Filed by Biovail Corporation
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Valeant Pharmaceuticals International
Commission File No.: 001-11397
Below is an e-mail from Biovail’s Chief Executive Officer, William M. Wells, that was sent to all of Biovail’s employees on July 6, 2010.
Dear Colleagues,
With the recent announcement of the merger agreement between Biovail and Valeant we are now undertaking the steps involved in the process of two companies becoming one. Among these steps, the transaction requires a shareholders’ vote and regulatory approval prior to moving forward. We are already busy working on these steps.
Shareholder Approval
Biovail is currently preparing a proxy statement and prospectus which we expect will be filed in draft with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in mid-July. Once filed, this proxy statement and prospectus will be publicly available, but will not yet be mailed to our shareholders until having cleared the SEC review process. This process can be quite rigorous and comprehensive and can take several weeks or more to complete.
Once cleared with the SEC, the proxy statement and prospectus will be mailed to shareholders and a date will be set for two special shareholder meetings – one meeting for Biovail shareholders and a separate meeting for Valeant shareholders. All shareholders will have an opportunity to vote on matters relating to the proposed transaction. It is anticipated the vote will take place this fall.
Regulatory Approval
Biovail has prepared and submitted a package of information to the US Federal Trade Commission and similar regulatory authorities in Poland and Mexico. Although we are not concerned about any actual or perceived reduction in competition due to the merger, we are required to make such submissions to allow the governing authorities an opportunity to review all the relevant facts and ask questions.
Implementation Team
We are also currently in the process of forming an Implementation Team which will be led by Gilbert Godin and Mike Pearson. More information about this team will be shared shortly.
We recognize that you will have many questions about this merger agreement and the processes we are working through. We are committed to maintaining open and regular communication. When information is available to share, we will ensure it is provided to you as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support and for continuing to focus on our goals and objectives.
Sincerely,
Bill
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information and “Safe Harbor” Statements
To the extent any statements made in this e-mail contain information that is not historical, these statements are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and may be forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”).
These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the expected benefits of the proposed merger such as efficiencies, cost savings, tax benefits, enhanced revenues and cash flow, growth potential, market profile and financial strength; the competitive ability and position of the combined company; the expected timing of the completion of the transaction; and the expected payment of a one-time cash dividend. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “estimate”, “intend”, “continue”, “plan”, “project”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “could”, “would”, “target”, “potential” and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Although certain of these statements set out herein are indicated above, all of the statements in this e-mail that contain forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements. Although Valeant and Biovail believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, factors and assumptions regarding the items outlined above. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things, the following: the failure to receive, on a timely basis or otherwise, the required approvals by Valeant and Biovail stockholders and government or regulatory agencies (including the terms of such approvals); the risk that a condition to closing of the merger may not be satisfied; the possibility that the anticipated benefits and synergies from the proposed merger cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the possibility that costs or difficulties related to the integration of Valeant and Biovail operations will be greater than expected; the ability of the combined company to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers or other business partners; the impact of legislative, regulatory, competitive and technological changes; the risk that the credit ratings of the combined company may be different from what the companies expect; and other risk factors relating to the pharmaceutical industry, as detailed from time to time in each of Valeant’s and Biovail’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, in Biovail’s case, the Canadian Securities Administrators (“CSA”). There can be no assurance that the proposed merger will in fact be consummated.
Additional information about these factors and about the material factors or assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements may be found in the body of this e-mail, as well as under Item 1.A. in each of Valeant’s and Biovail’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, and Item 1.A in each of Valeant’s and Biovail’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010. Valeant and Biovail caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to Valeant and Biovail, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Neither Biovail nor Valeant undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as may be required by law.
Additional Information
In connection with the proposed merger, Valeant and Biovail plan to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Valeant and Biovail that also constitutes a prospectus of each of Valeant and Biovail. Valeant and Biovail will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective stockholders. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors will be able to obtain the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Valeant and Biovail, free of charge, at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov and, in Biovail’s case, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Investors may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Valeant’s website (www.valeant.com) under the tab “Investor Relations” and then under the heading “SEC Filings,” or by directing a request to Valeant, One Enterprise, Aliso Viejo, California, 92656, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Investors may also obtain these documents, free of charge, from Biovail’s website (www.biovail.com) under the tab “Investor Relations” and then under the heading “Regulatory Filings” and then under the item “Current SEC Filings,” or by directing a request to Biovail, 7150 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5N 8M5, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
The respective directors and executive officers of Valeant and Biovail and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Valeant’s directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC by Valeant on March 25, 2010, and information regarding Biovail directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC and CSA by Biovail on April 21, 2010. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Other information regarding the interests of the participants in the proxy solicitation will be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC and the CSA when they become available. This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.