-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, UkPqIGZ4bFcxCrj5n8Y4SFD5D3tAOagDZXRwqYTyn1HdyW4yHZ3cdSxnmmRNpMoN L5biP2iPR1bYTB5pIwnyhA== 0000940180-97-000677.txt : 19970806 0000940180-97-000677.hdr.sgml : 19970806 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000940180-97-000677 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: SC 14D1 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 9 FILED AS OF DATE: 19970805 SROS: NASD GROUP MEMBERS: UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORP GROUP MEMBERS: USS ACQUISITION CORP. SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CIRCON CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000719727 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845] IRS NUMBER: 953079904 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 13D/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-36096 FILM NUMBER: 97651839 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6500 HOLLISTER AVE CITY: SANTA BARBARA STATE: CA ZIP: 93111 BUSINESS PHONE: 8059670404 SUBJECT COMPANY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: CIRCON CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000719727 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS [3845] IRS NUMBER: 953079904 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 14D1 SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 005-36096 FILM NUMBER: 97651840 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 6500 HOLLISTER AVE CITY: SANTA BARBARA STATE: CA ZIP: 93111 BUSINESS PHONE: 8059670404 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000101788 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841] IRS NUMBER: 132518270 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 14D1 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 150 GLOVER AVE CITY: NORWALK STATE: CT ZIP: 06856 BUSINESS PHONE: 2038451000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 150 GLOVER AVENUE CITY: NORWALK STATE: CT ZIP: 06856 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AUTO SUTURE SURGICAL CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19700507 FILED BY: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000101788 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841] IRS NUMBER: 132518270 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: SC 14D1 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 150 GLOVER AVE CITY: NORWALK STATE: CT ZIP: 06856 BUSINESS PHONE: 2038451000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 150 GLOVER AVENUE CITY: NORWALK STATE: CT ZIP: 06856 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: AUTO SUTURE SURGICAL CORP DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19700507 SC 14D1 1 SCHEDULE 14D-1 & AMENDMENT NO. 16 TO SCHEDULE 13D ================================================================================ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 14D-1 TENDER OFFER STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(D)(1) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 AND SCHEDULE 13D UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. 16) CIRCON CORPORATION ------------------ (Name of Subject Company) USS ACQUISITION CORP. UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION ---------------------------------- (Bidders) COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE --------------------------------------- (Title of class of securities) 172736 10 0 -------------------------------------- (CUSIP number of class of securities) THOMAS R. BREMER USS ACQUISITION CORP. C/O UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION 150 GLOVER AVENUE NORWALK, CONNECTICUT 06856 TELEPHONE: (203) 845-1000 --------------------------------------- (Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive notices and communications on behalf of bidders) with a copy to: PAUL T. SCHNELL, ESQ. SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP 919 THIRD AVENUE NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022 TELEPHONE: (212) 735-3000 CALCULATION OF FILING FEE TRANSACTION VALUATION/1/ Amount of Filing Fee --------------------- -------------------- $242,765,874 $41,010.48 - --------- /1/ For purposes of calculating fee only. This amount assumes the purchase at a purchase price of $16.50 per Share of an aggregate of 12,427,418 Shares. The amount reflects the purchase of 13,243,448 outstanding Shares, and 1,143,318 Shares issuable with respect to options and warrants, less 1,959,348 Shares owned by Parent. The amount of the filing fee, calculated in accordance with Regulation 240.0-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, equals 1/50th of one percentum of the value of Shares purchased. Payment of the filing fee due in connection herewith has been completely offset by a previous payment by Parent in the amount of $48,553.17. Accordingly, a credit of $7,542.69 remains on account of Parent. [X] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(A)(2) and identify the filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing. Amount Previously Paid: $48,553.17 Filing Party: USS Acquisition Corp.; United States Surgical Corporation Form or Registration No: Schedule 14D-1 Date Filed: August 2, 1996 CUSIP NO. 172736 10 0 PAGE 1 OF 2 14D-1 1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [X] (b) [ ] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS WC - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) or 2(f) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,959,348 Shares - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7) 14.8% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CUSIP NO. 172736 10 0 PAGE 2 OF 2 --------------------- 14D-1 1. NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON USS ACQUISITION CORP. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [X] (b) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. SOURCE OF FUNDS AF - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(e) or 2(f) [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 973,174 Shares - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (7) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (7) 7.3% - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 This Schedule 14D-1 Tender Offer Statement (this "Statement") relates to the offer by USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser"), and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), at a price of $16.50 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon (the "Offer Price"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 5, 1997 (the "Offer to Purchase") and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"). This Statement also constitutes Amendment No. 16 to the Statement on Schedule 13D of the Purchaser and Parent filed on August 2, 1996, as amended. Copies of the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal are annexed hereto as Exhibits (a)(1) and (a)(2), respectively. ITEM 1. SECURITY AND SUBJECT COMPANY. (a) The name of the subject company is Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation with its principal executive offices at 6500 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, California 93117. (b) The information set forth in the Introduction of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. (c) The information set forth in Section 6 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND. (a-d, g) This Statement is being filed on behalf of Parent and the Purchaser for purposes of the Schedule 14D-1. The information set forth in the Introduction, Section 9 and Schedule I of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. (e-f) During the last five years, neither Parent nor the Purchaser, nor, to the best knowledge of Parent and the Purchaser, the persons listed in Schedule I of the Offer to Purchase, has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors), or (ii) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree, or final order enjoining future violation of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation of such laws. ITEM 3. PAST CONTACTS, TRANSACTIONS OR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SUBJECT COMPANY. (a-b) The information set forth in the Introduction and Section 11 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 4. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION. (a-c) The information set forth in Section 10 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 5. PURPOSE OF THE TENDER OFFER AND PLANS OR PROPOSALS OF THE BIDDERS. (a-b) The information set forth in the Introduction, and Sections 11 and 12 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated by reference. (c) The information set forth in Sections 11 and 12 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. (d-e) The information set forth in Sections 7, 12 and 13 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. 4 (f-g) The information set forth in Sections 7 and 12 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 6. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE SUBJECT COMPANY. (a) The information set forth in the Introduction, Sections 8 and 9 and Schedule II of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. (b) The information set forth in Section 9 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 7. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO THE SUBJECT COMPANY'S SECURITIES. The information set forth in the Introduction and Sections 11, 12 and 16 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated by reference. ITEM 8. PERSONS RETAINED, EMPLOYED OR TO BE COMPENSATED. (a) The information set forth in the Introduction and Section 16 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 9. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CERTAIN BIDDERS. The information set forth in Section 9 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. The incorporation by reference herein of the above-referenced financial information does not constitute an admission that such information is material to a decision by a shareholder of the Company whether to sell, tender or bid Shares being sought in the Offer. ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. (a) The information set forth in Sections 11 and 12 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. (b-c, e) The information set forth in Section 15 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. (d) The information set forth in Sections 7 and 12 of the Offer to Purchase is incorporated herein by reference. (f) The information set forth in the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal, is incorporated herein by reference. ITEM 11. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS. (a)(1) Offer to Purchase, dated August 5, 1997. (a)(2) Letter of Transmittal. (a)(3) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. (a)(4) Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(5) Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(6) Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9. 5 (a)(7) Summary Advertisement, dated August 5, 1997. (a)(8) Press Release, dated August 5, 1997. (a)(9) Complaint filed by United States Surgical Corporation on September 17, 1996 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County in the action entitled United States Surgical Corporation, a ------------------------------------- Delaware Corporation, and USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware Corporation, v. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard A. Auhll, R. Bruce Thompson, Harold R. Frank, Rudolf R. Schulte, Paul ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- W. Hartloff, Jr., John Blokker and Circon Corporation, a Delaware Corporation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- (a)(10) Complaint filed by United States Surgical Corporation on September 18, 1996 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County in the action entitled United States Surgical ---------------------- Corporation, a Delaware corporation and Cede & Co., v. Circon Corporation, a ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Delaware corporation. -------------------- (a)(11) Directorship Agreement between Parent and Victor H. Krulak, dated as of July 24, 1997. (a)(12) Directorship Agreement between Parent and Charles M. Elson, dated as of July 24, 1997. (a)(13) Preliminary Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on August 4, 1997. (a)(14) Letter to the Company providing notice of Parent's and Purchaser's intention to nominate individuals for election as directors and to adopt a proposed resolution at the Annual Meeting. (b)(1) Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 1995 among Parent, signatory banks, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York as Documentation Agent, NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and The Bank of New York, as Yen Administrative Agent. (b)(2) Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 1995, dated September 16, 1996. (b)(3) $175 million credit agreement dated September 16, 1996 among Parent and signatory banks, related to acquisition financing. (c) None. (d) None. (e) Not applicable. (f) None. 6 SIGNATURE After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: August 5, 1997 USS ACQUISITION CORP. By: /s/ THOMAS R. BREMER --------------------------------------- Name: Thomas R. Bremer Title: President UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION By: /s/ THOMAS R. BREMER -------------------------------------- Name: Thomas R. Bremer Title: Senior Vice President and General Counsel 7 EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT EXHIBIT NAME - ------- ------------ (a)(1) Offer to Purchase, dated August 5, 1997. (a)(2) Letter of Transmittal. (a)(3) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. (a)(4) Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(5) Letter to Clients for use by Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees. (a)(6) Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9. (a)(7) Summary Advertisement, dated August 5, 1997. (a)(8) Press Release, dated August 5, 1997. (a)(9) Complaint filed by United States Surgical Corporation on September 17, 1996 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County in the action entitled United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, and --------------------------------------------------------------- USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware Corporation, v. Richard A. ------------------------------------------------------------ Auhll, R. Bruce Thompson, Harold R. Frank, Rudolf R. Schulte, ------------------------------------------------------------- Paul W. Hartloff, Jr., John Blokker and Circon Corporation, a ------------------------------------------------------------- Delaware Corporation, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit -------------------- (a)(12) to Amendment No. 5 on Schedule 14D-1 of Parent, filed with the Commission on September 17, 1996. (a)(10) Complaint filed by United States Surgical Corporation on September 18, 1996 in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware in and for New Castle County in the action entitled United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation and -------------------------------------------------------------- Cede & Co., v. Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation, --------------------------------------------------------- incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(14) to Amendment No. 6 on Schedule 14D-1 of Parent, filed with the Commission on September 18, 1996. (a)(11) Directorship Agreement between Parent and Victor H. Krulak, dated as of July 24, 1997, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(31) to Amendment No. 14 on Schedule 14D-1 of Parent, filed with the Commission on July 28, 1997. (a)(12) Directorship Agreement between Parent and Charles M. Elson, dated as of July 24, 1997, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(32) to Amendment No. 14 on Schedule 14D-1 of Parent, filed with the Commission on July 28, 1997. (a)(13) Preliminary Proxy Statement filed with the Commission on August 4, 1997, incorporated herein by reference to Schedule 14A of Parent, filed with the Commission on August 4, 1997.
8
(a)(14) Letter to the Company providing notice of Parent's and Purchaser's intention to nominate individuals for election as directors and to adopt a proposed resolution at the Annual Meeting, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(35) to Amendment No. 15 on Schedule 14D-1 of Parent, filed with the Commission on July 29, 1997. (b)(1) Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 1995 among Parent, signatory banks, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York as Documentation Agent, NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and The Bank of New York, as Yen Administrative Agent, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to Parent's Form 10-K for 1995. (b)(2) Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of December 20, 1995, dated September 16, 1996, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (10)(b) to Parent's Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1996. (b)(3) $175 million credit agreement dated September 16, 1996 among Parent and signatory banks, related to acquisition financing, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (10)(a) to Parent's Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1996.
9 EX-99.A(1) 2 OFFER TO PURCHASE DATED AUGUST 5, 1997 EXHIBIT 99(A)(1) OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS) OF CIRCON CORPORATION AT $16.50 NET PER SHARE BY USS ACQUISITION CORP. A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 6:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1997, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, (I) THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE) THAT NUMBER OF SHARES WHICH, WHEN ADDED TO THE SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY PURCHASER AND ITS AFFILIATES, WOULD REPRESENT 67% OF THE OUTSTANDING SHARES ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE, (II) THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER HAVING BEEN APPROVED PURSUANT TO SECTION 203 OF THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW ("SECTION 203") OR THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 203 ARE OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER AND (III) THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED IN ITS SOLE JUDGMENT THAT THE RIGHTS (AS DEFINED HEREIN) HAVE BEEN REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY OR THE RIGHTS ARE UNENFORCEABLE OR OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. THE OFFER IS ALSO SUBJECT TO OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE. SEE SECTION 14. THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED ON THE RECEIPT OF FINANCING. ---------------- The Dealer Manager for the Offer is: SALOMON BROTHERS INC ---------------- August 5, 1997 IMPORTANT THE PURCHASER IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING ITS OPTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER AND MAY CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CHANGES TO THE MATERIAL TERMS OF THE OFFER. IN ADDITION, PARENT AND THE PURCHASER INTEND TO SEEK TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE ACQUISITION OF THE COMPANY BY PARENT OR THE PURCHASER. THE PURCHASER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO AMEND THE OFFER UPON ENTERING INTO A SECOND-STEP MERGER AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY OR TO NEGOTIATE A MERGER AGREEMENT WITH THE COMPANY NOT INVOLVING A TENDER OFFER PURSUANT TO WHICH THE PURCHASER WOULD TERMINATE THE OFFER AND THE SHARES WOULD, UPON CONSUMMATION OF SUCH MERGER, BE CONVERTED INTO CASH, PARENT COMMON STOCK, OTHER SECURITIES AND/OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF IN SUCH AMOUNTS AS ARE NEGOTIATED BY PARENT AND THE COMPANY. PARENT PLANS TO COMMENCE A PROXY CONTEST TO ELECT UP TO TWO DIRECTORS AND TO PROPOSE A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE PROMPT SALE OF THE COMPANY AT THE COMPANY'S 1997 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS (THE "ANNUAL MEETING"). IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROXY CONTEST, PARENT HAS GIVEN THE COMPANY NOTICE OF ITS INTENT TO NOMINATE TWO PERSONS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND TO PROPOSE A RESOLUTION FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS. IN ADDITION, PARENT HAS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS WITH RESPECT TO THE ANNUAL MEETING. THE COMPANY HAS NOT PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THE DATE OF THE 1997 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS. SEE SECTION 11. Any shareholder desiring to tender all or any portion of such shareholder's Shares (and, if applicable, Rights (as defined herein)) must either (i) complete and sign the Letter of Transmittal delivered herewith (or any facsimiles of such Letter of Transmittal) in accordance with the instructions in such Letter of Transmittal, have such shareholder's signature thereon guaranteed if required by Instruction 1 to such Letter of Transmittal, mail or deliver such Letter of Transmittal (or such facsimile thereof) and any other required documents to the Depositary, and either deliver the certificates for such Shares and, if separate, the certificates representing the Rights, to the Depositary along with such Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) or deliver such Shares (and Rights, if applicable) pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase (as defined herein) prior to the expiration of the Offer or (ii) request such shareholder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to effect the transaction for such shareholder. A shareholder having Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if such shareholder desires to tender or retender such Shares (and, if applicable, Rights). Any shareholder who desires to tender or retender Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) and whose certificates for such Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) are not immediately available, or who cannot comply with the procedures for book-entry transfer described in the Offer to Purchase on a timely basis, may tender or retender such Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) by following the procedures for guaranteed delivery set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery delivered herewith. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to Salomon Brothers Inc, the Dealer Manager, or to Kissel-Blake Inc., the Information Agent, at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase. Additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and other related materials may be obtained from the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies. TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE ---- INTRODUCTION............................................................ 1 THE TENDER OFFER........................................................ 4 SECTION 1. TERMS OF THE OFFER......................................... 4 SECTION 2. PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING SHARES............................ 5 SECTION 3. WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS.......................................... 9 SECTION 4. ACCEPTANCE FOR PAYMENT AND PAYMENT......................... 9 SECTION 5. CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES.................... 10 SECTION 6. PRICE RANGE OF SHARES; DIVIDENDS ON THE SHARES............. 11 SECTION 7. EFFECT OF THE OFFER ON THE MARKET FOR THE SHARES; EXCHANGE ACT REGISTRATION; MARGIN REGULATIONS...................... 12 SECTION 8. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY................. 13 SECTION 9. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND THE PURCHASER.... 18 SECTION 10. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS................................. 21 SECTION 11. BACKGROUND OF THE OFFER.................................... 23 SECTION 12. PURPOSE OF THE OFFER; PLANS FOR THE COMPANY................ 24 SECTION 13. DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS................................ 27 SECTION 14. CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER............................ 27 SECTION 15. CERTAIN LEGAL MATTERS...................................... 31 SECTION 16. FEES AND EXPENSES.......................................... 34 SECTION 17. MISCELLANEOUS.............................................. 35 SCHEDULE I DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF PARENT AND THE PURCHASER................................................. S-1
To the Holders of Shares of Common Stock of CIRCON CORPORATION: INTRODUCTION USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), hereby offers to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), together with the associated preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1996, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), at a price of $16.50 per Share (and associated Right), net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Offer to Purchase and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"). All references herein to Rights shall be deemed to include all benefits that may inure to shareholders of the Company or to holders of the Rights pursuant to the Rights Agreement and, unless the context otherwise requires, all references to Shares shall include the associated Rights. Tendering shareholders will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions or, except as set forth in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Purchaser will pay all charges and expenses of Salomon Brothers Inc ("Salomon Brothers"), as Dealer Manager (in such capacity, the "Dealer Manager"), First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Depositary (the "Depositary"), and Kissel-Blake Inc., as Information Agent (the "Information Agent"), incurred in connection with the Offer. See Section 16. The purpose of the Offer and the Proposed Merger (as defined herein) is to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, the Company. Parent currently intends to propose and seek to have the Company consummate, as soon as practicable following the consummation of the Offer, a merger or similar business combination with the Purchaser (the "Proposed Merger"), pursuant to which each then outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by the Purchaser or Parent and Shares owned by shareholders who perfect any available appraisal rights under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL")), would be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the price per Share paid pursuant to the Offer and the Company would become a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. See Sections 11 and 12. Parent intends to seek to negotiate with the Company with respect to the acquisition of the Company. If such negotiations result in a definitive merger agreement between the Company and Parent, certain material terms of the Offer may change. Accordingly, such negotiations could result in, among other things, termination of the Offer and submission of a different acquisition proposal to the Company's shareholders for their approval. Parent and Purchaser have notified the Company of their intent to nominate Mr. Charles M. Elson and Victor H. Krulak, Lt. Gen., U.S. Marine Corps, Ret. to stand for election to the Company's Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting. Parent and Purchaser have also notified the Company of their intent to propose a resolution for adoption at the Annual Meeting calling for the prompt sale of the Company. See Section 11. THE OFFER DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR ANY MEETING OF THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS. ANY SUCH SOLICITATION WILL BE MADE ONLY PURSUANT TO PROXY MATERIALS COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (THE "EXCHANGE ACT"), AND THE RULES AND REGULATIONS THEREUNDER. Certain Conditions to the Offer The Offer is subject to the fulfillment of a number of conditions including, without limitation, the following: MINIMUM CONDITION. CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON THERE BEING VALIDLY TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1 BELOW) THAT NUMBER OF SHARES WHICH, WHEN ADDED TO THE SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY PURCHASER AND ITS AFFILIATES, WOULD REPRESENT 67% OF THE SHARES OUTSTANDING ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS ON THE DATE OF PURCHASE (THE "MINIMUM CONDITION"). FOR PURPOSES OF THIS OFFER, "ON A FULLY DILUTED BASIS" MEANS, AS OF ANY DATE, THE NUMBER OF SHARES OUTSTANDING, TOGETHER WITH SHARES THAT THE COMPANY IS THEN REQUIRED TO ISSUE PURSUANT TO OBLIGATIONS OUTSTANDING AT THAT DATE UNDER CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES, EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS, WARRANTS OR BENEFIT PLANS OR OTHERWISE (ASSUMING ALL SUCH OPTIONS AND WARRANTS ARE THEN EXERCISABLE). As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, Parent and Purchaser beneficially own 1,959,348 Shares (approximately 14.8% of the Shares outstanding). According to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 (the "Company 10-Q"), as of March 31, 1997, there were 13,243,448 Shares outstanding. According to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (the "Company 10-K"), options to purchase 1,041,318 Shares were outstanding under the Company's stock option plans and warrants to purchase 102,000 Shares had been issued. Accordingly, based on this information, as of the date of this Offer to Purchase, there were 14,386,766 Shares outstanding on a fully diluted basis, assuming (i) that no Shares were issued (other than those reserved on December 31, 1996, for options and warrants then outstanding) or acquired by the Company after March 31, 1997, (ii) the exercise of all of the options and warrants outstanding as of December 31, 1996 and (iii) that as of the date of Offer to Purchase there are no other obligations to issue Shares. Based on the foregoing information and assumption, the Minimum Condition would be satisfied if at least 7,679,786 Shares are validly tendered pursuant to the Offer and not withdrawn. However, the Minimum Condition will depend on the facts as they exist on the date on which Shares are purchased pursuant to this Offer to Purchase. If the Minimum Condition is satisfied and the Offer is consummated, the Purchaser believes that it would beneficially own approximately 82% of the Shares outstanding (excluding 1,418,142 Shares owned as of March 11, 1997 by persons who are directors and also officers of the Company as reported in the Company 10-K) at the time the Offer commenced (based on 13,243,448 Shares outstanding as of March 31, 1997, assuming that no Shares have been issued since March 31, 1997, and assuming no Shares have been purchased or sold since that date by persons who are directors and also officers of the Company), and, accordingly, based on such information and assumptions, the Business Combination Condition would not be satisfied. See "Business Combination Condition" below and Section 14. BUSINESS COMBINATION CONDITION. THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER HAVING BEEN APPROVED PURSUANT TO SECTION 203 OR THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 203 ARE OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER (THE "BUSINESS COMBINATION CONDITION"). THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 203 ARE DESCRIBED MORE FULLY IN SECTION 15. Section 203, in general, prohibits a Delaware corporation such as the Company from engaging in a Business Combination (as defined in Section 15) with an Interested Stockholder (as defined in Section 15) for a period of three years following the date that such person became an Interested Stockholder unless (a) prior to the date that such person became an Interested Stockholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the Business Combination or the transaction that resulted 2 in the Interested Stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, (b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the Interested Stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding stock held by directors who are also officers of the corporation and employee stock plans that do not provide employees with the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer, or (c) on or subsequent to the date such person became an Interested Stockholder, the Business Combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at a meeting of shareholders and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation not owned by the Interested Stockholder. See Section 15. The Purchaser is hereby requesting that the Company's Board of Directors adopt a resolution approving the Offer and the Proposed Merger for purposes of Section 203. However, there can be no assurance that the Board of Directors of the Company will do so. If the Purchaser purchases 8,092,163 Shares pursuant to the Offer (assuming no Shares have been issued since March 31, 1997 and assuming no Shares have been purchased or sold by persons who are directors and also officers of the Company since March 11, 1997), the Purchaser believes that it would beneficially own at least 85% of the Shares outstanding at the time the Offer commenced (excluding 1,418,142 shares owned as of March 11, 1997 by persons who are directors and also officers of the Company, as reported in the Company 10-K) and the Business Combination Condition would be satisfied. However, there can be no assurance as to whether any Shares have been issued since March 31, 1997 or as to whether Shares have been purchased or sold by persons who are directors and also officers of the Company since March 11, 1997 and, to the extent that Shares have been issued since March 31, 1997 or shares have been purchased or sold by persons who are directors and also officers of the Company since March 11, 1997, the purchase of 8,092,163 Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer may not result in the Business Combination Condition being satisfied. Based on the actual facts and circumstances, it is possible that the Business Combination Condition may not be satisfied even if the Minimum Condition is satisfied. Rights Condition. The Offer is conditioned upon the Purchaser being satisfied in its sole judgment that either the Rights have been redeemed by the Company or the Rights are unenforceable or otherwise inapplicable to the Offer and the Proposed Merger (the "Rights Condition"). A copy of the Rights Agreement was filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated August 14, 1996 (the "Company 8-A"), and should be available for inspection, and copies may be obtained, in the manner set forth under "Available Information" in Section 8 of this Offer to Purchase. The provisions of the Rights Agreement are described in Section 8 and in the Company 8-A. On September 17, 1996, Parent commenced a lawsuit by filing a complaint in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware against the Company seeking, among other things, an order enjoining the operation of the Rights and declaring that the Rights are inapplicable or unenforceable as applied to the Offer and the Proposed Merger. See Section 15. Certain other conditions to the Offer are described in Section 14. The Purchaser expressly re-serves the right, in its sole discretion, to waive any one or more of the conditions to the Offer. See Sections 14 and 15. The Offer is not conditioned on the receipt of financing. THIS OFFER TO PURCHASE AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHICH SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. 