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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>UNITED STATES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Washington, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:14pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT
REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) of the </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January&nbsp;31, 2019 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center> <P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>ESSENDANT INC. </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter) </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><center>
<P STYLE="line-height:6.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000;width:21%">&nbsp;</P></center> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">001-38499</FONT></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">36-3141189</FONT></B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(State or other jurisdiction of</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>incorporation)</B></P></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Commission File Number)</B></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(IRS Employer</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Identification No.)</B></P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>One Parkway North Blvd.</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Suite 100</B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Deerfield,
Illinois</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center"><B>60015-2559</B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3" ALIGN="center"><B>(Address of principal executive offices)</B></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>(Zip Code)</B></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (847)
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">627-7000</FONT> </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Not Applicable </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>(Former name or former address, if changed since last report) </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the appropriate box below if the Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of
the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below): </P> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14a-12</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17
CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.14a-12)</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</FONT> communications pursuant to Rule <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">14d-2(b)</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.14d-2(b))</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Pre-commencement</FONT> communications pursuant to Rule <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">13e-4(c)</FONT> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">240.13e-4(c))</FONT> </P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (&#167;230.405 of this
chapter) or Rule <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">12b-2</FONT> of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">(&#167;240.12b-2</FONT> of this chapter). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Emerging growth company &#9744; </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:10pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">If an emerging growth company,
indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) of the Exchange Act. &#9744; </P>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Introductory Note. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As previously disclosed, Essendant Inc., a Delaware corporation (the &#147;<U>Company</U>&#148;), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
September&nbsp;14, 2018 (the &#147;<U>Merger Agreement</U>&#148;), with Egg Parent Inc., a Delaware corporation and an affiliate of Staples (as defined below) (&#147;<U>Parent</U>&#148;), Egg Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (&#147;<U>Purchaser</U>&#148;), and Staples, Inc., a Delaware corporation (&#147;<U>Staples</U>&#148;), a significant customer of the Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the
conditions thereof, Purchaser conducted a tender offer (the &#147;<U>Offer</U>&#148;) to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the &#147;<U>Shares</U>&#148;), at a price per share of
$12.80, net to the seller in cash, without interest (the &#147;<U>Offer Price</U>&#148;), subject to any deduction or withholding of taxes required by applicable law. The Offer Price was determined through arm&#146;s-length negotiation. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Offer and all withdrawal rights thereunder expired at 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on January&nbsp;30, 2019 (the &#147;<U>Expiration Time</U>&#148;).
Equiniti Trust Company, in its capacity as depositary for the Offer (the &#147;<U>Depositary</U>&#148;), has indicated that, as of the Expiration Time, a total of 25,794,684 Shares were validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the
Offer (excluding 901,097 Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures but not yet delivered), which represent, together with the 4,203,631 Shares already owned by Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective &#147;affiliates&#148; (as
defined by Section&nbsp;251(h)(6) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the &#147;<U>DGCL</U>&#148;)), approximately 79.7% of the outstanding Shares. The number of Shares tendered satisfies the Minimum Condition (as defined in the
Merger Agreement). As the Minimum Condition and each of the other Offer Conditions (as defined in the Merger Agreement) have been satisfied (or validly waived), Purchaser has accepted for payment all Shares validly tendered and not properly
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer and payment for such Shares was made to the Depositary on January&nbsp;31, 2019. The Depositary will transmit such payments to tendering Company stockholders whose Shares have been accepted for payment, in accordance
with the terms of the Offer. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On January&nbsp;31, 2019, following the consummation of the Offer and the satisfaction (or waiver) of the other conditions
to the Merger (as defined below), Purchaser merged with and into the Company (the &#147;<U>Merger</U>&#148;), with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the &#147;<U>Surviving Corporation</U>&#148;). The Merger was completed
pursuant to Section&nbsp;251(h) of the DGCL, with no vote of the Company stockholders required to consummate the Merger. All of the Shares outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the &#147;<U>Merger Effective
Time</U>&#148;) (other than (i)&nbsp;Shares owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent, the Company (including Shares held as treasury stock) or Purchaser, (ii)&nbsp;Shares subject to the Company&#146;s equity compensation awards and (iii)&nbsp;Shares
