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<P STYLE="line-height:3.0pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:2pt;border-bottom:1px solid #000000">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:4pt; 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:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 </B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;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:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:18pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>FORM 8-K
</B></P> <P STYLE="font-size:12pt;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:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>CURRENT REPORT </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Pursuant
to Section&nbsp;13 or 15(d) </B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:12pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): September&nbsp;15, 2013 </B></P>
<P STYLE="font-size:12pt;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:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:24pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Cornerstone Therapeutics 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:12pt;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:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>Delaware<BR></B></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>000-50767<BR></B></TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>04-3523569<BR></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</B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>of Incorporation)</B></P></TD>
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<P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>File Number)</B></P></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" ALIGN="center"><B>1255 Crescent Green Drive, Suite&nbsp;250, Cary, NC<BR></B></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
<TD VALIGN="top" ALIGN="center"><B>27518<BR></B></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" 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:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Registrant&#146;s telephone number, including area code: (919)&nbsp;678-6611 </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; 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="font-size:12pt;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:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing of obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: </P> <P STYLE="font-size:6pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) </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">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) </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">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) </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">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) </TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="font-size:10pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B>Item&nbsp;1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><I>Merger Agreement </I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On
September&nbsp;15, 2013, Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (the &#147;Company&#148;) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the &#147;Merger Agreement&#148;) with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. (&#147;Chiesi&#148;) and Chiesi U.S. Corporation (the
&#147;Merger Sub&#148;), a Delaware corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Merger Sub will merge with and into
the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi (the &#147;Merger&#148;). </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">In the Merger,
each share of the Company&#146;s common stock that is issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), except for treasury stock, dissenting shares and shares held by Chiesi or its subsidiaries, will be converted
into the right to receive $9.50 in cash (the &#147;Merger Consideration&#148;), without interest and subject to deduction for any required withholding taxes. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, vesting restrictions on
restricted shares previously issued by the Company will be fully accelerated and, as a result, in the Merger such restricted shares will be treated in the same manner as other shares of common stock, subject to deduction for any required withholding
taxes. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each stock option will be accelerated to the extent not already fully exercisable and will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to the Merger Consideration minus
the exercise price of the option, without interest and subject to deduction for any required withholding taxes. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Merger Consideration
was determined as a result of negotiations between Chiesi and a special committee of independent directors of the Board of Directors of the Company (the &#147;Special Committee&#148;), with the assistance of separate financial advisors selected and
retained by the Special Committee. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the parties,
including, among others, covenants by the Company (i)&nbsp;to conduct its business in the ordinary course during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and consummation of the Merger, (ii)&nbsp;not to engage in certain kinds of
transactions during such period and (iii)&nbsp;to convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of obtaining the Stockholder Approvals (as defined below). The Merger Agreement contains covenants by Chiesi to vote its shares in favor
of the Merger and to leave the Special Committee in place through the completion of the Merger. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Special Committee unanimously
determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company other than Chiesi and its affiliates, and that it is advisable for the
Company to enter into the Merger Agreement. The Special Committee also unanimously recommended that the Company&#146;s Board of Directors approve and declare advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and determine to
recommend that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt the Merger Agreement. Based on the Special Committee&#146;s recommendation, the Board (i)&nbsp;determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company&#146;s stockholders, (ii)&nbsp;approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and (iii)&nbsp;resolved to recommend
that the Company&#146;s stockholders vote to adopt the Merger Agreement. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">- 2 - </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Stockholders of the Company will be asked to vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement at a
special stockholders meeting that will be held on a date to be announced. The consummation of the Merger is subject to the condition that the Merger Agreement be adopted by the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) in favor of the adoption of the
Merger Agreement of (i)&nbsp;the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock and (ii)&nbsp;the holders of at least a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock not owned, directly or indirectly, by Chiesi or
Merger Sub or any of their affiliates, any other officers and directors of the Company, any other person having any equity interest in, or any right to acquire any equity interest in, Merger Sub, or any person of which Merger Sub is a direct or
indirect subsidiary (together, the &#147;Stockholder Approvals&#148;). Consummation of the Merger is also subject to other customary conditions regarding the absence of any law, injunction or judgment that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation
of the Merger and obtaining all required regulatory consents. Each party&#146;s obligation to consummate the Merger is also subject to additional conditions regarding the accuracy of the other party&#146;s representations and warranties contained in
the Merger Agreement (subject to certain materiality qualifiers) and the other party&#146;s compliance with its covenants in the Merger Agreement (subject to certain materiality qualifiers). The Merger Agreement does not contain a financing
condition. </P> <P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">Craig A. Collard (who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company) and an entity controlled by him have entered
into Voting and Support Agreements under which they have agreed to vote their shares of the Company&#146;s common stock in favor of the Merger. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are not complete and are subject to and qualified