3 THE TENDER OFFER 1. TERMS OF THE OFFER Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any extension or amendment), the Purchaser will accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date. The term "Expiration Date" means 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, September 25, 1997, unless and until the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, shall have extended the period of time during which the Offer is open, in which event the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended by the Purchaser, will expire. THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SATISFACTION OF THE MINIMUM CONDITION, THE RIGHTS CONDITION, THE BUSINESS COMBINATION CONDITION, THE EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF ALL WAITING PERIODS IMPOSED BY THE HART- SCOTT-RODINO ANTITRUST IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1976, AS AMENDED, AND THE REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (THE "HSR ACT") AND THE SATISFACTION OF THE OTHER CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 14. THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED ON THE RECEIPT OF FINANCING. Subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), the Purchaser reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, and regardless of whether or not any of the events set forth in Section 14 hereof shall have occurred or shall have been determined by the Purchaser to have occurred, to (a) extend the period of time during which the Offer is open, and thereby delay acceptance for payment of and the payment for any Shares, by giving oral or written notice of such extension and delay to the Depositary and (b) waive any condition or amend the Offer in any other respect by giving oral or written notice of such waiver or amendment to the Depositary. During any such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not properly withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the right of a tendering shareholder to withdraw such shareholder's Shares. See Section 3. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST BE PAID ON THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR TENDERED SHARES, WHETHER OR NOT THE PURCHASER EXERCISES ITS RIGHT TO EXTEND THE OFFER. If by the Expiration Date any or all of the conditions to the Offer have not been satisfied or waived, the Purchaser reserves the right (but shall not be obligated), subject to the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, to (a) terminate the Offer and not accept for payment or pay for any Shares and return all tendered Shares to tendering shareholders, (b) waive all the unsatisfied conditions and accept for payment and pay for all Shares validly tendered prior to the Expiration Date, (c) extend the Offer and, subject to the right of shareholders to withdraw Shares until the Expiration Date, retain the Shares that have been tendered during the period or periods for which the Offer is extended or (d) amend the Offer. The rights reserved by the Purchaser in the two preceding paragraphs are in addition to the Purchaser's rights pursuant to Section 14. There can be no assurance that the Purchaser will exercise its right to extend the Offer. Any extension, amendment or termination will be followed as promptly as practicable by public announcement. In the case of an extension, Rule 14e-1(d) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), requires that the announcement be issued no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date, in accordance with the public announcement requirements of Rule 14d-4(c) under the Exchange Act. Subject to applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(c) and 14d-6(d) under the Exchange Act, which require that any material change in the information published, sent or given to shareholders in connection with the Offer be promptly disseminated to shareholders in a manner reasonably designed to inform shareholders of such change), and without limiting the manner in which the Purchaser may choose to make any public announcement, the Purchaser will not have any obligation 4 to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement other than by making a release to the Dow Jones News Service. As used in this Offer to Purchase, "business day" has the meaning set forth in Rule 14d-1 under the Exchange Act. If the Purchaser extends the Offer or if the Purchaser is delayed in its acceptance for payment of or payment (whether before or after its acceptance for payment of Shares) for Shares or it is unable to pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to the Purchaser's rights under the Offer, the Depositary may retain tendered Shares on behalf of the Purchaser, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent tendering shareholders are entitled to withdrawal rights as described in Section 3. The Purchaser acknowledges that (i) Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act requires the Purchaser to pay the consideration offered or return the Shares tendered promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Offer and (ii) the Purchaser may not delay acceptance for payment of, or payment for (except in order to comply with applicable law), any Shares upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 14 without extending the period of time during which the Offer is open. If the Purchaser makes a material change in the terms of the Offer or waives a material condition of the Offer, the Purchaser will extend the Offer and disseminate additional tender offer materials to the extent required by Rules 14d-4(c), 14d-6(d) and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act. The minimum period during which the Offer must remain open following material changes in the terms of the Offer or information concerning the Offer, other than a change in price or a change in the percentage of securities sought, will depend upon the facts and circumstances then existing, including the relative materiality of the changed terms or information. With respect to a change in price or a change in the percentage of securities sought, a minimum period of 10 business days is generally required to allow for adequate dissemination to shareholders and investor response. As of the date of this Offer to Purchase, the Rights are evidenced by the Share Certificates and do not trade separately. Accordingly, by tendering a Share Certificate, a shareholder is automatically tendering the associated Rights. If, however, pursuant to the Rights Agreement or for any other reason, the Rights detach and separate certificates representing Rights ("Rights Certificates") are issued, shareholders will be required to tender one Right for each Share tendered in order to effect a valid tender of such Share. Requests are being made to the Company pursuant to Rule 14d-5 of the Exchange Act and Section 220 of the DGCL for the use of the Company's shareholder lists and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to holders of Shares. This Offer to Purchase, the related Letter of Transmittal and other relevant materials will be mailed to record holders of Shares, and will be furnished to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the shareholder lists, or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency's security position listing, for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares, by the Purchaser following receipt of such lists or listings from the Company, or by the Company if it so elects. 2. PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING SHARES Valid Tender. For a shareholder validly to tender Shares pursuant to the Offer, either (a) a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), together with any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message (as defined below), and any other required documents, must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase prior to the Expiration Date and either certificates for tendered Shares ("Share Certificates") must be received by the Depositary at one of such addresses or such Shares must be delivered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth below (and a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined below) received by the Depositary), in each 5 case prior to the Expiration Date, or (b) the tendering shareholder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below. Book-Entry Transfer. The Depositary will establish accounts with respect to the Shares at The Depositary Trust Company and The Philadelphia Depositary Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facilities") for purposes of the Offer within two business days after the date of this Offer to Purchase. Any financial institution that is a participant in any of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities' systems may make book-entry delivery of Shares by causing a Book- Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Shares into the Depositary's account in accordance with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures for such transfer. However, although delivery of Shares may be effected through book- entry transfer into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility, the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined below), and any other required documents, must, in any case, be transmitted to, and received by, the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase prior to the Expiration Date, or the tendering shareholder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below. The confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Shares into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility as described above is referred to herein as a "Book-Entry Confirmation." DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH BOOK- ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY'S PROCEDURES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE DEPOSITARY. The term "Agent's Message" means a message transmitted by a Book-Entry Transfer Facility to, and received by, the Depositary and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, which states that such Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received an express acknowledgement from the participant in such Book- Entry Transfer Facility tendering the Shares that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the Letter of Transmittal and that the Purchaser may enforce such agreement against such participant. THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF SHARE CERTIFICATES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH ANY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY, IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING SHAREHOLDER. SHARE CERTIFICATES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS WILL BE DEEMED DELIVERED ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY (INCLUDING, IN THE CASE OF A BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER, BY BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION). IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY. Signature Guarantees. No signature guarantee is required on the Letter of Transmittal (a) if the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder (which term, for purposes of this Section, includes any participant in any of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities' systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of Shares tendered therewith and such registered holder has not completed either the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions" on the Letter of Transmittal or (b) if such Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (an "Eligible Institution"). In all other cases, all signatures on the Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instructions 1 and 5 to the Letter of Transmittal. If Share Certificates are registered in the name of a person other than the signer of the Letter of Transmittal, or if payment is to be made or Share Certificates for Shares not tendered or not accepted for payment are to be returned to a person other than the registered holder of the Share Certificates surrendered, 6 the tendered Share Certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holders appear on the Share Certificates, with the signatures on the Share Certificates or stock powers guaranteed as described above. See Instructions 1 and 5 to the Letter of Transmittal. Guaranteed Delivery. If a shareholder desires to tender Shares pursuant to the Offer and such shareholder's Share Certificates are not immediately available or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis or time will not permit all required documents to reach the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date, such shareholder's tender may be effected if all the following conditions are met: (i) the tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution; (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Purchaser, is received by the Depositary, as provided below, prior to the Expiration Date; and (iii) the Share Certificates, representing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer (or a Book-Entry Confirmation with respect to all such Shares), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message, and any other required documents are received by the Depositary within three trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. A "trading day" is any day on which the Nasdaq is open for business. The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand to the Depositary or transmitted by telegram, facsimile transmission or mail to the Depositary and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will in all cases be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of (a) Share Certificates for (or a timely Book- Entry Confirmation with respect to) such Shares, (b) a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message, and (c) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering shareholders may be paid at different times depending upon when Share Certificates or Book-Entry Confirmations with respect to Shares are actually received by the Depositary. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST BE PAID ON THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE SHARES TO BE PAID BY THE PURCHASER, REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION OF THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENT. The Purchaser's acceptance for payment of Shares validly tendered pursuant to the Offer will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering shareholder and the Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer. Appointment as Proxy. By executing a Letter of Transmittal as set forth above, a tendering shareholder irrevocably appoints designees of the Purchaser as such shareholder's attorneys-in-fact and proxies in the manner set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such shareholder's rights with respect to the Shares tendered by such shareholder and accepted for payment by the Purchaser and with respect to any and all other Shares or other securities or rights issued or issuable in respect of such Shares on or after August 5, 1997 (the "Applicable Date"). All such proxies will be irrevocable and considered coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares. Such appointment will be effective when, and only to the extent that, the Purchaser accepts such Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents given by such shareholder with respect to such Shares or other securities or rights will, without further action, be revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations may be given (and, if given, will not be deemed effective). The designees of the Purchaser will thereby be empowered to exercise all voting and other rights with 7 respect to such Shares and other securities or rights in respect of any annual, special, adjourned or postponed meeting of the Company's shareholders, actions by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise, as they in their sole discretion deem proper. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the Purchaser's acceptance for payment of such Shares, the Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights with respect to such Shares and other securities or rights, including voting at any meeting of shareholders. Distribution of Rights. Holders of Shares will be required to tender one Right for each Share tendered to effect a valid tender of such Share. Unless and until the Distribution Date of the Rights occurs, the Rights are represented by and transferred with the Shares. Accordingly, if the Distribution Date does not occur prior to the Expiration Date of the Offer, a tender of Shares will constitute a tender of the associated Rights. If a Distribution Date has occurred, certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares being tendered must be delivered to the Depositary in order for such Shares to be validly tendered. If a Distribution Date has occurred, a tender of Shares without Rights constitutes an agreement by the tendering shareholder to deliver certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer to the Depositary within three NASDAQ National Market trading days after the date such Rights Certificates are distributed. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that the Depositary receive such Rights Certificates prior to accepting Shares for payment. Payment for Shares tendered and purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of, among other things, such Rights Certificates, if such Rights Certificates have been distributed to holders of Shares. Purchaser will not pay any additional consideration for the Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer. Determination of Validity. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for payment of any tender of Shares will be determined by the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, whose determination will be final and binding on all parties. The Purchaser reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of or payment for which may, in the opinion of the Purchaser's counsel, be unlawful. The Purchaser also reserves the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Shares of any particular shareholder whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other shareholders. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects or irregularities relating thereto have been cured or waived. None of the Purchaser, Parent, the Depositary, the Information Agent, the Dealer Manager or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. The Purchaser's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be final and binding on all parties. Backup Withholding. In order to avoid "backup withholding" of federal income tax on payments of cash pursuant to the Offer or the Proposed Merger, a shareholder surrendering Shares in the Offer must, unless an exemption applies, provide the Depositary with such shareholder's correct taxpayer identification number ("TIN") on a Substitute Form W-9 and certify under penalties of perjury that such TIN is correct and that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding. If a shareholder does not provide such shareholder's correct TIN or fails to provide the certifications described above, the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") may impose a penalty on such shareholder and the payment of cash to such shareholder pursuant to the Offer or the Proposed Merger may be subject to backup withholding of 31% of the amount of such payment. All shareholders surrendering Shares pursuant to the Offer should complete and sign the main signature form and the Substitute Form W-9 included as part of the Letter of Transmittal to provide the information and certification necessary to avoid backup withholding (unless an applicable exemption exists and is proved in a manner satisfactory to the Purchaser and the Depositary). Noncorporate foreign shareholders should complete and sign the main signature form and a Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status, a copy of which may be obtained from the Depositary, in order to avoid backup withholding. See Instruction 10 to the Letter of Transmittal. 8 3. WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3, tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable. Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn pursuant to the procedures set forth below at any time prior to the Expiration Date and, unless theretofore accepted for payment by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, may also be withdrawn at any time after October 3, 1997 (or such later date as may apply in case the Offer is extended). For a withdrawal to be effective, a written, telegraphic or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Offer to Purchase and must specify the name of the person having tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of the Shares to be withdrawn, if different from the name of the person who tendered the Shares. If Share Certificates have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, then, prior to the physical release of such Share Certificates, the serial numbers shown on such Share Certificates must be submitted to the Depositary and, unless such Shares have been tendered by an Eligible Institution, the signatures on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been delivered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer as set forth in Section 2, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name and number of the account at the appropriate Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Shares and otherwise comply with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures. Withdrawals of tenders of Shares may not be rescinded, and any Shares properly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not validly tendered for purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn Shares may be retendered by again following one of the procedures described in Section 2 at any time prior to the Expiration Date. All questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, whose determination will be final and binding on all parties. None of the Purchaser, Parent, the Depositary, the Information Agent, the Dealer Manager or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. 4. ACCEPTANCE FOR PAYMENT AND PAYMENT Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the Purchaser will accept for payment and will pay for all Shares (including the associated Rights) validly tendered and not withdrawn promptly after the Expiration Date. All questions as to the satisfaction of such terms and conditions will be determined by the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, whose determination will be final and binding on all parties. See Sections 1 and 14. The Purchaser expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to delay acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares in order to comply in whole or in part with any applicable law, including, without limitation, the HSR Act. See Section 15. Any such delays will be effected in compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to a bidder's obligation to pay for or return tendered securities promptly after the termination or withdrawal of such bidder's offer). In all cases, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of (a) Share Certificates for (or a timely Book-Entry Confirmation with respect to) such Shares, (b) a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent's Message, and (c) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. The per Share consideration paid to any shareholder pursuant to the Offer will be the highest per Share consideration paid to any other shareholder pursuant to the Offer. 9 For purposes of the Offer, the Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for payment, and thereby purchased, Shares validly tendered to the Purchaser as, if and when the Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the Depositary of the Purchaser's acceptance for payment of such Shares. Payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made by deposit of the purchase price therefor with the Depositary, which will act as agent for validly tendering shareholders for the purpose of receiving payment from the Purchaser and transmitting payment to tendering shareholders. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL INTEREST BE PAID ON THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE SHARES TO BE PAID BY THE PURCHASER, REGARDLESS OF ANY EXTENSION OF THE OFFER OR ANY DELAY IN MAKING SUCH PAYMENT. Upon the deposit of funds with the Depositary for the purpose of making payments to tendering shareholders, the Purchaser's obligation to make such payment shall be satisfied and tendering shareholders must thereafter look solely to the Depositary for payment of amounts owed to them by reason of the acceptance for payment of Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Purchaser will pay any stock transfer taxes with respect to the transfer and sale to it or its order pursuant to the Offer, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, as well as any charges and expenses of the Dealer Manager, the Depositary and the Information Agent. If the Purchaser is delayed in its acceptance for payment of or payment for Shares or is unable to accept for payment or pay for Shares pursuant to the Offer for any reason, then, without prejudice to the Purchaser's rights under the Offer (but subject to compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act), the Depositary may, nevertheless, on behalf of the Purchaser, retain tendered Shares, and such Shares may not be withdrawn except to the extent tendering shareholders are entitled to exercise, and duly exercise, withdrawal rights as described in Section 3. If any tendered Shares are not purchased pursuant to the Offer for any reason, Share Certificates for any such unpurchased Shares will be returned, without expense to the tendering shareholder (or, in the case of Shares delivered by book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 2, such Shares will be credited to an account maintained at the appropriate Book-Entry Transfer Facility), as promptly as practicable after the expiration, termination or withdrawal of the Offer. The Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to Parent, or to one or more direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Parent, the right to purchase Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer, but any such transfer or assignment will not relieve the Purchaser of its obligations under the Offer and will in no way prejudice the rights of tendering shareholders to receive payment for Shares validly tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer. 5. CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES The receipt of cash pursuant to the Offer or the Proposed Merger will be a taxable transaction for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and may also be a taxable transaction under applicable state, local or foreign income or other tax laws. Generally, for federal income tax purposes, a tendering shareholder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount of cash received by the shareholder pursuant to the Offer or the Proposed Merger and the aggregate tax basis in the Shares tendered by the shareholder and purchased pursuant to the Offer or converted in the Proposed Merger, as the case may be. Gain or loss will be calculated separately for each block of Shares tendered and purchased pursuant to the Offer or converted in the Proposed Merger, as the case may be. If Shares are held by a shareholder as capital assets, gain or loss recognized by the shareholder will be capital gain or loss. In the case of individual shareholders, any such capital gain will be (i) mid-term gain if the shareholder has held its Shares for more than one year but no more than 18 10 months and (ii) long-term capital gain if the shareholder has held its Shares for more than 18 months. Any mid-term capital gain recognized by an individual shareholder will be taxed at a maximum marginal federal rate of 28%, while any long-term capital gain recognized by an individual shareholder will be taxed at a maximum federal marginal tax rate of 20%. Any capital gain recognized by corporate shareholders upon the sale of Shares will be long-term capital gain if the corporate shareholder has held its shares for more than one year and will, in that case, be taxed at a maximum federal marginal tax rate of 35%. THE FOREGOING DISCUSSION IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE WITH RESPECT TO SHARES RECEIVED PURSUANT TO THE EXERCISE OF EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS OR OTHERWISE AS COMPENSATION OR WITH RESPECT TO HOLDERS OF SHARES WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL TAX TREATMENT UNDER THE CODE, SUCH AS NON-U.S. PERSONS, LIFE INSURANCE COMPANIES, TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND MAY NOT APPLY TO A HOLDER OF SHARES IN LIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS TO DETERMINE THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM (INCLUDING THE APPLICATION AND EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN INCOME AND OTHER TAX LAWS) OF THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. 6. PRICE RANGE OF SHARES; DIVIDENDS ON THE SHARES The Shares are listed and traded on The Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq") under the symbol CCON. According to the Company 10-K, as of December 31, 1996, the Shares were held by approximately 1,052 holders of record. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per Share as reported in the Company 10-K or on the Dow Jones Historical Stock Quote Reporter Service. According to the Company 10-K and the Company 10-Qs (as defined herein), the Company has not paid dividends on the Shares during the periods covered.