owned by Company stockholders who have perfected their statutory rights of appraisal pursuant to Section&nbsp;262 of the DGCL) were converted automatically into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price, less any applicable
withholding tax. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each option to purchase Shares, whether granted under the Company&#146;s
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Non-Employee</FONT> Directors&#146; Deferred Stock Compensation Plan, 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan or 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan, in each case, as amended (as applicable) (collectively, the &#147;<U>Company Stock
Plans</U>&#148;), or otherwise (each, an &#147;<U>Option</U>&#148;), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction
of the holder&#146;s rights with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i)&nbsp;the excess, if any, of (A)&nbsp;the Offer Price over (B)&nbsp;the <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">per-share</FONT> exercise price of such cancelled
Option, multiplied by (ii)&nbsp;the total number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Option as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (the &#147;<U>Company Option Consideration</U>&#148;); provided, that, if the <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">per-share</FONT> exercise price of any such Option exceeded the Offer Price, such Option was cancelled without payment of any consideration. The Surviving Corporation will pay the Company Option Consideration, less any
applicable withholding taxes, through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5)&nbsp;business days following the Merger Effective Time. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each Share subject to vesting or other restrictions, whether granted under a Company Stock
Plan or otherwise, that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time vested in full and became free of restrictions and any repurchase rights applicable thereto lapsed, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full
satisfaction of the holder&#146;s rights with respect </P>

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thereto, an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price, less any applicable withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5)&nbsp;business days following
the Merger Effective Time. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each restricted stock unit, whether granted under a Company
Stock Plan or otherwise (&#147;<U>Company RSU</U>&#148;), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time vested in full and became free of restrictions and any repurchase rights applicable thereto lapsed, and the holder thereof
is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the holder&#146;s rights with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i)&nbsp;the Offer Price, multiplied by (ii)&nbsp;the total number of Shares subject to such Company RSU as of
immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, less any applicable withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5)&nbsp;business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to comply with applicable law, the consideration payable for any Company RSU will be paid on the settlement date for such Company RSU specified under the terms of the applicable award
agreement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each performance-based restricted stock unit, whether granted under a Company
Stock Plan or otherwise (&#147;<U>Company PSU</U>&#148;), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the holder&#146;s rights with respect
thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i)&nbsp;the Offer Price, multiplied by (ii)&nbsp;the target number of units underlying such Company PSU (the &#147;<U>Company PSU Consideration</U>&#148;), less any applicable withholding taxes,
payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5)&nbsp;business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to comply with
applicable law, the Company PSU Consideration will be paid on the settlement date for such Company PSU specified under the terms of the applicable award agreement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each award (each, a &#147;<U>Company Performance Unit Award</U>&#148;) of performance units,
whose value is determined by reference to a cash amount but which is payable in Shares and subject to performance based vesting criteria (the &#147;<U>Company Performance Units</U>&#148;), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger
Effective Time became vested as to a value of $1.00 per each Company Performance Unit (the &#147;<U>Performance Unit Value</U>&#148;) and was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the holder&#146;s rights
with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i)&nbsp;the Performance Unit Value, multiplied by (ii)&nbsp;the number of Company Performance Units subject to such Company Performance Unit Award (the &#147;<U>Company Performance
Unit Consideration</U>&#148;), less any applicable withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5)&nbsp;business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to comply with applicable law, the Company Performance Unit Consideration will be paid on the settlement date for such Company Performance Unit specified under the terms of the applicable award
agreement. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each cash-based award granted under a Company Stock Plan (each, a
&#147;<U>Company Cash Award</U>&#148;) that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time became vested as to the applicable Cash Award Amount (which means the amount payable pursuant to such Company Cash Award assuming satisfaction
in full of (i)&nbsp;any applicable performance conditions at the target level (or, for certain designated Company Cash Awards, maximum level), (ii) the vesting percentage at 100% and (iii)&nbsp;any threshold performance conditions, including any
minimum earnings per share thresholds) and was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of such holder&#146;s rights with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the Cash Award Amount, less any applicable
withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5)&nbsp;business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to
comply with applicable law, the Cash Award Amount will be paid on the settlement date for such Company Cash Award specified under the terms of the applicable award agreement. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The foregoing summary of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in
its entirety by, the full text of the Merger </P>

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Agreement attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> filed by the Company on September&nbsp;17, 2018 and incorporated by reference herein.
