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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) Report Filed Under Item 5
_________________________
MERIDIAN DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio 0-14902 31-0888197
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
3471 River Hills Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
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(Address of principal executive offices) Zip Code
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (513) 271-3700
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Item 5. Other Events.
____________
This Form 8-K is filed for the purpose of supplying the press
release issued by Meridian Diagnostics, Inc. on October 10, 1995.
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
MERIDIAN DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Number Exhibit Description
______ ___________________
99 Press Release
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 hereunto duly authorized.
MERIDIAN DIAGNOSTICS, INC.
Date: October 10, 1995 BY: /s/John A. Kraeutler
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John A. Kraeutler
President and Chief
Operating Officer
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EXHIBIT 99
PRESS RELEASE
OCTOBER 10, 1995
Contact: Jerry L. Ruyan
(513) 271-3700
MERIDIAN DIAGNOSTICS CALLS 7-1/4% CONVERTIBLE
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2001
Meridian Diagnostics, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio, today announced
that it will call for redemption the outstanding balance of its
7-1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2001 (the
"Debentures"). The Company issued the Debentures September 1993
in the principal amount of $11.5 million. Approximately $7.4
million principal amount of the Debentures is outstanding; the
balance has been converted or tendered for conversion into shares
of the Company's common stock.
Holders of the Debentures have the option of converting their
Debentures into shares of Meridian Diagnostics' common stock
prior to the redemption date of November 30, 1995, at a
conversion price of $5.97 per share or, upon delivery of the
Debentures, receiving cash. The Debentures will be redeemed at
105% of their face amount plus accrued interest. The conversion
price of $5.97 per share is equivalent to a conversion rate of
167.5 shares per each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures. All
share amounts have been adjusted for stock dividends and splits
subsequent to the issuance of the Debentures.
Based on the current price of the Company's stock, Meridian
Diagnostics expects that holders will convert their Debentures
into shares of common stock. Conversion and/or redemption of the
Debentures will reduce the Company's annual interest expense,
increase shareholders' equity, reduce long-term debt, improve the
debt-to-equity relationship, and increase the float of shares
available for trading. On a pro forma basis, the per share
dilution for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1995 is expected
to be between $0.01 and $0.02 per share, assuming full conversion
of the Debentures.
Meridian Diagnostics, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a
variety of immunodiagnostic test kits, purified reagents such as
antigens and monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, and related
diagnostic products. The Company is a leader in the area of
rapid diagnosis of infectious human diseases. All Meridian
products are used outside the human body and require little or no
special instrumentation or equipment. Domestic and international
market segments consist of hospital, commercial and reference
laboratories, and physicians' offices. The Company has a leading
market position in fungal serology, and in parasite and bacterial
collection, preservation and transportation systems. The
Company's shares are traded through NASDAQ/NMS (Symbol: KITS).
