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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
JUNE 21, 1999
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
ABBOTT LABORATORIES
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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ILLINOIS 1-2189 36-0698440
(State or other (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
Jurisdiction of Identification No.)
Incorporation)
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100 ABBOTT PARK ROAD
ABBOTT PARK, ILLINOIS 60064-3500
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 937-6100
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On June 21, 1999, ALZA Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("ALZA"),
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with
Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois corporation ("Abbott"), and AC Merger Sub Inc.,
a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abbott (the "Merger
Sub"). Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, and subject to the
conditions set forth therein (including approval of the transaction by the
stockholders of ALZA), the Merger Sub will be merged with and into ALZA (the
"Merger"). At the effective time of the Merger, the separate existence of the
Merger Sub will cease, ALZA will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Abbott and
each outstanding share of ALZA common stock will be exchanged for 1.2 shares of
Abbott common stock. The Merger is intended to be a tax-free reorganization
pursuant to Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
is intended to be treated as a pooling of interests for financial reporting
purposes. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2.1 to ALZA's
current report on Form 8-K dated June 25, 1999.
In addition, Abbott and ALZA entered into two Co-Promotion Agreements with
respect to certain products of ALZA, which agreements are attached as Exhibits
99.2 and 99.3 to ALZA's current report on Form 8-K dated June 25, 1999.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
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Exhibit No. Description
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Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated June 21, 1999.
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SIGNATURE
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, hereunto duly authorized.
ABBOTT LABORATORIES
/s/ Gary P. Coughlan
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By: Gary P. Coughlan
Senior Vice President, Finance
and Chief Financial Officer
Date: June 30, 1999
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated June 21, 1999.
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Exhibit 99.1
ABBOTT LABORATORIES TO ACQUIRE ALZA CORPORATION
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., and PALO ALTO, Calif., June 21, 1999 -- Abbott
Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) and ALZA Corporation (NYSE: AZA) today announced that
the companies have entered into a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire
ALZA, a research-based pharmaceutical company with a growing portfolio of
products and leading drug delivery technologies.
Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will acquire all of ALZA's
outstanding stock in a stock-for-stock merger transaction intended to be
tax-free. ALZA shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 1.20 shares
of Abbott common stock for each share of ALZA. The total transaction value is
approximately $7.3 billion. Abbott intends to account for the transaction as a
pooling of interests. The transaction is expected to be completed by year end,
subject to approval by ALZA's stockholders, regulatory agencies and customary
closing conditions.
As required to qualify for a pooling transaction, the Board of Directors of
Abbott Laboratories rescinded its authorization to purchase shares of its common
stock under its share repurchase program.
"Our acquisition of ALZA is an excellent strategic fit and an important
step that builds our pharmaceutical business and accelerates Abbott's long-term
growth," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer of Abbott
Laboratories. "ALZA brings a number of key assets to Abbott that provide both
short- and long-term value, including: a portfolio of pharmaceutical products
that Abbott can rapidly grow and expand through its strong global sales
organization; new products in development; strong technical relationships with
pharmaceutical industry partners; and important scientific expertise in drug
delivery technologies that enhance patient care and provide a strategic
technology platform for application across all of Abbott's diverse businesses."
"I am immensely proud of the progress that ALZA's employees have made in
transforming our business from a client-based, product-development laboratory
into an integrated pharmaceutical company with strong therapeutic franchises in
urology and oncology," said Ernest Mario, Ph.D., chairman and chief executive
officer of ALZA. "Our relationship with Abbott and the exceptional fit of these
companies represents an exciting opportunity to fully realize the commercial
value of our products and technologies. The combination of Abbott's global
commercial infrastructure, broad product portfolio and strong R&D resources with
ALZA's specialized product portfolio and powerful drug delivery expertise will
significantly accelerate the growth and development of our combined core
businesses."
"ALZA's marketed products and pharmaceutical pipeline in the areas of
urology and oncology fit perfectly into Abbott's pharmaceutical franchise
areas," said Arthur Higgins, senior vice president, pharmaceutical operations at
Abbott. "Our existing leadership positions in
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urology and neuroscience will be enhanced by ALZA's products, and ALZA's
oncology presence will give Abbott an additional platform for a leadership
position in cancer treatment that augments our own internal cancer research and
development efforts as well as our broad line of multi-source oncology
products."
"This is an exciting event for ALZA -- an opportunity to join our
world-class technology and pharmaceutical business with the resources of a
global research-based pharmaceutical company," said Alejandro Zaffaroni, PhD.,
ALZA's founder. "I believe that this relationship with Abbott further validates
the extraordinary contributions and scientific excellence of so many colleagues
at ALZA, and the technologies and products that we all helped create."
Upon closure of the transaction, there will be a restatement of 1999
earnings. Abbott expects the acquisition will result in a $.03 dilution in
2000, and will be accretive to earnings in 2001 and thereafter. In addition,
the acquisition will result in a one-time charge of approximately $100 million
in 1999.
ALZA Corporation, headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., is a research-based
pharmaceutical products company with leading drug delivery technologies. The
company applies its delivery technologies to develop pharmaceutical products
with enhanced therapeutic value for its own portfolio and for many of the
world's leading pharmaceutical companies. ALZA's sales and marketing efforts
are currently focused in urology and oncology. The company employs
approximately 2,000 people. In 1998, ALZA's sales and net earnings were $646.9
million and $108.3 million, respectively, with diluted earnings per share of
$1.07. ALZA Corporation was advised by Chase Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch
& Co.
Abbott Laboratories is a global, diversified health care company devoted to
the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceutical,
diagnostic, nutritional and hospital products. The company employs 56,000
people and markets its products in more than 130 countries. In 1998, the
company's sales and net earnings were $12.5 billion and $2.3 billion,
respectively, with diluted earnings per share of $1.51. Morgan Stanley Dean
Witter & Co., Inc. acted as financial advisor to Abbott.
