UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT
TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 27, 2013
POLYPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
1-32266 |
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43-2049334 |
(Commission File Number) |
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
11430 North Community House Road, Suite 350, Charlotte, North Carolina |
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28277 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
(704) 587-8409
(Registrants Telephone Number Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name and Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On December 27, 2013, Polypore International, Inc. (Polypore) announced that Polypore and Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. have entered into a Settlement and License Agreement which ends all outstanding worldwide litigation between the two companies related to Polypores intellectual property rights on battery separator coating. Under the License Agreement, Sumitomo Chemical has licensed Polypores intellectual property related to coating separators for lithium-ion batteries. The financial terms of the Agreement include an up-front payment to Polypore as well as recurring royalties.
A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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99.1 |
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Press Release of Polypore International, Inc., dated December 27, 2013 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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POLYPORE INTERNATIONAL, INC. | |
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(Registrant) | |
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Date: December 27, 2013 |
By: |
/s/ Lynn Amos |
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Lynn Amos |
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Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 99.1
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Polypore International, Inc. |
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The Gibson Building |
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11430 N. Community House Rd, Suite 350 |
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Charlotte, NC 28277 |
Tel: (704) 587-8409 | |
polycorpcom@polypore.net | |
www.polypore.net |
Polypore Announces Settlement and License Agreement with Sumitomo Chemical
CHARLOTTE, N.C., December 27, 2013 Polypore International, Inc. (NYSE: PPO) and Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. have entered into a Settlement and License Agreement which ends all outstanding worldwide litigation between the two companies related to Polypores intellectual property rights on battery separator coating. Under the License Agreement, Sumitomo Chemical has licensed Polypores intellectual property related to coating separators for lithium-ion batteries. The financial terms of the Agreement include an up-front payment to Polypore as well as recurring royalties.
This agreement confirms the integrity of our intellectual property around ceramic coating of separators for lithium-ion batteries. In addition to the financial consideration of the licensing arrangement, we are pleased that this agreement establishes the opportunity for Polypore and Sumitomo to work together to address growing market needs, which we expect to benefit both companies, said Robert Toth, President and Chief Executive Officer of Polypore. As interest in coated separator solutions continues to grow, we believe that the combined strength of our intellectual property, Sumitomos technical expertise in coating and the exceptional performance characteristics of our separator material create an attractive solution for meeting the growth needs of existing and future customers.
About Polypore International, Inc.
Polypore International, Inc. is a global high technology filtration company specializing in microporous membranes. Polypores flat sheet and hollow fiber membranes are used in specialized applications that require the removal or separation of various materials from liquids, primarily in the ultrafiltration and microfiltration markets. Based in Charlotte, NC, Polypore International, Inc. is a market leader with manufacturing facilities or sales offices in nine countries serving six continents. See www.polypore.net.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains statements that are forward-looking in nature. Statements that are predictive in nature, that depend upon or refer to future events or conditions or that include words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, estimates, and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results and performance to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by these
forward-looking statements. These factors include the following: the highly competitive nature of the markets in which we sell our products; the failure to continue to develop innovative products; the loss of our customers; the vertical integration by our customers of the production of our products into their own manufacturing process; increases in prices for raw materials or the loss of key supplier contracts; our substantial indebtedness; interest rate risk related to our variable rate indebtedness; our inability to generate cash; restrictions related to the senior secured credit agreement; employee slowdowns, strikes or similar actions; product liability claims exposure; risks in connection with our operations outside the United States, including compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws; the incurrence of substantial costs to comply with, or as a result of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws; the failure to protect our intellectual property; the loss of senior management; the incurrence of additional debt, contingent liabilities and expenses in connection with future acquisitions; the failure to effectively integrate newly acquired operations; lithium market demand not materializing as anticipated; the absence of expected returns from the intangible assets we have recorded; the adverse impact from legal proceedings on our financial condition; and natural disasters, epidemics, terrorist acts and other events beyond our control. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found in Item 1A. Risk Factors of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Polypore expressly disclaims any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Polypores expectations with regard thereto or change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based.
CONTACTS:
Polypore International, Inc.
Corporate Communications Investor Relations
Beth Kitteringham Paul Clegg
(704) 587-8596 (704) 587-8886
polycorpcom@polypore.net investorrelations@polypore.net
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