in their entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a copy of which attached hereto as Exhibit&nbsp;2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><I>General </I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The Merger Agreement has
been included to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company,
Chiesi or their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of the Company. The assertions embodied in those representations and warranties were made for purposes of the Merger Agreement, and
are qualified by information in disclosure schedules that the Company has delivered in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement. The disclosure schedules contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the
representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement. In addition, certain representations and warranties were made as of a specific date, may be subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from what an investor might view
as material, or may have been used for purposes of allocating risk between the respective parties rather than establishing matters as facts. Accordingly, you should read the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement not in isolation but
only in conjunction with the other information about the Company that are included in reports, statements and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#147;SEC&#148;). </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><I>Additional Information and Where to Find It </I></B></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The
Company intends to file a Proxy Statement with the SEC, and the Company and Chiesi intend to file a Schedule 13E-3 and other relevant materials with the SEC. A definitive proxy statement will be sent to holders of the Company&#146;s common stock
seeking their approval of the proposed transaction. <B>WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AS WELL AS THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPANY OR CHIESI</B> </P>

 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">- 3 - </P>


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<B></B><B>WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR
ENTIRETY</B>. Investors will be able to obtain these materials (when they become available) and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC&#146;s website (<U>http://www.sec.gov</U>). In addition, these materials (when they become
available) will also be available free of charge by accessing the Company&#146;s website (<U>http://www.crtx.com</U>). Investors may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visit the SEC&#146;s website for further information on its public reference room. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:18pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><I>Participants in the Proxy Solicitation </I></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">The directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from stockholders in respect of the proposed Merger. Information regarding the Company&#146;s directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2012
filed with the SEC by the Company on March&nbsp;14, 2013, as amended by a Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April&nbsp;11, 2013. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;8.01.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Other Events </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman"><B><I>Press Release </I></B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">On September&nbsp;16, 2013, the Company and Chiesi issued a joint press release announcing, among other things, the Company&#146;s and
Chiesi&#146;s entry into the Merger Agreement. A copy of that press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference. </P> <P STYLE="font-size:18pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD WIDTH="10%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><B>Item&nbsp;9.01.</B></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><B>Financial Statements and Exhibits. </B></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">(d) Exhibits. </P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:6pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:4%; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">See the Exhibit Index attached hereto. </P>
 <p STYLE="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt ; font-size:8pt">&nbsp;</P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center">- 4 - </P>


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 <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>SIGNATURES </B></P>
<P STYLE="margin-top:12pt; margin-bottom:0pt; text-indent:8%; 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:12pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt">&nbsp;</P>
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<TD VALIGN="top" COLSPAN="3">CORNERSTONE THERAPEUTICS INC.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Dated: September&nbsp;16, 2013</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">By:</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:1pt; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; font-size:10pt; font-family:Times New Roman">/s/ Craig A. Collard </P></TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Craig A. Collard</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Chief Executive Officer</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="bottom" NOWRAP ALIGN="center"> <P STYLE="border-bottom:1.00pt solid #000000; width:85.25pt; font-size:8pt; font-family:Times New Roman" ALIGN="center"><B>Description of Document</B></P></TD></TR>


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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>&nbsp;&nbsp;2.1</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Agreement and Plan of Merger among Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Chiesi U.S. Corporation and Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. dated September 15, 2013.</TD></TR>
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<TD VALIGN="top" NOWRAP>99.1</TD>
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<TD VALIGN="top">Joint press release dated September 16, 2013 issued by Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. and Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.</TD></TR>
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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): September 15, 2013
Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware
000-50767
04-3523569
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
1255 Crescent Green Drive, Suite 250, Cary, NC
27518
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (919) 678-6611
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 of obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
x
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))
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Merger Agreement
On
September 15, 2013, Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. (the "Company") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. ("Chiesi") and Chiesi U.S. Corporation (the
"Merger Sub"), a Delaware corporation that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi. The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, the Merger Sub will merge with and into
the Company, with the Company surviving the merger as a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Chiesi (the "Merger").
In the Merger,
each share of the Company's common stock that is issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement), except for treasury stock, dissenting shares and shares held by Chiesi or its subsidiaries, will be converted
into the right to receive $9.50 in cash (the "Merger Consideration"), without interest and subject to deduction for any required withholding taxes. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, vesting restrictions on
restricted shares previously issued by the Company will be fully accelerated and, as a result, in the Merger such restricted shares will be treated in the same manner as other shares of common stock, subject to deduction for any required withholding
taxes. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each stock option will be accelerated to the extent not already fully exercisable and will be converted into the right to receive an amount equal to the Merger Consideration minus
the exercise price of the option, without interest and subject to deduction for any required withholding taxes.
The Merger Consideration
was determined as a result of negotiations between Chiesi and a special committee of independent directors of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Special Committee"), with the assistance of separate financial advisors selected and
retained by the Special Committee.
