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8-K - CURRENT REPORT - STRATASYS INCstratasys_8k.htm

For Immediate Release

STRATASYS AGREES TO SETTLE MERGER LITIGATION

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – September 6, 2012 – Stratasys, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSYS) announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to settle the previously disclosed class action lawsuit captioned Hennig v. Crump, et al., C.A. No. 7670-VCL pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the class action lawsuit in the District Court, Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County, Minnesota entitled Legette v. Crump, et al., File No. 27-cv-12-14321. A third action, Askersrud v. Stratasys Inc., et al., also pending before District Court, Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County, Minnesota under File No. 27-cv-12-15581, will be voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff.

Pursuant to the memorandum of understanding, Stratasys has agreed to make certain additional disclosures related to the proposed merger. The additional disclosures supplement the disclosure contained in the proxy statement filed by Stratasys with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on August 8, 2012 (the “Proxy Statement”), and should be read in conjunction with the disclosures contained in the Proxy Statement, which in turn should be read in its entirety. The memorandum of understanding also provides, among other things, that the parties will seek to enter into a stipulation of settlement which provides for the release of certain claims held by such class. The stipulation of the settlement will be subject to customary conditions, including court approval. There can be no assurance that the parties will ultimately enter into a stipulation of settlement that receives court approval. The settlement will not affect the timing of the special meeting of Stratasys stockholders, which is scheduled for Friday, September 14, 2012, beginning at 3:00 p.m., Central Time, at Hotel Sofitel, Chambord Meeting Room, 5601 West 78th Street, Bloomington, Minnesota 55439.



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements herein that are not historical facts or that include such words as “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “vision,” “could,” “potential,” “plan”, “intends”, “desires”, “assume” or “believes” or similar words constitute forward-looking statements covered by the safe harbor protection of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Except for the historical information herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These include statements regarding the expected timing and ultimate closing of the merger with Objet, as well as the financial and operating results of the combined company after, and the anticipated benefits of, the merger; the size of the 3D printing market; our objectives for the marketing and sale of our Dimension® , uPrint® and Mojo® 3D Printers; our support removal systems; and our Fortus® 3D Production Systems, particularly for use in direct digital manufacturing (DDM); the demand for our proprietary consumables; the expansion of our paid parts service; and our beliefs with respect to the growth in the demand for our products. Actual results may differ from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which may cause our actual results to differ materially from those discussed in a forward-looking statement. Risks and uncertainties that may affect our business include our ability to penetrate the 3D printing market; our ability to achieve the growth rates experienced in preceding quarters; our ability to introduce, produce and market consumable materials, and the market acceptance of these materials; the impact of competitive products and pricing; our timely development of new products and materials and market acceptance of those products and materials; the success of our recent R&D initiative to expand the DDM capabilities of our core FDM technology; the success of our RedEye On Demand™ and other paid parts services; our ability to obtain the necessary approvals, including the affirmative vote of the Stratasys stockholders, and to satisfy the necessary closing conditions in order to successfully close the proposed merger with Objet; our ability to successfully integrate and market the combined company’s products; the combined company’s ability to achieve the expected revenue targets, the combined company’s ability to attract and retain management; and the combined company’s ability to protect and defend intellectual property. These statements represent beliefs and expectations only as of the date they were made. We may elect to update forward-looking statements, but we expressly disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our beliefs and expectations change. In addition to the statements described above, such forward-looking statements are subject to the risks and uncertainties described more fully in our reports filed or to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q.



This release is available on the Stratasys web site at www.stratasys.com

Important Information for Investors and Stockholders

In connection with the proposed combination of Objet and Stratasys pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger”), Objet has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form F-4, which the SEC has declared effective and which includes a proxy statement of Stratasys and a prospectus of Objet, as well as other relevant materials in connection with the proposed transaction. Stratasys concurrently filed the same proxy statement/prospectus with the SEC and will mail it to Stratasys shareholders for purposes of soliciting proxies for voting in favor of the Merger at a special meeting of Stratasys stockholders called for the purpose of approving the Merger Agreement and the Merger. INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS, BECAUSE THESE MATERIALS CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT STRATASYS, OBJET AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials and any other related documents filed with the SEC may be obtained free of charge on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or via the Stratasys website at www.stratasys.com. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the SEC filings free of charge upon written request to Stratasys, Attention: Shane Glenn, Director of Investor Relations, 7665 Commerce Way, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344.

Stratasys’ executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Stratasys stockholders in connection with the Merger. Information about Stratasys’ executive officers and directors and their ownership of Stratasys common stock is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2012, and is also set forth in other relevant materials filed with the SEC.

This communication does not constitute 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.

About Stratasys

Stratasys Inc., Minneapolis, is a maker of additive manufacturing machines for prototyping and producing plastic parts. The company markets under the brands Mojo, uPrint and Dimension 3D Printers and Fortus Production 3D Printers. The company also operates RedEye On Demand, a digital-manufacturing service for prototypes and production parts. In 2011 Stratasys acquired 3D printer maker Solidscape Inc. According to Wohlers Report 2012, Stratasys had a 41.5 percent market share in 2011, and has been the unit market leader for the tenth consecutive year. Stratasys patented and owns the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM®) process. The process creates functional prototypes and manufactured goods directly from any 3D CAD program, using high-performance industrial thermoplastics. The company holds 380 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally. Stratasys products are used in the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, business and industrial equipment, education, architecture, and consumer-product industries. Online at: www.Stratasys.com

Stratasys, Fortus, Dimension, and uPrint are registered trademarks, and Mojo is a trademark, of Stratasys Inc.

Contacts

Stratasys
Investors:
Shane Glenn, Director, Investor Relations
952-294-3416
shane.glenn@stratasys.com

or

Media:
Joe Hiemenz
952-906-2726
joe.hiemenz@stratasys.com