HIGH LOW ------ ------ 1995: First quarter............................................. 19 1/2 11 3/4 Second quarter............................................ 23 1/4 16 Third quarter............................................. 21 17 Fourth quarter............................................ 23 1/2 18 1996: First quarter............................................. 20 1/4 10 3/4 Second quarter............................................ 15 5/8 10 3/4 Third quarter............................................. 19 1/2 8 1/2 Fourth quarter............................................ 17 5/8 15 1/4 1997: First quarter............................................. 16 1/8 13 3/8 Second quarter............................................ 14 5/8 12 1/2 Third quarter (through August 4).......................... 16 3/8 14
On August 4, 1997, the last full trading day before commencement of the Offer, the closing sale price for the Shares was $14 7/8 per share. SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO OBTAIN CURRENT MARKET QUOTATIONS FOR THE SHARES. 11 7. EFFECT OF THE OFFER ON THE MARKET FOR THE SHARES; EXCHANGE ACT REGISTRATION; MARGIN REGULATIONS Market for the Shares. The purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer will reduce the number of holders of Shares and the number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly and could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining Shares held by the public. Depending upon the aggregate market value and per share price of any Shares not purchased pursuant to the Offer, the Shares may no longer meet the standards of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") for continued inclusion in the Nasdaq Stock Market, which require that an issuer have at least 200,000 publicly held shares with a market value of $1 million. If these standards are not met, the Shares might nevertheless continue to be included in the NASD's Nasdaq Stock Market with quotations published in the Nasdaq "additional list" or in one of the "local lists." However, if the number of holders of Shares falls below 300, or if the number of publicly held Shares falls below 100,000, or if there are not at least two market makers for the Shares, NASD rules provide that the securities would no longer be "qualified" for Nasdaq Stock Market reporting, and the Nasdaq Stock Market would cease to provide any quotations. Shares held directly or indirectly by an officer or director of the Company, or by any beneficial owner of more than 10 percent of the Shares, ordinarily will not be considered as being publicly held for this purpose. If, as a result of the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, the Shares no longer meet the NASD requirements for continued inclusion in any tier of the Nasdaq National Market or in any other tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market, and the Shares are no longer included in any tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market, the market for Shares could be adversely affected. In the event the Shares no longer meet the requirements of the NASD for inclusion in any tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market, quotations might still be available from other sources. The extent of the public market for the Shares and availability of such quotations would, however, depend upon the number of holders of Shares remaining at such time, the interest in maintaining a market in the Shares on the part of securities firms, the possible termination of registration under the Exchange Act, as described below, and other factors. Exchange Act Registration. The Shares are currently registered under the Exchange Act. Registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act may be terminated upon application of the Company to the Commission if the Shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor held by 300 or more holders of record. Termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by the Company to its shareholders and to the Commission and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act no longer applicable to the Company, such as the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the requirement of furnishing a proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with shareholders' meetings and the related requirement of furnishing an annual report to shareholders and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to "going private" transactions. Furthermore, the ability of "affiliates" of the Company and persons holding "restricted securities" of the Company to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 or 144A promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be impaired or eliminated. The Purchaser intends to seek to cause the Company to apply for termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as soon after the completion of the Offer as the requirements for such termination are met. If registration of the Shares is not terminated prior to the Proposed Merger, then the Shares will be delisted from all stock exchanges and the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act will be terminated following the consummation of the Proposed Merger. 12 Margin Regulations. The Shares are currently "margin securities" under the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board"), which has the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of the Shares. Depending upon factors similar to those described above regarding listing and market quotations, it is possible that, following the Offer, the Shares would no longer constitute "margin securities" for the purposes of the margin regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and therefore could no longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers. 8. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY The Company. The Company is a Delaware corporation with its principal offices at 6500 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, California 93117. According to the Company 10-K, the Company designs, manufactures and markets medical endoscope and electrosurgery systems for diagnosis and minimally invasive surgery. According to the Company 10-K, the Company's systems are used for a growing number of medical specialties, including urology, arthroscopy, laparoscopy, gynecology, thoracoscopy and plastic surgery. According to the Company 10-K, the Company also designs, assembles and markets miniature color video systems used with endoscope systems. According to the Company 10-K, Cabot designs, manufactures and markets medical devices, ureteral stents, urological diagnostic equipment, related products and systems principally for use in general surgery and gynecological diagnosis and surgery. The Rights. The following is a summary of the material terms of the Rights Agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, a copy of which has been filed with the Commission as an Exhibit to the Company 8-A and should be available for inspection, and copies may be obtained, in the manner set forth under "Available Information" below. The Company 8-A describes the Rights as follows: On August 14, 1996, pursuant to a [Rights Agreement] the Company's Board of Directors declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") to purchase one one-thousandth share of the Company's Series A Participating Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, $.01 par value ("Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend [was] payable on August 26, 1996 (the "Record Date") to stockholders of record as of the close of business on that date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred at an exercise price of $70.00 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. RIGHTS EVIDENCED BY COMMON SHARE CERTIFICATES The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date (defined below). Certificates for the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will not be sent to shareholders and the Rights will attach to and trade only together with the Common Shares. Accordingly, Common Share certificates outstanding on the Record Date (together with the Summary of Rights being distributed by the Company to shareholders of record) will evidence the Rights related thereto, and Common Share certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender or transfer of any certificates for Common Shares, outstanding as of the Record Date, even without notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. DISTRIBUTION DATE The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, Rights Certificates will be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon the earlier of: (i) 10 days (or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the directors in office prior to any person becoming an 13 Acquiring Person, as defined below and their approved successors (the "Continuing Directors")) following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, provided, however, that under the foregoing clause (ii), with respect to the unsolicited tender offer by USS Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation for all outstanding Common Shares of the Company as set forth in the Schedule 14D-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about August 2, 1996 [i.e. Parent's Initial Offer], the Rights will separate and become exercisable only at such date as is determined by action of a majority of the Continuing Directors then in office. The earlier of such dates is referred to as the "Distribution Date". ISSUANCE OF RIGHTS CERTIFICATES; EXPIRATION OF RIGHTS As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Rights Certificates alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Distribution Date. All Common Shares issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights. Common Shares issued after the Distribution Date may be issued with Rights if such shares are issued (i) upon the conversion of outstanding convertible debentures or any other convertible securities issued after adoption of the Rights Agreement or (ii) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under employee benefit plans or arrangements unless such issuance would result in (or create a risk that) such options, plans or arrangements would not qualify for otherwise available special tax treatment. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, no other Common Shares issued after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights. The Rights will expire on the earliest of (i) August 14, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date") or (ii) redemption or exchange of the Rights as described below. INITIAL EXERCISE OF THE RIGHTS Following the Distribution Date, and until one of the further events described below, holders of the Rights will be entitled to receive, upon exercise and the payment of $70.00 per Right, one one-thousandth share of the Series A Preferred. RIGHT TO BUY COMPANY COMMON SHARES Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that an Acquiring Person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's Common Shares then outstanding, then each holder of a Right which has not theretofore been exercised (other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person, which will thereafter be void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Shares having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price. In the event that the Company does not have sufficient Common Shares available for all Rights to be exercised, or the Board decides that such action is necessary and not contrary to the interests of Rights holders, the Company may instead substitute cash, assets or other securities for the Common Shares for which the Rights would have been exercisable under this provision or as described below. RIGHT TO BUY ACQUIRING COMPANY STOCK Similarly, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that, after an Acquiring Person becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's Common Shares then outstanding, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination 14 transaction, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provision must be made so that each holder of a Right which has not theretofore been exercised (other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person, which will have become void) will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, shares of common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price. EXCHANGE PROVISION At any time after the acquisition by an Acquiring Person of 15% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares and prior to the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right. REDEMPTION At any time on or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the 10th day following first public announcement that a person has become an Acquiring Person (the "Share Acquisition Date") or such later date as may be determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors and publicly announced by the Company, or (ii) the Final Expiration Date of the Rights, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right. ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVENT DILUTION The Purchase Price payable, the number of Rights, and the number of Series A Preferred or Common Shares or other securities or property issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time in connection with the dilutive issuances by the Company as set forth in the Rights Agreement. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. CASH PAID INSTEAD OF ISSUING FRACTIONAL SHARES No fractional portion less than integral multiples of one Common Share will be issued upon exercise of a Right and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Shares on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise. NO STOCKHOLDERS' RIGHTS PRIOR TO EXERCISE Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company (other than any rights resulting from such holder's ownership of Common Shares), including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends. AMENDMENT OF RIGHTS AGREEMENT The provisions of the Rights Agreement may be supplemented or amended by the Board of Directors in any manner prior to a person becoming an Acquiring Person. After such date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable. RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF THE SERIES A PREFERRED Series A Preferred purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. Each share of Series A Preferred will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of liquidation, the holders of the Series A 15 Preferred will be entitled to a minimum preferential liquidation payment equal to $70,000 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment. Following the payment of such amount, no additional distributions shall be made to the holders of shares of Series A Preferred unless, prior thereto, the holders of Common Shares shall have received an amount per share equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the amount paid to holders of Series A Preferred by 1,000. Following the payment of each of these amounts, holders of Series A Preferred and holders of Common Shares shall receive their ratable and proportionate share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of 1,000 to 1 with respect to such Series A Preferred and Common Shares, on a per share basis, respectively. In the event of a consolidation, merger or similar transaction by the Company, the holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to receive an amount per share equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of cash, securities, or other property for which each Common Share is exchanged in such transaction. Each share of Series A Preferred will have 1,000 votes, voting together with the Common Shares. These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of the shares of Series A Preferred, the value of the one one- thousandth interest in a share of Series A Preferred purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one Common Share. CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS . . .[T]he Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or discouraging an acquisition of the Company deemed undesirable by the Board of Directors. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company on terms or in a manner not approved by the Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon the negation, purchase or redemption of the Rights. UNLESS THE RIGHTS ARE REDEEMED, SHAREHOLDERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO TENDER ONE RIGHT FOR EACH SHARE TENDERED IN ORDER TO EFFECT A VALID TENDER OF SUCH SHARES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROCEDURES SET FORTH IN SECTION 2. IF SEPARATE CERTIFICATES FOR THE RIGHTS ARE NOT ISSUED, A TENDER OF SHARES WILL ALSO CONSTITUTE A TENDER OF THE ASSOCIATED RIGHTS. SEE SECTIONS 1 AND 2. CONSUMMATION OF THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED IN ITS SOLE JUDGMENT THAT THE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN REDEEMED BY THE COMPANY OR THE RIGHTS ARE UNENFORCEABLE OR OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE OFFER AND TO THE PROPOSED MERGER. SEE SECTION 15. 16 Set forth below is certain selected consolidated financial information with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries excerpted or derived from the information contained in the Company 10-K and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996 and 1997 (the "Company 10- Qs"). More comprehensive financial information is included in the Company 10-K, the Company 10-Qs and other documents filed by the Company with the Commission, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to such information. The Company 10-K, the Company 10-Qs and such other documents should be available for inspection and copies thereof should be obtainable in the manner set forth below under "Available Information." CIRCON CORPORATION SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) CIRCON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
THREE MONTHS ENDED FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, DECEMBER 31, ------------------- --------------------------- 1997 1996 1996(1) 1995(2) 1994 --------- --------- -------- -------- -------- INCOME STATEMENT DATA: Net Sales..................... $ 38,393 $ 39,962 $153,779 $160,447 $157,041 Gross Profit.................. 21,466 22,198 85,878 83,640 88,569 Operating Income (Loss)....... 2,003 3,578 6,709 3,820 13,753 Net Income (Loss)............. 791 1,659 2,071 (5,393) 6,509 Net Income (Loss) per Share... 0.06 0.13 0.16 (0.41) 0.51 Weighted Average Shares Outstanding.................. 13,664 13,114 13,339 13,237 12,738 BALANCE SHEET DATA: Total Assets.................. $ 170,433 $ 168,921 $169,118 $181,339 $184,129 Total Debt.................... 52,935 59,509 50,935 72,292 73,483 Total Shareholders' Equity.... 99,251 89,502 98,901 87,172 86,965
- -------- No cash dividends have been paid during the periods presented. (1) The Company charged $3 million in 1996 for expenses related to the Offer and certain stockholder litigation. The Company recognized a $2 million non-recurring tax benefit in the second quarter in connection with the liquidation of Cabot Medical. (2) In connection with the merger of the Company and Cabot, $13,369 (pre-tax) of merger costs and non-recurring combination expenses were incurred and charged to expense in the third quarter of 1995. These costs include $8,433 associated with the elimination of duplicative, excess, and obsolete inventories and related production equipment, and reorganizing and cross training the sales force, and $4,936 of fees and other expenses specifically associated with the merger process. Recent Developments. On July 22, 1997, the Company announced its results for the three month period ended on June 30, 1997. According to the Company's announcement, for the six month period ended June 30, 1997, the Company's sales totaled $78.8 million, compared with $77.1 million for the same period in 1996, and the Company's gross profit was $43.2 million, compared with $42.8 million for the same period in 1996. For the three month period ended June 30, 1997, the Company's sales totaled $40.5 million, compared with $37.1 million for the same period in 1996, and the Company's gross profit was $21.8 million, compared with $20.6 million for the same period in 1996. Available Information. The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, is required to file reports relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. Information as of particular dates concerning the Company's directors and officers, their remuneration, stock options and other matters, the principal holders of the Company's securities and any material interest of such persons in transactions with the Company is required to 17 be disclosed in proxy statements distributed to the Company's shareholders and filed with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information should be available for inspection at the public reference facilities of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549, and at the regional offices of the Commission located at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10048 and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street (Suite 1400), Chicago, IL 60661. Such reports, proxy statements and other information may also be obtained at the Web site that the Commission maintains at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of such information should be obtainable, by mail, upon payment of the Commission's customary charges, by writing to the Commission's principal office at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549. Company Information. The information concerning the Company contained in this Offer to Purchase has been taken from or based upon publicly available documents on file with the Commission and other publicly available information. Although Parent and the Purchaser do not have any knowledge that any such information is untrue, neither the Purchaser nor Parent takes any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information or for any failure by the Company to disclose events that may have occurred and may affect the significance or accuracy of any such information. 9. CERTAIN INFORMATION CONCERNING PARENT AND THE PURCHASER Parent is a Delaware corporation primarily engaged in developing, manufacturing and marketing a proprietary line of technologically advanced surgical wound management products to hospitals throughout the world. Parent currently operates domestically and internationally through subsidiaries, divisions and distributors. Parent is a leading multinational developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative surgical wound closure products. In this category, principal products consist of a series of surgical stapling instruments (both disposable and reusable), disposable surgical clip appliers and disposable loading units (DLUs) for use with stapling instruments. The instruments are an alternative to manual suturing techniques utilizing needle/suture combinations and enable surgeons to reduce blood loss, tissue trauma and operating time while joining internal tissue, reconstructing or sealing off organs, removing diseased tissue, occluding blood vessels and closing skin, either with titanium, stainless steel, or proprietary absorbable copolymer staples or with titanium, stainless steel, or proprietary absorbable copolymer clips. Surgical stapling also makes possible several surgical procedures which cannot be achieved with surgical needles and suturing materials. The disposable instruments and DLUs are expended after a single use or, in the case of reloadable disposable instruments, after a single surgical procedure. Parent is a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialized wound management products designed for use in the field of minimally invasive surgery. This surgical technique (also referred to as laparoscopic or endoscopic surgery) requires incisions of up to one half inch through which various procedures are performed using laparoscopic instruments and optical devices, known as laparoscope or endoscopes, for viewing inside the body cavity. Laparoscopy generally provides patients with significant reductions in post-operative hospital stay, pain, recuperative time and hospital costs, with improved cosmetic results, and with the ability to return to work and normal life in a shorter time frame. Parent has developed and markets disposable surgical clip appliers and stapling instruments designed for laparoscopic uses in a variety of sizes and configurations. Parent's products in this area also include trocars, which provide entry ports to the body in laparoscopic surgery, and a line of instruments which allows the surgeon to see, cut, clamp, retract, suction, irrigate or otherwise manipulate tissue during a laparoscopic procedure. Parent also designs and markets laparoscopes. Application for minimally invasive surgery currently include cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal), hysterectomy, hernia repair, bladder suspension for urinary stress incontinence, anti-reflux procedures for correction of heartburn, and various forms of bowel, stomach, gynecologic, urologic, and thoracic (chest) surgery. Parent believes that laparoscopy can also be used effectively in many other surgical procedures. 18 Parent offers certain of its products in both disposable and reusable versions. Disposable instruments reduce the user's capital investment, eliminate the risks and costs associated with maintenance, sterilizing and repair of reusable instruments, and provide the surgeon with a new sterile instrument for each procedure, offering more efficacious and safer practice for both patients and operating room personnel. Reusable instruments provide an alternative for surgeons and hospitals preferring this approach. Parent also manufactures and markets a line of sutures products, which was introduced in 1991. Parent believes that sutures, which represent a major portion of the wound closure market, are a natural complement to its other wound management products. Parent has taken steps to diversify beyond the general surgery market and explore new growth areas in surgery where it can utilize its manufacturing expertise, research and development experience and the skills of its sales force. To this end, Parent is building a line of surgical specialty instrumentation and technology for cardiovascular, oncological, urological and orthopedic procedures. Parent believes that minimally invasive instrumentation and more advanced techniques can be applied to these specialty practices. Parent plans to obtain such technologies through internal research and development and by acquiring, investing in, or creating alliances with, other firms or persons who have developed such technology. The Purchaser is a recently incorporated Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent which to date has not conducted any business other than in connection with the Offer and the Proposed Merger. The principal executive offices of Parent and the Purchaser are located at 150 Glover Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06856. 19 Set forth below is certain selected consolidated financial information with respect to Parent and its subsidiaries excerpted or derived from the information contained in Parent's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 (the "Parent 10-K") and Parent's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the six month periods ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 (the "Parent 10-Qs"). More comprehensive financial information is included in the complete financial statements of Parent contained in the Parent 10-K and the Parent 10- Qs on file with the Commission, and such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference. UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
SIX MONTHS ENDED FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, DECEMBER 31, ------------------- -------------------------------- 1997(1) 1996 1996 1995(2) 1994(3) --------- --------- ---------- ---------- ---------- INCOME STATEMENT DATA: Net Sales................ $ 574,600 $ 549,600 $1,112,700 $1,022,300 $ 918,700 Income before income taxes................... 56,400 62,400 141,700 89,800 32,700 Net income............... 47,600 48,100 109,100 79,200 19,200 Net income per common share and common share equivalent (primary and fully diluted).......... .62 .66 1.48 1.05 0.08 Average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding............. 69,100 58,100 60,500 57,000 56,600 Dividends declared per common share............ .08 .04 0.08 0.08 0.08 BALANCE SHEET DATA: Total assets............. 1,573,100 1,373,700 $1,514,800 $1,265,500 $1,103,500 Long-term debt........... 143,900 150,700 142,400 256,500 248,500 Stockholders' equity(4).. 1,117,200 942,500 1,053,800 741,100 662,00