</P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;1.01</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On January&nbsp;31, 2019, Parent, Purchaser, the Company and certain of the Company&#146;s subsidiaries entered into a senior secured asset based revolving
credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.1&nbsp;billion and a senior secured asset based term loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $75&nbsp;million (together, the &#147;<U>Credit Facilities</U>&#148;) pursuant to a
credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;1.02</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Effective as of January&nbsp;31, 2019, and in connection with the consummation of the Merger, the Company terminated the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of February&nbsp;22, 2017, by and among Essendant Co., a Delaware corporation, the Company, the other loan parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and
concurrently repaid all advances and other obligations outstanding thereunder. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The information contained in the Introductory Note of this Current Report
on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;2.01</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As described in the Introductory Note above, on January&nbsp;30, 2019, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Shares validly tendered and not properly
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer prior to the Expiration Time. On January&nbsp;31, 2019, the Merger was completed pursuant to Section&nbsp;251(h) of the DGCL, with no vote of the Company stockholders required to consummate the Merger. Upon the
consummation of the Merger, the Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In connection with the completion of the Offer and the consummation
of the Merger, and subject to payments in respect of dissenting shares, the aggregate consideration paid by Purchaser for all equity securities of the Company was approximately $422&nbsp;million, without giving effect to related transaction fees and
expenses. The aggregate consideration was funded by a combination of Staples&#146; cash on hand, the Company&#146;s cash on hand and amounts permitted to be borrowed under the Credit Facilities. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The information contained in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> is incorporated by reference
into this Item 2.01. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;2.03</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">Off-Balance</FONT> Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The information set forth in Item 1.01 of
this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;3.01</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
</B></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In connection with the consummation of the Merger, the Company (i)&nbsp;notified the Nasdaq Stock Market
(&#147;<U>Nasdaq</U>&#148;) of the consummation of the Merger on January 31, 2019, and (ii)&nbsp;requested that Nasdaq file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;<U>SEC</U>&#148;) a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or
Registration on Form 25 to delist and deregister the Shares under Section&nbsp;12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as </P>

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<HR  SIZE="3" style="COLOR:#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">
amended (the &#147;<U>Exchange Act</U>&#148;). Trading of Shares on Nasdaq has been halted and will be suspended prior to the open of trading on February&nbsp;1, 2019. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Company also intends to file with the SEC a Certification and Notice of Termination of Registration on Form 15 under the Exchange Act requesting that the
Company&#146;s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act be suspended. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;3.03</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The information contained in the Introductory Note and Items 2.01, 3.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> is
incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.01</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Changes in Control of Registrant. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">As a result of the Offer and the Merger, a change in control of the Company occurred. At the Merger Effective Time, the Company became a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent. The information contained in the Introductory Note and Items 2.01, 5.02 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.02</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">At the Merger Effective Time and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, each
of the directors of the Company (Charles K. Crovitz, Dennis J. Martin, Richard D. Phillips, Susan J. Riley, Alexander M. Schmelkin, Stuart A. Taylor, II, Paul S. Williams and Alex D. Zoghlin) ceased to be a director of the Company, and each ceased
to be on any committee of the board of directors of the Company. At such time, Harry Dochelli, Jeff Hall, Stefan L. Kaluzny and John A. Lederer became the directors of the Company. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Also at the Merger Effective Time, Mr.&nbsp;Phillips resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company under circumstances entitling him to
severance benefits under the Second Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of December&nbsp;21, 2017, by and among Mr.&nbsp;Phillips and the Company, Essendant Co., and Essendant Management Services, LLC.&nbsp;Following
Mr.&nbsp;Phillips&#146; resignation, Harry Dochelli became President of the Company. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;5.03</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, as of the Merger Effective Time, the Company&#146;s certificate of incorporation and <FONT
STYLE="white-space:nowrap">by-laws</FONT> were each amended and restated in their entirety. A copy of the Company&#146;s Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Second Amended and Restated
<FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">By-laws</FONT> are attached as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> and are incorporated by reference herein. </P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Other Events. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On January 31, 2019, the Company and Staples issued a joint press release announcing the expiration and results of the Offer and the anticipated consummation
of the Merger. A copy of the joint press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> and is incorporated by reference herein. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On January 31, 2019, Staples issued a press release announcing the consummation of the Merger. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this
Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> and is incorporated by reference herein. </P>

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<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left"><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></P></TD></TR></TABLE>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR style = "page-break-inside:avoid">