The Merger Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants of the parties,
including, among others, covenants by the Company (i) to conduct its business in the ordinary course during the period between the execution of the Merger Agreement and consummation of the Merger, (ii) not to engage in certain kinds of
transactions during such period and (iii) to convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of obtaining the Stockholder Approvals (as defined below). The Merger Agreement contains covenants by Chiesi to vote its shares in favor
of the Merger and to leave the Special Committee in place through the completion of the Merger.
The Special Committee unanimously
determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, are fair to and in the best interests of the stockholders of the Company other than Chiesi and its affiliates, and that it is advisable for the
Company to enter into the Merger Agreement. The Special Committee also unanimously recommended that the Company's Board of Directors approve and declare advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and determine to
recommend that the stockholders of the Company vote to adopt the Merger Agreement. Based on the Special Committee's recommendation, the Board (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company's stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and (iii) resolved to recommend
that the Company's stockholders vote to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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Stockholders of the Company will be asked to vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement at a
special stockholders meeting that will be held on a date to be announced. The consummation of the Merger is subject to the condition that the Merger Agreement be adopted by the affirmative vote (in person or by proxy) in favor of the adoption of the
Merger Agreement of (i) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock and (ii) the holders of at least a majority of all outstanding shares of common stock not owned, directly or indirectly, by Chiesi or
Merger Sub or any of their affiliates, any other officers and directors of the Company, any other person having any equity interest in, or any right to acquire any equity interest in, Merger Sub, or any person of which Merger Sub is a direct or
indirect subsidiary (together, the "Stockholder Approvals"). Consummation of the Merger is also subject to other customary conditions regarding the absence of any law, injunction or judgment that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation
of the Merger and obtaining all required regulatory consents. Each party's obligation to consummate the Merger is also subject to additional conditions regarding the accuracy of the other party's representations and warranties contained in
the Merger Agreement (subject to certain materiality qualifiers) and the other party's compliance with its covenants in the Merger Agreement (subject to certain materiality qualifiers). The Merger Agreement does not contain a financing
condition.
Craig A. Collard (who is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company) and an entity controlled by him have entered
into Voting and Support Agreements under which they have agreed to vote their shares of the Company's common stock in favor of the Merger.
The foregoing descriptions of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby are not complete and are subject to and qualified
in their entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, a copy of which attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
General
The Merger Agreement has
been included to provide investors with information regarding the terms of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement is not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company,
Chiesi or their respective subsidiaries or affiliates. The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties of the Company. The assertions embodied in those representations and warranties were made for purposes of the Merger Agreement, and
are qualified by information in disclosure schedules that the Company has delivered in connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement. The disclosure schedules contain information that modifies, qualifies and creates exceptions to the
representations and warranties set forth in the Merger Agreement. In addition, certain representations and warranties were made as of a specific date, may be subject to a contractual standard of materiality different from what an investor might view
as material, or may have been used for purposes of allocating risk between the respective parties rather than establishing matters as facts. Accordingly, you should read the representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement not in isolation but
only in conjunction with the other information about the Company that are included in reports, statements and other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").
Additional Information and Where to Find It
The
Company intends to file a Proxy Statement with the SEC, and the Company and Chiesi intend to file a Schedule 13E-3 and other relevant materials with the SEC. A definitive proxy statement will be sent to holders of the Company's common stock
seeking their approval of the proposed transaction.
WE URGE INVESTORS TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AS WELL AS THE SCHEDULE 13E-3 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED BY THE COMPANY OR CHIESI
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WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR
ENTIRETY
. Investors will be able to obtain these materials (when they become available) and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC's website (
http://www.sec.gov
). In addition, these materials (when they become
available) will also be available free of charge by accessing the Company's website (
http://www.crtx.com
). Investors may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC public
reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visit the SEC's website for further information on its public reference room.
Participants in the Proxy Solicitation
The directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees of the Company may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from stockholders in respect of the proposed Merger. Information regarding the Company's directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012
filed with the SEC by the Company on March 14, 2013, as amended by a Form 10-K/A filed with the SEC on April 11, 2013. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect
interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Proxy Statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
Item 8.01.
Other Events
Press Release
On September 16, 2013, the Company and Chiesi issued a joint press release announcing, among other things, the Company's and
Chiesi's entry into the Merger Agreement. A copy of that press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
See the Exhibit Index attached hereto.
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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.
CORNERSTONE THERAPEUTICS INC.
Dated: September 16, 2013
By:
/s/ Craig A. Collard
Craig A. Collard
Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
No.
Description of Document
2.1
Agreement and Plan of Merger among Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Chiesi U.S. Corporation and Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. dated September 15, 2013.
99.1
Joint press release dated September 16, 2013 issued by Cornerstone Therapeutics Inc. and Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A.
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