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): August 24, 2016

  

BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

Delaware 1-35672 20-5234618
(State of incorporation) (Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

101 Oakley Street

Evansville, Indiana 47710

(Address of principal executive offices / Zip Code)

 

(812) 424-2904

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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.
     
  ¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act.
     
  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act.
     
  ¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act.

 

 

   
   

 

Item 8.01Other Events

 

On August 25, 2016, Berry Plastics Group, Inc., (“Berry”) issued a press release related to the Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) entered into by and among Berry, Berry Plastics Corporation, Berry Plastics Acquisition Corporation XVI, Berry Plastics Acquisition Corporation XV, LLC and AEP Industries, Inc. Berry distributed the following materials with respect to the proposed Merger Agreement, the full text of which are attached hereto as Exhibits 99.1-99.2 and incorporated herein by reference:

 

·Press Release
·Investor Presentation

 

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)Exhibits.

 

Exhibit    
Number   Description
99.1   Press release dated August 25, 2016.
99.2   Investor Presentation dated August 25, 2016.

 

 

 

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This communication includes “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, as amended, with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business and our expectations or beliefs concerning future events. All statements regarding Berry’s, AEP’s or their respective subsidiaries’ expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, funds from operations, dividends and dividend plans, financing plans, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, operating metrics, capital expenditures, competitive positions, acquisitions, investment opportunities, merger integration, growth opportunities, dispositions, expected lease income, plans and objectives of management for future operations and statements that include words such as “anticipate,” “if,” “believe,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “will,” “seeks,” “approximately,” “outlook,” “looking forward” and other similar expressions or the negative form of the same are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about the potential timing or consummation of the proposed transaction or the anticipated benefits thereof, including, without limitation, future financial and operating results. Berry and AEP caution readers that these and other forward-looking statements 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 risks and uncertainties related to (i) the ability to obtain shareholder and regulatory approvals, or the possibility that they may delay the transaction or that such regulatory approval may result in the imposition of conditions that could cause the parties to abandon the transaction, (ii) the risk that the conditions to closing of the merger may not be satisfied; (iii) the ability of Berry to integrate the acquired business successfully and to achieve anticipated cost savings and other synergies, (iv) the possibility that other anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized, including without limitation, anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings and other financial results, and growth and expansion of the new combined company’s operations, and the anticipated tax treatment, (v) potential litigation relating to the proposed transaction that could be instituted against Berry, AEP or their respective directors, (vi) possible disruptions from the proposed transaction that could harm Berry’s or AEP’s business, including current plans and operations, (vii) potential adverse reactions or changes to relationships with clients, employees, suppliers or other parties resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger, (viii) changes in prices and availability of resin and other raw materials and our ability to pass on changes in raw material prices on a timely basis, (ix) continued availability of capital and financing and rating agency actions, (x) legislative, regulatory and economic developments and (xi) catastrophic loss of one of our key manufacturing facilities, natural disasters, and other unplanned business interruptions; as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transaction, will be more fully discussed in the proxy statement/prospectus that will be included in the registration statement on Form S-4 that will be filed with the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in connection with the proposed transaction. The list of factors presented here, and the list of factors to be presented in the registration statement on Form S-4, should not be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles or impediments 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 Berry’s or AEP’s consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. Neither Berry nor AEP assumes any obligation to 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.

 

 

 

 

No Offer or Solicitation

 

This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell or solicit any securities or any proxy, vote or 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 deemed to be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In connection with the proposed transaction, Berry expects to prepare and file with the SEC” a registration statement on Form S-4 containing a proxy statement/prospectus and other documents with respect to Berry’s proposed acquisition of AEP.  Investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto) and other relevant documents filed with the SEC if and when they become available because they will contain important information about the proposed transaction.

 

Additional Information and Where to Find It

 

Investors may obtain free copies of the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed by Berry and AEP with the SEC (when and if they become available) through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Berry with the SEC will also be available free of charge on Berry’s website at www.berryplastics.com and copies of the documents filed by AEP with the SEC are available free of charge on AEP’s website at www.aepinc.com.

 

Participants in Solicitation Relating to the Merger

 

This communication is not a solicitation of proxies in connection with the acquisition. However, Berry, AEP and their respective directors and executive officers and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from AEP’s shareholders in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Berry’s directors and executive officers and certain other members of management and employees can be found in Berry’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on January 20, 2016 and its 2015 Annual Report filed with the SEC on November 23, 2015, as well as its other filings with the SEC. Information regarding AEP’s directors and executive officers and certain other members of management and employees can be found in AEP’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on February 25, 2016 and its 2015 Annual Report filed with the SEC on January 14, 2016, as well as its other filings with the SEC. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants will be included in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction if and when they become available. These documents are available free of charge on the SEC’s website and from Berry and AEP, as applicable, using the sources indicated above.

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

  BERRY PLASTICS GROUP, INC.
  (Registrant)
     
Dated:  August 25, 2016 By: /s/ Jason Greene  
  Name: Jason Greene
  Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit    
Number   Description
99.1   Press release dated August 25, 2016.
99.2   Investor Presentation dated August 25, 2016.