- -------- (1) In the second quarter of 1997, Parent recorded litigation costs of $24 million ($.24 per common share), restructuring charges of $6 million ($.06 per common share) and a benefit resulting from an IRS examination of $7 million ($.10 per common share). (2) In the third quarter of 1995, Parent reached an agreement with respect to the settlement of all issues raised by the Internal Revenue Service in the examination of the Parent's income tax returns for the years 1984 through 1990. As a result of the agreement, Parent recognized a net credit to the tax provisions of $10 million ($.18 per common share) in the third quarter of 1995. (3) In the fourth quarter of 1994, Parent signed a letter of intent to purchase certain assets of its independent distributor in Japan, which included inventory of Parent's products purchased by the independent distributor but not yet sold to third parties at December 31, 1994. Sales and Net Income were reduced by $17 million and $8 million ($.14 per common share), respectively, in anticipation of the pending reacquisition of these products and valuing these products at the Parent's cost. (4) Included in Stockholders' equity in 1996, 1995 and 1994 is $191.5 million of convertible preferred stock which has liquidation value of $200.0 million. 20 Available Information. Parent is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act and, in accordance therewith, files reports relating to its business, financial condition and other matters. Information, as of particular dates, concerning Parent's directors and officers, their remuneration, stock options and other matters, the principal holders of Parent's securities and any material interest of such persons in transactions with Parent is required to be disclosed in proxy statements distributed to Parent's shareholders and filed with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information should be available for inspection at the Commission and copies thereof should be obtainable from the Commission and on-line through EDGAR in the same manner as is set forth with respect to the Company in Section 8. Contacts, etc. with the Company. The only acquisition of Shares effected during the past 60 days by Parent and its affiliates was the acquisition of 973,174 Shares at a purchase price of $14.50 per Share pursuant to the Initial Offer. Parent subsequently transferred 6,963 Shares to each of Mr. Charles M. Elson and Lt. Gen. Victor H. Krulak in exchange for their agreement to stand for election as a director of the Company at the Annual Meeting. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of Parent or the Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent or the Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto, or any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of such persons, beneficially owns any equity security of the Company, and none of Parent, the Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent or the Purchaser, any of the other persons referred to above, or any of the respective directors, executive officers or subsidiaries of any of the foregoing, has effected any transaction in any equity security of the Company during the past 60 days. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of Parent or the Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent and the Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of the Company, including, without limitation, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or the voting of any securities of the Company, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties of loans, guaranties against loss or the giving or withholding of proxies. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, none of Parent or the Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent and the Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto has had any transactions with the Company, or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates that would require reporting under the rules of the Commission. Except as set forth in this Offer to Purchase, there have been no contacts, negotiations or transactions between Parent or the Purchaser, or their respective subsidiaries, or, to the best knowledge of Parent and the Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto, on the one hand, and the Company or its executive officers, directors or affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of securities, election of directors, or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets that would require reporting under the rules of the Commission. 10. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS The total amount of funds required by the Purchaser to purchase all of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and to pay fees and expenses related to the Offer and the Proposed Merger is estimated to be approximately $210 million. The Purchaser plans to obtain all funds needed for the Offer and the Proposed Merger through a capital contribution or loan from Parent. Certain covenants in agreements relating to outstanding debt of the Company could require prepayment by the Company of such debt in the event the Offer is consummated. In such event, the Purchaser would intend to negotiate waivers of such covenants or to refinance such debt. Parent plans to obtain the funds for such capital contribution or loan from its available cash and working capital and pursuant to one or more credit facilities as described below. 21 Parent entered into a definitive credit agreement (the "New Credit Agreement"), dated September 16, 1996, among Parent, the lenders party thereto, The Bank of New York, as Administrative Agent, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Documentation Agent, to provide Parent and the Purchaser with financing. The New Credit Agreement provides up to $175 million in borrowings in addition to Parent's existing $325 million credit facility which is described below. Closing of the New Credit Agreement, which must occur prior to any borrowings, is subject to certain conditions, including, among other things, (i) the inapplicability of the Rights Agreement to the Offer; (ii) the inapplicability of Section 203 to the Offer; (iii) the acquisition by Parent or the Purchaser of sufficient shares to approve the Proposed Merger without the approval of any other shareholders of the Company; (iv) the satisfaction of all conditions to the Offer; and (v) the approval of the Merger, if required, by the board of directors of the Company. Borrowings under the New Credit Agreement are subject to certain specified conditions including, among other things, the absence of any defaults under the New Credit Agreement. The final maturity date of the New Credit Agreement is January 5, 2001. The definitive credit documentation contains pricing and other terms substantially similar to those of the Credit Agreement (as defined herein). Parent has entered into the New Credit Agreement in order to obtain funds to be used to purchase Shares in this Offer. In addition to the funds to be borrowed pursuant to the New Credit Agreement, Parent will obtain the funds to be contributed or loaned to Purchaser from its available cash and working capital and pursuant to its primary credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement"), dated as of December 20, 1995, among Parent, certain of Parent's subsidiaries, NationsBank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, The Bank of New York, as Yen Administrative Agent, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as Documentation Agent, and the signatory banks thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for up to $325 million in borrowings, and as of August 1, 1997, approximately $6.8 million in borrowings, representing the U.S. dollar equivalent of yen borrowings, were outstanding. The Credit Agreement provides Parent with a choice of interest rates based upon the CD rate, the prime rate, or the LIBOR, for U.S. dollar borrowings and Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate ("TIBOR") for yen borrowings. Prime rate loans bear interest at the higher of the prime rate as established by NationsBank, N.A. and the sum of the federal funds rate plus .5%. The actual interest charges paid by the Company for London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") and CD rate loans are determined by a pricing schedule which considers the ratio of consolidated debt at each calender quarter end to consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the trailing twelve months. Additional borrowings under the Credit Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions contained therein. Parent expects that future borrowings under the Credit Agreement will be LIBOR based. Under the Credit Agreement, the interest rate at August 1, 1997 for a three month LIBOR borrowing would be approximately 6.04%. Parent is also subject to facility fees (ranging from 15 to 35 basis points per annum). The Credit Agreement includes representations and warranties, covenants, events of default and other terms customary to financings of that type. A copy of the New Credit Agreement was filed as Exhibit (10)(a) to Parent's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 1996 and is incorporated herein by reference. 22 It is anticipated that the indebtedness incurred by Parent under such loans will be repaid from funds generated internally by Parent and its subsidiaries (including, after the Proposed Merger, if consummated, dividends paid by the Company and its subsidiaries), through additional borrowings, through application of proceeds of dispositions or through a combination of two or more such sources. No final decisions have been made concerning the method Parent will employ to repay such indebtedness. Such decisions when made will be based on Parent's review from time to time of the advisability of particular actions, as well as on prevailing interest rates and financial and other economic conditions. 11. BACKGROUND OF THE OFFER During the winter of 1994-1995, Leon C. Hirsch, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parent met with Richard A. Auhll, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Hirsch expressed an interest in exploring a possible acquisition of the Company by Parent. Mr. Auhll indicated that he was not interested in exploring such a transaction. During the spring of 1995, Parent held preliminary discussions concerning the possible acquisition of a company which was later acquired by the Company. During July and August 1996, Parent acquired 1,000,100 Shares (approximately 8% of the Shares outstanding) in open market transactions. On August 1, 1996, Mr. Hirsch telephoned Mr. Auhll to advise him, among other things of the commencement of an offer (the "Initial Offer") to purchase all outstanding Shares for a purchase price of $18.00 per Share. On August 2, 1996, Parent announced that it had commenced the Initial Offer and published a summary advertisement announcing the commencement of the Initial Offer. On August 15, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors recommended that stockholders not tender their Shares to Parent. On August 30, 1996, Parent issued a press release announcing the extension of the Initial Offer until 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on September 30, 1996. On September 17, 1996 Parent filed a suit against the Company in the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware, asking the court, among other things, to enjoin and void the Company's recently adopted "poison pill" and "golden parachutes." See Section 15. On September 18, 1996, Parent filed suit in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware against the Company seeking to compel the Company to provide Parent with full information necessary to enable Parent to communicate directly with the Company's shareholders. The Company has agreed to provide such information. Accordingly, this lawsuit is in suspense. On September 30, 1996, Parent issued a press release announcing the extension of the Initial Offer until 6:00 p.m. New York City time, on December 13, 1996, unless further extended. On December 16, 1996, Parent and Purchaser extended the Initial Offer and amended the Initial Offer by decreasing the price offered to $17 in cash per share. Parent took this action because it believed that, as a result of the steps taken by the Company's management to entrench themselves and the Company's performance to that date, Parent could no longer justify the higher price. On June 11, 1997, Mr. Hirsch sent a letter to Mr. Auhll requesting a meeting to discuss a possible negotiated transaction between Parent and the Company. On June 12, 1997, Mr. Auhll responded that "We appreciate your interest in Circon. However we remain committed to our strategic plan and wish to pursue our corporate goals independently." 23 On June 16, 1997, Parent and Purchaser further amended the Initial Offer by decreasing the number of Shares subject to the offer to up to an aggregate of 973,174 Shares and decreasing the price offered to $14.50 in cash per Share (and associated Right). The reduced price offered reflected both Parent's view of the Company's results over the previous three quarters and the fact that Parent would not acquire control of the Company as a result of the offer. The number of shares which Parent and Purchaser tendered for was the approximate maximum number of Shares which Parent could acquire without triggering the Company's "poison pill". On July 15, 1997, Parent accepted for payment 973,174 Shares. On July 17, 1997, Mr. Hirsch sent a letter to Mr. Auhll requesting a meeting to discuss a possible negotiated transaction between Parent and the Company. On July 23, 1997, Mr. Auhll responded that he would discuss the letter "with the Board" at the Board's meeting during the week of July 28th. As of August 4, 1997, Parent had not received any further communication from the Company with respect to this letter. On July 25, 1997, Parent entered into agreements with Mr. Charles M. Elson and Lt. Gen. Victor H. Krulak pursuant to which, among other things, each has agreed to stand for election as a director of the Company. In connection therewith, each such designee has received a fee of $100,000, payable in 6,963 Shares, from Parent. On July 28, 1997, Parent issued a press release announcing that it had filed preliminary proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting. On the same date Parent sent a letter to the Company providing notice of Parent's and Purchaser's intention to nominate Mr. Elson and Lt. Gen. Krulak for election as directors and to propose the following resolution at the Annual Meeting: "RESOLVED, that the shareholders of Circon Corporation urge the Circon Board of Directors to arrange for the prompt sale of Circon to the highest bidder." On August 5, 1997, Parent and Purchaser commenced the Offer. 12.PURPOSE OF THE OFFER; PLANS FOR THE COMPANY Purpose. The purpose of the Offer and the Proposed Merger is to enable Parent to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, the Company. The Offer, as the first step in the acquisition of the Company, is intended to facilitate the acquisition of all the Shares. Parent currently intends to propose and seek to consummate, as soon as practicable following the consummation of the Offer, the Proposed Merger. The purpose of the Proposed Merger is to acquire all Shares not purchased pursuant to the Offer or otherwise. Pursuant to the Proposed Merger, each then outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by Parent or any of its subsidiaries and Shares owned by shareholders who perfect any available dissenters' rights they may have under the DGCL) would be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the price per Share paid by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. Although it is the Purchaser's current intention to propose and seek to enter into a definitive merger agreement with the Company with respect to the Proposed Merger and to consummate the Proposed Merger as promptly as practicable, there can be no assurance that the Proposed Merger will be consummated or, if consummated, of the timing or terms thereof. Consummation of the Proposed Merger will require the adoption of a resolution by the Company's board of directors approving the Proposed Merger and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares. Alternatively, if the Purchaser purchases 90% or more of the Shares, the Proposed Merger could be consummated without the approval of the shareholders through a Short-Form Merger (described below under "The Proposed Merger"). Plans for the Company. Based upon publicly available information, Parent believes that significant operating and sales synergies may be achievable by the combined entity, which could include both increases in sales and margins and reduced expenses. If and to the extent that the 24 Purchaser acquires control of the Company or otherwise obtains access to the books and records of the Company, Parent and the Purchaser intend to conduct a detailed review of the Company and its assets, corporate structure, dividend policy, capitalization, operations, properties, policies, management and personnel and consider and determine what, if any, changes would be desirable in light of the circumstances which then exist. Such strategies could include, among other things, changes in the Company's business, corporate structure, Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws, capitalization, management or dividend policy. Parent plans to commence a proxy contest to elect up to two directors and to propose a resolution calling for the prompt sale of the Company at the Annual Meeting. In connection with this proxy contest, Parent has given the Company notice of its intent to nominate two persons to the board of directors and to propose a resolution for consideration by the Company's shareholders. In addition, Parent has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission preliminary proxy materials with respect to the Annual Meeting. The Company has not publicly announced the date of the Annual Meeting of shareholders. See Section 11. Except as described in this Offer to Purchase, Parent and the Purchaser have no present plans or proposals that would result in an extraordinary corporate transaction, such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or sale or transfer of a material amount of assets, involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any material changes in the Company's present capitalization, dividend policy, corporate structure or business or any material changes or reductions in the composition of its management or personnel. The Proposed Merger. In general, under the DGCL, the Proposed Merger requires the approval of the Company's Board of Directors and the approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares. Accordingly, if the Purchaser acquires more than a majority of the outstanding Shares and the Company's Board of Directors approves the Proposed Merger, the Purchaser would have the voting power to approve the Proposed Merger without the vote of any other shareholders and could effect the Proposed Merger by so voting. Further, the DGCL would permit the Proposed Merger to occur without a vote of the Company's shareholders (a "Short-Form Merger") only if the Purchaser were to acquire at least 90% of the outstanding shares in the Offer. Accordingly, if the Purchaser owns 90% or more of the outstanding Shares after consummation of the Offer, a Short-Form Merger could be effected by the Purchaser without the approval of the Company's shareholders or Board of Directors. If, following the consummation of the Offer, the members of the Company's Board of Directors in office at such time were to refuse to approve the Proposed Merger (or any other transaction or corporate action proposed by the Purchaser that required the approval of the Company's Board of Directors), the Purchaser, in order to consummate the Proposed Merger (or any such other transaction or corporate action), would first have to replace at least a majority of the Company's Board of Directors with its own nominees. As a result of the classified board provisions contained in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, at least two annual meetings of the Company's stockholders could be required to enable nominees of the Purchaser to comprise a majority of the Company's Board of Directors. Neither Parent nor the Purchaser can give any assurance as to whether, as a result of information hereafter obtained by either Parent or the Purchaser, changes in general economic or market 25 conditions or in the business of the Company, or other presently unforeseen factors, the Proposed Merger will be submitted to the Company's shareholders or whether the Proposed Merger will be delayed or abandoned. Whether or not the Proposed Merger is consummated, Parent and the Purchaser reserve the right to acquire additional Shares following the expiration of the Offer through private purchases, market transactions, tender or exchange offers or otherwise on terms and at prices that may be more or less favorable than those of the Offer or, subject to any applicable legal restrictions, to dispose of any or all Shares acquired by Parent and the Purchaser. Dissenters' Rights. Each shareholder of record (as of the date fixed for determining shareholders entitled to notice of the meeting of shareholders of the Company at which the Proposed Merger is to be submitted or, if the Proposed Merger is not subject to a vote of shareholders, the date on which an agreement of merger with respect to the Proposed Merger is adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company) will have the right to receive fair cash value for such shareholder's Shares if such shareholder objects to the Proposed Merger and otherwise properly exercises such shareholder's dissenters' rights and the Proposed Merger is consummated. If the statutory procedures for exercising or perfecting dissenters' rights are complied with in accordance with the DGCL, then a judicial determination will be made as to the fair cash value required to be paid to the dissenting shareholders for their Shares. Any such judicial determination of fair cash value would be based on the amount that a willing seller, under no compulsion to sell, would be willing to accept, and a willing buyer, under no compulsion to purchase, would be willing to pay (excluding any appreciation or depreciation in the market value resulting from the Proposed Merger), and the value so determined could be more or less than the price per share to be paid in the Offer or the Proposed Merger. From the time written demand for payment of the fair cash value is given until either the termination of the rights and obligations arising from such demand or the purchase of the Shares related thereto by the Company, all rights accruing to the objecting shareholder, including voting and dividend or distribution rights, will be suspended. If any dividend or distribution is paid on Shares during the suspension, an amount equal to the dividend or distribution which would have been payable on the Shares, but for such suspension, shall be paid to the holder of record of the Shares as a credit against the fair cash value of the Shares. If the right to receive the fair cash value is terminated otherwise than by the purchase of the Shares by the Company, all rights will be restored to the objecting shareholder and any distribution that would have been made to the holder of record of the Shares, but for the suspension, will be made at the time of such termination. The foregoing summary of the rights of dissenting shareholders does not purport to be a complete statement of the procedures to be followed by shareholders desiring to exercise their dissenters' rights. The preservation and exercise of dissenters' rights are conditioned on strict adherence to the applicable provisions of the DGCL. "Going Private" Transactions. The Commission has adopted Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act which is applicable to certain "going private" transactions and which may under certain circumstances be applicable to the Proposed Merger. However, Rule 13e-3 would be inapplicable if (i) the Shares are deregistered under the Exchange Act prior to the Proposed Merger or other business combination or (ii) the Proposed Merger or other business combination is consummated within one year after the purchase of the Shares pursuant to the Offer and the amount paid per Share in the Proposed Merger or other business combination is at least equal to the amount paid per Share in the Offer. If applicable, Rule 13e-3 requires, among other things, that certain financial information concerning the fairness of the proposed transaction and the consideration offered to minority shareholders in such transaction be filed with the Commission and disclosed to shareholders prior to the consummation of the transaction. 26 13.DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS If, on or after the Applicable Date (August 5, 1997), the Company should (a) split, combine or otherwise change the Shares or its capitalization, (b) acquire or otherwise cause a reduction in the number of outstanding Shares or other securities or (c) issue or sell additional Shares (other than the issuance of Shares under option or subject to warrants prior to the Applicable Date, in accordance with the terms of such options or warrants as publicly disclosed prior to the Applicable Date), shares of any other class of capital stock, other voting securities or any securities convertible into, or rights, warrants or options, conditional or otherwise, to acquire, any of the foregoing, then, subject to the provisions of Section 14, the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, may make such adjustments as it deems appropriate in the Offer Price and other terms of the Offer, including, without limitation, the number or type of securities offered to be purchased. If, on or after the Applicable Date, the Company should declare or pay any cash dividend on the Shares or other distribution on the Shares, or issue with respect to the Shares any additional Shares, shares of any other class of capital stock, other voting securities or any securities convertible into, or rights, warrants or options, conditional or otherwise, to acquire, any of the foregoing, payable or distributable to shareholders of record on a date prior to the transfer of the Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer to the Purchaser or its nominee or transferee on the Company's stock transfer records, then, subject to the provisions of Section 14, (a) the Offer Price may, in the sole discretion of the Purchaser, be reduced by the amount of any such cash dividend or cash distribution and (b) the whole of any such noncash dividend, distribution or issuance to be received by the tendering shareholders will (i) be received and held by the tendering shareholders for the account of the Purchaser and will be required to be promptly remitted and transferred by each tendering shareholder to the Depositary for the account of the Purchaser, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, or (ii) at the direction of the Purchaser, be exercised for the benefit of the Purchaser, in which case the proceeds of such exercise will promptly be remitted to the Purchaser. Pending such remittance and subject to applicable law, the Purchaser will be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of any such noncash dividend, distribution, issuance or proceeds and may withhold the entire Offer Price or deduct from the Offer Price the amount or value thereof, as determined by the Purchaser in its sole discretion. 14. CERTAIN CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER Notwithstanding any other term or provision of the Offer, the Purchaser will not be required to accept for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to a bidder's obligation to pay for or return tendered securities promptly after the termination or withdrawal of such bidder's offer), to pay for any Shares not theretofore accepted for payment or paid for, and may terminate the Offer, unless (1) the Minimum Condition shall have been satisfied, (2) the Business Combination Condition shall have been satisfied, (3) the Rights Condition shall have been satisfied,and (4) any waiting period under the HSR Act applicable to the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Offer shall have expired or been terminated. Furthermore, notwithstanding any other term or provision of the Offer, the Purchaser will not be required to accept for payment or, subject as aforesaid, to pay for any Shares not theretofore accepted for payment or paid for, and may terminate or amend the Offer if, at any time on or after the Applicable Date, and before the acceptance of such Shares for payment or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, the payment therefor, any of the following events or facts shall have occurred: (a) there shall be threatened, instituted or pending any action, proceeding, application or counterclaim by any government or governmental, regulatory or administrative authority or agency, domestic, foreign or supranational (each, a "Governmental Entity"), or by any other person, before any court or Governmental Entity, (i)(A) challenging or seeking to, or which is reasonably likely to, make illegal, delay or otherwise directly or indirectly restrain or prohibit, or 27 seeking to, or which is reasonably likely to, impose voting, procedural, price or other requirements, in addition to those required by Federal securities laws and the DGCL, in connection with, the making of the Offer, the acceptance for payment of, or payment for, some of or all the Shares by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent or the consummation by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent of a merger or other similar business combination with the Company, (B) seeking to obtain, or which is reasonably likely to result in, material damages or (C) otherwise directly or indirectly relating to the transactions contemplated by the Offer or any such merger or business combination, (ii) seeking to, or which is reasonably likely to, prohibit the ownership or operation by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent of all or any portion of the business or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries or of the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent or to compel the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent to dispose of or hold separate all or any portion of the business or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or of the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent or seeking to impose, or which is reasonably likely to result in, any limitation on the ability of the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent to conduct such business or own such assets, (iii) seeking to, or which is reasonably likely to, impose limitations on the ability of the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent effectively to exercise full rights of ownership of the Shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote any Shares acquired or owned by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent on all matters properly presented to the Company's shareholders, (iv) seeking to, or which is reasonably likely to, require divestiture by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent of any Shares, (v) seeking, or which is reasonably likely to result in, any material diminution in the benefits expected to be derived by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Offer or any merger or other similar business combination with the Company, (vi) otherwise directly or indirectly relating to the Offer or which otherwise, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, might materially adversely affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent or the value of the Shares or (vii) in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, materially adversely affecting the business, properties, assets, liabilities, capitalization, shareholders' equity, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, licenses or franchises, results of operations or prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (b) there shall be any action taken, or