<TD WIDTH="5%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left">(d)</TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman; " ALIGN="left">Exhibits </P></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt" ALIGN="center">


<TR>
<TD></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="91%"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:8pt">
<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP> <P STYLE=" margin-top:0pt ; margin-bottom:0pt; border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; display:table-cell; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman; "><B>&nbsp;Exhibit&nbsp;No.</B></P></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" ALIGN="center" STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Description</B></P></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;2.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/355999/000119312518275329/d520604dex21.htm">Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September&nbsp;
14, 2018, by and among Essendant Inc., Egg Parent Inc., Egg Merger Sub Inc. and Staples, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">8-K</FONT> filed by the Company with the SEC on September&nbsp;17,
 2018). </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;3.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="d681195dex31.htm">Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Essendant Inc., dated January&nbsp;31, 2019. </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">&nbsp;&nbsp;3.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="d681195dex32.htm">Second Amended and Restated <FONT STYLE="white-space:nowrap">By-laws</FONT> of Essendant Inc., effective January&nbsp;31, 2019. </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">99.1</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="d681195dex991.htm">Joint Press Release issued by Essendant Inc. and Staples, Inc., dated January&nbsp;31, 2019. </A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="8"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="8" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP ALIGN="center">99.2</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><A HREF="d681195dex992.htm">Press Release issued by Staples, Inc., dated January&nbsp;31, 2019. </A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>

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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURE </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">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. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:24pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P><DIV ALIGN="right">
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0" STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">


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<TD WIDTH="84%"></TD></TR>


<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">ESSENDANT INC.</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="font-size:1pt">
<TD HEIGHT="32"></TD>
<TD HEIGHT="32" COLSPAN="2"></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top"><U>/s/ Brendan McKeough&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Brendan McKeough</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="page-break-inside:avoid ; font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt">
<TD VALIGN="top">Title:</TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top">Senior Vice President, General Counsel and&nbsp;Secretary</TD></TR>
</TABLE></DIV> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Date: January&nbsp;31, 2019 </P>
</BODY></HTML>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "ESSENDANT INC", "cik": "0000355999", "assigned-sic": "5110", "irs-number": "363141189", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-38499", "film-number": "19556448"}, "business-address": {"street1": "ONE PARKWAY NORTH BOULEVARD", "city": "DEERFIELD", "state": "IL", "zip": "60015-2559", "phone": "847-627-7000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "ONE PARKWAY NORTH BOULEVARD", "city": "DEERFIELD", "state": "IL", "zip": "60015-2559"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "UNITED STATIONERS INC", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
8-K
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): January 31, 2019
ESSENDANT INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
001-38499
36-3141189
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
One Parkway North Blvd.
Suite 100
Deerfield,
Illinois
60015-2559
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847)
627-7000
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
☐
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule
14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.14a-12)
☐
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
☐
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c)
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this
chapter) or Rule
12b-2
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(§240.12b-2
of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company,
indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Introductory Note.
As previously disclosed, Essendant Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "
Company
"), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
September 14, 2018 (the "
Merger Agreement
"), with Egg Parent Inc., a Delaware corporation and an affiliate of Staples (as defined below) ("
Parent
"), Egg Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct
wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("
Purchaser
"), and Staples, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("
Staples
"), a significant customer of the Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and upon the terms and subject to the
conditions thereof, Purchaser conducted a tender offer (the "
Offer
") to purchase all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the "
Shares
"), at a price per share of
$12.80, net to the seller in cash, without interest (the "
Offer Price
"), subject to any deduction or withholding of taxes required by applicable law. The Offer Price was determined through arm's-length negotiation.
The Offer and all withdrawal rights thereunder expired at 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on January 30, 2019 (the "
Expiration Time
").
Equiniti Trust Company, in its capacity as depositary for the Offer (the "
Depositary
"), has indicated that, as of the Expiration Time, a total of 25,794,684 Shares were validly tendered and not properly withdrawn pursuant to the
Offer (excluding 901,097 Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures but not yet delivered), which represent, together with the 4,203,631 Shares already owned by Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective "affiliates" (as
defined by Section 251(h)(6) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "
DGCL
")), approximately 79.7% of the outstanding Shares. The number of Shares tendered satisfies the Minimum Condition (as defined in the
Merger Agreement). As the Minimum Condition and each of the other Offer Conditions (as defined in the Merger Agreement) have been satisfied (or validly waived), Purchaser has accepted for payment all Shares validly tendered and not properly
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer and payment for such Shares was made to the Depositary on January 31, 2019. The Depositary will transmit such payments to tendering Company stockholders whose Shares have been accepted for payment, in accordance
with the terms of the Offer.
