19805. |
| • | Dow’s special meeting of stockholders will be held on July 20, 2016 at 10:00am, at the Employee Development Center, Dow Corporate Center, Midland, Michigan 48674. |
Each company’s common stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 2, 2016 are entitled to vote at the respective meeting and will receive the joint proxy statement/prospectus, which will be mailed to shareholders beginning June 10, 2016. The joint proxy statement/prospectus contains important information about the proposed merger transactions, the merger agreement and the proposals to be considered at the special meetings.
Both Dow’s and DuPont’s boards of directors unanimously recommend that its respective stockholders vote “FOR” adoption of the merger agreement and approval of related matters. The parties continue to expect the transaction to close in the second half of 2016, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including receipt of shareholder and regulatory approvals.
DuPont and Dow intend that, following the consummation of the merger, the combined company will pursue the separation of the combined company’s Agriculture business, Material Science business and Specialty Products business into three independent, publicly traded companies, subject to the receipt of approval by the DowDuPont board and any required regulatory approvals. The intended subsequent separation into three independent, publicly traded companies is expected to be consummated as soon as practicable following the merger closing, but consummation of the separations is not expected to exceed 18-24 months after the merger closing.
The Form S-4 is available on the SEC’s website (as filed under DowDuPont), and may be accessed at: www.sec.gov.
ABOUT DOW
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2015, Dow had annual sales of nearly $49 billion and employed approximately 49,500 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 179 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
ABOUT DUPONT
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.
| Contact Information
Dow Contacts |
DuPont Contacts | |
| Investors Neal Sheorey nrsheorey@dow.com +1 989-636-6347 |
Investors Greg Friedman greg.friedman@dupont.com +1 302-774-4994 | |
| Media Rachelle Schikorra ryschikorra@dow.com +1 989-638-4090 |
Media Dan Turner daniel.a.turner@dupont.com +1 302-996-8372 | |
Important Information About the Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the proposed transaction, DowDuPont Inc. (f/k/a Diamond-Orion HoldCo, Inc.) (“DowDuPont”) has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and the SEC has declared effective on June 9, 2016, a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-209869) (as amended, the “Registration Statement”) that includes a joint proxy statement of The Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (“DuPont”) and that also constitutes a prospectus of DowDuPont. Dow, DuPont and DowDuPont may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the joint proxy statement/prospectus or Registration Statement or any other document which Dow, DuPont or DowDuPont may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF DOW AND DUPONT ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC (when available) by Dow, DuPont and DowDuPont through the web site maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by contacting the investor relations department of Dow or DuPont at the following:
| Dow |
DuPont | |
| 2030 Dow Center |
974 Centre Road | |
| Midland, MI 48674 |
Wilmington, DE 19805 | |
| Attention: Investor Relations |
Attention: Investor Relations: | |
| 1-989-636-1463 |
1-302-774-4994 |
Participants in the Solicitation
Dow, DuPont, DowDuPont and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Dow’s directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in Dow’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, its proxy statement filed on April 1, 2016 and the joint proxy statement/prospectus of Dow contained in the Registration Statement filed on June 7, 2016, which are filed with the SEC. Information regarding DuPont’s directors and executive officers, including a description of their direct interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in DuPont’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, its proxy statement filed on March 18, 2016 and the joint proxy statement/prospectus of DuPont contained in the Registration Statement filed on June 7, 2016, which are filed with the SEC. A more complete description is available in the Registration Statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote of approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. 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.
Cautionary Notes on Forward Looking Statements
This communication contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “would,” “target,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the consummation of the proposed transaction and the anticipated benefits thereof. These and other forward-looking statements, including the failure to consummate the proposed transaction or to make or take any
filing or other action required to consummate such transaction on a timely matter or at all, are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, (i) the completion of the proposed transaction on anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining shareholder and regulatory approvals, anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the new combined company’s operations and other conditions to the completion of the merger, (ii) the ability of Dow and DuPont to integrate the business successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies, risks and costs and pursuit and/or implementation of the potential separations, including anticipated timing, any changes to the configuration of businesses included in the potential separation if implemented, (iii) the intended separation of the agriculture, material science and specialty products businesses of the combined company post-mergers in one or more tax efficient transactions on anticipated terms and timing, including a number of conditions which could delay, prevent or otherwise adversely affect the proposed transactions, including possible issues or delays in obtaining required regulatory approvals or clearances, disruptions in the financial markets or other potential barriers, (iv) potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction that could be instituted against Dow, DuPont or their respective directors, (v) the risk that disruptions from the proposed transaction will harm Dow’s or DuPont’s business, including current plans and operations, (vi) the ability of Dow or DuPont to retain and hire key personnel, (vii) potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger, (viii) uncertainty as to the long-term value of DowDuPont common stock, (ix) continued availability of capital and financing and rating agency actions, (x) legislative, regulatory and economic developments, (xi) potential business uncertainty, including changes to existing business relationships, during the pendency of the merger that could affect Dow’s and/or DuPont’s financial performance, (xii) certain restrictions during the pendency of the merger that may impact Dow’s or DuPont’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions and (xiii) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism or outbreak of war or hostilities, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed merger, are more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors presented in the Registration Statement 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. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on Dow’s or DuPont’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. Neither Dow nor DuPont 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.