any statute, rule, regulation, legislation, interpretation, judgment, order or injunction proposed, enacted, enforced, promulgated, amended, issued or deemed applicable to (i) the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent or the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) the Offer or any merger or other similar business combination by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent with the Company, by any government, legislative body or court, domestic, foreign or supranational, or Governmental Entity, other than the routine application of the waiting period provisions of the HSR Act to the Offer, that, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, might, directly or indirectly, result in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) of paragraph (a) above; (c) any change (or any condition, event or development involving a prospective change) shall have occurred or been threatened in the business, properties, assets, liabilities, capitalization, shareholders' equity, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, licenses or franchises, results of operations or prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, is or may be materially adverse to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the Purchaser shall have become aware of any facts that, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, have or may have material adverse significance with respect to either the value of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the value of the Shares to the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent; (d) there shall have occurred or been threatened (i) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter 28 market in the United States, (ii) any extraordinary or material adverse change in the financial markets or major stock exchange indices in the United States or abroad or in the market price of Shares, (iii) any change in the general political, market, economic or financial conditions in the United States or abroad that could, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, have a material adverse effect upon the business, properties, assets, liabilities, capitalization, shareholders' equity, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, licenses or franchises, results of operations or prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the trading in, or value of, the Shares, (iv) any material change in United States currency exchange rates or any other currency exchange rates or a suspension of, or limitation on, the markets therefor, (v) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States, (vi) any limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any government, domestic, foreign or supranational, or Governmental Entity on, or other event that, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser, might affect, the extension of credit by banks or other lending institutions, (vii) a commencement of a war or armed hostilities or other national or international calamity directly or indirectly involving the United States or (viii) in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the time of the commencement of the Offer, a material acceleration or worsening thereof; (e) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have (i) split, combined or otherwise changed, or authorized or proposed a split, combination or other change of, the Shares or its capitalization, (ii) acquired or otherwise caused a reduction in the number of, or authorized or proposed the acquisition or other reduction in the number of, outstanding Shares or other securities, (iii) issued or sold, or authorized or proposed the issuance, distribution or sale of, additional Shares (other than the issuance of Shares under options or subject to warrants prior to the Applicable Date in accordance with the terms of such options or warrants as publicly disclosed prior to the Applicable Date), shares of any other class of capital stock, other voting securities or any securities convertible into, or rights, warrants or options, conditional or otherwise, to acquire, any of the foregoing, (iv) declared or paid, or proposed to declare or pay, any dividend or other distribution, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, on or with respect to any shares of capital stock of the Company, (v) altered or proposed to alter any material term of any outstanding security, (vi) incurred any debt other than in the ordinary course of business or any debt containing burdensome covenants, (vii) authorized, recommended, proposed or entered into an agreement with respect to any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, business combination, acquisition of assets, disposition of assets, release or relinquishment of any material contractual or other right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any comparable event not in the ordinary course of business, (viii) authorized, recommended, proposed or entered into, or announced its intention to authorize, recommend, propose or enter into, any agreement or arrangement with any person or group that in the sole judgment of the Purchaser could adversely affect either the value of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the value of the Shares to the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent, (ix) entered into any employment, severance or similar agreement, arrangement or plan with or for the benefit of any of its employees other than in the ordinary course of business or entered into or amended any agreements, arrangements or plans so as to provide for increased or accelerated benefits to the employees as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Offer, (x) except as may be required by law, taken any action to terminate or amend any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the Purchaser shall have become aware of any such action that was not disclosed in publicly available filings prior to the Applicable Date, (xi) amended, or authorized or proposed any amendment to, its Certificate of Incorporation or its By-laws, or the Purchaser shall become aware that the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have proposed or adopted any such amendment that was not disclosed in publicly available filings prior to the Applicable Date or (xii) otherwise acted out of the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice; 29 (f) a tender or exchange offer for any Shares shall have been made or publicly proposed to be made by any other person (including the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates), or it shall have been publicly disclosed or the Purchaser shall have otherwise learned that (i) any person, entity (including the Company or any of its subsidiaries) or "group" (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) shall have acquired or proposed to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 5% of any class or series of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares), through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a group or otherwise, or shall have been granted any right, option or warrant, conditional or otherwise, to acquire beneficial ownership of more than 5% of any class or series of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares), other than acquisitions for bona fide arbitrage purposes only and other than as disclosed in a Schedule 13D or 13G on file with the Commission prior to the Applicable Date, (ii) any such person, entity or group that prior to the Applicable Date, had filed such a Schedule with the Commission has acquired or proposes to acquire, through the acquisition of stock, the formation of a group or otherwise, beneficial ownership of 1% or more of any class or series of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares), or shall have been granted any right, option or warrant, conditional or otherwise, to acquire beneficial ownership of 1% or more of any class or series of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares), (iii) any person or group shall have entered into a definitive agreement or an agreement in principle or made a proposal with respect to a tender offer or exchange offer or a merger, consolidation or other business combination with or involving the Company or (iv) any person shall have filed a Notification and Report Form under the HSR Act (or amended a prior filing to increase the applicable filing threshold set forth therein) or made a public announcement reflecting an intent to acquire the Company or any assets or subsidiaries of the Company; (g) the Purchaser shall become aware (i) that any contractual right of the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be impaired or otherwise adversely affected or that any amount of indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall become accelerated or otherwise become due or become subject to acceleration prior to its stated due date, in any case with or without notice or the lapse of time or both as a result of or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Offer or the Proposed Merger or any other business combination involving the Company, which, in the aggregate, would be material, (ii) of any covenant, term or condition in any of the Company's or any of its subsidiaries' instruments or agreements that has or may have, in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on (x) the business, properties, assets, liabilities, capitalization, shareholders' equity, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, management, key personnel, licenses, franchises, results of operations or prospects of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including, but not limited to, any event of default that may result from the consummation of the Offer, the acquisition of control of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Proposed Merger or any other business combination involving the Company) or (y) the value of the Shares in the hands of Parent, the Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates or (z) the consummation by Parent, the Purchaser or any of their respective affiliates of the Offer and the Proposed Merger or any other business combination involving the Company or (iii) that any report, document or instrument of the Company or any of its subsidiaries filed with the Commission contained, when filed, an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or that the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have failed to file any such report, document or instrument; (h) any approval, permit, authorization, favorable review or consent of any Governmental Entity (including those described or referred to in Section 15) shall not have been obtained on terms satisfactory to the Purchaser in its sole discretion; or (i) the Purchaser shall have reached an agreement or understanding with the Company providing for termination of the Offer, or the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent shall have entered into a definitive agreement or announced an agreement in principle with the 30 Company providing for a merger or other business combination with the Company or the purchase of stock or assets of the Company; which, in the sole judgment of the Purchaser in any such case, and regardless of the circumstances (including any action or inaction by the Purchaser, Parent or any other affiliate of Parent) giving rise to any such condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the Offer or with such acceptance for payment or payment. The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Purchaser and Parent and may be asserted by the Purchaser regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any such condition or may be waived by the Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion. The failure by the Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of any such right, the waiver of any such right with respect to particular facts and circumstances will not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances and each such right will be deemed an ongoing right that may be asserted at any time and from time to time. Any determination by the Purchaser concerning the events described in this Section 14 will be final and binding upon all parties. 15. CERTAIN LEGAL MATTERS General. Except as otherwise disclosed herein, based on a review of publicly available information filed by the Company with the Commission, neither the Purchaser nor Parent is aware of (i) any license or regulatory permit that appears to be material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that might be adversely affected by the acquisition of Shares by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer or the Proposed Merger or (ii) any approval or other action, by any governmental, administrative or regulatory agency or authority, domestic, foreign or supranational, that would be required for the acquisition or ownership of Shares by the Purchaser as contemplated herein. Should any such approval or other action be required, the Purchaser currently contemplates that such approval or action would be sought. While the Purchaser does not currently intend to delay the acceptance for payment of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer pending the outcome of any such matter, there can be no assurance that any such approval or action, if needed, would be obtained or would be obtained without substantial conditions or that adverse consequences might not result to the business of the Company, the Purchaser or Parent or that certain parts of the businesses of the Company, the Purchaser or Parent might not have to be disposed of in the event that such approvals were not obtained or any other actions were not taken. The Purchaser's obligation under the Offer to accept for payment and pay for Shares is subject to certain conditions. See Section 14. Antitrust. Under the HSR Act, and the rules and regulations that have been promulgated thereunder by the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC"), certain acquisition transactions may not be consummated unless certain information has been furnished to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the "Antitrust Division") and the FTC and certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied. Parent will file a Notification and Report Form with respect to the Offer and the Proposed Merger. Under the provisions of the HSR Act applicable to the Offer, the purchase of Shares under the Offer may not be consummated until the expiration of a 15- calendar day waiting period following the filing by Parent, unless Parent receives a request for additional information or documentary material, or the Antitrust Division and the FTC terminate the waiting period prior thereto. If, within such 15-day period, either the Antitrust Division or the FTC requests additional information or material from Parent concerning the Offer, the waiting period will be extended and would expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on the tenth calendar day after the date of substantial compliance by Parent with such request. Only one extension of the waiting period pursuant to a request for additional information is authorized by the HSR Act. Thereafter, such waiting period may be extended only by court order or with the consent of Parent. The Purchaser will not accept for payment Shares tendered pursuant to 31 the Offer unless and until the waiting period requirements imposed by the HSR Act with respect to the Offer have been satisfied. See Section 14. The FTC and the Antitrust Division frequently scrutinize the legality under the antitrust laws of transactions such as the Purchaser's acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Proposed Merger. At any time before or after the Purchaser's acquisition of Shares, the Antitrust Division or the FTC could take such action under the antitrust laws as it deems necessary or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise or seeking divestiture of Shares acquired by the Purchaser or divestiture of substantial assets of Parent or its subsidiaries. Private parties and state attorneys general may also bring action under the antitrust laws under certain circumstances. Based upon an examination of publicly available information relating to the businesses in which Parent and the Company are engaged, Parent and the Purchaser believe that the acquisition of Shares by the Purchaser will not violate the antitrust laws. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Offer or other acquisition of Shares by the Purchaser on antitrust grounds will not be made or, if such a challenge is made, of the result. See Section 14 for certain conditions to the Offer, including conditions with respect to litigation and certain governmental actions. Parent filed a Notification and Report Form with respect to the Initial Offer on August 2, 1996. On August 17, 1996, the 15 calendar day waiting period under the HSR Act with respect to the Initial Offer expired. Section 203 of the DGCL. Section 203, in general, prohibits a Delaware corporation such as the Company from engaging in a "Business Combination" (defined as a variety of transactions, including mergers, as set forth below) with an "Interested Stockholder" (defined generally as a person that is the beneficial owner of 15% or more of a corporation's outstanding voting stock) for a period of three years following the date that such person became an Interested Stockholder unless (a) prior to the date such person became an Interested Stockholder, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the Business Combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, (b) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, the Interested Stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding stock held by directors who are also officers of the corporation and employee stock ownership plans that do not provide employees with the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer or (c) on or subsequent to the date such person became an Interested Stockholder, the Business Combination is approved by the board of directors of the corporation and authorized at a meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation not owned by the Interested Stockholder. Under Section 203, the restrictions described above do not apply if, among other things (a) the corporation's original certificate of incorporation contains a provision expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203; (b) the corporation, by action of its stockholders, adopts an amendment to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203, provided that, in addition to any other vote required by law, such amendment to the certificate of incorporation or by-laws must be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, which amendment would not be effective until 12 months after the adoption of such amendment and would not apply to any Business Combination between the corporation and any person who became an Interested Stockholder of the corporation on or prior to the date of such adoption; (c) the corporation does not have a class of voting stock that is (1) listed on a national securities exchange, (2) authorized for quotation on an inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association or (3) held of record by more than 2,000 stockholders, unless any of the foregoing results from action taken, directly or indirectly, by an Interested Stockholder or from a 32 transaction in which a person becomes an Interested Stockholder; or (d) a stockholder becomes an Interested Stockholder "inadvertently" and thereafter divests itself of a sufficient number of shares so that such stockholder ceases to be an Interested Stockholder. Section 203 provides that, during such three-year period, the corporation may not merge or consolidate with an Interested Stockholder or any affiliate or associate thereof, and also may not engage in certain other transactions with an Interested Stockholder or any affiliate or associate thereof, including, without limitation, (a) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of assets (except proportionately as a stockholder of the corporation) having an aggregate market value equal to 10% or more of the aggregate market value of all assets of the corporation determined on a consolidated basis or the aggregate market value of all the outstanding stock of a corporation; (b) any transaction which results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation or by certain subsidiaries thereof of any stock of the corporation or such subsidiaries to the Interested Stockholder, except pursuant to a transaction which effects a pro rata distribution to all stockholders of the corporation; (c) any transaction involving the corporation or certain subsidiaries thereof which has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series, or securities convertible into the stock of any class or series, of the corporation or any such subsidiary which is owned directly or indirectly by the Interested Stockholder (except as a result of immaterial changes due to fractional share adjustments) or (d) any receipt of the Interested Stockholder of the benefit (except proportionately as a stockholder of such corporation) of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation. PURSUANT TO THE BUSINESS COMBINATION CONDITION, THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER HAVING BEEN APPROVED PURSUANT TO SECTION 203 OR THE PURCHASER BEING SATISFIED, IN ITS SOLE DISCRETION, THAT THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 203 ARE OTHERWISE INAPPLICABLE TO THE ACQUISITION OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE OFFER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. SEE "INTRODUCTION--CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE OFFER". Other State Laws. A number of other states have adopted laws and regulations applicable to attempts to acquire securities of corporations which are incorporated, or have substantial assets, shareholders, principal executive offices or principal places of business, or whose business operations otherwise have substantial economic effects, in such states. In 1982, in Edgar v. MITE Corp., the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated on constitutional grounds the Illinois Business Takeover Statute, which, as a matter of state securities law, made takeovers of corporations meeting certain requirements more difficult. However, in 1987 in CTS Corp. v. Dynamics Corp. of America, the Supreme Court held that the Indiana Control Share Acquisition Act was constitutional. Such Act, by its terms, is applicable only to corporations that have a substantial number of shareholders in Indiana and are incorporated there. Subsequently, a number of Federal courts ruled that various state takeover statutes were unconstitutional insofar as they apply to corporations incorporated outside the state of enactment. The Company, directly or through subsidiaries, conducts business in a number of states throughout the United States, some of which have enacted takeover laws. The Purchaser does not know whether any of these laws will, by their terms, apply to the Offer and has not complied with any such laws. Should any person seek to apply any state takeover law, the Purchaser will take such action as then appears desirable, which may include challenging the validity or applicability of any such statute in appropriate court proceedings. In the event it is asserted that one or more state takeover laws is applicable to the Offer or the Proposed Merger, and an appropriate court does not determine that it is inapplicable or invalid as applied to the Offer or the Proposed Merger, the Purchaser might be required to file certain information with, or receive approvals from, the relevant state authorities. In addition, if enjoined, the Purchaser might be unable to accept for payment any Shares tendered 33 pursuant to the Offer, or be delayed in continuing or consummating the Offer. In such case, the Purchaser may not be obligated to accept for payment any Shares tendered. See Section 14. Litigation. On September 17, 1996, Parent commenced a lawsuit by filing a complaint in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware against the Company seeking, among other things, an order enjoining the operation of the Rights and declaring that the Rights are inapplicable or unenforceable as applied to the Offer and the Proposed Merger. On September 18, 1996, Parent filed suit in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware against the Company seeking to compel the Company to provide Parent with full information necessary to enable Parent to communicate directly with the Company's shareholders. The Company has agreed to provide such information. Accordingly, this lawsuit is in suspense. 16. FEES AND EXPENSES Salomon Brothers is acting as Dealer Manager in connection with the Offer and serving as financial advisor to the Purchaser and Parent in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Company. As compensation for such services, Parent has agreed to pay Salomon Brothers an initial fee of $750,000, which was payable upon commencement of the Initial Offer. In addition, Parent has also agreed to pay Salomon Brothers a fee of $2,500,000 (less any fees theretofore paid) contingent upon consummation of the acquisition by merger, tender offer or otherwise by Parent of the Company or the purchase by Parent of all or substantially all of the assets, or more than 50% of the equity securities, of the Company (collectively, "Acquisition Transaction"). If no Acquisition Transaction is consummated, Parent has agreed to pay Salomon Brothers a fee (in addition to the initial $750,000 fee) equal to 11.1% of the sum of the aggregate profit received by Parent from sales of Shares owned by Parent plus any "break-up," termination, expense reimbursement or similar fees or payments received by Parent, but in no event in excess of an additional $1 million. In addition, Parent has agreed to reimburse Salomon Brothers for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of its counsel, incurred in connection with the Offer and the Proposed Merger or otherwise arising out of Salomon Brothers' engagement, and has also agreed to indemnify Salomon Brothers (and certain affiliated persons) against certain liabilities and expenses, including, without limitation, certain liabilities under the federal securities laws. Salomon Brothers also acted as the Parent's agent for the acquisition in the open market of Shares prior to the date hereof, for which it received customary fees, and has rendered, and may from time to time in the future render, various investment banking services to Parent and its affiliates, for which it has received and is expected to receive customary fees. Kissel-Blake Inc. has been retained by the Purchaser as Information Agent in connection with the Offer. The Information Agent may contact holders of Shares by mail, telephone, telex, telegraph and personal interview and may request brokers, dealers and other nominee shareholders to forward material relating to the Offer to beneficial owners of Shares. The Purchaser will pay the Information Agent reasonable and customary compensation for all such services in addition to reimbursing the Information Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith. The Purchaser has agreed to indemnify the Information Agent against certain liabilities and expenses in connection with the Offer, including, without limitation, certain liabilities under the federal securities laws. First Chicago Trust Company of New York has been retained as the Depositary. The Purchaser will pay the Depositary reasonable and customary compensation for its services in connection with the Offer, will reimburse the Depositary for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith and will indemnify the Depositary against certain liabilities and expenses in connection therewith, including, without limitation, certain liabilities under the federal securities laws. 34 Except as set forth above, neither Parent nor the Purchaser will pay any fees or commissions to any broker, dealer or other person for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies and other nominees will, upon request, be reimbursed by Parent or the Purchaser for customary clerical and mailing expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers. 17. MISCELLANEOUS The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. Neither the Purchaser nor Parent is aware of any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. To the extent the Purchaser or Parent becomes aware of any state law that would limit the class of offerees in the Offer, the Purchaser will amend the Offer and, depending on the timing of such amendment, if any, will extend the Offer to provide adequate dissemination of such information to such holders of Shares prior to the expiration of the Offer. In any jurisdiction the securities, blue sky or other laws of which require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer is being made on behalf of the Purchaser by the Dealer Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE PURCHASER OR PARENT NOT CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THE PURCHASER AND PARENT HAVE FILED WITH THE COMMISSION A TENDER OFFER STATEMENT ON SCHEDULE 14D-1 (THE "SCHEDULE 14D-1") PURSUANT TO RULE 14D-3 UNDER THE EXCHANGE ACT, TOGETHER WITH EXHIBITS, FURNISHING CERTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER, AND MAY FILE AMENDMENTS THERETO. SUCH SCHEDULE 14D-1 AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, INCLUDING EXHIBITS, MAY BE INSPECTED AND COPIES MAY BE OBTAINED IN THE MANNER SET FORTH IN SECTION 8 WITH RESPECT TO THE COMPANY (EXCEPT THAT SUCH MATERIAL WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE REGIONAL OFFICES OF THE COMMISSION). USS ACQUISITION CORP. August 5, 1997 35 SCHEDULE I DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF PARENT AND THE PURCHASER Parent. Set forth below are the name, business address and present principal occupation or employment, and material occupations, positions, offices or employments for the past five years of each director and executive officer of Parent. Except as otherwise noted, the business address of each such person is 150 Glover Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06856, and, except as otherwise noted, each such person is a United States citizen. In addition, except as otherwise noted, each director and executive officer of Parent has been employed in his or her present principal occupation listed below during the last five years. Directors of Parent are indicated by an asterisk.
PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT, NAME 5-YEAR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY ---- ----------------------------------- Julie K. Blake*.............. 1992-1994, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Flavin, Blake & Co., Inc.; Vice President, J.P. Morgan & Co. Incorporated, 1970-1992. John A. Bogardus, Jr.*....... Director, Alexander & Alexander Services Inc., insurance brokerage and financial services firm, New York, N.Y., from 1988 to May 1995; prior thereto, its Chairman of the Board and Director since 1987; prior thereto, its Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director. Thomas R. Bremer*............ Senior Vice President and General Counsel since January 1, 1994 of Parent; Vice President and General Counsel since 1989; prior thereto, General Counsel since 1988. Peter Burtscher.............. Mr. Burtscher is Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Latin America and Pacific Rim of Parent since May 1, 1997; prior thereto, Group Vice President of Parent since 1993; prior thereto, Vice President, International Distributor Sales since 1982. Mr. Burtscher is a citizen of Austria. Leon C. Hirsch*.............. Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer since July 1996; prior thereto, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer since 1987. Richard A. Douville.......... Mr. Douville is Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer of Parent since January 1, 1997; prior thereto, Vice President and Treasurer, and Chief Financial Officer, of Parent since July, 1996; prior thereto, Vice President and Treasurer since April 1993. Richard N. Granger........... Mr. Granger is Vice President, Research and Development of Parent. He has held such position since 1993. Thomas D. Guy................ Mr. Guy is Senior Vice President, Operations of Parent. He has held such position since 1994. Charles E. Johnson........... Mr. Johnson is Vice President, Education of Parent. He has held such position since 1994. Turi Josefsen*............... Executive Vice President and, since July, 1994 President, International Operations; prior thereto, Executive Vice President and President, Auto Suture Companies.
S-1 PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT, NAME 5-YEAR EMPLOYMENT HISTORY ---- ----------------------------------- Douglas L. King*............. President and Director, Smyth, Sanford & Gerard Reinsurance Intermediaries, Inc., insurance and reinsurance brokers. Director, Healthplex, Inc. a dental administration service company, New York, N.Y. Robert A. Knarr.............. Mr. Knarr is Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, North America of Parent, since January, 1997; prior thereto, Senior Vice President and General Manager, U.S. and Canada of Parent since 1994; prior thereto, Senior Vice President, Marketing since January 1992. Pamela Komenda............... Ms. Komenda is Corporate Secretary of Parent. She has held such position since 1989. Bernard Mardirossian......... Mr. Mardirossian is Vice President, Finance and Distribution, International, of Parent since July, 1997; prior thereto, Senior Director, International Accounting, since 1992; prior thereto, Director, International Accounting since 1989. William F. May*.............. Chairman of the Board, Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., New York, N.Y., since 1995, prior thereto, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; Director, Salomon Inc, New York, N.Y.; Trustee, University of Rochester; Trustee, American Museum of Natural History; Director, Lincoln Center; Trustee, Columbia Presbyterian Hospital; Trustee, Committee for Economic Development. Louis J. Mazzarese........... Mr. Mazzarese is Vice President, Quality and Regulatory Affairs of Parent. He has held such position since 1992. James R. Mellor*............. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, General Dynamics Corporation, until May, 1997; prior to May 1994, its President and Chief Executive Officer from 1993 to 1994, President and Chief Operating Officer from 1991 to 1993, and Executive Vice President from 1981 to 1990; Director, Bergan Brunswig Corporation, Computer Sciences Corporation, and Pinkerton's, Inc. Eitan Nahum.................. Mr. Nahum is Vice President, Strategic Planning & Business Development of Parent. He has held such position since 1995. Mr. Nahum is a citizen of Israel. David Renker................. Mr. Renker is Vice President, Human Resources since July, 1997; prior thereto, Senior Director, Human Resources since 1994; prior thereto, Director, Employee Relations since 1993. Barry D. Romeril*............ Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Xerox Corporation. Mr. Romeril is a citizen of the United Kingdom. Howard M. Rosenkrantz*....... President and Chief Operating Officer since July, 1996; prior thereto, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer since 1992; prior thereto, Vice President, Finance; Trustee, Committee for Economic Development. Joseph C. Scherpf............ Mr. Scherpf is Vice President and Controller of Parent. He has held such position since 1984. S-2 Manually signed facsimile copies of the Letter of Transmittal will be accepted. The Letter of Transmittal, certificates for Shares and any other required documents should be sent or delivered by each shareholder of the Company or such shareholder's broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth below. THE DEPOSITARY FOR THE OFFER IS: First Chicago Trust Company of New York By Mail: Facsimile Transmission: By Hand or By Overnight Courier: Tenders & Exchanges (201) 222-4720 P.O. Box 2569--Suite or Tenders & Exchanges 4660 (201) 222-4721 14 Wall Street Jersey City, New Jersey Suite 4680--8th Floor--CR 07303-2559 New York, New York 10005 Confirm Receipt of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery by Telephone (201) 222-4707 Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Dealer Manager or the Information Agent at their respective addresses or telephone numbers set forth below. Additional copies of this Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and all other tender offer materials may be obtained from the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager as set forth below, and will be furnished promptly at the Purchaser's expense. You may also contact your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer. The Information Agent for the Offer is: [LOGO OF KISSEL BLAKE INC.] 110 Wall Street New York, New York 10005 Call Toll-Free (800) 554-7733 Brokers and Banks, please call (212) 344-6733 The Dealer Manager for the Offer is: SALOMON BROTHERS INC Seven World Trade Center New York, New York 10048 (212) 783-7292 (Call Collect) EX-99.A(2) 3 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL EXHIBIT 99(A)(2) LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO TENDER SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS) OF CIRCON CORPORATION PURSUANT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE DATED AUGUST 5, 1997 BY USS ACQUISITION CORP. A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 6:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1997, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO: FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Depositary By Mail: By Hand: By Overnight Courier: Tenders & Exchanges Tenders & Exchanges Tenders & Exchanges Suite 4660 c/o The Depository Trust Company Suite 4680 P.O. Box 2569 55 Water Street, DTC TAD 14 Wall Street, Jersey City, NJ Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza 8th Floor--CIR 07303-2569 New York, NY 10041 New York, New York 10005 DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. YOU MUST SIGN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL WHERE INDICATED BELOW AND COMPLETE THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 PROVIDED BELOW. DESCRIPTION OF SHARES TENDERED - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S) (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK, EXACTLY AS NAME(S) APPEARS SHARE CERTIFICATE(S) AND SHARE(S) TENDERED ON SHARE CERTIFICATE(S)) (ATTACH ADDITIONAL LIST, IF NECESSARY) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- SHARES EVIDENCED SHARE CERTIFICATE BY SHARE SHARES NUMBER(S)* CERTIFICATE(S)* TENDERED** ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- TOTAL SHARES - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Need not be completed by shareholders delivering Shares by book-entry transfer. ** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares evidenced by each Share Certificate delivered to the Depositary are being tendered hereby. See Instruction 4. DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS TENDERED - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S) (PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK, EXACTLY AS NAME(S) RIGHTS CERTIFICATE(S) TENDERED* APPEAR(S) ON RIGHTS CERTIFICATE(S)) (ATTACH ADDITIONAL LIST, IF NECESSARY) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ RIGHTS EVIDENCED RIGHTS CERTIFICATE BY RIGHTS SHARES NUMBER(S)** CERTIFICATE(S)** TENDERED*** --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------- TOTAL RIGHTS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * If the tendered Rights are represented by separate Rights Certificates, complete the certificate numbers of such Rights Certificates. Shareholders tendering Rights which are not represented by separate certificates will need to submit an additional letter of transmittal if Rights Certificates are received. ** Need not be completed by shareholders delivering Rights by book-entry transfer. *** Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Rights evidenced by each Rights Certificate delivered to the Depositary are being tendered hereby. See instruction 4. THE INSTRUCTIONS ACCOMPANYING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED. This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by shareholders either if certificates evidencing Shares and/or Rights (each as defined below) are to be forwarded herewith or if delivery of Shares and/or Rights is to be made by book-entry transfer to the Depositary's account at The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or the Philadelphia Depositary Trust Company ("PDTC") (each a "Book-Entry Transfer Facility" and collectively, the "Book-Entry Transfer Facilities") pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedure described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase (as defined below). Delivery of documents to a Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Depositary. UNLESS THE RIGHTS ARE REDEEMED PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER, HOLDERS OF SHARES WILL BE REQUIRED TO TENDER ONE RIGHT FOR EACH SHARE TENDERED TO EFFECT A VALID TENDER OF SUCH SHARE. If Rights Certificates (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) have been distributed to holders of Shares prior to the date of tender pursuant to the Offer, Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares being tendered must be delivered to the Depositary in order for such Shares to be validly tendered. If Rights Certificates have not been distributed prior to the time Shares are tendered pursuant to the Offer, a tender of Shares without Rights constitutes an agreement by the tendering shareholder to deliver Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer to the Depositary within three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date Rights Certificates are distributed. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that it receive such Rights Certificates prior to accepting Shares for payment. Payment for Shares tendered and purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of, among other things, Rights Certificates, if such certificates have been distributed to holders of Shares. The Purchaser will not pay any additional consideration for the Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer. 2 Shareholders whose certificates evidencing Shares ("Share Certificates") and, if applicable, Rights Certificates are not immediately available (including if the Distribution Date has occurred, but Rights Certificates have not yet been distributed by the Company) or who cannot deliver their Share Certificates and all other documents required hereby to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis and who wish to tender their Shares and Rights must do so pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. See Instruction 2. [_]CHECK HERE IF SHARES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE DEPOSITARY'S ACCOUNT AT ONE OF THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITIES AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: Name of Tendering Institution - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check Box of Applicable Book-Entry Transfer Facility: (CHECK ONE) [_] DTC [_] PDTC Account Number _______________________ Transaction Code Number ______________ [_]CHECK HERE IF RIGHTS ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE DEPOSITARY'S ACCOUNT AT ONE OF THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITIES AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: Name of Tendering Institution - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check Box of Applicable Book-Entry Transfer Facility: (CHECK ONE) [_] DTC [_] PDTC Account Number _______________________ Transaction Code Number ______________ 3 [_]CHECK HERE IF SHARES ARE BEING TENDERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING. PLEASE ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF SUCH NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY: Name(s) of Registered Holder(s) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Window Ticket No. (if any) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [_]CHECK HERE IF RIGHTS ARE BEING TENDERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE DEPOSITARY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING. PLEASE ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF SUCH NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY: Name(s) of Registered Holder(s) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Window Ticket No. (if any) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW. PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS SET FORTH IN THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY. Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned hereby tenders to USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), the above-described shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), including (unless and until the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) is satisfied) the associated preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1996, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), pursuant to the Purchaser's offer to purchase all outstanding Shares and associated Rights, at $16.50 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon (the "Offer Price"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 5, 1997 (the "Offer to Purchase"), receipt of each of which is hereby acknowledged, and in this Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"). Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to Shares herein shall include the Rights, and all references to the Rights shall include all benefits that may inure to shareholders of the Company or the holders of the Rights pursuant to the Rights Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Purchaser reserves the right to transfer or assign, in whole or from time to time in part, to one or more of its affiliates, the right to purchase all or any portion of the Shares and Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer. Subject to, and effective upon, acceptance for payment of the Shares tendered herewith, in accordance with the terms of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of such extension or amendment), the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, Purchaser all right, title and interest in and to all the Shares and/or Rights that are being tendered hereby and all dividends, distributions (including, without limitation, distributions of additional Shares) and rights declared, paid or distributed in respect of such Shares on or after August 5, 1997 (except that if the Rights are redeemed by the Company's Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, tendering shareholders who are holders of record as of the applicable record date will be entitled to receive and retain the redemption price of $.01 per Right in accordance with the Rights Agreement) (collectively, "Distributions"), and irrevocably appoints the Depositary the true and lawful agent and attorney-in- fact of the undersigned with respect to such Shares and/or Rights and all Distributions, with full power of substitution (such power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) deliver Share Certificates evidencing such Shares and/or Rights Certificates evidencing such Rights and all Distributions, or transfer ownership of such Shares and/or Rights and all Distributions on the account books maintained by a Book-Entry Transfer Facility, together, in either case, with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity, to or upon the order of Purchaser, (ii) present such Shares and/or Rights and all Distributions for transfer on the books of the Company and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares and/or Rights and all Distributions, all in accordance with the terms of the Offer. The undersigned understands that unless the Rights are redeemed prior to the expiration of the Offer, shareholders will be required to tender one Right for each Share tendered in order to effect a valid tender of such Share. The undersigned understands that if Rights Certificates have been distributed to holders of Shares prior to the date of tender pursuant to the Offer, Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares being tendered herewith must be delivered to the Depositary or, if available, a Book-Entry Confirmation (as defined in Instruction 2) must be received by the Depositary with respect thereto. If Rights Certificates have not been distributed prior to the time Shares are tendered herewith, the undersigned agrees hereby to deliver Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered herewith to the Depositary within three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date such Rights 5 Certificates are distributed. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that the Depositary receive such Rights Certificates, or a Book-Entry Confirmation, with respect to such Rights, prior to accepting Shares for payment. Payment for Shares tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of, among other things, Rights Certificates if such Certificates have been distributed to holders of Shares. The Purchaser will not pay any additional consideration for the Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer. By executing this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned irrevocably appoints Thomas R. Bremer and Pamela Komenda of the Purchaser as proxies of the undersigned, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of the undersigned's rights with respect to the Shares and Rights tendered by the undersigned and accepted for payment by the Purchaser (and any and all Distributions). All such proxies shall be considered coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares and Rights. This appointment will be effective if, when, and only to the extent that the Purchaser accepts such Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer. Upon such acceptance for payment, all prior proxies given by the undersigned with respect to such Shares and Rights (and such other securities) will, without further action, be revoked, and no subsequent proxies may be given nor any subsequent written consent executed by the undersigned (and, if given or executed, will not be deemed to be effective) with respect thereto. The designees of the Purchaser named above will, with respect to the Shares and Rights and other securities for which the appointment is effective, be empowered to exercise all voting and other rights of the undersigned as they in their sole discretion may deem proper at any annual or special meeting of the shareholders of the Company or any adjournment or postponement thereof, by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise, and the Purchaser reserves the right to require that, in order for Shares and Rights or other securities to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon the Purchaser's acceptance for payment of such Shares and Rights, the Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting rights with respect to such Shares and Rights. The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Shares and Rights tendered hereby and all Distributions, and that when such Shares and Rights are accepted for payment by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto and to all Distributions, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and that none of such Shares, Rights and Distributions will be subject to any adverse claim. The undersigned, upon request, shall execute and deliver all additional documents deemed by the Depositary or Purchaser to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Shares and Rights tendered hereby and all Distributions. In addition, the undersigned shall remit and transfer promptly to the Depositary for the account of Purchaser all Distributions in respect of the Shares and Rights tendered hereby, accompanied by appropriate documentation of transfer, and, pending such remittance and transfer or appropriate assurance thereof, Purchaser shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of each such Distribution and may withhold the entire purchase price of the Shares and Rights tendered hereby or deduct from such purchase price, the amount or value of such Distribution as determined by Purchaser in its sole discretion. No authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall be affected by, and all such authority shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. All obligations of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. Except as otherwise stated in the Offer to Purchase, this tender is irrevocable. The undersigned understands that tenders of Shares and/or Rights pursuant to any one of the procedures described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase and in the instructions hereto will constitute the undersigned's acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Offer. Purchaser's acceptance of such Shares for payment will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, including, without limitation, the undersigned's representation and warranty that the undersigned owns the Shares and/or Rights being tendered. Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions," please issue the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased, and return all Share Certificates evidencing Shares and Rights Certificates evidencing Rights not purchased or not tendered, in the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appearing 6 above under "Description of Shares Tendered" or "Description of Rights Tendered," as appropriate. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated in the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions," please mail the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and all Share Certificates evidencing Shares and Rights Certificates evidencing Rights not tendered or not purchased (and accompanying documents, as appropriate) to the address(es) of the registered holder(s) appearing above under "Description of Shares Tendered" or "Description of Rights Tendered," as appropriate. In the event that the boxes entitled "Special Payment Instructions" and "Special Delivery Instructions" are both completed, please issue the check for the purchase price of all Shares purchased and return all Share Certificates evidencing Shares and Rights Certificates evidencing Rights not purchased or not tendered in the name(s) of, and mail such check, Share Certificates and Rights Certificates to, the person(s) so indicated. The undersigned recognizes that Purchaser has no obligation, pursuant to the Special Payment Instructions, to transfer any Shares and Rights from the name of the registered holder(s) thereof if Purchaser does not purchase any of the Shares and Rights tendered hereby. SPECIAL PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS (SEE SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5, 6 AND 7) (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5 AND 7) To be completed ONLY if the To be completed ONLY if the check for the purchase price of check for the purchase price of Shares purchased or Share Certif- Shares purchased or Share Certif- icates evidencing Shares and icates evidencing Shares and Rights Certificates evidencing Rights Certificates evidencing Rights not tendered or not pur- Rights not tendered or not pur- chased are to be issued in the chased are to be mailed to some- name of someone other than the one other than the undersigned, undersigned. or to the undersigned at an ad- dress other than that shown under "Description of Shares Tendered" or "Description of Rights Ten- dered." Issue [_] check [_] Share Cer- tificate(s) [_] Rights Certifi- cate(s) to: Mail [_] check [_] Share Certif- Name: ____________________________ icate(s) [_] Rights (PRINT) Certificate(s) to: Address: _________________________ Name: ____________________________ __________________________________ (PRINT) __________________________________ Address: _________________________ (ZIP CODE) __________________________________ __________________________________ __________________________________ TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER (ZIP CODE) (See Substitute Form W-9 on re- verse side) 7 IMPORTANT SHAREHOLDERS: SIGN HERE (ALSO PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 INCLUDED HEREIN) X______________________________________________________________X X______________________________________________________________X (SIGNATURE(S) OF HOLDER(S)) Dated: ___________________________ Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on Share Certificates and Rights Certificates or on a security position listing or by a person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by certificates and documents transmitted herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in- fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please provide the following information. See Instruction 5. Name(s):________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ (PLEASE PRINT) Capacity (full title): _________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ (INCLUDE ZIP CODE) Area Code and Telephone No.: ___________________________________ Taxpayer Identification or Social Security No.: ________________ (SEE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 INCLUDED HEREIN) GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S) (IF REQUIRED--SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 5) FOR USE BY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ONLY. PLACE MEDALLION GUARANTEE IN SPACE BELOW. 8 INSTRUCTIONS FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER 1. GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES. All signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a firm which is a member of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or by a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (an "Eligible Institution"), unless (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares and/or Rights (which term, for purposes of this document, shall include any participant in a Book-Entry Transfer Facility whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of Shares or Rights) tendered hereby and such holder(s) has (have) completed neither the box entitled "Special Payment Instructions" nor the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" on the reverse hereof or (ii) such Shares and/or Rights are tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 5. 2. DELIVERY OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND SHARE CERTIFICATES. This Letter of Transmittal is to be used either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if Shares are to be delivered by book-entry transfer pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. Certificates evidencing all physically tendered Shares and/or Rights, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility of all Shares and/or Rights delivered by book-entry transfer as well as a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the reverse hereof prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase), and, unless and until the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition is satisfied, Rights Certificates, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Rights into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility, if available (together with, if Rights are forwarded separately from Shares, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantee, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal), must be received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date or, if later, within three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date on which such Rights Certificates are distributed. If certificates are forwarded to the Depositary in multiple deliveries, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal must accompany each such delivery. Shareholders whose Share Certificates and, if applicable Rights Certificates are not immediately available (including if Rights Certificates have not yet been distributed), who cannot deliver their Share Certificates or, if applicable, Rights Certificates and all other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date or who cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis may tender their Shares and/or Rights pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedure described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. Pursuant to such procedure: (i) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution; (ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form made available by Purchaser, must be received by the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date; and (iii) the Share Certificates evidencing all physically delivered Shares or, if applicable, Rights Certificates evidencing all physically delivered Rights in proper form for transfer by delivery, or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer into the Depositary's account at a Book- Entry Transfer Facility of all Shares and/or Rights delivered by book-entry transfer, in each case together with a Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Depositary (a) in the case of Shares, within three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, or (b) in the case of Rights, within a period ending on the later of (i) three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or (ii) three Nasdaq National Market trading days after Rights Certificates are distributed to shareholders by the Company, all as described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, SHARE CERTIFICATES AND, IF APPLICABLE, RIGHTS CERTIFICATES AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING DELIVERY THROUGH ANY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY, IS AT THE OPTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING SHAREHOLDER, AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY 9 THE DEPOSITARY. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted and no fractional Shares or Rights will be purchased. By execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile hereof), all tendering shareholders waive any right to receive any notice of the acceptance of their Shares or Rights for payment. 