On January 31, 2019, following the consummation of the Offer and the satisfaction (or waiver) of the other conditions
to the Merger (as defined below), Purchaser merged with and into the Company (the "
Merger
"), with the Company surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the "
Surviving Corporation
"). The Merger was completed
pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL, with no vote of the Company stockholders required to consummate the Merger. All of the Shares outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (the "
Merger Effective
Time
") (other than (i) Shares owned, directly or indirectly, by Parent, the Company (including Shares held as treasury stock) or Purchaser, (ii) Shares subject to the Company's equity compensation awards and (iii) Shares
owned by Company stockholders who have perfected their statutory rights of appraisal pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL) were converted automatically into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price, less any applicable
withholding tax.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each option to purchase Shares, whether granted under the Company's
Non-Employee
Directors' Deferred Stock Compensation Plan, 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan or 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan, in each case, as amended (as applicable) (collectively, the "
Company Stock
Plans
"), or otherwise (each, an "
Option
"), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction
of the holder's rights with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of (A) the Offer Price over (B) the
per-share
exercise price of such cancelled
Option, multiplied by (ii) the total number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of such Option as of immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time (the "
Company Option Consideration
"); provided, that, if the
per-share
exercise price of any such Option exceeded the Offer Price, such Option was cancelled without payment of any consideration. The Surviving Corporation will pay the Company Option Consideration, less any
applicable withholding taxes, through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5) business days following the Merger Effective Time.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each Share subject to vesting or other restrictions, whether granted under a Company Stock
Plan or otherwise, that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time vested in full and became free of restrictions and any repurchase rights applicable thereto lapsed, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full
satisfaction of the holder's rights with respect
thereto, an amount in cash equal to the Offer Price, less any applicable withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5) business days following
the Merger Effective Time.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each restricted stock unit, whether granted under a Company
Stock Plan or otherwise ("
Company RSU
"), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time vested in full and became free of restrictions and any repurchase rights applicable thereto lapsed, and the holder thereof
is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the holder's rights with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Offer Price, multiplied by (ii) the total number of Shares subject to such Company RSU as of
immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time, less any applicable withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5) business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to comply with applicable law, the consideration payable for any Company RSU will be paid on the settlement date for such Company RSU specified under the terms of the applicable award
agreement.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each performance-based restricted stock unit, whether granted under a Company
Stock Plan or otherwise ("
Company PSU
"), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the holder's rights with respect
thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Offer Price, multiplied by (ii) the target number of units underlying such Company PSU (the "
Company PSU Consideration
"), less any applicable withholding taxes,
payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5) business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to comply with
applicable law, the Company PSU Consideration will be paid on the settlement date for such Company PSU specified under the terms of the applicable award agreement.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each award (each, a "
Company Performance Unit Award
") of performance units,
whose value is determined by reference to a cash amount but which is payable in Shares and subject to performance based vesting criteria (the "
Company Performance Units
"), that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger
Effective Time became vested as to a value of $1.00 per each Company Performance Unit (the "
Performance Unit Value
") and was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the holder's rights
with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) the Performance Unit Value, multiplied by (ii) the number of Company Performance Units subject to such Company Performance Unit Award (the "
Company Performance
Unit Consideration
"), less any applicable withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5) business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to comply with applicable law, the Company Performance Unit Consideration will be paid on the settlement date for such Company Performance Unit specified under the terms of the applicable award
agreement.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Merger Effective Time, each cash-based award granted under a Company Stock Plan (each, a
"
Company Cash Award
") that was outstanding immediately prior to the Merger Effective Time became vested as to the applicable Cash Award Amount (which means the amount payable pursuant to such Company Cash Award assuming satisfaction
in full of (i) any applicable performance conditions at the target level (or, for certain designated Company Cash Awards, maximum level), (ii) the vesting percentage at 100% and (iii) any threshold performance conditions, including any
minimum earnings per share thresholds) and was cancelled, and the holder thereof is entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of such holder's rights with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to the Cash Award Amount, less any applicable
withholding taxes, payable through the payroll of the Surviving Corporation within five (5) business days following the Merger Effective Time; provided, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this paragraph, if required to
comply with applicable law, the Cash Award Amount will be paid on the settlement date for such Company Cash Award specified under the terms of the applicable award agreement.
The foregoing summary of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in
its entirety by, the full text of the Merger
Agreement attached as Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form
8-K
filed by the Company on September 17, 2018 and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 1.01
Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On January 31, 2019, Parent, Purchaser, the Company and certain of the Company's subsidiaries entered into a senior secured asset based revolving
credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.1 billion and a senior secured asset based term loan credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $75 million (together, the "
Credit Facilities
") pursuant to a
credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto.
Item 1.02
Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.
