Allergan Announces Commencement of Mailing of Proxy Statement

DUBLIN, Sept. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

Allergan plc (NYSE: AGN) today announced, for the purposes of the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules 2013 (the "Irish Takeover Rules"), that the definitive proxy statement of Allergan (the "Proxy Statement"), which also constitutes a scheme circular under Irish law, is being sent as of September 16, 2019 to Allergan shareholders.

As previously announced on June 25, 2019, AbbVie Inc. and Allergan entered into a definitive transaction agreement pursuant to which AbbVie will acquire Allergan in a cash and stock transaction for a transaction equity value of approximately $63 billion, based on the closing price of AbbVie's common stock of $78.45 on June 24, 2019 (the "Acquisition").  The Acquisition will be effected by means of a "scheme of arrangement" under Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Irish Companies Act of 2014.

The Proxy Statement, which also constitutes a scheme circular required under Irish law, contains important information about the Acquisition for Allergan shareholders, as well as instructions on voting online, by mail, by telephone or in person.

In accordance with Rule 28 of the Irish Takeover Rules, Allergan shareholders will today also be sent two separate documents, one document containing profit forecasts that have been made by AbbVie (in the form of earnings guidance for the financial year ended December 31, 2019) together with the reports thereon prepared solely for the purposes of complying with Rule 28.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules and a second document containing: (i) a profit forecast that has been made by Allergan (in the form of earnings guidance for the financial year ended December 31, 2019) together with the reports thereon prepared solely for the purposes of complying with Rule 28.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules; and (ii) certain confirmations relating to management incentivisation arrangements for the purposes of Rule 16.2 of the Irish Takeover Rules.

A copy of the Proxy Statement is also being sent to the holders of outstanding Allergan options and/or other equity based awards under the Allergan share plans for information purposes only to satisfy Irish legal requirements.

Copies of the documents referred to above, and all of the documents required to be made available for inspection in accordance with Rule 26 of the Irish Takeover Rules, are available for inspection at the offices of Arthur Cox, 10 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, Ireland and on Allergan's website www.allergan.com.

As previously announced on September 10, 2019, there will be two meetings of Allergan shareholders on Monday, October 14, 2019 in connection with the Acquisition.  Both meetings will be held at the Conrad Hotel, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2, Ireland.  The first meeting, which is convened by the order of the Irish High Court, will be held at 10:30 a.m. (local time).  Following this meeting, an extraordinary general meeting will be held pursuant to Allergan's articles of association at 10:45 a.m. (local time) (or, if the special Court-ordered meeting has not concluded by 10:45 a.m. (local time), as soon as possible after the conclusion or adjournment of the special Court-ordered meeting).   Both meetings are being held to seek shareholder approval of the proposed Acquisition in accordance with Irish law.   The approval of related matters by Allergan shareholders will also be sought at the extraordinary general meeting.

ABOUT ALLERGAN

Allergan is a global pharmaceutical leader. Allergan is focused on developing, manufacturing and commercializing branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical and regenerative medicine products for patients around the world. Allergan markets a portfolio of leading brands and best-in-class products primarily focused on four key therapeutic areas including medical aesthetics, eye care, central nervous system and gastroenterology. Allergan has operations in more than 100 countries. Allergan's ordinary shares are currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "AGN." For more information about Allergan, please visit www.allergan.com.

NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION

This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In particular, this communication is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States.  No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. Any securities issued in the acquisition are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC

In connection with the proposed acquisition, Allergan has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a definitive Proxy Statement on September 16, 2019, which includes the Scheme Document.  BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, ALLERGAN'S SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT, INCLUDING THE SCHEME DOCUMENT, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROXY STATEMENT CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION AND THE PARTIES TO THE PROPOSED ACQUISITION. Allergan's shareholders and investors are able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the Proxy Statement, including the Scheme Document, and other relevant documents filed with the SEC from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Allergan's shareholders and investors may also obtain, without charge, a copy of the Proxy Statement, including the Scheme Document, and other relevant documents by contacting MacKenzie Partners Inc., 1407 Broadway – 27^th Floor, New York, New York 10018 or by calling MacKenzie Partners Inc. at (212) 929-5500 (Call Collect) or (800) 322-2885 (Call Toll-Free) or by emailing MacKenzie Partners at [email protected] or by requesting them in writing or by telephone from Allergan at the following address, email or telephone number: Allergan plc, 5 Giralda Farms, Madison, New Jersey 07940, Attn: Investor Relations; (862) 261-7000; or [email protected], or from Allergan's website, www.allergan.com.

PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION

Allergan and certain of its directors and executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Allergan in respect of the acquisition contemplated by the Proxy Statement. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the shareholders of Allergan in connection with the proposed acquisition, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the Proxy Statement filed with the SEC on September 16, 2019. Information regarding Allergan's directors and executive officers is contained in Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated March 22, 2019, which are filed with the SEC, and certain of Allergan's Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on February 19, 2019, March 22, 2019 and May 1, 2019.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to a possible acquisition involving AbbVie and Allergan and AbbVie's, Allergan's and/or the combined group's estimated or anticipated future business, performance and results of operations and financial condition, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for AbbVie and, following the acquisition, if completed, the combined group. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to,  the possibility that a possible acquisition will not be pursued, failure to obtain necessary regulatory approvals or required financing or to satisfy any of the other conditions to the possible acquisition, adverse effects on the market price of AbbVie's shares of common stock or Allergan's ordinary shares and on AbbVie's or Allergan's operating results because of a failure to complete the possible acquisition, failure to realize the expected benefits of the possible acquisition, failure to promptly and effectively integrate Allergan's businesses, negative effects relating to the announcement of the possible acquisition or any further announcements relating to the possible acquisition or the consummation of the possible acquisition on the market price of AbbVie's shares of common stock or Allergan's ordinary shares, significant transaction costs and/or unknown or inestimable liabilities, potential litigation associated with the possible acquisition, general economic and business conditions that affect the combined companies following the consummation of the possible acquisition, changes in global, political, economic, business, competitive, market and regulatory forces, future exchange and interest rates, changes in tax laws, regulations, rates and policies, future business acquisitions or disposals and competitive developments. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions and assessments made in light of Allergan's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, business strategies, operating environment, future developments and other factors it believes appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. The factors described in the context of such forward-looking statements in this communication could cause AbbVie's plans with respect to Allergan or Allergan's actual results, performance or achievements, industry results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although it is believed that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and persons reading this communication are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this communication. Additional information about economic, competitive, governmental, technological and other factors that may affect Allergan is set forth in Allergan's periodic public filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, Allergan's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2019, and, from time to time, Allergan's other investor communications, in each case, the contents of which are not incorporated by reference into, nor do they form part of, this communication.  

Any forward-looking statements in this communication are based upon information available to Allergan and/or its board of directors, as the case may be, as of the date of this communication and, while believed to be true when made, may ultimately prove to be incorrect. Subject to any obligations under applicable law, neither Allergan nor any member of its board of directors undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, or to conform any forward-looking statement to actual results, future events, or to changes in expectations. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Allergan or its board of directors or any person acting on behalf of any of them are expressly qualified in their entirety by this paragraph.

Statement Required by the Irish Takeover Rules

The Allergan directors accept responsibility for the information contained in this announcement.  To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Allergan directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this announcement for which they respectively accept responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Dealing Disclosure Requirements

Under the provisions of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules, if any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in, 1% or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of Allergan or AbbVie, all 'dealings' in any 'relevant securities' of Allergan or AbbVie (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by not later than 3:30 pm (New York time) on the 'business' day following the date of the relevant acquisition. This requirement will continue until the date on which the Scheme (as defined in the Proxy Statement) becomes effective or on which the 'offer period' otherwise ends. If two or more persons co-operate on the basis of any agreement, either express or tacit, either oral or written, to acquire an 'interest' in 'relevant securities' of Allergan or AbbVie, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules.

Under the provisions of Rule 8.1 of the Irish Takeover Rules, all 'dealings' in 'relevant securities' of Allergan by AbbVie or 'relevant securities' of AbbVie by Allergan, or by any party acting in concert with either of them, must also be disclosed by no later than 12 noon (New York time) on the 'business' day following the date of the relevant acquisition.

A disclosure table, giving details of the companies in whose 'relevant securities' 'dealings' should be disclosed, can be found on the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie.

'Interests in securities' arise, in summary, when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities.

Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Irish Takeover Rules, which can also be found on the Irish Takeover Panel's website. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a dealing under Rule 8, please consult the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie

No Profit Forecast / Asset Valuations

No statement in this announcement is intended to constitute a profit forecast for any period, nor should any statements be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for AbbVie or Allergan as appropriate. No statement in this announcement constitutes an asset valuation.

General

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in or into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions (the "Restricted Jurisdictions"). Accordingly, copies of this announcement and all other documents relating to the Acquisition are not being, and must not be, released, published, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdictions. Persons receiving such documents (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) should observe these restrictions. Failure to do so may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the companies involved in the Acquisition disclaim any responsibility or liability for the violations of any such restrictions by any person.

A copy of this announcement will be available, free of charge (subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions) on the Allergan website at www.allergan.com.   The contents of the Allergan website are not incorporated into, and do not form part of, this announcement.

Any response in relation to the Acquisition should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document or any document by which the Acquisition and the Scheme are made.  Allergan shareholders are advised to read carefully the Scheme Documents.

This announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the laws of Ireland and the Takeover Rules and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of Ireland.

SOURCE Allergan plc

Related Links

www.allergan.com

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