3. INADEQUATE SPACE. If the space provided herein under "Description of Shares Tendered" or "Description of Rights Tendered" is inadequate, the Share Certificate numbers and the Rights Certificate numbers, the number of Shares evidenced by such Share Certificates and the number of Rights evidenced by such Right Certificates and the number of Shares or Rights tendered should be listed on a separate schedule and attached hereto. 4. PARTIAL TENDERS (NOT APPLICABLE TO SHAREHOLDERS WHO TENDER BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER). If fewer than all the Shares or Rights evidenced by any certificate delivered to the Depositary herewith are to be tendered hereby, fill in the number of Shares or Rights which are to be tendered in the box entitled "Number of Shares Tendered" and "Number of Rights Tendered", respectively. In such cases, new certificate(s) evidencing the remainder of the Shares or Rights that were evidenced by the certificates delivered to the Depositary herewith will be sent to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, unless otherwise provided in the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" on the reverse hereof, as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination of the Offer. All Shares and Rights evidenced by certificates delivered to the Depositary will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated. 5. SIGNATURES ON LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL; STOCK POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares and Rights tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificates evidencing such Shares and Rights without alteration, enlargement or any other change whatsoever. If any Share or Right tendered hereby is owned of record by two or more persons, all such persons must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If any of the Shares or Rights tendered hereby are registered in the names of different holders, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of such Shares or Rights. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Shares or Rights tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates or separate stock powers are required, unless payment is to be made to, or certificates evidencing Shares or Rights not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s), in which case the certificate(s) evidencing the Shares or Rights tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on such certificate(s). Signatures on such certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder(s) of the Shares or Rights tendered hereby, the certificate(s) evidencing the Shares or Rights tendered hereby must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear(s) on such certificate(s). Signatures on such certificate(s) and stock powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificate or stock power is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser of such person's authority so to act must be submitted. 10 6. STOCK TRANSFER TAXES. Except as otherwise provided in this Instruction 6, the Purchaser will pay all stock transfer taxes with respect to the sale and transfer of any Shares and Rights to it or its order pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of the purchase price of any Shares and Rights purchased is to be made to, or certificate(s) evidencing Shares and/or Rights not tendered or not purchased are to be issued in the name of, a person other than the registered holder(s), the amount of any stock transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder(s), such other person or otherwise) payable on account of the transfer to such other person will be deducted from the purchase price of such Shares and/or Rights purchased, unless evidence satisfactory to the Purchaser of the payment of such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted. Except as provided in this Instruction 6, it will not be necessary for transfer tax stamps to be affixed to the certificates evidencing the Shares and Rights tendered hereby. 7. SPECIAL PAYMENT AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. If a check for the purchase price of any Shares and/or Rights tendered hereby is to be issued, or certificate(s) evidencing Shares and/or Rights not tendered or not purchased are to be issued, in the name of a person other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal, or if such check or any such certificate is to be sent to someone other than the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal or to the person(s) signing this Letter of Transmittal but at an address other than that shown in the box entitled "Description of Shares Tendered" or "Description of Rights Tendered" on the reverse hereof, the appropriate boxes on the reverse of this Letter of Transmittal must be completed. 8. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS. The conditions to the Offer may be waived by the Purchaser in whole or in part at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion. 9. QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Dealer Manager or the Information Agent at their respective addresses or telephone numbers set forth below. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, this Letter of Transmittal and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies. 10. SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9. Each tendering shareholder is required to provide the Depositary with a correct Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") on the Substitute Form W-9 which is provided under "Important Tax Information" below, and to certify, under penalties of perjury, that such number is correct and that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding of federal income tax. If a tendering shareholder has been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such shareholder is subject to backup withholding, such shareholder must cross out item (2) of the Certification box of the Substitute Form W-9, unless such shareholder has since been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding. Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may subject the tendering shareholder to 31% federal income tax withholding on the payment of the purchase price of all Shares purchased from such shareholder. If the tendering shareholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for one or intends to apply for one in the near future, such shareholder should write "Applied For" in the space provided for the TIN in Part I of the Substitute Form W-9, and sign and date the Substitute Form W-9. If "Applied For" is written in Part l and the Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, the Depositary will withhold 31% on all payments of the purchase price to such shareholder until a TIN is provided to the Depositary. IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR FACSIMILE HEREOF), PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED (TOGETHER WITH ANY REQUIRED SIGNATURE GUARANTEES AND CERTIFICATES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS) OR A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DEPOSITARY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE (AS DEFINED IN THE OFFER TO PURCHASE). 11 IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION Under the federal income tax law, a shareholder whose tendered Shares are accepted for payment is required by law to provide the Depositary (as payer) with such shareholder's correct TIN on Substitute Form W-9 below. If such shareholder is an individual, the TIN is such shareholder's social security number. If the Depositary is not provided with the correct TIN, the shareholder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, payments that are made to such shareholder with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer may be subject to backup withholding of 31%. Certain shareholders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an exempt recipient, such individual must submit a Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status, signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to such individual's exempt status. Forms of such statements can be obtained from the Depositary. See the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional instructions. If backup withholding applies, the Depositary is required to withhold 31% of any payments made to the shareholder. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service. PURPOSE OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 To prevent backup withholding on payments that are made to a shareholder with respect to Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer, the shareholder is required to notify the Depositary of such shareholder's correct TIN by completing the form below certifying (a) that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that such shareholder is awaiting a TIN), and (b) that (i) such shareholder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such shareholder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends or (ii) the Internal Revenue Service has notified such shareholder that such shareholder is no longer subject to backup withholding. PROVISION OF TIN TO THE DEPOSITARY The shareholder is required to give the Depositary the social security number or employer identification number of the record holder of the Shares tendered hereby. If the Shares are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 for additional guidance on which number to report. If the tendering shareholder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a number or intends to apply for a number in the near future, the shareholder should write "Applied For" in the space provided for the TIN in Part I, and sign and date the Substitute Form W-9. If "Applied For" is written in Part I and the Depositary is not provided with a TIN within 60 days, the Depositary will withhold 31% of all payments of the purchase price to such shareholder until a TIN is provided to the Depositary. 12 ALL TENDERING SHAREHOLDERS MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING: PAYER'S NAME: FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK PART I--Taxpayer Identification Number-- SUBSTITUTE FOR ALL Enter taxpayer ---------------------- ACCOUNTS identification number in Social Security the box at right. (For most Number FORM W-9 individuals, this is your social security number. If ---------------------- you do not have a number, Employer see Obtaining a Number in Identification Number DEPARTMENT OF the enclosed Guidelines.) THE TREASURY Certify by signing and INTERNAL dating below. Note: If the REVENUE account is in more than one name, see the chart in the enclosed Guidelines to determine which number to give the payer. PART II--For Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding, see the enclosed Guidelines and complete as instructed therein. -------------------------------------------------------- OR CERTIFICATION--Under penalties of perjury, I certify that: (1) The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and NUMBER PAYER'S REQUEST (2) I am not subject to backup withholding either FOR TAXPAYER because I have not been notified by the Internal IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Revenue Service (the "IRS") that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends, or the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding. CERTIFICATE INSTRUCTIONS--You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of underreporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding you received another notification from the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2). (Also see instructions in the enclosed Guidelines.) -------------------------------------------------------- SIGNATURE: ________________________ DATE: ______, 199 NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS. THE INFORMATION AGENT FOR THE OFFER IS: [LOGO] KISSEL BLAKE INC. 110 Wall Street New York, New York 10005 Call Toll-Free (800) 554-7733 Brokers and Banks, please call (212) 344-6733 THE DEALER MANAGER FOR THE OFFER IS: SALOMON BROTHERS INC Seven World Trade Center New York, New York 10048 (212) 783-7292 (Call Collect) August 5, 1997 13 EX-99.A(3) 4 NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY EXHIBIT 99(A)(3) NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY FOR TENDER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS) OF CIRCON CORPORATION TO USS ACQUISITION CORP. A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEES) This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, or one substantially in the form hereof, must be used to accept the Offer (as defined below) if (i) certificates ("Share Certificates") evidencing shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares") of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and/or, if applicable, certificates (the "Rights Certificates") for the associated preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1996, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), are not immediately available (including, if a Distribution Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase dated August 5, 1997 (the "Offer to Purchase")) has occurred, because certificates for Rights have not been distributed by the Company), (ii) time will not permit all required documents to reach First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Depositary (the "Depositary"), prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) or (iii) the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis. This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or transmitted by telegram, facsimile transmission or mail to the Depositary. See Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. THE DEPOSITARY FOR THE OFFER IS: FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK By Mail: By Hand: By Overnight Tenders and Exchanges Courier: Tenders & Exchanges Tenders & Exchanges c/o The Depository Trust Company 14 Wall Street P.O. Box 2569--Suite 55 Water Street, DTC TAD Suite 4680--8th 4660 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza Floor-CIR Jersey City, New New York, NY 10041 New York, New York Jersey 10005 07303-2569 Facsimile Transmission: (201) 222-4720 or (201) 222-4721 Confirm Receipt of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery by Telephone: (201) 222-4707 DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, OR TRANSMISSION OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE, WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY. THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IS NOT TO BE USED TO GUARANTEE SIGNATURES. IF A SIGNATURE ON A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS REQUIRED TO BE GUARANTEED BY AN "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION" UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS THERETO, SUCH SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MUST APPEAR IN THE APPLICABLE SPACE PROVIDED IN THE SIGNATURE BOX ON THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 1 Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned hereby tenders to USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase,and the Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"), receipt of each of which is hereby acknowledged, the number of Shares and Rights specified below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures described in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. Number of Shares: - ------------------------------------------ Number of Rights: - ------------------------------------------ Certificate Nos. (if available): - ------------------------------------------ Share Certificates - ------------------------------------------ Rights Certificates Check ONE box if Shares or Rights will be tendered by book-entry transfer: [ ] The Depository Trust Company [ ] Philadelphia Depositary Trust Company Account Number: - ------------------------------------------ Dated: _________________________________________, Name(s) of Record Holder(s): - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE PRINT Address(es): - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZIP CODE Company Area Code and Tel. No.: - ------------------------------------------ Area Code and Tel. No.: - ------------------------------------------ Signature(s): - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 GUARANTEE (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEES) The undersigned, a firm that is a commercial bank, broker, dealer, credit union, savings association or other entity which is a member in good standing of the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program, the New York Stock Exchange Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program hereby (a) represents that the tender of Shares and/or Rights effected hereby complies with Rule 14e-4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (b) guarantees delivery to the Depositary, at one of its addresses set forth above, of certificates evidencing the Shares and/or Rights tendered hereby in proper form for transfer, or confirmation of book-entry transfer of such Shares and/or Rights into the Depositary's accounts at The Depository Trust Company or the Philadelphia Depositary Trust Company, in each case with delivery of a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase), and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, within (a) in the case of Shares, three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date of execution of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and (b) in the case of Rights, within a period ending on the later of (i) three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date of execution of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or (ii) three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date on which the certificates for the Rights are distributed to holders of Shares by the Company. The Eligible Institution that completes this form must communicate the guarantee to the Depositary and must deliver the Letter of Transmittal and the certificates for Shares and/or Rights to the Depositary within the time period shown herein. Failure to do so could result in financial loss to such Eligible Institution. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAME OF FIRM - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDRESS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZIP CODE Area Code and Tel. No.: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TITLE Name: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE PRINT Date: ____________________________________, 1997 NOTE: DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES OR RIGHTS WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES OR RIGHTS SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 3 EX-99.A(4) 5 LETTER TO BROKERS, DEALERS EXHIBIT 99(A)(4) SALOMON BROTHERS INC ----------------- SALOMON BROTHERS ----------------- OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS) OF CIRCON CORPORATION AT $16.50 NET PER SHARE BY USS ACQUISITION CORP. A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 6:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1997, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 5, 1997 To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies and Other Nominees: We have been engaged by USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), to act as Dealer Manager in connection with the Purchaser's offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares") of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), including the associated preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1996, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), at a price of $16.50 per Share and Right, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon (the "Offer Price"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 5, 1997 (the "Offer to Purchase") and in the Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer") enclosed herewith. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to Shares herein shall include the Rights, and all references to the Rights shall include all benefits that may inure to shareholders of the Company or to the holders of the Rights pursuant to the Rights Agreement. If the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) is satisfied, the Purchaser will not require delivery of the Rights. Unless and until the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition is satisfied, holders of Shares will be required to tender one Right for each Share tendered in order to effect a valid tender of such Shares. If Rights Certificates (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) have been distributed to holders of Shares prior to the date of tender pursuant to the Offer, Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares being tendered must be delivered to the Depositary in order for such Shares to be validly tendered. If Rights Certificates have not been distributed prior to the time Shares are tendered pursuant to the Offer, a tender of Shares without Rights constitutes an agreement by the tendering shareholder to deliver Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer to the Depositary within three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date Rights Certificates are distributed. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that the Depositary receive such Rights Certificates prior to accepting Shares for payment. Payment for Shares tendered and purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of, among other things, Rights Certificates, if such Rights Certificates have been distributed to holders of Shares. The Purchaser will not pay any additional consideration for the Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer. Holders whose certificates for Shares and, if applicable, Right Certificates are not immediately available (including if Rights Certificates have not yet been distributed) or who cannot deliver confirmation of the book-entry transfer of their Shares and, if applicable, Rights into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility ("Book-Entry Confirmation") and all other documents required hereby to the Depositary on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) must tender their Shares and, if applicable, Rights according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. See Instruction 2 of the Letter of Transmittal. Delivery of documents to a Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Depositary. THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SATISFACTION OF THE MINIMUM CONDITION, THE RIGHTS CONDITION, THE BUSINESS COMBINATION CONDITION, THE EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF ALL WAITING PERIODS IMPOSED BY THE HART- SCOTT-RODINO ANTITRUST IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1976, AS AMENDED, AND THE REGULATIONS THEREUNDER AND THE SATISFACTION OF THE OTHER CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 14 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE. THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED ON THE RECEIPT OF FINANCING. Please furnish copies of the enclosed materials to those of your clients for whose accounts you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee. For your information and for forwarding to your clients for whom you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, or who hold Shares registered in their own names, we are enclosing the following documents: 1. The Offer to Purchase, dated August 5, 1997; 2. A Letter of Transmittal to be used by holders of Shares in accepting the Offer and tendering Shares and/or Rights; 3. A Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to be used to accept the Offer if the certificates evidencing such Shares and/or Rights are not immediately available (including if certificates for Rights have not yet been distributed) or time will not permit all required documents to reach the Depositary (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Supplement) or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis; 4. A letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold Shares registered in your name or in the name of your nominees, with space provided for obtaining such clients' instructions with regard to the Offer; 5. Guidelines of the Internal Revenue Service for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9; and 6. A return envelope addressed to the Depositary. In order to take advantage of the Offer, a duly executed and properly completed revised Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents should be sent to the Depositary and certificates 2 representing the tendered Shares and, if applicable, Rights should be (i) delivered or (ii) tendered by book-entry transfer, all in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and the Offer to Purchase. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including, if the Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), the Purchaser will purchase, by accepting for payment, and will pay for all outstanding Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date promptly after the Expiration Date. For purposes of the Offer, the Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for payment, and thereby purchased, tendered Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) as, if and when the Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the Depositary of the Purchaser's acceptance of such Shares and Rights for payment pursuant to the Offer. In all cases, payment for Shares and Rights purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of (i) the certificates or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares and, if applicable, the associated Rights, if such procedure is available, into the Depositary's account at The Depository Trust Company or the Philadelphia Depositary Trust Company pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase, (ii) the Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent's Message (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase) and (iii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. The Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or any other person (other than the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent and the Depositary as described in Section 16 of the Offer to Purchase) in connection with the solicitation of tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. The Purchaser will, however, upon request, reimburse you for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by you in forwarding the enclosed materials to your clients. The Purchaser will pay any stock transfer taxes incident to the transfer to it of validly tendered Shares and Rights, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal. YOUR PROMPT ACTION IS REQUESTED. WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR CLIENTS AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 6:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1997, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. In order to take advantage of the Offer, a duly executed and properly completed Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), with any required signature guarantees and any other required documents, should be sent to the Depositary, and certificates evidencing the tendered Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) should be delivered or such Shares (and, if applicable, Rights) should be tendered by book-entry transfer, all in accordance with the Instructions set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and the Offer to Purchase. If holders of Shares wish to tender, but it is impracticable for them to forward their certificates or other required documents to the Depositary prior to the Expiration Date or to comply with the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, a tender may be effected by following the guaranteed delivery procedures specified under Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. The Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal. The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. Neither the Purchaser nor Parent is aware of any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. To the extent the Purchaser or Parent becomes aware of any state law that would limit the class of offerees in the Offer, the Purchaser will amend the Offer and, depending on the timing of such amendment, if any, will extend the Offer to provide adequate dissemination of such information to such holders of shares prior to the expiration of the Offer. In any jurisdiction the 3 securities, blue sky or other laws of which require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer is being made on behalf of the Purchaser by the Dealer Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. Any inquiries you may have with respect to the Offer should be addressed to Salomon Brothers Inc, the Dealer Manager, or Kissel-Blake Inc., the Information Agent, at their respective addresses and telephone numbers set forth on the back cover page of the Offer to Purchase. Additional copies of the enclosed materials and the Offer to Purchase may be obtained by calling Kissel-Blake Inc., the Information Agent, collect at (212) 344-6733 or toll-free at (800) 554-7733, from the undersigned, Salomon Brothers Inc, telephone (212) 783-7292, or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks or trust companies. Very truly yours, SALOMON BROTHERS INC NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON AS AN AGENT OF PARENT, THE PURCHASER, THE COMPANY, THE DEPOSITARY, THE INFORMATION AGENT OR THE DEALER MANAGER, OR ANY AFFILIATE OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING, OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY DOCUMENT OR MAKE ANY STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER OTHER THAN THE DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED AND THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN. 4 EX-99.A(5) 6 LETTER TO CLIENTS EXHIBIT 99(A)(5) OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS) OF CIRCON CORPORATION AT $16.50 NET PER SHARE BY USS ACQUISITION CORP. A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 6:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1997, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- August 5, 1997 To Our Clients: Enclosed for your consideration is the Offer to Purchase dated August 5, 1997 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the Letter of Transmittal (which, together with the Offer to Purchase as amended from time to time, constitute the "Offer") in connection with the Offer by USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares") of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company") including (unless and until the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) is satisfied) the associated preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1996, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), at a price of $16.50 per Share (and associated Right), net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon (the "Offer Price"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, and the Letter of Transmittal. If the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition is satisfied, the Purchaser will not require delivery of the Rights. Unless and until the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition is satisfied, holders of Shares will be required to tender one Right for each Share tendered in order to effect a valid tender of such Share. If Rights Certificates (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) have been distributed to holders of Shares prior to the date of tender pursuant to the Offer, Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares being tendered must be delivered to the Depositary in order for such Shares to be validly tendered. If Rights Certificates have not been distributed prior to the time Shares are tendered pursuant to the Offer, a tender of Shares without Rights constitutes an agreement by the tendering stockholder to deliver Rights Certificates representing a number of Rights equal to the number of Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer to the Depositary within three Nasdaq National Market trading days after the date Rights Certificates are distributed. The Purchaser reserves the right to require that the Depositary receive such Rights Certificates prior to accepting Shares for payment. Payment for Shares tendered and purchased pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of, among other things, Rights Certificates, if such certificates have been distributed to holders of Shares. The Purchaser will not pay any additional consideration for the Rights tendered pursuant to the Offer. Unless the context requires otherwise, all references to Shares herein shall include the Rights, and all references to the Rights shall include all benefits that may inure to shareholders of the Company or to the holders of the Rights pursuant to the Rights Agreement. Holders whose certificates for Shares and, if applicable, Rights Certificates, are not immediately available (including, if Rights Certificates have not yet been distributed) or who cannot deliver confirmation of the book- entry transfer of their Shares and, if applicable, Rights into the Depositary's account at a Book-Entry Transfer Facility ("Book-Entry Confirmation") and all other documents required hereby to the Depositary on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 1 of the Offer to Purchase) must tender their Shares and, if applicable, Rights according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase. See Instruction 2 of the Letter of Transmittal. Delivery of documents to a Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Depositary. THE MATERIAL IS BEING SENT TO YOU AS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF SHARES HELD BY US FOR YOUR ACCOUNT BUT NOT REGISTERED IN YOUR NAME. WE ARE THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF SHARES HELD BY US FOR YOUR ACCOUNT. A TENDER OF SUCH SHARES CAN BE MADE ONLY BY US AS THE HOLDER OF RECORD AND PURSUANT TO YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS FURNISHED TO YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY AND CANNOT BE USED BY YOU TO TENDER SHARES HELD BY US FOR YOUR ACCOUNT. We request instructions as to whether you wish to have us tender on your behalf any or all of the Shares and Rights held by us for your account, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer. Your attention is invited to the following: 1. The Offer Price is $16.50 per Share, including the associated Right, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon. 2. The Offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 6:00 P.M., New York City time, on Thursday September 25, 1997, unless the Offer is extended. 