Effective as of January 31, 2019, and in connection with the consummation of the Merger, the Company terminated the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit
Agreement, dated as of February 22, 2017, by and among Essendant Co., a Delaware corporation, the Company, the other loan parties party thereto, the lenders party thereto and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and
concurrently repaid all advances and other obligations outstanding thereunder.
The information contained in the Introductory Note of this Current Report
on Form
8-K
is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.
Item 2.01
Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
As described in the Introductory Note above, on January 30, 2019, Purchaser irrevocably accepted for payment all Shares validly tendered and not properly
withdrawn pursuant to the Offer prior to the Expiration Time. On January 31, 2019, the Merger was completed pursuant to Section 251(h) of the DGCL, with no vote of the Company stockholders required to consummate the Merger. Upon the
consummation of the Merger, the Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent.
In connection with the completion of the Offer and the consummation
of the Merger, and subject to payments in respect of dissenting shares, the aggregate consideration paid by Purchaser for all equity securities of the Company was approximately $422 million, without giving effect to related transaction fees and
expenses. The aggregate consideration was funded by a combination of Staples' cash on hand, the Company's cash on hand and amounts permitted to be borrowed under the Credit Facilities.
The information contained in the Introductory Note of this Current Report on Form
8-K
is incorporated by reference
into this Item 2.01.
Item 2.03
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
The information set forth in Item 1.01 of
this Current Report on Form
8-K
is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 3.01
Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.
In connection with the consummation of the Merger, the Company (i) notified the Nasdaq Stock Market
("
Nasdaq
") of the consummation of the Merger on January 31, 2019, and (ii) requested that Nasdaq file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "
SEC
") a Notification of Removal from Listing and/or
Registration on Form 25 to delist and deregister the Shares under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "
Exchange Act
"). Trading of Shares on Nasdaq has been halted and will be suspended prior to the open of trading on February 1, 2019.
The Company also intends to file with the SEC a Certification and Notice of Termination of Registration on Form 15 under the Exchange Act requesting that the
Company's reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act be suspended.
Item 3.03
Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
The information contained in the Introductory Note and Items 2.01, 3.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form
8-K
is
incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
Item 5.01
Changes in Control of Registrant.
As a result of the Offer and the Merger, a change in control of the Company occurred. At the Merger Effective Time, the Company became a wholly owned
subsidiary of Parent. The information contained in the Introductory Note and Items 2.01, 5.02 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form
8-K
is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.01.
Item 5.02
Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers;
Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
At the Merger Effective Time and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, each
of the directors of the Company (Charles K. Crovitz, Dennis J. Martin, Richard D. Phillips, Susan J. Riley, Alexander M. Schmelkin, Stuart A. Taylor, II, Paul S. Williams and Alex D. Zoghlin) ceased to be a director of the Company, and each ceased
to be on any committee of the board of directors of the Company. At such time, Harry Dochelli, Jeff Hall, Stefan L. Kaluzny and John A. Lederer became the directors of the Company.
Also at the Merger Effective Time, Mr. Phillips resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company under circumstances entitling him to
severance benefits under the Second Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2017, by and among Mr. Phillips and the Company, Essendant Co., and Essendant Management Services, LLC. Following
Mr. Phillips' resignation, Harry Dochelli became President of the Company.
Item 5.03
Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, as of the Merger Effective Time, the Company's certificate of incorporation and
by-laws
were each amended and restated in their entirety. A copy of the Company's Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Second Amended and Restated
By-laws
are attached as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form
8-K
and are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 8.01
Other Events.
On January 31, 2019, the Company and Staples issued a joint press release announcing the expiration and results of the Offer and the anticipated consummation
of the Merger. A copy of the joint press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form
8-K
and is incorporated by reference herein.
On January 31, 2019, Staples issued a press release announcing the consummation of the Merger. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this
Current Report on Form
8-K
and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 
14, 2018, by and among Essendant Inc., Egg Parent Inc., Egg Merger Sub Inc. and Staples, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Current Report on Form
8-K
filed by the Company with the SEC on September 17,
 2018).
3.1
Third Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Essendant Inc., dated January 31, 2019.
3.2
Second Amended and Restated
By-laws
of Essendant Inc., effective January 31, 2019.
99.1
Joint Press Release issued by Essendant Inc. and Staples, Inc., dated January 31, 2019.
99.2
Press Release issued by Staples, Inc., dated January 31, 2019.
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.
ESSENDANT INC.
By:
/s/ Brendan McKeough
Name:
Brendan McKeough
Title:
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Date: January 31, 2019