3. The Offer is being made for all outstanding Shares. 4. THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SATISFACTION OF THE MINIMUM CONDITION, THE RIGHTS CONDITION, THE BUSINESS COMBINATION CONDITION, THE EXPIRATION OR TERMINATION OF ALL WAITING PERIODS IMPOSED BY THE HART-SCOTT-RODINO ANTITRUST IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 1976, AS AMENDED, AND THE REGULATIONS THEREUNDER (THE "HSR ACT") AND THE SATISFACTION OF THE OTHER CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 14 OF THE OFFER TO PURCHASE. 5. The Offer is not conditioned on the receipt of financing. 6. Tendering shareholders will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or commissions or, except as set forth in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares and/or Rights by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. The Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal. The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. Neither the Purchaser nor Parent is aware of any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. To the extent the Purchaser or Parent becomes aware of any state law 2 that would limit the class of offerees in the Offer, the Purchaser will amend the Offer and, depending on the timing of such amendment, if any, will extend the Offer to provide adequate dissemination of such information to such holders of shares prior to the expiration of the Offer. In any jurisdiction the securities, blue sky or other laws of which require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer is being made on behalf of the Purchaser by the Dealer Manager or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. If you wish to have us tender any or all of your Shares, please so instruct us by completing, executing and returning to us the instruction form contained in this letter. An envelope in which to return your instructions to us is enclosed. If you authorize the tender of your Shares, all such Shares (and associated Rights) will be tendered unless otherwise specified on the instruction form contained in this letter. Your instructions should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit a tender on your behalf prior to the expiration of the Offer. 3 INSTRUCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING COMMON SHARES (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS) OF CIRCON CORPORATION The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed Offer to Purchase dated August 5, 1997, and the Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"), in connection with the Offer by USS Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), to purchase all outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), including (unless and until the Purchaser declares that the Rights Condition (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) is satisfied) the associated preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1996, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), at a price equal to $16.50 per Share and associated Right, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon. This will instruct you to tender to the Purchaser the number of Shares and Rights indicated below (or, if no number is indicated below, all Shares and Rights) held by you for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer. Number of Shares to be Tendered* ___________________________________ Shares ___________________________________ Rights Account Number: __________________________ Dated: _____________________________, 1997 SIGN HERE - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Signature(s) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please type or print name(s) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please type or print address(es) here - ------------------------------------------ Area Code and Telephone Number - ------------------------------------------ Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number(s) - -------- * Unless otherwise indicated, it will be assumed that all Shares and Rights held by us for your account are to be tendered. 4 EX-99.A(6) 7 GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER ID Exhibit 99(A)(6) GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER TO GIVE THE PAYER. -- Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e. 000-00-0000. Employer identification numbers have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e. 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GIVE THE FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT: SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OF -- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. An individual's account The individual 2. Two or more individuals (joint account) The actual owner of the account or, if combined funds, any one of the individuals(1) 3. Husband and wife (joint account) The actual owner of the account or, if joint funds, either person(1) 4. Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act) The minor(2) 5. Adult and minor (joint account) The adult or, if the minor is the only contributor, the minor(1) 6. Account in the name of guardian or committee for a The ward, minor, designated ward, minor, or incompetent person or incompetent person(3) 7. a The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is The grantor- also trustee) trustee(1) b So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid The actual trust under State law owner(1) 8. Sole proprietorship account The owner(4)
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GIVE THE EMPLOYER FOR THIS TYPE OF ACCOUNT: IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF -- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. A valid trust, estate, or pension trust The legal entity (Do not furnish the identifying number of the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title.)(5) 10. Corporate account The corporation 11. Religious, charitable, or educational organization The organization account 12. Partnership account held in the name of the business The partnership 13. Association, club, or other tax-exempt organization The organization 14. A broker or registered nominee The broker or nominee 15. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name The public of a public entity (such as a State or local government, entity school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish. (2) Circle the minor's name and furnish the minor's social security number. (3) Circle the ward's, minor's or incompetent person's name and furnish such person's social security number. (4) Show the name of the owner. (5) List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. NOTE: If no name is circled when there is more than one name, the number will be considered to be that of the first name listed. GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 PAGE 2 OBTAINING A NUMBER If you don't have a taxpayer identification number or you don't know your num- ber, obtain Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number, at the local office of the Social Security Administration or the Internal Revenue Service and apply for a number. PAYEES EXEMPT FROM BACKUP WITHHOLDING Payees specifically exempted from backup withholding on ALL payments include the following: . A corporation. . A financial institution. . An organization exempt from tax under section 501(a), or an individual re- tirement plan. . The United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof. . A State, the District of Columbia, a possession of the United States, or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof. . A foreign government, a political subdivision of a foreign government, or any agency or instrumentality thereof. . An international organization or any agency, or instrumentality thereof. . A registered dealer in securities or commodities registered in the U.S. or a possession of the U.S. . A real estate investment trust. . A common trust fund operated by a bank under section 584(a) . An exempt charitable remainder trust, or a non-exempt trust described in section 4947(a)(1). . An entity registered at all times under the Investment Company Act of 1940. . A foreign central bank of issue. Payments of dividends and patronage dividends not generally subject to backup withholding include the following: . Payments to nonresident aliens subject to withholding under section 1441. . Payments to partnerships not engaged in a trade or business in the U.S. and which have at least one nonresident partner. . Payments of patronage dividends where the amount received is not paid in money. . Payments made by certain foreign organizations. . Payments made to a nominee. Payments of interest not generally subject to backup withholding include the following: . Payments of interest on obligations issued by individuals. Note: You may be subject to backup withholding if this interest is $600 or more and is paid in the course of the payer's trade or business and you have not provided your correct taxpayer identification number to the payer. . Payments of tax-exempt interest (including exempt-interest dividends under section 852). . Payments described in section 6049(b)(5) to non-resident aliens. . Payments on tax-free covenant bonds under section 1451. . Payments made by certain foreign organizations. . Payments made to a nominee. Exempt payees described above should file Form W-9 to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. FILE THIS FORM WITH THE PAYER, FURNISH YOUR TAXPAYER IDEN- TIFICATION NUMBER, WRITE "EXEMPT" ON THE FACE OF THE FORM, AND RETURN IT TO THE PAYER. IF THE PAYMENTS ARE INTEREST, DIVIDENDS, OR PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS, ALSO SIGN AND DATE THE FORM. Certain payments other than interest, dividends, and patronage dividends, that are not subject to information reporting are also not subject to backup withholding. For details, see the regulations under sections 6041, 6041A(a), 6045, and 6050A. PRIVACY ACT NOTICE.-- Section 6109 requires most recipients of dividend, in- terest, or other payments to give taxpayer identification numbers to payers who must report the payments to IRS. IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes. Payers must be given the numbers whether or not recipients are re- quired to file tax returns. Beginning January 1, 1993, payers must generally withhold 31% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not furnish a taxpayer identification number to a payer. Cer- tain penalties may also apply. PENALTIES (1) PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO FURNISH TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.--If you fail to furnish your taxpayer identification number to a payer, you are sub- ject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. (2) FAILURE TO REPORT CERTAIN DIVIDEND AND INTEREST PAYMENTS.--If you fail to include any portion of an includible payment for interest, dividends, or pat- ronage dividends in gross income, such failure will be treated as being due to negligence and will be subject to a penalty of 5% on any portion of an under- payment attributable to that failure unless there is clear and convincing evi- dence to the contrary. (3) CIVIL PENALTY FOR FALSE INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO WITHHOLDING.--If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis which results in no imposition of backup withholding, you are subject to a penalty of $500. (4) CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING INFORMATION.--Falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or im- prisonment. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR TAX CONSULTANT OR THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE EX-99.A(7) 8 SUMMARY ADVERTISEMENT DATED 8/5/97 Exhibit (a)(7) This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell Shares. The Offer is made solely by the Offer to Purchase dated August 5, 1997 and the related Letter of Transmittal. The Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of Shares in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky or other laws of such jurisdiction. However, the Purchaser may, in its discretion, take such action as it may deem necessary to make the Offer in any jurisdiction and extend the Offer to holders of Shares in such jurisdiction. In those jurisdictions where securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of USS Acquisition Corp. by Salomon Brothers Inc (the "Dealer Manager") or one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. NOTICE OF OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK (INCLUDING THE ASSOCIATED PREFERRED SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS) OF CIRCON CORPORATION AT $16.50 NET PER SHARE BY USS ACQUISITION CORP. A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION USS Acquistion Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser") and a wholly owned subsidiary of United States Surgical Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Parent"), is offering to purchase all outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Shares"), of Circon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), together with the associated preferred share purchase rights (the "Rights") issued pursuant to the Preferred Shares Rights Agreement, dated as of August 14, 1996, between the Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agreement"), at a price of $16.50 per Share, net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon (the "Offer Price"), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated August 5, 1997 (the "Offer to Purchase"), and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which, as amended from time to time, together constitute the "Offer"). Unless the context otherwise requires, all references to Shares shall include the associated Rights. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 6:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1997, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED. - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things, (i) there being validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) that number of Shares which, when added to the Shares beneficially owned by the Purchaser and its affiliates, would represent 67% of the outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis on the date of purchase, (ii) the acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Proposed Merger having been approved pursuant to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law ("Section 203") or the Purchaser being satisfied, in its sole discretion, that the provisions of Section 203 are otherwise inapplicable to the acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer and the Proposed Merger and (iii) the Purchaser being satisfied that the Rights have been redeemed by the Company or the Rights are unenforceable or otherwise inapplicable to the Offer and the Proposed Merger. See Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase. The Offer is not conditioned on the receipt of financing. The purpose of the Offer is to acquire control of, and the entire equity interest in, the Company, Parent currently intends to propose and seek to have the Company consummate, as soon as practicable following the consummation of the Offer, a merger or similar business combination with the Purchaser (the "Proposed Merger"), pursuant to which each then outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by Parent or any of its subsidiaries and Shares owned by shareholders who perfect their appraisal rights under applicable law) would be converted into the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the price per Share paid by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer. For purposes of the Offer, the Purchaser will be deemed to have accepted for payment, and thereby purchased, Shares validly tendered and not properly withdrawn as, if and when the Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the Depositary (as defined in the Offer to Purchase) of the Purchaser's acceptance of such Shares for payment pursuant to the Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, payment for Shares accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made by deposit of the purchase price therefor with the Depositary, which will act as agent for tendering shareholders for the purpose of receiving payments from the Purchaser and transmitting such payments to validly tendering shareholders. Under no circumstances will interest on the purchase price for Shares be paid by the Purchaser, regardless of any delay in making such payment. In all cases, payment for Shares tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary of (i) the certificates evidencing such Shares (the "Share Certificates"), or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Depositary's account at one of the Book-Entry Transfer Facilities (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase) pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase, (ii) the Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees or an Agent's Message (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase) and (iii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. The Purchaser expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at any time or from time to time, to extend for any reason the period of time during which the Offer is open, including the occurrence of any condition specified in Section 14 of the Offer to Purchase, by giving oral or written notice of such extension to the Depositary. During any such extension, all Shares previously tendered and not withdrawn will remain subject to the Offer, subject to the rights of a tendering shareholder to withdraw his Shares. Any such extension will be followed as promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof, such announcement to be made no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date of the Offer. Tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable except that such Shares may be withdrawn at any time prior to 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, September 25, 1997 (or, if the period of time for which the Offer is open, the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended by the Purchaser, shall expire) and, unless theretofore accepted for payment by the Purchaser pursuant to the Offer, may also be withdrawn at any time after October 3, 1997. For a withdrawal to be effective, a written, telegraphic or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of the Offer to Purchase. Any such notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of such Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If Share Certificates evidencing Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Depositary, then, prior to the physical release of such Share Certificates, the serial numbers shown on such Share Certificates must be submitted to the Depositary and the signature(s) on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase), unless such Shares have been tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer as set forth in Section 2 of the Offer to Purchase, any notice of withdrawal must also specify the name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Shares. All questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Purchaser, in its sole discretion, whose determination will be final and binding. The information required to be disclosed by Rule 14d-6(e)(1)(vii) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is contained in the Offer to Purchase and is incorporated herein by reference. Requests are being made to the Company for the use of the Company's shareholder list and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating the Offer to holders of Shares and communicating with shareholders in connection with the Offer. The Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal and, if required, other relevant materials will be mailed to record holders of Shares whose names appear on the Company's shareholder list and will be furnished to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the shareholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency's security position listing for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares by the Purchaser following receipt for such lists or listings from the Company, or by the Company if it so elects. The Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal contain important information which should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the Offer. Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Dealer Manager or the Information Agent at their respective addresses and telephone numbers as set forth below. The Purchaser will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or to any other person (other than the Dealer Manager and the Information Agent) for soliciting tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer. Additional copies of the Offer to Purchase, the Letter of Transmittal and all other tender offer materials may be obtained from the Information Agent or the Dealer Manager or from brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies, and will be furnished promptly at the Purchaser's expense. The Information Agent for the Offer is: Kissel-Blake Inc. 110 Wall Street New York, New York 10005 Call Toll-Free (800) 554-7733 Brokers and Banks, please call (212) 344-6733 The Dealer Manager for the Offer is: Salomon Brothers Inc Seven World Trade Center New York, New York 10048 Call Collect (212) 783-7292 August 5, 1997 EX-99.A(8) 9 PRESS RELEASE DATED 8/5/97 EXHIBIT 99(A)(8) UNITED STATES SURGICAL CORPORATION NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: AUGUST 5, 1997 INVESTOR CONTACT: U.S. SURGICAL HOME PAGE: MEDIA CONTACT: Marianne Scipione http://www.ussurg.com Steve Rose Vice President Director Corporate Communications Media Relations 203-845-1404 203-845-1732 marianne.scipione@ussurg.com steve.rose@ussurg.com U.S. SURGICAL MAKES NEW TENDER OFFER OF --------------------------------------- $16.50 PER SHARE FOR CIRCON --------------------------- NORWALK, Conn. -- United States Surgical Corporation (NYSE:USS) announced today that it has commenced a new cash tender offer for all of the outstanding common shares of Circon Corporation (NASDAQ:CCON) at $16.50 per share. "We believe that U.S. Surgical's offer is a highly attractive opportunity for Circon shareholders, with a price/earnings ratio of more that 235 times trailing 12 months' earnings," said Leon C. Hirsch, chairman of USS. "We would still prefer to meet with Circon's management and negotiate a merger on a friendly basis, but they have turned down every request for a meeting. "The sales and operating synergies between USS and Circon are significant. Circon is the largest producer of laparoscopic scopes, video systems and endoscopic suction irrigation devices in the United States. These products represent an ideal complement to USS' $500 million minimally invasive product lines. Circon will also provide a major platform for U.S. Surgical to expand its presence in the areas of urology and gynecology. In addition, Circon is the largest producer of uretral stents in the United States and number one in gynecological sterilization products. Mr. Hirsch added, "Since USS' original tender offer of August 2, 1996, Circon's financial performance has continuously deteriorated. Circon's latest results clearly demonstrate that Circon management continues to fail to create tangible operational improvements. Operating income for the six month period ended June 30 was down 22% compared to the comparable six months in 1996, while the operating margin for the same period dropped to 4% from 6%. Additionally, second quarter operating income fell more than 25% from first quarter, earnings per share dropped 50% and the operating margin was down to 4% from 5%. -more- 150 Glover Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06856 Page Two of Three "While Circon's management has touted the fact that their second quarter sales were the highest since the merger with Cabot Medical in August 1995, they failed to mention that second quarter revenues are still lower than the third quarter of 1995 and on an operating basis the quarter just ended is one of the worst in the last eight quarters." USS' tender offer is conditioned on, among other things, the acquisition of at least 67% of Circon's shares on a fully diluted basis, the inapplicability of Circon's "poison pill" rights plan and Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law to the offer and USS' proposed merger. The offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 6:00 p.m., New York City time, September 25, 1997. Following the completion of the tender offer, U.S. Surgical intends to consummate a merger in which all remaining shareholders will also receive $16.50 per share. USS currently owns 14.8% of outstanding Circon shares, the approximate maximum number of shares USS can purchase without triggering Circon's "poison pill." USS acquired 1,000,100 shares on the open market prior to commencing an $18 per share cash tender offer on August 2, 1996. After amending the original offer twice, USS acquired an additional 973,174 shares in a $14.50 per share cash tender offer that was completed on July 14, 1997. Circon shareholders have demonstrated overwhelming support of USS' original and amended tender offers. In December 1996, 7,726,701 shares were tendered, which with the 1,000,100 shares already owned by USS, represented 79% of Circon's common stock not owned by Circon's management and board, based on their September 1996 10-Q and June 1996 proxy statement. In July, the amended offer of $14.50 per share was oversubscribed 400%, with 4,508,000 shares tendered. United States Surgical Corporation is a diversified surgical products company specializing in minimally invasive technologies that improve patient care and lower health care costs. Some of the statements contained in this document are forward-looking and are based on management's current expectations. Actual results may differ materially from such expectations due to factors discussed in the "Financial Condition" section of USS' Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. (more) Page Three of Three Certain Additional Information: United States Surgical Corporation will be soliciting proxies in opposition to the Board of Directors of Circon Corporation to elect two directors and approve a shareholder proposal at Circon's 1997 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The following persons may be deemed participants in such solicitation of proxies: United States Surgical Corporation, USS Acquisition Corp., Thomas R. Bremer, Leon C. Hirsch, Pamela Komenda, Marianne Scipione, Scott Spitzer, Charles M. Elson and Victor H. Krulak. United States Surgical Corporation is the beneficial owner of 1,959,348 shares of Circon common stock, USS Acquisition Corp. is the beneficial owner of 973,174 shares. Mr. Elson is the beneficial owner of 6,963 shares and Mr. Krulak is the beneficial owner of 6,963 shares of Circon common stock. Mr. Krulak and Mr. Elson received such shares of common stock from United States Surgical Corporation in connection with their agreement to stand for election as a director of Circon. In addition, United States Surgical Corporation has agreed to indemnify Mr. Elson and Mr. Krulak to the extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all expenses, liabilities or losses of any kind arising out of any threatened or filed claim, action, suit, or proceeding asserted against or incurred by either Mr. Elson or Mr. Krulak in his capacity as a nominee for election as a director of Circon. Following their election to the Circon Board, if Circon does not provide Mr. Elson and Mr. Krulak with the same indemnification agreements provided to the current directors of Circon, United States Surgical Corporation has agreed to enter into agreements providing the same level of indemnification. United States Surgical Corporation has also agreed to reimburse each of Mr. Elson and Mr. Krulak for his reasonable out-of- pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel. Although Salomon Brothers Inc ("Salomon Brothers"), which is acting as dealer manager in connection with the proposed acquisition of Circon, does not admit that it or any of its director, officers, employees or affiliates is a "participant", as defined in Schedule 14A promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, or that such Schedule 14A requires the disclosure of certain information concerning them, the following employees of Salomon Brothers may assist United States Surgical Corporation in such a solicitation. Wilder Fulford (managing director), John Fowler (managing director), Adam Berger (vice president) and Richard Upton (associate). * * * -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----